Tiberius
10 kW
Just had an epiphany on this.....
I've gone over to rear hub motors for my new builds. I've got a commercially built bike with a front hub motor and I'm not entirely happy with the handling - I've been putting it down to the weight of the motor on the front wheel affecting the steering
But if we consider this idea of the roll axis. It passes very close to the rear hub, but well above the front hub. That alone explains the difference between the rear hub and front hub motors. Its not that the front hub weight is on the part that steers, its not that its at the front rather than the back. The important factor is that its well off the roll axis.
Nick
PS. There are corollaries to this. If you can only afford one lightweight rim/tyre, put it on the front. Use a rim rather than a disc brake on the front.
I've gone over to rear hub motors for my new builds. I've got a commercially built bike with a front hub motor and I'm not entirely happy with the handling - I've been putting it down to the weight of the motor on the front wheel affecting the steering
But if we consider this idea of the roll axis. It passes very close to the rear hub, but well above the front hub. That alone explains the difference between the rear hub and front hub motors. Its not that the front hub weight is on the part that steers, its not that its at the front rather than the back. The important factor is that its well off the roll axis.
Nick
PS. There are corollaries to this. If you can only afford one lightweight rim/tyre, put it on the front. Use a rim rather than a disc brake on the front.