3 ms·

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 a

• 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.