Hub vs mid drive motor: how each e-bike motor works, climbs and rides

How each motor works

The difference is where the motor sits and what it turns. That one choice shapes how an electric bike climbs, feels and wears.

• Hub motor. The motor is built into the center of a wheel, usually the rear one. It spins the wheel directly and works apart from the chain and gears. You can still shift gears for your legs, but the motor does not use them.
• Mid-drive motor. The motor sits in the frame where the cranks turn, and it drives the chainring. Its power goes through the chain and the rear gears, just like your legs, so shifting to a low gear helps the motor as much as it helps you.

Hub motors come in two kinds. A geared hub has small gears inside, so the motor can spin fast while the wheel turns slower. It is lighter and pulls well from a stop. A direct-drive hub has no internal gears. It runs almost silently and has very few wearing parts, but it weighs more and adds a little drag when you pedal with the power off.

Hub motors are the most common type on electric bikes because they are simple and cost less to build. Mid-drives are more common on electric mountain bikes and on higher priced commuters.

Hills and heavy loads

On a long, steep climb, a mid-drive has the edge. When you shift to a low gear, the motor keeps spinning at a speed where it makes good power and stays cool, even as the bike slows down. A hub motor is tied to the wheel speed, so on a slow, steep grind it turns slowly, works harder and can get warm.

That does not make a hub motor weak. A hub motor with plenty of torque climbs most city hills without trouble, and a throttle helps you start on a slope. Compare the torque figure in newton meters (N·m) and the climbing rating the maker lists:

• The ASAP Zen pairs a 500W geared hub motor with 90 N·m of torque.
• The ASAP Zebra lists a 1000W hub motor, 85 N·m and a 30 degree climbing angle.
• The NAVEE KG05 lists 85 Nm from its rear hub motor and a 10 to 15 degree climb.
• The Hiboy EX6F, with a 500W rear hub motor (750W peak), lists a 15% maximum climb.

Rider weight changes the picture too. The more weight a motor has to move, the more a long climb asks of it. Our guide to choosing an electric bike for heavy riders covers torque, payload and brakes for bigger loads.

Maintenance and wear

• Hub motor. The motor is sealed and needs almost no routine care. The chain and gears wear at about the same rate as on a regular bicycle, because the motor does not pull through them. The catch comes with a flat on the motor wheel: you unplug the motor cable and undo the axle nuts to remove a heavy wheel, which takes longer than on a regular bike.
• Mid-drive motor. All the motor’s force goes through the chain, chainring and rear gears, so they wear faster. Plan on replacing the chain more often. Ease off the pedals for a moment as you shift, and shift down before you stop, so the next start is gentle on the drivetrain. Both wheels come off like a regular bike’s.

Because a hub motor works apart from the drivetrain, it pairs well with a belt drive. The Teewing T20 combines a 250W rear hub motor with a Gates carbon belt, which needs no oil.

Whichever motor you choose, the battery needs the same care. Our battery care guide covers charging and storage, and the advice applies to electric bikes too.

How each one feels to ride

A hub motor feels like a push. A mid-drive feels like stronger legs.

• Hub motor: a rear hub pushes the bike from behind, so you feel the motor as a separate force. Paired with a cadence sensor, it gives an even, easy push as soon as the pedals turn. It is also the natural partner for a throttle, which is why hub motors are so common on class 2 electric bikes.
• Mid-drive: the power comes through the pedals, so it rises and falls with your effort and your gear choice. With a torque sensor, it feels the closest to riding a regular bicycle. The weight sits low and central, which helps balance on trails.

A rear hub motor puts extra weight over the back wheel. You notice it most when you lift the bike onto a rack or up a step, and a direct-drive hub is the heaviest kind.

The pedal sensor shapes the ride as much as the motor does. We explain the difference in torque sensor vs cadence sensor.

Which of our electric bikes use which motor

Every electric bike in our catalog that names its motor type uses a hub motor. These listings state it:

• ASAP Zen: a 500W geared hub motor with 90 N·m, on a folding fat tire frame.
• ASAP Zebra: a 1000W hub motor with 85 N·m, dual suspension and hydraulic disc brakes.
• Hiboy EX6F: a 500W rear hub motor (750W peak) on a low-step folding frame.
• NAVEE KG05: a 1000W peak rear hub motor with 85 Nm, on a moped-style fat tire frame.
• NAVEE Wolf X: a 1000W peak hub motor with 85 Nm, on a step-through frame.
• Riding’times GT33: a geared rear hub motor that peaks at 1,350 W, on a cargo frame.
• Teewing T20: a 250W rear hub motor with a torque sensor and a belt drive.
• Segway MUXI and Segway MUXI Pro: Segway lists a 750W direct-drive motor on both.

Maker figures, checked September 2026. Real range and speed depend on rider weight, terrain, temperature and riding mode.

Other models in the electric bike shop do not name the motor type on the listing. If it matters for your hills, ask us before you order.

None of our electric bikes list a mid-drive motor right now. The layout does appear in our electric dirt bike range: the Talaria Sting MX3 lists a 6 kW peak mid-drive motor, and the NAVEE Storm G a 3500W peak mid-drive. Those are electric dirt bikes rather than electric bicycles, but the idea is the same: the motor sits in the frame and drives the rear wheel through a chain.

Which motor suits you

• Flat to rolling city streets, stop and go traffic, or a throttle for easy starts: a hub motor.
• The least upkeep, or a belt drive: a hub motor.
• Long, steep hills or technical trails: a mid-drive, or a hub motor with high torque and a good climbing rating.
• A ride that feels like a regular bicycle: a mid-drive with a torque sensor, or a hub motor paired with a torque sensor.

Motor type is one of several big decisions. For the class, battery, frame and fit, read how to choose an electric bike, and see e-bike classes explained for where each class may ride. Every order ships free to the lower 48 states, and you can split the cost with Pay in 4 at 0% APR or monthly payments with Affirm.

Questions riders ask