Has anyone been able to compare the 5 series Crystalyte motor with the newer Wilderness Energy BL motor in an apples-apples comparison? (same batts, comparable controllers, as much as possible). There are many ways to compare, I am particularly interested in the power rating (wattage).

The BL is claimed at like 500-600 watts, and so is the Crystalyte 5 series. But I have spoken with more people who have made fast Crytsalyte 5 series, and I see many more postings and youtube vids of the Crystalyte going faster. Plus the Crystalyte looks bigger and heavier.

It makes me wonder how those wattage ratings are determined. At what voltage and amperage?

Finally, isnt the Wilderness energy just a certain model of Crystalyte branded as Wilderness energy? If so, which motor does the WE BL correspond to in the Crystalyte line, if any?

Its typically determined at peak output under what the manufacturers consider to be their "standard" setup for shipping out to dealers.

The original BL-36 wasn't a Crystalyte, but it was nearly a direct match to the 408 in terms of performance. Even this new "improved" BL-36 is pretty much simply a slightly more powerful, slightly more energy guzzling unit than the 408: but its nowhere near the power output of the X5 Crystalyte motors. They carry both at Power in Motion here in Calgary, and if you let me ride the e-bike around with either one of these on it and I wasn't allowed to look, I probably couldn't tell you which one it was: they're really close.

The series 5 typically actually has a peak output of about 750w "stock" (That is to say, 36v with the typical 35 amp controller it comes with from most dealers), as well as having much different stator configurations and a noticeably larger radius and mass than the 4 series or the BL-36 (It weighs about 24lbs when mounted in a wheel). The X5 series can also draw more amps (stock) given that the battery has a capable C rate for the task: it all adds up to the X5s being *much* more powerful than their smaller cousins, at the cost of even more weight. But there simply isn't *any* comparison, the X5 will kick the teeth out of a BL-36 in every category but weight and cost.

I'm really not sure about the wilderness energy kits' tolerance for power. According to some of the people who have used the crystalyte motors, the motor itself can handle more volts and more watts (watts=power) up to the point where it overheats, which doesn't happen very easily. If you have a battery and controller that can handle 2000 watts, the crystalyte motors ('phoenix' or 'roadrunner') can supposedly handle it without any problem. They usually sell the motors with controllers that won't handle that kind of power, because that amount of power is dangerous, probably illegal, and will be faster than most people have any desire to go on an ebike. Plus, batteries that can handle that kind of usage aren't very common.

the X5 will kick the teeth out of a BL-36 in every category but weight and cost.
And a ****ton of RR