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Shimano MF-TZ500 7-Speed Freewheel 14-28T

Name: Shimano MF-TZ500 7-Speed Freewheel 14-28T
Brand: Shimano

Most rear hub-motor e-bikes use a thread-on freewheel rather than a cassette, and the 7-speed Shimano MF-TZ500 (successor to the TZ-31) is the one that comes on a huge share of them. It screws onto the motor's threaded boss and comes off with a standard Shimano freewheel remover. The 14-28 range is conservative: fine for flat commuting and assisted riding, limiting if you want to pedal fast downhill. When the freewheel starts skipping or the pawls stick, replacing it is a cheap twenty-minute job if you have the tool.

7-speed hub-motor e-bikes with a thread-on freewheelFixing a skipping or sticky freewheelLike-for-like replacements

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Key considerations

Confirm your bike uses a thread-on freewheel (no lockring; the whole cluster unscrews)
Requires a Shimano-pattern freewheel remover and a big wrench
Replace the chain if it is worn; a new freewheel on a stretched chain will skip
Check that a 14T small cog matches your original; some bikes use 11T freewheels

Pros

OEM part on many e-bikes
Cheap
Easy to find

Considerations

Modest gear range
Basic bearings
Removal needs a specific tool

Features & specifications

Speeds	7
Range	14-28T

Specifications are manufacturer-published figures or our own notes; confirm on the current listing before purchase.

Compatibility notes

Fits most 7-speed hub-motor bikes using a standard thread-on freewheel — confirm yours is thread-on, not cassette

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Similar alternatives

All freewheels →

Freewheels

DNP Epoch 7-Speed Freewheel 11-28T

The DNP Epoch is the upgrade freewheel for hub-motor e-bikes: an 11-tooth small cog instead of the usual 14, which gives you a usefully taller top gear so you can still pedal along at 20–28 mph rather than spinning out. It is a thread-on 7-speed unit with a nickel finish and is a direct swap for the Shimano TZ-series on most bikes. Shifting is a touch less refined than Shimano and the pawls can be noisy, but for riders who pedal along with the motor, the 11T is the main reason to buy it.

Best for: Class 2/3 e-bike riders who spin out in top gear · 7-speed thread-on hub-motor bikes · Upgrading a worn stock freewheel

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E-Bike Chains

KMC Z7 Chain (6/7/8-Speed)

The KMC Z7 (formerly labeled Z51) is the standard replacement chain for 6-, 7- and 8-speed drivetrains, which covers most hub-motor e-bikes. It is an inexpensive chain that includes a reusable quick link, so installation needs only a chain breaker to size it. On an e-bike the chain carries only your pedaling load with a hub motor, so a basic chain like this lasts well; with a mid-drive you should step up to an e-bike-rated chain. Measure your old chain for length and replace the freewheel if the old chain was badly worn.

Best for: 7-speed hub-motor e-bikes · Budget drivetrain refreshes · Riders who want a quick-link install

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Derailleurs

Shimano Tourney RD-TY300 6/7-Speed Rear Derailleur

The Tourney TY300 is the derailleur on an enormous number of 7-speed e-bikes, and it is what you buy when the original gets bent by a fall or a stick. It is cheap, easy to set up, and available in a few mounting styles: a direct-mount version with a bracket (claw) for bikes without a hanger and a standard-hanger version. Before ordering, look at how your old derailleur attaches. It shifts fine for a 7-speed hub-motor bike and pairs with the stock thumb or trigger shifters; just expect to replace the cable at the same time.

Best for: 7-speed hub-motor e-bikes with a bent or broken derailleur · Budget like-for-like replacements · Riders who want a part that matches the stock shifter

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