2016 was mostly about the big block which had no heating issues but a drive system that was breaking down every few rides.
2017 will see a new rounding of testing for this intense bike.
I look forward to the front hub motor because I have never ridden one. http://www.ebikes.ca/grin-all-axle-hub.html
I will see how it goes together with the mid drive. If it holds up a few options include, removing the mid drive for a rear hub motor. (I am pretty sick of repairing and blowing cash on the drive train) The other option if I don't like it on this bike is to put it on my carbon hard tail for on road riding.
As a dual motor approach on the intense, there are various thoughts before getting the motor.
+
extra powered traction - a complete new riding style for climbing
reduced strain on drive train - this works in two ways. One is the front is taking some of the load and the other is gearing the bike to much slower takes less power through the system
2 speed system - hub rolling out to a top speed, rear set to about 30kmh
-
cost
weight - unsprung and carrying it
and things in the white wash - efficiency is down since hub motors waste more, but the mid drive would be geared to a lower speed so using less. regen capable should return some too but that usually gets balanced by drag. More braking power also is balanced by more weight. Manouvreablity harder to steer yet possibly can manouvre through with extra traction. will the added weight help or hinder on rough climbing of steep where the front wants to lift....
All in all, I have pretty low hopes that this will be better overall, but in a nutshell, I want to try 2wd as apposed to just 2 motor rear drive as on my other bike. There are things you have to try for yourself.
Correct me if I am wrong, I might be the first person to have run this on a bicycle, and nobody has run lightning rods big block as hard as I have and still opted for an additional motor
A final note is, I would have never got a front motor because I don't see mtb suspension forks as capable of one, I am hoping that Justin's all-axle will be a different story and I won't break my neck or smash my skull and teeth.