Bafang M500/M600 Tuning & The BESST Tool

Kucko

Active member
Oct 23, 2021
47
26
Slovakia
I tested the latest FW46.8 and today I went below 30% and at max. power display showed me 550-600W - 5 level. Under 20% 250-300W. Now I'm trying FW46.6 and I don't feel any difference. Less kicks at the start and at the 1st level, the power is max. 250W. Battery life also doesn't matter much. We will probably return to the original FW, 46.7 ... 🤔
 

Kucko

Active member
Oct 23, 2021
47
26
Slovakia
Today I gave my reference circuit with FW 46.6 again only on the 1st level and it feels similar to 46.8. It doesn't kick so much at start-up and performance is limited. So at a speed of 30km / h the power is from 230-250W, from a gentle hill at 40-45km / h about 270-320W. The weather was similar to the last time 7 ° C, but cloudy. Below I give the measured values and note that the uphill consumption is roughly similar, but downhill is a difference of up to 12% at 15.4km compared to FW 46.8, which is quite a difference. At the same time, the average speed was the same - 26.1 km / h. This can be attributed to the shorter motor deceleration when I stop pedaling. In this 46.6. the run is shorter, but I still feel it more than at 46.7. I'll do a test on the same circuit, but with all the levels and I'll see how it behaves and especially how much the battery consumption. But so far it seems better to me than the newest 46.8.

Start - 167.5km, 100% battery
Climb - 174.9km, 81% battery - 7.4km, loss 19%, + 210m climbed
Descent - 190.3km, 71% battery - 15.4km, loss 10%, -210m descented
Total 22.8km, loss of 29% battery, 210m climbed
 

dvng

Member
May 21, 2021
99
43
Malaysia
This is really getting confusing. 1) 46.6 = 46.8 without the deceleration degradation. 2) 46.7 = 14 6 but with better throttle integration and higher PAS1 with brutal ramp up. There doesn't seems to be some consistency in the FW releases by Bafang where they modify the problem areas without introducing another problem somewhere else.
 

patdam

Well-known member
Jan 17, 2019
889
598
france
For those i know. Bafang perform modifications on her soft to satisfy purchaser (only professionnel) request. An new rev available doesn't mean automatically it is an upgrade with better performing.

Personaly i absolutely do not want a motor who don't stop imediately when i do'nt turn the cranks.
 

Kyokushin

Active member
Mar 28, 2021
332
195
Sol
Exactly, the firmwares are not superseedes previous numbers.
Some distributor may ask for slightly other settings and they are receiving own version. It does not mean its 'next' version, its just different version.
 

Kucko

Active member
Oct 23, 2021
47
26
Slovakia
For those i know. Bafang perform modifications on her soft to satisfy purchaser (only professionnel) request. An new rev available doesn't mean automatically it is an upgrade with better performing.

Personaly i absolutely do not want a motor who don't stop imediately when i do'nt turn the cranks.

I agree. Therefore, I will probably return to 46.7, even if the start is stronger. But at least the motor will stop immediately and especially the battery will have a decent endurance ... 👍
 

dvng

Member
May 21, 2021
99
43
Malaysia
I agree. Therefore, I will probably return to 46.7, even if the start is stronger. But at least the motor will stop immediately and especially the battery will have a decent endurance ... 👍

Have you tried 14.6? Its the bafang standard fw for Luna M600.
 

mgx

Active member
Feb 18, 2021
110
112
Slovakia
must fully agree:

Personaly i absolutely do not want a motor who don't stop imediately when i do'nt turn the cranks.

this is specially important, when you hit a wood or something. Normally, you feelt it and stop propelling. But motor does not feel, it just go. WIth 46.8 for 2 seconds, which may be a final stop for your drivetrain or motor. And with power consumption more?

China approach is more/less the same-> they dont fix issues, they just release a new HW/SW and then again and again.
 

Kucko

Active member
Oct 23, 2021
47
26
Slovakia
So we'll probably go back to FW46.7. This digging is actually more fun and we get used to stopping the engine faster for greater safety. He has a lot to blow tomorrow, so I'll do another 46.6 test on Wednesday and do one circuit at all levels and the second circuit at max. level 5 (I don't drive 9, I think a lot of them). And on Thursday I will try a longer trip of at least 50km. Then I'll come to you and throw in the original 46.7 and test it again as 46.6 ... 👍
 

dvng

Member
May 21, 2021
99
43
Malaysia
But Luna FW14.6 is old more one year... 😳

as others has mentioned, bafang releases fw based on needs of its customer, so I don't think age has anything to do with how the fw behaves. As we have witnessed based on your tests, the fw doesn't really progresses or improved with every releases. it's just random based on needs.
 

Kucko

Active member
Oct 23, 2021
47
26
Slovakia
I agree. I know that not every software needs to be an improvement for everyone. That's why we try with @mgx the most suitable for our ride. And that probably appears FW46.7 ...
 

dvng

Member
May 21, 2021
99
43
Malaysia
I agree. I know that not every software needs to be an improvement for everyone. That's why we try with @mgx the most suitable for our ride. And that probably appears FW46.7 ...
the 46.7 is just too brutal in the ramp up and too much torque for PAS1/2. I have to pull the brakes everytime I press the pedal in between stop and start. Very annoying when riding in technical trails.
 

Kucko

Active member
Oct 23, 2021
47
26
Slovakia
As I write, everyone has different priorities and feelings. Again, digging didn't seem so brutal to me, and sometimes it was a lot of fun. I'm more concerned with total charge life. And paradoxically, 46.7 seemed the most battery-friendly. I'll test a little 46.6 and then 46.7 again. and evaluate which is the most battery friendly. And maybe I'll try the Lunas 14.6 ... 👍
 

rtp

Member
Nov 21, 2021
52
32
USA
I believe it's this one:


Though equally it could be this:


May be wrong, but I think the second one is the 'Ludicrous' crap firmware version - the first link 'should' be the 14.6 most reverted to off of the second...
 

mgx

Active member
Feb 18, 2021
110
112
Slovakia
Today I added comparison with Luna 14.6 firmware:

My observations:
- PAS1 is very nice, exactly what I needed. Current is not over 5A, usually I see 3-4A.
- Instant drivetrain stop when you stop pedaling like bafang 46.7. Like it
- Overall, i feel like less powerfull then 46.7 (maybe like 46.6?), mild and not kicky. It will be good to compare with 46.6.

Values/numbers are below. For future tests i must:

- change wheel size to match 1:1
- track range only on PAS1, or PAS0, as every fw is calculating range differently (and differently on each PAS level).

fw_comparison_v1.3.jpg
 

dvng

Member
May 21, 2021
99
43
Malaysia
Today I added comparison with Luna 14.6 firmware:

My observations:
- PAS1 is very nice, exactly what I needed. Current is not over 5A, usually I see 3-4A.
- Instant drivetrain stop when you stop pedaling like bafang 46.7. Like it
- Overall, i feel like less powerfull then 46.7 (maybe like 46.6?), mild and not kicky. It will be good to compare with 46.6.

Values/numbers are below. For future tests i must:

- change wheel size to match 1:1
- track range only on PAS1, or PAS0, as every fw is calculating range differently (and differently on each PAS level).

View attachment 81747
Looks like the 14.6 is really suited for technical terrains. Only issue is whether the ramp up will reach 10A (which means brutal) and the battery range.
 

Kucko

Active member
Oct 23, 2021
47
26
Slovakia
Today I drove 2 circuits at once with FW46.6. The first circuit at a brisk pace to all levels with awerage of almost 30 km / h. On the plane 2,3, uphill 4,5 and downhill 1,2 level. I think this is the right driving style for this FW and the battery output is great. This way you can move to a charge of about 75km. I tried the second circuit at the highest 5th level. And there was already proper consumption! But again, up to 30%, I still went at full power over 900W and an average of 40km / h. Then the power was reduced to max. 600W and below 20% to 250-300W. Therefore, the final average was above 35km / h. In this style, the battery should last about 50km, which is decent ... 👍

Ride on all levels 1-5:
Start - 189.6km, 94% battery
Climb - 197km, 72% battery - 7.4km, loss 22%, + 210m climbed
Descent - 212.4km, 63% battery - 15.4km, loss 9%, -210m descented
Total 22.8km, loss of 31% battery, 210m climbed, average speed 29.6km / h

Ride only on level 5:
Start - 212.4km, 63% battery
Climb - 219.8km, 30% battery - 7.4km, loss 33%, + 210m climbed
Descent - 235.2km, 8% battery - 15.4km, loss 22%, -210m descented
Total 22.8km, loss of 55% battery, 210m climbed, average speed 35.1km / h
 

mgx

Active member
Feb 18, 2021
110
112
Slovakia
Here is my comparison with 46.6 fw (Mainly against Luna 14.6)

= more agressive ramp up/down , but not as violent as on 46.7
= stop after propelling in 1-2 seconds, which is OK. Depend on PAS level used.
= going uphill is more fun then Luna fw, but calories burned (at least value from computer) is less on Bafang fw.

I added calories burned and avg speed value, to compare for future tests as well.

Only downside i found on 46.6 fw is range calculation, which is varying a lot. looks like strongly depend on battery V/temperature and is not relevant. Recovery rate is much more then other fw. (luna, bafang 46.7+)

Luna fw looks like very eco oriented, good for people who want:
- use own "manpower" for propelling as high as possible
- for distance gaining
- for difficult terrain, where adhesion is more important than just pure power

myself i prefer 46.6 more to fit my style.

I will recompare with longer circuit to zero battery, but this need higher parts out of snow, so i must wait a bit.

fw_comparison_v1.4.jpg
 

Kucko

Active member
Oct 23, 2021
47
26
Slovakia
So you stay at 46.6? I also like it. On Thursday, I tested a longer 63km circuit and 18% of the battery remained. I went mostly to the 1st and 2nd level, because it was a plane with about 300m up. And the average is quite high - 29km / h. I will test a thorough 46.7 and decide which one I will prefer ... 👍
 
Last edited:

thaeber

Well-known member
Jan 26, 2021
887
769
Bruchsal, Germany

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