Patent ID: 7195088

Claim:
A bicycle drive unit comprising: a frame main unit having a front end portion that is configured to couple to a bicycle frame and undergo limited pivotal movement with respect to the bicycle frame, the frame main unit diverging from the front end portion toward first and second rear end portions, the first and second rear end portions having respective first and second rear wheel hub mounting parts; first and second cover members coupled to transverse outer surfaces of the frame main unit such that a first space is formed between the first cover member and the frame main unit and a second space is formed between the second cover member and the frame main unit; a rear hub disposed between the first and second rear wheel hub mounting parts of the frame main unit comprising a hub axle fixed between the first and second rear wheel hub mounting parts of the frame main unit, a hub shell rotatably coupled to the hub axle, a drive cylinder coupled to one transverse end of the hub shell, and a rear sprocket fixed to the drive cylinder; a rear gear shift apparatus configured and arranged to shift between a plurality of force transmission paths of the hub shell relative to an input force; an electric motor disposed in the first space and linked to the rear gear shift apparatus to perform motorized gear shift operations of the rear gear shift apparatus; a controller disposed in one of the first and second spaces, and configured to control the electric motor; and a power supply unit disposed in one of the first and second spaces, and configured and arranged to provide electric power to the electric motor and the controller.