Recommendations for Torque-Sensing Peddle Assist Kit

BlackSky

1 mW
Joined
Sep 21, 2022
Messages
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I'm new to this forum. I read the beginners stickies and did some searches, but could not find anything that narrows down what I am looking for.

I have a pretty decent mountain bike, aluminum Trek Marlin 7.

I would like to add a torque-sensing peddle assist motor kit. I only want the motor to assist (or augment) my peddling, so that if I am not peddling there is no propulsion.

But I just want the kit, do not want to buy the whole bike.

Looking for something in the $500 - $700 range (including batteries, even if I buy the batteries separately).

Range is low to medium, I'm not needed to ride for long distances.

Thanks.
 
BlackSky said:
I'm new to this forum. I read the beginners stickies and did some searches, but could not find anything that narrows down what I am looking for.

I have a pretty decent mountain bike, aluminum Trek Marlin 7.

I would like to add a torque-sensing peddle assist motor kit. I only want the motor to assist (or augment) my peddling, so that if I am not peddling there is no propulsion.

But I just want the kit, do not want to buy the whole bike.

Looking for something in the $500 - $700 range (including batteries, even if I buy the batteries separately).

Range is low to medium, I'm not needed to ride for long distances.

Thanks.
Likely not possible with that budget unless it's a really small battery. Are you sure you need torque sensing, because even with a cadences sensing PAS, you can be set up to only provide assistance when pedaling, if that's the main criteria?
 
Sadly an unrealistic budget. A well built battery will eat most of your budget. But a TSDZ2 is s great choice.
 
How about this 36V TSDZ2 kit? I put it in the cart and it said $260 shipping out of USA?

https://pswpower.com/products/tsdz2-tongsheng-36v-250w-or-350w-42t-vlcd5-tsdz2-electric-bicycle-central-mid-motor-with-throttle-e-brake-lever-225

Now batteries ....I have not bought any ebike batteries from Jehu at Jag35.com, but have purchased other items which turned out fine, Here's a battery that they have tested and claim will work as shipped. Should be enough to run a TSDZ2? These used packs probably have 80% of the capacity of a new one, and they use quality cells. The casing are strong/rugged enough for rental bikes.

I've bought similar used packs like these. I think you can get a few years out of a well built hundred dollar battery. I don't worry about it blowing up like a shrink wrapped ebay battery. I believe this one comes in a metal case too. Customer provides own charger.

https://jag35.com/collections/scooter-battery-packs/products/r5-r-series-36v-12-8ah-460wh-ebike-scooter-battery?variant=40111491842163

As always, do your own diligence on batteries.
 
docw009 said:
How about this 36V TSDZ2 kit? I put it in the cart and it said $260 shipping out of USA?

https://pswpower.com/products/tsdz2-tongsheng-36v-250w-or-350w-42t-vlcd5-tsdz2-electric-bicycle-central-mid-motor-with-throttle-e-brake-lever-225

Now batteries ....I have not bought any ebike batteries from Jehu at Jag35.com, but have purchased other items which turned out fine, Here's a battery that they have tested and claim will work as shipped. Should be enough to run a TSDZ2? These used packs probably have 80% of the capacity of a new one, and they use quality cells. The casing are strong/rugged enough for rental bikes.

I've bought similar used packs like these. I think you can get a few years out of a well built hundred dollar battery. I don't worry about it blowing up like a shrink wrapped ebay battery. I believe this one comes in a metal case too. Customer provides own charger.

https://jag35.com/collections/scooter-battery-packs/products/r5-r-series-36v-12-8ah-460wh-ebike-scooter-battery?variant=40111491842163

As always, do your own diligence on batteries.

Great find! I’m back to 36V builds. Great choice and find! TSDZ2 motors have made great improvements since i beta tested years ago. But even that early motor has given 4000 miles of hard use with $150 in parts. Those salvage battery deals are better than many budget packs. Better cells and BMS.
 
E-HP said:
Likely not possible with that budget unless it's a really small battery. Are you sure you need torque sensing, because even with a cadences sensing PAS, you can be set up to only provide assistance when pedaling, if that's the main criteria?
I guess torque sensing is not a must have. I looked up cadence sensing and that could work. But do you need to have a throttle with that, which I don't really want. And when you start peddling does the motor kit in full power? That would not be ideal.
 
docw009 said:
How about this 36V TSDZ2 kit? I put it in the cart and it said $260 shipping out of USA?

https://pswpower.com/products/tsdz2-tongsheng-36v-250w-or-350w-42t-vlcd5-tsdz2-electric-bicycle-central-mid-motor-with-throttle-e-brake-lever-225

Now batteries ....I have not bought any ebike batteries from Jehu at Jag35.com, but have purchased other items which turned out fine, Here's a battery that they have tested and claim will work as shipped. Should be enough to run a TSDZ2? These used packs probably have 80% of the capacity of a new one, and they use quality cells. The casing are strong/rugged enough for rental bikes.

I've bought similar used packs like these. I think you can get a few years out of a well built hundred dollar battery. I don't worry about it blowing up like a shrink wrapped ebay battery. I believe this one comes in a metal case too. Customer provides own charger.

https://jag35.com/collections/scooter-battery-packs/products/r5-r-series-36v-12-8ah-460wh-ebike-scooter-battery?variant=40111491842163

As always, do your own diligence on batteries.
Thanks, this looks like a good option.
But it says it uses a throttle, so is it still torque sensing.
 
tomjasz said:
Sadly an unrealistic budget. A well built battery will eat most of your budget. But a TSDZ2 is s great choice.
What price would I need to go up to for a decent motor kit? Would $1000 be enough.

Is the Bafang m500 a good motor?
 
BlackSky said:
docw009 said:
How about this 36V TSDZ2 kit? I put it in the cart and it said $260 shipping out of USA?

https://pswpower.com/products/tsdz2-tongsheng-36v-250w-or-350w-42t-vlcd5-tsdz2-electric-bicycle-central-mid-motor-with-throttle-e-brake-lever-225

Now batteries ....I have not bought any ebike batteries from Jehu at Jag35.com, but have purchased other items which turned out fine, Here's a battery that they have tested and claim will work as shipped. Should be enough to run a TSDZ2? These used packs probably have 80% of the capacity of a new one, and they use quality cells. The casing are strong/rugged enough for rental bikes.

I've bought similar used packs like these. I think you can get a few years out of a well built hundred dollar battery. I don't worry about it blowing up like a shrink wrapped ebay battery. I believe this one comes in a metal case too. Customer provides own charger.

https://jag35.com/collections/scooter-battery-packs/products/r5-r-series-36v-12-8ah-460wh-ebike-scooter-battery?variant=40111491842163

As always, do your own diligence on batteries.
Thanks, this looks like a good option.
But it says it uses a throttle, so is it still torque sensing.

Yes. It is torque sensing, and you don;t have to attach the throttle if you really need to punish yourself.
 
Id go TSDZ2. Docw009 knows his kits. I’m now back to 36v kits. 20mph is fast enough for me. I’d go for for a better battery but as Docw009 pointed out those salvage battery are maybe a good budget path.


Bafang BBSxx series motors have no torque setting. Their new series are not suited for kitting a bike. They need a custom bottom bracket pan.

Lots of good TSDZ2 support here. I ride BBS01B 36v but thecTSDZ2 is IMO the best choice for torque sensing AND throttle.
 
:bigthumb:

docw009 said:
BlackSky said:
docw009 said:
How about this 36V TSDZ2 kit? I put it in the cart and it said $260 shipping out of USA?

https://pswpower.com/products/tsdz2-tongsheng-36v-250w-or-350w-42t-vlcd5-tsdz2-electric-bicycle-central-mid-motor-with-throttle-e-brake-lever-225

Now batteries ....I have not bought any ebike batteries from Jehu at Jag35.com, but have purchased other items which turned out fine, Here's a battery that they have tested and claim will work as shipped. Should be enough to run a TSDZ2? These used packs probably have 80% of the capacity of a new one, and they use quality cells. The casing are strong/rugged enough for rental bikes.

I've bought similar used packs like these. I think you can get a few years out of a well built hundred dollar battery. I don't worry about it blowing up like a shrink wrapped ebay battery. I believe this one comes in a metal case too. Customer provides own charger.

https://jag35.com/collections/scooter-battery-packs/products/r5-r-series-36v-12-8ah-460wh-ebike-scooter-battery?variant=40111491842163

As always, do your own diligence on batteries.
Thanks, this looks like a good option.
But it says it uses a throttle, so is it still torque sensing.

Yes. It is torque sensing, and you don;t have to attach the throttle if you really need to punish yourself.
 
BlackSky said:
tomjasz said:
Sadly an unrealistic budget. A well built battery will eat most of your budget. But a TSDZ2 is s great choice.
What price would I need to go up to for a decent motor kit? Would $1000 be enough.

Is the Bafang m500 a good motor?
The TSDZ2 deal docw009 linked is the best option for price and torque sensing. The M500 would be a cadence based PAS as I recall.

How much do you weigh?
 
Bafang G311 hub $200
36V/48V 500W 22A E-Bike Sine Wave Controller w/ KT LCD4 Display +pedelec Sensor+Throttle $100
36V 10Ah E-bike Lithium Battery $250
Total = $550
You would need to spoke the hub to wheel but youtube video's will help.

The Pedelec Sensor is not torque sensing. It senses when you spin the crank.

Setup will give you 20km range on level 3 and slightly over 10km on level 5 which still leaves 1/3 capacity remaining in battery. The front motor freewheels well so you can easily ride the bike with the motor turned off.

That is what I have recently built and am quite happy with it.
 
E-HP said:
The TSDZ2 deal docw009 linked is the best option for price and torque sensing. The M500 would be a cadence based PAS as I recall.

How much do you weigh?

About 175 LBS.
 
BlackSky said:
E-HP said:
The TSDZ2 deal docw009 linked is the best option for price and torque sensing. The M500 would be a cadence based PAS as I recall.

How much do you weigh?

About 175 LBS.

There have been some issues with the TSDZ2 spindle breaking, and not sure if weight is a factor:
https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=98361&start=25
I don't know how common that is, but something to consider. Otherwise, it seems to suit your needs.
 
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