Very nice. I research a lot. Buying the below Frey CC. Not for $2000 though. Current price is about $4300.
I feel ya about the junk on the market, but noting their advertising, for me that Ariel "X-class" is irreparably obsolete.
Not an e-bike, it's an electric motorcycle and cannot be used on the street without insurance and a license, safety checks etc.
I've highlighted in red what their web page says that I picked up on.
"We improve motor power and now use a 52V motor. Now using a 1000 Watt motor with improved torque and motor power. New Motor is able to reach 110 Nm torque thanks to our metal gear technology." "X-class has a special 1000 Watt Hub Motor. Outside looks same but inside everything is different than other hub motors. Motor is equipped with heavy duty clutch and metal gears which lets our motor to reach torque up to 110 Nm which is definitely industry leader. It will eat hills alive!"
The state of the art is center-drive, not hub types. "Metal gear technology" does not increase torque and "110nm" is not an "industry leader" standard.
Another thing, they avoid saying what type cells they are using. Read: Cheap Chinese knock-offs that don't last or meet the purported specs.
Caveat emptor. In e-bike advertising, what isn't said (or is avoided) is more important than what is.
Uh,
what motor is in that X Class? They forgot to to tell you. It's an old motor with a steel gear replacing the shoddy plastic being force-fed more current.
The X-class' 35 amp controller means 17amps nominal. Go hot (peak 35A), motor rapidly overheats, circuit shuts it down.
It's the same motor designed to run half the current. You can put in stronger gears/ bearings, but more heat is more heat and that large efficiency loss is expressed as heat. Basically, the electricity is shorting and generating heat, or it's creating an electromagnetic field. The amount of 'field effect' created for a given amount of current is the efficiency.
That X-class motor has an efficiency 3.142nm per Amp current.
The Bafang generates 8nm per Amp - more than 250% better efficiency, meaning far less waste-heat for the same watts
What's telling is Ariel Rider brags on 110nm - using 35A.
The G620, which debuted in 2017 puts out 160nm - using a 20amp factory produced internal controller. Upgrading G620's controller is fairly easy - if you solder and know a bit. 2000watts is doable for a 200nm outcome. You can see the HUGE advance this motor is here:
https://www.electricbike.com/bafang-ultra-max/
If one insists on exceeding 30mph, that's easy. The bikes come with a dinky 36 tooth ring-gear. Change to 46 tooth for +29% speed increase = you'll see 40mph.
Company literature: "When needed X-Class motor can provide peak output of 2000 Watt power". Stop right there. How does a 35amp controller (1820 Watts MAX) put out 2000 Watts? I'd start verifying the claims Ariel makes. That one's impossible.
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I'm buying either this or the EX model:
https://electrek.co/2019/12/24/review-1-5-kw-frey-cc-full-suspension-electric-commuter-bike/
My search started with the goal of using the (hottest, but still street legal - sort of) motor of choice - currently - the Bafang (B510) G620 Ultra.
W/ 160nm torque, this bike pulls wheelies rated at 48v 750 x 1000watts.
That's 40% more efficient than Ariel's X-class motor, plus standardized parts you'll be able to find later as it's stock normal, not heavily tweaked.
The Frey also has a twist throttle, torque sensor and cadence PAS. Pick what you care to use and fly. Built in variable settings.
Motor: Bafang G510.1000 mid drive 48V 1000W
Battery: 48V/17.5Ah fit with 65pcs Samsung 3500mA cells.
Front fork: ROCKSHOX RECON 130-150mm Air suspension
Rear shock: ROCKSHOX MONARCH RL 165*38mm air suspension
Handlebar & Stem: Promax brand alloy mountain style.
Seat post: Promax brand alloy.
Brakes: MAGURA MT5 4-piston Hydraulic disc brakes
Transmission: SRAM X5 9S(34--40T) gear set.
Tire: Schwable moto-X 27.5*2.4” flat tire;
The EX mod (with two 14A batteries) includes
Motor: Bafang M620 mid drive 48V 1000W motor
Battery: Samsung 35E cells powered: dual battery system 2*48V14AH.
Front fork:
ROCKSHOX LYRIK SEL+ 180mm Air suspension
Rear shock:
ROCKSHOX DELUXE RL 205*65mm air suspension
Handlebar & Stem: Promax brand alloy mountain style.
Seat post: Promax brand alloy.
Brakes: MAGURA MT5 4-piston Hydraulic disc brakes
Transmission:
SRAM NX 11 speed gears.
Tire:
MAXXIS 27.5*2.8” mountain tire
Pedal:
Wellgo alloy mountain style pedals.
This is the EX Pro (dual batteries). Check it out on YouTube, 10 feet airborne.
That fork, the rear suspension and the upgraded wheels/tires are worth more than the $900 additional price from the CC. The 11 Speed upgrade is useless for me. I'm installing a fat ring and intend to convert to Gates belt drive system w/ internal gearbox hub.
The Frey machines weigh in at 31 (CC), 31 (EX) and 35 kilos (EX Pro).
I don't get it that for the cost of an option on a car, people balk at spending $$$ for the right machine. A friggen GPS cost me $2500 on my Toyota Sienna. My budget is $5k.
The CC's currently selling for $3420 + 310 tax + 600 shipping costs = $4330.00 delivered.
These bikes are worth double what they cost. A $4000 Machine that stock will outperform any other stock, street legal machine made costing under $10k? Nothing stock, retailed in the USA even comes close, and best of all it's 100% plug-and-play upgradable. The Bafang wiring harness is all waterproof plugs and a couple cables, not a rat's nest of wires in a hot-glued mess. Routing is easy.
Note: Anyone interested, I have two other possible buyers. One more will bring the price down $240 each, plus I may be able to get reduced shipping and knock another hundred or so off. If you're in So-Cal and interested, contact me in San Diego.
If you want to go it alone, I can tell you the company is much friendlier than MAC or MXUS. No problem answering direct questions.
I suggest anyone interested do their own due diligence. Picky as I am, I find this company has a sterling rep for high quality and any feed back to the contrary is encouraged and invited.
As always,
I am Fn'F
