Hi, I'm new to the EB Forum and am hoping to make my very first e-bike purchase. If this isn't the best subgroup forum, I can re-post to others which you might suggest.
Currently, I'm looking at gravel bikes which use either the 1) Bafang M800 motor w/ C260 controller/display and F05 200 wh battery like the Motobecane eMulekick or 2) Fazua Evation motor/battery combo unit found on some Trek Domane+ and Pivot E-vault bikes. I have yet to test ride one with the Bafang system while the Fazua appears to deliver adequate pedal assist while being lightweight, I'm ok with sacrificing some battery range in order to stay lightweight. Which system is more reliable? More user friendly? I didn't even think to try changing out the bike battery when doing test rides, but have learned that the Fazua system can be tricky to remove and must be removed to turn on the battery if left unactivated for 8 hrs. (maybe good to prevent accidental draining?), and by design is removed from the underside of the downtube. In contrast, the Bafang battery can be removed from the topside of the downtube which is more convenient but might be an issue for keeping out even light rain? Also can anyone recommend any dealers of Bafang products in case I might want to upgrade the battery someday to F09 430 wh? Some Bafang battery replacements can be hard to find on the internet. Thanks!
Currently, I'm looking at gravel bikes which use either the 1) Bafang M800 motor w/ C260 controller/display and F05 200 wh battery like the Motobecane eMulekick or 2) Fazua Evation motor/battery combo unit found on some Trek Domane+ and Pivot E-vault bikes. I have yet to test ride one with the Bafang system while the Fazua appears to deliver adequate pedal assist while being lightweight, I'm ok with sacrificing some battery range in order to stay lightweight. Which system is more reliable? More user friendly? I didn't even think to try changing out the bike battery when doing test rides, but have learned that the Fazua system can be tricky to remove and must be removed to turn on the battery if left unactivated for 8 hrs. (maybe good to prevent accidental draining?), and by design is removed from the underside of the downtube. In contrast, the Bafang battery can be removed from the topside of the downtube which is more convenient but might be an issue for keeping out even light rain? Also can anyone recommend any dealers of Bafang products in case I might want to upgrade the battery someday to F09 430 wh? Some Bafang battery replacements can be hard to find on the internet. Thanks!