Ebikers Advise: Seeking RELIABLE, powerful rear-hub motor

[msebold]

Hello Ebikers!

Thinking of building my next E-bike (it will be primarily a commuter vehicle) with a simple, yet fairly powerful rear-hub motor. I'd like to know Ebikers' individual experiences with such motors. Brand and model, how did it perform, and HOW LONG DID IT LAST?

I built my current Ebike using a Bafang mid-drive motor and a Nuvinci N360 hub transmission. I was very pleased with performance. My bike could pull ANY hill in town even pulling a fully-loaded bicycle trailer. However, my first Bafang motor (a BBS02) crapped out after 2000 miles, and my brand-new Bafang BBSHD crapped out after only 1000 miles. This is despite the fact I was fairly gentle in my treatment of both motors (always utilizing the transmission to keep from excessively lugging the motor). The Nuvinci transmission has worked fabulously and has survived both crappy Bafang motors (Only 1000 miles? Really dude? How do you say "cheap shit" in Chinese?). BTW, multiple requests to Bafang for warranty service have been IGNORED. Suggestion to Bafang for a new slogan: "Bafang: The only thing more worthless than our motors is our warranty!"

While I am working on rebuilding my crappy Bafang motors I am thinking of building another ebike with a simple, yet fairly powerful rear-hub motor. This would obviate the need for a separate transmission, chain tensioner, and frequent chain replacement. I seek a rear-hub motor that can be run at full throttle for an average five mile commuter trip, that is powerful enough to motor up your average commuter hill, and that is reliable enough that it WON'T BURN UP AFTER 1000 MILES.

So what are your experiences good people? I suspect that I need a rear-hub motor of perhaps 1500 to 2000 watts. Reliability is very important to me. So, who has had one that they were impressed with, and HOW LONG DID IT LAST?

Your kind input is greatly appreciated.

Mike Sebold
5213 Tessa Way
Columbia, MO 65203

 

[friendly1uk]

DD has the least bits to go wrong and the popular 3000w one can produce about 60 torques for the duration.

 

[markz]

You need to buy a Direct Drive (DD) motor, like the MXUS 3000W motor, and lace it into a 17 x 1.60+ MC rim.

The LEAF is another great motor that lots of people are raving about. I believe its about the same weight and size of the MXUS motor.

Yescomusa.com I believe sells DD motors. Which comes in a package. There is an entire build thread and reliability test done and posted on Endless Sphere.

I dont know if EM3EV sells DD motors. Their MAC motor is a great geared motor. You can also look at Luna Cycle or www.ebikes.ca or TeslaNV at Kinaye MS. Ebikessf is another company. I cant think of any others right now.

Then you need to buy a 18FET controller. Lyen has a good controller, which is easy to program. This allows you to hook up any battery you wish. If you want a cheaper option, Sunwin sells an 18FET for much cheaper but is not programmable............. yet 8)

Battery options, I listed above, they sell batteries too. Dont forget a throttle and Torque Arms and a Hub Motor Freewheel removal tool, and a charger. I am probably missing some stuff. Oh Well!

 

[msebold]

Thanks for the great and useful information friendly1uk and markz. I will look into the MXUS and LEAF direct drive systems. Thanks again!

 

[dogman dan]

Pretty much any of the DD motors out there will last 5000+ miles, then maybe, need bearings. The lifespan of the motor is more or less infinite if not jumped or crashed, bending up the axle. This is at 1500w, which is really plenty. (48v 30 amps) The larger, wide magnet motors can take a lot more abuse than that.

Wheels stuff, can last 5 min, or many thousand miles, just depending on the quality of the spokes and rim, ability of the owner to maintain a hard run wheel, and the load. Running 3000w plus does get hard on wheels, as does excessive weights.

Controllers, good ones, tend to last years. But cheap ones vary, from 5 min to just as long as expensive ones.

My own experience with dd motors is not even close to a record, but one particular E bikekit motor and controller ran for 4 years, 2000 miles a year.

 

[msebold]

My own experience with dd motors is not even close to a record, but one particular E bikekit motor and controller ran for 4 years, 2000 miles a year.

Thanks dogman. Sorry I never responded to this. For myself I settled on Kinaye's new version of the MXUS 3K-Turbo (a 3000W direct drive system). Barent Hoffman at Kinaye has been very helpful and very easy to work with. I'm looking forward to receiving the MXUS, which will probably arrive in a week or two.

I am curious. If you don't mind saying, which motor and controller was it that lasted you for four years?

 

[wineboyrider]

Pretty much any of the DD motors out there will last 5000+ miles, then maybe, need bearings. The lifespan of the motor is more or less infinite if not jumped or crashed, bending up the axle. This is at 1500w, which is really plenty. (48v 30 amps) The larger, wide magnet motors can take a lot more abuse than that.

Wheels stuff, can last 5 min, or many thousand miles, just depending on the quality of the spokes and rim, ability of the owner to maintain a hard run wheel, and the load. Running 3000w plus does get hard on wheels, as does excessive weights.

Controllers, good ones, tend to last years. But cheap ones vary, from 5 min to just as long as expensive ones.

My own experience with dd motors is not even close to a record, but one particular E bikekit motor and controller ran for 4 years, 2000 miles a year.

Probably the one you gifted me that still works? The 9C rear 6x10? Lol
FTR I have at least 10,000 plus miles on my front hub motor 9C, but it has never really been hot rodded.

 

[dogman dan]

The one I gifted you likely only did 2000 miles,, but every mile a pounding ride on dirt, up extreme grades, and much of it running on 72v.

The one that did more like 8000 miles was a similar front hub 9 continent/muxus (500 w rated) type, or clone if that term doesn't offend. Still have it, not in service. The controller from that early E-Bikekit brand kit is still in use on an off road bike, but driving the 500w geared motor. Re reading, it may have sounded like it lasted 8000 miles, but its still alive and kicking hard. I just gave up on trying to test that one to destruction at 4 years, and started trying to test to destruction the motor E bikekit is currently selling.

It will be very hard to wear out one of those 3000w muxus motors. Controllers may come and go, but you won't beat up that motor very easy.

 

[msebold]

It will be very hard to wear out one of those 3000w muxus motors. Controllers may come and go, but you won't beat up that motor very easy.

Thanks Dogman. I am certainly hoping that's the case. I plan to use this motor on my commuter bike for a long time. Barent Hoffman (Kinaye) gave me advice on weatherizing the innards of the motor, which I plan to take. Hopefully, I'll just have to change the axle bearings each year (annual maintenance).

Speaking of controllers, I went with the 12FET 75-volt controller (Kinaye also has a 90-volt 18FET controller for high-perf applications). The MXUS hasn't come yet (should come this week) but I received a copy of the manual for the controller & display. Boy! I never knew something written in English could seem so ... Chinese!

 

[dogman dan]

Length of your commute, likely you won't need axle bearings till at least 2020, maybe 2025.