Belt or chain, derailleur or hub?

[Stubod]

Hi all, and many thanks for all the replies and useful information.

I think I have decided to go for a Raleigh Motus Grand Tour.
OK it has got a derailleur and chain, but I have taken on board some of the above comments regarding simpler maintenance if something goes wrong.

Again thanks for all the comments..

 

[Poolepete]

Hi all, and many thanks for all the replies and useful information.

I think I have decided to go for a Raleigh Motus Grand Tour.
OK it has got a derailleur and chain, but I have taken on board some of the above comments regarding simpler maintenance if something goes wrong.

Again thanks for all the comments..

I hope you have as much fun and use with yours as I do with mine!

 

[Stubod]

I was all set to push the button and get a bike and the world stopped turning..!

I am still hoping to pick up an e-bike when this is all over and I have been passing some of the time doing a bit more research. I have come to the conclusion that the best compromise for me is a Nexus (hub) gear with a conventional chain as I think this gives the best compromise.

Ironically the spec I wanted was the Raleigh GT Motus with the "lower" crossbar frame and Nexus hub....and for some reason they do the standard crossbar with Nexus, and also the low step, but not the lower crossbar?....it's not a deal breaker and I look forward to the planet returning to something like normal!..stay safe all!

..and at least we can continue to cycle, at least for the mo. (and the roads are really quiet!)

 

[Ocsid]

As an observation, I point out the earlier posts showing belt failures, do not feature the "Gates" carbon belt, with central tracking, most commonly encountered in quality e-bikes. So I suggest does not necessarily reflect any failing inherent in specifically that Gates design and their manufacturing quality.

In our experience, now three years on, our choice of a bike with the "Gates" belt has proved to be excellent. Being an engineer, its ability to bring a trace of compliance to the drive line can only be an asset to the internals of both the CD and the hub gear, the more so in an e-bike and with a hub gear.

My research on 7 or 8 speed Nexus hubs, suggests the latter to be the more robust of the two, thus better suited to an e-bike.
I understood it featured roller clutches as opposed to the 7's pawls, very much what would be my preference.
I would add the bike, now that 3 years in has been excellent, but its has never been more arduously treated than what I would call, light hybrid use albeit in hilly areas, the bike type it replaced.

 

[Ippy]

As an observation, I point out the earlier posts showing belt failures, do not feature the "Gates" carbon belt, with central tracking, most commonly encountered in quality e-bikes. So I suggest does not necessarily reflect any failing inherent in specifically that Gates design and their manufacturing quality.

In our experience, now three years on, our choice of a bike with the "Gates" belt has proved to be excellent. Being an engineer, its ability to bring a trace of compliance to the drive line can only be an asset to the internals of both the CD and the hub gear, the more so in an e-bike and with a hub gear.

My research on 7 or 8 speed Nexus hubs, suggests the latter to be the more robust of the two, thus better suited to an e-bike.
I understood it featured roller clutches as opposed to the 7's pawls, very much what would be my preference.
I would add the bike, now that 3 years in has been excellent, but its has never been more arduously treated than what I would call, light hybrid use albeit in hilly areas, the bike type it replaced.

Relating to your response (Ocsid) which bike do you have with Nexus 8 hub gears that you referred to in your reply ?

 

[Ocsid]

Relating to your response (Ocsid) which bike do you have with Nexus 8 hub gears that you referred to in your reply ?

It is a 2015 MY Kalkhoff Agattu Premium Impulse 8, in the small frame size, step through with the 26" wheel option, though purchased new as obsolete stock in early 2017.

Nearly identical to :
US version Agattu 8

The UK version has different front & rear light units, the Gates belt and, important to us, for inside an SUV transport it has a quick release front wheel.

(Despite featuring the Impulse 2 motor with that's poor reputation on here, we fortunately have had zero issues, possibly because the bike's usage has never been aggressive and the belt being kinder to the drive line? Need a fingers crossed smiley here!)

 

[Ippy]

It is a 2015 MY Kalkhoff Agattu Premium Impulse 8, in the small frame size, step through with the 26" wheel option, though purchased new as obsolete stock in early 2017.

Nearly identical to :
US version Agattu 8

The UK version has different front & rear light units, the Gates belt and, important to us, for inside an SUV transport it has a quick release front wheel.

(Despite featuring the Impulse 2 motor with that's poor reputation on here, we fortunately have had zero issues, possibly because the bike's usage has never been aggressive and the belt being kinder to the drive line? Need a fingers crossed smiley here!)

Yes, I almost bought a ebike from a company last year that unfortunately folded because of the issues from the Kalkhoff, which left them in dire straits through all the warranty

It is a 2015 MY Kalkhoff Agattu Premium Impulse 8, in the small frame size, step through with the 26" wheel option, though purchased new as obsolete stock in early 2017.

Nearly identical to :
US version Agattu 8

The UK version has different front & rear light units, the Gates belt and, important to us, for inside an SUV transport it has a quick release front wheel.

(Despite featuring the Impulse 2 motor with that's poor reputation on here, we fortunately have had zero issues, possibly because the bike's usage has never been aggressive and the belt being kinder to the drive line? Need a fingers crossed smiley here!)

I almost bought a ebike from 50cycles in the UK who went into liquidation before i collected, this was due to all the warranty work they had on Kalkhoff motors. They are up and running again selling BH ebikes, but they seem virtually unknown in the UK.
I really like the idea of the gates drive and hub gears, but that combination puts them out of my price range at the moment around 2K.
Thanks for your reply.

 

[Stubod]

..I am now struggling to find the bike spec I really want....ie Bosch motor with chain drive nexus hub? For some reason Raleigh seemed to have stopped doing them / or never did them with the "lower" crossbar frame. Shame really a this seems like an ideal combination to me...I guess I will have to compromise on a derailleur gear, or see if any other manufacturers offer the spec. I want...

 

[sjpt]

..I am now struggling to find the bike spec I really want....ie Bosch motor with chain drive nexus hub? For some reason Raleigh seemed to have stopped doing them / or never did them with the "lower" crossbar frame. Shame really a this seems like an ideal combination to me...I guess I will have to compromise on a derailleur gear, or see if any other manufacturers offer the spec. I want...

Odd looking in some ways, but might be what you want.

Electra Bicycle Company | Bikes & Accessories - Electra Bikes (GB)

The only hard part about riding an Electra bike is choosing which one to get. They're all easy to ride and they look amazing.

www.electrabike.com

US site but they come up with quite a few UK distributors.

We've got an older Motus step-through with 7 speed hub. Certainly suits us; I'm not sure if the lower crossbar frame would be any lighter or stronger? There seem to be quite a few stepthrough/hub combinations, but as you say not many with low crossbar.

 

[Stubod]

Odd looking in some ways, but might be what you want.

Electra Bicycle Company | Bikes & Accessories - Electra Bikes (GB)

The only hard part about riding an Electra bike is choosing which one to get. They're all easy to ride and they look amazing.

www.electrabike.com

US site but they come up with quite a few UK distributors.

We've got an older Motus step-through with 7 speed hub. Certainly suits us; I'm not sure if the lower crossbar frame would be any lighter or stronger? There seem to be quite a few stepthrough/hub combinations, but as you say not many with low crossbar.

..thanks, but that bike just looks a little "odd" to me. Was hoping to get something that looked fairly conventional...and apols to anybody that has got one...just not my cup of tea!

 

[lisa-martin]

I will go for a belt because they are cleaner since they don't use lubrication. They last forever with a 100,000 mile wear rating.

 

[Ippy]

I will go for a belt because they are cleaner since they don't use lubrication. They last forever with a 100,000 mile wear rating.

I see many posts reporting broken chains and bent or damaged chain rings, the derailleur was never designed for powerful hub motors.

 

[Stubod]

I see many posts reporting broken chains and bent or damaged chain rings, the derailleur was never designed for powerful hub motors.

....must admit it what puts me off. My "manual" 21 speed derailleur suggests using front gear 1st with rear 123, middle ring front with 3,4,5 and 3rd front with 5,6,7 to limit "offset chain". However all crank motors only have one "front" gear and are expected to operate over the entire rear 7+ range!?.... or am I overthinking it?

 

[Woosh]

I see many posts reporting broken chains and bent or damaged chain rings, the derailleur was never designed for powerful hub motors.

hub gears are even less designed for powerful middle motors.
that's the main reason why you only see Bosch ALP and not CX with hub gears.

 

[Ippy]

hub gears are even less designed for powerful middle motors.
that's the main reason why you only see Bosch ALP and not CX with hub gears.

What about Shimano Steps, hub and motor combos?

 

[Woosh]

they only do hub gear bikes with Steps E6000 (50NM) and E6100 (60NM).
Both are low torque motors - even less than Bosch ALP.

 

[Ocsid]

hub gears are even less designed for powerful middle motors.
that's the main reason why you only see Bosch ALP and not CX with hub gears.

Not universally, there is the Riese & Müller Supercharger GX Rohloff, but of course not a budget bike by any means.
R & M Super Charger Rohloff
Rohloff discussion.

 

[Ippy]

they only do hub gear bikes with Steps E6000 (50NM) and E6100 (60NM).
Both are low torque motors - even less than Bosch ALP.

Yes, its a minefield out there. I’m after a commuter primarily for around the 2k mark and have sort of narrowed it down to a choice of 2, a Volt Infinity or a Cube touring Hybrid Pro 500 Trapeze. If I go for the Cube the dealer will deliver for a 30 day test drive and exchange up to 3 times, but I don’t know how flexible Volt are about returns.
The problem being I can‘t go round trying different bikes under the current restrictions.

 

[Woosh]

it's tricky to combine the requirements of a commuter (zero maintenance, keep to high speed to save time) with the pleasure of riding a lightweight crank drive bike, especially when you can't test ride them.
You may have to go for a low cost commuter to limit your exposure.

 

[Stubod]

Yes, its a minefield out there. I’m after a commuter primarily for around the 2k mark and have sort of narrowed it down to a choice of 2, a Volt Infinity or a Cube touring Hybrid Pro 500 Trapeze. If I go for the Cube the dealer will deliver for a 30 day test drive and exchange up to 3 times, but I don’t know how flexible Volt are about returns.
The problem being I can‘t go round trying different bikes under the current restrictions.

..I looked at Volt as we have a main dealer a couple of miles away. But don't think they use Bosch motors?....some research suggests the Active Line is probably the best option in this price bracket at the mo?