GoldenMotor.com Forum

General Category => General Discussions => Topic started by: TrikeBirder on December 15, 2018, 10:22:17 PM

Title: Looking to add front hub motors to two recumbent trikes
Post by: TrikeBirder on December 15, 2018, 10:22:17 PM

Greetings all,

We have three recumbent trikes- a TerraTrike Rover tandem equipped with a BBSHD, aTerraTrike Traveler equipped with a Nuvinci N380 hub mounted on a 24" wheel, and a Catrike 559 equipped with a Rohloff hub and a Schlumpf High Speed Drive. I want to add a front hub motor to both the Traveler and the 559 since I want to keep the the current hubs. My questions are:

1) is this relatively easily accomplished?
2) Is this feasible/advisable?
3) Are there specific issues or considerations I need to attend to?
4) What is the likelihood that I can maintain the foldability of the two trikes?
5) Might there be alternate/better options for adding electric assist to these trikes?
6) Roughly speaking, how much is it likely to cost me for a complete nicely equipped kit for each of these builds?

Thanks in advance for everyone who responds to this post.

Mike (aka TrikeBirder)

Title: Re: Looking to add front hub motors to two recumbent trikes
Post by: Bikemad on December 16, 2018, 01:46:36 AM

Hi Mike and(https://i.imgur.com/evDSMvT.png)to the forum.

I don't know if anyone produces hub motors suitable for single sided fixing, as all of the hub motor conversions I have seen (with the exception of low speed BLDC wheelchair motors) require the axle to be secured at both ends.

I think that another BBSHD (or inline chain drive setup like the Cyclone unit (http://www.cyclone-uk.com/)) would seem to be the obvious choice, but you will need to do your own research on these as to their suitability, ease of installation and cost etc.

Alan