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I thought there was an existing thread on this but I can't find it... I don't really want and probably can't afford a proper ebike but I would like to go out occasionally on a group ride with my mates who now all have them.
Has anyone successfully converted a full susser with a bafang kit? Is it all a bit naff/sensitive/flimsy , any issues, any frames that work better than others? Pics of your bafang'd bikes?
I prefer the tongsheng motor myself, smaller and lighter with better electronic control ( but there is a new bafang that is better? )
I think the main issue would be having the space to fit it - you need a flat area around the BB to fit one. ie you need IIRC 3 inches around the bb that nothing sticks out beyond the BB if that makes sense<br /><br />discussion on the tongsheng here<br /><br />
https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/tongsheng-tsdz2-ebike-kit/
This is worth looking at.
The Bafang is cadence driven - ok for some people but probably not someone who enjoys actually cycling.
I put the CYC Photon kit on my Turner Sultan - the Photon is torque sensing and works well. It is also slimmer than the Bafang unit.
They do a version that is EPAC compliant, such that you can't switch away from the 250W mode.
I've got the normal unit which goes to 750W, but I keep it as 250W as I don't want that much assistance.
Some people have been having issues with overheating with the CYC because of the type of drive it is, but this is from people who all run it at higher power settings and often use the throttle.
The main issue is finding a slim battery to fit in your frame - mine doesn't quite fit in my triangle so I had to drill some holes for rivnuts on the underside of the frame. The CYC batteries are all awkward shapes now.
These guys say they should be able to work on CYC Photons once out of warranty :
I got my motor from Paradise Cycles :
https://www.paradisecycles.co.uk/cyc-photon-mid-drive-motor-kit.html
These guys explicitely list the EPAC compliant version, although being a special order most places I would imagine that everyone can get it :
(I didn't buy from them as they seemed to have a misunderstanding of the legality of motors and thought riding offroad allowed higher powered motors)
I got my battery from BesBike :
I liked the guys enthusiasm, and they sell Tongshengs and Bafangs as well.
This is the battery I bought - note that the height is pretty low for this type of battery :
https://besbike.co.uk/product/52v-14ah-down-tube-battery-pack-polly5-with-2a-charger/
And they also have this side release battery which might help more with keeping the battery within the triangle:
https://besbike.co.uk/product/48v-10ah-side-release-battery-pack-hailong2/
Although they haven't got the Photon listed for some reason they can probably get it.
@gravedigger thanks for this detail. I have a Turner Sultan and didnt even consider converting it!
Here's the sultan running as a 27.5+ with 3.0 tyres and a couple of offset bushings to correct the BB height.
It's a large frame and thats the battery hanging from the downtube - I don't really need those straps as the rivnuts seem pretty solid, but they are there for piece of mind. I saw a picture of a Sultan on an Amazon review for the Bafang motor, with a similar battery that fitted inside the frame, but that frame was an XL.
I was going to put some 29 wheels back on the Sultan, which might make that battery look less bulky, but I was also thinking of swapping the kit over to my 650b Turner Flux as the battery will just fit inside the frame (I think), as in reality having the battery underneath makes me worry when banging down rough rocky bits. Also it's not the best way round for if it rains.
That's quite a large capacity battery, but I didn't really see much smaller cases in the lower capacity ones. In the US there are more places selling better shaped battery packs 🙁
The chain line is also slightly too wide - making the chain run at a bit more than I'd like to the large cog - but being an ebike I don't use that gear too much anyway. I think all the kits have a little bit of a chainline issue.
I also had to remove the bottom ISG tab, but I use the other two to zip tie to for cable routing.
I suppose it currently falls into the so called e-bike SUV catagory at the moment :
https://www.cyclingelectric.com/buyers-guides/e-bike-suvs-a-guide-to-do-it-all-electric-bikes
Gravedigger thats great info, thanks! Mine is an XL. I was thinking of selling it but I wont be now!
Thanks all. Some really useful info on what is quite a minefield. I think more research is definitely needed.
This is the rivnut tool I used - reasonably priced and well made :
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/125753853320
This is the Turner Sultan from the Amazon review - it is also a 27.5+ converion but the XL frame allows the battery inside the frame :
Here's a Marin with the CYC motor on it :
And here's a conversion using a more powerful CYC motor by the guy on Rob Rides EMTB YT channel :
with an older CYC battery that was a better shape than the new ones.
Here's a review of the CYC Photon :
but notice later that he had an issue with the hall sensor, probably due to overheating. The CYC uses a different motor design than other that means that the case doesn't act as a heat sink so much - so when these guys are trying to drive it at powers close to max with the throttle they get problems, but pretty sure that won't be an issue for me.
https://youtu.be/MGFJniUm5cY?si=dpk_vznAst9aFNab
There's another quirk in the tool used to remove the chainring - the supplied tool is a two pin affair and some people have been having issues - so CYC have made a better tool available from their site.
That guys channel is worth browsing - he has covered Bafangs and the torque sensing Bafang M635 (which has a proprietry battery), and other stuff. But he is US based so they want more power and throttles.
For UK legality the motor is supposed to have a plate on it saying 250W, the voltage and the manufacturer - I've had a bunch printed up if you need one ! Ones for Bafangs are readily available on Ebay and Etsy.
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On One Codeine 29er with Tongsheng TSDZ2 750w.
Built during lockdown. Uses 2x 6S Li-Pos in the seat pack. Has run fine for the duration. The motor is torque sensing so nicer than the Bafang IMHO. I carry spare Li-Pos in my Camelbak.
For comparison it's only about as powerful as my Bosch CX powered Haibike but has no speed limiter & a throttle.
I actually prefer riding it to the Haibike.