ES Hub Motor Spoke Consensus

[E-HP]

I’ve read a lot of posts over the years regarding hub motors and wheel building. I then reread several posts that I had bookmarked before lacing my first hub. The wheel turned out fine, although if I ever build another, I’d go with thinner gauge butted spokes with washers. Anyway, the quote below is part of a Google ai response regarding wheel building, that references ES as a/the source. In the referenced thread, it would appear that the consensus from experienced ES wheel builders on the thread is the opposite of what Google interpreted from it.
I’m not sure how others feel, but referencing ES, and then conveying inaccurate info rubs me the wrong way. Anyway, maybe I have the consensus wrong, since I haven’t read every ES thread.

“E-Bike Hub Specifics
When building an e-bike wheel around a hub motor, be sure to communicate your dropout spacing and battery/motor wattage with your builder. Because many budget motors are sold without matching rims and spokes, the builder will likely need to order thick, high-quality spokes—often custom-cut—to handle the torque and heavier weight of the e-bike. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]”


Interestingly, if you do a simple browser refresh to redo the exact same search, you get different results, almost each time.

 

[offGridDownUnder]

Computers are fast, loyal, idiots. Don't expect them to be smarter than you are. Only stupid people let computers tell them what to do.

 

[99t4]

I’m not sure how others feel, but referencing ES, and then conveying inaccurate info rubs me the wrong way. Anyway, maybe I have the consensus wrong, since I haven’t read every ES thread.

Maybe consensus is not the best way to judge the best info? I would value the explanations, methods, and techniques of a few experienced successful wheelbuilders over the forum's general consensus.

Looks like your google AI response example fell into the (seemingly logical at first glance) trap that thicker spokes are better. This pervasive meme has achieved urban legend status and has been repeated so often that the AI must assume it is true.

Interestingly, if you do a simple browser refresh to redo the exact same search, you get different results, almost each time.

This tells me that AI is nearly useless in this application, as the user can just keep pushing the button until they get the answer they like. Reminds me of my early teen years when I kept turning over that Magic 8-ball to find out if Gina liked me. (I didn't like the first few answers.) Anyway, magic 8-ball or no, I think she really did like me.

 

[E-HP]

At some point someone will start a class action against them for fabrication of information and attributing it falsely to others, like the ES forum. Take the bots to court lol.

 

[E-HP]

This tells me that AI is nearly useless in this application

Can you move this thread to the forum information subforum please? It’s really more related to what happens to forum data after it gets snatched from here. I’m happy with the quality of the information I access directly here, applying greater weight to ES members/experts who I’ve learned to trust over time on certain subjects.