Quote:
Originally Posted by powderjunkie
Well if you want a bike that can haul groceries, an adult passenger (or multiple kids), and do trails, then check this out:
https://www.ternbicycles.com/ca/bikes/471/orox
Big caveat here that I have not looked into eMTBs at all, but my understanding for city/cargo bikes is that the top quality mid-drives (Bosch, Shimano, Yamaha/Giant) do not come with throttles. But they offer far more natural riding experiences than hub drives or probably other mid-drive options (but this is worth exploring more).
You can peddle lazy on a mid-drive and get up any hill, but probably sacrificing some speed compared to just throttling up. Though I think you're more likely to get up the steepest offroad hill with a mid-drive than a hub drive.
I test drove a Surface 604 and it has a pretty good torque sensor with a hub drive and throttle. But it was my first ever e-bike ride and I've preferred the mid-drives I've tried since, though i'd be interested to try it again to compare. S604 seems like a pretty cool company out of Vancouver. Higher quality components than Direct-to-consumer options out there, and might be a sweet spot for you if you really want throttle.
Last note is that wattage listing between mid-drive and hub-drive are apples to oranges. 250W Bosch may be more powerful in many ways than a 750W rear Bafang (but devil is in details).
And battery quality is another big reason to go quality mid-drive; look for UL certification otherwise |
Surface 604 is still a direct to consumer company quality of bike. They are cheaply made and parts to replace are insanely over priced. Their warranty is a joke . 1 year or 800kms which ever comes first. That's because bafang dosen't offer warranty to bike companies. It's up to the brands to deal with it on their on dime.
I had a customer who needed a new controller for their surface bike and they were going to charge him $550. It was a 50 dollar retail controller that Greentime makes.
As for the bolded the listed wattage on bafang or any other motor that lists over 250watts is misleading. When to see a bafang motor listed at 750watts that's at peak power but at 32kms cruising flat they still only pull 250watts as that's what any motor takes to maintain that speed.
When you see a reputable bike shop brand they all list them at 250watts nominal. Because the laws written for ebikes state they must be 250 nominal at 32kms/hr on a flat surface .For example a bosch cx mid drive is listed at 250 nominal but will peak at 720 watts when the battery is 80% to 50% capacity. 36v x20 amps = 720. On a full charge tho 100% to 90% the battery is at 42v x 20amps = 840 watts peak. Even tho they list that motor at 600 watts peak. They use a 20amp controller.
They other thing that is misleading especially on power ratings in hub motors is no motor has a fixed rating. A motor can be what ever you want it to handle if you can keep thermals under control and under 140°C. Around 150°c it starts to burn of the coating of the windings and cause the motor to short out. All you need to do on most bikes to have a higher wattage out put of any motor is just up the battery voltage and tadah! As long as your controller is rated for higher voltages.