MATE X Folding Electric Bike

File:Mate x folding ebike folded.png

The MATE X is a folding electric bicycle. It was made possible in June 2017 by Christian Adel Michael and Julie Kronstrøm from Copenhagen, Denmark. This was the second Indiegogo campaign they successfully funded. The first campaign was the original MATE folding ebike.

• Campaign started: 1st May 2018
• Campaign published: 16th July 2018
• Campaign concluded: 23rd July 2018 15th August 2018 14th September 2018 22nd September 2018 28nd September 2018
• First big shipment: May/June 2019, majority July/August 2019, last shipment end of September 2019

• Indiegogo campaign page
• MATE Bike website
• Facebook page
• Unofficial Discord discussion

Models

There are three different models of the MATE X, the 250, 250+ and 750.

MATE X 250

• 250W high performance hub motor
• 48V 11Ah Lithium-ion battery
• 55km range
• 32km/h max. speed
• 8-speed gear
• 20-inch fat tires
• Computer dashboard
• Front and rear suspension
• 2 year warranty
• Retail price $2199
• Indiegogo price $799
• Shipping $200

MATE X 250+

• 250W high performance hub motor
• 48V 14Ah Lithium-ion battery
• 80km range
• 32km/h max. speed
• 8-speed gear
• 20-inch fat tires
• Computer dashboard
• Front and rear suspension
• 2 year warranty
• Retail price $2399
• Indiegogo price $899
• Shipping $200

MATE X 750S

• 750W high performance hub motor
• 48V 14Ah Lithium-ion battery
• 80km range
• 48km/h max. speed
• 8-speed gear
• 20-inch fat tires
• Computer dashboard
• Thumb throttle
• Front and rear suspension
• 2 year warranty
• Retail price $2699
• Indiegogo price $999
• Shipping $200

Specs

Hardware

• Type: Folding electric bicycle
• Frame: 6061 aluminum alloy
• Motor:
  • China bikes: Bafang RM G060.750.DC 48V-52V 250W/750W brushless geared rear-drive hub motor with hall-sensors, gear reduction ratio of 1:5, nominal 50-60 Nm torque (from Mate), maximum torque of 80 Nm, 20 magnet poles (2P), IP65, efficiency >80%, 4.6kg
  • Taiwan bikes: CZJB JB-104C2 750W 24V-60V, brushless geared rear-drive hub motor, efficiency >82%, 3.3kg
• Controller:
  • China bikes: Custom Bafang 48V sine-wave controller with UART-port with HIGO-connectors - 12A continuous 25A max. current (or 35A)?
  • Taiwan bikes: AICO controller
• Computer display:
  • China bikes:
    • Key-Display KD51C monochrome display
    • Bafang DPC-14 / 850C TFT color display (upgrade option), developed by Aptdevelop - Open Source Ebike firmware
  • Taiwan bikes:
    • Most suitable one (Mate statement)
• Suspension front: Adjustable MOZO FATMAN-26-20 front fork, lightweight forged alloy, responsive adjustable spring tension, 60mm travel, mechanical lock-out, 1.5 kg
• Suspension rear: Adjustable HLT HLT-620 rear spring shock suppressor, 125L x 750 LBS - Pre-adjusted with 24 +/- 2 mm travel
• USB-port: Yes, 5V 500mA USB-A output
• Shifter: Shimano 8-speed SIS index shifting / Shimano RevoShift 8-speed twist shifter
• Rear derailleur: Shimano RD-M310 Altus SGS rear derailleur black
• Cogsets: 8-speed 13-32T freewheel (not cassette type)
• Crankset: 170 mm alloy crank arms, 53T chain ring
• Bottom bracket: BB988 68 mm x 164 mm, threaded
• Tire type: 20-inch 4.0-inch wide fat tires, studded all-terrain or street road profile
• Rims: 80mm wide rims, 36-hole F, with reflectors
• Spokes: 36 spokes front/rear, 12-gauge rear, 13-gauge front, black
• Front hub: 135 mm, 20-inch 36-hole
• Rear hub: 185 mm, 20-inch 36-hole
• Pedals: Foldable with reflectors
• Brakes: Tektro EL350-RS mechanical or Tektro HD-E350 hydraulic 160 mm disc brakes, aluminium Tektro rotors, with motor cut-off sensor,
• Fenders: Custom made all covering (upgrade option)
• Colors: Black, White, Red, Green, Off-white, Pink-green, Grey, Camouflage
• Connectors: HIGO Mini-b connector
• Battery charger:
  • 48V 2A regular charger
  • Coming Data CP05460400 54.6V 4A super charger (upgrade option)
• Battery capacity:
  • 48V 11Ah
  • 48V 14.5Ah
  • 48V 17.5Ah (upgrade option)
• Battery enclosure: Boazhi aluminum casing, with fuse, charging plug and lock
• Battery brand: Samsung/Sanyo/Panasonic/LG cells
• Battery configuration:
  • 70 cells - 48.1V 11Ah 14s5p (3.7V 2200mAh cells)
  • 14.5Ah battery: 48.1V 14Ah 14s5p (3.7V 2800mAh cells)
  • 17.5Ah battery (upgrade): 48.1V 17.5Ah 14s5p (3.7V 3500mAh cells)
• Rack tube diameter: 16 mm

Features

• Max speed: 250W 25 km/h / 15mph - 750W 32 km/h / 20 mph
• Battery range: 80km with 14.5Ah, 120km with 17.5Ah, w/pedal-assist, dependent upon usage, weather, conditions, terrain and rider’s total weight
• Battery only range: 20-30km throttle only
• Advanced controller configuration: Ludacris Mode 10 and 29mph / 46kmh max. speed - see below
• Folding points: 4 steps (main body, steering stem, seatpost, pedals)
• Keep folded lock: No
• Kick-stand: Yes
• Carrying handle: Yes
• Pedal assist: Yes
• Walk assist: Yes, smart display upgrade
• Thumb throttle: 250 No, 750S Yes
• Battery removal: Yes
• Battery lock: Yes
• Extras: fenders, front light, rear rack with red light, thumb throttle

Dimensions

• Bike dimensions: 180 cm / 71 in L x 65 cm / 25.6 in W x 124 cm / 48.8 in H
• Bike dimensions when folded: 103 cm / 40.5 in L x 59 cm / 23.2 in W x 78 cm / 30.7 in H
• Old Folded size: approx. L95xH73xD40cm
• Battery dimensions: L410xW100xD40mm
• Weight w/o battery: 26kg / 57.3 lbs
• Weight w/ battery: 29kg / 63.9 lbs
• Battery weight: 3.0kg
• Rider size range: 150-215 cm
• Rider max weight: 150 kg / 330lbs
• Rider minimum age: 16 years old
• Retail price: 2199USD / 2399USD / 2699USD
• Campaign price July 2018 to November 2018: 799USD / 899USD / 999USD

Initial setup

1. Insert the seat stem and adjust the lock bracket
2. Mount the handle bars and lock it in place
3. Install the front wheel and insert the lever
4. Screw in place the pedals
5. Put the reflectors on the wheels
6. Install the fenders and rear rack
7. Adjust to get a flat saddle
8. Adjust the handle bar height and level with the lever
9. Inflate the tires to 40-60 psi, 3 to 5 bar
10. Charge the battery by plugging the charger plug
11. Configure the bike computer, double tap power

Perks / accessories

• Tektro Hydraulic Disc Brakes ($129)
• Flashy color display ($99)
• Custom MATE metal fenders ($49)
• Thumb throttle ($49)
• "BOOSTED" battery 17,5Ah ($99)
• Limited Edition UNICORN Finish ($49)
• Rear-rack with brake-lights ($99)
• EXTRA high-speed charger ($79)
• EXTRA "BOOSTED"+17,5Ah Battery ($429)
• Spare set of tires incl. tubes ($49)
• "JOKER" Light Set (front+rear) ($49)
• JET GREY Color ($29)
• IMPERIAL WOODLAND Color pattern ($99)

Controller configuration

Optimal controller settings:

• Power indicator: Voltage, easier to determine battery state, percentage only in 20%/five steps
• System voltage: 48V - ranges from 54.6V down to 41.6V, but always charge at around, or before, 44V
• Current rate:
  • Default: 15A (48x15=720Watt)
  • Boost performance: 20A (48x20=960Watt)
  • Max. value: 25A (48x25=1200Watt) - short bursts only, could overheat motor coil
• Wheel size: 24-inch - even though the real wheel size is 20-inch, gives a more accurate speed indication on the display
• Assist levels: 4 - gives 1 to 9 levels
• Optimal assistant level: 5 or 6
• Speed limit:
  • 250S: 25 km/h default/EU
  • 750S: 32 km/h default
  • Max. value: 99 km/h (real max. speed ~46 km/h)

Advanced controller configuration:

• Enter pin code:
  • China bikes: 1801
  • Taiwan bikes: 1919
• Unlocks Ludacris mode for 29mph / 46kmh max. speed:
  • Assistant level 10
  • Max. speed value 99 km/h

Charging procedure

1. Park bike securely
2. Turn off bike by holding power button on left handle
3. Either take out the battery, or leave it in the bike
4. Plug in charger into wall socket/mains
5. Insert the other charger lead into the battery
6. Wait for the charge to complete, max. 4h for 4A charger, max. 8h for 2A charger
7. Unplug lead from bike then from wall socket
8. Power on bike by holding the power button
9. Verify battery state of charge by looking at the battery indicator on the display

Upgrades

Must do upgrades:

• Rear shock: DNM AOY-36RC Air Rear Shock 165x35mm [1] - for better off-road performance
• Chain ring: LitePro 58T BCD 130mm black aluminium front chain ring with guard flange [2] - for lower cadence/peddle comfortably on high speed on assistant level 5 and over
• Cogsets: DNP Epoch 11-34T or 11-32T 8-Speed freewheel - wider gear-ratio for high speed peddle on assistant level 5 and over, while still retaining good low speed cadence
• Lock: Kryptonite Evolution Series 4 1090 10mm 2.77kg - solid, flexible, and insurance certified lock
  • ABUS CityChain 1060/85 10mm 2.10kg
  • ABUS CityChain 1010/85 9mm 1.85kg
  • Kryptonite Keeper 785 7mm 1.59kg
• Inner tube: 20x4-inch fat tire tube with Schrader/car valve

Great upgrades:

• Sticker: Bafang 48V 250W sticker - for 750W models [3] - for quick checks
• Seat: MSDADA Comfortable Bike Seat-Padded cushion memory foam seat - more comfortable than the original
• Helmet:
  • Bell Local helmet
  • Bell Segment helmet
  • Abus Scraper 3.0 / ACE helmet
  • Bluegrass Super Bold helmet
• Pedals: Mzyrh Mountain Bike CNC Machined 9/16" pedals

Third-party upgrade ideas

• LED light strips underneath
• Strong head-beams
• GPS tracker
• Folding magnet lock
• Storage bag/box
• Custom front and rear lights - light comparison
  • Connector used: HIGO Mini-b connector

Similar bikes

• Llobe 20" Falt City E-Bike City II
• Lankeleisi G550

References

• Ebikes.ca MATE X simulation