Cargo Bikes

Do BesBikes have all the Bullitt rear wheel components? I was thinking I'd be going to SBC or London Green Cycles for that.

I'll need to get rid of the Nexus 7 which has a coaster brake (or do I?) which AFAIK can't function with a motor.

What should I be replacing it with? A Nexus 5 or the XT?

Nobody able to answer this one?

Missed this. Sorry.
I took my bike along there, left it for a couple of days, came back and it had a mid motor fitted with the cranks and bb and stuff, and the originals we handed back to me. It’s not gone wrong in the year I’ve had it, new chain though.

Did you already have a nexus 5 or XT set up on yours?

Kev, not tested it - but I can't imagine a Nexus 7 with coaster brake would play very nicely. In addition to this, my freind's bike that i fitted Bafang mid to has destroyed two Nexus 7's due to torque.

If you want to get electric without cost of replacing what's installed you could get a front hub motor. I'm in the middle of installing one myself with derailleur gears.

I've read that you can disable the coaster brake on nexus 7 but it seems like a bit of a faff. So just install hub motor and hold out til a good alfine 8 or similar comes along 2nd hand?

1 Attachment

nah - normal mtb gears and shifters. no coaster.

Out of interest, where did you get those short spokes from?

Sapim leader (and any other plain gauge spoke) can be cut to whatever length and threaded. Any wheel builder or spoke supplier with the tools can do it for you

Bought the wheel complete on Aliexpress

Kev, not tested it - but I can't imagine a Nexus 7 with coaster brake would play very nicely. In addition to this, my freind's bike that i fitted Bafang mid to has destroyed two Nexus 7's due to torque.

OK thanks, that's useful to know. I have been advised that before, I think by Jamie at SBC, that the Nexus 7 is an older model and doesn't take nicely to the additional stresses. I want to get rid of the coaster regardless of whether I go electric or not, and put a disc brake on the back.

If you want to get electric without cost of replacing what's installed you could get a front hub motor. I'm in the middle of installing one myself with derailleur gears.

Thanks for the tip, but I'll likely just be going with whatever Besbike offer. I struggle to find the time to fix a puncture, never mind doing something like the above. I understand I'll end up paying a couple of hundred quid extra doing it via a shop rather than anything myself, but it's the time is the problem.

Nexus 7 isn't a great hub, lots of drag, tend to explode for no known reason even when only a few weeks old.
Nexus 5 is very solid so long as you do not smash through gears whilst putting power down/mid drive is driving.
Nexus 8/Alfine 8 of the last generation or so is still a good hub, unless you go for a Rohloff or Kindernay (both of these are the kings, but also £££).

Bullitt stock rear wheel whether the more basic flat profile rim or alex supra is a very good rear wheel. 2020/21 they had some bum spokes get into some stock. The rear hub is a novatec, but its their biggest toughest freehub style 135mm hub, thick flanges, big bearings x 4, 6 pawl freehub. Mine has 5000 miles of abuse from customers, rentals and from myself, lives outside most of the time, had to re-grease it once, bearings are all still perfect. Have had some folk basically DEMAND a high end MTB hub instead, so have built second sets of wheels onto Hope, Industry Nine and DT hubs. None have lasted as long (hopes the flanges on the rear actually crack under the load/gauge of spokes being used).

Less can be said of a few hubs that some other brands are stocking on their bikes at this price point (saw a £20 rrp shimano QR hub on one the other day, no name + regular gauge spokes and a no name rim, on a £4k~ bike!!!).

Have you had any customers with some serious field use of Kindernay and mid drive + cargo?

Also worth noting that Enviolo are bringing out a cargo specific hub (as Vince has mentioned). Could be a viable budget alternative to rohloff.. if it’s like their others be horrible to use without pedal assist though :-)

DEMAND a high end MTB hub instead

Problem with bike products is high end can often mean more lightweight, not the trade off you want to make with cargo bikes particularly..

Isn't there an e-bike specific Nexus 5, the Nexus 5-e?

For what its worth, have used alfine 8 with mid drive for thousands of miles and it's never skipped a beat

First test ride today, very fun!

1 Attachment

why did you make a switch from mid drive to front hub motor?

Looks very nice Max, top marks.

It's a second bullit, my wife keeps riding mine!

Wanted to try out the hub motor and it's cheaper than mid drive..

Got the frame on cycle 2 work and then bought the hub motor from AliExpress. 1500W motor @ 48V, but using 36V battery so 1200W

Why can’t I undo the thru axle on my rear wheel ?

amazing, how does it compare in terms of riding experience ?

1200 watts of assist?
my giant cargo bike has 250 watts and that's loads
why do you need so much power?

Amazing! Questions: have you got a link to the hub? Did you get stung for import taxes? What are you using for a controller and cadence/torque sensor?

Lol, because I want to? Because it's awesome?

Came as a kit, with dodgy controller that sits in 'waterproof' freebie case (might upgrade!) Kit has 2 X brake levers with cutout, throttle, display & a cadence sensor that I had to bodge to get to work with external BB.

Using the kit rear brake lever only as I have a cable disc rear brake and you can set up regenerative braking, so should be able to have dual brake (in theory). Putting a hydraulic front brake on, 203 front / 180 rear.

Didn't pay customs but got lucky, think I paid it on the battery.

https://m.aliexpress.com/item/1005001558271097.html?spm=a2g0n.order_detail.0.0.1d79f19cOsIeRF

Was £256 shipped (when pound was stronger!)

2 Attachments