Which is the better choice for off road?

BALDYMONSTER

Pedelecer
Mar 1, 2016
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Stirling
Which bafang conversion for my hardtail mtb is better for occasional but not hard off roaring, a hub or mid drive kit?
 

soundwave

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 23, 2015
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BALDYMONSTER

Pedelecer
Mar 1, 2016
51
6
53
Stirling
That's an impressive mid drive unit, but, which would be better to have when going off road?

Hub or mid drive?
 

soundwave

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 23, 2015
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mid drive as less hassle if you brake the spokes in a hub motor, as 1000w will be heavy.
 

BALDYMONSTER

Pedelecer
Mar 1, 2016
51
6
53
Stirling
I won't get anything as powerful as a 1000watts as I live in the uk
 

soundwave

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 23, 2015
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max power is 1600w for that motor so if you get a 250w it will still be over the limit anyway.

my bosch is 350w but its got prob over 500w max power
 
D

Deleted member 4366

Guest
That's an impressive mid drive unit, but, which would be better to have when going off road?

Hub or mid drive?
Probably a mid-drive because they're normally more expensive, so you could sell it and get more money for it than a hub-motor.

Seriously, you need to give some kind of context to your question.
 

D8ve

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jan 30, 2013
2,142
1,294
Bristol
Balance and low speed torque suggests mid drive.
Price and simplicity says hub?
What do you want and why?
 

BALDYMONSTER

Pedelecer
Mar 1, 2016
51
6
53
Stirling
I've found a dealer not that far from me that sells and fits bafang mid and hub drives in 250w or 500w.

Just the more I read, the more I learn but the more I struggle to decide which set up to go with.

I plan on doing 90% in the road, 5% towpath and 5% gentle off reading. No down hill or mega rough stuff at all.

The mid drives are louder, more noticeable and are better hill climbers but the hub drives are quieter and more discreet but not as good hill climbers.

Where I'm planning on going there are no seriously steep hills but a few long gradual ones.

Any off-roading would be the type of forestry commission areas sort of thing.

I am very new to all this remember and trying not to go and buy another superbike as I've had my "time" with them. I cannot do any sort of cardio anymore due to injury but have trained all my life very hard and consistently. I still do resistance training but I want to exercise my heart and lungs whilst trying to maintain strength in my knees (two ruptured quads) and back. Torn spinae erectors and arthritis everywhere.

Soooooo, getting it right first time is important to me as I'm hoping to be able to use whatever set up I get for a lot.

Plus I need a new hobby now I can't do any of the old ones. ;)
 
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Fordulike

Esteemed Pedelecer
Feb 26, 2010
3,802
1,538
Having ridden hub motor and crank drive bikes off road, I would 100% go with a Bafang BBSxx. I was always breaking spokes on the hub motor, and there was the worry that the drop-out could break if the rear wheel was hit hard under power. I can ride my current BBS02, knowing that the original rear wheel was designed to take the rough stuff, and the drop-out has no rotational force acting upon it. I've punished the bike way more than I would ever dare with the hub motor.
A BBSxx will have more torque for low speed manoeuvres across the rough stuff too.
 
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Deleted member 4366

Guest
Show us a picture of the bike you want to convert.
 

BALDYMONSTER

Pedelecer
Mar 1, 2016
51
6
53
Stirling
It's a Saracen Mantra One.

Just had it fully services, new BB, discs, front and rear mech, chain, cables.

Don't think I've got a pic of it.
 

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