I just picked up a lightly used BBS02 kit for my project. Even with a new bike I should be able to get on the road for about $1100. Considering that new factory made mid-drive eBikes start at $2000 minimum and go up from there, it's a great deal. An advantage the Bafang kits have over factory eBikes is that the factory ones generally have the frame designed around a specific (usually expensive) motor, and if it breaks and a replacement is unavailable, the frame becomes useless. When you use a standard bike frame it is always upgradeable, or you can even return it to pedal power only if you want.
Same here been nerding over these all week since being told I can't drive due to medical reasons just waiting for the parts to be delivered now. The thing I'm most excited about is my bike has a lot of upgraded components done over the last year the motor will be the icing on the cake.
I am eagerly waiting for my Bafabg "Hub" motor from China for my project 🤩 but we are in tota Lock Down in Nepal due to the Covid . Once done (or if i need assistance ) will send vieo .🙏
To program a Bafang - (1) you need a Windows 10 USB-Serial driver so the programming cable works with your laptop - it's not plug and play. "edrive.net bafang programming" had a driver. (2) Google "Bafang Programming" - see "poweredride.com BBSHD & BBS02 configuration" for Penov program ( link source is Johnny's crosstown rival) , "Bafang 8Fun programming ebikeforum.com" for the Luna/Bafang program. Go thru the articles you find and other You-tube example links. What you recognize is DANGER of burning out your motor controller with high Amps - run a BBS02 hard at 25A for a while = $120 replacement controller. - Warranty issues is why stock Bafang is programmed soft. On the e-bike forum program link, their program has a Profile folder with various settings. Read and Save your current setting, then load up and try other profiles. Good luck. It's not too hard to do. Finding and loading USB driver for Cable was the hard part. Unlocked BBS02 is a strong motor - beware overheating and stripping the Nylon gear.
My experience: The HD motor can handle the 30 amps but the stock controller can't. With a 50 amp controller my motor seems fine sustaining 30 amps (provided I'm not in too high a gear). The 02 I have set for 18 amps max output and it runs sweetly but takes a little time to accelerate (in comparison to an HD).
Same here. I might be able to build one later this year. But trying to find a supplier priced cheaply enough that had everything needed is hard, Aliexpress.com has a heap of suppliers but none have everything required in one purchase (including tools), that seem trustworthy.
I totally get your preference for the bafang mid drives, I’m wondering if you have recommendations for the rest of a bikes drive components such as a strong chain manufacturer, which internal geared hub can survive a mid drive?, and lastly, which battery manufacturer and amp hour rating gives the best balance of power and range?. Thanks for any help, love the vids, keep them coming!
The student archer 3speed for fat bikes is supposed to be good. The Alfine 8speed is also supposed good. Rohloff if you have $$$$. I like the Samsung 35E cells in a 52v 17.5 pack
It’s such a shame I didn’t come across your channel before I bought my 1000w 48v bike. It’s a rear hub but retains the 8 Shimano gears. All I want now is a Bafang 1000w. Aarrgghh!
I 'm running a Bafang HD and I just got my interface cable. The main thing I want to do is soften the motor start to eliminate the initial jolt on my drivetrain when I start to pedal. I am absolutely loving this thing! Like you, I'm an electronics nerd and this stuff lands right in my wheelhouse.
Did you end up achieving this with the stock controller? I've seen mixed messages about the stock controller being unable to achieve a smooth natural feeling, but i don't see why it woildn't be possible.
Been preaching this for years. The BBSHD 750w can even be upgraded to 1500w or 3000w by replacing the controller. I knew nothing about ebikes and built my custom cruiser from scratch. Plus I know everything about my bike for repairs.
I took your advice and choose the bafang hd conversion kit. I live in the UK Lake District and 1 in 4 hills are the norm here. I brought a titanium frame bike with high quality components for £850 on ebay then a 1000ah battery and bafang hd kit total £1700. The bike is wonderful, uses 1100 Watts on those 1 in 4 hills. We can only buy poor spec'd bikes for £4500 here. Glad I took your advice. For £4500 you get a very under powered 250 watt bosch motor and 500ah battery. I checked the bafang standard configuration using a configuration lead with a view to change some of the settings, but having covered 200 miles I am finding the standard configuration pretty good and see no need to change them.
Agreed! First I don't do hub motors, not interested(I live in a hilly area). I have 2 bikes with Bafang Motors and one with a Tongsheng. The Tongsheng isn't a bad motor and if it had been my first mid drive motor I would probably have been happy with it. Also if I could have changed the settings like i can with the Bafang's I might enjoy it more. I live in the UK so being a good law abiding senior citizen I bought the Bafang BBS01B a 250 watt motor, and immediately found the 15.5 mph cut off(legal requirement) was right on my normal pace, so it would constantly see-saw off and on, really annoying, so that got moved to 17 mph, I checked and that was within the allowed tolerance's, and with the cable and program you mentioned I tuned it to my liking. and even a little 250 watt motor makes a huge difference when hill climbing even the steepest of hills, its not nearly enough watts, but you learn how to get the best out of it and stay legal. Eventually I said fcuk it and bought the Tongsheng which is a 350 watt motor(naughty, naughty) and honestly it's not as powerful as the 100 watt less Bafang and is very limited in what you can program so doesn't get much use. I am into stealth, I prefer it if people don't know that my bike is electrically assisted, I removed the throttle on all of my bikes and i have no desire to rush around, I have a full license so if i wanted speed I could buy a big Honda, BUT at my age and being a little overweight there is no way I could manage without my Ebikes, I have never been stopped by plod whilst on any of my bikes, so I am seriously looking at the Bafang BBS02B 750 watt and getting a bike trailer so i can do the occasional overnight wild camp. If i had been a lot younger, like you I would have started a small business on the side, converting bicycles to ebikes, I mean some of these E-mountain bikes go for would you believe £12,500 (S-Works Turbo Levo SL) and even £5000 is needed for a half decent E-mountain bike. Unbelievable!
JNO.. something else to appreciate about Bafang: you do not have to use proprietary batteries (that run over $700-$1500) Remember what happened to BionX..? They partnered with GE motors to build an ebike... when BionX was unable to meet the demands of the contract, GE Motors sued them out of existence... And now..you can't buy a compatible battery for your BionX motor. So all of those good motors are sitting in landfills. I never buy proprietary components that rely on other proprietary components to work.. BionX was a very expensive system, and the motors last a realy longtime.. yet, they are useless now because you can't buy a compatible battery off the shelf. Today, i buy my batteries from AliExpress (where all US Dealers buy their batteries) I payed only %380 USD (free shipping) for the same battery LunaCycles sells for over $900 plus shipping. BTW Luna bought their batteries from Alibaba in bulk so they paid far less than i did for the same battery made in China (where all Ebike batteries are made) My batteries arrive UPS ground ship in just 10 days from China. It takes longer to order it from a US dealer. One thing i look for are Heilong packs with 52v 17ah (or higher) with NCR18650GA cells.. GA means they are long range / high power... they have newer, next gen cells that are larger than the 18650 that are supposed to be even better. You are right Johnny, Bafang is the best for power, dependability and price.
That's a really good post Rob. I have a Yamaha mid drive in my Giant, but don't know a lot about Ebikes. I would like to know about other options without drinking the Luna Kool Aid. Thank you for your detailed post.
@@fendermon I got a Bafang BBS02 750w mid-drive... Later upgraded to the BBSHD 1000w. I also upgraded to the 52v batteries with Sanyo GA, Panasonic GA or Samsung cells.. These are the highest quality batteries for many reasons. 1) they have high power, long range. 2) and they have a high number of cycles (that means how many times you can recharge them before they won't accept a full charge) That is important because being able to charge more times saves you money in the long run. Most important, see if the motor you choose will alow you to use standard Hailong downtube or standard ebike batteries. I always purchase from Aliexpress: AliExpress it the place a consumer goes to get one or two batteries.. AliBaba is the place where a dealer goes to buy the same batteries in buld ar substantially lower prices. At the time i purchased my Hailong SanyoGA 52v 17.5ah they were being sold at Luna for over $900 plus $40 shipping. I got 2 of them for for just under $1000 from AliExpress.com.. Now my range is over 144miles per charge (cycle). One other thing using these NON-proprietary batteries does is allow you to use solar charging. I have a 170w 29v 5.83a panel with a Genesun GVB-8 58.8 lithium MPPT boost charge controller. It allows me to charge my 52v batteries on the fly... I could not do that with a proprietary battery. Proprietary (i've learned) means limited. They work great until something goes wrong, and they are expensive and cannot be mix-matched with other systems like bafang mid-drives or solar chargers. Because the tech/chips inside the battery won't work with anything other than proprietary motors.. Think about what will happen if you are on a long trip and you need a replacement. (you will need a large bank account and you will have to find a dealer that carries that brand)
Fendermon, my friend Court Rye of electricbikereview.com opened up a whole world to me. His advice was not to limit myself and look into the future with up-gradable parts.
@@rdkuless Thanks man for all the help :) You really know your stuff! The where to buy info is great too. I'm happy with my Giant Explorer, but if something goes south...It's a black box. I'm not convinced my dealer would know what to do, not even kidding. Your recounting of the Bionx debacle is interesting, ...what a mess. Proprietary can be a help (for quality control (like Apple, or Giant ) or a large hinderance (Bionx). There is a lot of very specialized info to digest on when to pay up for quality or convenience (a pre-built bike), and when to just better educate yourself so you don't give Trek absurd money, or Luna $900 bucks for a $400 battery for example. -Thanks :)
You're playing Russian roulette with aliexpress batteries. Luna buys high end cells and makes their own packs in house. The shark pack is way overbuilt but extremely safe.
You’ve convinced me dude, no doubt in my mind now, I’m a bafang buffoon as of this video, thanks again I been pulling my hair out over this….where their was dark now their is light ….waytaGo 🥳🥳
I just got a Bafang BBS01B and pretty happy with it on my mountain bike. Took your advice after watching past videos helped me choose this motor. After a week of use pretty good fun and useful. One thing i think i would like is more pedal assist where it detects the pedalling force when cranking and not keep turning when i need to slow down. I have watched some other videos and found TongSheng TSDZ2. The review vs the bafang shows the bafang is more powerful. I saw a video where some mountain bikers upgraded from the bafang to a integrated ebikes so they can get the torque sensing when they pedal. I saw that the TongSheng TSDZ2 can also be programmed as there is open source software for it. Maybe worth you doing a comparison between these two motors when they have been programmed as best they can. I think for mountain bikers where you dont need to go fast and need more control maybe the TongSheng TSDZ2 would be a better choice though its a little slower than the bafang.
Electrifybike.com sells flashed TSDZ2 motors. They also have a comparison sheet page for Mid drives. TSDZ2 - 80 NM, BBS02 - 120 NM, BBSHD - 160 NM is a good gauge of power differences - think 4 cylinder vs 6 vs 8 as performance. Torque vs Cadence sensing is like Stick vs Automatic on Cars. You will get more Range with TSDZ2 since Torque Sensing is more precise in power application - partial vs On/Off power. So 4 cylinder Manual vs 6 cylinder Automatic for $50 more is the difference.
Just converted my 2015 Giant Escape with BBS02 thanks to this channel. I feel like a little kid again! so pumped to ride this thing. I am having some chain slippage when the motor gives high torque against high resistance. (wind, uphill, starting too fast from a stop).. What is the most common cause? Need a different front chain ring with spacers to correct alignment? Chain too tight or too loose? Local bike shop suggests maybe a new rear cartridge but it sounds like it is slipping at front chain ring.
Programming is a big factor, and if you dont want to tweak individual settings you can just flash one of the already optimized files that are available. Another option I employ is chainring selection. I use a 32t for off road mountain endeavors and I swap to a 52t for high speed asphalt travel. Typical hub motors can not even come close to this flexibility.
Most of the programming cables available use the SiLabs chipset, google "CP210x Universal Windows Driver" to download the latest version of the driver.
You're right, one of the first extras i got was a Lekkie chainring, it puts the chain line in exactly the right place and it has less teeth than the supplied chainring which gives you better acceleration and less strain on the motor.
@@robinlehnerd1475 Absolutely. In fact it is about 10mph faster. Drag doesn't have a huge effect until you exceed ~50mph. For example, standing in a 45mph wind gust is not nearly as uncomfortable as standing in a 55-60mph gust. There are many ebike builds that can reach speeds over 60mph. You do need sufficient torque to pull from a stop with a 52t, and that is where the size of the rear sprocket becomes very important. It also helps to have a custom programmed 1600w BBSHD mid-drive to deliver the power required.😁
After watching a bunch of videos, I wanna put a Bafang on an old Trek Navigator 200. I need new tires, hydraulic brakes with cutoff, left mirror, a decent display and tools. I wonder what I’m looking at cost wise. I’m handy enough and don’t have a stand, but maybe I don’t need one. Thoughts anyone? I think I have have outgrown my Aventon Level 1 after 3000 flawless miles commuting 10 miles a day. Tired of ghosting.
....and at first glance "I" thought this guy Was Some Kind Of Doofus! W O W, O'HOW WRONG "I" WAS ! After watching about six or seven videos by J.N.O. I'm convinced he is some kind of E-BIKE GENIUS... ....love his work👍
Amen! I have an HD with an upgraded controller for more power on an e-mtb. I have an 02 tuned for less power but greater range (from a tiny 6ah battery) on a hybrid city e-bike. Gotta love the versatility of the BBSxx line.
@@madmanwheelies6157 I have a Ludicrous controller That comes set for 50 amps but can run 60 amps (continuous) at 52 volts. There are external controllers from ASI that have more flexibility both on amperage and voltage. Check the detailed specs of your BMS. If that's 50 amps peak you'll need a new battery for a controller upgrade (most lion BMS run at 30 amps and only burst to 50 amps momentarily). My battery can put out 50 amps continuously and bursts to 70 amps to handle the power needs of a controller set for 50 amps.
One of my main questions I now have about bafang is if it can fit a Schwinn Huron 1 bottom bracket I really like my bikes styling is why I want it to be mid mount of some sort
Thank you, bought an E-Bike with a Bafang motor for the power to go up hills at 750 Watts for the maximum my state allows before having to get a license plate to use it... appreciate this video for the programming aspect of the Bafang motor.... have a great day.
All the cheap hub motors & controller. I've bought have a KT display. And have multiple different settings. like almost everything you said and more. like different pedal assist settings. Throttle settings And regen breaking settings saves brake pads and put power back into battery pack. USB port on the back of display. For charging phone Also has the option to use USB wire + app + Bluetooth to program controller If don't want to use the display.
The Bafang sounds good except for only having cadence sensing, { It think I heard } where as torque sensing sounds more natural to what I am used to. Still gotta use a bike for exercise. Maybe the Bafang is worth getting without the torque sensing.
They don't make them past 1000 watts. To a bigger, taller rider, that's disappointing and not quite enough speed. I want 2000 to 3000 watts, and before some safety geek criticizes that for being dangerous, I say BS!
I've made up my mind guys. I'm gonna go with the BBSHD and a 52volt upgrade all in the same Bafang package! They have a Spring sale on them right now so I think I'll take advantage of that.
Canyon are great, just make sure your bottom bracket gives you enough room to put the bbshd against the downtube (opposite of the frame design of the specialized stunt jumper)
Got a new Ebike with a Bafang M 620 it shifts smootly up tto 8th gear but it seems when i am going faster in Pas 5 and 8 gear (20+mph) to get to top speed i get a knocking sound as if i would cut power to motor and reapply makes a loud TOK sound, but i am applying power smootly i am not flooring it .What can cause that .Any ideas ebike is new .Thanks
I know little about e -bike . . . I believe they are different - in structure - from ordinary bike . . . They must be : safe , strong , reliable , durable , comfortable. . Provide smooth riding . . . For ex : brake disk : must be stronger . . . The spikes most be stronger also . . The frame must handle the stress . . And the chain must replaced by strong belt . . . In other meaning : the e-bike : must be designed as : e - bike . . . But if some one has a strong bike . . . He can modified it . . . Thank you . from old man .
EggRider display allows for realtime bluetooth programming of a Bafang with your smartphone. It also offers comprehensive data capture too. It's not perfect (mine struggles to register correct speeds above 29 mph, sometimes showing the wrong speeds on the display 17 instead of 37, 22 instead of 42. It might be my 20" drive wheel and fast recumbent creates frequencies that the programmers didn't expect??). But I've got Strava for helping me understand my max speeds averages and the ONLY time I focus on my speed is trying to stay under speed limit in 25 zone, and when climbing hills to compare different gearing giving different climbing speeds on the same hill. Another EggRider display benefit is that you get TWO separate setting profiles, so you can have your eco set of 1-9 and your sport set of 1-9. This is super helpful if for example you want to experiment with keeping 60% keep current on you eco for range, and using 100% keep current on your sport for MAX sustained power (Be Careful of controller burnout especially on a BBS02!) I have different max current settings on my two different profiles. Finally, since the EggRider V2 is built to have tiny little almost unreadable set of display data smashed into tiny little screen, you can simulcast to your big-assed smartphone screen and mount that on your bars for rides where you're focused on nerding out on what the motor's up to. Shows remaining range in miles, power (W) draw in realtime, Current draw in realtime (A), avg efficiency (Wh/mi) and battery percentage instead of crappy Guessometer bars. I highly recommend this display as gamechanging part of using a Bafang motor. It sometimes disconnects (bluetooth that is) so the data tracking is more useful for tuning than for rigorous cataloguing of all you rides.
It is an amazing display. Wish it never needed updates and was not tied to a users email so it could be transferred easily to other users. But it’s the best display for data nerds for sure.
I have the early EggRider, before they had a display. The on the go programming is a huge selling point and very cool. I hated having to use my phone for a display and when the transmitter developed a short I had to start using the programming cable and never went back. I discovered that once I had my settings right it wasn't necessary to tweak them so frequently. I love the looks of their new display but wouldn't be able to read it without glasses;( Still a very cool product that I'd recommend to anyone interested in getting deeper into their motors.
You sold me on mid motor. But I am going to have to buy the kit then buy the bike because the bike will in Brazil and I am getting the kit and battery in the US. What is the most common mounting size in mm?
Just bought a 750W bafang kit for my wife's bike. Bike is disassembled (took days to get that dayum bottom bracket out) and now I'm just waiting for delivery!
had to come to terms I couldn't afford the mid right away so went Bafang hub 26 inch front wheel kit with a big battery gonna add at least one more battery then I start building a klunker mid drive of some kind maybe a crazy custom trike but the videos saved me from buying a crap kit that would have been absolute trash at least
Have to agree, the Bafang is almost silent, relatively cheap, easy to maintain, programmable is a definite plus, easy to install, reliable, I have done 3000 miles on mine, I love it. For balance I have to say I have a Yamaha mid drive and the torque sensor suits me very well, 2000 miles so far. I use both bikes regularly the Bafang is lightweight and easy to throw around, the Yamaha I use for serious stuff and longer range. Thanks for the video.
Hi John, I have a Yamaha Explore with 2600 flawless miles on it and love it. Which Bafang would you recommend if I were to go that direction for a project? Thanks
@@fendermon I am in the UK, so we are restricted to 250w. I used the BBSO2 250W motor. It is easy to increase the max amps and remove speed limit. The display often shows 750 watts power, but the motor stays cool.
@@johndoyle4723 Interesting stuff John. I would probably enjoy that motor too as I don't care about max power, but like range and reliability. Thanks for the info.
Ive used the bafang g06 fatbike hub and the bbshd. They have both been faultless under severe conditions. I cooked the g06 up huge climbs over rocks at 45amps, melted a few phase wires, but the motors and gears have never let me down.
Thanks heaps Johnny. I've been watching a bunch of your videos recently and I appreciate everything you have taught and in such an friendly and approachable way. I've gone from considering a 3.2k giant to then a 2k bafang kit which is programmed and sold locally to now having the confidence to order my own kit and programing cable and saving about 800 bucks. Thanks man, I'm a sub for good
I am about to try my first electric mower to e-bike “do it yourself” Admission suicide mission with a 24 inch single speed BMX bike. I can’t afford to spend much, I already have The mower motor and bike but I don’t have a battery, what’s my best frugal option. Oh & by the way...am I wasting my time. Please reply
Are you referring to simple programming like setting top speed etc. or changing parameters like start voltage % and how quickly the motor kicks off after pas is stopped etc. a lot of people get those confused.
I went to my local ebike shop for a conversion 5 months ago. He claims it hasn't come in yet due to shipping back logs. Can this be true? Feeling very frustrated over here or I've been had
@@JohnnyNerdOut thanks, and what battery? what are good brands to buy batteries from? Your videos are extremely helpful by the way, thanks for the work you do.
You don't like hub motors but what about dual hub motors 1 front 1 rear controlled by a single throttle or pedal assist and which feeds off a single battery do you know if that's possible would it be any good?
It would be good for a very specific use case. Like a fat tire bike that needs ultimate traction. Like on ice for example. Otherwise it’s not an efficient use of energy IMO
I got a Free Diamondback outlook, . Picked up a bafang 350w geared hub motor for like 40 bucks with a like new schwalbe marathon tire & tektro Aries brake caliper. Got a 36v 14amp controller and crappy thumb throttle for $40 on eBay. Slapped my 40v mower battery on there. Honestly it's better than I expected ,hits 25mph, but I still want a mid drive on my main bike, but unemployed. Everyone quit. I was the last employee. Crazy world man.
A hub motor with a solid aluminum 5 spoke wheel would be the most dependable Ebike. A mid-drive will run all that extra wear through the expensive drive-train. Bicycle chains are as weak as a baby kitten, even for just a bicycle, add another 750w and they will wear out in less than 1000 miles. BUT...since NO hub motor wheel on the market is strong enough, I will be building a mid-drive. Good to know the the 5 levels of assist are programmable, because I only need 100w maximum for assist. Too bad Bafang doesn't offer PRO kits with 50 to 100w assist and a very small motor (physically), made specifically for a full time cyclist (no car) who is very strong but needs that day off and a little assist to recover.
Been following your videos for many months, Johnny Nerd's good value .Im in the process building my own Bafange powered ebike from an old manual (pedal-pedal power) Discovery, made in NZ 5-6 yrs ago. An ok push bike 4 keeping fit! The programmable Bafange option looks like a winner , especially for this old-bugger, that's having trouble keeping up. Currently running a KTM Bosch... which is ok for ladies!
This is crazy how much you know, which is gr8 4 us, thx! I've seen Bosh performance vs Bufang, and Bosh outperformed Bufang, yet ... programmability/customization.. gr8 part for me... Also, what kind of software do I need to get in order to get it programmed? thx.
I have a 500w Hub motor on my first ekit conversion on a commuter, but also because of your videos, I've just ordered a BBS02 750w for my Trek Slash 8 MTB. and I'll get another one for the commuter when the Hub motor dies. Cheers for all the info.
Thanks to you I have upgraded from a hub to a mid-drive. Difference is night and day as I live in a hilly area. I am a little worried about burning out my BBS02 as it sounds like that happens to a lot of people. Do you have any tips for keeping my motor healthy? At the moment I am just trying to make sure I am using the gears and keeping a good cadence
Using the correct gears is 95% of keeping your motor healthy. It’s when you put too much power to the motor and it’s not able to spin fast is when you burn it out. So as long as your motor is able to spin pretty quickly you should be fine.
I am not a fan of hot rodding. That's our only difference of opinion. If I were into it, then yes, Bafang is bullet proof when done right. The TSDZ2 torque sensing mid-drive has free programming as well. It will even show your own wattage output like a high end roadie would have! I like the torque sensing of the TSDZ2 for response and extending battery life between assist levels as well. It is much smaller and lighter for handling and such. Parts are available everywhere and the internals are even more simple than Bafang. Definitely not for the >750 crowd, but a great option for commuters, rail trails and MUP's.
I never knew how a mid drive motor attached to the bike. Good donor bikes are scarce in Michigan because we don't have a big culture for high end bikes until very recently. I will look around for info on how to mount a mid drive and make that my project for next year. I have a 750w front hub bike (1kw 48v battery) and it can handle 1040 watts all day. Hills on trails are easy. My rear 1500w only gets about 1540 from it's motor controller. I think it could easily handle the same amps at 60v; 1800w. I do notice that off-road hill climbing is tough. I have to know the slope and be pedaling fast in the correct gear.
I am about to pull the trigger on a bafang bbs02, just waiting for a few checks to clear, I want to convert my hybrid 700c to an ebike. I have a hub motor fat tire bike and was thinking about adding a hub to the front to make it all wheel drive. I have a friend with a dual motor fat tire bike and he spent a fortune, I think that is the only benefit to hub motors is the dual setup on fat tires for soft sand mud and SNOW! Any thoughts?
Chain ring options (1) $20 stock steel ring 44-52 tooth (2) $120 Lekkie ring or (3) $20 adapter spider w/ $15 4 hole narrow chain ring - this option is easy & cheap to add different rings - 32, 40, 44, 50 tooth @ $15 - $20 each. Any horror stories with the adapter spider & chain ring option vs stock ring or Lekkie?
Hi Johnny, would you also be able to make a custom made bike for someone in the Philippines? If yes, may I ask how should I contact you to talk about the details? Thank you and best of luck tobyour channel!
I have a hub, which I bought on the grounds of a shorter, simpler connection between wher the power comes from and where it is used. I am looking to convert when I can. The co$t and technical hurdles are daunting. Thanks to JohnnyNerdOut for making it easier.
I'm looking the Super Monarch Crown AWD 1500 watt. It has the Dual 750 watt Battery and the Dual Hub Bafang Motors. Would you recommend staying clear of this because its a Hub Motor, even though built by Bafang? Thank you for your response.
@@JohnnyNerdOut mainly in mountains for hunting. Will possibly be hooking a bike trailer to tow gear and game. Figured dual motors would give more traction and power
I wanted a beefy motor so I can do burnouts and even (maybe) get the front wheels off the ground. Since the bafang is a kit, I assume it should be a lot easier to install than doing a custom install, and at 2:22 you mentioned it can lift the front wheels to it should be good for me. Which kit is it and for which bike? Thanks!
I agree that mid drives are best. I had a Bewo, now a Tongsheng, which has torque sensor and a Bafang on it's way from China via ebay to try next. All are fitted on hardtail mountain bikes.
I just picked up a lightly used BBS02 kit for my project. Even with a new bike I should be able to get on the road for about $1100. Considering that new factory made mid-drive eBikes start at $2000 minimum and go up from there, it's a great deal. An advantage the Bafang kits have over factory eBikes is that the factory ones generally have the frame designed around a specific (usually expensive) motor, and if it breaks and a replacement is unavailable, the frame becomes useless. When you use a standard bike frame it is always upgradeable, or you can even return it to pedal power only if you want.
Not to mention the programmability
Same here been nerding over these all week since being told I can't drive due to medical reasons just waiting for the parts to be delivered now.
The thing I'm most excited about is my bike has a lot of upgraded components done over the last year the motor will be the icing on the cake.
Can't believe I never seen your channel before. Good stuff! 👍Cheers
I am eagerly waiting for my Bafabg "Hub" motor from China for my project 🤩 but we are in tota Lock Down in Nepal due to the Covid . Once done (or if i need assistance ) will send vieo .🙏
To program a Bafang - (1) you need a Windows 10 USB-Serial driver so the programming cable works with your laptop - it's not plug and play. "edrive.net bafang programming" had a driver.
(2) Google "Bafang Programming" - see "poweredride.com BBSHD & BBS02 configuration" for Penov program ( link source is Johnny's crosstown rival) , "Bafang 8Fun programming ebikeforum.com" for the Luna/Bafang program.
Go thru the articles you find and other You-tube example links.
What you recognize is DANGER of burning out your motor controller with high Amps - run a BBS02 hard at 25A for a while = $120 replacement controller. - Warranty issues is why stock Bafang is programmed soft.
On the e-bike forum program link, their program has a Profile folder with various settings. Read and Save your current setting, then load up and try other profiles.
Good luck. It's not too hard to do. Finding and loading USB driver for Cable was the hard part. Unlocked BBS02 is a strong motor - beware overheating and stripping the Nylon gear.
My experience:
The HD motor can handle the 30 amps but the stock controller can't. With a 50 amp controller my motor seems fine sustaining 30 amps (provided I'm not in too high a gear).
The 02 I have set for 18 amps max output and it runs sweetly but takes a little time to accelerate (in comparison to an HD).
I keep watching your channel, even though I can't afford an ebike :)
same man. im saving up! soon maybe!
Same here. I might be able to build one later this year. But trying to find a supplier priced cheaply enough that had everything needed is hard, Aliexpress.com has a heap of suppliers but none have everything required in one purchase (including tools), that seem trustworthy.
@@chartphred1 Amazon has all kinds of kits
Me too
I totally get your preference for the bafang mid drives, I’m wondering if you have recommendations for the rest of a bikes drive components such as a strong chain manufacturer, which internal geared hub can survive a mid drive?, and lastly, which battery manufacturer and amp hour rating gives the best balance of power and range?.
Thanks for any help, love the vids, keep them coming!
The student archer 3speed for fat bikes is supposed to be good. The Alfine 8speed is also supposed good. Rohloff if you have $$$$. I like the Samsung 35E cells in a 52v 17.5 pack
It’s such a shame I didn’t come across your channel before I bought my 1000w 48v bike. It’s a rear hub but retains the 8 Shimano gears. All I want now is a Bafang 1000w. Aarrgghh!
I 'm running a Bafang HD and I just got my interface cable. The main thing I want to do is soften the motor start to eliminate the initial jolt on my drivetrain when I start to pedal. I am absolutely loving this thing! Like you, I'm an electronics nerd and this stuff lands right in my wheelhouse.
Did you end up achieving this with the stock controller?
I've seen mixed messages about the stock controller being unable to achieve a smooth natural feeling, but i don't see why it woildn't be possible.
Been preaching this for years. The BBSHD 750w can even be upgraded to 1500w or 3000w by replacing the controller. I knew nothing about ebikes and built my custom cruiser from scratch. Plus I know everything about my bike for repairs.
Luna makes a good controller for it. The ludicrous 2000 watt.
I took your advice and choose the bafang hd conversion kit. I live in the UK Lake District and 1 in 4 hills are the norm here. I brought a titanium frame bike with high quality components for £850 on ebay then a 1000ah battery and bafang hd kit total £1700. The bike is wonderful, uses 1100 Watts on those 1 in 4 hills. We can only buy poor spec'd bikes for £4500 here. Glad I took your advice. For £4500 you get a very under powered 250 watt bosch motor and 500ah battery. I checked the bafang standard configuration using a configuration lead with a view to change some of the settings, but having covered 200 miles I am finding the standard configuration pretty good and see no need to change them.
Agreed! First I don't do hub motors, not interested(I live in a hilly area). I have 2 bikes with Bafang Motors and one with a Tongsheng. The Tongsheng isn't a bad motor and if it had been my first mid drive motor I would probably have been happy with it. Also if I could have changed the settings like i can with the Bafang's I might enjoy it more.
I live in the UK so being a good law abiding senior citizen I bought the Bafang BBS01B a 250 watt motor, and immediately found the 15.5 mph cut off(legal requirement) was right on my normal pace, so it would constantly see-saw off and on, really annoying, so that got moved to 17 mph, I checked and that was within the allowed tolerance's, and with the cable and program you mentioned I tuned it to my liking. and even a little 250 watt motor makes a huge difference when hill climbing even the steepest of hills, its not nearly enough watts, but you learn how to get the best out of it and stay legal. Eventually I said fcuk it and bought the Tongsheng which is a 350 watt motor(naughty, naughty) and honestly it's not as powerful as the 100 watt less Bafang and is very limited in what you can program so doesn't get much use.
I am into stealth, I prefer it if people don't know that my bike is electrically assisted, I removed the throttle on all of my bikes and i have no desire to rush around, I have a full license so if i wanted speed I could buy a big Honda, BUT at my age and being a little overweight there is no way I could manage without my Ebikes, I have never been stopped by plod whilst on any of my bikes, so I am seriously looking at the Bafang BBS02B 750 watt and getting a bike trailer so i can do the occasional overnight wild camp.
If i had been a lot younger, like you I would have started a small business on the side, converting bicycles to ebikes, I mean some of these E-mountain bikes go for would you believe £12,500 (S-Works Turbo Levo SL) and even £5000 is needed for a half decent E-mountain bike. Unbelievable!
Johnny nerdout is one of the big advantages to living in Salt Lake. Pretty fortunate to have this fellow living 5 miles from me
Wait, he's in Salt Lake? That's awesome.
JNO.. something else to appreciate about Bafang: you do not have to use proprietary batteries (that run over $700-$1500) Remember what happened to BionX..? They partnered with GE motors to build an ebike... when BionX was unable to meet the demands of the contract, GE Motors sued them out of existence... And now..you can't buy a compatible battery for your BionX motor. So all of those good motors are sitting in landfills. I never buy proprietary components that rely on other proprietary components to work.. BionX was a very expensive system, and the motors last a realy longtime.. yet, they are useless now because you can't buy a compatible battery off the shelf. Today, i buy my batteries from AliExpress (where all US Dealers buy their batteries) I payed only %380 USD (free shipping) for the same battery LunaCycles sells for over $900 plus shipping. BTW Luna bought their batteries from Alibaba in bulk so they paid far less than i did for the same battery made in China (where all Ebike batteries are made) My batteries arrive UPS ground ship in just 10 days from China. It takes longer to order it from a US dealer.
One thing i look for are Heilong packs with 52v 17ah (or higher) with NCR18650GA cells.. GA means they are long range / high power... they have newer, next gen cells that are larger than the 18650 that are supposed to be even better. You are right Johnny, Bafang is the best for power, dependability and price.
That's a really good post Rob. I have a Yamaha mid drive in my Giant, but don't know a lot about Ebikes. I would like to know about other options without drinking the Luna Kool Aid. Thank you for your detailed post.
@@fendermon I got a Bafang BBS02 750w mid-drive... Later upgraded to the BBSHD 1000w. I also upgraded to the 52v batteries with Sanyo GA, Panasonic GA or Samsung cells.. These are the highest quality batteries for many reasons. 1) they have high power, long range. 2) and they have a high number of cycles (that means how many times you can recharge them before they won't accept a full charge) That is important because being able to charge more times saves you money in the long run.
Most important, see if the motor you choose will alow you to use standard Hailong downtube or standard ebike batteries.
I always purchase from Aliexpress: AliExpress it the place a consumer goes to get one or two batteries.. AliBaba is the place where a dealer goes to buy the same batteries in buld ar substantially lower prices. At the time i purchased my Hailong SanyoGA 52v 17.5ah they were being sold at Luna for over $900 plus $40 shipping. I got 2 of them for for just under $1000 from AliExpress.com.. Now my range is over 144miles per charge (cycle). One other thing using these NON-proprietary batteries does is allow you to use solar charging. I have a 170w 29v 5.83a panel with a Genesun GVB-8 58.8 lithium MPPT boost charge controller. It allows me to charge my 52v batteries on the fly... I could not do that with a proprietary battery. Proprietary (i've learned) means limited. They work great until something goes wrong, and they are expensive and cannot be mix-matched with other systems like bafang mid-drives or solar chargers. Because the tech/chips inside the battery won't work with anything other than proprietary motors.. Think about what will happen if you are on a long trip and you need a replacement. (you will need a large bank account and you will have to find a dealer that carries that brand)
Fendermon, my friend Court Rye of electricbikereview.com opened up a whole world to me. His advice was not to limit myself and look into the future with up-gradable parts.
@@rdkuless Thanks man for all the help :)
You really know your stuff! The where to buy info is great too. I'm happy with my Giant Explorer, but if something goes south...It's a black box. I'm not convinced my dealer would know what to do, not even kidding.
Your recounting of the Bionx debacle is interesting, ...what a mess. Proprietary can be a help (for quality control (like Apple, or Giant ) or a large hinderance (Bionx). There is a lot of very specialized info to digest on when to pay up for quality or convenience (a pre-built bike), and when to just better educate yourself so you don't give Trek absurd money, or Luna $900 bucks for a $400 battery for example. -Thanks :)
You're playing Russian roulette with aliexpress batteries. Luna buys high end cells and makes their own packs in house. The shark pack is way overbuilt but extremely safe.
You’ve convinced me dude, no doubt in my mind now, I’m a bafang buffoon as of this video, thanks again I been pulling my hair out over this….where their was dark now their is light ….waytaGo 🥳🥳
I just got a Bafang BBS01B and pretty happy with it on my mountain bike. Took your advice after watching past videos helped me choose this motor. After a week of use pretty good fun and useful. One thing i think i would like is more pedal assist where it detects the pedalling force when cranking and not keep turning when i need to slow down. I have watched some other videos and found TongSheng TSDZ2. The review vs the bafang shows the bafang is more powerful. I saw a video where some mountain bikers upgraded from the bafang to a integrated ebikes so they can get the torque sensing when they pedal. I saw that the TongSheng TSDZ2 can also be programmed as there is open source software for it. Maybe worth you doing a comparison between these two motors when they have been programmed as best they can. I think for mountain bikers where you dont need to go fast and need more control maybe the TongSheng TSDZ2 would be a better choice though its a little slower than the bafang.
Electrifybike.com sells flashed TSDZ2 motors. They also have a comparison sheet page for Mid drives.
TSDZ2 - 80 NM, BBS02 - 120 NM, BBSHD - 160 NM is a good gauge of power differences - think 4 cylinder vs 6 vs 8 as performance.
Torque vs Cadence sensing is like Stick vs Automatic on Cars. You will get more Range with TSDZ2 since Torque Sensing is more precise in power application - partial vs On/Off power.
So 4 cylinder Manual vs 6 cylinder Automatic for $50 more is the difference.
Well said 👍 and great idea
@@hillyseattlenarrowstreets6087 i prefer tsdz it's more bike filing. Bafang is more like motorbike.
If Bafang could release a similar motor with a torque sensor and FOC controller that'd be 👌
Hey i tried a hub motor, then i bought the bafang mid drive kit 2 months and 1500miles later : i want em all. Tank you for sharing
Love you videos=wondering if you have had any problems with the chains wearing out or breaking with the bafang mid drive motors?
Just converted my 2015 Giant Escape with BBS02 thanks to this channel. I feel like a little kid again! so pumped to ride this thing. I am having some chain slippage when the motor gives high torque against high resistance. (wind, uphill, starting too fast from a stop).. What is the most common cause? Need a different front chain ring with spacers to correct alignment? Chain too tight or too loose? Local bike shop suggests maybe a new rear cartridge but it sounds like it is slipping at front chain ring.
If I remember right ..Luna makes a better chain ring for this purpose. @Greg
Programming is a big factor, and if you dont want to tweak individual settings you can just flash one of the already optimized files that are available. Another option I employ is chainring selection. I use a 32t for off road mountain endeavors and I swap to a 52t for high speed asphalt travel. Typical hub motors can not even come close to this flexibility.
Most of the programming cables available use the SiLabs chipset, google "CP210x Universal Windows Driver" to download the latest version of the driver.
You're right, one of the first extras i got was a Lekkie chainring, it puts the chain line in exactly the right place and it has less teeth than the supplied chainring which gives you better acceleration and less strain on the motor.
42 tooth front sprocket….
Is the 52t really faster than a 46t?
I understand at a certain speed drag limits it from going faster so a longer gear might not help.
@@robinlehnerd1475 Absolutely. In fact it is about 10mph faster. Drag doesn't have a huge effect until you exceed ~50mph. For example, standing in a 45mph wind gust is not nearly as uncomfortable as standing in a 55-60mph gust. There are many ebike builds that can reach speeds over 60mph. You do need sufficient torque to pull from a stop with a 52t, and that is where the size of the rear sprocket becomes very important. It also helps to have a custom programmed 1600w BBSHD mid-drive to deliver the power required.😁
After watching a bunch of videos, I wanna put a Bafang on an old Trek Navigator 200. I need new tires, hydraulic brakes with cutoff, left mirror, a decent display and tools. I wonder what I’m looking at cost wise. I’m handy enough and don’t have a stand, but maybe I don’t need one. Thoughts anyone? I think I have have outgrown my Aventon Level 1 after 3000 flawless miles commuting 10 miles a day. Tired of ghosting.
....and at first glance "I" thought this guy Was Some Kind Of Doofus!
W O W, O'HOW WRONG "I" WAS ! After watching about six or seven videos by J.N.O. I'm convinced he is some kind of E-BIKE GENIUS... ....love his work👍
So what middrive bafang do i get if im putting it on a 24 inch bmx bike with american bottom bracket, i want to go at least 25mph, im new to this ,
Amen!
I have an HD with an upgraded controller for more power on an e-mtb.
I have an 02 tuned for less power but greater range (from a tiny 6ah battery) on a hybrid city e-bike.
Gotta love the versatility of the BBSxx line.
What controler you running and specss please want to upgrade mine have 52v 50a bms 41.4ah battery
@@madmanwheelies6157 I have a Ludicrous controller That comes set for 50 amps but can run 60 amps (continuous) at 52 volts.
There are external controllers from ASI that have more flexibility both on amperage and voltage.
Check the detailed specs of your BMS. If that's 50 amps peak you'll need a new battery for a controller upgrade (most lion BMS run at 30 amps and only burst to 50 amps momentarily). My battery can put out 50 amps continuously and bursts to 70 amps to handle the power needs of a controller set for 50 amps.
One of my main questions I now have about bafang is if it can fit a Schwinn Huron 1 bottom bracket I really like my bikes styling is why I want it to be mid mount of some sort
Thank you, bought an E-Bike with a Bafang motor for the power to go up hills at 750 Watts for the maximum my state allows before having to get a license plate to use it... appreciate this video for the programming aspect of the Bafang motor.... have a great day.
All the cheap hub motors & controller.
I've bought have a KT display.
And have multiple different settings.
like almost everything you said and more.
like different pedal assist settings.
Throttle settings
And regen breaking settings saves brake pads and put power back into battery pack.
USB port on the back of display.
For charging phone
Also has the option to use USB wire + app + Bluetooth to program controller
If don't want to use the display.
The Bafang sounds good except for only having cadence sensing, { It think I heard } where as torque sensing sounds more natural to what I am used to. Still gotta use a bike for exercise. Maybe the Bafang is worth getting without the torque sensing.
They don't make them past 1000 watts. To a bigger, taller rider, that's disappointing and not quite enough speed. I want 2000 to 3000 watts, and before some safety geek criticizes that for being dangerous, I say BS!
You can get 3000w with a asi bac or phaserunner controller and a 52v battery
Or go cyclone or CYC motors
I've made up my mind guys. I'm gonna go with the BBSHD and a 52volt upgrade all in the same Bafang package! They have a Spring sale on them right now so I think I'll take advantage of that.
Also, what do you guys think of Canyon Bikes? I'm gonna deck the Bafang bbshd on the Canyon Pathlite 6 2xl hybrid!
Canyon are great, just make sure your bottom bracket gives you enough room to put the bbshd against the downtube (opposite of the frame design of the specialized stunt jumper)
Got a new Ebike with a Bafang M 620 it shifts smootly up tto 8th gear but it seems when i am going faster in Pas 5 and 8 gear (20+mph) to get to top speed i get a knocking sound as if i would cut power to motor and reapply makes a loud TOK sound, but i am applying power smootly i am not flooring it .What can cause that .Any ideas ebike is new .Thanks
I know little about e -bike . . . I believe they are different - in structure - from ordinary bike . . . They must be : safe , strong , reliable , durable , comfortable. . Provide smooth riding . . . For ex : brake disk : must be stronger . . . The spikes most be stronger also . . The frame must handle the stress . . And the chain must replaced by strong belt . . . In other meaning : the e-bike : must be designed as : e - bike . . . But if some one has a strong bike . . . He can modified it . . . Thank you . from old man .
Have you changed your mind, now that Bafang is replacing the BBSHD and BBS02 with the M325 and M625?
Id like to ease my factory 51% power throttle setting
but theres bears around and they are explosive mfs😅
EggRider display allows for realtime bluetooth programming of a Bafang with your smartphone. It also offers comprehensive data capture too. It's not perfect (mine struggles to register correct speeds above 29 mph, sometimes showing the wrong speeds on the display 17 instead of 37, 22 instead of 42. It might be my 20" drive wheel and fast recumbent creates frequencies that the programmers didn't expect??). But I've got Strava for helping me understand my max speeds averages and the ONLY time I focus on my speed is trying to stay under speed limit in 25 zone, and when climbing hills to compare different gearing giving different climbing speeds on the same hill.
Another EggRider display benefit is that you get TWO separate setting profiles, so you can have your eco set of 1-9 and your sport set of 1-9. This is super helpful if for example you want to experiment with keeping 60% keep current on you eco for range, and using 100% keep current on your sport for MAX sustained power (Be Careful of controller burnout especially on a BBS02!) I have different max current settings on my two different profiles. Finally, since the EggRider V2 is built to have tiny little almost unreadable set of display data smashed into tiny little screen, you can simulcast to your big-assed smartphone screen and mount that on your bars for rides where you're focused on nerding out on what the motor's up to. Shows remaining range in miles, power (W) draw in realtime, Current draw in realtime (A), avg efficiency (Wh/mi) and battery percentage instead of crappy Guessometer bars. I highly recommend this display as gamechanging part of using a Bafang motor. It sometimes disconnects (bluetooth that is) so the data tracking is more useful for tuning than for rigorous cataloguing of all you rides.
It is an amazing display. Wish it never needed updates and was not tied to a users email so it could be transferred easily to other users. But it’s the best display for data nerds for sure.
I have the early EggRider, before they had a display. The on the go programming is a huge selling point and very cool. I hated having to use my phone for a display and when the transmitter developed a short I had to start using the programming cable and never went back. I discovered that once I had my settings right it wasn't necessary to tweak them so frequently. I love the looks of their new display but wouldn't be able to read it without glasses;(
Still a very cool product that I'd recommend to anyone interested in getting deeper into their motors.
Having ridden two “big name” hub drive bikes, the assist cut in and cut out delay would scare newbs. Not cool.
@@mtlicq they were rear hub drives.
Lets face it, most can't afford anything else but a Bafang, especially when you have 3 kids wanting to do MTB
I started programming with my laptop. Now there's an Android app so you can adjust programming anywhere.
You sold me on mid motor. But I am going to have to buy the kit then buy the bike because the bike will in Brazil and I am getting the kit and battery in the US. What is the most common mounting size in mm?
Just bought a 750W bafang kit for my wife's bike. Bike is disassembled (took days to get that dayum bottom bracket out) and now I'm just waiting for delivery!
Have you ever built an ebike with a Tongsheng Mid-drive kit? Just curious how you liked it? Thanks
I have read that the Bafang quality is poor compared to Busch and Shimano but you can usually repair the Bafang
Ware I live it is mainly all flat, for like 20 miles, I have a hub motor, and it works fine. But i agree with your liking the mid drive for the power.
hello the 625 kit has the disadvantage that it is not programmable, confirm?
I got a BBSHD for my TerraTrike Rover and absolutely love it!
Does the Bafang feel like riding a bike or is it more like a hub motor as compared to a torque sensing mid drive?
My level 1 on the Bafang is very mild which helped me develop confidence again on the bike.
I'm looking to make an ebike but don't worry I also think hub motors are cringe.
I have a hub motor and that was before I knew about mid drives
had to come to terms I couldn't afford the mid right away so went Bafang hub 26 inch front wheel kit with a big battery gonna add at least one more battery then I start building a klunker mid drive of some kind maybe a crazy custom trike but the videos saved me from buying a crap kit that would have been absolute trash at least
What's your recommended bafang bbshd settings?
Have to agree, the Bafang is almost silent, relatively cheap, easy to maintain, programmable is a definite plus, easy to install, reliable, I have done 3000 miles on mine, I love it.
For balance I have to say I have a Yamaha mid drive and the torque sensor suits me very well, 2000 miles so far.
I use both bikes regularly the Bafang is lightweight and easy to throw around, the Yamaha I use for serious stuff and longer range.
Thanks for the video.
Hi John, I have a Yamaha Explore with 2600 flawless miles on it and love it. Which Bafang would you recommend if I were to go that direction for a project? Thanks
@@fendermon I am in the UK, so we are restricted to 250w. I used the BBSO2 250W motor.
It is easy to increase the max amps and remove speed limit. The display often shows 750 watts power, but the motor stays cool.
@@johndoyle4723 Interesting stuff John. I would probably enjoy that motor too as I don't care about max power, but like range and reliability. Thanks for the info.
Thank you so much for your invaluable information, highly appreciate it.
Can you dial them up to 4K ? Using a Phaserunner and a 72v battery ?
Yes
@@JohnnyNerdOut - That will be my next project. Thanks.
Is the bbs02 capable of pedal free inclines, if so to what extent?
i have both a mid and hub drive on my bike and i will never go back to just 1 motor
I have just bought a bafanng bike kit it’s 1600 watt it cost £1250
If I mount my battery in front of bar and tire should I put a fender on front tire?
amigo yo quiero hacer mi bicicleta eléctrica tu cuanto me cobras la instalación de una cannendale ?
This is the kind of guy you want to have as a friend.
Ive used the bafang g06 fatbike hub and the bbshd.
They have both been faultless under severe conditions.
I cooked the g06 up huge climbs over rocks at 45amps, melted a few phase wires, but the motors and gears have never let me down.
Where do you buy your motors do you have a website link
I'll take programmability every time!
Mid motor bafang on Jetson bolt pro, yes?
Thanks heaps Johnny. I've been watching a bunch of your videos recently and I appreciate everything you have taught and in such an friendly and approachable way. I've gone from considering a 3.2k giant to then a 2k bafang kit which is programmed and sold locally to now having the confidence to order my own kit and programing cable and saving about 800 bucks. Thanks man, I'm a sub for good
I have been anti Bafang you have changed my mined
I am about to try my first electric mower to e-bike “do it yourself” Admission suicide mission with a 24 inch single speed BMX bike. I can’t afford to spend much, I already have The mower motor and bike but I don’t have a battery, what’s my best frugal option. Oh & by the way...am I wasting my time. Please reply
It’s not a waste of time if it’s a success
Good info, but most hub motors are programmable through the display and control buttons. No USB needed.
Are you referring to simple programming like setting top speed etc. or changing parameters like start voltage % and how quickly the motor kicks off after pas is stopped etc.
a lot of people get those confused.
What do you think about BaFang motors in 2022? I feel like you change opinion every year?
I’ve always liked the Bbsxx Bafang motors👍
I went to my local ebike shop for a conversion 5 months ago. He claims it hasn't come in yet due to shipping back logs. Can this be true? Feeling very frustrated over here or I've been had
5 months sounds very long but it depends on long his backlog is I guess. I am also experiencing crazy shipping delays 😟
They're so damn Bafang expensive! Where are the best sites to buy. I am 100% in Johnny!!!!
Check out my video on where to buy ebike components 👍
buy a usb cable?? interesting...
My Bafang BBSO2 is stuck in the "cutoff" position meaning no power to the motor. Any ideas why?
Your brake cutoff is probably triggered
Great overview! Now I'm eagerly waiting for you to do a video on programming the Bafang motor.
Coming soon!
what bafang kit would you recommend for the most possible power?
Bbshd
@@JohnnyNerdOut thanks, and what battery? what are good brands to buy batteries from? Your videos are extremely helpful by the way, thanks for the work you do.
You don't like hub motors but what about dual hub motors 1 front 1 rear controlled by a single throttle or pedal assist and which feeds off a single battery do you know if that's possible would it be any good?
It would be good for a very specific use case. Like a fat tire bike that needs ultimate traction. Like on ice for example. Otherwise it’s not an efficient use of energy IMO
Can you peddle the bafang mid drive without electric assist? Just asking in the event that the battery dies mid-ride.
Yes. You will have about 10-15% power loss due to drag and weight
I got a Free Diamondback outlook, . Picked up a bafang 350w geared hub motor for like 40 bucks with a like new schwalbe marathon tire & tektro Aries brake caliper. Got a 36v 14amp controller and crappy thumb throttle for $40 on eBay. Slapped my 40v mower battery on there. Honestly it's better than I expected ,hits 25mph, but I still want a mid drive on my main bike, but unemployed. Everyone quit. I was the last employee. Crazy world man.
A hub motor with a solid aluminum 5 spoke wheel would be the most dependable Ebike. A mid-drive will run all that extra wear through the expensive drive-train. Bicycle chains are as weak as a baby kitten, even for just a bicycle, add another 750w and they will wear out in less than 1000 miles. BUT...since NO hub motor wheel on the market is strong enough, I will be building a mid-drive. Good to know the the 5 levels of assist are programmable, because I only need 100w maximum for assist. Too bad Bafang doesn't offer PRO kits with 50 to 100w assist and a very small motor (physically), made specifically for a full time cyclist (no car) who is very strong but needs that day off and a little assist to recover.
Been following your videos for many months, Johnny Nerd's good value .Im in the process building my own Bafange powered ebike from an old manual (pedal-pedal power) Discovery, made in NZ 5-6 yrs ago. An ok push bike 4 keeping fit! The programmable Bafange option looks like a winner , especially for this old-bugger, that's having trouble keeping up. Currently running a KTM Bosch... which is ok for ladies!
This is crazy how much you know, which is gr8 4 us, thx! I've seen Bosh performance vs Bufang, and Bosh outperformed Bufang, yet ... programmability/customization.. gr8 part for me... Also, what kind of software do I need to get in order to get it programmed? thx.
I have a 500w Hub motor on my first ekit conversion on a commuter, but also because of your videos, I've just ordered a BBS02 750w for my Trek Slash 8 MTB. and I'll get another one for the commuter when the Hub motor dies. Cheers for all the info.
Thanks to you I have upgraded from a hub to a mid-drive. Difference is night and day as I live in a hilly area. I am a little worried about burning out my BBS02 as it sounds like that happens to a lot of people. Do you have any tips for keeping my motor healthy? At the moment I am just trying to make sure I am using the gears and keeping a good cadence
Using the correct gears is 95% of keeping your motor healthy. It’s when you put too much power to the motor and it’s not able to spin fast is when you burn it out. So as long as your motor is able to spin pretty quickly you should be fine.
I have a bbs02 and I'm not sure why it's not dead yet. I beat the shit out of it. I would highly suggest getting a gear shift sensor.
I am not a fan of hot rodding. That's our only difference of opinion. If I were into it, then yes, Bafang is bullet proof when done right.
The TSDZ2 torque sensing mid-drive has free programming as well. It will even show your own wattage output like a high end roadie would have! I like the torque sensing of the TSDZ2 for response and extending battery life between assist levels as well. It is much smaller and lighter for handling and such. Parts are available everywhere and the internals are even more simple than Bafang. Definitely not for the >750 crowd, but a great option for commuters, rail trails and MUP's.
750 watt is enough ?
I never knew how a mid drive motor attached to the bike. Good donor bikes are scarce in Michigan because we don't have a big culture for high end bikes until very recently. I will look around for info on how to mount a mid drive and make that my project for next year.
I have a 750w front hub bike (1kw 48v battery) and it can handle 1040 watts all day. Hills on trails are easy. My rear 1500w only gets about 1540 from it's motor controller. I think it could easily handle the same amps at 60v; 1800w. I do notice that off-road hill climbing is tough. I have to know the slope and be pedaling fast in the correct gear.
Just finished my BBSHD kit install today and all I can say is WOW! Thanks Johnny the install went flawlessly and now my fat tire bike has wings.
could not agree more! longer videos of full build would be great.
Vast majority of people like to quick vids, it’s lose lose!
I am about to pull the trigger on a bafang bbs02, just waiting for a few checks to clear, I want to convert my hybrid 700c to an ebike. I have a hub motor fat tire bike and was thinking about adding a hub to the front to make it all wheel drive. I have a friend with a dual motor fat tire bike and he spent a fortune, I think that is the only benefit to hub motors is the dual setup on fat tires for soft sand mud and SNOW! Any thoughts?
Chain ring options (1) $20 stock steel ring 44-52 tooth (2) $120 Lekkie ring or (3) $20 adapter spider w/ $15 4 hole narrow chain ring - this option is easy & cheap to add different rings - 32, 40, 44, 50 tooth @ $15 - $20 each.
Any horror stories with the adapter spider & chain ring option vs stock ring or Lekkie?
Hi Johnny, would you also be able to make a custom made bike for someone in the Philippines? If yes, may I ask how should I contact you to talk about the details? Thank you and best of luck tobyour channel!
I have a hub, which I bought on the grounds of a shorter, simpler connection between wher the power comes from and where it is used.
I am looking to convert when I can. The co$t and technical hurdles are daunting.
Thanks to JohnnyNerdOut for making it easier.
@1:24 $25~$30 for a USB cable. I hope you jest.
The programming cable?
Can I cycle if assist is off or run out of battery? Does it have drag, or is it like it's not there?
Very minimal drag
I have a road bike with a shimano alfine 11 speed rear hud with Di2 selecter, can I fit a bafang mid drive without changing my brake levers?
I'm looking the Super Monarch Crown AWD 1500 watt. It has the Dual 750 watt Battery and the Dual Hub Bafang Motors. Would you recommend staying clear of this because its a Hub Motor, even though built by Bafang? Thank you for your response.
Just depends on what you are looking for in performance. Mids and hubs are pretty different systems
@@JohnnyNerdOut mainly in mountains for hunting. Will possibly be hooking a bike trailer to tow gear and game. Figured dual motors would give more traction and power
I wanted a beefy motor so I can do burnouts and even (maybe) get the front wheels off the ground. Since the bafang is a kit, I assume it should be a lot easier to install than doing a custom install, and at 2:22 you mentioned it can lift the front wheels to it should be good for me. Which kit is it and for which bike? Thanks!
I agree that mid drives are best. I had a Bewo, now a Tongsheng, which has torque sensor and a Bafang on it's way from China via ebay to try next.
All are fitted on hardtail mountain bikes.
How much Mid Drive bagan kit???
$450-675 depending on power
Found your content recently when searching for ebike parts. Love the channel