Hub motor vs. mid drive motor - Which one is best for ebikes

I'm always a bit reluctant to listen to some gear head talk about his views on ebikes, but I must say this fellow was a pleasant surprise and the video and info was top notch. Thank you.

Fantastic primer without the eye-rolling technical jargon. Every e-bike shopper should watch this. Great job!

Well done. The element you did not mention is the mid-drive reducing unsprung weight which is going to make a big difference on the rear wheel handing rough terrain.

Thank you for the information. You made my decision easy. Hub all the way because I'm an older man that will use the throttle more than peddling except when in peddle assist.

I am absorbing everything out here about e bikes, this was VERY HELPFUL!!! Thanks for an excellent tutorial.

Just learnt, more in 10 minutes.than in 5 years . Just brilliant. Thank you

Hub motors have been blown away with mid-drives. 1000 watts on my last conversion.

Exactly what I was looking for--an unbiased, reasoned comparison between ebike drive trains. Well done!

THANK you Sir! You did an excellent job in explaining the differences between Mid-drive and Hub motors for E-Bikes. Your video here makes lots of sense on a rather complex subject > 🙂

Thank you! this by far is the BEST and most clear explanation about ebike motors I come accross!🙏🏻😊

I really enjoyed this video and learned a lot. Well done, Francis! Thank you. I had a 500 watt hub motor ebike first. I then went to a 750 watt mid-drive. Both had cadence sensors. I thought I would LOVE the mid-drive bike a lot more, especially as it was more than twice the price, but sadly I don't. I've JUST put out more money than ever before on a Stromer ST5 ABS. 650 watt, 850 watt at peak performance, hub motor with torque sensor. This thing is a rocket, including for climbing hills. It's whisper-quiet, super powerful and feels totally natural. The power delivery is so smooth. This bike wins hands-down. High end. Hub motor Torque sensor I'm now selling my mid-drive. :-)

This is the clearest and most well balanced review of the different systems I have come across. Very well delivered thanks.

Yes! For my next ebike, I want a hub motor with a torque sensor because I don't need the advantage of a mid drive. I'm not biking up mountains. And I don't want the extra stress that a mid drive puts onto my drive chain for the sake of low maintenance and simplicity. But I'm tired of my cadence sensor ebike because I feel like I am helping the motor with my pedalling rather than the motor helping me.

Super high quality content. You can reach Electrek heights :)

If you compare a 500watt hub motor and a 500watt mid drive motor you will find that the mid drive has a lot more torque.

i like the bafan 750watt very much, 3 years no break down.

Well-done, Francis. You did a good job of staying unbiased. I don't mind the cadence sensored hub motor bikes; they just take a bit more of a technical mind to put them to good use. You're right that they don't feel as natural (compared to a regular bike). After a fellow goes through that learning curve, it doesn't matter any more. My wife and daughter didn't like it though; they went into it with the expectation of it being like a regular bike, so they were disappointed.

Great video! Thank you very much.

Top quality info without the frills or bias! Thanks for this 15 minutes of extremely valuable eye opening content!

Hello Friend, and thank you for this video! This is a wonderful and informative video! I have never owned any kind of ebike and I was just about to buy a DIY kit but thank goodness I watched this first! You have shown me the exact type of motor I need for my bike and the type of riding I do. I gave you a like and I just subscribed. I do appreciate your info! Best regards! An Ohio recumbent rider wanting to cruise 100 miles or more on paved road.