Bafang mid drive 250W or higher?

[Thatscold]

I’m thinking about converting my mountain bike (Giant Trance). I’m currently approximately 100kg’s and I like the idea of some assistance getting up the hills. The bike is used predominantly off road.

Will a 250W Bafang mid drive have enough power, or will I be disappointed and regret not going for 500 or 750, or even the BBSHD?

The price and lower weight of the bbs01 is appealing (also road legal), but is it buy cheap buy twice?

 

[Woosh]

in my experience, the BBS01B is much more reliable then BBS02 (compared to both A and B versions). The BBS01B is my preferred CD kit.
This is because you are much less likely to climb hills in the wrong gear with the BBS01 like you can with the BBS02. The controller for both have the same ability to dissipate heat but the current is much less on the legal BBS01, the probability of failure is much less.

 

[Fordulike]

BBS01 should be fine. You can use a programming cable with these motors to tweak a bit more performance out of them, without compromising reliability.

 

[Thatscold]

Thanks for the reply’s- it sounds like the bbs01 is what I need. My average off road speed is roughly 10mph so high speed assist is not required. I just want to breeze up the hills.

From what I’ve read I can use it without brake cutoffs if I don’t use a throttle?

 

[Woosh]

From what I’ve read I can use it without brake cutoffs if I don’t use a throttle?

you will need hydraulic brakes if you don't have brake cutoffs.

 

[Thatscold]

Yes I have hydraulic brakes already (203mm rotor upfront)

 

[Thatscold]

Woosh - I see you also sell the GSM mid drive - which is better?

 

[footpump]

hi woosh what is controller amp rating for the 250w bafang, and can controller be replaced if you (fry it ) by going too slow up a steep hill)
as I did last week on 350w rear hub with shunt mod.

how does the bafang compare with your ready built rio mtb 60nm and 17 amp controller

 

[Woosh]

Woosh - I see you also sell the GSM mid drive - which is better?

the GSM is the only CD kit that can use an external controller so overheating is not an issue. The reason BBS01 and especially the high powered BBS02/HD may be more prone to overheating is because the controller is filled with latex like liquid rubber. There is no air circulation to cool it.
the downside is it needs an external controller. A few customers run it with the KT S6, others with S9 and even S12. (the number of FETs).

 

[anotherkiwi]

hi woosh what is controller amp rating for the 250w bafang, and can controller be replaced if you (fry it ) by going too slow up a steep hill)
as I did last week on 350w rear hub with shunt mod.

how does the bafang compare with your ready built rio mtb 60nm and 17 amp controller

All mid drives need to be in the right gear. I have stalled the GSM (once, very briefly) on a >15% hill when testing. I have since changed the chainring to a smaller one. The BBS01 has a 15 Amp controller that can be tweaked up to 18 A IIRC.

 

[Woosh]

how does the bafang compare with your ready built rio mtb 60nm and 17 amp controller

you do get about 10% more out of CD kits but you have to use the right gears. The CD will always beat geared hubs on the spread of speed and torque, on top of weight distribution. I like the 48V 18A SWX02 kit best, you have the torque of CD kits without having to think of gears.

 

[anotherkiwi]

Woosh - I see you also sell the GSM mid drive - which is better?

The GSM is better because you can choose the controller for it.

Both are almost identical in that chainring spiders for BBS0x fit the GSM too. The Bafang is better finished and you can buy alloy secondary reduction gear covers.

 

[Fordulike]

The Bafang is better finished and you can buy alloy secondary reduction gear covers.

For the BBSxx series? Got a link for that?

 

[anotherkiwi]

Sure: http://precialps.com/uk/accessories-bafang-bbs01-bbs02/17-carter-de-protection-avec-joint-a-levre-bafang-bbs01-bbs02.html

 

[footpump]

what about this are they here in the uk http://www.cnebikes.com/product/250W-BAFANG-MAX-MID-MOTOR-KIT.html

 

[Woosh]

what about this are they here in the uk http://www.cnebikes.com/product/250W-BAFANG-MAX-MID-MOTOR-KIT.html

you need a special frame for it

 

[tommie]

For the BBSxx series? Got a link for that?

that caught my eye as well,

bet you`ve cracked the original cover tightening it up too.

 

[Fordulike]

that caught my eye as well,

bet you`ve cracked the original cover tightening it up too.

How'd you guess

 

[grazie]

you need a special frame for it...

...or bespoke boom for me and my recumbent trike.

 

[Fordulike]

Sure: http://precialps.com/uk/accessories-bafang-bbs01-bbs02/17-carter-de-protection-avec-joint-a-levre-bafang-bbs01-bbs02.html

Ehhh??? Am I missing something here, no mention of it being alloy