Repairability of M500 and M510

[clix]

Hey guys,

I started my E-bike journey last month, when I converted my commuter bike with TSDD2 motor. I got the itch and now I am thinking about EMTB as well. Suddenly hills on the normal MTB became more tiering they were before.

Anyway, I started checking bikes and this forum, but I realised that after the warranty runs out, repairs suddenly become verry expensive. Motor is 1000€+, battery can also be 1000€. Also in 5+ years’ time, you have no guaranty, that the motor supplier will even still produce these motors and parts for them. And for most of them, spare parts are not really available now (giant controller in yamaha motor, for example).

Are spare party easily available for M500 and M510 motors? I can find many parts for BBSHD and BBS02, but for these newer mid drive motors, I must say, that I can't really find much parts for them, but maybe I just don’t know where to look. Also, what do you guys think, is the future of the M500/M510 engine mount? will there be newer engines in the future for this mount (upgrade path) or probably not?

I really hate to buy the bike that would be throw away in 5-10 years, because I can’t repair the motor or find new motor for it.

The main question is, is Bafang any better, for future repairability and long term maintenance than other bikes (for example, giant, with Yamaha motor and proprietary giant controller). Somehow, I am imagining pars being available on ali express for the long time, but I might be wrong.

Do you guys think this could be the viable reason, to go for E10, for example, instead of Giant Reign? I already have pretty much all the tools needed, because I actually enjoy bike maintenance, and do all the work myself on my bike, so the build-up process should not be an issue.

Thank you

 

[bram.biesiekierski]

Hey guys,

I started my E-bike journey last month, when I converted my commuter bike with TSDD2 motor. I got the itch and now I am thinking about EMTB as well. Suddenly hills on the normal MTB became more tiering they were before.

Anyway, I started checking bikes and this forum, but I realised that after the warranty runs out, repairs suddenly become verry expensive. Motor is 1000€+, battery can also be 1000€. Also in 5+ years’ time, you have no guaranty, that the motor supplier will even still produce these motors and parts for them. And for most of them, spare parts are not really available now (giant controller in yamaha motor, for example).

Are spare party easily available for M500 and M510 motors? I can find many parts for BBSHD and BBS02, but for these newer mid drive motors, I must say, that I can't really find much parts for them, but maybe I just don’t know where to look. Also, what do you guys think, is the future of the M500/M510 engine mount? will there be newer engines in the future for this mount (upgrade path) or probably not?

I really hate to buy the bike that would be throw away in 5-10 years, because I can’t repair the motor or find new motor for it.

The main question is, is Bafang any better, for future repairability and long term maintenance than other bikes (for example, giant, with Yamaha motor and proprietary giant controller). Somehow, I am imagining pars being available on ali express for the long time, but I might be wrong.

Do you guys think this could be the viable reason, to go for E10, for example, instead of Giant Reign? I already have pretty much all the tools needed, because I actually enjoy bike maintenance, and do all the work myself on my bike, so the build-up process should not be an issue.

Thank you

As far as motor mounting. Bafang have the m500, m600, and now the m510 all using the same standard. So they have invested into it enough that they think it worthy of continuing on with. And Bosch have thier standard which they will no doubt continue on, Shimano thiers, Specialised/Brose thiers, and every new motor manufacturer to the scene will inevitably make thier own standard.

The whole different motor mounting standard issue is the same old issue that has plagued the bicycle industry since bicycles began.
Example : bottom bracket standards all over again.

Each component manufacturer bringing out thier own standardisation, hoping it will catch on. Then sometimes they take it even one step further where some manufacture deliberately make new standards not because they have sound engineering improvements, but rather to deliberately fuck with the compatibility of a competing manufacturers components. Eg Shimano 41mm diameter bottom brackets and Sram 29/30mm diameter cranks. They deliberately made the OD 41mm, so that there are no good bearing choices with a 29/30mm crank. This is the sort of stupid corporate bitchiness that has caused so much trouble in the bike industry. And will continue causing trouble in the emerging eBike industry. The auto industry on the other hand (atleast in the early days) has so much cross compatibility and universal industry standards.

I can't speak for the availability of parts. But Bafang is pretty popular globally, and does seam to attract quite a strong DIY user base. Which creates a strong market for spare parts sales. Name brand bike manufacturers can be difficult (and expensive) to get spare parts through aswell. And they also have a financial incentive to sell new bikes as opposed to make repairing old bikes viable. So I wouldn't put much trust in availability of thier parts long term either. Or for them to not create new standards, so as to deliberately make the old standards obsolete.

Name brand manufacturers also like to keep service and diagnostic information proprietary, and deliberately difficult/impossible to access and integrate. The whole the ebike industry is prime for "right to repair" issues, especially as the electronic systems become more and more complex and integrated.

 

[temon10]

peak gear, controller, one way bearing set, sensor magnet, cabling and even bolts/nuts available to order.

 

[patdam]

peak gear, controller, one way bearing set, sensor magnet, cabling and even bolts/nuts available to order.

where ?

 

[temon10]

where ?

I order to Chili Shen from Victory @alibaba