Convert Existing Bike or buy a new Cube

Audio2

Pedelecer
Apr 5, 2015
98
42
81
My existing Thorn with Rolhof hub gear can only be converted with a front hub motor, if i convert if with a legal Woosh kit , largest battery & get it fitted it will cost nearly £700. Cube is approximately double this cost.

Advantages / Disadvantages

Conversion:
Keep existing bikes which were built for us with high spec parts
Still looks like a bicycle
Rim brakes

Cube
2 Year Warranty
Local dealership
Disc brakes
Better performance?
Can purchase ladies frame ( could be an advantage as we are both over seventy, but not a problem at present)

The heart would prefer to convert, the brain is suggesting the Cube. I need to buy two bikes so it is not an insignificant decision. It is also difficult to get information as to how the two options performance compares. Hill climbing is especially relevant would this front hub provide adequate power or is there another legal front hub that would? It would be nice to cycle in the lake district again which we last did three years ago, all though we did walk one or two passes.
 

sjpt

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jun 8, 2018
3,824
2,752
Winchester
Any reasonable centre drive will do steep hills better than a hub drive as it takes advantage of the gears.
I suggested a CD conversion to somebody with Rolhof gears (or you on a different forum?); they said that would not work for them as they had an eccentric bottom bracket to tension the chain.
 

Eagle

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 31, 2012
381
134
I suggest that you look at this thread and in particular, posts #17 and #30:
https://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/bosch-climbing-speed.27833/
I live in a hilly area and I can vouch for the hub drive Oxygen MTB.

Full particulars of the 3 Oxygen bikes are here:

http://www.oxygenbicycles.com/e-bikes

Woosh does a selection of hub and crank drive ebikes:
http://wooshbikes.co.uk/

If I were you I would save a load of money and bid on a nearly new (83.7 miles) Oxygen MTB here:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Oxygen-S-Cross-MTB-electric-bike-13ah/273684372067?hash=item3fb8dc1a63:g:HrEAAOSwnk5cVz1B:rk:2:pf:1&frcectupt=true

Note that it has hydraulic disc brakes (essential in my personal opinion) and a higher top gear (11-32T compared to 14-28T on the S-Cross ST (step through) below.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Electric-Bike-Brand-is-Oxygen/233118113153?hash=item3646ec1d81:g:ui4AAOSw5EpcVKbm:rk:3:pf:1&frcectupt=true
The ST has cable disc brakes and whilst these brakes are fine, the cables do stretch over time and need adjustment.

Make sure to choose the 13ah battery for longer range. Both the above have this.