Dengfu E10 / Bafang - Buying/Pricing
- Thread starter Rob Rides EMTB
- Start date
captainhightop
Active member
Although it's frustrating at the moment, I think it will improve as more manufacturers in Europe are looking at using the m600 and m500 (Forestal).
Forestal Reveals Its First eMTB Design With Proprietary Motor and Battery - Pinkbike
Forestal's upcoming eMTB has a mode called 'Nitro.'
Forestal aren't using the M500. It appears closer in design to the m800 but I think it's actually specifically/exclusively designed and built for them at the moment.
But agreed, it is a good start and will hopefully lead to more European Bafang Infrastructure for support.
Some images and conversation about it from another thread :
Dengfu E10 - The CHEEB V1.0 - Discussion
Got to say @Rob Rides EMTB , just watched the video on youtube. Fair play mate, awesome job ?
www.emtbforums.com
M600 has legislation problems in EU (talking about selling complete bikes on EU market, not home enthusiasts), but M500 could be OK if they manage to bring something more versus well established competition (Bosch, Yamaha and Shimano) but currently it cost almost the same is heavier it's less powerful and very important it has no service centre.
If it turns out to be extremely reliable then is hope...time will tell
If it turns out to be extremely reliable then is hope...time will tell
captainhightop
Active member
(UK) My M600 has just turned up via DHL, looks much sleeker than the BBSHD although still quite heavy. I just need the battery and frame now. Not keen on the length of the cranks though, as I usually use a 160mm, but I was aware of this when it was ordered. I received SMS a couple of days ago with the tracking number if anyone is interested in the process.
edit: ordered 27th Feb
edit: ordered 27th Feb
captainhightop
Active member
I've only got tracking for the UK part, but this was the timeline if it helps
- 12th April - email from Melody requesting postcode
- 16th April (according to tracking) shipment picked up Birmingham UK
- 22nd April East Midlands sorting
- 23rd April Leeds delivery facility and finally round the back of my house in Derbyshire a little while ago today
No tracking from China, but from the postcode request, it looks like about 11 days in today - hope this helps!
FYI my battery didn't come today, and I have no other SMS about tracking yet. The SMS for this one was on the 22nd and said it was from JCEX. Japanese/Chinese EXport? Who knows!
captainhightop
Active member
Probably, that sort of thing is always a pain, I was going to build my own but they couldn't supply the empty enclosures at the time, if the battery takes longer than the frame I still will I think. I've still got enough cells in a 52v battery I built for another BBSHD project that I aborted when this frame/motor combo came up. Although given how hard it is to get cells from my usual supplier at the moment, I could probably sell them for a massive profit and buy a Levo ;-)
Ship from location is Hong Kong, and my M600 comes with a throttle so I'm guessing it's not speed limited
If you find any smaller pedal arms let me know please
Lucky Luke
Member
LUNA X1 Enduro Short Crank Arms
Providers of quality ebikes, electric bike batteries, motors and components at affordable pricing.
lunacycle.com
Curiousman
New Member
Bafang does have a European center in Wijchen, Holland. They also have a logistics and services depot in Wroclaw, Poland. They are therefore quite capable of providing after-sales service if they really want to.
Unfortunately, their after-sales service policy does not correspond at all to the standards and requirements of European customers.
In reality, their way of dealing with sensitive issues or questions is quite simple: at first they turn a deaf ear and simply do not respond to requests.
Personally, I have tried to contact them 7 times:
- using their official email address for after-sales service: after receiving an automatic acknowledgment of receipt of my email promising me a quick reaction, I never received a response again;
- using their official email address for the sales department: after receiving an automatic acknowledgment of receipt of my email promising me a quick reaction, I never had a response again;
- I then contacted the management of the European center in Wijchen, Holland: no response. I then sent 2 reminders: no response;
- I also tried to contact 2 times a technical manager at their European headquarters in Wijchen, Holland: no response.
Because frankly, it's a no-brainer, for someone who has had the opportunity to try the Bosch CX Gen4 motor in 85Nm version, or the Shimano EP8 motor in 85Nm, or even the Yamaha PW-X2 in 80 Nm or the Brose in 95 Nm, there is really no picture, the Bafang M500 is significantly less powerful than all these motors ...
The Bafang M500 is weak, it is obvious!
If Bafang wants to expand in Europe and find major bicycle manufacturers who would agree to mount their Bafang M500 motor on their frame, Bafang would do well to take a cue from how Bosch entered the EMTB market, a good ten years ago. From the start, Bosch has had a very flexible after-sales service and warranty policy. Whenever there was the slightest problem or discussion a customer had with the Bosch motor, they would do a standard exchange, free of charge, in up to 10 days. And this, even after the expiration of the two-year legal warranty! I have benefited from it twice. Even today, Bosch continues to apply the warranty with great flexibility.
Bafang proved its worth with the BBS motor which was widely distributed around the world. But there was a big difference. It was a motor with a fully open system. Users could access the software, do developments, and spare parts were very easily accessible.
By completely changing the policy with the M500 and M600 motors, Bafang created a completely closed system, in which it is no longer possible to access the software, even by purchasing the BESST module since Bafang does not accept to give the full codes access to the end user. You have to go through a reseller. This can only work when the Brand has a very large network of resellers, close to customers and accessible, having the hardware to access the software and make updates (BESST) and obviously well trained to use it! Which is not the case today for Bafang. Good luck finding a reseller in some countries like France or Belgium. In Belgium I found 3 dealers, and none of them want to sell bikes with an M500 motor because they themselves admit that the after-sales service is not satisfactory! They advise choosing an EMTB equipped with another motor! And they obviously refuse to intervene in relation to an M500 motor that they did not sell. Let's not talk about spare parts for these M500 motors, another forum member explained here the difficulties he is having in finding a spare parts controller ...
All of this is a shame. The Bafang M500 motor is very quiet, very pleasant, very natural, but it really lacks power.
Too bad Bafang is not more attentive to its end users, like us, who are ready to help them develop their motor, their notoriety, and their brand image.
In reality, the reverse is true ...
Last edited:
captainhightop
Active member
Other than the Luna x1 ones linked in another post below, or making your own I couldn't find any. I've ordered the Luna x1 ones in the end, it's just a pity that someone like Lekkie aren't making any like the ones for bbs02/bbshd, as I've got some of those and they are really nice.
I suppose someone could design their own but my cad skills aren't much beyond drawing a box and putting holes in it!
Anyone managed to order with postage only? ie no 'tax prepaid'......what exactly is this tax for?
The amount of postage and tax you're all paying it'll be cheaper flying over there and cycling the thing back!
OK a bit time consuming but again you'll probably end up with the product in your garage quicker too
The amount of postage and tax you're all paying it'll be cheaper flying over there and cycling the thing back!
OK a bit time consuming but again you'll probably end up with the product in your garage quicker too
BootsDave
Active member
The tax is the duty and vat due in your country. It could get stuck in customs without.
Any real world stories?
So I'm paying vat to a chinaman who then passes it on to a French customs official? Sounds about right
Whereabouts in the Aveyron are you? I used to live down there, some good hills!!
We should all club together, pay for a container of gear to Rotterdam then a few of us turn up to collect and distribute it....
Used to work ok for getting cars from Japan
BootsDave
Active member
I’m in the south west of the Aveyron, nearest town is Villefranche de Rouergue. Bike near the Viaur a lot. Usual rides are 30-40km with 1000m of climbing.
Anyone managed to order with postage only? ie no 'tax prepaid'......what exactly is this tax for?
The amount of postage and tax you're all paying it'll be cheaper flying over there and cycling the thing back!
OK a bit time consuming but again you'll probably end up with the product in your garage quicker too
Do you know that in france in add of TVA, you have 48% anti dumping tax ? (applicable to all EU country). the shipping companies, who are able to collect the custom tax, appling "administrative fees" in more to collect the custom taxes (variable following cpy) and request you pay before delivery parcel. May be you are lucky guy and you could try to you pass throug ? if you like playing try it and post return.
About the container proposal:
Velobecane: la douane du port d’Anvers immobilise un atelier roncquois (lavoixdunord.fr)
welcome in real world
yeah interesting I was just reading about this 'anti dumping tax'!
I was having a quick look on secret flying website and I found 'European cities to Shanghai, China from only €186 roundtrip'
But I also found 'Madrid, Spain to Miami, USA for only €179 roundtrip'
Anyone fancy a trip to China with a few large suitcases???
I love Europe and living in France but I'm afraid all this 'protectionism' is having the effect of biting itself in the arse.....
France itself is more bankrupt than ever...well done to the con Macaroni
Never mind debts in Greece or Italy, it’s France that’s heading for a crisis
A loss of confidence would be perilous as Macron resorts to borrowing cash to prop up the welfare state
www.telegraph.co.uk
edit: I'd love to know if any 'individuals' have been stung with 'anti dumping tax'.....it strikes me that the exporters all want you to pay a DDP price! I want a FOB price and I'll take a risk with the customs.....just get them to stick a value of 50USD on the back..which isn't unreasonable for 'plastic frame' or 'lump of metal motor'
Last edited:
yeah interesting I was just reading about this 'anti dumping tax'!
I was having a quick look on secret flying website and I found 'European cities to Shanghai, China from only €186 roundtrip'
But I also found 'Madrid, Spain to Miami, USA for only €179 roundtrip'
Anyone fancy a trip to China with a few large suitcases???
I love Europe and living in France but I'm afraid all this 'protectionism' is having the effect of biting itself in the arse.....
France itself is more bankrupt than ever...well done to the con Macaroni
Allez les bleus!!Never mind debts in Greece or Italy, it’s France that’s heading for a crisis
A loss of confidence would be perilous as Macron resorts to borrowing cash to prop up the welfare state
edit: I'd love to know if any 'individuals' have been stung with 'anti dumping tax'.....it strikes me that the exporters all want you to pay a DDP price! I want a FOB price and I'll take a risk with the customs.....just get them to stick a value of 50USD on the back..which isn't unreasonable for 'plastic frame' or 'lump of metal motor'
If the china dealer want to sale via DDP, it is to avod litige. When the customer refuse the delivery, because the shipping company claims bill more elevate than price of purchase to delivery the parcel.
when I said FOB I meant I'll pay the shipping too, just trying to avoid all this 'bollocks tax'......how much is typical shipping cost for a 5kg parcel from China?
I remember once I ordered a small computer from South Korea and weeks after it was delivered TNT smacked me with a tax invoice......I think now I would just ignore it and see what happens
The resilience of the motors and the shite warranty Bafang are offering they are not worth more than 100USD as far as import duties are concerned
Pyr0
E*POWAH Master
A friend of mine received his m500 motor last Tuesday 20th April. I think he paid around the 19th Feb. No battery or frame yet though.
He had/has no tracking info
He had/has no tracking info
Hi all,
A quick update on my experience with Dengfu / Bafang. My motor, battery, charger and a few other bits arrived yesterday. I have to say, somewhat unsurprisingly, everything looks of good quality. However, it seems as if the motor has taken an impact somewhere along the line (potentially in transit) and one of the mounting through-holes is bent out of shape. As a result the bolt fouls about 3/4 of the way into the hole. So long as nothing else has been damaged as a result of the impact, it shouldn't be the end of the world. I've written to Melody to make her aware of the situation and she has responded asking if the box has been damaged and to send photos. I'm half expecting that Dengfu will try to claim no responsibility and shift the blame onto the shipping company. Let's see.
ps. I ordered (and paid via PayPal) at the end of March and shipment was to Germany.
A quick update on my experience with Dengfu / Bafang. My motor, battery, charger and a few other bits arrived yesterday. I have to say, somewhat unsurprisingly, everything looks of good quality. However, it seems as if the motor has taken an impact somewhere along the line (potentially in transit) and one of the mounting through-holes is bent out of shape. As a result the bolt fouls about 3/4 of the way into the hole. So long as nothing else has been damaged as a result of the impact, it shouldn't be the end of the world. I've written to Melody to make her aware of the situation and she has responded asking if the box has been damaged and to send photos. I'm half expecting that Dengfu will try to claim no responsibility and shift the blame onto the shipping company. Let's see.
ps. I ordered (and paid via PayPal) at the end of March and shipment was to Germany.
Afifz
Member
Hi, I got my motor and charger yesterday in Italy. I paid mine via PayPal on the 8th of March. However, I have yet to receive my battery. Did yours come all in one box?
Yup all arrived in one yesterday.
Afifz
Member
Ah, my battery is probably going to come separately then.
Similar threads
EMTB Forums
Latest articles
-
A new standard for charging ebikes is coming? A quick interview with Bosch - charge2bike
I had a quick chat with dr Vikram Godbole about "charge2bike", a new... -
Introducing the Forestal e-Cygnus - a downcountry and XC emtb
The new Forestal e-Cygnus is a slightly unusual emtb. It comes in two...