Aluminum Vertical Dropouts

[blueb0ttle2]

I am helping a friend build an ebike, and his bike has full suspension and disc brakes! Whoa, I thought to myself, a dream come true! But then I noticed that the frame was aluminum, and had VERTICAL dropouts. Can I use a hub motor on his bike, as long as it's got a torque arm? I am thinking of using a 9C or a Crystalyte 5305. So, I need this thing to be safe as can be.
Cheers.

 

[beast775]

double up on torque arms,make sure placement is good,if you have room.very safe.

 

[Drunkskunk]

On the rear, right? Yeah, no problem. Torque arm is needed, 2 is better since the dropout can't take much, but I abuse the @#$% out of my Aluminum bikes with no trouble.

 

[blueb0ttle2]

Drunkskunk, does your bike have vertical dropouts then? Also, I'm not sure if I can fit double torque arms. My friend's got a 7-speed gear cluster back there.
If worse comes to worst, he says he's willing to buy a steel front fork, I guess we can look for a used one.
Still, for once I can build on someone else's dollar. Sweet

 

[Drunkskunk]

Vertical, up and down, yes. Like the pic below.

1 dropout is enough, 2 is a safety margin. But then 1 wheel braking is enough.

 

[MadRhino]

...But then 1 wheel braking is enough.
Yep, front end failure can send you to hell before you have time to say OUTCH!
Build in the back, you'll have a better feeling, and safer ride.

BTW, nice Stinky. I loved this bike.

 

[blueb0ttle2]

My friend and I settled on an Amped Bikes Direct Drive Kit (rear wheel motor with torque arms, probably on 36 volts). It fit nicely in his budget, and I've wanted to play with brushless for some time now. Also, I can't wait to hit 20 on the flat! (See how low my expectations are! )
This is a bit off topic, but the Amped bikes controller can handle up to 60, which means I can goose it at 48 no problem, right? It just voids the warrantee, I think
I'll put up a build log as we go, since it is one sweet lookin' ride.

 

[Drunkskunk]

I'm doing a review on that motor, One of the things I plan to do is see if the controller will handle full amps at 63 peak. I've even bought it's replacement

 

[blueb0ttle2]

My friend is more comfortable with steel, so we are getting a new front fork and mounting the motor there. Which is cool, since I'm getting his old fork

 

[Rifle]

My friend is more comfortable with steel, so we are getting a new front fork and mounting the motor there. Which is cool, since I'm getting his old fork

Be aware that there's very few forks w/ suspension w/ steel lowers. Most travel I've seen on them is 63mm and they only come as part of a bike (e.g. a Trek 820).