Will the Sturmey X-RF8 hub take the power ?

E Watt?

1 µW
Joined
May 11, 2021
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Hi all, I buy sell on ebay, restore or/and fit e motors on retro MTB plus other things, here a few pics, the frame cracked on my main e bike but i fancied a change anyway as im getting older so i brought a dutchie bike, was going to use my old 1000w motor but its big and would have to fit a disc brake which is very problematic so i thought ok a small geared 750/1000w hub in the front wheel........only could find a un geared 750/1000w large motor plus the expense and hassle of a new motor and wheel build.
So that leaves a 750w mid drive, my problems is will the Sturmey Archer X-RF8 hub take the power ?, i understand the first gear is 1 to 1 and i will fit a 20t at the rear with a 48t front to keep the torque down, i want to keep it as stock as possible, any help or ideas would be much appreciated, cheers. E Watt ?.
 

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If you overgear your hub that way, it will probably hold up just fine. It's input torque, and not gross power, that matters.

I think 48/20 will be an unsatisfying and not too effective bottom gear. You'll probably end up running it in low gear a lot of the time. There won't be a good climbing gear to drop down to, and the upper gears will be so high as to be useless. It's sort of missing out on the main benefit of a mid drive, while still having the drawbacks of a mid drive.

Just because a hub motor is able to use a disc brake doesn't mean you must use a disc brake. If the rim can accept a rim brake, use that. If the rim can't accept a rim brake, lace the motor to a rim that can.

I think the Dutch style bike would be a great candidate for one of the Bafang geared motors that's available super cheap right now:
https://www.batteryclearinghouse.com/products/26-bafang-dc36v-sturmey-archer-rx-rd3-electric-bike-wheel-with-tire-brake

You'd have to lace the motor to the right diameter rim, and source a controller, throttle, motor extension cable, and battery. It still works out very effectively and inexpensively. I've done four of these conversions so far, with three different wheel diameters and two different voltages.
 
Hi Chalo, thank you for your time and reply, a front hub motor would be ideal as i get to keep the gears and the weight would be more even but i want a small geared 750w + motor for the sleeper look plus speed but i cant find one, i dont want to pay for a large front ungeared hub when i already have a 1000w ungeared rear motor. You are right about the mid drive i think, if i change the gearing so its more usable then i fear the 8 speed hubs life maybe limited, plus i hardly ever pedal on my 1000w bike as i have a throttle, the bike came with a 8 speed hub with a drum brake with no lugs/mounts for v brakes and the eyelet is to high (80mm+ drop) to fit a normal side pull brake so a disc brake is my only option if i fit the rear hub motor.
So i think i have decided, mid drive with the 8 speed hub is risky plus £320+ without a battery is a lot for this beast.
Front hub yes, but cant find the right one.
So im going for the rear 1000w hub i have, with the disc brake and the torque bar it might look a bit messy but the chain guard will hide the motor a tad at least, i will lace the rim with 13g spokes and then will sell the hub on ebay, they go for around £100 ish which is nice as that's more then i paid for the bike :).

Thank you again for your input and advice Sir.

Here is the motor/battery and stuff i will use i think.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/402568582305?hash=item5dbaf514a1:g:tu0AAOSwTahft5Eu

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/313316598015?hash=item48f31fe0ff:g:qiYAAOSwHeVfvpM1

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/154367545665?_trkparms=aid%3D1110002%26algo%3DSPLICE.SOI%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20201210111451%26meid%3D087180356ee34e28ba3f6cfe7e214eaf%26pid%3D101196%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D12%26mehot%3Dpf%26sd%3D152868563680%26itm%3D154367545665%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3DPromotedSellersOtherItemsV2WithMLRv3&_trksid=p2047675.c101196.m2219

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/264208426727?chn=ps&var=564528375722&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&itemid=564528375722_264208426727&targetid=1139674279347&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=1006907&poi=&campaignid=12125450102&mkgroupid=116380011106&rlsatarget=pla-1139674279347&abcId=9300480&merchantid=7213384&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrPnhoIbF8AIVVeJ3Ch1kgA25EAQYASABEgL_PfD_BwE


P.s this my ebay shop thing https://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/jtur5411
the Dawes bike i will be selling soon i think.
 

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