Bafang displays: DPC-18, 500C and 850C
The display is the only part of the kit you interact with every day. It's also the one retail listings describe most vaguely: the same motor circulates with three different screens, and the model name is often the only clue given.
What a Bafang display does, and what it doesn't
Every display in the BBS lineup does the same job: shows speed, current assistance level, battery state of charge and a few trip figures, and passes the requested level on to the controller. They also open a code-protected settings menu, which lets you adjust the number of assistance levels, the declared wheel diameter and the assistance cut-off speed.
What they don't do: change the motor's rated power. A display doesn't turn one motor into another, and recapping the speed doesn't change the vehicle's category — that topic is covered in 250 W or 750 W, what the regulation says.
The three models you'll encounter
DPC-18
A compact colour screen, very common on entry- and mid-range BBS kits. It mounts at the centre of the handlebar and comes with a three-button remote placed within reach of the left thumb. It's the most discreet of the three formats, and the one that leaves the most room for other handlebar accessories.
500C
A mid-sized colour screen, in a wider format. It aims for readability in bright sunlight, with noticeably larger speed digits. Its footprint on the handlebar is greater than the DPC-18's, which shows on a narrow bar.
850C
The largest of the three, in colour, geared toward reading comfort and richer display. It takes the central position on the handlebar and doesn't suit a bar already loaded with a bell, lights and a phone mount.
Secondary features vary from batch to batch
USB charging port, connectivity, colour scheme: these details change between versions and production runs, and retailer listings often contradict each other. Ask the seller for the exact reference rather than trusting the model name alone. We only cover here what stays constant from one version to another.
How to choose
| DPC-18 | 500C | 850C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Handlebar footprint | Small | Medium | Large |
| Readability in bright sunlight | Fair | Good | Good |
| Remote control | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Handlebar already loaded with accessories | ✓ | — | — |
| Main intended use | Daily riding | Road | Reading comfort |
Three criteria are enough in practice: the space available on your handlebar, the size of the digits you want to read while riding, and the reference actually compatible with your controller's generation.
What the display doesn't replace
A bigger screen doesn't make a motor more capable. If assistance feels weak on a climb, the cause is almost always elsewhere: a controller capped at 15 A, a battery unable to deliver the requested current, or too tall a gear for the grade. The display only relays a level, it doesn't create reserve.
Likewise, the settings menu changes neither torque nor rated power. The only parameters genuinely accessible are the number of assistance levels, the declared wheel diameter and the cut-off speed. Anything beyond that falls under controller reprogramming, with the consequences described in the guide to open-source firmware on Bafang motors.
The screen choice also depends on the motor chosen
On a BBS01B fitted to a city bike, a compact screen is plenty: the useful information fits in three digits, and the handlebar stays clear for the bell and lights. On a BBSHD fitted for cargo or mountain use, a more readable screen is more justified — you check the remaining charge far more often, and often in rain or bright sun.
Before ordering a kit
Check three things in the listing: which display is included, how long the cable running to the handlebar is, and whether the remote control is supplied. These three points explain a good part of the price gaps found in Bafang motor prices.
FAQ
Can I swap the display on an already-installed Bafang kit?
Yes, as long as the connector and the controller generation match. It requires no work on the motor itself: the display plugs into the harness that runs up to the handlebar.
Does the display let me change the motor’s power?
No. It gives access to usage settings — number of assistance levels, wheel diameter, cut-off speed — but rated power is a characteristic of the motor, not a setting.
Which display ships with a BBS kit?
That depends entirely on the retailer: the same motor is sold with different displays depending on the batch. It’s one of the line items that explain the price gap between two listings of the same kit.
