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Electric bikes – or eBikes –have seen truly electrifying (pardon the pun) sales in recent years, and the industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the transport industry. Riders can go faster, further and longer without tiring. e-Bikes can be used for anything, with people ditching their car in favour of riding electric bikes and used by all manor of businesses and trades people for last-mile delivery. People just love the thrill of riding; as we say at Electric Bike Sales, “Electric bikes give you superpowers”. With a massive variety, cyclists can choose from a huge range of motor and battery options, styles, and price points.

But one question that comes up regularly is, “Should I opt for a bike with hub drive or mid-drive?” Well, we aim to help answer any questions you might have, so read on!!

Firstly it’s essential to know the differences between the two drive types:

Mid-drive

On a mid-drive eBike, the motor is mounted directly between the pedals at the bottom bracket. They are often seen as the more ‘high-end’ option since they operate at the pedals. The ride often feels more natural as the motor’s torque is applied to the chain or belt.

Mid-drive ebikes also tend to feel more balanced and easier to manoeuvre because the drive is placed in the middle of the bike. Hub-drive ebikes typically have the weight biased towards the rear or front.

An advantage of a mid-drive compared to a hub drive is that it makes use of your bike’s gears. An electric motor operates more efficiently at a higher RPM, and mid-drive motors are generally tuned to optimize efficiency at a natural pedalling cadence. So when you pedal in the right gear, the motor will be operating at its maximum efficiency.

All this means that given equal power and torque, a mid-drive motor will usually be better going up steep hills, assuming you are using the appropriate gear. The mid-drive’s ability to work with the bike’s gears has additional benefits, such as an extended range, and provides a more ‘natural’ ride experience.

Hub Drive

Hub drive motors are the most common type of motor on cheaper ebikes, with the motor integrated into one or both wheels. The hub motor provides propulsion by spinning the tire, directly applying torque to the wheel on which it is mounted, operating independently of the bike’s gears. When riding an eBike with a hub motor, the rider might feel like the bike is being pushed or pulled depending on whether the hub motor is on the front or rear wheel.Hub motors are generally cheaper but there are many poorly made hub motors out there. They are reliable if they are well made and if they do not have hall sensors which tend to go wrong. You can be confident that any bike purchased from us at Electric Bike Sales is quality made and fully inspected.

One of the biggest advantages of a good hub motor is that they hardly require any maintenance.  They have an entirely independent drive system that keeps all their components inside the motor casing, which means you don’t need to mess with it or maintain it.

The enclosed system is less likely to fail. Hub motors also reduce other bike maintenance tasks. Since hub motors aren’t connected to the pedal drive system, they don’t cause any extra stress on your chain or shifters. Your chain will probably last longer than an ordinary bike because the hub motor will be doing more work.

Price

Most mid-drive ebikes are over £2,000, especially those made by well-known manufacturers, but hub-drive ebikes tend to be more affordable.

Hub motors are much simpler and easier to manufacture, making them cheaper than mid-motors.

Mid-drive bikes have many advantages over hub-drive bikes, but they are also generally more expensive. However, there are some fantastic hub-drive bikes on the market too, so its a good idea to always consider how the whole package comes together before making a final decision. At Electric Bike Sales, our experienced technicians are on hand to help you find your perfect eBike.

At Electric Bike Sales most eBikes well stock are mid-drive, here are some bikes you will love!!!

2021 Haibike Trekking 4 Lowstandover Electric Hybrid Bike in Brown

The new Trekking 4 has everything you need for cruising in the city, or for extended rides in the countryside.
The Yamaha PW-TE motor allows you to accelerate smoothly and with power, the integrated 500Wh battery providing ample reserves. Equipped with a luggage rack, lights, mudguards and a kickstand, this eBike is truly ready for everyday use. Your entry into the eTrekking bike world!
Features:

• Frame material – Aluminium
• Drive unit – Yamaha PW-TE System, 60Nm, 20km/h
• Battery – Yamaha InTube 500Wh
• Fork – SR Suntour NEX E25, Travel: 63mm

2021 Haibike Trekking 10 625Wh Electric Hybrid Bike in Grey

With its top-notch features, the newly designed Lowstandover-Geometry and the new compact Bosch Performance CX Gen 4 motor with 85Nm, the new Trekking 10 Lowstandover has what it takes to be a globetrotter.
The Super Moto-X tyres, 80mm suspension fork and Skybeamer lights provide a lot of comfort and safety for your adventures. Your equipment can be stored on the standard luggage rack as well as on the integrated Modular Rail System.
Features:

• Frame material – Aluminium
• Drive unit – Bosch Performance CX GEN4, 85Nm, 25km/h
• Battery – Bosch PowerTube 625Wh
• Fork – SR Suntour Mobie E45 LOR, Travel: 80mm

2022 2022 Haibike Trekking 6 High YSTS 630Wh Electric Bike Gloss Grey Neon Yellow