Considering changing the cassette, but....

[Neal]

Like the title says I'm contemplating changing out the cassette on my Radrover. It came with a 11-28t and I'm leaning toward a 12-32 as I'd like to see a little more low end for climbing the mountains here in Montana. I'm looking at the wiring running back to the hub motor and it looks like the molded plug connector is too big for the axle nut to slide over and come off as well as getting my lockring removal tool on. Anyone have experience changing out the cassette on the new 2016 model?

 

[pxpaulx]

uh, which version cassette did you get? I was an original indiegogo backer and the cassette was a shimano 7 speed 14-28t freewheel - this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Shimano-MF-TZ...368&sr=8-14&keywords=shimano+7+speed+cassette

I can't tell from the photos on their current website, the motor is now wired on the gearing side of the rear tire?

Oh wait, now that I think of it I recall running into this issue! I drilled out the center of the freewheel removal tool until the wire would go through if I recall correctly. I had a thread discussing some of the work I did on the bike in this sub-forum (don't have time to search for it, but there isn't much to look through). The cassette will be really solidly on - solution to remove it was to place the tire with the removal tool on top of my vice, lock in the tool to the vice and use the tire as leverage - worked like a charm (this idea was from some of the youtube videos I watched about it at the time).

Anyway, hope that is of some help. I would recommend the DNP 11-34t 7 speed cassette (11t are hard to find, and this one is a solid range for a 7 speed) - you can find them on ebay reasonably priced.

 

[Neal]

Ah yes, I've read your thread on this multiple times actually. My cassette is different from your original one as I currently have a 11-28t and your original was 14-28. I can buy a 12-32t off amazon for $13 (not purchased yet) but I'm trying to be proactive in addressing any issues I may have dealing with the power wire running to the motor (yes it enters on the drive side). There have been a few changes introduced from the original to production and then for the 2016 model year. I've already drilled out my cassette lock-ring removal tool to 1/2 inch. this is not large enough to fit over the molded connector plug for the motor and also not large enough to to fit over the axle nut. The axle nut and the size of the molded plug connector are my main concerns in replacing the cassette.

 

[Neal]

So, for anyone interested... I managed to get my cassette changed out today. Installed a 12-32 cluster with some modification to the cassette lockring tool. I had to cut a channel in the tool that let me slide over the motor wire from the side as it inside diameter is too small to slide over all the wire connectors and the axle nut. The lock ring of the cassette and the gears themselves are just big enough to slide over the wire connector, axle washers and nut. It took some work but it's on and I love the lower gear. I can climb a much steeper hill now! Next up, I'm converting to a BBSHD mid drive! I'll post a thread after I finish that on how things go.

 

[Neal]

Got my mid drive installed today. With the new gearing I can climb a tree. Should be plenty of power for climbing and possibly dragging a game sled as well. Here's a link to the conversion thread if anyone is interested.
http://electricbikereview.com/community/threads/bbshd-installed-in-my-radrover.3988/

 

[MLB]

A freewheel and cassette mount differently, they aren't the same thing. Most hub motors require a freewheel.

 

[Douglas Ruby]

A freewheel and cassette mount differently, they aren't the same thing. Most hub motors require a freewheel.

Not necessarily. Older BIONX hub motors did require a freewheel, but newer use cassettes. My Specialized Turbo uses a standard 10-speed Shimano/SRAM cassette and the Turbo S uses Shimano 11-speed casssette.

 

[Neal]

2016 Radrover takes a cassette....

 

[pxpaulx]

Not necessarily. Older BIONX hub motors did require a freewheel, but newer use cassettes. My Specialized Turbo uses a standard 10-speed Shimano/SRAM cassette and the Turbo S uses Shimano 11-speed casssette.

I think @MLB 's comment indicating most are cassette was a fairly accurate statement!

 

[MLB]

Actually I said the opposite. Appears now some of the new bikes are using through hubs (think that's the term) that let you use a cassette.
In previous years that was rarely the case and almost all hub motors required free wheels and not cassettes.