WTB: Bakcou mule

[TRD1911]

Been tossing around the Ebike idea for a while and wanting to give it a try. Shoot me a PM if you have a Bakcou Mule or similar model you'd like to sell. Willing to travel for a good deal if necessary. Thanks

[luvmystang67]

I highly recommend the M2S Ultra series... same motor... a bike is a bike, its the motor that differentiates these.  Unless you prefer to spend thousands more.

[TRD1911]

I highly recommend the M2S Ultra series... same motor... a bike is a bike, its the motor that differentiates these.  Unless you prefer to spend thousands more.

I've heard good things about them but looks like the center drive motors are a better design from what I've read. the m2s have the hub drive. I'll do some more research though. Thanks for the suggestion

[lewy]

@jakeland has a few thousand miles on his bakcou now, wouldn’t be a bad idea to pick his brain a bit

[highside74]

I highly recommend the M2S Ultra series... same motor... a bike is a bike, its the motor that differentiates these.  Unless you prefer to spend thousands more.

I've heard good things about them but looks like the center drive motors are a better design from what I've read. the m2s have the hub drive. I'll do some more research though. Thanks for the suggestion

You need to scroll down to the All Terrain Ultra HT

[Mfowl]

I highly recommend the M2S Ultra series... same motor... a bike is a bike, its the motor that differentiates these.  Unless you prefer to spend thousands more.

I've heard good things about them but looks like the center drive motors are a better design from what I've read. the m2s have the hub drive. I'll do some more research though. Thanks for the suggestion

The M2S Ultra is a mid drive motor. They do make both though.

[JakeLand]

I highly recommend the M2S Ultra series... same motor... a bike is a bike, its the motor that differentiates these.  Unless you prefer to spend thousands more.

ehhh ya the motors are great but everything else has to up to the challenge too . I’ve got a couple thousand miles on my backou mule and it’s never broken or any electrical issues as ALOT of other bikes have . You get what you pay for I guess I have zero regrets spending the $ I did on a the mule

[luvmystang67]

I have an M2S and love it.  I made the decision after a lot of research.  I present the following because I love the product and think you would too.  No, I don't get anything out of this, just trying to spread the word for the good of the people.

Unless your welds on your frame break, bike components are pretty universal.  Also, I may be wrong, but all of these bike frames look ABOUT the same because I'm 99% sure they're all cranked out of the same factory in China.  If you're not worried about welds, Shimano makes all of the gearsets, Bafang motors and the associated controls are all made in China and the same on both bikes.  The chains are both the KMC e-bike chains, the brakes are Tektro.  Find me a critical component that is different between them or show me that the Backou frame is welded in America, and then I'll believe you.  Those battery packs are all made in China also, and when they arrive manufacturers place stickers on them.

Its your money... do what you want with it, but using my own research I came to the conclusion that the $2000 extra for Backou went straight to funding their superior marketing team. YMMV

*Update on some quick research of major differences*

Tires are different brands, but a wash cost wise.  M2S Uses Kenda Juggernaut and the Backou uses Maxxis Minion.

Air forks are $250 Mozo Forks on the M2S and $460 BCEB GT-MRK with the same travel.  If you assume cost=quality, then you get better suspension air forks on the Backou

The gearset on the M2S is the Shimano Deore line, on the Backou it is the Shimano Alivo and biketestreviews.com has this to say: Shimano have many different lines of components, mountain bike and otherwise, and two of these are their ‘Deore’ and ‘Alivio’ lines. Shimano Alivio is a budget friendly, entry level one, two or three by nine gearset that includes quick release hubs and all three of the main types of brakes: v-brakes, mechanical disc brakes and hydraulic disc brakes.

Shimano Deore is a slightly more expensive, trail-oriented line of components that include al1x10, 2×10, 1×11, 2×11 and 1×12 gearsets with many other features that the Alivio line does not have such as wheel sets and dropper levers.

Mule comes stock with a suspension seat post, but not one of the nicer ones (Suntour and Thudbuster make the best ones and they're designed differently).

Backou appears to come with a rear rack, fenders and tire liners which M2S does not...

I don't run your world, but for the $2000+ dollars you save, you can buy your own bike rack, fenders, nice seat post, an extra battery, a nice rack for the back of your hitch, a cover, an extra chain and/or tires, a repair kit, a bike stand, another extra battery and a quick charger, and a bike trailer for hauling your dead elk out with.

[TRD1911]

I have an M2S and love it.  I made the decision after a lot of research.  I present the following because I love the product and think you would too.  No, I don't get anything out of this, just trying to spread the word for the good of the people.

Unless your welds on your frame break, bike components are pretty universal.  Also, I may be wrong, but all of these bike frames look ABOUT the same because I'm 99% sure they're all cranked out of the same factory in China.  If you're not worried about welds, Shimano makes all of the gearsets, Bafang motors and the associated controls are all made in China and the same on both bikes.  The chains are both the KMC e-bike chains, the brakes are Tektro.  Find me a critical component that is different between them or show me that the Backou frame is welded in America, and then I'll believe you.  Those battery packs are all made in China also, and when they arrive manufacturers place stickers on them.

Its your money... do what you want with it, but using my own research I came to the conclusion that the $2000 extra for Backou went straight to funding their superior marketing team. YMMV

*Update on some quick research of major differences*

Tires are different brands, but a wash cost wise.  M2S Uses Kenda Juggernaut and the Backou uses Maxxis Minion.

Air forks are $250 Mozo Forks on the M2S and $460 BCEB GT-MRK with the same travel.  If you assume cost=quality, then you get better suspension air forks on the Backou

The gearset on the M2S is the Shimano Deore line, on the Backou it is the Shimano Alivo and biketestreviews.com has this to say: Shimano have many different lines of components, mountain bike and otherwise, and two of these are their ‘Deore’ and ‘Alivio’ lines. Shimano Alivio is a budget friendly, entry level one, two or three by nine gearset that includes quick release hubs and all three of the main types of brakes: v-brakes, mechanical disc brakes and hydraulic disc brakes.

Shimano Deore is a slightly more expensive, trail-oriented line of components that include al1x10, 2×10, 1×11, 2×11 and 1×12 gearsets with many other features that the Alivio line does not have such as wheel sets and dropper levers.

Mule comes stock with a suspension seat post, but not one of the nicer ones (Suntour and Thudbuster make the best ones and they're designed differently).

Backou appears to come with a rear rack, fenders and tire liners which M2S does not...

I don't run your world, but for the $2000+ dollars you save, you can buy your own bike rack, fenders, nice seat post, an extra battery, a nice rack for the back of your hitch, a cover, an extra chain and/or tires, a repair kit, a bike stand, another extra battery and a quick charger, and a bike trailer for hauling your dead elk out with.

Outstanding information here. Thanks for taking the time to put that together. I copied and shared it to a group tmchat with my two buddies who are also trying to decide. Thank you!

[Wanttohuntmore]

Curious how these mid drive bikes do pulling hills?  Can they climb 1000 feet in elevation or more on a charge?  Flat land miles are much different than pulling hills.   I read and watch a bunch on these and e motorcycles,  and I feel most are sales pitches.   At least here in this forum I feel we have more truths.

[Mfowl]

Curious how these mid drive bikes do pulling hills?  Can they climb 1000 feet in elevation or more on a charge?  Flat land miles are much different than pulling hills.   I read and watch a bunch on these and e motorcycles,  and I feel most are sales pitches.   At least here in this forum I feel we have more truths.

It depends on the incline that you are climbing. Mid drives are better/more efficient for hill climbing but they are not necessarily built for it. You need to be careful/aware not to overheat the motor. Overheating will destroy any electric motor. I ride with friends who use rear hub bikes and my mid drive easily surpasses them on hill climbs. I have not gained 1000' in elevation on a continuous hill climb but I have road gradual climbs that cover considerable distance and had no issues. Battery size, weight and slope grade will all factor in to how well a bike will perform. Virtually all ebikes have some sort of "walk" function that makes pushing the bike simple and easy.

[luvmystang67]

Curious how these mid drive bikes do pulling hills?  Can they climb 1000 feet in elevation or more on a charge?  Flat land miles are much different than pulling hills.   I read and watch a bunch on these and e motorcycles,  and I feel most are sales pitches.   At least here in this forum I feel we have more truths.

First day I received mine I rode up Fernan Saddle from Coeur d'Alene.  It was about 13 miles each way (but one way was mostly fully uphill and one way was mostly fully downhill with a component being very flat in each).  CdA is about 2300 feet and Fernan Saddle is about 4000 feet.  The road is paved.  I rode up on power level 3 (of 5) at a pretty consistent 15 mph.  When I arrived home (ended up being like 27 miles total after messing around) I had 34% battery left.  I did toast my brakes on the way down, apparently its important to "break in" your brake pads and riding them down a hill on the first day is the not the right way to bed them.  I will say that under 25%, you start to notice a power drop off.  This is with the 19.2 aH battery.  I did change out the rear cassette on mine to get lower gearing for slow uphill cruising on forest roads.  The initial rear cassette was 11-34T and I now have an 11-46T.  It would been much easier to install a front sprocket (smaller gives more power and reduces top speed) rather than to install a larger rear sprocket (does the same thing) because my larger rear sprocket required a larger chain.  The front on the M2S ultra is a 44T, and if I did it again I'd swap that out for a 40T.  I don't need to go 30mph anyway.  I have a firm understanding of settings of the derailleur, chains, etc now though!