Bafang Max Drive bikes

[RobF]

Some ISIS bottom brackets used small bearings which didn't last well.

I've no idea of the quality of the ISIS bracket in the Bosch motor.

Both square taper bottom brackets and derailer gears are cheap and durable which is why both are still in widespread use.

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/components/bottom-brackets/product/review-superstar-components-isis-bb-10-35491/

 

[D8ve]

Not wishing to appear thick - but could someone explain in simple terms exactly what is a Bafang Max Drive and what does it do that is different to "standard" motor.
My brother and I are looking for a new bike for our dad whose Kalkoff Aggatu packed up (motor) and would like to get a replacement machine for him.

For me the USP is it's a torque drive on the max and cadence on the other BBS,s
That's a huge point for me.

 

[Ultrafunkula]

Uh?
wobblier more like and kills your crank arms more quickly.

Never mind the square or Isis, I remember bashing cotter pins in with a hammer to hold the crank arms,then the pins were threaded for a nut to go on the end to hold em in, as well as seeing folk going down the road with a loose one haha like a wooden leg going clunk.

 

[Nealh]

As a kid I ended up in hospital needing stitches in my ankle area after a cotter pin/crank failure, the damn thing came came out along with the pedal/crank arm and I speared my ankle on the spindle. This all happened at high speed.

 

[brightonebikes]

I couldn't resist a little eyeball. At the price it'd be difficult to home build a similar level bike. Not my usual style of ride, but hey!
First impressions after ten miles, still prefer the bbs01 and my bike, but it's pretty darn good.
After 6080 miles my original bbs01 is still going strong despite my efforts to test to the max in extreme conditions, let's see if I can do any damage here.... [emoji14]
Frame measures 19". Battery charged to 41.7V. Programme cable works fine, just no action of the throttle tab, obvs.

Sent from here to there with computer wizardry.

 

[Rohloffboy]

What's not to like for a bag of sand, my Rohloff igh is needing a new home, and one of these Bafang Max Drive ebike's would do the trick!

 

[brightonebikes]

What's not to like for a bag of sand, my Rohloff igh is needing a new home, and one of these Bafang Max Drive ebike's would do the trick!

Like your thinking...
I've had designs on this Nuvinci that I've had knocking around for a while, but needed a more road orientated 700C bike. It might just fit the bill

Sent from here to there with computer wizardry.

 

[Recy]

What's the best way to buy this bike - I here people talking about £1000 but when I got to their eBay site it's £1050?

 

[cyclebuddy]

What's the best way to buy this bike - I here people talking about £1000 but when I got to their eBay site it's £1050?

It's £1000 if you buy/collect from their warehouse in East London. The extra £50 on ebay is to cover their listing and paypal fees.

 

[brightonebikes]

Direct at the website, higher up the thread. Although if you pay with c/c or use Ebay either may cost a little more but offer some protection if you feel you need. It turned up mighty fast I must say!
I'm not sure how any warranty stands, but it's all pretty recognisable kit and I wouldn't expect a problem; unless you were to get a Friday afternoon bike I guess.
The hubs are a little ropey in my mind, so along with the headset I'll be opening the hubs and packing some decent quality and quantity of grease in. I'll see what's in there tomorrow sometime when I do so, but somehow I doubt it's much cop in there.
Double wall rims, which is nice.
And also, something I have NOT seen in a while, woods valves in the tubes!
Never been a fan of Kenda tyres, but these are fine for the job, and reflective sidewall lines is a bonus.
Mine'd taken a little ding on the top of the headset compression cap in transit, but it's not biggie.
Forks are exactly what you'd expect of a basic Suntour.
It's even got a proper czech. gear shifter cut out.
Man about town pedals, could be nice to swap for some basic flats?
Neeee bad
Here http://greenwaycycles.co.uk/15-electric

 

[Recy]

I went to their website & tried to create an account and no matter how I try I keep getting the message 'A zip/postal code is required' - any ideas?

 

[cyclebuddy]

I went to their website & tried to create an account and no matter how I try I keep getting the message 'A zip/postal code is required' - any ideas?

The website doesn't work, as discussed in posts #51 and #52 on page 3 of this thread. You either need to use ebay, amazon or call or visit in person.

 

[Recy]

Thanks, eBay it is then.

 

[Ultrafunkula]

Wow what have we started Cyclebuddy, they sellin like hot cakes,
And That's a neat picture Brightonebikes, lookin a bit windswept ,and good honest review there,

What's the best way to buy this bike - I here people talking about £1000 but when I got to their eBay site it's £1050?

The bike started out at £1400 so we've not done too bad
Brightonebikes you delved into the motor settings , can you change the keep current setting from 30 to 42% to make it 350w?

 

[brightonebikes]

The website doesn't work, as discussed in posts #51 and #52 on page 3 of this thread. You either need to use ebay, amazon or call or visit in person.

I bought through the website direct. So 1014.99GBP delivered (rapidly).
I managed to create an online account fine.

 

[brightonebikes]

Wow what have we started Cyclebuddy, they sellin like hot cakes,
And That's a neat picture Brightonebikes, lookin a bit windswept ,and good honest review there,

The bike started out at £1400 so we've not done too bad
Brightonebikes you delved into the motor settings , can you change the keep current setting from 30 to 42% to make it 350w?

It is a pretty early build motor, 2 years old showing build date Jan 2015! Here's hoping the early ones didn't have any problems. I like to think (hope) not. EDIT - read it wrong upside down, it's actually 10/15 so October 2015, so only year and few months since build. Better.
These motors won the 24hr ebike race around Nurburgring back in 2015, beating 11 other teams, all with Bosch motors.
Here they are bringing it home 1st!


I was a little concerned on the battery's state, as they've clearly sat around somewhere for quite some while, but it seems fine. Will perform half discharges for the first half dozen or so before any longer range testing.
I've had a bit more of a look than up the keep current to 42? - no warmth from motor or ought. I'm not sure of your calculations on the 42% becoming 350W? Amps setting can be adjusted though.
It's always a pay off between power and range, so I'll see how it goes and tweak accordingly.


Sent from here to there with computer wizardry.

 

[cyclebuddy]

I bought through the website direct. So 1014.99GBP delivered (rapidly).
I managed to create an online account fine.

When I was there and bought my bike in mid January, their newly revamped website had only been up a couple of weeks... it wasn't working properly, they knew it wasn't working properly, but they were working on it! Perhaps they've got the payment bit working now?

The date is the motor build date (not the date the bike was built). Bafang offer 30 months warranty from the date the motor was built.

 

[Woosh]

The date is the motor build date (not the date the bike was built). Bafang offer 30 months warranty from the date the motor was built.

that's applicable to the factory (TGWG), the customers' contract is with ELBC and may not be able to claim against Bafang Europe.

 

[brightonebikes]

that's applicable to the factory (TGWG), the customers' contract is with ELBC and may not be able to claim against Bafang Europe.

Quite right Woosh. ....which is why I said before of my uncertainty regarding the warranty (via ELBC). It was a calculated purchase. I very much doubt contacting Szbaf Bafang direct in China with the motor number will prove fruitful? Parts will be available from China, but at what MOQ not sure?
Personally, I'm more inclined to open the thing up myself and suss out what's up, but hey, let's hope it never comes to that! (I am keen to have a little nosey though!)
Only other thing is, as far as I'm aware, not many spares for Max Drives in the UK right now; would you agree? Also whether they share any internal components at all with the BBSxx motors?
Also, I'm unsure if the gear hanger is a common design/shape and readily available if it were to get damaged? Just considerations of ownership.

 

[cyclebuddy]

that's applicable to the factory (TGWG), the customers' contract is with ELBC and may not be able to claim against Bafang Europe.

Yes, legally, your contract is with ELBC; their contract is (presumably) with GW; GW's contract is with Bafang. If you have a problem, your redress is with ELBC - it's for them to sort the issue out through their supplier(s). But ELBC do state a "manufacturer warranty".