Tongsheng TSDZ2: Full Review
The Tongsheng TSDZ2 is the mid-drive motor that launched Tongsheng's reputation in e-bike conversion — and the absolute reference for open-source firmware, via the TSDZ2-Smart-EBike community project. Documented by the specialist press as early as December 2018, it no longer appears in the manufacturer's current official catalog.
Verdict at a glance
A page apart in this comparison: the original TSDZ2 is no longer a distinct new product to buy, but a historical model the TSDZ2B directly inherits from. Its value today rests on its open firmware community, not on its spec sheet.
✓ Pros
- The open-source firmware reference (TSDZ2-Smart-EBike project), unmatched by more recent models
- Universal 68 to 73 mm bottom bracket, JIS standard
- Reliability track record documented since 2018 by a large user community
- Contained weight: 3.6 kg
✕ Cons
- No longer sold as a distinct new kit: replaced by the TSDZ2B in the official catalog
- Highly uncertain claimed torque — 50 to 80 N·m depending on the source, unreconciled
- Water resistance (IP54 reported) lower than current models (IP65)
Who it's for
Conversion projects built around open firmware, or owners of an already-installed TSDZ2 looking for compatible spare parts.
Skip it if…
You're buying a new kit with no specific firmware project: the TSDZ2B offers a spec sheet fully documented by Tongsheng, at the same entry price.
What's changed since 2018
The TSDZ2 was documented as an available motor as early as December 2018 by the specialist e-bike press (electricbike.com). It has since left Tongsheng's official catalog, replaced by the TSDZ2B — recognizable by its dual-clutch system and sensor built into the housing. Searching "Tongsheng TSDZ2" on Amazon.fr today leads to the same configurable kit as searches for "TSDZ2B," "TSDZ8," or "TSDZ16."
What remains distinctly under the TSDZ2 name: spare parts — torque sensors, replacement sprockets, speed sensor cables — sold for maintaining already-installed motors. The new motor kit itself no longer stands apart from the TSDZ2B in the current commercial offering.
Spec sheet
| Rated power | 250 à 500 W (36 V) ou 350 à 750 W (48 V) selon configuration |
|---|---|
| Maximum torque | Not disclosed |
| Voltage | 36 V / 48 V |
| Sensor | Couple + cadence |
| Water resistance (IP) | Not disclosed |
| Bottom bracket | 68 à 73 mm (norme JIS) |
| Weight | 3,6 kg |
Torque is marked "Not disclosed": sources claim 50 to 80 N·m depending on configuration, with no manufacturer spec sheet settling the question — unlike the TSDZ8 and TSDZ2B, for which Tongsheng publishes official values.
Our scores by criterion
Our full grid is detailed in our rating system.
Compatibility remains the model's strength: years of installations documented by the open firmware community. Performance is the most cautious score among the four motors we track, for lack of an officially confirmed torque figure.
Against its alternatives
| Tongsheng TSDZ2 | Tongsheng TSDZ2B | Tongsheng TSDZ8 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| List price | 306 € | 306 € | 336 € |
| Year | 2018 | 2023 | 2024 |
| Rated power | 250 à 500 W (36 V) ou 350 à 750 W (48 V) selon configuration | 250 / 350 / 500 W | 500 / 750 W |
| Maximum torque | — | 80 N·m | 90 / 120 / 140 N·m selon configuration |
| Voltage | 36 V / 48 V | 24 V / 36 V / 48 V | 36 V / 48 V |
| Sensor | Couple + cadence | Vitesse + couple | Vitesse + couple |
| Water resistance (IP) | — | IP65 | IP65 |
| Bottom bracket | 68 à 73 mm (norme JIS) | 68 à 75 mm | 68 ou 73 mm |
| Weight | 3,6 kg | 3,6 kg | 4,8 kg |
The TSDZ2B directly inherits from the TSDZ2: same general shape, improved sensor, and above all a spec sheet fully published by Tongsheng — where the TSDZ2 no longer has one at all.
→ Open-source firmware, in detail · TSDZ2 vs TSDZ8, the full comparison
Our method
This model's torque is too inconsistent across sources to display as a single reliable value; we mark it as not disclosed rather than arbitrate between 50 and 80 N·m without proof. → Our full method
Frequently asked questions
Can you still buy a new TSDZ2 in 2026?
Not as a distinct kit: "Tongsheng TSDZ2" searches on Amazon.fr today lead to the same configurable kit as "TSDZ2B," "TSDZ8," or "TSDZ16." The original TSDZ2 no longer appears in Tongsheng’s official catalog, replaced by the TSDZ2B. What you mostly find now are spare parts (sensors, sprockets, cables) for already-installed motors.
Why does the TSDZ2 remain a reference if you can’t buy it new anymore?
For its open-source firmware. The TSDZ2-Smart-EBike community project, active for several years, has documented and reprogrammed the TSDZ2’s torque sensor to a level of detail no other Tongsheng model has matched since. It’s a technical legacy, not a purchase argument for a new bike.
How much torque does the TSDZ2 produce?
Sources diverge sharply — from 50 to 80 N·m depending on the reseller and configuration (250 to 750 W) — with no manufacturer spec sheet reconciling them. We’d rather flag it as an uncertain range than state a single, unverifiable figure.
Should you choose the TSDZ2 or the TSDZ2B today?
The TSDZ2B, unless you have a project specifically tied to open firmware. It’s better documented (full official Tongsheng spec sheet), newer, and shows up under the same search term as the TSDZ2 at most resellers.
The best picks right now
Tongsheng TSDZ2
Tongsheng TSDZ2B
Tongsheng TSDZ8
