How powerful is a 250W hub motor?

How powerful is a small 250W hub motor? Is it powerful enough on an electric bike?
These may be questions you have if you are in the market for an electric bike or conversion kit for your current bike.
I hope this demonstration will help you decide if a 250W system is enough for your needs.

[@revolutionarydevelopments6]

A lot of ingrates and deplorables here commenting on the weight and fitness of the rider in this video. We all have to start somewhere, at least he's out there keeping active. This man was kind enough to take time out of his day to provide free information to those who were interested. Thank you sir for showing us a real world representation of the capabilities of 250 watts of power.

[@peytonmac1131]

Probably all making fun of him while they're smoking their cigarettes and pouring booze down their throats. We all have our vices.

[@steveadams96]

Well said.👏

[@gideoncone6024]

Also probably don’t even bike or will ever get one and for sure they were sitting on their ass at the time

[@robwheelut]

Its too easy for the hater to post. Unfortunately they get most of the attention.

[@jillyanddavedave280]

They are perfect when you are over 70 and have bad heart valves I could not ride a normal bike.so perfect for us oldies to get about.

[@808GT]

exactly the video i was looking for to understand what 250w is good for. super helpful, thank you.

[@e-bikecommuter6336]

Thanks! Glad to hear this was of help to you.

[@UncleManuel]

This was very helpful, thanks! It also shows the limitation of a hub motor - the slower it turns the less power it can put though the wheel. A hub motor has a certain optimum rpm in which it has the highest efficiency. That's why the controller is pumping up the electrical power at high load/low speed. On a mid drive system you can manage the motor rpm by simply downshifting on a steep hill. Disadvantage is of course the higher wear on drivetrain components... ;-)

[@BenDurham]

I'd just like to comment on the beauty of the neighbourhood! Looks so peaceful and quiet! Perfect for nice bike/ebike cruises

[@bobravenscraft5376]

No no we need negative comments. The internet you know Lol

[@lyndonp6296]

I live in a 'hilly' area (in New Zealand) and needed to know is 250 watts would be enough . Thank you for this video ad all the work you put into it.

[@mrm5515]

This was very helpful, listening to most people you get the impression 750 watt is minimum. I now know 250 is all I need. Thank You!

[@pfarraldcash6095]

absolutely correct, my only concern is that I don't have to pedal so hard uphill.

[@Tahsin2015]

​@@pfarraldcash6095for climbing on hill perfectly without pedalling you should get a 48v 500w hub motor.for normal usage and some little hill climbing 350w is fine but you have peddle

[@fishface20077002]

This was the most helpful video I have found in terms of practicality when it comes to these bikes. As a person who wishes to get back into cycling to lose weight ( I'm 19 stone) , It was most helpful to see some one closer to my weight, giving a review that is relevant to me personally and help me make an informed choice, thank you,

[@robertbrawley5048]

19 stones? I got to Google that

[@robertbrawley5048]

266 pounds is equivalent to 19 stones

[@Shishou_Shi]

19 stone/266 pounds is 120.7 kilogram for those in 90% of the globe

[@bobs12andahalf2]

Yeah the obvious answer is 250 Watts but this is a great demonstration of how that actually translates to real life application on a bicycle. Thanks for making a very useful video that I'm sure will help a lot of people who are wondering exactly what to expect from this type of motor. I was pleasantly surprised at how easily it pulls you along.

[@LesterWalters]

Good demonstration of the capability of a 250w motor. Higher wattage motors require larger heavier batteries. If you don't need the higher wattage the price for conversion is much lower. 👍👍

[@bobravenscraft5376]

Basic view of Electricity people miss. More Volts. Like pouring more water out of a bucket. Sure you gain but you lose. Think about it. 36 v 500. 20mph. 48. Same 28mph. Give and take $$$$$$ I wish I rode a 24v. So. DAMN CHEAP. BUT SLOW

[@richardsouthern1975]

Thanks for these pics!! Kit ordered, waiting for delivery! Thanks again

[@e-bikecommuter6336]

Richard Southern Great!

[@4thegloryofthelord]

Thank you. This video helped me to understand my choices for ebikes much better.

[@bikeboomer2617]

Your demonstration was very helpful for me. Thank you.

[@james-p]

Great vid, that was very helpful! Now I have a much better idea of what a 250W hub can do, thanks.

[@MechAutoClinic]

Very useful video. Got lot of numbers to understand the power of 250w with rider. Thanks from India.

[@Duck_Ellington]

Thanks for the video. Useful to understand what the specifications of the e bikes mean in practice

[@metalheadmalta]

Thanks, this video was very informative, and excellent feedback as well to the comments. Subscribed.

[@marcoantoniovqz.vqz.8192]

THANK YOU for YOUR TIME and THE LOAD TEST. It Was Very Helpful for me. Now I have a good idea of what Motor Capacity Should be Looking for my Needs. I have a pair of those 250w motors for my Off Road & Urban Road Tricycle. No Need More than That.!.

[@waynefilkins8394]

Standalone it's not fast enough, but the interesting part is if you have to go say 5 miles, which is pretty rough of a ride when just peddling, I bet this would provide a lot of assistance...just make the peddling much easier. I kind of like this concept because getting a 500w + would make you kind of lazy, but with the 250w you're still getting some exercise but can go much further without becoming completely exhausted. For example I want to buy one for going to the gym which is 5 miles there and 5 miles back. This would be rough going 5 miles, then lifting heavy weights for an hour, then having to ride another 5 miles. With the 250w it would probably make it much more viable for me, but if I went higher I would be lazy and probably not peddle at all

[@sailingaeolus]

Yeah, I've seen it used with bike packing too (lots of gear, tent, food, etc). Keeps the amount of work a rider has to do reasonable.

[@QBziZ]

It's just that. I still work up a sweat when going fast, but I have the option of going a bit slower and having a lot of assist. Uphills and headwind are the game changers.

[@robertbrawley5048]

Very helpful. I didn't think it was going to make it up the third hill but it surprised me . 250 Watt motor would serve my purpose well

[@robertbrawley5048]

Me too and I'm willing to pedal as well I weigh 220 pounds bike could weigh 50 lbs . 140 kilos equates to 307 pounds so I should have even better performance

[@gogotrololo]

Thank you! Finally I find a video that SHOWS the performance of an electric motor in the real world, and with a load that isnt 80kg. I'm a 136kg rider on a new bike and struggling to get around hills in the area, and this sold me on getting a conversion kit to help me stay motivated to keep going with a bike :) I'll get a 48V 500W motor since some of our hills here are not quite as pleasant as yours

[@mooneepondsmassive7016]

Good on you. Just get a motor at the crank and not the hub

[@QBziZ]

@@mooneepondsmassive7016 There are lot of reasons to do a front hub motor on a bike like this. First there is the forces on the drive train. None with a front hub motor. A lot with a mid-drive. You may need to upgrade some of your components. Secondly, the weight, it's good to have a bit of extra weight at the front, since so much weight is already at the rear.

[@BadAtGoodHabits]

This is great, exactly the video i needed. I was debating getting a 250w front hub bike.

[@jonahbert111]

That is on a 20 in tire, which is important information. I have one on a 700C with an oversize tire, 35mm+-. It goes faster, but does not pull itself up hill very well. It needs a lot of help on a steeper hill, which is understandable. So for those considering, the tire diameter is a very important consideration in how the motor will work out. In hilly terrain either go for a small diameter wheel or with a larger motor, perhaps with regeneration. If you live in flat terrain, regeneration would not be worth it and a 250 to 350W will likely be all you need, depending on your capabilities. ??

[@Olafleflibustier]

Nice and useful video ! good work !

[@nolanr1400]

Extremely useful and informative video 👍👍👍 Thank you so much

[@marcellucassen8033]

Very helpful video that shows how much the motor would pull without pedalling and funny how you could still get home on pedal assist should the chain break, you could keep pedalling and the motor would still work

[@jamesstalnaker8937]

EXCELLENT, VERY WELL DONE AND INFORMATIVE.

[@Slab_City_or_Bust]

Although I already have a 36v, 250w bike, mine does not display wattage use. Thank you for the video.

[@crtnmoya]

EXCELENT VIDEO MAN, THANKS! Regards from Chile.

[@crtnmoya]

I'll get my 250w bike tomorrow, my weigh is 70 kg so if it was good to you, for me too. thanks again

[@sinethembancede705]

Thank you. Just the video I needed to see

[@Rocksaplenty]

Hey, thanks, this put it in perspective for me, I appreciate it.

[@LScott97]

Extremely useful video! Well done!👍👍👍

[@peopeo35]

im used the same kit 2 weeks ago...im very happy....im 85kg weigth..the bike has 13 kg ..and bikepacking about 5 kg...total: 103 kg.....the level 1 of asistance its veriy nice for flat roads...in uphill i used level 3 and im taking 13 km/h speed....i recommended the semislicks tires for road if you have a mtb.......finally im used the 11 ah battery...with this battery i can did 60 km with 1000 m positive uphill acumulated. if you going only flat roads yo can did over 80 km for sure

[@hksunchaser1]

useful information and good work thx

[@tvaa9758]

Thanks! Planning to install a 250 hub motor which only weighs 1,4 kg and a 1 kg custom built lithium battery to my delicate 6 kg carbon fiber road bike, and hope it wont be to much for the frame. Theoretically, 150W from me and 150w from the motor should be enough to get me to 45-50km/h.

[@JuCarlos-ex8ip]

Yeah you should be able to get speeds of 35mph to 40mph

[@sallytaylor8646]

Nice video, very helpful!

[@shillout7270]

I have a 250W rear hub and where I live- very steep roads. In my dreams are a 500W front hub at least. In the long run it would take the strain off the rear and be better for the motors and batteries. Cheers

[@gevinization]

This man is showing how powerful in layman’s term. You all geeks do not panic about it and show your ignorance.

[@loooooopy]

IIT it it clearly says 250 WATTS god I'm so smart no one else can read

[@spartanworria]

In laymans terms its 500 watts

[@Surmoka]

@@loooooopy yet if you calibrate your battery to 250W, you'll be severely b0rked, so rather pay attention than pretend to be smart

[@johncooper7242]

thank you for posting the test and review its been very helpful . Before your test I had no idea what motor power I would need .

[@GoldenSim27]

thanks for sharing this usefull informative video sir !

[@sitamaheshvlogs]

Hello my hub motor is of 36v 350w rating.. I supply power of 36v via battery pack but the motor rotates slowly. What is the problem???

[@limitless1692]

Very useful video !!! Thank you

[@uppitywhiteman6797]

Thank you very much, I'vv wanted a demonstration of an elec. 250 hub

[@ethansloss6854]

The answer to the question in the title would be 250 watts.

[@watchulukingat]

i only clicked on this because i knew this comment would be here +1.

[@sallytaylor8646]

Slightly cruel - yet also correct LOL

[@matframpton6177]

I'm your 100th like. Brilliant sir, and oh so true! LMAO!!!

[@czarzenana5125]

Most of them can deliver over 500 Watts though. Their nominal power is 250 Watts although the average power (hopefully) is less.

[@bennievandentillaart7276]

Funny but not completely accurate. 250 watts is the power they draw. amps and torque are also important

[@JuCarlos-ex8ip]

This is one of the best reviews

[@alterateawful6709]

Nice informative video I am looking to buy one

[@BicycleFunk]

Thank you for the review.

[@YNRSuperBikers]

Best and perfect tutorial for all ebike builders

[@yekutielbenheshel354]

Excellent! Thank you!

[@lucianom3585]

Great and very useful video!!!!

[@TheJunkyardgenius]

Good video thank you. What speed can you get on the flat road with pedalling?

[@freehugs9223]

Thanks, very informative

[@888mrshoe]

thanks man very useful

[@timothynolan5987]

Can it be derestricted or is there a way to draw more power from it As it seems to have so much.

[@adamkostan8671]

Nice work

[@davidrossmiller8349]

So 12 to 15.5 mph top speed, I'm glad I went with a 750w. Good video 👍

[@biluroy4455]

My motor 350 Watt 36 volt bldc motor battery 15 ah 36 volt maximum speed 45 km pH on flat surface 20° incline 40 kmph

[@shadowdance4666]

I live on a really really steep hill 750 rear at parts barely keeps me going

[@andrewnorman6193]

Extremely useful a big thank you, I'm also about 118kg. This clearly shows that the 250w will pull me along nicely, I don't need to break any speed records just go on shopping trips about 12km round trip. incidentally can you tell me the controller output and battery voltage and amps?

[@e-bikecommuter6336]

Andy Norman I have a 17A controller and a 36V, 13 ah battery.

[@Salafrance]

I live in a hilly area, I weigh less than you do, and I have a 750W mid drive mountain bike with an alloy frame. I can handle the majority of hills in third or fourth and at a decent rate, but there's one hill I have to tackle that requires me to shift to first gear. I wouldn't want to exchange it for a less powerful bike.

[@Dennis4abril]

Salafrance try the 1000 watts wheel and make sure the battery takes 1000 watts i purchase that on ebay .is faster 28mph but not sure about up hills.

[@Salafrance]

Thanks - I might try that sometime with a new build.

[@Dennis4abril]

TRUE BUT GOOD LUCK FINDING ONE .

[@computerjantje]

yes very helpful. thank you very much

[@bumblebimmer]

My bike and myself weight about the same . I was concerned about battery size and motor size. However the speed controllers are usually rated at 25 amp and the voltage for me is around 50 volts. It doesn't really need to be more than 500 watts .

[@joepvankesteren]

Do you know if there is much difference between the Ciclotek and a Bafang front wheel motor?

[@jrgenthomsen8692]

God test and super info Thanks

[@kurtismckemmie4850]

I have an Ancheer city cruiser 250w electric bike. That "hill" your talking about, is absolutely nothing compared to hills I ride. It's great for flat surface and down hills. 25° and higher, it bogs down even with pedal assist. 350w and higher is my best suggestion for steep hills.

[@emailyarabrandao]

awesome. how many spokes is your rim? what size? i have a folding bike, 16 inch rim and 28 spokes. can i still lace these hubs? i believe they are 36 holes. thanks in advance.

[@OutdoorFun01]

Great! Very helpfull!

[@delorusclaiborne3274]

Thanks for this video useful to me 🍻

[@Dominic-cr4lu]

What an amazing morning. What country is this? Thanks for the video man! :)

[@angelariasmoreno764]

Thanks from Spain 😁

[@dillahbibi4747]

Very helpful.

[@gerryscat]

250W adds some assist, peddling is definitely still required. I have had 350W, 750W and now 1000W systems. The 1000W system I have right now is pretty sweet, but even with it I still peddle hard on the hills to help maximize battery life. The harder the draw, the harder it is on your battery and these things are expensive.

[@e-bikecommuter6336]

Gerry H I agree. This is why I haven't bothered to install the included thumb throttle. 250W is simply not powerful enough to allow me to cruise around only using throttle.

[@Colllinnn]

Good video .thanks.

[@eddi2262]

Hi, many thanks for the video. I've installed nearly the same system in my bike. System weight about 120kg including my weight. the motor has enough power to push the bike easyly to the 25km/h. Do you already tried to adjust the wheelsize in the menue of the Display? the top top speed varies, depending on the wheel size in the settings.

[@e-bikecommuter6336]

Eduard S I have the wheel size set to 20" as I want the mileage to be correct.

[@kevin48800]

thank you for the video

[@joannepiasecka8449]

Thank you

[@cycletrucks7132]

I assume you are pedaling because you are using the cadence sensor for throttle control? Have you any experience with the wattage of the 250 watt bafang using a torque sensor?

[@QBziZ]

I added a Bafang front hub motor to my Bullitt recently. It works great but the top speed is limited on a 20" wheel, because the controller limits the max rpm of the motor. The simple type of controller supplied with the kit does not allow any advanced tuning, so I am stuck at around 22.5 km/h with actual assist. This is ok since I didn't ride the Bullitt much faster anyway. Hills and headwind are a day-and-night difference, flat is more like dusk vs evening.

[@johnbiggins4864]

I'm 100kg and 250w is very helpful .AT 59 y.o exercise needs to be fun and this is a great way to start

[@allanallansson9532]

One might wonder what percentage of those watts that is actual work and how much is lost as heat.

[@anunakizz]

buen video homre, lo unico que falto es comparacion con un motor de 1000 wats, ya que se supone en teoria es 4 veces mas fuerza , , y si con el controlador adecuado se puede alcanzar una gran performance en cuanto a bateria y confort, y si todos lo kits de motores chinos son iguales que los de marcas reconocidas como bosch, golden motor, etc

[@VVVhitesnake]

Nice review man, thanks! But how come the bike never reached 25 km/h as it's maximum speed and was only 20 km/h? Thanks.

[@FreddieLarga]

how many volts your battery ?

[@e9999qwe]

nice idea to put out a video like that, thanks! But I don't recall hearing what the grade of the hills was, which would have been helpful. Without that info, it's kind of hard to relate, unfortunately. But again, thanks.

[@ayeejiff9847]

Thank u for video :)

[@densamme1752]

Thx for the video.

[@shaynefitzgerald7928]

How would it go if it had a CVT added.

[@otixtools]

thanks :).good luck

[@bassotalli6494]

It can take litle overvoltage to gain acceleration. One guy put hubmotor 75v, and it worked fine. Just more batteries to encrease voltage.

[@FlyManChimera]

House fire speedrun

[@marcoantoniovqz.vqz.8192]

I always thought that 250w Was for Slim People or Keeds Under 60 kilos. WOOOW ,!. "WATT" A IMPRESSIVE DEMO.!. Gracias Señor.

[@waelkmail6133]

Can i add a front electric wheel to my rear assist e bike?

[@47f0]

Hill climbing requires torque - torque at the tire is going to be lower with a 26" or 700c wheel than with a 20" wheel. I'd really lean toward 500w, although a 250w motor can provide decent supplemental power, when you need it most is when you'll find you don't have quite enough to make it up that one hill with a load of groceries. Just depends on your usage. If you'll only be on known routes, and just need a boost, 250w will do. It's when you start to challenge it with a variety of terrain that you may find there are limits - maybe more than you think.

[@ChibiKeruchan]

so even if it was rated 250W it does go beyond that? I'm a but confused. now I have to double check the thickness of my nickel strip that I was using to repair a certain bike that runs with the same brushless motor.

[@cassk9999]

Wow cool, this has really got me into electric cycling : ) with cargo carrier

[@edifierbass7821]

For me thats seems to be ok, it will survive, I'll just add additional battery to compensate the loss..

[@Topsiekku]

is that 550w maximum what that controller can give?

[@Pahilaboys]

Thank you for sharing...

[@jondonnelly4831]

What is this like on hills, I don't need assistance for the flat but hills kill me.

[@khalilkh7389]

How much power watt usage assist leven 2?

[@tobdamusic7422]

Can we upgrade speed in same motor 250w at 40km/hr.?

[@SolarizeYourLife]

You can use your smartphone to get an angle reading of slope with proper app, not always easy cause you need to get on your knees to read or mount on a parallel bar on bike, with ground...

[@uvwuvw-ol3fg]

Agreed, hard to tell the slope grade percentage from the video, even google maps or komoot might not show the true numbers for small inclines.

[@dmbfannh]

I have an e bike with a 250 watt motor on it and it will top out at about 20 MPH on a flat service when the battery is fully charged nearly twice the speed you were able to get with this., I wonder why?>

[@mikk01975]

Nice video. Thank you 😊 I see a lot of comments about the low power, but there's also the legal issues with motors above 250 W. Although, to be fair, I haven't seen anyone inspecting these, as long as you pedal and don't use throttle, which also isn't lawful here. So, 250 W / < 25 km/h / no throttle is the legal limit for class 1 ebikes. But it never ceases to amaze me why a bike can't have a throttle, while very similarly specked escooter can. What's the difference?