All about direct-drive hub motors for electric bikes.

All about direct-drive hub motors for electric bikes.

We all have milestones that we would wish to accomplish, especially when exercising. An afternoon of cycling could turn frustrating, especially when you fail to live up to such. Cycling uphill may become tedious simply because we are limited and bound to get tired at some point. In my opinion, some milestones usually require a little extra support to be achieved. Electric bikes offer the amount of assistance you need to completely cycle up a hill and overcome the fatigue that is a characteristic of cycling uphill. They also come in handy when you wish to get to your destination faster and less sweaty.

What are electric bikes?

Electric bikes are bicycles that work partly on electric motors and partly on physical pedaling. This allows the rider to retain the ability to pedal simultaneously, assisting when needed. There are two categories of electronic bikes: the geared and the direct-drive bike. My focus will be on the direct-drive electric bike.

Where can electric bikes go?

More torque is needed when cycling uphill, and this is what makes it tedious. However, the propulsion generated by the motor allows one to go uphill very easily. Additionally, the bikes can go over any terrain provided it is passable.

Working mechanism.

Direct drive bikes have the motor located at the center of either the front or the rear wheel. The motor is a combination of a set of magnets and copper wires. Collectively they form a stator. The magnets create an electric field when electricity is introduced to them and thus creating the propulsion force that moves the bike. The force generated is directly transferred to the wheel, and it is not passed from the pedals to the chain.

Advantages over the geared bikes.

The fact that they are gearless means they have less moving parts. Specifically, they only contain the ball bearings, which means the motor does not stand the chance of wearing off. The bike also reduces the stress imposed on the chains and gear shifters since there is no linkage between the pedal and the motors. This increases its durability. In addition to all these, the gearless bikes are faster and also quieter than their counterparts the geared bikes.

Disadvantages.

The gearless bikes, however, possess some setbacks as compared to the geared bikes and these setbacks are as follows. To begin with, it limits you to the wheel that comes with the bike since it bears the motor. This means you cannot change the rim to one that suits your taste, and equally, it fits only a specific type of tires. In addition to this, the bicycle is generally more cumbersome. For most gearless bikes, there is only one gear ratio, and this means when going uphill, the bike may not be able to generate the torque that is requisite when pedaling.

Durability.

Since the gearless bikes do not have a lot of moving parts in the motor, they last for a longer time. This is due to the less wear and tear they experience. Their durability is enhanced by the fact that the chain does not connect the motor to the pedals. This means whenever the motor is in use the chain will be idle and thus increasing its life span.

Maintenance.

They gearless bikes require little maintenance. This is because the bikes’ source of propulsion is compact. Breaking it down further, it implies that the components of the motor that is the copper wire, the magnets and the axle are all in one casing. This ensures that the parts are not exposed to damage.

How much noise they make.

The question of how much noise they make has quite a straight forward answer. The gearless bikes are noiseless.

Interestingly, the location of the motor can be varied. The motor can be located in the front or rear wheel. Front-wheel motors help the bike to balance the weight of the back end of the bike that is subjected to more weight. Flat tires are common for rear wheels, and so front motor wheel motors mitigate the hustle of changing the tire.

https://www.leedsbikes.com/electric-bike-motor-hubs-gearless-is-not-more/

Electric bicycle hub motors vs mid-drive motors: Which should be on your next e-bike?