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Front vs Rear:
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ease of installation:
a front tends to be easier than a rear
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weight distribution:
with the battery normally mounted at the rear of the bike a front
motor can help with more even weight distribution
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traction:
front motors are limited in how much power they can deliver to the wheel on
loose gravel roads without skidding since most of the weight is on the rear.
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discreteness:
rear motors can be hidden with panniers to look more subtle
For the most part you won't notice a huge difference between front and rear installations
but a few factors to consider include:
With a direct drive hub motor, you have the capability to use the hub as an engine brake as
well, and have the motor to slow you down while charging up the batteries a bit in the
process. The amount that regenerative braking recharges the battery can’t really
compensate for the battery discharge over the course of an ebike trip, usually about 5-10%
recaptured, but it is definitely useful for saving wear and tear on the brake pads.
Regenerative Braking:
In a normal direct drive motor the motor is always mechanically engaged which means you
feel a slight resistance when turning the wheel. It amounts approximately to the difference
between riding with a slick road tire and a knobby mountain bike tire.
Direct Drive And Internally Geared Hub Motors:
