Hint: The following review is from biketo.com, the most professional cycling website in China.

 

The Bafang M510 mid-drive motor system has been on the market for some time, and we have noticed more and more bike brands using the M510 in their new models.

FREYBIKE, with the goal of creating a leading international sports e-bike brand, has been focusing on the design, research and development, manufacturing, sales, and service of e-bikes for a decade.

They have recently launched a new model called FREY EVOLVE (NEO PRO version).

▲M510 Mid-drive motor system

FREY EVOLVE NEO PRO is not only equipped with the Bafang M510 mid-drive motor system but also uses the new Bafang DP C245 Bluetooth display.

Connecting with the BAFANG GO+ app has opened up a new realm of human-machine interaction, providing us with a new understanding and experience of the Bafang e-bike drive system.

 

Specs of FREY EVOLVE NEO PRO:

Frame: 6061 Aluminum alloy, 12*148 axle

Motor: Bafang M510 mid-drive torque sensor motor, 250w, 95N.m

Battery: Integrated battery, 48v 14Ah(672Wh)

Front fork: ROCKSHOX YARI 27.5*160mm, BOOST 15*110mm

Rear shock: ROCKSHOX MONARCH 200*57mm

Drivetrain: SRAM NX 11S (11-42T)

Chain: KMC e11

Brake: Magura MT5e 4-piston, 203mm brake rotor

Wheelset: Bearing Hub 27.5" double aluminum alloy rims

Tires: MAXXIS 27.5*2.8"

Charger: 48V 3A Charger

The whole bike has three different color matching coating, namely sunrise pink, wafer white, and mako blue, a large area of pure color, and the lower half of the color processing, the overall design is simple and durable, with youth full of vitality.

 

NEW M510 system

EVOLVE NEO PRO incorporates the newly upgraded Bafang M510 mid-drive motor system, which has a rated power of 250W and a maximum torque of 95N.m. Compared with the previous M500, the most obvious upgrade of the Bafang M510 motor is the reduction in weight.

The M510 has an innovation in the rotor and stator structure and uses a magnesium alloy shell. Compared with the 3.4kg M500, the M510's weight is reduced by 18% to only 2.9kg.

▲M510 only weight 2.9kg

In addition, in terms of power tuning, the M510 has the same 95N.m strong torque as the M500, but the overall torque curve is higher and the maximum power output is increased by 20%. The M510 is able to provide strong support for high speeds of 120rpm while maintaining output in the peak power range for more than 15 minutes. M510 provides a strong and consistently high power output for mountain riding.

The display's button is designed in the left hand, which is fit to ergonomic design and simple operation logic and it's easy to use. The upper and lower gears and power switches combine to provide different functions.

▲BAFANG "POWER YOUR LIFE"

FREY EVOLVE NEO PRO is equipped with Bafang's latest DP C245 Bluetooth display which is easy to operate, powerful, and diverse.

The display can show information such as gears, light, real-time speed, maximum speed, average speed, single-trip distance TRIP, total distance ODO, the highest mileage, distance RANGE, energy consumption CALORIE, etc. Even it can automatically turn on or turn off the display's backlight and headlight according to the change of external light and set 4 levels of the backlight according to the user's habit.

C245 is supported by Bluetooth 5.0 and can be charged by Type C. When it is connected to BAFANG GO+ APP, more data interconnection functions can be realized. (BY THE WAY, we're planning to make a video demo of M510 with Bafang Go APP, please look forward to!)

The frame is designed for an integrated battery, and the 672Wh (48V14Ah) lithium battery embedded in the down tube gives you a long endurance of 80-100km, which perform well on medium and long-distance travel.

 

BAFANG GO+ APP

With the connection of Bluetooth and the BAFANG GO+ APP, the condition of the e-bike can be monitored accurately. The APP can adjust the gears by itself to obtain riding data, so as to provide more personalized riding experience.

We can record information like riding data, motor, display, and battery information, and adjust the motor characteristics according to our own riding habits to obtain a better riding experience.

 

Powerful off-road configuration

As the first full-suspension e-MTB from FREY available in China, the EVOLVE neo pro is designed for cross-country, off-road trails, and mountain bike park rides. The bike's powerful performance can be clearly seen from the top-of-the-line configuration list.

The most critical part of mountain biking - the suspension system - is equipped with RockShox products on both the front fork and the rear shock. The Yari front fork has a 160mm travel and a 35mm diameter, while the RockShox Monarch is used for the rear shock.

The Magura MT5e 4-piston disc brake is used in brakes, with German Royal mineral oil to ensure strong braking power and stability. The 203mm rotor size further enhances the braking performance.

The drive system is paired with an SRAM NX 11S (11-42T) system, with an ISCG05 standard chain stabilizer added to the front to further increase transmission stability.

High-intensity mountain biking not only requires high demands on the electric mountain bike frame but also on the components. Many e-bike-specific components are used in EVOLVE NEO PRO, such as the KMC e11 chain and electric bike-specific MT5e 4-piston disc brakes, which provide a better riding experience.

 

Riding experience

In terms of riding experience, the Bafang M510 motor tends to be stable on the tuning of power. It will be the first choice for bike assembly, with more and more new bike brands on the market.

What's impressive is that M510 has a more gradual power output during start-up, and the real-time power on the display also shows that the motor power assistance always remains in low-power operation. The pedaling force required during start-up is almost similar to that of a regular mountain bike. There won't be a sudden surge in assistance power from 0W to 500W like some other brand motors, and the assistance is more smooth and more controllable during the start-up phase.

High-precision torque sensor accurately detects and output power based on real-time cadence and pedaling force. In complex terrain with rocky slopes and varied riding rhythms, the climbing assistance effect is very natural. The motor also provides efficient assistance consistently for low or high cadence, making it easy to tackle steep slopes.

The tuning of the motor is more gentle and natural, allowing mountain bikers to find a riding experience that is more like traditional mountain biking. When maintaining a steady cadence, the output of the motor remains smooth. During climbing, the gradual and smooth output will make the entire bike more controllable.

Due to the reasonable combination of high-end components on the e-bike, especially the excellent suspension performance of the front fork and rear shock, the M510 motor system can unleash powerful output with better traction.

Even when climbing steep slopes, the ground-hugging performance of the suspension system absorbs the bumps caused by roots on the road, and the sustained high-power output of the motor can also grip the ground well, maximizing the performance of the motor.

On the downhill, the 35mm-diameter Yari front fork provides stronger support, and the e-bike-specific version of the Magura MT5e 4-piston disc brake provides precise and powerful braking force. It can handle all terrains in the mountains with ease, being responsive and quick, and the sensitive riding dynamics adjustment gives cyclists enough confidence.

In the tests, Frey EVOLVE neo pro took 3h25min to complete a total of 73 kilometers, with climbing of 948 meters, achieving an average speed of 21.4km/h. It is important to note that this is a heavy full-suspension mountain bike with 2.8-inch tires front and back, weighing 26kg, and it went through continuous peak power and hill climbing tests. The 14Ah 672Wh large-capacity battery truly delivered excellent range performance.

What you need to know is that continuous climbing can quickly consume battery power, and during the test, EVOLVE NEO PRO continuously climbed two hills, including the classic climbing section of Maofeng Mountain. The motor always maintains a stable output during a continuous climb of 5 kilometers, with an average slope of 7% and an accumulated climb of 500 meters. When using the BOOST maximum gear, it can also maintain a stable output of 500w-600w high power. In fact, most sections only require the motor to maintain 200w-250w to easily climb to the top of the hill.

Even at the peak power speed of 45km/h, the motor can still maintain a consistent and sustained output without dropping speed or power.

Recently, Guangzhou has entered the damp season of "Return of the Southern Sky", which means the weather is often damp and rainy, and humidity is high. Many tests have also been conducted on wet and cold rainy days, which has raised higher requirements for the motor system's protection performance. After a day of riding through jungle rain and running in the rain, the motor still works normally, and its waterproof performance is excellent.

The display may be small, but it's fully functional with contents. The high-contrast TFT color screen can clearly show key data even in direct sunlight.

My personal favorites are the real-time power, real-time cadence, and range display.

The real-time power can clearly display the motor's power, allowing you to know exactly how much effort the motor is putting in.

Maintaining a steady cadence not only brings more efficient riding but also saves more battery power. The real-time range display that appears immediately after each gear change can better plan the next adventure trip.

These three points are inseparable from the precise detection of the motor and battery through the precise sensors in the Bafang M510 system. When range anxiety is no longer an issue, it greatly enhances the confidence of mountain bikers in exploring and crossing terrain.

▲Personalized settings and power properties can be adjusted

In terms of digital connectivity, the BAFANG GO+ app offers diverse functions, with clear and concise interfaces at all levels, accurate data recording, and easy sharing.

 

With the BAFANG GO+ app, cyclists can view various data generated by the sensors and system on their phones to track their riding performance. In personalized riding settings, preferences for the power adjustment of the Bafang system and the sensitivity of the electric control can be made, and the app also supports firmware updates and diagnostic checks.

▲Click "start" or "end", there will be animation pages to note.

In terms of the most commonly used cycling route recording function, BAFANG GO+ APP is very comprehensive and the details are also wonderful. There are 7 simulation dial styles to choose from just for displaying real-time speed, including night and day options, which match the preferences of different cyclists.

The cycling records are stored and a thumbnail is generated. Clicking on the details allows you to view key information such as the starting position of a single cycling record, the distance, cycling time, average speed, maximum speed, and more. There is also a self-generated adjustable-speed animation demo below, which is very convenient to share on social media with just one click. I believe BAFANG will develop more detailed data-sharing and video display functions in the future.

In the past domestic motor systems, it was difficult to see a complete data interconnection system. On the one hand, the early investment cost of APP products is high, and the development difficulty is high; on the other hand, before the scale effect is formed, the technical accumulation and digitalization process of each company is slow.

It can be said that in addition to BAFANG, no other domestic motor brand has a mature APP for data interconnection that is so advanced, which puts BAFANG at the forefront of the world. In certain function operation settings, the BAFANG GO+ APP is even more user-friendly than the Specialized Mission Control and more in line with the operating habits of cyclists.

Overall, FREY has been specializing in electric mountain bikes for many years, accurately catering to the needs of mountain bike enthusiasts, with reasonable and practical configurations.

During testing, the quality was stable and reliable. The FREY EVOLVE NEO PRO electric mountain bike follows FREY's highly cost-effective style and is specially designed for enthusiasts. It is equipped with the powerful BAFANG M510 motor system and is one of the few trustworthy electric-assisted mountain bikes in China, making it a great choice for mountain bike enthusiasts.

 

[The above is a review opinion and does not represent the official opinion of FREY.]

 

We hope it can help customers who want to learn about EVOLVE and the M510 motor, and we will also make a video of C245 and the BAFANG Go App.

 

 Again, We sincerely hope you can Free Ride & Enjoy Yourself!