The Only Time a Mid Drive eBike is Actually Worth it

Is a mid drive ebike worth it? Here I discuss this topic and compare mid drives to hub motors given my experience with both systems.

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[thomash]

I bought a 1500w direct drive hub kit 26” earlier this summer. It’s a lot of fun. I ended up getting a BBSHD mid drive and putting it on a fat bike. Not gonna lie, when I first switched to mid, I thought I made a huge expensive mistake. After tuning it with the programming cable and spending a bit of time with it, I am not sure I will use the hub drive again. Now I am trying to convince my wife to buy a battery and use the hub drive - totally drive by guilt for getting into “a new expensive hobby that will only last a year” haha

[Altema]

I have a similar setup and agree it's a sweet spot. I go on group rides all over the place and ride with hundreds of mid drives, and they are a bit shocked when they encounter a GOOD hub drive setup. I met a guy who owns a company that builds e-bikes using the Bafang BBS02 and HD, and everyone on their group ride was friendly and invited me to go come along. The guy even gave his number so I could join them on future rides. But then we stopped for a restroom break in the hilly park we were at, and I powered up a steep berm to get back on the path, it turned out his bike couldn't make it. Granted, his chainring/cassette combo didn't give him any torque multiplication, but it was unexpected to the group which just expected a mid drive to be better in every possible way. He was good natured about it, but when I texted him back I was "uninvited" to their group rides.

I'm currently using a Phaserunner on a RadMini with a Bafang G062, and dual 52v 20Ah Tesla batteries. I wish I had gone 72v, but the thing accelerates up 22% grades and keeps up with gas mopeds and scooters fine when unlocked. It's not a Sur Ron, but it wasn't meant to be.

[luckage]

You do a great job on your videos, very informative. Thank you. I agree that the mid drive is best for more extreme trail riding. I’m currently riding a Trek Marlin 7 with a Bafang 750W/48V/11.6Ah. It’s great on the hilly trails of Northern Alabama. Keep up the good work.

[arronjohnston]

i've run 1000w hub and 1000w mid drive i'll never ever waste my own or recommend anyone to go hub, the difference is night an day mid drive is far superior better cruise speed, higher top speed, longer range, better towing, better hill climbing, less drag .... mid drive for the win!!

[braxtonk]

I feel like I've had multiple times where I realize your subcount and am perplexed. You're super underrated.

[tocatchthesun]

Lol. The end was great. I am so thankful now to put your voice to a face! Love all your videos! 😃

[simedogz]

How do you like that bike? Is that the original back shock or did you replace it? Any opinion on the Luna cycle folding ebike with the same form factor as your bike? Thanks

[Leevan]

you tried a bafang ultra? bc my rear hub bike been collecting dust since i got the mid drive frey bike

[Jujubees]

What do you think of cooling fins and statorade fluid on the hub drive instead of fans?

[robertpek]

What do you use to record audio while on your bike?

[traviseller]

I’ve been a bicycle mechanic for the last 20 years I can tell you this 90% of problems people have with mid drives or any electric bike for that matter is generally user error poor writing style shifting when you shouldn’t or in proper shifting breaking things. Take care of it use it within reason they’re all super durable.

[ashpunting]

I do have two mid-drive bikes but I'm going to get the Zooz electric bmx bike with hub drive 750w because out of the three thst dose have the most torque plus I'm not that bothered about going a few mph faster what are your thoughts on the Zooz electric bike 😀

[Bergwacht]

I have my controller in a rear rack side pocket and had heat problems. Now I drilled holes in the front of the bag that ensure airflow and everything has been great ever since. The faster i drive the more air flows through

[darkmanxg]

I love both mid drive and hubdrives. I found mid drive great for stealth and off road. Tons of torque and pulls my kids trailer with ease. Hub drive is great for commuting and top speed.

[jstar]

I like both but sold my hub and kept the middrive. Like the transmission with the gears and everything built into the motor as far as controller and all. Both are great but the middrive is my go to.

[Ubaid]

No one able to solve my problem.
Brother I have an e bike named as Raymon hardray 4.0. It has a yamaha mid drive motor and a yamaha display. I tried to increase the speed of the bike by putting magnet to pedals and removing sensor from its original place.. it worked perfectly but suddenly it stopped working completely. It gives very little peddle assist. Before I could go max 16miles but now the motor doesn’t support 5 miles.
The change in the display that appears after this problem is that the range shown on the display is blinking. It never blinked before. Please help me. I haven’t found any video to solve this problem. No one in my area is able to identify the problem

[michaelrowland]

I know in the US some states allow 750w motor upto 28 mph and some I think 500w motor upto 20mph sadly here in the UK we allow 250w upto 15.5 mph and as to be pedal assist as once reach that speed motor as to cut out. My hub ebike as been great and done nearly a 1000 mile on it before converting it to mid drive, I have had no problems with motor or wheel been great, certainly good for the longruns and slight hills a great help as I am 58 with heart condition and weigh about 21 stone, so yes motor as done really well and still there is no problems with it the only reason I have changed to mid drive is for the steeper hills.

I am just starting on my mid drive now so can't say rather one gets a lot of problems with them or what is less hazzle mid or hub, what I do know is mid is a lot more expensive and uses the gears more giving more of a cycling experience, alway felt if I was bepulled a little on my front hub but certainly got a lot of peddling in as well, I also think in the US you can use throttle here in the UK we are not suppose to but I do have a thumb throttle which I only use when going up these steep hills, so 95% of my ridding is peddle assist and its so easy to go over the 15.5 mph our so many times peddling takes over the motor even with a hub drive so we never rely just on a throttle.

The idea of me getting a ebike is for exercise and not use the car so ofrwn and its working, eventually the ebike will pay for itself on the fuel I would be puttin g in the car so yes certainly recommend a ebike. I would get rid of the car if it wasn't for my wife as she wont peddle and can't drive, so that is 90% of my driving chauffiering the wife around I only use it once a week for myself. Sadly I don't see ebikes taking over cars but certainly can see a place for them and a increase, I feel in the UK if they went in more line with the US they would encourage more use of electric bikes but limiting them reduces the usefullness of them as even with my mid drive going up some of these steeper hill isn't possible especially for us older, unhealthier and heavier riders where we need that extra power to help. Mike

[HB-yqgy]

Thank you for your great e-bike knowledge. I live in Milford, NJ a lot of hills we test rode the Pedego boomerang & interceptor they rode great in flat Florida not sure in NJ? Most likely will ride on Delaware towpath. What's your thought about Ariel Grizzly's 52v dual motor looks badass?

[earnestthomas]

You think this a 52V 15Ah 1000W Ebike Battery Lithium Panasonic 21700 USB very good for a start off on a beginner first Ebike in my life ??

[k.d.]

Okay, when do you cut to the chase? It has taken most of the video to get to the issue.