Electric Bike conversion - anyone have experience with BAFANG? Other brand recs?

[chowdan]

Well my marina has finally decided to get rid of all of the bikes that are no longer being used and haven't been claimed. I took a claim on a bike myself for a low cost of $0. Will be swinging by this weekend to cut the cable and start inspecting it to see what needs replacing.

That said, i'm looking to do a wheel hub conversion as it will be great to reduce my carbon foot print and reduce wear and tear on my car.

I was looking at this unit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07N3YPLCR https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07N3YPLCR

[chowdan]

Well i pressed post before actually finishing my post.

In general, i'm looking to hear what people have to say about the kit i posted and any other possible kits that you have experience with.

Considering I am looking to be a cheapo, trying to keep the kit to around $500 but thats flexible(and higher if the bike needs less work than expected).

[Michael in ABQ]

Well my marina has finally decided to get rid of all of the bikes that are no longer being used and haven't been claimed. I took a claim on a bike myself for a low cost of $0. Will be swinging by this weekend to cut the cable and start inspecting it to see what needs replacing.

That said, i'm looking to do a wheel hub conversion as it will be great to reduce my carbon foot print and reduce wear and tear on my car.

I was looking at this unit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07N3YPLCR https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07N3YPLCR

It's a made-up Chinese brand - which frankly is most of Amazon these days. The all-caps random assortment of characters that can be easily trademarked gives it away. Also, the seller information is an address in Chinese - Dongguan Lvsheng Vehicle Co.,LTD. So it looks like it might be shipping from China, and I wouldn't expect much in the way of support except for what Amazon can offer (generally just the option to return it for a refund).

The reviews don't look great, but I have no idea about any better brands or if any US companies are just selling the exact same product made in the same factory in China under a different name.

[hdatontodo]

I used this one on my 2015 Redline Conquest Comp bike. Front wheel motor. Plus I added torque arms / fork braces so I didn't strip the dropouts with the engine's torque.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D2FX2JN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1&psc=1

I had two issues to work through. First, I had to file my fork dropouts a bit so the axle would fit. Second, I had to order another PAS sensor and modify it so I didn't have to pull the cranks.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here is my AZ review:

8V13Ah Hailong battery , 700C wheel+Display 500C with my 500 hub kit.

Nowhere in the advertising mentioned their axle size. I had to file my fork dropouts 1mm wider. I bought fork torque arms so the kit didn't destroy my dropouts.

My bottle carrier bolts are low on my 2015 Redline Conquest Comp cyclocross bike, so my battery top is at the bottom.

I replaced my shifters and drop handlebars with 720mm straight bars with 90mm rise. A lot of left side bar space is needed for brake and shift levers, throttle, and display. The 620mm straight bars with 120mm rise didn't have enough space.

I had bought a new brake disc, so I didn't transfer my current one. I also had new 700x38c tires and tubes. I told the display I had 27.5" tires in the advanced menu, signon code 1919 IIRC.

I couldn't mount the controller on my large top tube due to lack of long bolts, so I used my seat tube. I lost both water bottle mounts with the install.

I wasn't about to pull my cranks for PAS install. No tools or knowledge. I bought a $30 split magnet ring kits with frame mounted pickup. I had to make the hole much larger and fasten it with zip ties due to my wide crank arms and mounts.

I had everything together on the 2nd day, after I got in the easy split PAS.

For $700 plus with tax and $100 shipping, I wish I had bought a ride1up core-5 ebike like I got for my son. It doesn't have wires all over and has a rear hub motor. (However, mine is easier to carry since all his weight is in the rear.)

I do like to work on things, so I chalk it up as a learning experience.

Edit: I have gotten front flat tires multiple times in as many days. I filed down any metal burs. I added a second rim strip, made from a cut tube. Today, there was a pinhole about an inch from the valve stem on the rim side. Then I got another across the wheel. My local bike shop replaced the narrow rim strip with a wide, cloth, one and put in a thorn resistant tube. I rode 15 miles today with no flats.

It is nice pedaling around the busy roads at 25mph instead of 15 mph.

[scottnews]

I'll 2nd Bafang is a good brand. 

Amazon will probably be the problem here, too many scammers.
try
https://ebikes.ca/
https://www.greenbikekit.com/

[gooki]

Bafang quality is good. And decent availability of spare parts, but it's unlikely you'll ever need them. I've built over a dozen ebikes with a variety of motors. Currently have a bafang hub motor on the rear of my fat bike. It gets abused but keeps on going.

That kit looks like a good starting point at a lowish cost. Front wheel kits are the easiest to install.

Do check the spoke torque on the supplied wheel, and the rear wheel of your donor bike. Lose spokes break quickly at ebike speeds.

Ideally the option with the battery that installs on the down tube is the best as it keeps the center of gravity lower than batteries on the rear rack. Just be aware that these down tube batteries benefit from additional installation points. The stock bottle holder bolts aren't far enough apart to get a solid install and prevent a 3-4 kg battery from rattling around. A piece of foam and some cable ties, or Velcro straps can help a lot. Or do it properly and install a rivnut for an extra bolt point higher up the frame.

[iluvzbeach]

We bought conversion kits from a company called Hilltopper that is based out of Seattle. We were able to call in advance and speak with a live, knowledgeable person before making the purchase for our bikes. We had a minor problem when installing the kit on my husband’s bike so we called them again and they offered to ship us the part we needed or reimburse the expense if we took it to a local bike shop; we went with option 2 and they quickly reimbursed us for the cost. We’ve had the kits in place for 5+ years now and have been quite happy. I recommend them without hesitation.

I think the kits were around $600 each and we chose a mid-range battery option.

[Just Joe]

I built a Bafang ebike with all the parts sourced from Lunacycle. I have ~3500 miles on it. I'm quite happy with it. I have had a couple repairable failures that Lunacycle were able to supply parts for. I had a steel gear loose a tooth. I can't remember what the other one was. I did both repairs myself using YouTube videos and forums pictures for guidance. Not hard nor expensive. I very much recommend buying from Lunacycle for after-sale support. If you use an Amazon vendor, check and see if they will be available in a year or two if you need parts.

Mine is a 1500W hill climber special b/c around here we have lots and lots of hills. I'm still using the original Lunacycle battery now after 4-5 seasons. I strive to keep the battery charged between 80% and 20% for longevity and durability. Occasionally I charge to 100% to balance the cells and then go ride it so I can store it with less than 80% charge.

It'll do 30 miles or 30 mph but not both. I use it mostly to maintain 15 mph on flat ground (pedal assist) and to climb hills faster to shorten the amount of time I am vulnerable on blind curves and country road hills. People around here don't consider there may be a person bicycling or walking on our roads.

We have a second hub motor bike that is one of those "cheap Chinese" bicycles that some look down their noses at. It has ~2500 trouble-free miles on it. Currently in pieces b/c my youngest laid it down and broke the motor wires that enter the motor at the end of the rear wheel axle. Repair parts cost less than $20 from one of the ebike shops online. I have yet to complete the work, involves resoldering the wiring to the motor and splicing the wiring going to the motor controller. I'm handy and have the tools (uninsulated crimp connectors, shrink tubing, quality crimping tool, etc).

Happy to answer any questions you have. I recommend buying a bigger battery and motor than you need. It'll age better IMHO if it isn't being used near it's limits all the time.

[StashingAway]

It's a made-up Chinese brand - which frankly is most of Amazon these days. The all-caps random assortment of characters that can be easily trademarked gives it away. Also, the seller information is an address in Chinese - Dongguan Lvsheng Vehicle Co.,LTD. So it looks like it might be shipping from China, and I wouldn't expect much in the way of support except for what Amazon can offer (generally just the option to return it for a refund).

The reviews don't look great, but I have no idea about any better brands or if any US companies are just selling the exact same product made in the same factory in China under a different name.

Surprisingly despite following the Amazon Chinese naming convention, Bafang is a legitimate company (as others have noted). They are Chinese, but they have been around a relatively long time, have good customer support, have good products, they supply many small OEM bicycle brands, etc. I can remember seeing their motors on bikes as far back as 2015 (and they were founded in 2003 apparently).

I would not hesitate to use their parts for an ebike conversion.

[Just Joe]

https://bafangusadirect.com/

https://bafang-e.com/en/products/motors/m-series/
Mine uses the M615 type motor. If you go this route, I used a stainless steel sailboat cable tensioner to keep the motor from drooping (rotating in the lower frame hole). Was a ~$20 upgrade and I can provide more details. Connects a motor bolt to a water bottle mount bolt.

https://lunacycle.com/bafang-bbshd-1000w-middrive-kit/
This is the kit I based my ebike off of. Same supplier. Their crank arms at that time were terrible. They would loosen up and fall off. I upgraded to Shimano arms from eBay. Not expensive. I'd have to look to see exactly which arms I bought. Was years ago. I went through a few upgrade cycles as I wore out bicycle parts b/c they weren't designed for motor assist. Never purchased anything too expensive, just run of the mill Shimano plus some off brand Amazon parts. I can detail the whole list if anyone wants but it'll take time to dig up the info.

These days I have a solid setup that needs very little TLC. And my chains last too.

[eidiffc]

I'm running a Bafang BBSHD and a Tongsheng TSDZ2 motor on my bikes.  Both are mid-drive motors which I prefer over a hub motor because it allows me to use the gears on my bike and are more efficient overall.  It takes a little more DIY effort to install over the hub motor though. Bafang's build quality is solid and power output is stronger but uses a cadence sensor which I find less natural than the torque sensor on the TSDZ2.  The TSDZ2 feels more like I'm riding a natural bike but with much stronger legs. 

Both are great options and I found that getting a good battery is trickier as there's so much variance in specs and misinformation to sift through.  Generally, the more expensive batteries from reputable sources are worth the cheaper batteries with marketed higher specs and capacities. 

[ohio4life]

Just tested out a 750w mid drive Bafang on one of our bikes yesterday. I was impressed. We paired it with a 20ah 48w rear rack battery. Feels very responsive and has quick pick up with the throttle. I didn’t love the pedal assist, but I only rode a mile or so. Super fun. I need some upgraded brakes now. Pretty easy to get up to top speed!

It was expensive but I don’t have the space for more bikes, so putting this on a dumpster found cruiser (actually a very nice Linus bike) was a good fit for us. If I had more space I would have probably not converted an existing bike.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk