Has anyone tried building a hub motor wheel with your rim? Is it complicated?

[Katrina92]

I found some hub motors on AliExpress.

But I’m not really interested in the pre-laced wheel options most vendors offer— I’d prefer to lace the motor into a rim of my own choosing, ideally one that’s lighter or fits better with my current setup.

Has anyone here done this? Like just bought the hub motor and built the wheel yourself (or had a shop do it)?

Do most local bike shops handle wheel building with hub motors, or should I expect to DIY or find a specialist?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

If you want to make your Scott Addict a cripple then do not hesitate and go on
Well, @PedalUma here says he could do it.
Personally, I believe only a vehicle conceived, designed and manufactured as an e-bike is the real thing.
Saves you bad dreams about the battery fire, too.

 

[Katrina92]

Haha, I'm not looking to turn my Scott Addict into a cripple
I'm just checking out the options for conversion kits.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

When I was at the "even before the newbie" stage (August 2019), I went into a DIY conversion workshop and booked a visit for September. Meanwhile, I had a chat with my manager. He said "Stefan, you can afford a real e-bike. Do I pay you too little?" That changed my mindset.
Now after 4 good e-bikes, 6 years of e-biking, and I have never owned a conversion e-bike

What did I tell you before the new tariffs were introduced? Not on a Creo 2 yet?

 

[Chargeride]

I've made loads, it's really simple once you have the correct spoke length, I just used various contraptions to hold the hub and rim in the right position and decide on a lacing style, I just copied a standard wheel, measure and buy super cheap spokes off Amazon, if they don't fit, just adjust and buy good spokes.

More importantly I've never had a wheel failure even exposing them to extreme terrain.
I built the BMX geared hub with cheap thin spokes, the diameter of the hub motor vastly increases wheel strength

You can use spoke length calculators, but nothing beats direct measurement.

 

[indianajo]

I could not use 2mm spokes from Wald or DT Swiss, the bent end was wrong for holes in a ****ese motor. My LBS will make a 2 mm spoke of any length with their threading machine, which are useless in a hub motor.
Right length 2.5 mm spokes were not stocked in the USA. I had to order twice, as the first set were too long. Spoke length calculators lie a lot. It takes a month to get spokes from ***** via Ebay.
I just propped the rim against the porch stairs then hung the motor from the top by about 3 spokes, then rolled it over. Pattern was based on a wheel with a broken motor in it. I did not reuse that rim, it was double thickness and garbage. Required extra length stem tubes not for sale in my tiny city of only 2000000 people. I used a Belgian rim from a MTB and drilled out the holes for the 2.5 mm spoke nipples.
**** ****ese motor burnt out on the second trip. Piece of garbage. Advertised 750 W rating came from the ad writer's imagination.

 

[harryS]

Yes, I've done over a dozen wheels now. There is a learning curve which teaches you not to give up. If you persist, every wobble can be take out, It's not rocket science. Just patience.

It wasn't about cost initially, I started because I had wanted a front motor in a fat tire rim, Bike shops wouldn't touch it 9 years ago. Some were insulted when I mentioned motor. Screw them, I figured it out, It probably cost more today to build one vs buying it, but instead of paying extra for shipping (from China), I can spend that money on a better rim and quality spokes.

 

[gromike]

Grin (ebikes.ca) has how to lace a hub motor video, and a spoke calculator, which I have used to build 3 motor wheels. They even sell cut to length spokes. It worked out very well for me.

 

[linklemming]

If you want to make your Scott Addict a cripple then do not hesitate and go on
Well, @PedalUma here says he could do it.
Personally, I believe only a vehicle conceived, designed and manufactured as an e-bike is the real thing.
Saves you bad dreams about the battery fire, too.

So do you have any experience building wheels.

As someone noted in another thread "I kindly ask you to give advices only in your field of competence, thank you."

Dont be a Troll (i.e. Stefan)

 

[linklemming]

Grin (ebikes.ca) has how to lace a hub motor video, and a spoke calculator, which I have used to build 3 motor wheels. They even sell cut to length spokes. It worked out very well for me.

Kudos to Grin for the video, spoke calculator and custom length spokes.

I have built 5 hub motor wheels for my myself and friends.

I did invest in all the tools (park stand, park spoke wrenches, park tension gauge) and I have built all my own wheels since (10 so far). Paid for itself

 

[Katrina92]

I've made loads, it's really simple once you have the correct spoke length, I just used various contraptions to hold the hub and rim in the right position and decide on a lacing style, I just copied a standard wheel, measure and buy super cheap spokes off Amazon, if they don't fit, just adjust and buy good spokes.

More importantly I've never had a wheel failure even exposing them to extreme terrain.
I built the BMX geared hub with cheap thin spokes, the diameter of the hub motor vastly increases wheel strength

You can use spoke length calculators, but nothing beats direct measurement.

Wow! Did you build the wheels yourself? Are they straight-pull spokes?

 

[Katrina92]

Yes, I've done over a dozen wheels now. There is a learning curve which teaches you not to give up. If you persist, every wobble can be take out, It's not rocket science. Just patience.

It wasn't about cost initially, I started because I had wanted a front motor in a fat tire rim, Bike shops wouldn't touch it 9 years ago. Some were insulted when I mentioned motor. Screw them, I figured it out, It probably cost more today to build one vs buying it, but instead of paying extra for shipping (from China), I can spend that money on a better rim and quality spokes.

I agree with you. I also intend to have a better rim and quality spokes.

 

[Chargeride]

I guess straight pull is a normal spoke?
Yes it's actually very easy if you copy another wheel, just tighten every spoke lightly and it's 90% there, but you do need to offset the rim obviously on a rear hub, but I find you can do it with the thread available rather than two different length spokes.
I've even redrilled rim from 32 to 36, it sounds daunting, but just mark all the holes first and if the spacing is correct it will prove itself around the rim.

 

[Katrina92]

Grin (ebikes.ca) has how to lace a hub motor video, and a spoke calculator, which I have used to build 3 motor wheels. They even sell cut to length spokes. It worked out very well for me.

What part did you find most challenging when you built your wheels?

 

[Katrina92]

Kudos to Grin for the video, spoke calculator and custom length spokes.

I have built 5 hub motor wheels for my myself and friends.

I did invest in all the tools (park stand, park spoke wrenches, park tension gauge) and I have built all my own wheels since (10 so far). Paid for itself

Did you use straight-pull spokes when you built your wheels? I've heard they might be easier to work with.

 

[Katrina92]

I guess straight pull is a normal spoke?
Yes it's actually very easy if you copy another wheel, just tighten every spoke lightly and it's 90% there, but you do need to offset the rim obviously on a rear hub, but I find you can do it with the thread available rather than two different length spokes.
I've even redrilled rim from 32 to 36, it sounds daunting, but just mark all the holes first and if the spacing is correct it will prove itself around the rim.

I've done some research. It seems that straight-pull spokes have straight ends without any bends, and most hub motor wheels use J-bend spokes.

 

[Chargeride]

iv never head of straight pulls and never even seen a wheel made with them .
what is the point

 

[Base]

iv never head of straight pulls and never even seen a wheel made with them .
what is the point

stress relief on straight spoke wheels is better, bended spokes tend to snap in the bend when you ride those wheels on a to low spoke tension. If you check the spoke tension regular and keep on spec than the chance on a broken spoke is low.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

iv never head of straight pulls and never even seen a wheel made with them .
what is the point

Straight pull spokes are used on performance road bikes. Like the one Katrina intends to turn into a Frankenstein

 

[EMGX]

My BH gravel "X" mid drive ebike has 24 straight pull blade spoke wheels. No broken spokes but the thing I like about them best is that if I ever have a broken spoke it can be replaced easily roadside without having to remove any hardware like cassette or brake disc. I carried a couple spare spokes when on a few day tour, just in case. Are there hub motors that accommodate straight pull spokes? I'm not aware but sort of doubt it.