E-bike tuning
- for e-bikes/pedelecs with YAMAHA motor
YAMAHA - PIONEERING SPIRIT
YAMAHA - 50 years ago, the Japanese company's developers realised that cyclists could use support when riding uphill and into headwinds. The first experiments were a bicycle with a 25 cc petrol engine in 1973 and a mountain bike with a 35 cc engine in 1982. But YAMAHA was not satisfied with this, because they wanted to build a vehicle that people who did not ride motorbikes could also handle. In 1989, the "Power Assist System" (PAS) was finally introduced: a prototype for bikes with electric assistance. It was to take another five years before the YAMAHA PAS was ready for the market in April 1994 as the "world's first product" of this kind.
Since that day, YAMAHA has constantly developed its motors further and in 2013, the PW series began its triumphal march. In Japan alone, YAMAHA sold two million e-bikes and their drives are used in over four million e-bikes worldwide. YAMAHA motors are used ex-works in the following brands, among others: Haibike, Gitane, Bixs, Atala or Lapierre.
YAMAHA AND GIANT
The well-known e-bike manufacturer GIANT has equipped the YAMAHA PW-X drive with specially developed software and optimised it for use with e-mountain bikes. These drives go under the name "Giant SyncDrive" or also Giant 2015/2016, but they are essentially modified YAMAHA motors.
WHICH YAMAHA MOTORS ARE THERE AND WHICH ONE DO I HAVE?
The name of the manufacturer is usually on the housing of the drive. In the case of YAMAHA and GIANT, at least, the name cannot be overlooked. You should also be able to find the exact name of the motor in the data sheet that comes with the bike. The next generation of mid-range motors was launched by YAMAHA in 2014 with the PW series and has been continuously developed since then. Here is a compact overview of the motors from YAMAHA:
PW series: 250 W / 70 Nm / up to 25 km/h
PW-X series250 W / 80 Nm / up to 25 km/h
PW-X2 Series250 or 500 W / 80 Nm / up to 25 or 45 km/h
PW-TE Series250 W / 60 Nm / up to 25 km/h
PW-SE Series250 W / 70 Nm / up to 25 km/h
PW-ST Series250 W / 70 Nm / up to 25 km/h
PW-CE series250 W / 50 Nm / up to 25 km/h
SyncDrive Core or GIANT 2015/2016250 W / 50 Nm / up to 25 km/h
SyncDrive Life250 W / 60 Nm / up to 25 km/h
SyncDrive Sport250 W / 80 Nm / up to 25 km/h
SyncDrive Pro250 W / 80 Nm / up to 25 km/h
The following list shows you the manufacturers whose modules we at SIP Scootershop offer for YAMAHA and GIANT motors:
SPEEDBOX
The manufacturer from the Czech Republic has gained experience in the production of tuning chips since 2014. Its modules are installed directly on the motor and are suitable for many YAMAHA and GIANT motors. SpeedBox 1 runs with the older SyncDrive drives, while SpeedBox 2 runs with all PW motors and SnycDrive models from 2015 and 2016.
POLINI
The Italians are the only manufacturers of e-bike and pedelec motors who also offer tuning modules. POLINI modules are installed directly on the motor and are not visible from the outside. POLINI modules can be used with the PW series and PW-X models from 2017.
VOLSPEED
TLI Elektronik GmbH from Ehekirchen in Bavaria offers state-of-the-art tuning modules for YAMAHA engines under the "VOLspeed" label. A special feature is the "dynamic mode", which mitigates the so-called "wall effect". VOLspeed modules are available for the PW series as well as for SyncDrive drives.
ASA SPEED
The tuning specialists from near Freiburg have concentrated on Bosch and Yamaha drives for e-bikes and pedelecs. The modules are installed directly on the motor and impress with their self-calibration for all tyre sizes and the permanent display of the actual speed ridden. The ASA Y25.01 cannot be used with SyncDrive and PW-X/PW-SE drives.
BADASS
E-bike and pedelec tuning from Lower Franconia. The so-called Badass Box is not installed on the motor, but simply attached from the outside and works smoothly with the YAMAHA PW series as well as the SyncDrive models from GIANT.
PEARTUNE
The Czech manufacturer builds tuning modules for the engines of many well-known manufacturers. They are characterised by clever functions such as a chip lock or the "Still On" mode. These functions are also offered with the modules for YAMAHA engines.
WHICH TUNING VARIANTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR YAMAHA DRIVES?
At SIP Scootershop we offer the following tuning modules for YAMAHA and GIANT motors:
BOXES
These small boxes are plugged onto the sensor of the bike or pedelec and now this tool halves the transmitted speed, doubling the motor support. It is a wireless device that can be removed again in no time. The manufacturer Badass is the market leader here.
TUNING MODULES
These modules contain a chip and cables with connectors. They are installed invisibly under the engine cover and clamped between the sensor and the control unit. Many modules can even be switched on or off via the display while driving. The latest modules, such as the Speedbox B, also have integrated app control via Bluetooth. The control and also the reading of the motor data can be done with the smartphone. However, tools are required for installation and removal. In the following, we will go into more detail about these modules.
The motors are controlled by a speed pulse that tells them how fast a pedelec or e-bike is travelling. If the pulse reaches 25 km/h, the motor switches off. However, if only every second signal of the impulse comes through, 50 km/h can be reached, because the motor is "fooled" into thinking it is travelling at a different speed. With cheap modules, the speedometer then simply displays half the speed.
More sophisticated chips are more advanced: they halve the impulse only from 23 km/h or, in some drives, they are directly connected to the data transmission between sensor and motor, so that the speedometer always shows the correct values. The most modern tuning modules, for example from VOLspeed or Speedbox, even display the total kilometres driven and average speeds correctly.
However, the software version of the bike and pedelec must also be kept in mind. A carelessly installed update from the manufacturer can abruptly end the tuning pleasure. Be careful, because the motor manufacturers and tuning experts are constantly playing a cat-and-mouse game.
Want to know more about e-bike tuning?
Here you will find all the information you need on the subject: Finding the right tuning module
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
It should be noted that the operation of this type of modified electric bicycle on public roads may be against the law in some countries. The dealer accepts no responsibility for any damage caused by the use of tuning products. Electric bicycles equipped with tuning products must not be used on public roads, cycle paths and squares. Electric bicycles equipped with tuning products may only be used on private property and at your own risk.