Neither is "best"
As a brand that makes both... we have both on our demo fleet and I can tell you crank drive is best for some people in some circumstances, hub drive is best for some people in some circumstances.
The reputation of hub drive bikes has been damaged by some of the junk that's been pushed out of China in the past.
The reputation of crank drive bikes is better, but that's usually because the bike that's wrapped around the motor is also "better".
If anyone say's one is better than the other, it might be better for them on that day on that type of ride, but it doesn't mean its better.
They're different.
As a brand that makes both... we have both on our demo fleet and I can tell you crank drive is best for some people in some circumstances, hub drive is best for some people in some circumstances.
The reputation of hub drive bikes has been damaged by some of the junk that's been pushed out of China in the past.
The reputation of crank drive bikes is better, but that's usually because the bike that's wrapped around the motor is also "better".
If anyone say's one is better than the other, it might be better for them on that day on that type of ride, but it doesn't mean its better.
They're different.
Hub, because I have two of them and don't know any different. 
Fingers crossed, neither has had any issues up to now.
Fingers crossed, neither has had any issues up to now.
I'm with KTM on this one (sorry couldn't remember your name )
Having ridden both a MAC hub motored bike and a BBS02, I would ride the one depending on my circumstance.
A hub driven bike wouldn't cut the mustard on the terrain I ride on nowadays. The feel, the torque and power delivery would be all wrong.
Whereas, if I needed a bike solely for commuting and Sunday pleasure rides, then there is no beating a hub motor. There is less work through the gears, you can be really lazy and keep the bike in top gear in most situations.
Also, as you mentioned in another thread Dave, less maintenance and longer lasting drivetrain.
)Having ridden both a MAC hub motored bike and a BBS02, I would ride the one depending on my circumstance.
A hub driven bike wouldn't cut the mustard on the terrain I ride on nowadays. The feel, the torque and power delivery would be all wrong.
Whereas, if I needed a bike solely for commuting and Sunday pleasure rides, then there is no beating a hub motor. There is less work through the gears, you can be really lazy and keep the bike in top gear in most situations.
Also, as you mentioned in another thread Dave, less maintenance and longer lasting drivetrain.
A powerful motor and a torque sensor is the key to a nice ride for this particular body. A hub motor can be lighter, better value and quieter, separated from the sound-box effect of the frame. There's a price penalty for the torque sensor but the effect is well worth it, in my opinion. Drive train is also much simpler, which I like.
I have both and am undecided.
The hub motor is hard work on some of the hills, very hard work on really steep ones.
The crank driver takes steep hills easily, so I prefer it but only where I live. I visited Norfolk with the hub motor and it worked very well.
Now, a two speed hub motor, that is my dream.
The hub motor is hard work on some of the hills, very hard work on really steep ones.
The crank driver takes steep hills easily, so I prefer it but only where I live. I visited Norfolk with the hub motor and it worked very well.
Now, a two speed hub motor, that is my dream.
The best layout is really the one that suits you and your particular use. Trotting round the Loch on a sunny afternoon or flogging against rain on a daily commute need different bikes. I now have one of each, rear hub, front hub and the excellent Bewo mid drive. If asked to choose I would pick the Bewo first, it does everything well ,it's quiet, smooth, fast and reliable and capable of exceeding the limit imposed on ebikes by fair margin. At 48 volts and pulling 20 amps it is nippy. In fact my first built version was too fast so it's now geared for hill climbing . However I do still like my Kuo, it's comfy ,it's neat, it looks and feels nice it's totally reliable, although I may well part with it soon as I feel the Bewo will take over. The front drive is my wife''s first choice by far ,why ? don't know, just that she prefers the feel of it and refused the offer of a new Woosh Petite recently.
So it's like choosing your favourite child ,too many variables.
So it's like choosing your favourite child ,too many variables.
I like both and it's sometimes horses for courses, each having their own advantages and disadvantages.
Today's high torque hub motors have diminished the climb advantage that some crank drives had, but certainly not completely removed that for the steepest climbs.
.
Today's high torque hub motors have diminished the climb advantage that some crank drives had, but certainly not completely removed that for the steepest climbs.
.
Love my Yamaha crank drive and prefer the feel and the way it works compared to hub drives. I get more range out of a crank drive as well. However, Wisper has a torque rear hub drive that really impressed me when I rode one. Like KTM said, it depends on the needs and preferance of the customer.
I am in love with the GSM married to the torque simulation controller, smooth as silk with no transition between powered and un-powered riding. The only default I can find is the run on but that is only annoying around town. Now that I have a bigger more comfortable bike I am riding more and more without the motor around town anyway.
I would like to fit my hub motor to a more comfortable bike that is the right size for me, then I could form an opinion that is less subjective. I believe it would probably have better range than the crank motor and is probably kinder on the Li-ion battery.
As you all know I ride uphill and down dale more than on the flat. Both motors have given me the mobility I required, I don't really care which is better at getting up those hills just that they both do it.
I would like to fit my hub motor to a more comfortable bike that is the right size for me, then I could form an opinion that is less subjective. I believe it would probably have better range than the crank motor and is probably kinder on the Li-ion battery.
As you all know I ride uphill and down dale more than on the flat. Both motors have given me the mobility I required, I don't really care which is better at getting up those hills just that they both do it.
I think it depends on how you use your bike as well as your riding style and fitness. The hubs are more forgiving with better gear changes under power also the pas is great for when your legs are tired. The newer Q128C/ SX hub is a game changer I believe and is more compact/discreet and lighter then the larger beefy bafang's.
The bbs is great and chance to tinker with the controller settings enables it to be set up and utilised better esp as a pure off roader solution.
The Bafang cst performed well as an mtb mud plugger but the bbs is better, c of g and general weight distribution is better giving better handling though this Autumn/winter I shall be putting a Q128C/SX mtb to the test.
For the home builder the hubs in most circumstances are great even better with the standard 9 pin connector, mix and match to any battery and various controllers to get a nice set up. Even better now that controller kits are available with plug and play solutions for a neater better build.
The bbs is great and chance to tinker with the controller settings enables it to be set up and utilised better esp as a pure off roader solution.
The Bafang cst performed well as an mtb mud plugger but the bbs is better, c of g and general weight distribution is better giving better handling though this Autumn/winter I shall be putting a Q128C/SX mtb to the test.
For the home builder the hubs in most circumstances are great even better with the standard 9 pin connector, mix and match to any battery and various controllers to get a nice set up. Even better now that controller kits are available with plug and play solutions for a neater better build.
After thinking about the 'which is best?' question again and having all three main modes, F-hub, R-hub and a crank-drive, I can't answer the question easily.
All my bikes are legally compliant and each does a fine job though in slightly different ways. Conceptually, my favourite is the crank-drive with internal hub gears but the low-power motor in mine doesn't have enough oomph to get up hills easily.
The F-hub drive is the simplest of my bikes and is powerful enough for most scenarios though ultimately lacks the grunt available in the best motors.
The bike I enjoy most, I suppose, has to be the R-hub drive model which really feels like a crank-drive in practice with an excellent torque sensor and a powerful motor, capable of poodling along in too high a gear without complaint. Hills present no problem and 18 of the 24 gears are redundant for 90% of the terrain I ride over.
All that brings the matter down to the electrical parts involved rather the actual placement of the motor. By that I mean, if my rear-hub motor were of the same power output as the others I have, it would be difficult to pick a winner. Because it is more modern, more powerful and works in conjunction with a really good control system, it seems the best in practice but any comparison needs to take account of bike and user weight, motor output and gearing to draw any firm conclusion.
Just to complicate matters, we know that the same motor with different windings produces different power characteristics so regardless of the style preferred, once a legally-compliant motor stops contributing assistance, it's all about human power anyway.
Then, all other things being equal, the best bike is probably the lightest one!
Tom
Nice day yesterday, took the Kuo to the Station, slipped it in the nylon bag (goes as luggage cannot be refused) , to Edinburgh for Professional Institute lunch, locked in cupboard, much interest from fellow codgers , reverse trip back. Ideal, horses for courses, the bewo mountain goat would not have suited this trip.
Saturday afternoon offspring took me for a ride..
Best part of 40 miles with 4000 ft worth of climbing which was done on the giant crank drive without issue and only used 60% of the battery, but, crank drives being crank drives they don't go anywhere without some effort and my flagging old knees could have done with a hub throttle for the last 10 miles.....
Perhaps a bike needs both.....
Best part of 40 miles with 4000 ft worth of climbing which was done on the giant crank drive without issue and only used 60% of the battery, but, crank drives being crank drives they don't go anywhere without some effort and my flagging old knees could have done with a hub throttle for the last 10 miles.....
Perhaps a bike needs both.....
Related Articles
-
MTF Enterprises announces acquisition of EMU Electric Bikes- Started by: Pedelecs
-
Wisper 806T folding bike wins Which? ‘Best Buy’- Started by: Pedelecs
-
Sustrans calls for protected cycle lanes- Started by: Pedelecs
-
Amazon launch their first UK e-cargo micromobility hub- Started by: Pedelecs
