[trikes] replacement for Bion-X

[Bob Morris]

Juergen

What bike/ trike to you have the BionX installed on?  Do you also have the
PL-350?

I have again contacted the dealer -- hope he responds...

Bob
Cary, NC, USA

On Tue, Jun 23, 2009 at 2:10 PM, Juergen Weichert <juergen at acclivity.ca>wrote:

> The BionX warranty is 2yrs on the system and 1yr on the battery. I
> suggest pressing the dealer for a full system review/replacement
> because if he didn't replace the console and it is still acting up
> obviously the system isn't fixed. When working correctly it is a great
> system.
>
> I have had the failure you have reported and it was traced to a faulty
> control console.
>
> They need to contact BionX service to obtain a Return Authorization.
>
> Juergen
>
>
> On Tue, Jun 23, 2009 at 2:04 PM, Bob Morris<roblmorris at gmail.com> wrote:
> > Juergen and Giles
> >
> > Thanks for the replies.
> >
> > I believe that the Control Head unit has never been replaced.   I did
> sent
> > it back to the dealer with the battery in one of the various exchanges,
> but
> > they sent the same one back.
> >
> > You are correct about the 26 vs 20 hub motor setup.  I did lace it up
> after
> > discussing with the dealer (apparently he did not know this would be a
> > problem).   I can't remember the details, but it operated very strangely
> --
> > so I changed back to the old motor and then the dealer finally sent the
> > correct 20" wheel and motor assembly.
> >
> > My wife had such a bad experience with the BionX system on a recent trip
> > that she said to remove it from the trike.  But after the first ride
> without
> > it, she realized that as troublesome as it is; it is better than no
> assist.
> >
> > I don't know what to think about the warranty now.  Since it has been
> about
> > 1.5yrs since the original purchase, I figured the warranty was gone.
> > Perhaps since it has never worked properly, I can use that argument for
> > extending the warranty.
> >
> > I mounted the battery transversely, immediately behind the seat on the
> > frame.  Considering my wife's riding style I don't think that weight
> > distribution is a problem.  Mounting the battery on the top of the boom
> > seemed to be too obtrusive and the ground clearance underneath the boom
> did
> > not look adequate.  I have seen a WW Tour with the battery mounted on the
> > back of the seat and to one side, but I did not like this because the CG
> was
> > higher and offset compared to what I had done
> >
> > I will contact the dealer again, and see what can be done first.  I
> > suggested a few times to the dealer to do a full system change-over, but
> > they never agreed to this.
> >
> > I will admit that when the BionX operates properly, it is a worthwhile
> > system.
> >
> > Bob
> >
> >
> >
> > On Mon, Jun 22, 2009 at 8:42 PM, Juergen Weichert <juergen at acclivity.ca>
> > wrote:
> >>
> >> Considering you spent good money for a BionX system and it is still in
> >> warranty I strongly suggest having the system made "as good as new" by
> >> BionX.
> >>
> >> Your dealer should be able to have the warranty wheel come back in the
> >> same size as your own. If you have laced a 26" wheel into a 20" hub
> >> you have a speed problem as the 20" version and the 26" versions have
> >> different RPM characteristics.
> >>
> >> Based on your description of the problem I strongly suspect a problem
> >> not in the wheel but in the control console. Some systems made about
> >> the time you bough yours have experienced similar problems. It might
> >> even require having the whole system (motor, battery and control
> >> console) components sent back to BionX for evaluation and repair.
> >>
> >> This system is too much of an investment (and too good a system) to
> >> remain on the shelf. At least if you have it repaired you can recoup
> >> some of your investment if you choose a different system because it is
> >> in high demand and holds its value well.
> >>
> >> It will be hard to find a more suitable system or a lighter system
> >> that your PL-350 (though there are some light ones available none have
> >> quite the "package" of the PL-350). One challenge to overcome might be
> >> how/where you mounted the batteries. This can affect overall trike
> >> balance and/or handling.
> >>
> >> If your dealer (always your first step) is not able to resolve these
> >> issues under warranty please feel free to send me your serial numbers
> >> off-list and I will see what I can do regarding BionX service
> >> replacements.
> >>
> >> Juergen
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> On Mon, Jun 22, 2009 at 4:12 PM, Bob Morris<roblmorris at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >> > I am looking for a replacement for pedal-assist unit made by Bion-X.
>  I
> >> > installed the 350 watt unit on a Wizwheelz TT-3.6 about 1.5 years ago
> >> > for my
> >> > wife.  I got what info I could from internet sources to make a
> decision.
> >> >  No
> >> > one in my area (Raleigh, NC) sold pedal-assist at the time.   I was
> >> > encouraged that I had made the right decision  when I saw that
> Wizwheelz
> >> > offered the Bion-X as on option on their Tour model a while back, but
> >> > now I
> >> > don't see this option on their web site.
> >> >
> >> > Problems are:
> >> > The system locks-up and cannot be reset unless battery is
> disconnected.
> >> > Sometimes it resets within a minute, but it can take as long as 8
> >> > minutes to
> >> > reset. The lock-up, I think, is caused by an overload -- perhaps using
> >> > the
> >> > throttle when running too slow.   Recently, got into mode running at
> >> > 18mph,
> >> > and there was no control for several minutes -- quite dangerous.
> >> >
> >> > Like about BionX
> >> > 1. It is a complete system.  Not too difficult to install on the
> TT-3.6
> >> > --
> >> > even though it was never designed for this.
> >> > 2. It does mostly function as indicated -- when working correctly.
> >> > 3. Regen mode actually does charge the battery.
> >> > 4. The ability to set differing levels of assist.
> >> > 5. It will get you up some hills and allow keeping up with faster
> >> > riders.
> >> >
> >> > Do not like about BionX
> >> > 1. Heavy.   Lifting the trike onto a carrier is not easy.   Weight
> bias
> >> > to
> >> > rear.
> >> > 2. Poor customer service from the factory.  They mostly do not answer
> >> > e-mail
> >> > inquiries.
> >> > 3. Hub motor is so large that for a 20" wheel the space between rim
> and
> >> > motor makes it very awkward to use a pressure gauge or a typical tire
> >> > pump.
> >> > 4. Drag caused by hub motor -- even with system off.
> >> > 4. See problems above.
> >> >
> >> > Purchased from a dealer in Utah who has been very helpful considering
> >> > the
> >> > distance.  The battery and hub motor have been replaced and the
> problem
> >> > remains.  I think the battery was replaced twice.  A new motor was
> sent
> >> > with
> >> > 26" wheel -- so I got stuck having to move the motor to a 20" rim.
> >> >
> >> > I remember that Ian of Greenspeed commented on the BionX some time
> ago.
> >> > I
> >> > believe he said Greenspeed were selling the units as an accessory, but
> >> > customers had problems.  After a while the Bion-X factory became too
> >> > difficult to deal with, and they no longer sell them -- I saw this
> >> > message
> >> > after I had already purchased one.
> >> >
> >> > I have seen other reports on e-motor assist forums indicating numerous
> >> > problems with BionX.  I seem to be the only one experiencing the
> system
> >> > "lock-up" problem.
> >> >
> >> > I would like to find a unit where the motor coupled into the
> drive-train
> >> > of
> >> > the trike without doing a lot of custom work.   I realize that with
> >> > these
> >> > systems the regen feature is gone if you keep the freewheel hub.
>  Also,
> >> > most
> >> > likely there is no way to provide differing levels of assist as you
> can
> >> > with
> >> > a hub motor.  Maybe I am wrong on this -- let me know.
> >> >
> >> > Bob
> >> > Cary, NC
> >> > GS-GTO, WW-TT3.6, Trek Fuel100
> >> > --
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> >> >
> >
> >
>