The Cheapest upgrade for ultimate performance Boost on your Bafang Mid Drive!

[boruchlen]

Great video, thx.
Two things I would highly recommend is to make sure you're using a steel cassette not an aluminum one, and an ebike specific chain. I stripped my aluminum cassette with less than 100 miles on it, and snapped my chain.

I replaced them with the microSHIFT ADVENT X Cassette 10 speed, 11-48 tooth (steel version) and used the microSHIFT ADVENT X Rear Derailleur which works perfectly with the cassette.
I also had to replace the shifter to the microSHIFT ADVENT X Trail Trigger Pro Right Shifter. I'm also using an ebike specific chain KMC 10 speed e10, designed to handle the torque.
I'm using a Lekkie 42 T ring and love the whole combo.
I pull a big heavy camping trailer plus loaded panniers, and I'm not a light weight either. All installed on a Surly Troll.
Love it!

[junrambsunli]

Did that. Box Four Group set with Lekkie 52T on a 20" folder with a BBS 02B 48 V 17.5 Ah Bat. Awesome climbing capability even on a 19% gradient with pedal assist with almost no effort. Slow climb like a sloth but you get there eventually without any sweat at all. Thanks, Johnny for your awesome videos and knowledge. Stay safe on your test rides build. Peace.

[moovintruespace]

I just found your channel, now binge watching! Love it. I'm getting a BBS02B (yes i watched THAT video 😅 I'm hoping a lot of issues have solutions now. On the strength of this video i'll get an 11/42 + 46T! Thanks.

[stevencimini]

Wheel size also makes a difference in gearing. I have a folder e-bike with 20” wheels. I changed to a 52t front chain ring. I’m almost always in my 11t cog and I’m spinning out at 21mph. I can go faster but then the motor is doing all the work. If the wheel size were larger I’d spin out at a higher speed. Ideally on the Folder bike I’d like a 56 tooth chain ring. I’d be able to use the full cog set more efficiently.

[michealbackus]

I use a Lekkie 52T chainring with a 9spd 11-42T cassette. I found that you are limited by the chain wrap capacity of your derailleur.
In my case I required a 48T chain wrap capacity just to run the 11-42T with the 52T chainring. The Microshift Advent 9-spd long cage derailleur has the highest chain wrap capacity available on the market (47T), and I use 2 13T oversized cage pulleys to increase this to 48T.
Although I am right at the upper limit of my drivetrain design, it works well with my 2500w BBSHD middrive.

[crossbone]

That’s a great idea! Had no clue I live in nc in the hills. It’s almost impossible to go up the hills. Thanks for the vid

[JohnSmith-chlp]

Great video Johnny, concentrating on an aspect of the build. Maybe a video on battery fitting, cable management, hydraulic brake sensor positioning and so on. Oh and maybe programming with the cable.Love this channel. Keep up the good work.

[richardbragstad]

Great tip! Thank you! You are so knowledgeable!

[JMJM]

My setup for the bbs02 750w is 46t front with a 8 speed hg-41 acera 11-34t megarange cassette. This is with 26" wheels. I cycle mainly in London UK so there is a good mix of elevations but nothing too extreme. I find this gearing more than enough. A good thing to note is generally 8 speed or below chains are stronger when compared to the higher speed stuff. Worth considering imo.

[kurt]

Great video ..gearing on any bike can be optimized for rider, intended use, terrain etc. Bikepacking with a Bosch pedal-assist bike, I never used the top of the stock 11-42t cassette range.. even after climbing steep trails I would have struggled to clear on my standard (NoMo) lower-geared mountain bike. Installed an 11-36t this year, essentially removing a gear off the top and placing it in the middle where it’s more useful for long distance trips & battery management.

[itekani]

I converted my 27 gear bike to electric and switched my casette from 12-25 to 11-28. It is pretty much ideal for me with 44 teeth front and 500W motor. I can tow my kid up the hills and not even need the lowest gear. With the lowest gear I can climb quite easily using only 50% power from the motor.

[DonkeyKongOdyssey]

I'm actually about to upgrade my MTB's 13T-28T 8spd to the Sunrace 11T-40T 9spd today. Been waiting all week to have the time to do this upgrade, can't wait to see what a 42T up front and 40T in the back would feel like.

Edit: All I need for the chainring is a 42T that can fit in the MTB. The stock 42T BAFANG chainring barely fits and I really want a narrow-wide tooth ring.

[HB-yqgy]

I have a Trek 4500 26" with dual batteries 48v 30 amps and the Bafang BBSO2 750w with a 44T chainring 8/46 cog. We have a lot of hills, and the motor started to overheat. So I swapped for a 38T CR, same 8/46. It's a big difference; no more ghost pedaling heat buildup. I'm going to experiment with the 36T and (28T leekie) same cog.

[brentyoung]

Getting my track 7.3 converted should have it in a couple weeks I enjoy your videos Johnny good job

[EustacioMarquez]

awesome intel..thanks i'm woking on my Royce Union mid moter E-Bike

[jamesgibson]

Bought a generic version of the Lekkei on Aliexpress for about $40. Is an offset with narrow wide teeth. Before when I went to the lowest gear the chain would fall off, or even before the lowest gear it would grind as I got lower on the gears. None of that happens now. It is a 42T and the original Bafang was a 44T. My eight gear cassette stock is 11-32. Aliexpress sells some that have larger low gears as well I may try.

[thetoolmat]

Looking forward to consult around the 10-13th July…gotta get all my measurements / pics etc and get one booked then order the gear!..this video was timely for me. Thanks!

[ManiacInTheShed]

I put a 32T chainring on my bafang mid drive and the largest gear on my rear cassette is a 32T gear which means awesome hill climbing abilities, but I can still get to 30mph when I am on the smallest cassette gear which is plenty fast for me, the largest gear I can fit on my rear cassette is 32T without having to change derailer e.t.c a 42T chainring would make my bike faster but I would loose the hill climbing abilities of my 32T chainring which is more important than speed for me.

[michaelbrinks]

2:45 I think 40 mph is safe if you have a beefed up bike (stronger wheels & frame) and large enough want an e-bike but too poor now so I did the motorized bike build. Plus I never had a chance to test ride a 1, 000w mid drive or something like a 3, 000 hub drive, Toyota is supposed to release solid state test batteries in 2025 in a hybrid car. If solid state batteries live up the hype, they'll be a game changer for e-bikes.

[tonesmith]

The real question is, when is that Kenwood sub being mounted on that bike? 😎