Finding geared 36V 350W motor loud

[Netboysteve]

Edited the post down, sorry for previous ramble.

My first electric for the past several years was something more or less like this:

From this seller


There was resistance to the pedalling with no motor so I'm assuming it's direct drive? It's advertised as brushless, but it's been explained to me that a brushless motor could be geared? I don't see how that would work. I need to be educated on motors. Anyways, this bike was fairly quiet, no one ever complained.

Last summer, this bike came up for sale used, so I bought it. It's very similar to the Voltbike Urban. Both bikes are 36V 350W

Riding this bike, as well as the Urban, I find the motor quite loud. People turn their heads a block away. If I give it full throttle, I'm very loud. I don't think it's a faulty motor as the Urban I briefly owned was exactly the same. I think in both cases it's a nylon geared motor. Mine is an 8FUN motor, this number is on it XBSWX02. Also what looks to be a serial number. That doesn't turn up anything on their website.

Do I have any options? Is a metallic geared motor quieter? Voltbike offered that the motor is louder in part because of the 20 inch tires, so the wheels and motor are turning faster than 26 inch tires.

Thanks.

 

[tomjasz]

Hi! I'm sorry to read your frustrations. I'd be alarmed too. It should not be really loud. Some noise but still mostly stealthy. BUT sound is somewhat relative, we all have different tolerance levels. IF the motor is truly LOUD there is a problem. What does the dealer say?

 

[BVC]

If it's loud it could be loose magnets?
repair is fairly simple from what I've seen online.

 

[tomjasz]

It would be easier to diagnose if we understood exactly which model it is. I'm a bit confused reading the post. Typically motors that small are geared.

 

[Alex M]

Bionx is a Direct Drive motor.
Voltbike Urban is a geared Bafang motor.
Geared motors are always louder than DD.

Now, what you've bought - unknown model that looks similar to Voltbike Urban.
You are saying motor is the same, but Bafang have (AFAIK) half a dozen geared motors in the same power range. Your motor might not be the same as the motor of Urban.
Sorry to disappoint you, but there are no "local manufacturers" for ebikes in Richmond or Abbotsford. They are unknown Chinese imports. It's been said here a lot about buying knock-offs - in the best case you get what you pay for, in the worst case you get less.

It also sounds like you bought it used? then all the bets are off. Could be gears inside the motor wearing out, or magnets, or something else.

 

[Netboysteve]

Hi everybody sorry for the original post. it was late. The number on the motor is XBSWX02 but it doesn't bring up anything on the Bafang website? Is there a known good quiet model I could replace with? Thanks.

 

[tomjasz]

Hi everybody sorry for the original post. it was late. The number on the motor is XBSWX02 but it doesn't bring up anything on the Bafang website? Is there a known good quiet model I could replace with? Thanks.

Bafang or 8fun SWX02. Use "Bafang SW02" to search on Google. There are repair videos. and threads.

 

[harryS]

I have several geared motors. All are pretty quiet. I downloaded a DB meter for my phone. Bike riding without motor comes in around 65 db With motor is 68 db. Take that with a grain of salt. Phone Apps are pretty much window dressing.

 

[tomjasz]

I have several geared motors. All are pretty quiet. I downloaded a DB meter for my phone. Bike riding without motor comes in around 65 db With motor is 68 db. Take that with a grain of salt. Phone Apps are pretty much window dressing.

The only loud gear drive in those most recently made are those that have clutch or gear failures.

 

[Netboysteve]

Thanks for help I'll watch the video

 

[Netboysteve]

I notice in that vid, the motor is rated at 500W. Is my motor also capable of handling that? I don't think there is anything wrong with the motor. The Voltbike Urban I briefly owned was exactly the same. Some other posts online suggest such geared motors reach their quietest after a few hundred km as the pieces wear away against each other a bit. i will give it some time.

 

[Netboysteve]

This is not a great disvovery

 

[Netboysteve]

My previous bike had a brushless motor that was quite silent. slightly less power, a bit of drag when pedaling with no motor, but no stress over noise. Is there a thread where all the different motor types are listed?

 

[Netboysteve]

Heh