Is enviolo the best internally geared hub for eBikes?

If somebody asked me what my favorite drive train for electric bikes was, it would probably be the Enviolo hub. They have been around for a while but have been growing rapidly in popularity. In this video we’ll go over what the Enviolo hub is and who it is best for.

Check out some bikes with the Enviolo system in the links below:

Riese and Muller:

Tern Bikes:

Urban Arrow:

Gazelle:

Let us know if you have any comments or questions in the comments below. Thanks for watching!

0:00 Favorite drive train on the market
0:40 What is a continuously variable transmission
1:00 Where are enviolo hubs used?
1:30 Setting the cable length correctly
1:50 Enviolo shifter
2:45 What is an internally geared hub?
4:00 Enviolo gear range
4:20 Automatic Enviolo hub
5:14 Fallbrook technologies NuVinci
5:30 Biking for transportation
6:15 Applications for the Enviolo hub
7:20 Technical specifications of the Enviolo hub
8:30 Other internally geared hubs
9:40 Traditional derailler system
10:15 How the Enviolo hub works
11:20 Enviolo Automatiq system
13:00 Which bikes have Enviolo hub?

#ebikes #enviolohub #internalhub #enviolo

Sync ID: MB018QWXY3081MI

[Propelbikes]

Hey everyone! Thanks so much for watching.

If you're interested in learning more about bikes featuring the Enviolo system, check out the links in the description! ✌

[pincus]

I have one of these in Australia and I added it to a recumbent which has made the experience very smooth and a real improvement. I don’t understand why there is not more hype about them. They are so superior to traditional geared with their fragility.

[briannugent]

I have been using the earlier Nuvinci N360 for 2 yrs in the front wheel of my self built front wheel drive (moving bottom bracket) Cruzbike T50 recumbent with a rear electric motor and I generally like it for my transport needs.
Its efficiency is significantly less than a typical derailleur because there is friction loss. A special fluid momentarily solidifies as its squeezes between the 9 planets and the very close input and output clutches. A few specialist sites comparing it with Rohloff hubs reckon its about 83% versus mid to high 90s% for geared hubs. I totally concur with that. I also agree this loss is a worthwhile trade on an e-bike.
When fixing a flat, there is the extra work of releasing a catch on one cable end on the hubs shift ring then popping out the other cable end. When reinstalling the wheel, I have to remember which cable end goes into which spot and to not rotate the shift ring out of alignment.
As I recall, Fallbrook recommends any mid drive motor limit its power to 350W, not a problem in Europe but I'd be shy to use a 750W mid drive here in the US.

[NedEntwhistle]

Another great video. Very informative. My generation was promised a flying car by now, but an electric bike is really nice to have.

[vincentdelporte]

2:32 A significant difference with other gear hubs. When stopped, only about ~50-70% of the range is available. To reach more, the wheel must be spinning. Do NOT force the shifter: At best, the fastener at the end might snap out of the hub; At worst, the cable will fray inside the shifter.

[FTezner]

I have the Enviolo 380 on my Priority Continuum Onyx (a commuter bike with a carbon belt but not an electric bike), and I think it is great. My experience is consistent with this video. It's very intuitive. At first it's easy to get confused about which direction you should turn the shifter, but you get the hang of it pretty quickly.

[darbo]

I bought an Enviolo-powered Tern HSD S+ last year for my wife and we both absolutely love it. Now I want one for myself and am just waiting for Propel to get more in stock. Unfortunately, we don’t have a Tern dealer near us, so I wish this channel could give us some support with some maintenance videos. In particular I’d love to see something as simple as how to change a rear flat tire on our HSD S+. The belt drive poses an intimidating complication compared to changing a flat on simple chain driven bikes.

[justinraywolfe]

3:23 Mad props for the subtle engineering genius of this frame geometry. Not only does the tensioner pulley maintain proper belt tension—it also raises the belt further off the ground and eliminates the need for a rear triangle split for replacing belts. It's a shame they didn't make the tensioner pulley arm open on one side for a tool-free setup.

[randysmitchell]

Having used the NuVinci Enviolo 380 for the last 4 years on my recumbent delta trike - I absolutely recommend this.

[danielkidd]

I purchased 2 nice upper end Treks electric bikes last spring. Circled western half of country with grandson home from college. Started studying other bikes and settled on R and M Homage mostly through your suggestion. Way easier on my 75 yr old back which has witnessed many breaks. What a beautiful machine. I went to purchase hottest one from Ann Arbor Mi shop and lady who owned shop talked me into version for older guys with Evolo trans. Ride every day possible for 7 months on Metro bike trails and moving to Keys for winter to attempt to wear it out. What a beautifully engineered machine.

[rachavya]

Here's some input from a 69-yr-old who's been cycling for 56 years.

A CVT does have a lot of benefits, just as you mentioned. From my childhood days, when I drove a 3-speed Sturmey Archer-based "English racer" in NYC, I can agree that a 3.8x ratio between lowest and highest gears suffices. At the other extreme, for adventure biking, I'd recommend a greater range, such that the high-end remains around 108 gear inches, but the low-end drops to something around 20 gear inches. Not only must an adventure bike have the low gearing of a mountain bike, but there's also the challenge of hauling extra weight (for all the supplies needed when gone for days, weeks, or months at a time).

You also mention "efficiency, " but fail to explain what you mean by it. I surmise you are referring to the mechanical losses (for example, due to friction) that make the power coming out of the transmission (delivered to the wheel) less than the power (delivered by the belt) into the transmission. This concept is just like we see in cars, where the horsepower coming out of an engine via crankshaft doesn't all arrive to the drive wheels. When one's battery is stout, and traveling distance short, some drop in efficiency can be tolerated, as long as it's reasonable. However, when going for longer distances and contributing to the power by pedaling, one had better maximize efficiency. How do the efficiencies of the Rohloff and Enviolo compare?

[evevangelist]

I tried out an EBike with an Enviolo hub and automatic shifting. It took me a while to get used to the way it automatically shifted and I did have the option to manually shift as well. But once I got the hang of it, I really liked the auto shift feature and almost never used the manual. Unfortunately, the bike had motor problems and I opted to return it under the company’s 30 day satisfaction guarantee. But I sometimes long for that amazing experience of automatic shift. I’m glad to see other manufacturers incorporating these features now as well!

[ERidesOn]

Great video as always! I choose the Priority Current e-bike because of info on your videos. They seemed to have the components I preferred for my wife's bike. Sadly the support was terrible. No manual! Nothing. Your really on your own after purchase. It arrived with a damaged front wheel and brake rotor. They blamed it on FedEx but it likely traveled a long way before FedEx handled it. Like from China? They refused to send me a new wheel & rotor, and take back the damaged wheel, but instead said I had to bring it to a shop to be repaired. I had to drop it off and pic it up. 4 trips at over a 20 minute drive each way. That's 1.5 hours of driving MY car. Twice mount and dismount the bike rack as well. Now I have a repaired bike for a gift. It seems now to have a parasitic drain. If I let the bike sit for more than a week it drains itself halfway. I called and asked about it and got nowhere except that I should charge both batteries again to see what happens. Same crap. Big I guess customer service isn't a "Priority" at Priority Bicycles.

[drajdew]

I have ebike with enviolo automatiq. In the begining, I was skeptical but after some time I am fully convinced this is the drive train I want. No need to worry about changing gears and so quiet. The downside is bit of drag but with ebikes, it should not matter.

[eminordee]

After decades of riding bikes, I recently got a Tern HSD S+ with the Enviolo universal hub and I love it.

[IngerMaaike]

I put an enviolo on my azub trike, the assist is a tongsheng mid drive. I am in love with the enviolo gear. Been cycling for transport all my life and this really is worth every penny. No more fidgeting around with screws and such. It just works. The fact that it is continuous is absolutely fantastic.

[peterterrell]

Thanks for a good explanation.
Mine is a Kalkoff German bike with Vinci 360 electronic shift - manual and automatic. It has worked well for 5000 miles but seems slow to change down when stationery now - maybe some wear?
Sometimes it seems a bit clattery, but generally it is smooth and so far, durable.
I cycle over stuff where only mountain bikes should go with rocks rolling under the wheels and hitting the spokes.
The 250W motor (max permitted in Europe) transmits power through the gear system to get me up 1:3 hills - sometimes so steep the front wheel comes up and I fall off. Whilst there's life, there's hope, and I hope it lasts another 4 mths. for my 80th birthday!

[ralfangermann]

I love the Enviolo system, its my favorite. I personally prefer the manual version over the automatic one. But yeah keep up the great videos. I love them. Wish you had a store here ;-). Cheers from Switzerland.

[sethpeterson]

I built a Surly Troll with an Enviolo hub for my wife's winter commuter. It is such a great hub. I need one on my bike too. It is a little heavy, but all that weight is directly over your drive wheel (which can be helpful--especially in winter). The next upgrade is a Veer split belt drive, then it will really be maintenance free.

[dannoharlski]

I installed an Enviolo hub with the automatic control on my ebike this year and I love it. Having an automatic transmission is a whole new riding experience! It is definitely less efficient than other options, I probably get five fewer miles out of a battery and need to use more assist than before but it's worth it. I have a heavy bike and usually carry more than enough batteries than I need anyways. This thing has been smooth and seamless, not to mention quiet. I highly recommend it!