Has anyone tried a Badass 4 speed unlock?

[Alanzo]

I have been looking at this speed unlock device. Every time I pedal above 28mph the e assist shuts off. This happens after every hill in my area. On a traditonal non e-bike it was no big deal to pedal in the lower 30's after a hill and take advantage of the road grade. Wish I could do the same with the Delite.

Apparently this device requires no installatiuon in the motor and is recommended to be used with a GPS unit for accuracy.
Any icomments with pros or cons of this device will be appreciated.

 

[Klemze]

It is not recommended to use these devices as they are not safe. Bosch protect their systems from tampering and if you want updates to your firmware, you should definately stay away from those hacks. Also, all warranty is out the window. Your motor just might get bricked and you are left with a really heavy acoustic bike. I would advise you to stay away from tampering with the motor using those things. my 2 cents.

Edit: I see now that it is non-invasive to the engine, just messing with the speed sensor. I still stand by it tho. It is not necessarry or safe to go at those speeds.

 

[Alanzo]

It is not recommended to use these devices as they are not safe. Bosch protect their systems from tampering and if you want updates to your firmware, you should definately stay away from those hacks. Also, all warranty is out the window. Your motor just might get bricked and you are left with a really heavy acoustic bike. I would advise you to stay away from tampering with the motor using those things. my 2 cents.

Edit: I see now that it is non-invasive to the engine, just messing with the speed sensor. I still stand by it tho. It is not necessarry or safe to go at those speeds.

Perhaps I should consider reducing the wheel circumference and use a GPS for accurate speed, avg and trip distance. I'm looking for an easy solution to not have the e-assist shut off @ 28 mph after rolling down a hill. Prior to the e-bike I'd see speeds in the 30-34 mph range after rolling past the local hills.

The e-assist shut off @ 28 is the only limiting factor I am currently experiencing with an e-bike. Everything else is quite nice!

 

[RMK!]

Perhaps I should consider reducing the wheel circumference and use a GPS for accurate speed, avg and trip distance. I'm looking for an easy solution to not have the e-assist shut off @ 28 mph after rolling down a hill. Prior to the e-bike I'd see speeds in the 30-34 mph range after rolling past the local hills.

The e-assist shut off @ 28 is the only limiting factor I am currently experiencing with an e-bike. Everything else is quite nice!

My Delite does the same and it has never been a problem for me. I also have a Bafang Ultra motor powered fat tire bike that can reach 35 mph throttle or pedal assist and 40 mph with throttle and pedaling. Going that fast on a bike is fun for a minute but then ...

 

[fooferdoggie]

Perhaps I should consider reducing the wheel circumference and use a GPS for accurate speed, avg and trip distance. I'm looking for an easy solution to not have the e-assist shut off @ 28 mph after rolling down a hill. Prior to the e-bike I'd see speeds in the 30-34 mph range after rolling past the local hills.

The e-assist shut off @ 28 is the only limiting factor I am currently experiencing with an e-bike. Everything else is quite nice!

you cant reduce the side by more then about 2% or less if I remember right, you just not going to get more out of the motor thats its limit. you can go faster down hillI I used to your gears are your li it on downhills. power drops off at 27.3 but bosch tends to read speed higher then actual so maybe 26 or so.

 

[evolvable]

This is interesting and might be useful to those in Canada (our ebikes are often limited to 30km/h, which is a bummer).

 

[webcurl]

Perhaps I should consider reducing the wheel circumference and use a GPS for accurate speed, avg and trip distance. I'm looking for an easy solution to not have the e-assist shut off @ 28 mph after rolling down a hill. Prior to the e-bike I'd see speeds in the 30-34 mph range after rolling past the local hills.

The e-assist shut off @ 28 is the only limiting factor I am currently experiencing with an e-bike. Everything else is quite nice!

Apparently the badassbox will obfuscate your speedometer & odometer.
Perhaps find out if the particular badassbox version is compatible with your motor model/lineage AND firmware, if it is not then the Bosch system may detect tampering and this will be recorded for when you may need to use the Bosch warranty, i assume with a Tampering recorded then the warranty will be voided.

 

[Alanzo]

Apparently the badassbox will obfuscate your speedometer & odometer.
Perhaps find out if the particular badassbox version is compatible with your motor model/lineage AND firmware, if it is not then the Bosch system may detect tampering and this will be recorded for when you may need to use the Bosch warranty, i assume with a Tampering recorded then the warranty will be voided.

Webcurl,
I like the Delite but it may not be the ultimate bike with the 28mph limit factor of the Bosch motor.

For a few years I rode a Pashley Guv'nor which was a heavy beast. That bike could go faster after a descent from a big hill than the Delite. There was no limiting factor coasting down hills but that particular bike was murder on a centiury ride due to overall weight and limited 3 speed gear range. I also had a dual disc time trial bike that rolled @ 38 to 30 following a descent but after many years gave up on that one as I ride in traffic with SUVs, semis and everything else. Strong crosswinds with traffic were a white knuckle experience on the dual disc stuff.

 

[fooferdoggie]

Webcurl,
I like the Delite but it may not be the ultimate bike with the 28mph limit factor of the Bosch motor.

For a few years I rode a Pashley Guv'nor which was a heavy beast. That bike could go faster after a descent from a big hill than the Delite. There was no limiting factor coasting down hills but that particular bike was murder on a centiury ride due to overall weight and limited 3 speed gear range. I also had a dual disc time trial bike that rolled @ 38 to 30 following a descent but after many years gave up on that one as I ride in traffic with SUVs, semis and everything else. Strong crosswinds with traffic were a white knuckle experience on the dual disc stuff.

your tires and aro position is what's slowing you on the decent not the motor.

 

[Alanzo]

your tires and aro position is what's slowing you on the decent not the motor.

Webcurl,
Yes.
I am currently in the phase of switching handlebars. Have to acquire a different stem and mounting components for the Kiox display.
The positions in the photo are for after the descent when the road grade graually flattens out or at times when I have to ride into a stong headwind. It all adds up for small tweaks to improve the efficiency of the bike.

 

[fooferdoggie]

I was able to test tire size and PSI when I had a gold rush with a fairing. that thing was so aero and I had a hill in front of my house I could test coasting, every day. it was interesting PSI and tire diameter could add 1mph or more to my coasting speed in that block.

 

[webcurl]

I like the Delite but it may not be the ultimate bike with the 28mph limit factor of the Bosch motor.

Here in Australia the limit is 25km/h, that's 15.5 mph.
I'd say 28mph is plenty fast enough for a motor to cutout at for a "bicycle" that weighs 32kg (70.5 lbs), does not have similar protection to a motorcycle and is not insured.
At the bottom of the hill without insurance:
Who pays for the funeral of the pedestrian you've just killed or
who pays for the damage to that nice new fence or
who pays for the damage to that parked truck, etc.

 

[Alanzo]

Who pays for the funeral of the pedestrian you've just killed or
who pays for the damage to that nice new fence or
who pays for the damage to that parked truck, etc.

I never see pedestrians on the roads. Only vehicle traffic. I cannot recall any fences near the roads I'm on. The last time there was a parked truck in the road the brake levers slowed the bike down to a safe speed. No bike paths with people, dogs, roller skaters, walkers, baby strollers and fences on any local routes. Most often rural roads and highways with shoulders. I have seen bike reviews videos @ EBR with some 30+ speeds and no pedestrians were killed, no fences harmed and the reviewer did not crash into a parked truck.

In a couple years I will try an HPC Scout non throttle, 2000W 80 mi range with speed limit @ 35. At present the HPC sells for 4K which is 2K less than my Delite purchase 2 years ago. The current price for Delite has since doubled and may be more expensive in 2023. I cannot foresee purchasing another R&M ebike with a motor system designed to shut off @ 28 when a traditional non ebike diamond frame can surpass that limit after a roll down from a hill.

 

[Alanzo]

tbh... id rather drop $2000 on another bike for these capabilities. I've got nothing against what you're desiring, but i imagine if ya brick the motor you're up the creek without a paddle whereas another bike for speed would be a backup to the cadillac. jmho

After researching the HPC, I'll take a pass on the hardtail design. Riding on a cracked asphalt with potholes at speed in the 30's is not going to be user friendly. Dual suspension is a necessity for what I ride on especially when the road quality is awful and a flat bed truck is passing @ 60mph on the left. Very possible what I desire at present does not exist with range and speed BUT what I have is a practical bike with high production quality.

 

[Alanzo]

Look up bikonit MD1000. Maybe that’s more your speed?

Looks nice for 5K with extra battery. Not sure about only 5 speeds as some of the routes north have longer hills with steeper grades compared to where I begin.

 

[dblhelix]

Perhaps I should consider reducing the wheel circumference and use a GPS for accurate speed, avg and trip distance. I'm looking for an easy solution to not have the e-assist shut off @ 28 mph after rolling down a hill. Prior to the e-bike I'd see speeds in the 30-34 mph range after rolling past the local hills.

The e-assist shut off @ 28 is the only limiting factor I am currently experiencing with an e-bike. Everything else is quite nice!

I’m a bit puzzled by your post. I’ve had my R&M well over 30mph going downhill. In fact, my max speed according to the bike appears to have been 38-39 mph at one point, eek. Even if a bit inflated, it’s still well over 34mph. Gravity wins.

 

[Alanzo]

I’m a bit puzzled by your post. I’ve had my R&M well over 30mph going downhill.

It's not descent speed. One of the local hills allows fo a roll down of 33.5 mph. My issue is sustaining 28+ to enter a turn signal lane with traffic. The crank resistance with the Bosch motor is greater than what I had with a non e-bike while pedaling at speeds above 28 mph.

 

[Ravi Kempaiah]

After researching the HPC, I'll take a pass on the hardtail design. Riding on a cracked asphalt with potholes at speed in the 30's is not going to be user friendly. Dual suspension is a necessity for what I ride on especially when the road quality is awful and a flat bed truck is passing @ 60mph on the left. Very possible what I desire at present does not exist with range and speed BUT what I have is a practical bike with high production quality.

Have you considered Zero Electric Motorcycles?
They are super awesome. They have a range of close to 75-100 miles and their registration/insurance cost is a fraction of car insurance.

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I used to commute long distances between downtown Chicago and the suburbs and I was always super careful in avoiding any traffic-heavy areas. Even then, I consider myself lucky to have survived many close calls.
If your commute requires you to be doing 30+ mph, then a vehicle with 4-5 inches of ground contact area might be safer than 2-inch tires. Or you may want to consider a longer route that avoids such close proximity to semi trucks.

 

[Alanzo]

I used to commute long distances between downtown Chicago and the suburbs and I was always super careful in avoiding any traffic-heavy areas. Even then, I consider myself lucky to have survived many close calls.
If your commute requires you to be doing 30+ mph, then a vehicle with 4-5 inches of ground contact area might be safer than 2-inch tires. Or you may want to consider a longer route that avoids such close proximity to semi trucks.

Ravi,
Everything in my local area changed about 25 years ago with a significant housing boom in Woodstock and the end of Wauconda apple orchards bulldozed for tract housing. The rural roads now have more traffic congestion, more housing. Bull Valley road became a dangerous stretch when cycling to Lake Geneva. I do not know if you are familiar with Dundee Rd or Hwy 14. I have to ride on both to cycle in areas with less traffic. There are no other options other than putting the bike in a vehicle and driving a distance to ride.

I have no intent to ride a motorcycle. Just looking at e-bike options capable of similar top speeds to what I had with a non e-bike. The extra 2-3 mph top speed makes a difference accessing a turning lane and not creating an issue with the driver I see in the rear view mirror.