Front Hub Motor is too wide for hydraulic brake, what to do?

[smapdee]

I recently purchased a Kona Dew Plus hybrid bike with hydraulic brakes. http://www.konaworld.com/dew_plus.cfm

I then installed a Dillenger 1000 watt kit on it with a little bit of wrangling however the hub motor is too wide to allow clearance for the brake to be placed back into position. This leaves me with only a rear brake and I have some crazy hills in my area. Has anyone encountered this situation? Are there any alternative braking methods that may work? I couldn't seem to find any previous posts on this. Thanks. http://dillengerelectricbikes.com/electric-bike-kits/1000w-electric-bike-kit-10ah-upgraded-by-dillenger.html

 

[beast775]

Posting pictures of the problem will help immensly,do you have proper torque arms? but to answer your question,a bigger brake rotor and spacer most times work.

 

[melodious]

Often times with geared 500+watt hub motors, a 160mm & 180mm disc rotor has interference issues. Get a 203mm disc rotor & an adaptor for the caliper to space it out further to resolve that issue.

 

[d8veh]

Normally a bigger disc and caliper adapter fixes it.

 

[dogman dan]

Definitely that's your best solution. Adapters to change to a larger disc.

 

[MadRhino]

If you can find a Magura Gustav M, it does clear most hub motors, with the additional benefit of being one of the best bicycle brake ever made. Too bad they don't make it anymore, but some can be found on the used market. Yhe new MT7 is definitely a major improvement, but lost the single side pistons floating caliper design that is making the Gustav so thin on the hub side.

 

[smapdee]

How would one determine the proper size of adapter to purchase. Can I take a measurement on the bike?

 

[Ypedal]

When i exhaust my stash of adapters and rotors, i resort to visiting my local bike shops, they usually have the rotors with the right adapters available and know what you need by looking at your bike.. some day i will have all this stuff figured out

 

[MadRhino]

How would one determine the proper size of adapter to purchase. Can I take a measurement on the bike?

You make the adapter to match the mount that is on the caliper, and the IS mount on your fork. Use 1/4 steel or best ALU 60xx angle stock, that is easy to find locally. Half an hour of angle grinder to shape, another half hour to mark and drill 4 holes, and finishing at will with file and sand paper... Much faster and cheaper than finding and ordering the exact adapter, you only need to buy a front brake and fit it.

Use a large rotor, the Magura is 210 but Hope is doing much better with a 225mm light weight floating for 60$. Your custom adapter is well worth a few hours of work, if it does let you fit a larger and better rotor, and why not extending to a proper through axle drop out plate at once. :wink: