Class 3 Road or Gravel Bike?

[jabberwocky]

Stefan is right. Bafang drives are perfectly fine for what they are, but they (at least the cadence sensing ones) don't really feel like riding a normal bike. If you want something that feels and performs like a normal bike with some added assist, the nicer torque sensing mid-drives are where its at, and the bafang retro-fit kits are simply not in that segment.

The Creo is pretty much the gold standard for lightweight, integrated ebikes that will feel like a normal road bike with a little added assist. I know a few people who have Creos (and one Levo SL, the mountainbike version) and they all love them.

Just comes down to what you're looking for.

 

[onlineaddy]

I have no skin in the game, but...
I know a few people who have Bafang and they all love them.

Ride them all and see what you like, and let others do the same.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I know a few people who have Bafang and they all love them.

Not in the premium road e-bike segment. Bafang does not belong here.

Traditional road bike

Electrically assisted mid-drive road bike.

 

[jabberwocky]

Not in the premium road e-bike segment. Bafang does not belong here.

Bafang does make some integrated lower power torque sensing models (like the M800, used on the lightweight BikesDirect e-road bikes). The M620/Ultra is torque sensing too, though way heavy/overkill for a light road bike.

I'm pretty sure all their retro-fit kits are cadence sensing though. Nothing wrong with the cadence sensing retro-fit systems but the power delivery is klunky and you can definitely tell its an electric bike. For people who want to tinker with their system and don't really care about it feeling like a normal bike, thats fine. I agree that the OP of this thread was definitely not looking for a retrofit system (and the Creo is pretty much the complete opposite of a DIY bafang bike).

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Nothing wrong with the cadence sensing

Not at all. Most of big brands that make lightweight road e-bikes use Mahle Ebikemotion X35 rear-hub drive motor. People who buy such e-bikes from Orbea or Cannondale accept the imperfections of a cadence sensing hub-drive motor because the e-bikes are almost the traditional counterparts, only heavier. Still, it will be hard to find a big road-bike brand using Bafang.

 

[jabberwocky]

Not at all. Most of big brands that make lightweight road e-bikes use Mahle Ebikemotion X35 rear-hub drive motor. People who buy such e-bikes from Orbea or Cannondale accept the imperfections of a cadence sensing hub-drive motor because the e-bikes are almost the traditional counterparts, only heavier. Still, it will be hard to find a big road-bike brand using Bafang.

Yeah, the M800 has been out for a while and hasn't seemed to have gained much traction (the BD bikes are the only ones I've seen using it, though there are a few others if you search). No idea why that is. On paper at least it seems like a decent option for someone who wants to make a Creo-ish bike. Reviews are hard to come by, so maybe it just isn't very good.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Yeah, the M800 has been out for a while and hasn't seemed to have gained much traction (the BD bikes are the only ones I've seen using it, though there are a few others if you search). No idea why that is. On paper at least it seems like a decent option for someone who wants to make a Creo-ish bike. Reviews are hard to come by, so maybe it just isn't very good.

It is interesting to see how different big brands handle the matter of road e-bikes. Low weight is crucial for both road and gravel e-bikes. The more traditional players all went with the X35 system as it is the only lightweight system available to many. Specialized is exclusive with the SL1.1 motor manufactured by Mahle. Now, look to Cannondale that has bravely used a full power Bosch motor on their Topstone Neo Lefty Carbon gravel e-bike while still keeping pretty low weight of that e-bike. The next player is the Fazua used, for example, by Canyon.

Mahle, Fazua, and Bosch are all German companies with their production in Europe. I can only guess they are trusted by the big players.