Appreciate your responses guys. The thing is I love my Escape 3 and it is serving me well on long journeys. I suppose I'm trying to avoid any pitfalls while trying to keep using this bike with an electric configuration, I will take this bike to Halfords so they can confirm of v brakes are compatible. Then I will look into the parts mentioned here.
Swytch Max++ Rear wheel kit
- Thread starter azy77
- Start date
I'm going to bet that they say no, then recommend that you buy one of their ebikes, like the Subway, Vengeance or whatever they have in stock.
Subway Vengeance. Who knew that you could generate a band name from Halfords stock of ebikes.
Well the cassette motors are in the sale ! (not that it really matters, you can install a cassette motor wheel on a bike that had a freewheel, just means you need to buy a 7 speed cassette)
36V250W 26"/27.5"/28" Rear E-Bike Conversion Kit for Cassette with 36V13Ah HL1 Battery
1.Technical Data and Packing list 2. Warm tips*Our package is equipped with an integrated sensor（as top left corner）. The original pedal sensor in kit isn't fit for Hollowtech II and Octalink. The brake levers are not fit for bike with hydraulic brake. Please carefully confirm the suitable...www.yosepower.co.uk
View attachment 63995
While this offer is on I feel tempted to go for it, however it looks like my bike has the freewheel mechanism.
I have marked what part moves and what stays still when rotating anticlockwise
Can anyone tell if this is freewheel?
Yes I'm pretty sure its a freewheel - doesn't matter, I've used cassette motor wheels to replace a freewheel rear wheel - just means you need to buy a cassette to put on the cassette motor wheel - the shifter doesn't know if its a freewheel or cassetteWhile this offer is on I feel tempted to go for it, however it looks like my bike has the freewheel mechanism.
I have marked what part moves and what stays still when rotating anticlockwise
Can anyone tell if this is freewheel?
Thanks Peter, do I have to get a locking ring (or nut?..) for that cassette you linked to attach it to the yose wheel?
Not completely sure but I've always just bought the cassette and fitted it onto the cassette motor wheel - someone will be along shortly if thats not correct !
Cassettes are easy to remove and easy to fit, and usually mechanically better than freewheels.
Freewheels are easy to fit, but can be very hard to remove.
As said above, you will do much better to buy a cassette hub motor than a freewheel one, even if your bike already has a freewheel. You need to make sure it is the right width for your dropouts.
Leave the old freewheel on the old wheel and give them away. They won't be much use to you, but could be to someone else.
Freewheels are easy to fit, but can be very hard to remove.
As said above, you will do much better to buy a cassette hub motor than a freewheel one, even if your bike already has a freewheel. You need to make sure it is the right width for your dropouts.
Leave the old freewheel on the old wheel and give them away. They won't be much use to you, but could be to someone else.
My current cogs are 14T-34T, would this 32T set also work?
Shimano CS-HG200 7-Speed Cassette | Tredz Bikes
Could probably get a new chain, although I don't have any particular issues with current chain but it is going on 7 years. If anyone knows can you recommend a good quality chain that is reasonably priced?
You'll lose the very lowest gear, but the motor should more than make up for that.
You'll gain a slightly higher top gear, which you may find useful once electrified.
I changed a 14-28 to an 11-32 recently; our new Ecosmo tandem was hopelessly too low geared (even for us).
That was a bigger change in range and the back changer worked absolutely fine with the change.
I tend to buy KMC chains. Standard 7 or 8 speed should do well. You don't need any special e-bike chain. With a powerful crank drive motor the chain takes lots of extra stress; but with a hub motor the chain is usually under less stress than it is with a regular bike as the motor drive doesn't go through the chain.
You'll gain a slightly higher top gear, which you may find useful once electrified.
I changed a 14-28 to an 11-32 recently; our new Ecosmo tandem was hopelessly too low geared (even for us).
That was a bigger change in range and the back changer worked absolutely fine with the change.
I tend to buy KMC chains. Standard 7 or 8 speed should do well. You don't need any special e-bike chain. With a powerful crank drive motor the chain takes lots of extra stress; but with a hub motor the chain is usually under less stress than it is with a regular bike as the motor drive doesn't go through the chain.
Thanks sjpt, my Swytch refund is back in and I've now ordered the Yose, it's over £400 cheaper and will be delivered next week. I'll order the cassette and chain and hopefully all goes well.
If it does, then after a few years when I'm more familiar with conversion kits, maybe I can do some motor/ battery upgrades.
Appreciate all the help guys.
You should get a freewheel motor kit, then you don't need to change anything.
36V350W 26"/27.5"/28" Rear E-Bike Conversion Kit for Freewheel with 36V13Ah HL1 Battery
1.Technical Data and Packing list 2. Warm tips*Our package is equipped with an integrated sensor（as top left corner）. The original pedal sensor in kit isn't fit for Hollowtech II and Octalink. The brake levers are not fit for bike with hydraulic brake. Please carefully confirm the suitable...
www.yosepower.co.uk
Freewheel motors are better than cassette ones because they can handle more power and give more torque. How many gears do you have? Your present top gear will be too low when you get a motor, so it would be better to change your freewheel to one with a higher top gear. If it's 7 speed, you should get one of these 11/32 option:
DNP 7 speed 8 speed 9 speed MTB freewheel 11-28T 11-32T Bicycle Flywheel Steel 11T 13T 15T 17T 18T 19T 21T 24T 28T 32T - AliExpress
Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com
www.aliexpress.com
I saw the option for freewheel but it was £50 more than the cassette and plus people online from various forums stated that the cassette version is superior all round in bikes. The gears are 3 by 7 (3 at front and 7 at back).You should get a freewheel motor kit, then you don't need to change anything.
36V350W 26"/27.5"/28" Rear E-Bike Conversion Kit for Freewheel with 36V13Ah HL1 Battery
1.Technical Data and Packing list 2. Warm tips*Our package is equipped with an integrated sensor（as top left corner）. The original pedal sensor in kit isn't fit for Hollowtech II and Octalink. The brake levers are not fit for bike with hydraulic brake. Please carefully confirm the suitable...
Freewheel motors are better than cassette ones because they can handle more power and give more torque. How many gears do you have? Your present top gear will be too low when you get a motor, so it would be better to change your freewheel to one with a higher top gear. If it's 7 speed, you should get one of these 11/32 option:
DNP 7 speed 8 speed 9 speed MTB freewheel 11-28T 11-32T Bicycle Flywheel Steel 11T 13T 15T 17T 18T 19T 21T 24T 28T 32T - AliExpress
Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com
Details of my Medium sized bike (you have to scroll down): Giant Escape 3 2017 | Bikes.Fan
Taken from Freewheel vs. Cassette: E-Bike Gear System Showdown – Voltriderz :
"However, the integrated design of freewheels presents challenges, especially for e-bikes. The high torque from an electric motor can put immense stress on the freewheel’s internal mechanism, leading to premature wear and potential failure. Additionally, freewheels typically offer a limited gear range, which can restrict adaptability on varying terrain. Furthermore, the integrated design can lead to slightly less efficient power transfer compared to a cassette system. This is because the forces applied to the pedals have to travel through the entire freewheel mechanism before reaching the hub. While this difference might be negligible for casual riding, it can become more noticeable under the high torque of an e-bike motor, potentially leading to a slight loss in efficiency. "
Is there any particular reason why you reckon I should get Freewheel still? Thanks
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I think that was written by AI. Can't see how the torque from a hub motor would put stress on a freewheel.
Yes it would work, but as others have said, you probably won't need that largest cog because of the extra power from the motor.
Yes kmc chain, I would only change it if you need to
Fwiw, I think that kit is very good value and decent quality and allow you to upgrade in future
I'm not going to disagree with that because I am aware you know much more about this than I do, but can you explain why this is the case, please?
Freewheel motors might be slightly wider than cassette motors, and power/torque is proportional to motor width...
The detailed drawings for a particular motor in the two forms would show the degree of difference.
The AKM cassette motors are normally 142mm wide, which makes installation a bit harder, and they need the rim to be built off-set a lot more than a freewheel motor, which can give spoke tension issues if not built very well. My rule is 7-speed or less = freewheel motor, and 8-speed or more = cassette motor, but if they do the cassette one cheaper enough (unusual, they're normally more expensive), I might make an exception.
You shouldn't take notice of irrelevant tripe found on Google searches from guys that haven't a clue what they're talking about. The Volt people are nice guys, but they're not too good at figuring things out. We had a challenge on the Gadget show between a bike I built and one they built. Mine absolutely blitzed theirs. Theirs wasn't even half-way down the course when Jason on mine was over the finish line. Jason didn't even break a sweat, while as the olympic champion Amy (really nice girl in all respects), poor thing, was literally lying on the ground gasping for breath and unable to speak afterwards, while Jason was non-stop saying how good his bike was. It might have been that Volt put the wrong cassette on their bike or something like that.
They cut all that out when they put it on the TV, re-ran the race with Jason riding side-by side with Amy and tried to make it look close because what actually happened in the race was too one-sided.
Whole video of the race in post #26 here:
Gadget Show tonight
There was a commercial comparison of the two bikes, with the implication they were comparing two road legal machines, which they were not. The implication is there because 1) the volt is a road-legal machine, and 2) the number of people who possess sufficient private land to make a serious and...
www.pedelecs.co.uk
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I see, part of me thinks the cassette sale might be due to returned kits they are trying to re-sell, but I could be wrong. Thanks for your advice mate, I'd rather go for an option with less issues when it is within my means - have requested cancellation of the cassette version.The AKM cassette motors are normally 142mm wide, which makes installation a bit harder, and they need the rim to be built off-set a lot more than a freewheel motor, which can give spoke tension issues if not built very well. My rule is 7-speed or less = freewheel motor, and 8-speed or more = cassette motor, but if they do the cassette one cheaper enough (unusual, they're normally more expensive), I might make an exception.
You shouldn't take notice of irrelevant tripe found on Google searches from guys that haven't a clue what they're talking about. The Volt people are nice guys, but they're not too good at figuring things out. We had a challenge on the Gadget show between a bike I built and one they built. Mine absolutely blitzed theirs. Theirs wasn't even half-way down the course when Jason on mine was over the finish line. Jason didn't even break a sweat, while as the olympic champion Amy (really nice girl in all respects), poor thing, was literally lying on the ground gasping for breath and unable to speak afterwards, while Jason was non-stop saying how good his bike was. It might have been that Volt put the wrong cassette on their bike or something like that.
They cut all that out when they put it on the TV, re-ran the race with Jason riding side-by side with Amy and tried to make it look close because what actually happened in the race was too one-sided.
View attachment 64018
Whole video of the race in post #26 here:
Gadget Show tonight
There was a commercial comparison of the two bikes, with the implication they were comparing two road legal machines, which they were not. The implication is there because 1) the volt is a road-legal machine, and 2) the number of people who possess sufficient private land to make a serious and...
As for that clip, that's crazy, goes to show that the ones with the mechanical know- how aren't always the ones on screen.
Lots of people here have used the Yosepower cassette motors and freewheel motors and I think they are both generally reliable.
That 350w freewheel kit has a superior controller and display to the 250w kit although not within the UK pedelec law (max rated motor 250w.) There is a 250w freewheel kit but out of stock of 28" motor wheels
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