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BPM Imports F-15RZ Review

Bpm Imports F 15rz Steel Chain Guide 170 Mm Crank Arms Jiangling Folding Pedals

Bpm Imports F 15rz 48v 21ah Seat Post Tube Battery

Bpm Imports F 15rz Rear Mounted Adjustable Length Jiangling Kickstand Weld Mounted Rear Rack

F 15rz Selle Royale Gel Saddle 48v 21ah Seatpost Mounted Battery Pack

Bpm Imports F 15rz 1000 Watt Bafang Rear Hub Motor

Bpm Imports F 15rz Kenda Crusade Sport Fat Tire Mozo Mtb Ride Fork

Bpm Imports F 15rz Shimano Tourney Derailleur 14 28 Tooth Freewheel

Bpm Imports F 15rz Display Front Tire Stem Controls

Bpm Imports F 15rz Cockpit 560mm Handlebars Telescoping Stem

Bpm Imports F 15rz 110v XLR Output Charger

A strong and powerful folding fat-tire electric bike that has an impressive electrical system ready to handle steep hills and heavy loads, folds up for storage and transportation, comes standard with a number of features like fenders, rack, and a battery integrated headlight
The Shimano Tourney groupset combined with ZStar mechanical brakes provide good performance while helping to keep costs down, the rear rack is weld-mounted for more stability, and the large steel fenders are sturdy and won't rattle
A powerful 1000 watt geared rear hub motor from Bafang that has an impressive 85nm of torque, high-capacity battery with over 1000 watt-hours and Samsung cells, activated by the tried-and-true combination of a sealed 12-magnet cadence sensor with a variable thumb throttle
Charging the high-capacity battery can take some time, a range of 14-28 on the cassette means a limited pedaling range, thick-gauge tubing on the rear rack may not fit standard pannier bags, and mechanical brakes require more grip strength and more frequent maintenance

Make:

BPM Imports

Model:

F-15RZ

Price:

$1,595

Body Position:

Upright

Suggested Use:

Cruising, Sand and Snow, Neighborhood, Trail

Electric Bike Class:

Speed Pedelec (Class 3)

Learn more about Ebike classes

Warranty:

1 Year Battery, 90 Days Parts

Availability:

United States

Model Year:

2019

Total Weight:

69.2 lbs (31.38 kg)

Battery Weight:

11.2 lbs (5.08 kg)

Motor Weight:

9.03 lbs (4.09 kg)

Frame Material:

Aluminum Alloy

Frame Sizes:

17.5 in (44.45 cm)

Geometry Measurements:

18" Seat Tube, 23.75" Reach, 15" Stand Over Height, 33.5" Minimum Saddle Height, 22" Width, 70" Length (Folded: 39" Width, 17.5" Height, 20.5" Length)

Frame Types:

Folding, Step-Thru

Frame Colors:

Gloss White or Matte Black

Frame Fork Details:

MoZo MTB Ride Fork Spring Suspension, 80mm Travel, Compression Adjust with Hydraulic Lockout, Preload Adjust, 32.5mm Stanchions, 135mm Hub Spacing, Lockout, 15mm Axle with Skewer

Frame Rear Details:

175mm Hub Spacing, 12mm Threaded Keyed Axle with 10mm Flats, 18mm Nuts

Attachment Points:

Front and Rear Fender Bosses

Gearing Details:

7 Speed 1x7 Shimano Tourney Rear Derailleur, 14-28 Tooth Cassette

Shifter Details:

Shimano SiS Thumb Shifter on Right

Cranks:

Forged Aluminum Alloy Arms, 170mm Length, Square Taper Bottom Bracket Spindle, 52 Tooth Steel Chainring with Double Sided Plastic Guard

Pedals:

Jiangling Alloy Center Folding Pedal, Plastic Platform with Center Folding Latch

Headset:

Threadless, Sealed Cartridge Bearings, Straight 1.5"

Stem:

Aluminum Alloy, Folding, 280mm Base Height, 130mm Telescoping Height, 25.4mm Clamp Diameter

Handlebar:

Aluminum Alloy, 560mm Width

Brake Details:

ZStar Mechanical Disc with 160mm Rotors, Four-Finger Levers with Rubberized Edge and Motor Inhibitors

Grips:

Flat Rubber with 5mm Locking Star Nut

Saddle:

9" Wide Selle Royal Gel Saddle with Comfort Springs

Seat Post:

Aluminum, Quick Release Collar

Seat Post Length:

300 mm

Seat Post Diameter:

28.6 mm

Rims:

Aluminum Alloy, Double Walled, 81.7mm Outer Width, 36 Hole, White with Punchouts

Spokes:

Stainless Steel, 14 Gauge Front 13 Gauge Rear, Black

Tire Brand:

Kenda Krusade Sport, 20" x 4.0" (98-406)

Wheel Sizes:

20 in (50.8cm)

Tire Details:

5 to 30 PSI, 0.4 to 2.1 BAR, 30 TPI

Tube Details:

Schrader Valve

Accessories:

Battery Operated LED Headlight, Steel Derailleur Guard, Rear Mounted Kickstand with 40mm Provisions, Steel Derailleur Guard, Battery Operated LED Taillight

Other:

Locking Removable Mid Mounted Battery Pack, SHC 1.1lb 2 Amp Charger, Basic Assembly Toolkit, 300lb Max Load (According to Site)

Motor Brand:

Bafang

Motor Type:

Rear-Mounted Geared Hub

Learn more about Ebike motors

Motor Nominal Output:

750 watts

Motor Peak Output:

1000 watts

Motor Torque:

85 Newton meters

Battery Brand:

Samsung

Battery Voltage:

48 volts

Battery Amp Hours:

21 ah

Battery Watt Hours:

1008 wh

Battery Chemistry:

Lithium-ion

Charge Time:

10.5 hours

Estimated Min Range:

30 miles (48 km)

Estimated Max Range:

100 miles (161 km)

Display Type:

Kunteng KT-LCD5U, Fixed, Backlit Grayscale LCD, Buttons: Up, Power, Down (Hold Up for Backlight and Headlight, Hold Down for Walk Mode, Hold Up and Down for Settings)

Readouts:

Battery Level (4 Bars and Outside), Trip Timer, Total Time, Assist Level (0-5), Speed, Average Speed, Max Speed, Trip Distance, Odometer, Battery Voltage

Display Accessories:

Thumb Throttle on Right, Push Button for Horn, USB Type-A Port Extending from Display

Drive Mode:

Cadence Sensing Pedal Assist, Trigger Throttle (8 Magnet Sensor)

Top Speed:

28 mph (45 kph)

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Make or Model

Model Year

Body Position

Suggested Use

Frame Type

Drive Mode

Availability

Price Range

$0 (0 €)$18,000 (16,920 €)

Total Weight

0 lbs (0 kg)227 lbs (103 kg)

Top Speed

0 mph (0.0 km/hr)50 mph (80.5 km/hr)

Battery Watt Hrs

0 watt3,456 watt

Frame Size

0 in (0.00 cm)432 in (1,097.28 cm)

Motor Power

0 Newton meters250 Nm

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To run the forums, host the website, and travel, I charge a universal service fee for my reviews. This in-depth review was sponsored by BPM Imports. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased with you, this video and writeup are not meant to be an endorsement of BPM Imports products. I welcome your corrections, additions, and feedback in the comments below and the BPM Imports electric bike forums.

Observations:

An unapologetic and unique take on the folding fat tire electric bike, the F-15rz is heavy, fast, and – most importantly – fun! Check out the video review to see how much it is capable of, I was quite impressed
This is an all-purpose ebike, focusing on a little bit of everything with folding for easy transport and storage, tough fat tires and suspension for off-road riding, not to mention the rack, fenders, and an integrated headlight for commuting utility

Pros:

The fat tires are Kenda Krusade Sports measuring 20” x 4” wide, these provide comfort by absorbing a lot of bumps thanks to the large volume of air, and great traction as well, able to handle bad terrain such as sand, snow, and mud if you lower the pressure down near 5psi. They also have reflective striping on the sidewalls, a great safety feature that increases your side visibility when riding at night
The wheels are sturdy thanks to the wide double-walled rims, and the smaller 20” diameter means a mechanical advantage for the rear hub motor, I also appreciate that the rims are punched out which increases flexibility and reduces weight
I love the steel fenders here, they are sturdily mounted and offer decent protection, and won’t rattle like plastic fenders thanks to the vibration dampening qualities of the steel
The low step-through frame and upright riding position make the bike pretty approachable for a wide range of riders
I love the included rear rack, it has thick-gauge tubing and is weld-mounted so it is very sturdy. BPM doesn’t specify a weight limit for the rear rack but I would assume at least the standard of 25kg/52lb as the entire ebike is rated for up to 300 pounds – great for a folding bike!
The F-15rz also includes a rear-mounted kickstand, I appreciate this for two reasons: One, it prevents “pedal lock” which occurs when the crank arm becomes locked against a center-mounted kickstand, and two because it helps keep the bike stable when carrying a load of cargo on the rear rack
I appreciate the battery integrated headlight included on the F-15rz, it is a generic light and not very bright, but bright enough for safety and to “be seen”. There is also an independent light in the rear, which means that you need to engage it manually but it’s still nice that it was included
In the front to help absorb bumps in tandem with the fat tires is the Mozo MTB Ride suspension fork with lockout and preload adjust, I love the 80mm of travel as it works nicely to provide comfort when riding for both commuting and off-road use
The Selle Royale saddle is a real treat, it is wide and comfortable even for long rides thanks to the use of a gel core and bumper springs below.
Folding is pretty standard compared to other folding ebikes but I do want to call out the pedals, the folding hinge is mounted closer to the bike which means the pedals can fold further in towards the bike providing a more compact folded footprint
Mechanically, the bike is operated by a 7- speed Shimano Tourney groupset with a 52- tooth chainring in the front and a 14-28 tooth freewheel in the rear, while the Tourney is on the lower end of Shimano’s component range they have been updating it consistently and it is a quality entry-level derailleur. I definitely appreciate the steel derailleur guide, this protects the chainring and keeps clothing from getting caught while also preventing the chain from jumping off, great for off-road riding!
Stopping the bike is a set of 160mm mechanical disc brakes in both the front and the rear, mechanical disc brakes are easier to adjust and maintain compared to hydraulic brakes as well as helping to keep costs lower. Large four-finger brake levers provide a mechanical advantage to help make stopping easier, and I appreciate that motor inhibitors are included which cuts power to the motor as soon as you actuate the brake levers
Driving this ebike is a massive 1000-watt geared rear hub motor from Bafang with an impressive 85 newton-meters of torque, this pairs well with the enormous 1000 watt-hour battery pack to make the F-15rz ready to tackle any hill or cargo load
You can engage the motor with either the five levels of cadence-based pedal-assist or you can use the variable thumb throttle, I personally liked using the throttle to get going and then pedaling to maintain momentum since cadence sensors have a delay before they kick in
The backlit grayscale display is large enough to read but small enough to stay out of the way, I love that it has a flexible USB Type-A charging cord to plug in your phone or other devices for charging while you ride
There is also an electric horn mounted on the left grip, this is noticeably louder than a bell and does a great job at getting attention in a crowded city or on the trails
After riding this ebike off-road I was impressed with its power and strength, I had a lot of fun during my long ride and the F-15rz was very capable thanks to the combination of the powerful drivetrain, good suspension, and tough fat tires

Cons:

Only available in one frame size which means it may not work well for very large or very small riders, and only available online so there isn’t a good way to test ride before you buy. Remember that ordering online means that you will have to do some final assembly and tightening of bolts when you receive the bike before it is ready to ride, this can be difficult if you don’t have the right tools or expertise
I enjoy these Kenda tires but I do want to note that they don’t include puncture protection, fat tires are naturally somewhat puncture-resistant but you may need to add some proper protection depending on where you ride. Riding at low psi is also great for soft terrain but it puts you at risk of “snake bite” punctures, so make sure you fill up again before moving to bumpier solid terrain
Mechanical disc brakes require more hand strength to actuate compared to hydraulic, the big four-finger levers here help by providing a mechanical advantage… but this ebike is heavier than most so it still takes a decent amount of force to stop quickly. I feel like this is a missed opportunity here, these brakes do get the job done but hydraulic would be a good fit on a heavy bike and also be appreciated by riders who lack the grip strength to actuate mechanical brakes. Mechanical brakes are easier to maintain but they do require more frequent attention, particularly for tightening the rear cable which stretches with time
The included charger is 2-amps which is standard for a basic charger, but the sheer capacity of the battery means charging up can take a long time, about 10.5 hours in this case. Please note that you should avoid letting your battery drain all the way to empty as this can be hard on the cells, it’s best to charge at or before reaching the 20% mark.
The independent light in the rear means you have to manually turn it on and off as well as charge it or replace the batteries, I do love that it is included, just make sure you don’t forget to turn it off after riding so that you don’t drain the batteries!
The gearing range of 14-28 on the cassette is basic, which means a limited pedaling range that won’t work as well if you are looking to be more active and pedal instead of relying on the electric assist. This isn’t a big issue here, folding bikes are typically harder to pedal due to their frame geometry which leads to relying more on the motor which has plenty of power here
As mentioned earlier the tubing on the rear rack is thicker than the standard gauge, you will be able to fit some bags on there but standard pannier clips may not fasten so you may have to get creative when mounting them
One of the drawbacks to this electrical system is that to operate the bike the keys must stay in the ignition, this can be annoying if your key is on a keychain that will bounce around making noise and potentially scratching off the frame. A good workaround is to put your key on a small carabineer so that you can easily remove it from your keychain and leave it in the bike, and then place it back on your keychain after riding so that it doesn’t get lost
Unique to folding bikes is an occurrence called cable stretch, this can happen if you raise the telescoping stem to the maximum height which stretches out the control cables, especially when turning. This is a difficult problem to address since lengthening the cables can leave them too long at the lowest stem height. If you’re a tall rider just make sure that you keep an eye on the control cables when setting your stem height
The included fenders here are a welcome addition, but since they are made of steel they are vulnerable to dings, scratches, and rust – make sure to repair any damage with touch-up paint or clear tape to prevent this. I would also like to see more length on the front fender, it doesn’t extend very far back which means that mud and water can hit your feet and legs when riding at speed… but to be fair this is a folding bike, so a longer fender on the front might be in the way for folding or within toe-strike range when riding

Resources:

Official Site: https://www.bpmimports.com/

January 29, 2024 (11 months ago)

BPM Imports F-35X Review

MSRP: $1,695
MODEL YEAR: 2019

A value priced dual suspension fat tire electric bike with a unique frame design and driven by reliable brand name Bafang, Shimano, and Tektro electric and mechanical components, is at home commuting on the road or even off road on trails with it’s comfortable setup and zippy performance that can be programed for higher speeds. Mechanically, the bike is operated by a 7 speed Shimano Tourney system with a 42…...

Read Review

ML

5 years ago

Above you say that this is a Class 3 pedelec but I live in california and Class 3 maximum watt is 750. This bike is 1000 watt. Or is that incorrect? Thank you!

Court

Great question, ML! The power range I’m reading is 750 watts nominal and then up to 1,000 watts peak. My understanding is that this is still legal in California, but it might be worth double checking with them. Mikey had not added the 750 watt spec in his first pass of the specs, so I’ve added it now ;)

Don

Good review!!! I was hoping to get a review on the F-15RS with rear suspension. Pretty amazing specs for $1695 in camo… But I really want to see you do one on their F-1000 mid drive. It has the newest Bafang 1000w ultra motor as opposed to the BBSHD that most have come out with like Biktrix and a few other inexpensive retailers. Also pretty amazing specs and front and rear racks… $2395.

Paul W

On the company website, it says that this model comes with hydraulic brakes. Were the brakes upgraded since the review?

Hi Paul! That’s very possible, but I’m surprised it would have happened so fast after our January review. Perhaps we were slow in posting or they are just moving fast. I cannot say for sure, but you could probably contact them to verify before purchase :D and I’d love to hear back what you find so others know too ;)

Robert

4 years ago

I have an F15RS and F15RZ and the experience with the first bike was excellent when interacting with Ben At BPM. David has been terrible with support with regard to an issue with the 2nd bike I bought from BPM and an easy warranty issue is now a nightmare.

Thanks for the feedback, Robert. I’m sorry to hear that some of your experience has been terrible. Hopefully they improve :/

Roger wandrie

2 years ago

I plan on exchanging the handlebars to sweep back for more comfort. Could you please tell me the diameter at the connection point on the stem. Thank you!

Hi Roger! Sorry for the delay in replying here. I believe the handlebar is 25.4mm (which is an older, narrower standard that costs less). My review is a bit dated, so things might have changed, but that is what I measured in 2019 and I hope it helps you! Consider buying a digital caliper from Amazon or elsewhere to get confirmation. Measure where the stem actually clamps onto the bar, because some taper narrower or wider after the center. Good luck!