Need Hub Motor Recommendation

[PetersReviews]

Hello All!

As my current e-bike (Crystalyte 408, Bianchi MTB, Ping 36v 20ah) starts to get rusty and I don't trust it as much anymore, I'm looking for a new build. I'd like to try a new motor using the same battery. Here's my list of what I want and hopefully someone can make a good recommendation. The new bike might be a Kona MTB w/ front suspension.

Must work at least as well as my Crystalyte 408 with my current battery
Rear hub only
The smaller and stealthier the better
Geared or direct, whichever works best
I don't need speed so 20mph is fine
Easy installation (I'm not as mechanically or electrically inclined as many of you)

As much as I'd just love a rear 408, I haven't found any for sale recently so I've been considering the Mac, BMC and eZee. I bought another rear geared hub that maxed out at 12mph so I want to make sure I don't make another costly mistake. Bonus points for steering me to an honest dealer!

Thanks for your help in advance,
Peter

 

[amberwolf]

The latest Fusin geared hub is very good so far, along with the controller they provide with it. It's sensorless, so no halls to deal with or fail. I have had no problems with the motor or controller in my review of it so far (just the display that they aren't planning on including anyway). 14s RC LiPo gives me more than 24MPH max; probably a lot more but 20MPH is the limit here so I have not pushed it to see (and the controller has a 40Km/h max limit, which I would like to disable but can't yet, but any sensorless controller that doesn't have a limit could be used to fix that)
http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=39877

Even the older Fusin hubs have been good given how hard I've pushed them, and considering how hard Dogman pushed them before I got them used from him.

 

[Chalo]

If you are looking to buy a new bike just so you don't have to replace or maintain the one you have, I sort of doubt you'll get a lot of support here.

What's the matter with the bike you have? Did you ride it so much without upkeep it doesn't work right anymore? Did you leave it to rot outside in the weather? Such things are both preventable and correctable. If it has surface rust that makes you distrust it mechanically, perhaps you should solicit an expert opinion from a local service shop.

If you just want something faster, lighter, or whatever, say what it is you are trying to get that your old bike didn't offer.

It sounds like the geared hub you bought would do what you want performance-wise if you feed it between 60V and 72v. There may be other reasons not to do that, but it would use a component you already have.

Chalo

 

[PetersReviews]

Amberwolf, thanks for the recommendation. I'll start reading through your thread and see if the Fusin would meet my needs.

Hi Chalo. My current bike has been ridden to death. I've taken great care of it but on a routine inspection I saw some possible frame cracks. Bad enough that I don't really trust it at high speeds. Beyond the frame, it's time to replace the spokes, chain, tires and more. The bike has been routinely cleaned and maintained but I already have a newer bike sitting there and it would take more several more times what the old bike is worth to fix it up to where I could trust it again.
Others have said that my current geared motor would be good at 48v but since it was advertised as great at 36v, it kind of makes me feel like I got hosed. Also, I'm not keen on getting a new battery and carrying around more weight. The geared will be resold but with plenty of warning that it's near useless at 36v.