3 ms·

Thinking of converting an old trek. Anyone have thoughts on front / rear wheel drive?

• denimnerd42 7y ago
  the rear frame is much stronger than the front fork so a rear wheel drive is what i'd recommend unless you have a sturdy steel fork. come join our discussion at the ebike discord https://discord.gg/6fRvwSx https://discord.gg/6fRvwSx
  • stefan_ 7y ago
    Motor forces are entirely insignificant over what wheels, fork and frame experience when you are hard braking (primarily, of course, through the front brake). No, the bigger issue with front drive is that the front wheel has less weight over it (so significantly less traction) and that should it ever lose traction, you are more or less guaranteed to crash while the rear wheel slipping is perfectly recoverable. This is exacerbated since a human motor knows not to turn the power on going through a turn in the wet, but e-bike motors don't bring any such intelligence.
    • denimnerd42 7y ago
      a direct drive motor weighs 8-10kg so hanging that off the front of the fork will increase all forces, not just the ones by the motor.
• nkingsy 7y ago
  Don’t. Disc breaks are highly recommended and a front suspension as well. I converted an old trek steel frame touring bike and moved the conversion kit to a modern hardtail after a month of commuting. It didn’t feel safe. That said what you want is a mid drive bafang bbshd. Dead simple conversion for any bike.
  • criddell 7y ago
    What's involved in the conversion?