XOFO making 250W geared hubs in cast 20-inch wheels

spinningmagnets

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Dec 21, 2007
Messages
12,952
Location
Ft Riley, NE Kansas
Just stumbled across these, might be of interest to some. If I had a kid (or when my grandkid gets older), I might put together a 20-inch bike for him. These are listed as running well with 24V-48V. Some of these wheels are listed as magnesium...doesn't seem worth the effort, but maybe they are.

http://www.alibaba.com/showroom/xofo.html

719783887_799.jpg
 
I remember looking at some Xofo motors a year ago because they are one of the only manufactures to make modern style cassette compatible motors. That one looks cassette compatible too.
There was a guy on ES who bought a Xofo a year or so ago and he claimed he burnt it out going up a big hill, he got a replacement and I think he said he ended up burning out that one as well. Maybe all these issues are fixed now... Anyway I would say if you adhere to 250w spec you would have a tough time burning it out.

These spokeless wheels look cool and new, never seen them before.
http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Motor-36v-500w-XFV-W-from_1360637959.html
I am always dread of breaking spokes or getting my wheel un-true, this kind of stuff looks pretty tempting to try one day.
 
Any one know any sellers who sell this stuff? Looks like if I want to use alibaba I got to buy minimum 10pcs.
Don't see them elsewhere on the net.
Also looks like the max wheel size is 26" for the spoke less wheels, I think if I was going to build one for my self I would go 29er/700c size or at least 650b (27.5") I am done with 26". Even big supermarket retailers in AU sell BSO bikes in 650b format, shouldn't be treated as anything but priority in an ideal world.
 
There's a guy selling those cast-wheel kits on UK Ebay:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-design-Magnesium-Alloy-rear-wheel-electric-bike-kit-motor-36v-500w-48v-500w-/131111526815?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item1e86db219f

Xofo don't want to sell single kits. I asked Colin Sheng, the proprietor, and he said trade customers only, which means a minimum quantity.

Xofo make several different motors. It was the 250w one with the inbuilt torque sensor that had problems with the wire burning, but that was a long time ago, and the motors are still in production being used in reputable OEM bikes, so I'm pretty sure that that problem has been fixed. The kit in the photo above is not the torque sensor motor, and neither is it 250w, so the burning wires is not directly relevant. i don't know about the 20" 250w version.

I had a short test ride on an OEM bike with that motor. It had the nicest power algorithm that I've ever tried - better than Bosch and Panasonic until I came to a hill. It didn't have a lot of torque for hill climbing and on steep hills, the torque sensor springs bottom out, which causes a sort of knocking, which you feel on the pedals. It's a bit like having loose cranks on a square taper BB. It's not a problem once you realise what's happening, but a bit disconcerting the first time you experience it. In summary, it's a very nice system if you're light-weight and/or you don't have steep hills.

Xofo also make a clone of the 500w Bafang CST, which has a cassette spline. It runs happily with 30 amps at 36v, so plenty of climbing power. It feels/sounds the same as the Bafang - smooth and fairly quiet - but it has a slightly lower RPM. It tops out at about 20mph on the road at 36v.

Finally, they've just released some nice looking crank-drives. I've not seen any tests yet, but I would expect similar performance to the Bafang BBS01. The Xofo looks more stylish.
 
That was me with the burned-up XOFO torque sensor motor. My best guess is that the hall sensor wire insulation melted into the phase wires and screwed up the controller timing which in turn fried the motor windings. I told the vendor about this problem and he said it was fixed, but I have no proof of that. My solution for the steep hills was to build a dual Mac motor system, which I am very happy with.

I see that AliExpress is have a "shopping festival" today. Many of the XOFO motor kits with Kunteng sine wave controllers are on sale at 95% off! Here is the link: http://www.aliexpress.com/store/323339. Great opportunity to pick up a quiet sine wave controller system at a very low price.
 
spinningmagnets said:
My solution for the steep hills was to build a dual Mac motor system

Do you have a build-thread, or pics?

Not yet Ron, it is on my list of things to do...
 
WhatcomRider said:
I see that AliExpress is have a "shopping festival" today. Many of the XOFO motor kits with Kunteng sine wave controllers are on sale at 95% off! Here is the link: http://www.aliexpress.com/store/323339. Great opportunity to pick up a quiet sine wave controller system at a very low price.
Some pretty amazing deals there, the old saying if something seems to good to be true it ain't saying comes to mind :!:
 
I didn't know what to make of this so I thought I would post it here as Xofo is kind of like UFO or UHO for Unidentified Hub Object.
Anyway silliness out of the way I came across this direct drive motor with cassette.... yes again gearless hub motor with cassette
http://www.uumotor.com/500w-1000w-freehub-cassette-motor.html
I don't know if this has been posted before.. so not sure what to think.
At first I thought it was Unite Motors but now I realize calling them selves UUmotor misleadingly/incorrectly made me to identify them with Unite motors which is as far as I know are a pretty big somewhat grey market electric motor producer.
http://www.unitemotor.com/en/productmin.htm

Anyway back to the hub cassette motor I also found it in the wild on ali and ebay
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/36V-250W-Newest-Brushless-Gearless-Rear-Hub-Motor-9-speed-Cassette-Freehub-/181189336099
http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/new-model-rear-cassette-motor-for_1561042048.html
 
Back
Top