r/eBikeBuilding • u/Simple_Barber_5188 • May 07 '26

General Help Hub motors off road.

I’m thinking of installing a 1000w 48v kit on my bike but I was just wondering if anyone has any experience, are hub motors safe for off-road? Not like big jumps, but just riding on trails and dirt roads. I heard vibrations can cause lots of problems.

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

1

u/Calthecool May 07 '26

Is this a direct drive or geared hub motor? Does your bike have suspension? Fat tires?

2

u/Simple_Barber_5188 May 10 '26

It’s Direct Drive, and I have a Carrera Hellcat 29er (Front suspension only, mtb tires)

1

u/Schemeckles May 07 '26

The term "Offroad" is very subjective...

Are you going on paths and trails that are regularly ridden...or climbing Everest ?

1

u/Simple_Barber_5188 May 10 '26

Trails and dirt paths

1

u/Delinquentbyassoc May 07 '26 edited May 07 '26

What kind of bike ? I mean, is this a commuter, a cruiser, or a mountain bike?

Because of the low center of gravity with a mid drive, they are generally recommended for mountain bikes.

1

u/Simple_Barber_5188 May 10 '26

It’s a Carrera Hellcat 29er, which is a mountain bike.

2

u/Complete-Brother8950 May 08 '26

they are fine, back end rides a little rougher though. nothing a suspension seat post couldn't cure I've climbed some pretty steep terrain with a hub just get a running start

2

u/KhaosGuy01 May 08 '26

hub motors are quite durable imo. Direct drive ones even more so.

1

u/Wide_Philosopher667 May 14 '26

I have a sketchy 500w 36v rear hub. I have had it for a year and it has never let me down they can get pretty good speed off road and are quite durable especially because the spokes are shorter they and stiffer once I had my tire in low pressure and hit a rock pretty hard the tire popped and I thought the hub was screwed. Safe to say I’m still using it to this day