Hello from new member, need advice

[Dule]

Hello everyone,

I'm Grega from Slovenia, new to this great forum where I learn a lot every day. I would like to ask you guys for advice, I can't decide between buying a hub motor or mid drive for commuting around town. I would like to buy whole kit, assemble it myself on my Marin trekking bike and keep it as lightweight as possible. What do you guys suggest, should I go for TSDZ2 kit or some other kit with hub motor (please can you suggest any)? The town I live in is more or less flat and I would like to get speeds up to 30-32 kmh while pedalling. Would 250W motor be enough?
Thank you for help and all the free knowledge I get here!

Grega

 

[Nealh]

The lightest motor for 30/32km/h is the akm 100h or cst 36v 328rpm with approx. 18a.
The other option is akm 128c 48v 260rpm it can handle a lot more current 25-30a), still both would need a battery with good 15/20a cells.
Speed will soon eat in to the capacity so depends on the distances one wants to ride.

 

[Nealh]

Geared hubs will be more reliable then the tsdz2 and will not wear the gear train as quick. Tsdz 48v has a max cadence speed of approx . 90rpm and any larger chain ring then the 42t may cause motor damage, unlike a geared hub one can use a larger chain ring for gearing/speed.

 

[AndyBike]

If its trekking then I suspect you'll have a rack and panniers fitted. These packed add a fair bit of weight and if its a rear hub motor thats a lot of weight too, so you might find it wants to lift the front end going up inclines, which obviously isnt ideal. A mid drive will at least space out the weight better.
Thats all I have to say, im not favouring one or the other, just a note on weight distribution.

 

[Nealh]

I have rear hubs and load some 20kg in the panniers, never yet had the front wheel lift off. A 250w - 500w motor won't cause it to do so even with 20a.

 

[Nealh]

He (Grega) is commuting around town on flat terrain not trekking.

 

[Dule]

Thank you for replies,
yes I am leaning towards hub motor, because I only need it for commuting and it needs to be reliable. Yesterday I tried my friends BBSO2, it's too fast for me (I don't need 45 km/h, only 30). He also has a lot of problems with chain.
I read about 100h and 128c motors and I like this idea (thinking about 350W).
Can you please recommend any European vendors with reliable kits like the one you mentioned (akm 100h, akm 128c )? I guess I need whole kit, because I don't know how to setup motor with spokes and rim...
Thank you for help!
Grega

 

[Nealh]

Unfortunately the AKM 100/128 motor is China only order, I don't know of any EU vendors. We use Topbikekit or Greenbikekit, in the past BMSbattery was also used but the choice from them is a bit more complicated to choose.

If wanting an ultra light hub then the more expensive but tiny Bafang G370 is quiet and very light in a front wheel with steel forks, it rides as well with no power as well as with power.