[trikes] Power assist

[Lawrence Madsen]

My wife is looking for a power assist velo for negotiating some steep hills
on her commute.  (We have pretty much given up on adding anything to her
GTC.)  Lightfootcycles has some nifty coroplast shells made to fit their
deltas.  For power assist they use Bionix but also a proprietary chain drive
that, because of recent negative comments about Bionix, looks more
interesting.

http://www.lightfootcycles.com/chaindrive.php

Has anyone any experience with this?

Larry in Seattle

On Tue, Jun 23, 2009 at 7:15 PM, Ian Sims <ian at greenspeed.com.au> wrote:

> We were the Bionx distributor for Australia, but after having a number
> of problems, we stopped buying and selling them.
>
> We had problems with the motor casings - three broke.
> Also had problems with the battery packs and the consoles.
>
> In fact we have six motors left, but only one working console
> left, after the rest were given to customers with console problems.
>
> The main problem we had with Bionx is they failed to answer
> our emails for service after the 2nd casing broke.
>
> So I would suggest that the problem is in your console.
>
> I've been using the Cyclone motor as power assist on my own trike,
> and it has worked very well see GS Newsletter 11 for details.
>
> However after one battery failure and a visit to Taiwan, the next
> time I ordered, they claimed that they were out of stock, and
> "The price will be much more when you order less than
> 30,000USD each time from now."
>
> So we ordered the motors from another supplier, who gave much
> better service, and we now have some laser cut brackets for fitting.
>
> I think if you wanted to keep using the Bionx, and can't get another
> console, it might be worth trying a different controller, as the Bionx
> is the only system which provides regeneration. It is also quite
> easy to re-program the console for different wheel sizes, or to
> disable the speed governor. I've ordered a couple of consoles via
> my USA distributor, who also claims their service is poor.....
>
> They have some electronics in the motor, some in the battery pack
> and some in the console. So it might be possible to relpace the lot with
> a much simpler type of controller.
>
> Regards, Ian
>
> Ian Sims, Director
> Greenspeed Pty., Ltd.,
> 69 Mountain Gate Drive,
> Ferntree Gully VIC 3156
> AUSTRALIA
> Phone +61 3 9758 5541 Fax +61 3 9752 4115
> Email ian at greenspeed.com.au
> Web www.greenspeed.com.au
>
>
>
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:12:19 -0400
> From: Bob Morris <roblmorris at gmail.com>
> Subject: [trikes] replacement for Bion-X
> To: <trikes at bikelist.org>
> Message-ID:
> <2a9f18440906221312r6327015bwf3eaf507d2386b9 at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"
>
> 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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