Is Bafang good as an electric motor

Bafang is a Chinese company known for producing e-bike motors, both mid-drive and front or rear wheel motors. Initially, they were seen as a cheap Chinese manufacturer. Nowadays, there is much respect for the high-quality and powerful Bafang motors. Like Bosch, Bafang motors are used by several e-bike manufacturers. Douze, Aska, Ahooga, and several other well-known bike makers now also use electric Bafang motors to reduce the cost of the bike.

Bosch or Bafang

One of the key differences between Bafang and Bosch motors is the quality of materials and the efficiency of the motor’s operation (including software). Bosch always uses high-quality materials, while Bafang offers various options ranging from cheap to expensive and reliable.

Bafang motors usually have a lower power output than Bosch motors, although they also produce the most powerful electric motors with 90 to 120 Nm of torque. Bosch motors are slightly better tuned, making them more efficient and reliable on long rides. It’s also not always necessary to go for the most power, as the bikes are limited to 25 km/h. The amount of Nm you need depends on the type of bike and motor.

Bafang is sometimes (less and less) also used as a white-label brand. They don’t consider it necessary for their brand to appear on the motor, as long as bike makers order them. This has made them a reliable partner for many brands. This collaboration is now being extended with Bafang’s latest high-quality motors.

Bafang Front and Rear Wheel Motors

Another difference is that Bosch, Shimano, and Yamaha mainly focus on the popular mid-drive motor. This seems to be the safest choice and is probably the best option for most people, but still front and rear wheel motors remain a valuable alternative. Especially for cost reduction, this is interesting.

Where Bosch and Shimano have almost complete control over the mid-drive motor market, along with Yamaha, Brose, and Bafang, we see that the market for rear and front wheel motors is wide open. Wide open, in the sense that Bafang currently dominates it entirely. Virtually all rear wheel motors and front wheel motors that are not white-label brands come from Bafang. What stands out here is that many of these white-label brands also source their models from Bafang.

Reliability

In terms of reliability and durability, both Bafang and Bosch motors are known for their quality and reliability. The latter more than the former. On average, a Bosch motor will last longer than a Bafang, although much depends on your riding behavior, usage, and maintenance. There are also more Bosch bike mechanics, although nowadays we also see support for Bafang motors.

Ultimately, the choice between a Bafang and Bosch motor will depend on the bike you choose and the budget you can allocate. A Douze longtail can be purchased with a Bafang, Shimano, or Bosch motor. The purchase price depends on your choice. For Bosch, you’ll pay a bit more than for a Bafang.

Quality and Price

The biggest difference between the major brands and Bafang is that Bafang also produces inexpensive motors. Shimano does this too with bicycle brakes, they try to offer a quality product for every price segment. So, there are also lower-quality motors available when the price needs to be really low.

The specific materials used in an e-bike motor depend on the design and intended use of the motor. An expensive motor designed for use in a powerful e-bike may use stronger materials such as steel or titanium, while a cheap motor designed for a lightweight e-bike may use lighter materials such as aluminum or composite plastics.