I had beforehand put an electric-assist equipment on my Trek hybrid, which I loved for a few years. Then it stored working its means free. This was a “mid-drive” equipment, with the motor positioned the place the cranks are. I may inform it was in peril of damaging my bike body, so I took it off. I used to be in a position to reuse the battery from that equipment and get an electric-assist rear wheel equipment for my recumbent. A draw back of a rear-wheel equipment is that you just lose a few gears as a result of the motor takes up a number of the obtainable width. So my bike had 9 gears within the again and now has seven. This isn’t an issue as a result of the lacking two gears had been for climbing, and now I’ve help for that.

I’ve had this arrange for a few weeks and adore it. It actually extends my vary. For instance, final Sunday’s 60-mile trip would have been doable, however I’d have been fairly drained after. It was a breeze with the help. Plus it’s enjoyable to cruise at a sooner velocity, it’s very easy to go 20 mph for lengthy durations. My coronary heart price monitor tells me I’m nonetheless getting an ideal exercise.

There’s one different function that’s particularly helpful on a recumbent. This equipment has a thumb throttle so I can get help from a standing begin. Beginning out is awkward on a recumbent. It’s a must to go away one foot on the bottom, push off with the opposite to get going, and shortly decide up the second foot to get it on the opposite pedal. This may be wobbly, and nearly unattainable to do if you need to cease whereas going uphill. Now I can simply get going with the help. Downside solved.

There are professionals and cons of hub motors vs. mid-drive motors. The latter are in a position to reap the benefits of your gears, as a result of they work via the cranks. This could make them higher at climbing, however I can climb simply as effectively with my hub arrange on the recumbent as I may with the mid-drive on my Trek. I discussed how one can lose a few gears with the hub motor. However I nonetheless have my triple chainring up entrance, so I’ve a 21 velocity bike. With a mid-drive motor, you sometimes solely have one chainring, so I’d have ended up with a 9 velocity. Lastly, fixing flats is tougher with a hub motor. There’s a hefty nut to unscrew as an alternative of a fast launch to get the wheel out. Due to this, I put a Scwhalbe “marathon plus” tire on that wheel, which has actually good flat safety. I additionally put a thorn-proof tube, for “belt and suspenders” safety.

It can save you fairly a bit by including an electric-assist equipment to a motorcycle, quite than shopping for a motorcycle with manufacturing unit electric-assist. That’s very true for recumbents. An equal setup to mine would have value round US $8000. I acquired the equipment for $500 (If I’d needed to get a battery with it, I’d have paid about $500 extra, however I used to be in a position to reuse a battery). And I acquired the bike used for $1500. The drawback is that you’re by yourself putting in the equipment and dealing on it if something goes improper, except there’s an installer you’ll be able to rent in your space. Native bike retailers normally don’t need to work on electric-assist set-ups that they don’t promote themselves.