Bosch, Shimano or Bafang motor on etrike?

[Blues Player]

I have an Orbea Gain and now due to some medical issues I need to give up the ebike and go to an etrike. I am thinking of buying an HP-Velotechnik FS-26, Azub Ti-Fly, Ice Adventure with full suspension, or a Catrike Dumont. Whatever I get the neurosurgon said I need a full suspension etrike. What I am trying to figure out is what motor would be best. I have seen some trikes that I have looked at with Shimano EP8 motors 250w, some with Bosch 250w motors and some with the Bafang 750w motors. So being new to this I am confused as to what is the best way to go. I know the Befang has the most wattage and can be added to any of the trikes but is there an advantage to having the Befang motor over any of the others besides the wattage. I also know the Bafang has a throttle and others do not.
I did a search for information, but I didn't find anything specific about what I am trying to find out. Any information would be helpful. Thanks in advance for your help. Blues Player

 

[osric]

I wouldn't worry too much about the motor itself. Find the bike that fits you and your needs. I have a bad knee that sometimes gives out so I end up pedaling with one leg. I've added 3rd-party motors to my cargo bikes (I use the Tongsheng TSDZ2 because I wanted a torque sensor system) and have a throttle installed for those just-in-case scenarios. I don't use it much, but having the throttle means I can get home if my knee isn't cooperating.

I found this article that compares motor options for trikes/recumbents, and there are some good discussion of riders' experiences in the comments: https://www.ebikechoices.com/best-electric-conversion-kit-for-recumbent-trike-or-bike/

If you want a bike that you can bring to a local shop for repairs, make sure the shop will service whatever you buy. Some shops won't touch bikes with add-on motors.

 

[Alan Acock]

I have an Orbea Gain and now due to some medical issues I need to give up the ebike and go to an etrike. I am thinking of buying an HP-Velotechnik FS-26, Azub Ti-Fly, Ice Adventure with full suspension, or a Catrike Dumont. Whatever I get the neurosurgon said I need a full suspension etrike. What I am trying to figure out is what motor would be best. I have seen some trikes that I have looked at with Shimano EP8 motors 250w, some with Bosch 250w motors and some with the Bafang 750w motors. So being new to this I am confused as to what is the best way to go. I know the Befang has the most wattage and can be added to any of the trikes but is there an advantage to having the Befang motor over any of the others besides the wattage. I also know the Bafang has a throttle and others do not.
I did a search for information, but I didn't find anything specific about what I am trying to find out. Any information would be helpful. Thanks in advance for your help. Blues Player

Bosch’s torque makes it like riding a regular bike except you are stronger. A BAFANG notices a certain cadence and then jumps you to that speed. This is quite different from riding a traditional bike. BAFANG is probably best for people who want to scoot around town with little or no peddling. It is much cheaper and works at reminding you so with this jerky ride

 

[ElevenAD]

Bosch’s torque makes it like riding a regular bike except you are stronger. A BAFANG notices a certain cadence and then jumps you to that speed. This is quite different from riding a traditional bike. BAFANG is probably best for people who want to scoot around town with little or no peddling. It is much cheaper and works at reminding you so with this jerky ride

Bafanf produce several motor that are torque sensor equipped not cadence, obviously this depends on the motor model. I have seen trikes posted on this site with bafang M620 motors and that is a Torque based motor

 

[TrevorB]

Any of motors will make light work of pedalling. I'd concentrate more on bike that fits you best not brand of motor. These are complex bikes so LBS support is very important.

 

[Tom@WashDC]

Bafanf produce several motor that are torque sensor equipped not cadence, obviously this depends on the motor model. I have seen trikes posted on this site with bafang M620 motors and that is a Torque based motor

Most of the Bafang motors I have seen on the Recumbants are the Bafang BBSHD or Bafang BBS03, which are Cadence Sensing only PAS. They are mounted directly into the existing bottom bracket of the Boom and can be easily installed aftermarket. I recommend you avoid those motors as Cadence Sensing (only) PAS is being phased out in the ebike industry. You will be happier with Torque Sensing.

The Bafang M620/510 and M600 are Torque Sensing, as are the Bosch, Shimano, and Tongsheng. The Tongsheng can also be installed aftermarket into the existing bottom bracket like the Bafang BBS* series of motors. The Bafang M620/510, M600, Bosch, and Shimano require a custom motor mount bracket built into the boom. A more expensive install.

Some recumbants may have a rear Hub Motor, mostly a Bafang IGH, and they are Cadence Sensing only.

Unless you are mechanically inclined, have the tools, and enjoy wrenching, follow the advice of the previus posters and get a bike that your LBS is willing to service.

From your list above, the Scorpion is a Direct Drive, Rear hub motor. It is most likely Cadence Sensing only. The others are Torque Sensing.

The Bafang adavantage is that if you are a DIY'er, motor parts, displays, controllers, are easily sourced and priced competetively. The motor is easy to work on, lot's of online help from Bafang owners, but not a robust dealer network for LBS service. Bosch and Shimano have thier parts network locked down, not DIY repair friendly, but they have a strong LBS presence.

 

[Denny Crane]

Most of the Bafang motors I have seen on the Recumbants are the Bafang BBSHD or Bafang BBS03, which are Cadence Sensing only PAS. They are mounted directly into the existing bottom bracket of the Boom and can be easily installed aftermarket. I recommend you avoid those motors as Cadence Sensing (only) PAS is being phased out in the ebike industry. You will be happier with Torque Sensing.

The Bafang M620/510 and M600 are Torque Sensing, as are the Bosch, Shimano, and Tongsheng. The Tongsheng can also be installed aftermarket into the existing bottom bracket like the Bafang BBS* series of motors. The Bafang M620/510, M600, Bosch, and Shimano require a custom motor mount bracket built into the boom. A more expensive install.

Some recumbants may have a rear Hub Motor, mostly a Bafang IGH, and they are Cadence Sensing only.

Unless you are mechanically inclined, have the tools, and enjoy wrenching, follow the advice of the previus posters and get a bike that your LBS is willing to service.

From your list above, the Scorpion is a Direct Drive, Rear hub motor. It is most likely Cadence Sensing only. The others are Torque Sensing.

The Bafang adavantage is that if you are a DIY'er, motor parts, displays, controllers, are easily sourced and priced competetively. The motor is easy to work on, lot's of online help from Bafang owners, but not a robust dealer network for LBS service. Bosch and Shimano have thier parts network locked down, not DIY repair friendly, but they have a strong LBS presence.

Thanks for the comprehensive post. I agree that torque sensing provides the experience most like riding a bike or trike. I plan to add torque sensing pedal assist in the next few months, and have narrowed the field to the CYC Photon or the Bafang M560.
QUESTION: Have you found someone who will fabricate a trike boom with the mount for a Bafang M series? I have an ICE VTX.

Thanks.

 

[Tom@WashDC]

Thanks for the comprehensive post. I agree that torque sensing provides the experience most like riding a bike or trike. I plan to add torque sensing pedal assist in the next few months, and have narrowed the field to the CYC Photon or the Bafang M560.
QUESTION: Have you found someone who will fabricate a trike boom with the mount for a Bafang M series? I have an ICE VTX.

Thanks.

Utah Trikes makes those booms https://www.utahtrikes.com/

 

[fexixav]

Most of the Bafang motors I have seen on the Recumbants are the Bafang BBSHD or Bafang BBS03, which are Cadence Sensing only PAS. They are mounted directly into the existing bottom bracket of the Boom and can be easily installed aftermarket. I recommend you avoid those motors as Cadence Sensing (only) PAS is being phased out in the ebike industry. You will be happier with Torque Sensing.

The Bafang M620/510 and M600 are Torque Sensing, as are the Bosch, Shimano, and Tongsheng. The Tongsheng can also be installed aftermarket into the existing bottom bracket like the Bafang BBS* series of motors. The Bafang M620/510, M600, Bosch, and Shimano require a custom motor mount bracket built into the boom. A more expensive install.

Some recumbants may have a rear Hub Motor, mostly a Bafang IGH, and they are Cadence Sensing only.

Unless you are mechanically inclined, have the tools, and enjoy wrenching, follow the advice of the previus posters and get a bike that your LBS is willing to service.

From your list above, the Scorpion is a Direct Drive, Rear hub motor. It is most likely Cadence Sensing only. The others are Torque Sensing.

The Bafang adavantage is that if you are a DIY'er, motor parts, displays, controllers, are easily sourced and priced competetively. The motor is easy to work on, lot's of online help from Bafang owners, but not a robust dealer network for LBS service https://erome.news/. Bosch and Shimano have thier parts network locked down, not DIY repair friendly, but they have a strong LBS presence.

the real high-end fully-built cargo e-bikes, such as the urban arrow, the extracycle bikes, yuba... all come with either the shimano or the bosch mid-drives. I have been told by every salesperson that they are "the best". Of course i can't help but notice these mid-drives are HALF, (perhaps less than half!!?) the power output of a bafang bbshd. I have ridden on them and found the performance "nice" but hardly a justification for the price-tag.

So my question is, for those of you who have logged many miles on the bbshd, what is it's true reliability track-record? I don't have a mid-drive but have been satisfied with my rear hub bafang kit. Why would i spend $5k on a yuba supercargo when i could buy an off-brand bakfiets and put a bbshd on there for lower cost and DOUBLE the power?

 

[Tom@WashDC]

So my question is, for those of you who have logged many miles on the bbshd, what is it's true reliability track-record?

I've had a BBSHD on my DIY Fat Bike since 2021. It is very powerful, quiet , and reliable. I've abused it very much IMO. My riding buddy put a BBS02 on his MTB in 2021, same story. You cannot go wrong if you want raw power and relaibility. However, I would go with the Bafang Ultra (or ant Bafang mid drive models) on a recumbant due to the Torque Sensing. I've got a Bafang Ultra and it has the same robust characteristics if the BBSHD.

 

[fexixav]

I've had a BBSHD on my DIY Fat Bike since 2021. It is very powerful, quiet , and reliable. I've abused it very much IMO. My riding buddy put a BBS02 on his MTB in 2021, same story. You cannot go wrong if you want raw power and relaibility Spotify Premium. However, I would go with the Bafang Ultra (or ant Bafang mid drive models) on a recumbant due to the Torque Sensing. I've got a Bafang Ultra and it has the same robust characteristics if the BBSHD.

View attachment 188916

thank you so much for your suggestion

 

[Chargeride]

The bbshd is bulletproof at standard spec, I have ridden it completely submerged for 30 seconds, left in a shed for a week and ridden it all day without the slightest hiccup.
Climbed mountains emptying a 15ah battery in 30 mins, motor barely warm to the touch.
Covered it in wet sand and salt water, lost the speed sensor, it carries on perfectly regardless and the only failure was the magnet dropping out of the brake lever sensor.
Disconnected it, no problem.
And if you do blow the controller, a new one is 150 dollars and you can replace it on the trail without even taking the motor off the bike.