MBc-Member Product Review: GruBee Solid Hub Heavy-Duty Axle Kit

A

alesterfeind

Guest
Ok, I got my new axle, hub and sprocket yesterday by FedEx from bicycle-engines.com. I called them on Tuesday and got it on Saturday. This is the 2nd order I have made with this vendor, and they have been very quick to deliver both times.

Now, about the hub:

It's HUGE! The picture on the website does not really give you an idea of the size of this thing. I had planned on threading and building my own wheel. After getting it, I realizd the diameter is bigger than my other axle, so I have to replace the spokes as well. I took it up to the bike shop along with my wheel to talk to the techs about it. And, just so everyone knows, the guys at Bicycle's Plus here in Flower Mound were really cool about it being a motorized bike. One guy mentioned, "I have seen a guy riding one of these going north on FM-2499." I said, "That was me!" They can't wait to see the bike once it's put together.

After talking about options, I decided that if I am going to put any more money into this, then I am going to do it right. I purchased a heavy duty rim, (2 ply), new spokes, and I am letting a tech build it so it will be true when I put it on. It was $35 for the rim, $18 for spokes, and $45 for labor. So, it's going to cost about $100 to build the wheel around this new hub, and the hub cost about $50 with S/H. I really think the end result will be worth it in the long run. This new wheel should last forever and run much smoother compared to using the assembly kit we get with our engines that compresses and bends the spokes.

One great thing about this hub is how easy it will be to interchange different size sprockets since it just screws onto the axle. My hub kit came with a 44T. When Andrew gets his, I am sure he can come up with some custom sprockets to fit. I really want a 36T or 32T for my bike.

I should have it ready by this next weekend, and I will post pictures of the parts and the final result.
 
sorry what I ment was would it work with a single speed screw on sprocket?

When you use the term "single speed screw on sprocket" you mean the same thing that comes on a BMX type bike? The answer is yes. If you mean a fixed gear like on a track bike or what is popularly called a Fixie? The sprocket will thread on but there is no set of left hand threads for a lockring and the sprocket would backoff as soon as you tried to slow down. Also you wouldn't be able to coast with a fixed/non freewheeling single speed sprocket. Not a good thing for a motorized bicycle.

ocscully
 
I spun a bearing in the hub the other day, so the trike is in the shop. Tomorrow I'll be finding out what I can replace them with. I'm thinking that a good American-made bearing will last longer. I hope I can get a set air-lifted in quickly. It's beautiful riding weather up here. When I took the assembly apart, I looked at the axle, and couldn't detect any bend in it.
 
It appears that this hub has the motor freewheel on the left-hand side.

Is there a dual-freewheel hub that allows for both the motor and pedal freewheels to be on the right-hand side??? Preferably with no threads on the left-hand side...

????
 
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