Yamaha Cross RC. Wrong bike for me.

[fxrairhead]

So I was seduced by the killer deal on the RCs last fall. It is a really nice bike, but I think I didn't shop long enough to know what I really want in a bike. First off, I need an upright seating position due to an injury. I have put a upright extender as well as a short stem on the bike. It is as high as I can go with out extending the hydraulic lines. I also want a throttle, it would be very nice to have every once and awhile since my ride back home has a very steep up hill.

I'm reasonably sure I want to stick with mid drive. I don't want to break the bank though. They all seem so expensive. I guess I was spoiled by the price of the RC.

Some one point me in a direction please! Are hub drives really that bad? Pros and cons of hub vs geared hub?

 

[Chazmo]

Some one point me in a direction please! Are hub drives really that bad? Pros and cons of hub vs geared hub?

No. Ridiculous.

There’s a lot of (well-deserved) love for mid-drives around here, but a lot of these guys who will happily deride hub-drives haven’t ridden a modern one -- especially one fitted with torque and cadence-sensing controllers.

A lot will depend on what kind of bike you really want.

I will say that it’s good that you’re learning what does and doesn’t work for you. Bargain hunting is great, but only if you know what you want. I’d try to visit as many bike stores as you can and ride some of their models. I could recommend all kinds of stuff, but I don’t know if it fits your needs. Good luck.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

I’d try to visit as many bike stores as you can and ride some of their models.

Totally agree. A bike is more than its specs. Testing's the only way to insure the riding position and riding experience you want.

Test as many candidates as you can and buy locally to insure access to service after purchase.

As for climbing performance, best to test finalists on your target hill if at all possible, as there are many factors involved. Maybe with rentals if necessary.

My wife's 48 lb 750W, 65 Nm hub-drive (Velotric Breeze) easily climbs some pretty steep hills — worst so far maybe 8% for ⅓ mile. She's not a strong rider. My 38 lb 250W, 35 Nm mid-drive (Specialized Vado SL 1) climbs much tougher hills than that, but I have to work for it.

 

[Chargeride]

A midrive can just keep gearing down to climb anything to the point of losing front wheel grip.
A hub climbing a hill with you in bottom gear will start to turn power into heat and a doom spin of less help means slower climb, means more heat etc.

Hub advantages are its always there pushing as you mess with the gears, you can easily take run ups to inclines and use momentum to climb them without gear crunching.
There is a point of falloff for all hubs as the hill steepens and they are destined to fail, under that they are better than mid drives.
On flat land only...hub everytime.

Downside, the dreaded rear wheel removal process.

 

[Chazmo]

Downside, the dreaded rear wheel removal process.

Hah! I thought I was the only one who struggled with that!

 

[fxrairhead]

No. Ridiculous.

There’s a lot of (well-deserved) love for mid-drives around here, but a lot of these guys who will happily deride hub-drives haven’t ridden a modern one -- especially one fitted with torque and cadence-sensing controllers.

A lot will depend on what kind of bike you really want.

I will say that it’s good that you’re learning what does and doesn’t work for you. Bargain hunting is great, but only if you know what you want. I’d try to visit as many bike stores as you can and ride some of their models. I could recommend all kinds of stuff, but I don’t know if it fits your needs. Good luck.

My needs are simple. No commuting. Bike paths, some urban, suburban, and some light unpaved trails. Honestly, if there was a way to install a throttle on the Yamaha, I would extend stuff as needed to fit me, but as we all know, as of now, there is no way to add a throttle to Yamaha drive trains.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

I

My needs are simple. No commuting. Bike paths, some urban, suburban, and some light unpaved trails. Honestly, if there was a way to install a throttle on the Yamaha, I would extend stuff as needed to fit me, but as we all know, as of now, there is no way to add a throttle to Yamaha drive trains.

I think I've read about some mid-drives with boost buttons that instantly put you in the highest assist level and keep you there till you let go. Would a mid-drive like that work for you?

Tell us about your target hill. What's the average grade? Max grade? How long?