n8te76

I’m 42 yrs old, 6’-3” and 350lbs. I’m wanting a cruiser style bike frame but a bike HD enough to do light trail riding and also be able to lug my big butt up hills. I’m told to look up Biktrix Juggernaut Ultra , ELux Tahoe GT, or Soul Fast Stomper SS. And to buy biggest frame they offer.
Do Any of you own one of these or can give reviews of or recommend a bike to suit me.

cb400bill

Thread moved from Introductions to E-Bikes.

Robert C

The two main mid-drive motors for adding to existing bicycles are the BaFang BBS02 and BBSHD and the TongSheng TSDZ2. I have both of these and commute with a TongSheng motor and have toured with a BaFeng BBS02. Of the two, the BaFang mid-drives have more powerful motors. However, the TongSheng has much better control.

The TongSheng uses a torque sensor. That is just what it sounds like, when you start pedalling, the motor starts putting power out. This is very intuitive and easy to use. Thes is little sense of being on an e-bike when compared to other e-bikes arrangements. It is just a bicycle that is easy to ride. The downside is that, even though the claim is 750 watts, It never put out even 300 watts. This will make the uphill easier, but you are still going to know that you are going uphill.

On the other hand, the BaFeng uses a cadence sensor. Once you get moving, the sensor sees that you are moving and begins to apply power. From a touring perspective, this caused some issues on grades where I had the first get moving, then the motor kicked in. Another oddity to be aware of, with the BaFeng, the harder the rider pedals, the less power the motor puts out. This seems totally backward to me, but I watched my watt meter on some long grades and confirmed that is what was happening.

If your plan is to add a throttle, the BaFeng is still going to feel more powerful than the TongSheng. Of the BaFeng motors, I have the BBS02, I saw little reason for the BBSHD. The BBSHD has slightly upgraded parts and can be gotten to fit a fat-bike frame. My BBS02, without a throttle, worked just fine pulling me, and a stupidly overloaded trailer, over the Rocky Mountains with no trouble at all.

With all that said, I am going to recommend two different approaches. The first is the BBS02 with a throttle. The reason for the throttle is to give better control. Also, it allows you to hammer up the hills and still have the motor providing adequate. If, on the other hand, you want more workout, but you just want some help to make the whole thing easier, I recommend the TSDZ2. It has great control without a throttle and just makes the bike easier to ride. It is much more intuitive.


Edited to add:
I don't want this to sound like these are the only mid-drives on the market. However, most of the others are significantly more complicated to install. I don't see them suited for a first e-bike.

speedy25

Forget the kit stuff.

A good mid-drive bike that will handle a big guy is any of the Raleigh Retroglide models.

-SP

DukeO

I have a Dual Sport Ultra with a Bafang Ultra Max from M2S bikes. I am 6'5" 210lbs and it fits me great. It will do 35+ on the flats and climbs like a billy-goat.They do not carry that one anymore. But they still do have some with the Bafang Ultra Max. Most of the ebike with a Ultra Max now are fat tire. Mine are 2.5. That is the motor I would recommend for you and it also has a thumb-throttle One of the very few mid-drives with one.

Damar

Hola im a neubie