I'm considering a rear hub motor for a new build, but that motor has an OLD of 145mm, and I don't really want a bike that will fit only that dimension. I'm thinking maybe cold set the frame to 140mm. That way, I can pull it apart by hand for the extra 5mm for the hub motor or squeeze it 5mm with the axle nuts or skewer if I want to put a 135 in.
The only thing is I've seen people swear up and down that you'll get non-parallel dropouts and it will ruin the hub bearings or even destroy the hub, which sounds like an urban legend to me. Anybody have experience with non-optimal hub spacing?
The only thing is I've seen people swear up and down that you'll get non-parallel dropouts and it will ruin the hub bearings or even destroy the hub, which sounds like an urban legend to me. Anybody have experience with non-optimal hub spacing?