Taking the Bosch motor down to 0 range....

[NoDTMF]

So I wondered what would happen if I took the range to Zero on the Bosch Gen 2 Active line mid mount motor. Well it doesn't go to zero, it displays two dashes. The Battery meter still has one tick, and power is still applied. The total range was 40 miles over 3 trips with total altitude climb of ~2600 feet (and about the same number of feet descending, I always return to where I start). Purposely spent most of the time in touring mode, one ride had 1400 of vertical and I used sport mode and turbo more often.

Previously on a full battery I did a 15 mile ride with 3000 feet of altitude and came back with 2 ticks on the battery. I spent a lot of time on Turbo. The ride was 7 mile up and then 7 miles down with very little use of the battery on the way down.

Not sure how to interpret this data, but there you go.....

 

[Shea N Encinitas]

That's some serious elevation. I've only taken mine down to 4 miles range remaining, usually swap batteries at 2 or even 3 bars remaining (12 - 16 miles out/full turbo).

'Battery meter still has one tick, and power is still applied'

Power to the motor or is it just that the display remains operational (has internal battery btw)?

-S

 

[NoDTMF]

Power to the motor. I didn't want to experiment and drain the battery fully...but if I was stuck on a hill I probably would

I posted info about 3000' ride on the KTM forum...I'm guessing you don't read that Here is the web page with the map and stats of the ride. The UI is funky, but if you click things there is a lot of info.....
https://www.gaiagps.com/datasummary/track/39c323eba8d7905541eed9d523f17173/

 

[NoDTMF]

BTW, its kinda funny, I have to read all the other subject forums to understand the ebike ecosystem since there are no KTM bikes in the US. Actually, it makes me re-think where I should post. Perhaps I should have posted my 3000' ride to the Bosch forum since it was using a Bosch motor. In most respects, this website is more about the "e" than the specific bike in "ebikes." For the record, I love my KTM, but nothing much more to say about it, other than the frame, everything is made by someone else.

 

[FarmerDan]

I ride it down to no range a few times per week. I have a commute that takes most of the battery, but if I make the bike work hard, it definitely runs out of battery. I'm considering if I want a second battery for when winter comes and it gets cold and the range is reduced. Currently, when I've run out of juice, it's been within a mile of my destination (work or home) and it's easy enough to just peddle there. The lights still work fine, but the range says -- and the battery indicator blinks down with no bars left.

 

[NoDTMF]

How far is your commute...and what kind of elevation change?

 

[FarmerDan]

20 Mile commute ~500' down and up each way. I've added a "bunny power" mod to the bike and so it halves the speedometer. Therefore, the motor continues to spin until 40mph instead of 20. It doesn't actually go much higher than 26 or so on the flats, but down hill it can really push hard. I find that if I put it on turbo the whole way, it pretty much continually works for an hour and is then out of juice.

 

[NoDTMF]

Interesting: I assume you have Bosch Performance line.
I have Bosch Active Line. I have 15 mile roundtrip with about 500' I go 2 trips before before charging. I think I could go 3 trips. I tend to put it in Tour mode. Since mine cuts out at 15 mph, it isn't active that much going to work (basically all down hill) On the way home, I only hit Turbo if I take a short dirt severe uphill, maybe 10 seconds at most.

For the purpose of my commute Active line is great, but for off road stuff I wish I had Performance line.

 

[FarmerDan]

I tend to use turbo the whole way, sometimes I've been tuning it down to tour or eco on the down hills just to be able to get all the way to work w/o running out. The Felt SportE is pretty light so if it is out of power, it's not a huge problem to peddle it for a mile or so.

If I don't activate the mod and the motor cuts out at 20, I can use turbo mode the entire way and still have a bar or two left when I get to work, however, it obviously takes a bit longer as I'm generally travelling slower.

 

[NoDTMF]

where did you get the mod?

 

[FarmerDan]

I was referred to a bike shop who ordered it. I think they got it through the Felt rep, but I'm not sure.

I did contact
Joe Witherspoon <[email protected]>

He said they had the kit available for $150 or $200 installed, I bet they could help you get one ordered.

 

[FarmerDan]

Here is a free version

 

[stevenast]

Dang, that looks cool, but at the end he points out it doesn't work on all Bosch bikes. Why don't one of you guys try it out and let me know lol!

 

[Peter J]

Another free version is to go to calibration and reduce the wheel diameter as much as possible.