No Problems.
I have been thinking about the M500 vs M600. I've ridden both, I currently have the M600 installed on the bike, and it is noticably a huge difference compared to the M500.
I typicaly ride single track mountain bike park trails (not "Bike Park" jump tracks) just trails. Some have jumps, some have rocky technical sections, climbs descents etc a nice mix. A typical trail loop is 15km long with about 450m of elevation. I ride with the 450Wh Bafang Pack (43V nominal, 12S 3P).
1. The M500 is very quiet, and my setup has 5 settings configured on the display for power assist.
Level 1 offers mild assist where you have to work hard to get results. it very much feels like you're doing most of the work, but it certainly flattens out the climbs. On the loop above it has about 80 - 90% available at the end. Basically it feels like you're doign everything... Until you go to Level 0... then you realist it was heloing afterall.. Use this mode to ride with mates on Non-Ebikes, without getting too far ahead of them on climbs.
Level 2 and 3 are noticable inrements in assistance. At level 2 the power is more obvious, but you still have to work hard for result. It still feels natural, and feels like it's you getting the results, not the bike. On the loop above, it has between 75 and 85% available at the end.
Level 3 is similar, but now, when pushing hard on the pedals, you're getting max power. On the loop above, you'll get between 65 and 80% available at the end depending on speed up climbs etc.
Level 4 it becomes obvious that it's the bike doing the work and not you. Riding hard (working hard) on the loop above, there might be 50 - 60% left, but it will have been a fast ride!
Level 5 there is no denying that the bike is doing it all, push the pedals even a bit and you get some agressive percentage of max power. On the loop above, there's only so much you can assist physcially without overshooting corners, so you'll end up with under 50% remaining, but won't have had much of a hard workout.
2. The M600 is loud. On the bike it sounds loud, but if you're riding behind it, the sound is not obnoxious and from a few metres away, most people wouldn't notice over the sounds of tyres freewheel etc.
Level 1 - Equivalent to Level 3 above, but battery is more like 65% remaining
Level 2 - Equivalent to level 4 above, but battery would be around 50% remaining
Level 3, 4 and 5 I have only used for a bit of fun and not for long because it's just too fast for that style of riding, on a wide flat'ish trail, it'd be great, but you're not really getting much exercise. I did the loop above on a combination of 2, 3, and 4 on and off and ended up with araound 30% remaining
The biggest difference off-the-shelf is the speed limits on the M500, on Level 3 or above, hitting the 25km/h limit happens pretty regularly, and is a pain. If this was 30km/h it would be noticably different, and would probably suffice for most scenarios.
With the M600, even on level one you will exceed 25km/h easily, so it is great that it has a 45 km/h limit. it makes riding single track, flat at 30km/h super fun, faster is probably not possible given the conditions.
My Prefernce:
I will be going back to the M500. Quieter, improved battery life, more natural feel, and Level 4 and 5 are still absolutely heaps of fast fun when needed.
If I rode mostly fire-trails with long 2 - 3km climbs, probably the M600, but get the 600Wh battery for sure.
Andy
