Front Hub Vs Rear Hub Motor Ebike: Pros and Cons

Ebike hub motors can be installed in either the front or the rear wheel. Both motor placements have their own advantages and disadvantages. To help you decide, this guide explains the differences between front hub and rear hub motors. I’ll also outline the pros and cons of riding a front hub vs rear hub motor ebike.

In this guide, we’ll cover ride quality, traction, maintenance, weight distribution, handling, parts compatibility, and more. We’ll also talk a bit about mid-drive ebikes and different power delivery systems including pedal assist and throttles.

I’ve owned both front and rear hub motor ebikes over the past 5 years. In this guide, I’ll share my experience. Hopefully, this guide helps you choose the best hub motor placement, whether you’re buying a new ebike or installing a hub motor ebike conversion kit on your existing bike.

What is a Hub Motor?

Hub motor ebikes have an electric motor built into one of the hubs. The hub motor takes the place of a standard hub. The motor directly powers the wheel it’s built into. 

In most cases, the hub motor is installed in the rear wheel but it can also be installed in the front. A hub motor is completely separate from the bike’s drivetrain. It is not affected by shifting the bike’s gears. 

What’s the Difference Between Front and Rear Hub Motors?

This is pretty self-explanatory. An ebike with a front hub motor has the motor built into the front wheel. An ebike with a rear hub motor has the wheel built into the rear wheel. 

Front and rear hub motors work the same way. In some cases, they are interchangeable, as long as they are compatible with your bike’s frame.

Generally, front hub motors are physically smaller than rear hub motors. They need to be slightly smaller because front hubs have narrower dropout spacing. They also tend to be less powerful. Rear hub motors tend to be larger and more powerful.

The biggest difference between front and rear hub motors is that rear hub motors are designed to fit a cassette or freewheel. They have either threads to attach a freewheel or a freehub body. Most rear hub motors are designed to fit a standard threaded freewheel.

Front Vs Rear Hub Motor Ebikes

Weight Distribution

The weight of the motor and battery affect the handling of your ebike. Ideally, you want the weight to be distributed 50/50 between the front and rear axles. You don’t want all of the weight on one end of the bike or the bike will feel unbalanced while you ride.

Front hub motors distribute weight better. This is because most of the bike’s weight naturally sits near the rear. The battery is usually mounted toward the center or rear of the bike. Most of the rider’s weight also sits on the rear.

Having the weight of the motor at the front of the bike and the battery toward the rear helps to distribute the weight more evenly. In other words, the weight of the front hub motor helps to balance the bike. The bike’s center of gravity remains near the center of the bike. 

This balance makes the bike feel more natural to ride. You don’t feel the weight of the motor and battery quite as much when they’re evenly distributed. This improves ride quality and handling. The bike also feels more stable while maneuvering at low speeds. 

Rear hub motor ebikes usually have the weight of the heavy motor and battery located toward the rear of the bike. Most of the rider’s weight also sits near the rear due to the placement of the seat. This makes the bike very rear-heavy. 

The weight of the motor and battery feel much more noticeable when they’re both located at the back of the bike. The bike feels unbalanced. You can feel the weight of the motor more while maneuvering. Particularly while traveling at low speeds.

Another major drawback of having all of the weight at the rear of the bike is that the front wheel can come off the ground during quick acceleration and while climbing steep hills. You’ll pop wheelies if your bike has a high torque rear hub motor or small diameter wheels. 

This can get annoying. You have to be careful while accelerating hard. You don’t want your front wheel to come off the ground every time you accelerate away from a stoplight or accelerate while climbing a hill. This can also be a safety issue. If you need to accelerate quickly away from a traffic situation, you want both wheels to stay on the ground. It can be dangerous if your front wheel lifts up when you’re not expecting it. 

One problem with all hub motors is that they can create a gyroscopic effect while you’re riding at high speeds. When you lean the bike, the heavy spinning motor tries to right itself. This can affect the bike’s steering. This gyroscopic effect is more noticeable on front hub motor ebikes. You’ll feel it when turning the handlebars in certain situations. 

Winner: Front hub motor bikes have better weight distribution.

Traction

Rear hub motor ebikes offer better traction than front hub motor ebikes. This is because more weight sits at the rear of the bike. Most of your body weight plus the weight of the motor and battery are supported by the rear axle. 

The extra weight on the rear wheel increases the friction between the tire and the ground. This makes the rear tire less likely to lose traction and spin out during hard acceleration or while cornering. 

You can accelerate harder when starting from a stop and while exiting a corner while riding a rear hub motor ebike. You can also lean a bit harder without your tire sliding out from under you. This allows you to maintain a higher average speed.

It’s harder to get traction when the motor is in the front hub because there is very little weight on the front wheel. Most of your body weight sits toward the rear of the bike. This means there is less friction between the front tire and the ground. During acceleration, the front tire can easily lose traction and start spinning out. You can’t accelerate quite as hard or fast with a front hub motor ebike. 

The motor’s power and the bike’s wheel size also play a role in the traction. High-powered motors make it easier to spin your wheels out. Small diameter wheels spin out easier than larger diameter wheels. 

For example, a 500-watt 48-volt front hub motor on an ebike with 20” tires would easily lose traction. The motor has too much power. It would be difficult to spin the wheel out on a rear hub motor ebike with the same configuration. A 250-watt 24-volt front hub motor on an ebike with 700c wheels will be much harder to spin out. With a powerful enough motor, you can spin the wheels out on any ebike. 

Of course, your traction also depends on the surface of the road. When you’re riding on loose gravel or dirt, you’ll get less traction than you get on the pavement. On pavement, it’s possible to get enough traction to wheelie a powerful rear hub motor ebike. 

Your tires also play a major role in your traction. Wider tires increase traction by creating a bigger contact patch with the ground. More tread touches the ground. Knobby tires can increase your grip on loose and soft surfaces by digging into the ground.

In some situations, it’s important to consider the environment while riding your ebike. An overpowered ebike that loses traction easily can cause damage to trails and nature if you ride off-road. Spinning your tires can dig ruts which can change water flow, widen trails, and damage ecosystems. If you only ride on the pavement, you don’t have to worry about this. 

Winner: Rear hub motor ebikes offer better traction because more weight sits near the rear of the bike. 

Flat Tires on Hub Motor Wheels

In cycling, rear tire flats are more common than front tire flats. Sharp objects, such as nails, staples, shards of glass and metal, and other debris tend to puncture the rear tire more often than the front. 

This is because most sharp objects tend to lie flat on the road. When you ride over them, your front tire usually doesn’t get damaged because the flat side isn’t sharp. The impact of your front tire rolling over the sharp objects kicks them up and upends them just in time for your rear tire to hit them. Once in a while, a sharp object will land in the perfect position to puncture the rear tire. 

Flat tires are harder to repair on a wheel with a hub motor than on a standard wheel. The job takes longer and you have to be more careful. It also requires a bit more effort. There are a number of reasons for this. 

First, you’ll have to disconnect the motor before you can remove it from the bike. This involves unplugging a cable. When you replace the wheel, you’ll have to reconnect it again. This isn’t a difficult job but it is an extra step. While disconnecting and re-connecting the cable, you have to make sure the connection doesn’t get damaged or contaminated with moisture or debris.

The wheel with the hub motor is significantly heavier than a standard wheel. Hub motors weigh 8-10 lbs (3.6-4.5 kg). It’s harder to remove and replace a tire from a heavier wheel because the wheel is more cumbersome. You have to lift the extra weight of the motor when removing and reinstalling the tire in the bike and while removing and reinstalling the tire. It requires more effort to move the heavy wheel around.

The wheel with the hub motor is also more fragile. You have to be careful while working on it. You don’t want to drop it and damage the motor. Hub motors are pretty robust but they can get damaged if you drop them or knock them around too much. Particularly if they are geared. Geared hub motors have more moving parts. 

When the motor is in the front hub, you won’t have to deal with repairing flats on the hub wheel as frequently because front flats are much less common. This saves you time and stress. Flats are much easier to repair on the wheel without the hub motor.  

There are some ways to reduce the number of punctures you have to deal with. You can run tubeless tires. These have a liquid sealant inside that fills most punctures before the air leaks out and the tire goes flat. You don’t even notice punctures. Alternatively, you could run tubes with sealant inside. These do the same thing. You can also run puncture-resistant tires. These have a protective strip of hard material inside, such as Kevlar. They are also thicker. This reduces the frequency of punctures.

Winner: Front hub drive ebikes because the front wheel gets fewer flats. Rear flats are harder to repair when the motor is in the rear hub. 

Front Hub Vs Rear Hub Motor Weight

Front hub motors are usually lighter than rear hub motors. This is because front hub motors must be smaller to fit between the more narrow front dropouts. Standard front dropouts have a spacing of 100mm. Rear hubs have a spacing of 135mm on average. The smaller motor contains less material so it weighs less. 

Most front hub motors are also usually geared. They tend to be smaller and less powerful than rear hub motors. A lightweight 250w model may weigh around 3.5 lbs. 

Rear hub motors are often big and heavy. Particularly direct drive (gearless) models. Many models weigh over 10 lbs. If you’re concerned with weight, there are lighter geared options available. 

The lighter weight of front hub motors makes the bike easier and more efficient to ride when you’re not using the motor. When the motor is engaged, the weight difference doesn’t really matter.  

More important than the weight of the motor itself is weight distribution. You want the weight of the motor and battery to be disturbed as evenly as possible between the front and rear axles. Front hub motors do a better job of distributing weight than rear hub motors. 

Winner: Front hub motors are often lighter than rear hub motors. On average, a front hub motor weighs 2-5 pounds less than a rear hub motor.

Hub Motor eBike Safety

Rear hub motors are safer than front hub motors. This is because rear dropouts are stronger. They can handle more torque without bending or breaking. They are less likely to fail and cause you to crash. 

Some forks are not strong enough to handle the torque produced by a front hub motor. Over time, the force created by the motor can cause the dropouts or fork blades to fatigue. Eventually, they can fail, causing you to crash.

If your dropouts were to fail while you were riding, your wheel could come off. Your chances of getting injured are higher if your front dropouts fail. A fork failure is extremely dangerous. A crash at speed can cause severe injury or death. A rear dropout failure is also dangerous but the crash is likely to be less severe. 

The frame and fork material are also important considerations. It is safest to only run a hub motor in a steel fork or frame. Steel is much more durable than either aluminum or carbon fiber. It’s less likely to fail. Having said this, many riders have installed hub motors in aluminum and carbon frames. Is generally not recommended. 

Regardless of your frame material and motor location, you should regularly inspect your ebike’s frame tubes and dropouts. Ebikes in general put a lot of stress on frames. The motor creates more torque than a human can.

Look for cracks or dents in the fork arms, seat stays, and chainstays. Check all of the welds for cracks or crimping. Inspect the dropouts for cracks. If you spot any frame damage, replace the frame or take the bike to a professional for an inspection or repair. 

To increase safety, it’s a good idea to install a torque arm on your hub motor ebike. A torque arm is a metal brace that prevents the axle from rotating in the dropouts. The torque arm transfers some of the force from the axle and transfers it to a stronger point further up the frame or fork. 

Without a torque arm, the motor’s power can sometimes pry the dropouts open. When this happens, the axle begins spinning freely and severs the cable. The wheel can also fall out, causing you to crash. For more info on torque arms, check out this useful guide.

For more general info on safety, check out my guide: Are E-Bikes Safe?

Winner: Rear hub motors are safer than front hub motors. 

Comfort and Ride Quality

Front hub motors can make the ride feel harsh. When you hit a bump or pothole, the extra weight of the motor makes the front of the bike drop harder and faster. You’ll feel more bumps in your hands and bottom. This can make for an uncomfortable ride. This rough ride can be an issue if you have back or joint problems. The extra bumps can cause pain.

It is possible to install a small front hub motor in a suspension fork. This can smooth out the ride but is not recommended for safety reasons. The pulling from the motor can damage the suspension components over time and cause the fork to fail. 

Rear hub motors usually offer a more comfortable ride. You can safely use a suspension fork with a rear hub motor. Some ebikes come with full suspension. This can really make the rider smoother and more comfortable. As an added benefit, the suspension helps increase traction and handling.

On a hub drive ebike, the weight of the motor is unsprung because the weight is in one of the wheels. This means the suspension system can’t accommodate the weight of the motor. The added weight of the motor makes bumps feel harsher. If you plan to ride off-road or on rough terrain frequently, you may be better off with a mid-drive ebike. 

The tires can also play a big role in ride quality. Wide, high-volume tires can help to absorb bumps and vibrations. Firm and narrow tires can create a rougher ride.

Winner: Rear hub motor ebikes are more comfortable. 

Steering

Front hub motor ebikes can be harder to steer at low speeds. This is because the weight of the motor makes it harder to turn the handlebars quickly. You have to turn the heavy motor with the wheel. You might not be able to quickly move the handlebars to balance the bike or navigate tight spaces. This makes steering at low speeds a bit of a challenge. While riding at higher speeds, the weight of the motor is less noticeable. Wide flat handlebars can help make steering easier by providing more leverage.  

On a rear hub drive ebike, the weight of the motor doesn’t affect low-speed steering. The handlebars remain light and nimble. This low-speed steering performance comes in handy while riding through dense cities and off-road. 

A heavy hub motor can create a gyroscopic effect. When you lean the bike, the wheel tries to right itself. This can affect the steering while you’re riding at higher speeds. The bike can feel like it’s resisting your turns. It doesn’t want to lean into corners. You may not be able to corner quite as hard as you’re used to when you use a hub motor.

Winner: Rear hub motors because you don’t have to deal with the weight of the motor while turning the handlebars.

Front and Rear Hub Motors and Frames

One potential issue with front hub motors is that they may damage your bike’s fork over time. The motor causes the fork blades to flex when it engages. This flexing can cause the fork to fatigue and wear out faster than it normally would. Eventually, the fork can fail. For this reason, it’s best to limit front hub motors to 750 watts or less. More powerful motors can cause excessive fork flex and premature failure. 

The constant pulling from the motor can also cause the headset to wear out a bit faster. You might need to grease or replace your headset a bit more often when you use a front hub motor. 

Rear hub motors are less likely to cause frame failure. This is because the rear dropouts and rear frame triangle are more robust than the fork and front dropouts. When you use a rear hub motor, you don’t have to worry as much about putting additional wear and tear on the frame. You should still inspect the condition of the frame periodically. If you spot any cracks or crimping, repair or replace the frame. 

The frame material is also an important consideration when deciding between a front and rear hub drive motor. Most ebike builders recommended against installing a hub motor in a carbon or aluminum frame. The reason is that these materials are much more brittle and susceptible to fatigue than steel. The torque forces from the motor can cause some frames to fail over time. 

If you’re planning to run a front hub motor in a carbon or aluminum bike, it’s a good idea to replace your fork with a durable steel model. If you’re planning to run a rear hub motor, you should choose a low-powered model. A 250 watt motor would work well. 

To increase reliability and safety, you should always install a torque arm on your hub motor ebike, regardless of the frame or fork material. A torque arm braces your dropouts and reduces the likelihood of dropout failure. Without a torque arm, the motor can sometimes pry the dropouts open, causing the wheel to fall out. 

Winner: An ebike with a rear hub motor is usually more durable and long-lasting than an ebike with a front hub motor due to the strength of the frame. 

Ebike Options

Most off-the-shelf ebikes come with rear hub motors. When buying an ebike, you’ll have far more options to choose from if you choose a rear hub motor model. You can find ebikes with a range of motor sizes including 200w, 250w, 300w, 500w, 750w, 1000w, 1200w all the way up to 5000w. You can find rear hub motor ebikes with cadence sensor or torque sensor pedal assist. This allows you to choose from pretty much any style of bike including road bikes, mountain bikes, folding bikes, commuters, tandems, etc. Pretty much every configuration is available in rear hub drive. 

Front hub motor ebikes are much less common. In fact, most front hub ebikes are conversions. Some folding bikes, such as the Brompton electric, use a front hub motor. You can also find front hub drive recumbent bikes. Running a front hub motor limits the motor size you can run. Front hub motors usually top out at 750w. Many front hub motor ebikes only feature a throttle. Some come with cadence sensors. A few come with torque sensors. Options are a bit more limited.

One major benefit of using a front hub motor is that you can use whatever type of drivetrain you want. For example, you could use an internal gear hub. This is nice because it allows you to shift gears while you’re stopped. You could also use a belt drive system instead of a chain. This reduces maintenance. Alternatively, you can choose from 1X, 2X, or 3X gearing. You can use modern 12 speed cassettes with electronic shifting. You can use a drivetrain from whatever brand you want. 

It’s also possible to install a front hub motor on pretty much any bike. You don’t have to worry about compatibility with the drivetrain. It is important to consider whether or not your fork is strong enough to withstand the forces generated by the motor. If you want to convert your existing bike into an ebike, a front hub motor often gives you more options. 

Yet another option to consider is the mid-drive motor. For more info, check out my guide to hub motor Vs mid-drive ebikes.

Winner: Rear hub motors give you more ebike motor and power delivery options. Front hub motors give you more drivetrain options. 

Maintenance

One drawback to ebikes, in general, is that the motor puts additional stress on some of the bike’s components. When you ride an ebike, you’ll have to replace your tires more frequently because you’ll be riding at higher speeds and covering more ground than you do on a non-powered bike. Tires wear out faster. Brake pads also need to be replaced more frequently because slowing the bike down from high speeds wears the pads out faster. With a front hub motor, you may have to grease or replace your headset a bit more frequently because the pulling forces from the motor cause it to wear faster than normal. 

The hub motor itself requires no maintenance. It is a sealed unit. To keep it operational, all you have to do is replace the hub bearings when they wear out. You also need to keep the hub clean and dry so it doesn’t get contaminated with debris or start to rust. 

Winner: Front and rear hub motor ebikes require the same (low) maintenance. 

Hub Motor Durability, Reliability, and Longevity

Front and rear hub motors are both equally durable, reliable, and long-lasting. After all, they are the same motors using the same technology. 

If you want the most durable and reliable motor, choose a direct drive model. These are the most simple mechanically. They have no moving parts inside that can wear out. There are no gears. As long as you grease the bearings and keep the hub dry and free of rust, the hub should last many thousands of miles.

A direct drive hub motor can last 10,000+ miles if you take care of it. In terms of hours, a direct drive hub motor can last 250-5,000 hours. They are long-lasting.

Higher-end hub motors come with internal planetary gears that reduce the RPMs. These models are smaller, lighter, and more efficient. They are a bit less durable and reliable because there are moving parts inside that can wear out and fail over time. If an internal gear fails, you’ll have to replace the motor in most cases. Geared hub motors don’t last quite as long as direct drive hub motors, on average.

Hub motors, in general, are not very repairable. If something breaks in the motor, it’s often easier to just replace the whole unit. They’re basically disposable. It is possible to open up the motor and replace parts but finding parts for your specific motor can be a challenge. Most bike shops won’t open up an electric motor and attempt to repair it. In some cases, you may be able to ship the motor to the manufacturer for repair. They may just sell you a new motor instead.

Individual ebike components can be replaced if they wear out or break. For example, if the handlebar-mounted control breaks, you can buy a new one from the manufacturer and swap it out. If a wire gets damaged, it can be replaced. 

For more info on longevity, check out my guides: How Long Do Electric Bikes Last? and How Long Do Electric Bike Batteries Last?

Winner: Both front and rear hub motors are durable and reliable. If something breaks, it’s usually possible to repair or replace it. 

Front Vs Rear Hub Motor eBike Looks

Some riders prefer the look of rear hub motor ebikes because the motor is less noticeable. A small hub motor can be hidden behind the gear cluster and disc brake rotor. The frame looks completely normal. This makes your bike appear stealthier. The average person might not even notice that you’re riding an ebike. Front hub motors are harder to hide. The large hub makes it obvious that you’re riding an ebike.