American Source for E bike conversion kits
- Thread starter Cybersnow
- Start date
Well.. in the eBike/eScooter space the lack of "standardization" leaves a very wide-wide market to fill - and frankly in this eSpace a wide-wide selection of China makers fill the majority of the world market.
In hub motors - you might checck Grin in Canada - in mid-drive motors you can check the Euro makers as well as the Japanese but frankly Bafang/China is the gorilla in that space.
In hub motors - you might checck Grin in Canada - in mid-drive motors you can check the Euro makers as well as the Japanese but frankly Bafang/China is the gorilla in that space.
m@Robertson
In Memoriam 1962 - 2025
That is not something you ordinarily hear when a BBSHD is the subject. I suspect someone has 'tuned' your BBSHD - assumedly the dealer who sold it to you - and the tune sucks.
I can tune a BBSHD so it peaks and sustains only 400w on the highest pedal assist level. I can switch one setting and that same motor will pump out over 1000w on PAS9. And on throttle the peak/sustained number is about 1750 watts. I can ride a BBSHD'd bike up a 16% grade with my 235 lb self and 110 lbs of gravel (two bags) from Home Depot and still get to about 13 mph with zero effort. On flat ground with no cargo, yesterday I sustained 30 mph. A lighter rider or a bike geared right will peak at around 35 mph.
You can totally change the character of a BBSHD motor from its factory config:
https://talesontwowheels.com/2023/08/09/bbshd-settings-for-a-pedaling-cyclist-2023-edition/
You might also simply not be using a mid drive correctly, which is a surprisingly common mistake. Mid drives are only better hill climbers if you use them right:
https://talesontwowheels.com/2020/10/02/how-do-i-ride-a-mid-drive-ebike-without-breaking-it/
m@Robertson
In Memoriam 1962 - 2025
The short answer is no. The Bafang hub motors are probably the best of the bunch. Not technologically advanced, but extremely reliable and affordable. Made for a domestic market that uses bikes for transportation, not leisure so they have to 'just work'.
Closest you will get is a Canadian design from Grin Technologies. Go to the bathroom first before you start checking the price. But it is a high quality product.
https://ebikes.ca/shop/electric-bicycle-parts/motors.html?motor_manufacturer=97
m@Robertson Some great information, thanks!
I guess I will stick to Bafang for a few more years. My current motor (BBSHD) is about 5 years and over 1,500 miles old. I was getting some bearing clicking and replaced the bearings and grease them but about 500 miles later it started making noise again. Time for a replacement? (I think I spent too much time on level zero). Also does the motor have more power going to a 52v battery system?
I haven’t tried tuning one myself other than what is possible on the display. Would you suggest that I give that a try? What is a reliable source for the motor and battety?
I guess I will stick to Bafang for a few more years. My current motor (BBSHD) is about 5 years and over 1,500 miles old. I was getting some bearing clicking and replaced the bearings and grease them but about 500 miles later it started making noise again. Time for a replacement? (I think I spent too much time on level zero). Also does the motor have more power going to a 52v battery system?
I haven’t tried tuning one myself other than what is possible on the display. Would you suggest that I give that a try? What is a reliable source for the motor and battety?
m@Robertson
In Memoriam 1962 - 2025
A BBSHD should be good for about five times that number of miles before you need to open it up and service it. Seems really unusual you are having that happen. I have several bikes I switch back and forth with so my mileage on individual motors tends to be rather low. But one of my daily drivers is at 4400 miles and I've never opened it up. I have several others ranging from about 1000 to 2200 miles and same story. If you are pedaling a lot, the clutches tend to wear out but that the most common wear item and its cheap to replace.
If all you know is what you can do on the displays, you haven't even scratched the surface. Yes I recommend strongly you tune the motor. Follow that link I gave you above, and maybe also follow the link in that article where it goes back to the original 2021 article I wrote that tries to explain every single feature. BUT the 2023 version benefits from a lot of trial/error and a better understanding about how features interact.
I buy my motors from Luna Cycle. Best price and they use a reliable, powerful 30a firmware version that works perfectly with 52v packs. Bicycle Motorworks sells quality packs that have BMS' strong enough to handle a BBSHD without issue. California Ebike sells motors but they use newer Bafang-approved firmware that limits 52v motors to 28a. There's no reason to do that Bafang is just being pissy about the fact that they don't sell 52v and want people to buy their batteries.
Technically, yes a 52v system has more power. But its only a small amount. The real reason you go to 52v is the larger usable voltage range that lets you operate the motor for a longer period of time.
If all you know is what you can do on the displays, you haven't even scratched the surface. Yes I recommend strongly you tune the motor. Follow that link I gave you above, and maybe also follow the link in that article where it goes back to the original 2021 article I wrote that tries to explain every single feature. BUT the 2023 version benefits from a lot of trial/error and a better understanding about how features interact.
I buy my motors from Luna Cycle. Best price and they use a reliable, powerful 30a firmware version that works perfectly with 52v packs. Bicycle Motorworks sells quality packs that have BMS' strong enough to handle a BBSHD without issue. California Ebike sells motors but they use newer Bafang-approved firmware that limits 52v motors to 28a. There's no reason to do that Bafang is just being pissy about the fact that they don't sell 52v and want people to buy their batteries.
Technically, yes a 52v system has more power. But its only a small amount. The real reason you go to 52v is the larger usable voltage range that lets you operate the motor for a longer period of time.
A country that makes millions of eBikes a year compared to a country that makes zero eBikes, which one makes them better? Humm
I sent Luna Cycles a text asking a few questions. I am wondering if Bafang made any design changes over the past 6 years. I also called another Bafang supplier who told me that excessive riding on level zero could be the cause of the bearing noise. Maybe it is time to just bite the bullet and buy a new kit. Oh, does anyone know if the BBSHD has a torque sensor? My old one only has a cadence sensor.
m@Robertson…is there a PDF of the articles on tuning the BBSHD?
m@Robertson…is there a PDF of the articles on tuning the BBSHD?
Chuy
Well-known member
While not American, a distinct option to mid drives from Bafang/China is CYC Motor/Hong Kong. https://www.cycmotor.com/
I did take a look at their website. Happy to see that the motor comes with a torque sensor instead of just the cadence sensor. While I don’t need the 5,000 watt output I do like the thought of a pair of high output 52v batteries. I have asked tech support about the power available pedaling vs throttle, but no answer yet.
