Careers vengeance hard work pedalling!

What yo feel as resistance is mostly the extra bike weight in the wheel you are trying to propel and is normal, though some hubs take awhile to loosen up/become easier to pedal.

It should be easier to ride with no power on at all and with the battery switched off, any resistance may be electrical from the controller to phase wiring, so the battery needs switching off to close the circuit.

My bafang cst switched off rides quite normally though the extra weight is noticeable, using low gears more makes riding better form a start as a normal bike.

Inclines are really where the hub weight is more noticeable and much more effort is needed.

It doesn't take long to acclimatise to electric bike assist and it becoming the norm, it is only when you go back to unassisted riding that you realise how easy assisted riding is.

Thanks for the reply Neal but iv taken the battery off and tried to ride it and its defo mechanical drag from the hub.if I get up to say 15mph without battery it freewheels fine.but as soon as I start to pedal it feels like the brakes are on.it really is that bad..

Try picking up the rear of the bike and then spin the wheel forward. It will normally spin freely with no real resistance since the Bafang motor has an internal freewheel that disconnects the motor when it's not driving the bike.

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Try picking up the rear of the bike and then spin the wheel forward. It will normally spin freely with no real resistance since the Bafang motor has an internal freewheel that disconnects the motor when it's not driving the bike.

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Hi Flecc.yes I've done that and it runs free just as the bike freewheels beautifully like a normal bike.as soon as you start to pedal u actually slow down.presumably because the motor is activated by the forward motion of the crank.

Hi welcome to the site

Lots of bikes have resistance off power

Is it really that bad or just something you will get used to when leg muscles build up a bit

Edited July 27, 20187 yr by Fat Rat

Hi Flecc.yes I've done that and it runs free just as the bike freewheels beautifully like a normal bike.as soon as you start to pedal u actually slow down.presumably because the motor is activated by the forward motion of the crank.

That can't happen Rick, the rear sprocket is only connected to the external hub shell. There's no connection whatsoever between the chain drive and the internal motor. That only connects through a freewheel to the internal hubshell gear rack.

Believe me, we've all experienced this drag that's so common on e-bikes, one of mine so bad that it's virtually impossible for me to pedal without power. But it's nothing to do with it's Bafang motor, when the wheel spins freely by hand it cannot be contributing to drag.

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Lift each wheel (separately), spin it by hand, apply the brake, make sure the pads release fully, if not - realign the caliper(s)

Brakes are fine.not binding but thanks.

That can't happen Rick, the rear sprocket is only connected to the external hub shell. There's no connection whatsoever between the chain drive and the internal motor. That only connects through a freewheel to the internal hubshell gear rack.

 

Believe me, we've all experienced this drag that's so common on e-bikes, one of mine so bad that it's virtually impossible for me to pedal without power. But it's nothing to do with it's Bafang motor, when the wheel spins freely by hand it cannot be contributing to drag.

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Guess I'll have to get used to it and get fitter.but thanks

Hi welcome to the site

Lots of bikes have resistance off power

Is it really that bad or just something you will get used to when leg muscles build up a bit

Hi Fat Rat.it is like riding thru treacklewith the brakes on .Someone said it shud get better with wear.I hope so I don't want to go round assisted all the time.I need the exercise. thanks for your help tho.this is the first forum iv joined.everyone is so helpful.I love it.

Hi Fat Rat.it is like riding thru treacklewith the brakes on .Someone said it shud get better with wear.I hope so I don't want to go round assisted all the time.I need the exercise. thanks for your help tho.this is the first forum iv joined.everyone is so helpful.I love it.

No problem

We don’t always agree that’s human nature but the forum as a whole will always try and get to the bottom of issues as much as we can without actually being there

Hope it sorts it’s self out with a bit of use

No problem

We don’t always agree that’s human nature but the forum as a whole will always try and get to the bottom of issues as much as we can without actually being there

Hope it sorts it’s self out with a bit of use

Hope so too.thanks again

Check the tyre pressures are okay.

If they're on the lower end of the pressure limits embossed on the tyres, pump them up, but it depends on the terrain you cycle on and your weight to find a happy setting.

can I just post where I live and ask fellow bikers if they live near me??

You can post the first half of your post code in this linked thread Rick and I'll enter you into the pedelecs members map. Then you'll see any others around you who've done the same.

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Thanks for the reply Neal but iv taken the battery off and tried to ride it and its defo mechanical drag from the hub.if I get up to say 15mph without battery it freewheels fine.but as soon as I start to pedal it feels like the brakes are on.it really is that bad..

I think it is either/or:

- a psychological effect

- motor needs running in for about 100 km

- clutch stuck in engaged position (you would hear the noise)

Your bike will freewheel fine because it is heavy and we have all (hub motor riders) been through the learning stage where we have felt to lesser or greater degree what you are feeling. Motor drag is about 3-5%, extra weight increases rolling resistance when you start to pedal.

I weigh 97 kg at the moment.iv taken battery off and tried riding but its really tough going and the resistance is defo from rear hub.

If only you could see the many hundreds of times a member with their first hub motor e-bike has posted the same during the 12 years of this forum.

I repeat, if it spins freely by hand, it's not the motor, and it's a mechanical impossibility for pedalling to cause the motor to start dragging.

Hub motor bikes are often tough to pedal without power, and when using power and rising above the motor cut-off speed, the sudden sensation of drag when the power stops can feel like hitting a brick wall.

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Hi everyone.I've just joined today after buying a halfords vengeance.the motor is fantastic but its extremely hard to pedal as a normal bike.there is a noticeable resistance from the hub.As I've only just bought it 3 days ago can anyone advise me.Thanks

Hi Rick I know just what you mean. As other posts on here state a lot of the treacle/drag feel is down to the extra weight of the hub and battery. I have a Freego Eagle for 6 yrs and found exactly the problems you state. I have just changed to an Oxygen S Cross and am now able to ride much more without power. I don't know the bike you have or whether you may be able to change it but worth a thought. The problem for me with the Eagle was that because of the difficulty of riding without power it made me a bit lazy and I almost always used it.Good luck with your riding.

If only you could see the many hundreds of times a member with their first hub motor e-bike has posted the same during the 12 years of this forum.

 

I repeat, if it spins freely by hand, it's not the motor, and it's a mechanical impossibility for pedalling to cause the motor to start dragging.

 

Hub motor bikes are often tough to pedal without power, and when using power and rising above the motor cut-off speed, the sudden sensation of drag when the power stops can feel like hitting a brick wall.

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Hi Rick I know just what you mean. As other posts on here state a lot of the treacle/drag feel is down to the extra weight of the hub and battery. I have a Freego Eagle for 6 yrs and found exactly the problems you state. I have just changed to an Oxygen S Cross and am now able to ride much more without power. I don't know the bike you have or whether you may be able to change it but worth a thought. The problem for me with the Eagle was that because of the difficulty of riding without power it made me a bit lazy and I almost always used it.Good luck with your riding.