New Bafang Crank-Drives

[pipe]

I have an Alfine 11 and it works very nicely indeed with the bafang. To change gears smoothly I just pedal backwards while changing to cut out the motor instantly. This is the advantage of geared hubs because you can change gears when not pedalling or back pedalling, no need for throttle dead zone, e-brakes, or gear sensors to cut out the motor. Very easy habit to get into and no crunching.

For a commuter bike where weight out the back doesn't matter geared hubs are awesome. If alfine is your choice remember to flip the rear cog to get a better chain line.

Also anyone considering e-brakes might want to consider back pedalling as a technique to cut out the engine even if using a derailleur.

 

[Tom L]

Starting out in high gear on the derailleur (14t)

The reason we are using a mid drive is to take advantage of the bike's gearing. Starting in top gear puts unnecessary stress on the motor. I'm not saying it caused your problem - which sounds like you have broken/jammed something in the motor - but it wouldn't have helped.

 

[dumbass]

Starting out in high gear on the derailleur (14t)

The reason we are using a mid drive is to take advantage of the bike's gearing. Starting in top gear puts unnecessary stress on the motor. I'm not saying it caused your problem - which sounds like you have broken/jammed something in the motor - but it wouldn't have helped.

Yes you are correct and I have been using mid-drives for many years but using high gear was in error. My other bike has a Nuvinci hub on it and I have the shifter on the left hand. In this manner it matches my motorcycle with the throttle on the right hand side. As you can imagine this minimizes confusion when going between Ebikes and motorcycles. So when I built this Ebike I also mounted the throttle on the right hand side and mover the shifter from the right to the left. This was intended to be a temporary solution while I decided to stay with the 7 speed as it was or install another Nuvinci hub. The problem is the shifting is then backward to the Nuvinci. So when I hopped on the bike I was used to turning the Nuvinci and thought I putting it in it's lowest gear but actually put it in high gear.

That being said I find it hard to believe that the gearing in this motor is so weak that it would be so easily damaged. The motor nor gearbox gave any indication of strain. I have used cheap EZip drive motors/gearboxes on many projects for several years (the last 2 years upping the voltage from 24v to 48v).And while they are noisy I have yet to damage one. So while the Bafang is without question very quite and very smooth if it can't handle this small added load without causing damage then I for one think it needs major redesign. After all full load is full load. So there is no difference in what I did in error then someone running at max. current up a steep hill. Anyway you cut it 20a of load is 20a of load.

Bob

 

[luterra]

Sounds to me like maybe the sensor in the ebrake got stuck so it thinks the brakes are applied. Can you disconnect the ebrakes and try it?

 

[dumbass]

Sounds to me like maybe the sensor in the ebrake got stuck so it thinks the brakes are applied. Can you disconnect the ebrakes and try it?

But when the brakes are not applied I get a click sound from the motor. And with ether brake applied I don't get the click sound. Therefore, I decided the brake switches are working. I did also try disconnecting the brake and no change.

I've started to disassemble the motor to see if there is anything I can see inside. As I remember I thought they used plugs on the inside wiring. Not anymore! Looks like they found a way to save 20 cents and eliminated them. This is creating a problem to open the electronic side of the motor (where 8FUN is stamped). The main power wires cross between this side of the motor to the other. Trying to figure out my next step. But I can see a heavy bared yellow wire going to the other side of the motor. Hard to see a lot because I really haven't gotten it completely open yet. :|

Bob

EDIT: OK, I found the plugs. I was assuming they were on the 8FUN side of the motor but their not.

 

[joshseitz]

I am keen to hear how the Nuvinci goes, I have an Alfine 8 installed but I'm looking at changing to a Nuvinci but there is not a lot of info on how they perform with the 750w. They are pretty pricey so I want to be sure its a good match.

pjgold, is there a reason that you're planning to move from the Alfine 8 to the Nuvinci? I am considering going with an Alfine 8 (or 11, but it's very expensive and the range is almost excessive) paired with a 750 watt BBS02 (when available) but want to make sure it's up to the task, as they're not cheap. thanks.

 

[pjgold]

pjgold, is there a reason that you're planning to move from the Alfine 8 to the Nuvinci? I am considering going with an Alfine 8 (or 11, but it's very expensive and the range is almost excessive) paired with a 750 watt BBS02 (when available) but want to make sure it's up to the task, as they're not cheap. thanks.

I running an alfine 8 with a 20t on a 750w BBS02 these hubs will not change under load even without a motor you need to back off and allow it to change. I have had no issues with the hub I just find the lag in gear changing annoying, I have this down to a minimum with some program settings but I just like the idea of the nuvinci. I can see it being a really good combination with a mid drive.
I did have the hub slip on me once, but this was before I even had the motor on the bike. I was standing and really loading up, up a steep hill and bang it dropped out of gear and I slipped of the pedals luckily I was going slowly so not to much damage to me. I no longer trust the hub standing.

 

[pipe]

I've been mountain biking with alfine 8's and 11's un-assisted for a while and my experience is standing and pedalling is a bad idea, as is changing under any load. The range is large but not excessive if you want to go up steep hills. On the flat however with 700c wheels (29") 46t up front and 20t out back with 750w motor I use just 3 gears. 4th, 6th, and 8th. 4th is good from a stand still, 6th for a rolling start out of a corner or on the way to 8th. 8th is good for 45 kph. 9th is good too but because the alfine 11 lets you change gears two at a time I tend to stick with 4,6,8.

I was tempted by the nuvinci but the newer alfines are just such nice hubs if you baby them a bit. Also when un-assisted there is no discernible drag from it which is important to me. I rode a rohloff for a while and it just sapped my energy in the lower gears and I feared the nuvinci may be the same. But if you are always using the motor no worries there.

I mentioned this in a previous post but I think it is worth repeating; pedal backwards to change and the motor cuts out instantly letting you change quickly. Still not as quick as without the motor but it's pretty good when you get used to it.

 

[pjgold]

I mentioned this in a previous post but I think it is worth repeating; pedal backwards to change and the motor cuts out instantly letting you change quickly. Still not as quick as without the motor but it's pretty good when you get used to it.

I have my throttle on the left and have programmed it down to 0%, so it is basically a clutch its only function is to cut the power. This means I can keep pedalling just easing up enough to change gears.

 

[TheBeastie]

Love my new Bafang ride. I got 32.5Ah on this rig.

Looks good, 32Ah? how you get so much battery in there? got some details?

 

[Clobber]

Another good option is a Nuvinci CVP.

You can get the developer's kit with the autoshift & older model N171b hub for $125 from Utah Trikes.

http://www.utahtrikes.com/PROD-11617994.html

They will even lace it into the rim of your choice for a reasonable price.

In my opionion, the Nuvinci CVP with the autoshift would remove the one major negative about a mid-drive set-up (the need to shift) while retaining the primary advantage of a Mid-drive (the ability to change gear ratios).

The N171b does add about 8 lbs of weight to the rear wheel, and there is some debate about how efficiently it operates, but given that this set-up could be tuned such that the motor is ALWAYS running at it's most efficient rpm range, I would think that efficiency loss could be minimized. And the weight of the rear wheel is not much different than a 1000W rear Hub motor.

I've got a Dev kit from them, and am planning this exact setup. Still wait on to crank drive though.

The N360 Nuvunci in my commuter bike has given me a 1km/h average speed increase over the deraileur setup I had prior - I can only attribute this to the Nuvinci allowing me to ALWAYS be in a suitable ratio when climbing hills (I have some really good ones!), because I have the same gear range as I had on the deraileur. It may be less "efficient", but it's more "efficient" :lol:

 

[simat]

Received a second 750W BBS02 about a week ago. First one ordered from Amy at GEB took six weeks and did not have the programming changes I asked for. Second one from http://www.conhismotor.com/ProductsList.asp?id=118 took seven days. Before I ordered the second one I asked Conhismotor whether the unit was with the new 25 amp controller. The reply was that it was the old 20 amp controller. Only issue I have with Conhismotor is that they did not inform me that the motor had been sent, it did not show up in my online account as being sent and they did not reply to an email I sent asking if it had been sent.

 

[droner]

Received a second 750W BBS02 about a week ago. First one ordered from Amy at GEB took six weeks and did not have the programming changes I asked for. Second one from http://www.conhismotor.com/ProductsList.asp?id=118 took seven days. Before I ordered the second one I asked Conhismotor whether the unit was with the new 25 amp controller. The reply was that it was the old 20 amp controller. Only issue I have with Conhismotor is that they did not inform me that the motor had been sent, it did not show up in my online account as being sent and they did not reply to an email I sent asking if it had been sent.

How much did the shipping cost on the Conhis 750 Bafang? Am I correct that they will not do any programming?
thanks!

 

[tomjasz]

Best to calculate to your own address to be accurate.

 

[Arvicola Terrestris]

I am keen to hear how the Nuvinci goes, I have an Alfine 8 installed but I'm looking at changing to a Nuvinci but there is not a lot of info on how they perform with the 750w. They are pretty pricey so I want to be sure its a good match.

I'm using the NuVinci CVT 171B Dev. kit with Bafang BBS02 750W on a Christiania cargo trike. I've just arrived back home after a 6 days and 400 km tour in hilly terrain. Total weight of bike, me and camping equipment was 200 kg. The CVT and BBS02 is meant to be together. Long rides on the flat cost approx.11.3 Wh/km. I have climbed 15% hills at 800m distance with no problems (I repeated it 3 times to be sure, and used 70Wh/km). I have tried 25% climbs at 100m with no problems! (remember the weight and the brick shape of the bike!). The motor uses 25Ah or 1280W at WOT.
When going up very steep inclines on gravel or dirt, the problem is traction, so I lean back to put more weight on the back wheel.

The NuVinci Dev. kit is very good at ALWAYS being in the right gear. Of course I don't ride mountain bike trails with this cargo trike but I do trails normal cyclist won't. On this trip I rode it so hard I bent both of my front axles.

/Philip

 

[tomjasz]

What sort of brake levers are people getting with kits. Cell-Man and Lectric kits have different brake levers, thumb throttles and power connectors.

 

[Aushiker]

[youtube]ti1cT2mXwqM[/youtube]

Andrew

 

[tomjasz]

Nice!

 

[cwah]

I asked GBE, apparently they have the 20A controller:
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/48v-750w-8fun-bafang-bafun-motor-BBS-02-mid-Center-drive-position-Motor-eletric-bicycles-trike/326611_1711520552.html

Anyone know where to get the 25A controller version?

 

[simat]

How much did the shipping cost on the Conhis 750 Bafang? Am I correct that they will not do any programming?
thanks!

Total cost was US$515 delivered to Australia.

I didn't bother with the programming as I can do the programming thanks to this thread.

 

[amigafan2003]

Fitted new 42t chainring:-

Happy with it and it does move the chainline in a little.

 

[senshi]

First of all I'd like to thank everybody thats contributed to this thread. Ive just spent the last few days reading all 100 pages. And have already learned so much from everybody.

I'm planning on building my first ebike with a BBS02-750W combined with a N360 Nuvinci. I recently noticed that California E-Bike started selling 130mm chainring adapters. Would running something like 55t or 53t chainring with the N360 be to high for the N360 or the BBS02-750W? I'll mostly be riding on flat ground so i'm more interested in getting a higher speed.

 

[droner]

I have a BBS02-750 that I bought from Lectric Cycles about six weeks ago. I am using a Watt's Up meter in-line between the battery and the controller to get a handle on watts per mile usage
and other parameters.

Through quite a few cycles of my 50.4v 25AH triangle pack I bought from Cellman I notice the following
max amps: 18 (varies only a little)
max watts: 975

I'm 220 pounds, riding a 29er mountain bike, and using full throttle frequently for a boost, and PAS 3 or 4 (out of 5).


Here is my question: why am I not seeing higher amp and watts draw when apparently taxing the system to the max. Shouldn't my amps be up around 25 and the corresponding watts
at 25 times the voltage? Do I have the wrong controller? Hmmm.

Thanks

 

[teslanv]

why am I not seeing higher amp and watts draw when apparently taxing the system to the max. Shouldn't my amps be up around 25 and the corresponding watts
at 25 times the voltage? Do I have the wrong controller? Hmmm.

Thanks

It's quite possible that the programming has been altered to limit the current to alleviate the heat issues they had with earlier units.

My Unit, manufactured in November 2013, (And also purchased from lectriccycles) will regularly pull 25A and 1200W+ on my 12S battery.

If you have a 25A Controller, you can adjust some of the programming settings.

Here is the thread on programming the BBS01/2 units:

http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=58780

 

[Kepler]

+1 Good chance it has been limited slightly. A smart move IMO. 1200W needs to be used with caution. 950W is a bettery max for this drive. I have tuned my drive down to this level for times when self control are low.