RoughRider said:
i like the design of the motor AND of the spokes because it is different to these that you see at any other motor...it looks cool
So would fancily-braided celtic-knot spokes, but they wouldn't actually function well, if at all.
It'd also look realy cool if there werent' any side covers on the motor, but that wouldn't work either. Make them out of plexiglass, and they'd look cool, until the various loads on them shattered them.
Looking cool or unique is kinda pointless if it causes problems.
TheCrown has a unique design...you can id this motor from far away...
Makes it easier to *stay* far away from it, too.
Don't get me wrong--I like things that look different (just look at my bikes or anyting else I build!) but when functionality or reliability or ease of maintenance is compromised by the design, it needs to be reworked before manufacture.
If they wanted something that looked "different" but was actually fucntionally better, they coudl try making/using rims that allowed shallower nipple angles without bending/stressing the spoke ends, which would make for a stronger wheel and also allow many interesting multi-cross lacings despite the size of the hubmotor.
Something else that would be unique is they could also make/use rims that could handle the large gauge spokes they use on these things, so they could actualy be tensioned correctly and not break spokes all the time just from normal riding on flat roads.
Or, they could nix the insufficnet and problematic "flatted axle" idea and integrate the torque arm into the motor like IGHs, coaster and drum brake hubs, and Heinzmann motors already do, to make mounting to nearly any bike a breeze, and safe to use on any frame or fork material or design.
Or they could stop usign random scrap metal to manufacture the parts from, and use consistent materials and proper techniques to forge, treat, and machine the metals with, making a much-superior product that probably wouldn't break axles just from going off a curb, or shear the freewheel threads off the cover just from pedalling normally.
Lots of other ways to make it look diffferent and actually be unique that would *improve* the motor and wheel, rather than be detrimental to it one way or another (as this design is, and their older G series).
Unfortunately when even dealers (like HPC and probably others) and riders (like you and others) think these designs are a good idea cuz they might sell due to their "differentness", and just gloss over the problems or ignore them, rather than making the manufacturer fix them before they'd buy them, it just encourages such practices, and takes us farther and farther away from better designs.
speedmd said:
Possibly to take out a few pounds of copper. :|
And add lots of heating to the motor, among other notable problems caused by using Al instead of Cu.
:lol:
