Biktrix 52V Ting Sheng TSDZ2B and Wee Wee Battery Review

Minivelorider

100 µW
Joined
Apr 10, 2018
Messages
8
Endless Sphere’s Tong Sheng thread convinced me to get the 52 volt TSBZ2B and Wee Wee battery from Biktrix in Sasjatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Cost was $499 and $299 USD plus about $60 for shipping. Biktrix has two web sites: www.biktrix.ca and www.biktrix.com. It seems both products are no longer on their Canadian site. The 52 volt version is rated at 700 watts.

Wee Wee Battery

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Biktrix says this battery uses Sanyo GA 18650 cells. They put out 3.5 amps, so with 14 of them in series, and 2 such series in parallel (14S2P) configuration, you get a 52 volt, 7 amp battery = 364 watts in a very small (13cm x 7.5cm x 8cm) package!
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The battery’s output is through Anderson connectors. They have heat shrink, plus some black electrical tape further on. The end of the electrical tape was already coming off when I received it. It would be better if something else was used.

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After all, this is the only thing protecting the wires coming out of the bag - and rubbing against the bag’s zipper.

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The battery’s top has a charge percentage meter.



Charging is through a 5.5mm/2.1mm power plug. The plug’s rear has heatshrink to protect it from shorting out. The charging outlet is just stuffed loose into the red and black seat bag.

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The seat battery bag arrived a little banged up. The LEDs are supposed to all light up, but mine had a couple at the corners broken off. I removed the LED driver circuit and its battery.

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The bag’s bracket clamps under the seat rails. The bracket is plastic, so I wondered ifit could handle the weight (3 lbs 12 oz). There is a quick release to remove the bag.

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By sheer luck, on my bike the bag also just rests on the rear rack. That took a lot of weight off the bracket. However, when I later transferred the battery and motor to my current bike, I noticed that the bracket had started to crack. So did it crack because resting on the rear rack meant every road bump was transfererd to the bag? Or is hanging the bag and relying on the bag’s bracket as “suspension”, better? I don’t know.
 

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thanks but do you have any info about the mid drive and how you like it? what kind of range from the wee wee battery? Do you like it and would you recommend it to others? Welcome to the sphere.
 
Battery Charger

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The 58.8 volt, 2 Ampere charger charges the Wee Wee battery from 45% to 83% in 60 minutes. These batteries have a digital readout showing the charge percentage. This is awesome for charging to, say, 80%. The charger, without the AC cord, weighs 352 grams / 12.4 ounces. It is 12cm x 7cm x 4.5 cm. Light and small enough to take with you for longer range!

Motor

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Biktrix has already installed matching Anderson connectros on the motor battery wires. (By the way, they are genuine Andersons and not knockoffs - they have the Anderson logo on the end). This means you simply plug them together. No soldering, no crimping, no fuss. Of course, the big deal is that the motor assembly is modified to take 58.8 volts!
 
Installation

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Items were installed on a 1994 Cannondale H300 hybrid bike with standard 68mm bottom bracket. There was no room to mount what Tong Sheng calls the “mnotor hanging block”. I emailed Roshan about it and he replied, “don’t worry about it.” Like others on this forum, I added a heavy duty ziptie instead.

Installation took about 3 hours. I started after breakfast and was done by lunchtime. It worked the first time I turned it on! (Tip: be very gentle with the HIGO connectors.)

There are no instructions with the kit. Again, this forum came to my rescue. The Biktrix site does have some YouTube videos by others, but I think a company who charges a premium for their products should produce their own installation videos? Hey, stamp the video with your website address. Others will watch the video because it’s the most professional one around, and in the process will increase your business! Just a thought...

VCLD-5 Display

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I didn’t think that I would like the VCLD-5. At first it seems too big. Having now used it, I actually prefer it as I can read it quickly (age dependant too - I’m over 55). I also like it centered instead of being on one side like the XH-18. Programming wheel size, etc., was straightforward thanks to this forum.
 
Chainline

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The TSDZ2’s chainline is 50.2 mm. I figured that, with a motor, I can get by with 5 gears. I installed an 8-speed Sunrace CM66 11-32 gear cluster, but moved the two smallest gears over towards the bike’s centreline. I then adjusted the derailleur stops to only use 5 gears: 15-18-21-24-28 (my Deore DX maxes out at 28. I could have changed the derailleur to take the 32, but by then decided to transfer everything to another bike). With the TSDZ2’s 42 in the front, that gives me 36-78 gear inches. The chainline is very good with the middle 21 gear, which is also my main gear.

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Weight

Motor only, no crankarms: 3.978 kg / 8lbs 12.5 oz.
Both crank arms: .43 kg / 15.2 oz.
VCLD-5 Display + assorted cables: 268 g / 9.4 oz
Battery with bag: 1.69 kg / 3lbs 12 oz
TOTAL: 6.366 kg / about 14 lbs

LESS factory cranks, chainrings, front derailleur & shifter, and bottom bracket: 2.6 lbs.

NET WEIGHT GAIN: 11.4 lbs
 
Overall

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I like it. The power delivery is smooth. Put it another way: I often don’t realize that it’s working. I think that is the ultimate compliment. Then I look down and see that I’m pedalling two gears higher and travelling faster than without motor assistance. It more than offsets the 11.4 lb weight increase. Highly recommended!


Addendum

I have since moved the system to my One Bike To Rule Them All, a Downtube 8FH. The battery is now in a Topeak Mondopack XL. It also contains a remote on/off switch and a Rosenberger magnetic power connector.Both are from Luna Cycle. This allows me to quickly remove the battery pack when I lock up the bike. (Craigsllist is full of ads from people selling their e-bike because their battery was stolen, and they can’t afford a new battery). Build documentation to come!4029DDB3-9639-42C9-B8FE-96C00D6BBFC6.jpeg

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That's a great combo!
I put a TSDZ2 on an old Trek touring bike and it is great, so great I put in the time to do the open source upgrade (stock firmware is fine, open source has cool bells and whistles).

I have a 14S 2P battery, twice the weight of yours. I have never run it down more than half in a day, so I wish I'd bought a 2P pack like yours! It was my first ebike and I didn't know better. And 2P packs are hard to find. Biktrix is still listing it. https://www.biktrix.ca/products/wee-wee-battery-pack
399 CAD is a good price, I like that it comes with a pouch.

The torque sensor is part of the lower power usage I think. Because it multiplies effort it keeps you pedaling. In my case level 1 or 2 we're good on the flat, level 4 on hills. It is incredible climbing an 1 mile 8% hill on my commute. I otherwise wouldn't ride because of that hill! 42T front, 36T rear, 7-8 mph on that hill, wattage a safe 500W max, fine for a 2P pack made of GA cells.
 
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