If the bike rides well but just feels underpowered, it’s probably a mix of things. That 55V / 16Ah battery might be worn down, especially if it’s second-hand—older or heavily used batteries can lose a lot of their capacity over time. A tired battery can limit how much power your motor and controller can actually draw.
Your controller also plays a big role in performance. If it’s not rated to push enough current (amps), even a solid battery and motor won’t be able to perform at full potential. You’d need to check the controller’s output—if it’s something like 25A and your motor can handle more, an upgrade could give you a noticeable boost.
If you're on a budget, I’d start by testing or replacing the battery—sometimes a fresh one makes a huge difference. But if you’re looking for max performance, upgrading both the battery and controller together (with matched specs) is usually the best route.
Just be sure everything matches up—voltage, connectors, and the motor’s limits—before you swap anything.