Bafang Ultra pedal assist

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Jgreen92

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Just first thing I have asked this question and others in the Rockstar thread in the Sondors forum but people there that have them seem to refuse to answer any qustions about it.

Hello everyone, I have ordered the Sondors Rockstar with the Bafang Ultra motor and I had some questions about the pedal assist. For those that have the Bafang ultra on heavier bikes like the Sondors, can you get exercise in the lower assist levels? I'm worried that I may just be ghosting pedaling all the time and that wouldn't be any fun for me. Also if the assist is too much can it be toned down by hooking it up to the computer?

I have looked for other full suspension bikes with weaker mid drive motors but it seems like having a smaller battery + smaller motor on a mtb = 3-4x the price for some reason.
 
Yes you can tune the effort required by the biological unit from zero assist on up. 1 assist on my Rize, maybe 20 lbs lighter, is a good place for me on the flat. Riding at zero assist is great too.
Don’t forge, unless you are Uber fit, what peddle assist really does is allow you to go further and faster for the same effort. In my case the higher levels of assist are really welcome on steep hills as I have a pretty bad knee. I’m still puffing at the top, but ascend quicker with no knee pain.

But the power of the ultra can be tuned even more Via a computer. Well, it can on my bike With the same motor. Not 100% sure about any proprietary software from Sondors That may limit that.
 
Thanks for the feedback, I'm not sure if the Sondors will allow reprogramming either as I don't see that confirmed anywhere. But I have heard they are one of the more mod-friendly brands so I think it would probably work. It looks like to get something a bit lighter with a weaker motor is just out of my price range.
 
Checkout Dost bikes. Dost Kope might be what you are seeking. But it’s a hard tail
 
Future Ultra programmability by rider may be in doubt (in all new bikes). Bafang, in their infinite wisdom, is in the process of switching from the owner programmable UART internal communication bus, to the CAN bus, which is dealer only setup. Owners will be locked out pretty much. Dealers, those that can be talked into making the changes for you, must have the necessary equipment (????) and knowledgeable staff (??????) to do that... Too bad really, as it's a pretty awesome feature!
 
I think I may want to get the Luna x-1 rather than the sondors as its not hugely more expensive and has more information about it available. I think the luna also has more quiet motor which I would really like. I wish it had a larger battery though but there has to be a compromise somewhere.
 
Regarding "quiet", an Ultra is an Ultra, no matter what bike they are powering. There IS some noise with an Ultra, but most don't find it objectionable. I call the noise a low growl.
 
Not sure about the Ultra but if it is anything like the BBSHD it should be fine. I keep my BBSHD on level 1 most of the time and the display says it is only putting out between 20 and 50 watts most of the time which give me a comfortable workout.
 
Headdamage said:
Not sure about the Ultra but if it is anything like the BBSHD it should be fine. I keep my BBSHD on level 1 most of the time and the display says it is only putting out between 20 and 50 watts most of the time which give me a comfortable workout.
Click to expand...
The Ultra has metal gears, which is why it's noisier than the BBSHD. The Ultra has torque sensing, while the BBSxx series (including the BBSHD) offers PAS only. They both make about the same amount of power (way over the top for most of us).
 
I think the luna can come with the peek gear which should help the noise be lower but i'm still looking at other bikes and might raise my price range to closer to 5k. Since it seems it will need to spend that much. Found the Besv TRB1 AM and am looking into that but it does only have 3 assist levels which is kind of limited.
 
Jgreen92 said:
I think the luna can come with the peek gear which should help the noise be lower but i'm still looking at other bikes and might raise my price range to closer to 5k. Since it seems it will need to spend that much. Found the Besv TRB1 AM and am looking into that but it does only have 3 assist levels which is kind of limited.
Click to expand...
Peek gear not available for an Ultra.
 
Has anyone ridden the RadRover and could compare the sound to the m600 motors? I have a radrover right now and that level of sound is fine for me. So that would really help gauge how loud it will be. As the sound in videos is not very reliable for how it will sound in person.
 
So I think i'm going to go with a bike with the bafang ultra as I think the sound won't be too much. Right now i'm looking at either getting the Frey-EX Pro or the Biktrix Juggernaut Ultra FS. The Pro version of the Frey looks like it has much better suspension/brakes and with the dual batteries weighs about the same as the Biktrix.

But I have questions about buying the Frey, do I have to buy this from Alibaba and does it get directly shipped from china or does it go to a us location and then shipped to the buyer?
 
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Frey is a great bike, but are you prepared to wait for 6 months or so to get one?
 
AHicks said:
Future Ultra programmability by rider may be in doubt (in all new bikes). Bafang, in their infinite wisdom, is in the process of switching from the owner programmable UART internal communication bus, to the CAN bus, which is dealer only setup. Owners will be locked out pretty much. Dealers, those that can be talked into making the changes for you, must have the necessary equipment (????) and knowledgeable staff (??????) to do that... Too bad really, as it's a pretty awesome feature!
Click to expand...

Bafang have shifted to CANbus to build a new ecosystem for programming and pushing firmware updates, it is supposed to be done via the BESST tool (available to buy) and a bafang server (you can sign up), however various bods have already made local servers and are currently decompiling the coding, some elements have been sussed out others are still unknown.

To what ends? Bafang have an app "Bafang Go" with which broad stroke changes can be made via your phone through Bluetooth connection on the new canbus displays (think specializeds Mission Control).

I think the ability to have firmware updates and granular control will be a good thing, ask Luna x1 owners (lots of x1 owners have reverted to stock firmware on the m600 using BESST as they don't like Lunas firmware).
AHicks said:
Peek gear not available for an Ultra.
Click to expand...
The new CANbus Ultras are PEEK from what i have read.

I ordered a new frame and ultra 2 weeks ago so wanted to be prepared in case its the CANbus variant so i've been reading a lot, but in all honesty i'm not sure which i want, i like the eggrider bbshd combo and wanted to stick with it on the ultra but on the other hand who doesn't want the latest iteration of anything?
 
Haystacks said:
Bafang have shifted to CANbus to build a new ecosystem for programming and pushing firmware updates, it is supposed to be done via the BESST tool (available to buy) and a bafang server (you can sign up), however various bods have already made local servers and are currently decompiling the coding, some elements have been sussed out others are still unknown.

To what ends? Bafang have an app "Bafang Go" with which broad stroke changes can be made via your phone through Bluetooth connection on the new canbus displays (think specializeds Mission Control).

I think the ability to have firmware updates and granular control will be a good thing, ask Luna x1 owners (lots of x1 owners have reverted to stock firmware on the m600 using BESST as they don't like Lunas firmware).

The new CANbus Ultras are PEEK from what i have read.

I ordered a new frame and ultra 2 weeks ago so wanted to be prepared in case its the CANbus variant so i've been reading a lot, but in all honesty i'm not sure which i want, i like the eggrider bbshd combo and wanted to stick with it on the ultra but on the other hand who doesn't want the latest iteration of anything?
Click to expand...
Can you provide a link to info on PEEK being used in the new Ultra? I’m curious also about your info on the the CANbus and Bafang Go.
 
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