Hub Drive VS Mid Drive | Electric Assist on a Recumbent Trike

[@youtubedavidprice]

Excellent presentation, James. Very clear and not too technical.

[@longrider42]

I ride a long wheel base recumbent. I converted it to a Ebike, back in 2019, by using a 48 volt 500 watt Direct Drive, magnetic Hub motor the front wheel. So now I have front wheel drive. And if the motor or the rim goes pear shaped. I just drop the front wheel, put my old wheel back in, get the motorized wheel fixed, but I'm still riding. So easy to work on . If a Mid drive goes out, your screwed. I have Pedal assist on my Ebike, but also a throttle. So its easy to use and was easy for me to install. Something to think about.

[@Lhaffinatu]

This video exactly answered the questions I had about the motor system differences.

[@NoSelf23]

Another great video by Laid Back Cycles. This is something I really needed to know. Thank you, James!

[@nigelnightmare4160]

My biggest bugbite of the mid drive system is that you lose the triple chainset up front therefore putting more strain on the drive system when you need it most (going uphill). This means it's putting more power through the drive system in a higher gear causing MORE wear n tear. If you're going to have a mid drive system it would be best to have a Rohloff hub or similar and use a 1/8" chain coupled with narrow/wide chainring and sprocket.

[@normroach5433]

Thank you, James. Every bit of clarification helps.

[@outandaboutontherecumbents]

Seems like more folks are calling the mid-drive a "inline drive" motor these days, LOL I always used "bottom bracket motor". One bad thing about the rear hub motor is that it makes changing out a flat on the rear wheel, just that much harder when your out riding, best thing is the rear hub motor is normally quite a bit cheaper than any of the "inline motors", even in the EBO line up. JMHO, nicely done video! :)

[@SjaakSchulteis]

If you put Schwalbe tires or the like, you don't have to deal with flats...I have those and wouldn't want any other tires anymore.

[@outandaboutontherecumbents]

@@SjaakSchulteis LOL the tire that went flat is a Schwalbe Marathon Plus! They are very flat resistant BUT they do sometimes get a puncture.🥺

[@msbuttercup2073]

Oh wow thanks I didn't think about that.

[@kennycatbox5559]

​@@SjaakSchulteisschwalbe tires don't get flats? Could u please explain...I'm a noon. Thanks

[@SjaakSchulteis]

@@kennycatbox5559 Well obviously they can get punctured, but chances with a regular tire is much higher. They are composed out of layers of sturdy material that is not easily punctuated. I had to fix my tires several times in the first weeks, but now already two years without a flat.

[@jamesdaniels3699]

I have mid drive on a Terra trike All terrain and so far I'm loving it... I've rode once 🤯

[@j.sonntag383]

I have Falco hub motor drive that has a torque sensor. Riding it seems more like your description of the Bosch mid-drive. I would like to know your comments, if any, about the Falco system.

[@joelindsey7889]

I ride a trike with a hub drive motor and have had a lot of problems breaking spokes., wife’s trike has mid drive no spoke problems.

[@kennycatbox5559]

Im a total noob. Can either style motor simply be turned off? Im not sure I'd want constant assist. Probably only when needed...some uphill and if I'm totally gassed. Maybe hub with throttle my best option?

[@LaidBackCycles]

The electric assist can be turned on or off - it's not permanently on. There are also levels of assist depending on how much you want.

[@johnwiltson3164]

With the hub drive could i just keep swaping the batterys if i need to and how long could i use the motor with out peddeling untell it hurts the motor?.

[@timekpr9198]

There are a lot of variables. How fast you ride. Are you riding in a hilly area. Outside temperature. How much you use the motor when pedaling.

[@longrider42]

I ride a bike with a front wheel hub motor, I carry two batteries while riding, so swapping them out is no big deal. And I've used the motor only on rides as long as 9 miles, when I was tired and needed to get home. And it won't hurt the motor, if you get a good one.

[@rowgler1]

@@longrider42 You can mount both batteries on your bike and wire them in parallel if you get a battery equalizer. That way it increases the overall range and the batteries are less stressed. I did it on my Sun Fat Tad trike with a Bafang 1000 wt mid-drive. It more than doubles the range of running down one battery at a time. The equalizer is important to protect the batteries.

[@deebee5342]

Cost vs cost catryke road, I install?

[@LaidBackCycles]

Cost for the Catrike Bosch is 3050 and you have to have a dealer install it.

[@msbuttercup2073]

Hi, what do you suggest for a 20in fat tire upright tricycle?

[@LaidBackCycles]

We don't sell uprights. But I would look at iZip

[@msbuttercup2073]

@@LaidBackCycles Thanks for responding. Is that a electric motor?

[@MickeyOBrien-dm3ud]

@@msbuttercup2073 Its an upright electric trike. I don't know if they also sell motors.

[@msbuttercup2073]

@Mickey O'Brien OK thanks. 👍