2004 Giant Boulder -- help please?

[Bohh]

Hi,

I'm converting my Giant 2004 boulder to electric using the Amped Bike Kit. The frame is steel, but the fork is a suspension fork with aluminum drop outs. I will be using a Lifepo4 battery. I have two options:

1) Front hub kit and buy a steel rigid fork

2) Rear hub kit

What would be better for commuting to work on city streets/sidewalks year round?

If I have to go with a rear hub kit what is involved with installing it? I've heard you have to bend the frame. I don't want to do that.

Thanks!

 

[D-Man]

Go rear, don't worry about whats involved. Just get it.

 

[Anonymous]

.

 

[Bohh]

Why do you guys feel that way?

 

[D-Man]

Less problems and chance of failure in rear. Better structural supports, less vibration on acceleration. With smaller tires, my front motor made lots of vibration noise. Once I switched to Big Hank tires, it went away. If you really want a front motor, you can do it. I'm running one but I didn't know at the time. Lets see, I had 2 nuts that stripped out on the headset because it was a threaded fork and the Top lock -nut are made of aluminum. I don't know why they make them out of alloy. Constant back and forth movement ate away at them over thousands of miles. Since then I switched to a suspension fork threadless which works fine. But its modded if you like doing that stuff.

 

[dogman dan]

I like front drive, but it's not worth losing suspension for. Bear in mind you will ride a lot faster than you have been. If the frame rear dropouts are steel, a small tweak won't do any harm.

 

[docnjoj]

U can open the rear drops with a 2x4 or Allthread and nuts/washers from the hardware store. As long as they are steel, U can go as wide as U need to!
otherDoc