Prices of Bafang mid-drive motors

A Bafang motor doesn't have a single price, it has a range. The same BBS02B can sell for a difference of several dozen euros depending on the axle version, the display it comes with, and the retailer. This page gives the benchmarks per model, then what to add on top to reach an honest budget — the project's, not the box's.

The ranges per model

The reference price is that of the entry-level version, motor only, without a battery. It is the single value repeated across our reviews and our comparison table, so that no page can quote a different figure. The range, on the other hand, describes what you actually encounter at retailers depending on the version ordered.

What makes the figure vary from one retailer to another

1. The display included

   This is the first factor. A kit shipped with a large colour screen isn't priced the same as one shipped with the compact model — see the guide to Bafang displays.

2. The axle version and the chainring

   Long-axle versions, meant for wide frames and fat bikes, cost more. The chainring itself is sometimes missing from the cheapest listings.

3. Safety and drivetrain accessories

   Motor-cutoff brake levers and the gear-shift sensor are included in some kits and not others. Their absence explains a good part of the price gaps you'll see.

A practical consequence: comparing two listings on price alone means nothing until you've listed what each one actually includes. The same motor, with the same controller, can arrive with or without the three items above, and the gap roughly matches the whole range.

The real budget of a conversion

The motor's price is never the project's price. Four items get added on top, and their order of importance often surprises people:

• The battery. The largest line item in almost every case. Its price depends on capacity in Wh and cell quality, across ranges too wide to summarise usefully — but above all it must be able to deliver the current the motor demands: 15 A for a BBS01B, 25 A for a BBS02B, 30 A for a BBSHD.
• Drivetrain parts. On a high-torque motor, the chain and cassette become consumables. The gear-shift sensor is the single most cost-effective purchase in the whole build.
• Braking. A heavier, faster bike stops later. On a BBSHD, this question needs answering before the first ride.
• Tools. A crank puller and the wrench matching your bottom bracket standard, if you install it yourself. A shop will charge for the labour, which shifts the expense rather than removing it.

Price doesn't track power in a straight line

Between the BBS01B and the BBS02B, roughly a hundred euros separate 80 and 120 Nm — but the BBS02B requires a 48 V battery, which sometimes closes the apparent gap. Between the BBS02B and the BBSHD, two hundred euros separate 120 and 160 Nm, on top of which come a reinforced drivetrain and often upgraded brakes. The premium shown on the label is therefore always the smaller of the two real extra costs.

That's why we recommend starting from your use rather than your budget: moving up a level in the range always costs more than the price difference between the motors themselves. Which Bafang motor to choose for your use goes through that reasoning question by question.

How we track these prices

The reference prices in our reviews are taken from the site's catalog, the single source used by every page, and updated whenever they change durably. We do not display a price history: we haven't followed these motors long enough for a history to be worth publishing. The rest of our method is described in how we evaluate these motors.