Bakcou Storm eBike Review

Assembly of the Bakou Storm

Assembly of the Bakcou Storm was much easier than I expected.  From start to finish, I was able to assemble the bike and be ready to ride in as little as 21 minutes.  This wasn’t my first time putting an eBike together, so I already knew the basic steps needed, if it’s your first time, simply read the directions.  As for tools, it comes with everything you need for assembly except a shock pump to adjust the suspension and an air compressor for the tires.  You can speed up the process by utilizing your own tools, but the tools that are provided are sufficient enough.

Word of advice, be careful unpackaging the bike as there are a lot of zip ties.  I would NOT recommend using a knife, instead, use wire cutters to ensure you don’t cut something you’re not supposed to.  Be careful pulling the components apart as the spokes can be easily bent if something gets in between them.

Assembly of the front wheel can be accomplished with an Allen wrench (supplied) but don’t forget to check the axle for grease.  I added some additional lubricant to the axle and didn’t have an issue getting the tire to fit.  It can be tricky at first but just remember to remove the black plastic piece between your front brake pads first.  If not, you’ll never install the wheel as the rotor is designed to be installed where the black plastic piece is between the front brake pads.  The black plastic piece between your brake pads is important so that your brake pads do not close up when you take the wheel off, so be sure to hang onto it and do not actuate the brake without the wheel in place.

The next item to install is the handlebars.  This is done with four Allen bolts and you’ll need to adjust them a time or two to find the most comfortable position.  For me, the handlebars need to be centered and rotated up just a hair.  You may need to readjust them on occasion until you find what works best for you.  Just make sure you get them tightened up before riding.

You could pay your local bike shop to assemble the bike for you or if you’re buying from a dealer, it should already be assembled.  Bakcou sells direct-to-consumer online, so anytime the bike is shipped, it must be assembled by the customer.

Features of the Bakcou Storm

• Motor: Bafang M620 Ultra This smart torque sensing G510 motor, powered by Bafang, is capable of falling under all 3 Classifications of electric bike laws. Toggle between 750 watts, and 1,000 continuous watts with a max power output of 1,500 watts.  How is that possible in a fat tire electric bike? For a video tutorial – Click Here
• Battery: Extended Distance 48v 17.5ah, 19.2ah, 21ah, or 25ah
• Range: See “eBike Range Explained” under “Resources” on our website
• Performance: 160NM of Torque/ 1500 Peak Wattage Output
• Display: Bafang DP C18.UART Full Color LCD
• Brakes: Powerful Tektro HD E730 Quad Piston Hydraulic, 203mm front & rear
• Suspension: RST Renegade Air Fork (120mm of travel) & Rockshox Monarch rear
• Frame: High Grade Aluminum Alloy 6061
• Frame Size: Medium – 5’9 & shorter; Large – 5’10 & taller
• Size: 17″ or 19” Frame (Stand Over Height: 30.5”)
• Throttle: Removable Left Thumb Throttle
• Wheels: 150mm 12mm Thru Axle Front Hub/ Rear Hub 3/8x 26 tpi 190mm
• Tires: Unparalleled Traction and Control Maxxis Minion 26” X 4.0
• Gearing: Sram 9sp, 40t Front & Sram 11-34t Rear cassette
• Steering: Wide 740mm Handlebars for Greater Stability
• Load Capacity: 300 lbs
• Locking Ergonomic Handlebar Grips
• Side Rear Derailleur Guards
• Saddle: SR Sport Saddle
• Aggressive Skid-Proof Wide Stance Pedals
• Weight: 70 lbs without battery. 14.5Ah= 9Lbs 6oz  25Ah= 12lbs2oz

What size eBike did I purchase?

I’m 5’9″, so a medium-frame bike fits me perfectly.  If I’m being honest, a medium Bakcou Storm fits me much better than a medium Quietkat Apex.  The medium Bakcou Storm has a large seat adjustment that is able to accommodate riders between 5′ & 7″ and 5′ 10″.  However, my bonus son is just under 5′ tall at the moment and he’s able to hop on and ride this bike without issue.  The medium frame is a little too big for him in the woods, but he rides it around the house all the time.  If I were to buy him his own e-bike, I’d get him a step-through model so that he has more room in front of the seat post to keep him from striking the frame of the bike if he were to slip off the seat.

Bakcou recommends the following:

• Large or 19″ Frame for riders 5’10” and taller.
• Medium or 17″ frame is recommended for riders who are 5’7″-5’10”.
• Shorter than 5’7″, they recommend a step-through model bike.

How fast is the Bakcou Storm?

One of the most popular questions that people ask about ebikes is how fast is it.  On a paved road, I can pedal the bike and get 30 mph out of it.  On a good, downhill, I’ve hit 40 mph, which is plenty fast enough on a bicycle.  One bump or rut is all it would take to wipe you out at that speed.  In the mountains, I can consistently hit speeds on decent trails over 20 mph, which helps me get from one place to another really quickly.  While climbing, speeds vary due to your momentum and how much you’re willing to pedal.  So far, this is the fastest ebike that I’ve tested.

How does the Bakcou Storm perform in the mud?

What good does an ebike do if you can’t ride it when the conditions are less than perfect?  That hasn’t been an issue so far with the Bakcou Storm.  I’d recommend reducing the power level to Eco mode when traversing through mud because the power and torque of the Bafang motor will make a mess if you’re not careful.  It would suck to get to your hunting spot and your gun or bow is covered in mud.  So, go slow and don’t spin the tires if you can help with it.

The fat tires seem to help out a little bit with traction but keep in mind that it’s not easy to navigate a two-wheeled vehicle in the mud, whether it be an eBike, motorcycle, or regular bicycle.  I grew up riding dirt bikes, ATVs, and bicycles in the woods, so I knew what to expect.

However, even with fat tires, if you’re not careful, you can still wash out and dump yourself to the ground.  I hit a rut that was covered up by grass and the back tire washed out from underneath me one day and relatively flat ground.  It was the bump that got me, it was the back tire slipping around the edge of the rut while trying to turn that got me.

When I find myself in a muddy situation, I really liked having a consistent throttle at the push of a button.  I didn’t have to waste energy pedaling or pushing, I simply kept the bike in first gear and powered through the mud while keeping my feet to the sides in case I were to lose control.  Simple mudholes and small areas were no issue, but you can’t expect a single-wheel-driven vehicle to pull you through the swamp.  This bike has a lot of power, so reducing the power level will keep the bike from burying in the mud because it will dig!

Climbing in muddy conditions can be difficult as you often need momentum to continue accelerating.  In the event that I couldn’t make it up the hill, I found myself hopping off the bike and using the throttle of the bike to guide it to the top.  There’s no wasted energy pushing the bike, as the bike can power itself at the push of a button.  All I needed to do was hold it up, which gave me something to lean on and made my walk easier.  Be careful, because this thing has the power to raise the front tire of the ground and flip out from under you.  As I said, it’s serious torque!

Would I recommend riding the Bakcou Storm in the mud?  Yes, it sure beats walking and when you do have to walk, the bike can power itself out of the situation with your guidance.  Just use extra caution in muddy areas and slow down!  Bakcou electric bikes are built with oversized all-terrain tires which are capable of maintaining traction in steep terrain, shallow mud, sand, and snow. The tires can be deflated down to as low as 8 lbs for added traction in these conditions.  Just be sure to clean the bike off when you get back home.  They’re too nice not to take care of!

How is the battery life on the Bakcou Storm?

Battery life will depend on several factors, including terrain, riding style, the weight that you’re hauling, speed, and battery size that you originally purchased.  In order to increase the battery life on your Bakcou eBike, the first thing you need to do is pedal!  The pedal-assist feature allows you to extend the range out of the battery and the Bakcou Storm allows you to change gears like a typical bike (chain and sprocket), as well as digitally within the motor.  The higher the gear, the faster you’ll go.  The less you pedal, the less distance you’ll get out of your battery

As your speed increases, you’ll want to increase your gearing.  The inverse goes into effect as you slow down.  I really like the fact that I can change the gears manually because if the battery dies, I can still build up speed and save myself a lot of time and energy.

Learn how to extend the life your ebike battery here.

How Far Can I Travel on a Single Charge on the Bakcou Storm?

The real-world test!  In order to test and see how far the bike would travel on a single charge, I headed over to my local mountain bike trail system in southeastern Ohio.  The hilly terrain features a long, narrow trail system where you’ll climb from the creek level to the ridgeline and back again multiple times.  My goal was to run the bike as hard as I could, utilizing the throttle assist and pedaling.  I pushed the bike and myself as hard as I could go for 20 miles before the battery died.  There were no stops, no breaks, just a fast-paced ride, complete with mud holes, jumps, climbs, and descents.

I honestly didn’t think that I would get a full 20 miles out of the bike at this kind of pace, but it held up.  I can’t think of a scenario where I would need to travel 20 miles in one trip in my hunting area, but it’s possible that you might need to do so on a backcountry hunt where you’ll not be able to charge it after each ride/hunt.  During hunting season, I’ll charge the bike after each hunt and even while I travel to and from my hunting area thanks to the AC adapter built-in to my truck.

Are 20 miles enough for a single charge?  For me, it is.  Can you get more than 20 miles out of a single charge?  Absolutely!  The more you pedal, the less battery life you utilize.  If you’re on flat ground, you should be able to get up to 40 miles on a single charge.  But, for the purposes of this test, this bike did its job!  For the record, this was an enjoyable 20 miles trip on this e-bike, unlike other bikes I’ve tested in the past.  I didn’t have to get off and push the bike a single time!

How to get a good deal on a Bakcou e-bike.

The biggest hurdle for most would-be ebike owners is the price tag.  Thankfully, you’ve stumbled upon your new best friend, HuntingGearDeals.com. Hunting Gear Deals doesn’t sell e-bikes or hunting gear, we just help you find the best deals on them and let you know when they’re on sale.  Bakcou offers a special section of their website called the Showroom / Demo Deals.  Here you’ll find bikes at a discounted price.  Also, be sure to subscribe to the HuntingGearDeals.com Daily Deal email so that you never miss a deal.  Lastly, if you’re ready to buy right now and you’re looking for the best price, shoot me an email and I’ll personally help you find it.

Previous deals and sales on Bakcou ebikes:

• Bakcou Demo and Showroom Specials
• Bakcou Mother’s Day Sale
• Bakcou Memorial Day Sale
• Bakcou Father’s Day Sale
• Bakcou Independence Day Sale
• Bakcou Labor Day Sale
• Bakcou Black Friday Sale

Breakdowns and Items That Needed Maintenance

Have you ever heard the phrase “Go hard in the paint”?  Well, that would describe how I’ve treated my Bakcou this year.  It’s fast and fun to ride outside of hunting and scouting, so I started taking the bike trail riding on nearby mountain bike courses.  During my recreational rides, I tried to push the bike to its limits.  Jumping logs, driving fast, power slides, mud, all the fun stuff that I used to do on my high-end carbon fiber mountain bike.  I’ve probably put this bike through more stress in one season than most people will do for as long as they own their bike.

During this time, I’ve busted the inner tubes, which always sucks.  I’ve also bent the chain derailer, which caused the chain to pop off every time I put it in first gear.  All of these issues were repaired at my local bike shop relatively quickly.  Also, I’ve utilized my local bike shop for routine maintenance as well.  There’s a lot of technology incorporated into these bikes, so I’d recommend finding a local dealer that can help you maintain peak performance out of your e-bike.

Don’t forget to set your suspension to your weight limit.  You’ll need a shock pump for this or your local bike shop can do it in a few minutes.

Bakcou Storm eBike Review Summary

The Bakcou Storm is everything I want in an eBike.  It performs better than expected in the mountains and exceeded my expectations in every way.  I’ve tested a few other bikes through the years, but this is my favorite one yet and it’s found a home with me.  The Bakcou Storm has not only been a great addition to my hunting arsenal this year but it’s provided me the opportunity to hit the local mountain bike trails and have some fun during the summer months.  Just make sure you adjust the suspension appropriately before hitting the jumps.

Whether you’re looking for an eBike that’s capable of getting you up and down the mountain quickly, or you’re looking to trail ride, give the Bakcou Storm a shot. I’ve utilized my eBike during shed season to quickly traverse open fields, saving me time and energy while looking for shed antlers.  Turkey hunting was a blast this season because I could cover more ground quickly and quietly, only stopping to call along the way.  I’ve tested this bike in the mud and mountains and I’ve never had to get off it and push it up the hill.

The battery life has been better than expected, as I charge it before each hunt and if it’s a multi-day hunt, simply bring the charger with you.  In the mountains, I was able to push myself and this bike to its limits, getting 20 miles to single charge, which doesn’t sound like a lot but after the ride, I was worn out.  Hauling an e-bike can be a pain, but this can be solved with the QK 1UP Bike Rack. The QK 1UP Bike Rack has made hauling, loading, and unloading the e-bike much more convenient.  There are other options on the market, that’s just the one that I use.

Would I recommend purchasing the Bakcou Storm eBike?  Absolutely!  This bike is fun, fast, and durable, allowing me to utilize it all year long, not just during hunting season.  Just make sure you follow your local state and federal regulations before taking it onto public land.