2019 Frey Fat AM1000

[Ravi Kempaiah]

what other bikes would you consider that are similar to this?

As you mentioned previously, Biktrix Ultra.

I would add the following:

1. FLX Blade
   
   
2. Hipower cycles: Scout and Titan.
   (Link Removed - No Longer Exists)
   
   
   
   
3. Do not blindly fall for the full-suspension allure for light off-roading or paved surfaces (you say that you are not intending to do hardcore mountain biking).
   Wide tires with the right kind of frame and geometry gives you plenty of comfort.
   Whether it is Frey or Biktrix or Hi-Powercycles, plus sized tire + ultra motor would be sufficient.
   
   
4. Lastly, your budget also dictates what you may end up with. A full suspension bike with Bafang Ultra motor and super high-end components could cost you upwards of $10K. Here is an example: (Link Removed - No Longer Exists)
   

 

[TForan]

I think that suspension should be left to serious EMTBs , not fat tire bikes. I swapped out the front fork on mine to a solid one and greatly improved the steering and saved 5 lbs off the front.

 

[Cmulv]

Hello Scordato,

I am about to pull the trigger on a Frey AM1000.
Ivy is working on the price as I write.
If you are interested in getting one let me know, I live on Long Island as well and we can probably work a better deal if we buy together.

Thanks
Vinny

Hey Vinny I'm on Long Island to

I was also thinking about getting The frey 1000

Yeah get back to me let me know we should get a couple people together and get them shipped to a local bike shop. One that knows about the bikes and can help set up and troubleshoot
You get back to me let me know very interested

 

[Cmulv]

I have been in contact with Ivy for last few weeks and she has quoted me for the one bike. They just recently changed the minimum order requirement...maybe still working out mfg kinks?

I am pretty much ready to order unless anyone is aware of better options worth considering?

Vinny, what is good way to contact you?

Hey guys add me to the mix. Also looking to order get in touch with me I'd like to possibly go in with you guys

 

[bugnut]

Hey guys add me to the mix. Also looking to order get in touch with me I'd like to possibly go in with you guys

Hello Cmulv, I ordered the AM1000 about a month ago. I am supposed to get it next Wednesday. After speaking with scordato and sending him some info he never got back to me so I ordered the bike. Where on Long Island are you?

 

[Cmulv]

Hello Cmulv, I ordered the AM1000 about a month ago. I am supposed to get it next Wednesday. After speaking with scordato and sending him some info he never got back to me so I ordered the bike. Where on Long Island are you?

Hey I'm in Bayshore Where are you?

My name is Chris. That's awesome about the bike

Yeah that bike looks way cool


I'm currently riding a Juiced cross-current. I got it set up pretty nice and it's a good bike. But I really want to check out a mid Drive

All right hit me back let me know where you located I'd love to talk more.

 

[bugnut]

I live in East Islip...We are neighbors

 

[Cmulv]

Sweet! Is this your first electric bike?

 

[bugnut]

yes

 

[Cmulv]

Nice, yeah that looks like a great all around bike. I think that tire size will really be great combined with the power and suspension. Alright cool keep in touch let me know when you get it I'd love to hear more about it

 

[bugnut]

Nice, yeah that looks like a great all around bike. I think that tire size will really be great combined with the power and suspension. Alright cool keep in touch let me know when you get it I'd love to hear more about it

Will do

 

[bugnut]

This is the bike.

 

[Soloked]

This is the bike.

Hi I found this thread because I was interested in this bike also and was running some numbers. I love the looks of this bike in this picture.

I am curious if you ever got the bike and if it's as good as you wanted. Looks like it just needs a dropper post, tubeless set up and hack off that kickstand.

I would love to see more pics!

 

[Soloked]

I know it's a bit off topic but how much voltage can Bafang Ultra take? People on YouTube are going up as high as 72V.

I don't know much about the electrical but I'm pretty sure this thing is a beast that can take much more power. However, it will take a controller upgrade to run more than 52v.

 

[Dmitri]

The rear suspension linkage and the the whole geometry is just so ... what can I say... lacks engineering and finesse. I met the folks from Frey at the Interbike 2015 show. Nice people but I really doubt if they have the engineering know-how to design a superb suspension.
In my subjective understanding, being tempted by bikes like Frey AM 11000 is like being seduced by a woman who has big breasts. Most people fall for the Bafang Ultra motor, which is a very powerful motor but everything else on that bike is mediocre. They may use Rockshox, Magura MT5 but the suspension design itself makes the capabilities of RockShox redundant.

I support pretty much all of the above. Also a FullFatSix owner.

I've had a chance to experience the Frey "Hunter" model and, to be honest, you really do get what you pay for. The Bafang Ultra is powerful but very unrefined and requires immediate tuning (default Ultra settings are way off), the bike is extremely heavy, and some engineering decisions are questionable.

 

[RC001]

I support pretty much all of the above. Also a FullFatSix owner.

I've had a chance to experience the Frey "Hunter" model and, to be honest, you really do get what you pay for. The Bafang Ultra is powerful but very unrefined and requires immediate tuning (default Ultra settings are way off), the bike is extremely heavy, and some engineering decisions are questionable.

I was really interested in the Frey Hunter, but I noticed that you commented on the engineering of the bike. Can you elaborate further on what you have noticed?

 

[Dmitri]

I was really interested in the Frey Hunter, but I noticed that you commented on the engineering of the bike. Can you elaborate further on what you have noticed?

This is a really late reply since I've only just noticed your comment, but I think I'll post anyway so others are aware of what the bike is like.

• Bike is unreasonably heavy. Both the battery and the motor are extremely heavy by today's standards.
• The fork that comes with the bike needs to be replaced immediately, it's made out of tinfoil. On my friend's bike it broke in half on his first drive into a ditch. He replaced it with a Mastodon.
• The motor is extremely unrefined and needs to be tuned. Walk assist is too powerful, some start-up modes far too powerful and can actually cause injury.
• My friend's rear cassette gets completely destroyed after one season. Too much torque for a classical cassette, which is why I recommend things like Rohloff.
• Good luck finding replacement parts for the brakes, they are not easy to find! (at least over here)
• The battery that came with the bike degraded very quickly, far too quickly compared with my Bosch/Yamaha batteries. Replacement batteries in this form factor are not easy to find, and there are (yet) no DIY kits to make your own.
• The throttle is not the most comfortable or intuitive to use.

To summarize, I do not recommend this bike. Yes, it rides, but it does not ride well, it's super-heavy, it's made to be cheap and affordable but you need to replace a lot of the parts from the outset just to get minimal comfort. Also it taught me that power is not necessarily a good thing. Yes, the Bafang is powerful, but the power is so poorly distributed you only enjoy it in few specific instances.

 

[JakEmAll]

I can't speak to the weight of the bike, but the power settings can be adjusted with programing. I believe Frey has released new updates, but don't hold me to that. There are also controllers that can be used to improve performance such as the Archon x1 from Watt Wagon. There are plenty of people who enjoy this bike. I think Reed has one in addition to his Hydra. You can get a better bike, but it'll probably come at a higher price. You have to figure out what's right for you.


Correction: Reed has the AM1000.

 

[Dmitri]

Yes, it’s true that the Bafang can be programmed — the interface cable is rather simple and affordable. That said, the only thing you can really program is the torque levels at various settings. From what I understand, yes, you can tune down walk assist (it’s some ridiculous setting like 20kph) but what you cannot do is make start-up torque progressive. This is what makes a Yamaha so much better: you can start riding the bike in virtually any gear, and it progressively spins up the motor so you start up smoothly without putting strain on the chain. Bafang, on the other hand, just “lets it rip” from the get go, without warning. I once made a mistake of immediately pressing the brakes after starting, something which would work fine on a Bosch — the Bafang lurched forward then abruptly stopped, with me flying chest first into the handlebars. Not a pleasant experience and, sadly, not something that any amount of tuning can help.

 

[JakEmAll]

Yes, it’s true that the Bafang can be programmed — the interface cable is rather simple and affordable. That said, the only thing you can really program is the torque levels at various settings. From what I understand, yes, you can tune down walk assist (it’s some ridiculous setting like 20kph) but what you cannot do is make start-up torque progressive. This is what makes a Yamaha so much better: you can start riding the bike in virtually any gear, and it progressively spins up the motor so you start up smoothly without putting strain on the chain. Bafang, on the other hand, just “lets it rip” from the get go, without warning. I once made a mistake of immediately pressing the brakes after starting, something which would work fine on a Bosch — the Bafang lurched forward then abruptly stopped, with me flying chest first into the handlebars. Not a pleasant experience and, sadly, not something that any amount of tuning can help.

My wife's bike, which uses a Bafang Ultra, is very gentle starting off on PAS 1. There's no sudden kick unless you go to a higher PAS.

What you describe sounds very dangerous and if I had experienced it, I might have a similar opinion. Unwanted lurching is not great, but abruptly stopping without the use of brakes? Wow. I can't help but feel there's more going on here.