Bafang quicker and better hill climb Tongxin?

[andyh2]

Bafang quicker and better hill climb than Tongxin?

I've transferred my tongxin 175rpm on 26" wheel over to my Xtracycle conversion and it performs as expected, which is nice and discreet with assist up to a touch over 14mph. My commute has recently gone up from 25 to 33 miles round trip and I'd like to be assisted up to around 17mph (ie legal 15.5mph + 10%).

Ideally I'd go for a stokemonkey kit to really get the best set up for a cargo bike, though it would need some restriction to make it UK legal. But that is not in my price range at the moment.

So I'd like to know from anyone who can comment on both the Bafang and the Tongxin if the Bafang (250W 36V side plate cable version) would give a definite improvement in power, ideally both in terms of hill climbing and top speed.

I understand that the Bafang would be somewhat louder under load than the Tongxin and stronger assistance would mean reduced range from my 36V 10Ah Ping battery.

 

[Mussels]

I can't help you but I love the way you applied the old ACPO guidelines to the pedelec speed to justify the extra.
I expect that won't be the last time I hear it mentioned.

 

[HarryB]

I have experience with the Bafang having owned the Torq 1 - no experience of the side entry version. Overall I think that the Banfang is much more powerful than the current Tongxin - at a guess 20-30% more.

Two points purely from my experiences:

The later Tongxin motors have had their power outputs reduced - I suspect for reasons of reliablility.

The versions with the lower rpm have reduced power outputs compared to the higher rpm versions - again I suspect to protect the rather weak freewheel.

You have to make a decision as to whether you want power or a better cycling experience, as the Tongxin is still better to ride without power or above the cut off speed - not a great hill climber though.

 

[Andy_82]

Bafang 8FUN motors

i think Bafang 8FUN motors are one of the best we can buy on the market, these are reliable and not so expensive. On the other hand I think bafang gives a great performance results, it climbs well, is dynamic and lightweight.

The new series of Bafangs weight as little as 2.8kg and they are now also made to the 135mm standard which makes them even more suitable to adapt to a standard frames.

Not being too sweet for Bafang but definitely one o fthe best motors you can get

 

[flecc]

The Suzhou Bafang side entry models have lower outputs than the former highest powered models that eZee used to use, so not as dramatically better at climbing than the Tongxins, though there will be a difference you'll notice.

I'm also a Bafang fan, not worried about the slightly higher noise output. The main disadvantage against the Tongxin in my opinion is the higher rolling resistance, so not one for pedalling without power.
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[jerrysimon]

The main disadvantage against the Tongxin in my opinion is the higher rolling resistance, so not one for pedalling without power.
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Thats strange and maybe its just my perception, but I found the Tongxin on my Cytronex as good maybe even slighty easier to pedal without power compared to my first venture into Ebikes when I converted my MTB with an Alienocean kit.

Maybe it was also the fact that the Trek 7300 was a much better bike than my Raleigh MTB. Ah another factor may have been that my MTB was a 26" wheel and the Trek has a 700c wheel.

I still love the Tonxgin and find it far more discrete than the Alienocean Bafang (non side entry) motor.

Regards

Jerry

 

[flecc]

Thats strange and maybe its just my perception, but I found the Tongxin on my Cytronex as good maybe even slighty easier to pedal without power compared to my first venture into Ebikes when I converted my MTB with an Alienocean kit.

Maybe it was also the fact that the Trek 7300 was a much better bike than my Raleigh MTB. Ah another point my MTB was a 26" wheel and the Trek has a 700c wheel.

Regards

Jerry

Misunderstanding due to my bad choice of words Jerry!

I meant compared with the Tongxin the Bafang is worse, just as you say. I shoud have said "compared with" instead of the shorter "against" which could read either way.
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[Andy_82]

well i find my bafanf very easy to ride when the battery runs out, it's a matter to ride of the seals on the bearings, then its all fine

 

[daniel.weck]

The 250W Bafang (side-entry plate) pulls very well up the hills, but my experience is limited to the high RPM version for my 16"-wheeled folding bike. The different internal gearing for 26" wheels probably impacts the power delivery quite a lot.

As for the Tongxin, my unit is the narrow model - so not quite as powerful as the 100mm wide version - and it's the low-RPM version designed for larger wheels - which I use on a small wheel so the torque is good but the assisted top-speed is lower.

Is the extra noise, drag, bulk and weight of the Bafang offset by the added performance ? In my opinion yes, but I suspect it greatly depends on your requirements (utility / load-carrying ? fast commuting on flat terrain ? long touring range ? etc.)

All the best, Dan

 

[Keithdrengen]

The versions with the lower rpm have reduced power outputs compared to the higher rpm versions - again I suspect to protect the rather weak freewheel.

I will try to avoid a "reduced output version", so from wich rpm-version and up starts the higher output versions?
thx CJ

 

[HarryB]

I will try to avoid a "reduced output version", so from wich rpm-version and up starts the higher output versions?
thx CJ

What it means is that they are better suited to smaller wheeled bicycle. I have used three versions of this motor and by far the best was the old 190rpm version pulling up to nearly 19mph when run from a Li-ion battery and 700c wheel. My original cytronex motor was labelled as 175rpm and that also went well. But the last 175rpm motor has felt very flat with speed being knocked down by every incline and rarely achieving much more than 14.5 mph (when powered by a NiMH battery) on the flat.

 

[Keithdrengen]

190 rpm sounds good option then.
I will use a 36V (10 amp) Lithium batt. Dont know if the motor is 190 rpm at 24v or 36v

 

[Andy_82]

I would go for 36v version, these work on the smaller current and normally save your battery more in the long term.

I think all the 36V do better than 24v ones but I think maybe Flecc (our guru) could say more about it as he seems to be the most knowledgeable member here.

 

[andyh2]

Thanks for all the feedback guys.

I do like the unobtrusiveness of the Tongxin and the 15mph thread is making me re-think this a bit. As a unit for an unladen bike it's a decent balance.

Consensus seems to be the Bafang would give a bit extra but I think I'd be as well hanging onto the funds and save for a stokemonkey kit or wait until new job probabtionary period is over and go for a panasonic bike through cycle to work scheme.

I'm kicking myself a bit as I had an Agattu, which was great, but I couldn't get on with the low cadence and at the time I didn't realise there's be an 11t motor sprocket which would help with that.

 

[flecc]

Certainly in your position I'd stick with the Tongxin for the present, the gain with the Bafang wouldn't be great and the losses would offset them in some ways.

The Stokemonkey is a different thing altogether, much more a moped if all that power is used but great for a load bike.
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