Cyclone DIY Kit.

[wgaBloke]

G'day people,
I'm about to buy one of these Kits in 200watt form.
Electric bicycle DIY kits kit e-bike DIY kits kit Electric bicycle DIY kits kit e-bike DIY kits kit Electric bicycle DIY kits kit e-bike DIY kits kit

Just wondering if anyone here has had any experiences with these?

Im in country New South Wales, Australia, nearest E-bike shop is over 500kms away. Even then they dont have alot in the way of DIY kits. Only the hub motor type.
Ive found an aussie seller that does them for less than half the price, less the rack and lithium batteries. With 12months warranty which got my attention. Here is the ebay site for the cheaper one,
200w Motorised Electric Motor Bike Bicycle Kit e-bike - eBay, Electric, Scooters, Sport. (end time 22-Jun-08 20:19:36 AEST)

ive not long got back onto a bike and this looks like a good way to make the trip to work much more enjoyable.

cheers.

 

[Orraman]

I am very satisfied with the cranks I bought from Cyclone Taiwan and their price for the 180W and 250W kits is ~ US$ 390 including postage but plus whatever import costs to your country.
As your ebay chap has 3 in stock that may influence you but the 12 month warranty is the manufacturer's and may require it to be sent to Taiwan.
I have read that the Australian law restricts to a maximum of 200W and this motor is capable of outputting much more, it may be worth printing that ebay page for the disclaimer.
Please do let us know how you get on, if my present machinations on my recumbent go phut I will have a fancy for their twin freewheel motor.

Dave

 

[wgaBloke]

I have read that the Australian law restricts to a maximum of 200W and this motor is capable of outputting much more, it may be worth printing that ebay page for the disclaimer.
Please do let us know how you get on, if my present machinations on my recumbent go phut I will have a fancy for their twin freewheel motor.

Dave[/QUOTE]

Yeah im not into breaking any laws at this point in life thats for sure.
I was really wondering if the 200watt would make alot of difference, looks like that won't be the problem. Ive got a 14/34 rear 7speed. And travel around 25kms maybe alittle more a day to work. Most of it is downhill to work, but coming home its a nightmare, if this kit can iron that out for me then i won't buy another car until they find something cheaper to run them on.
Hopefully friday it may turnup, i will post my experiences and keep this updated.
Ive got 4x 20amp sla batteries and a 48v "smart charger" all near new. I will have a good supply of batteries for awhile.

 

[gary Gadget]

cyclone 250watt kit

I have fitted a 250watt kit to a new bike I brought for the job. The only hitches I had was that you need extra links added to your chain - I found that a new SRAM PC-850 chain is an exact fit, it is supplied with a few extra links as standard and a handy quick link connector. The other was the cable entry into the motor, this is not very water/dust proof. So I have added a sleave over the cables and a load of silicone sealant just for good measure. Also the quoted 82mm required space is a bit OTT and you could fit it into a 72mm gap just. Ohh and if your bike has a cartridge crank bearing you will need to change it for the old ball and cup type as this is not provided in the kit.

Mine has been going strong for about 5 months now with only the one water ingress issue...ahh and you can not use a wireless speedo with this motor as it interfers with the signal ( I have 2 for sale now!)

Good luck

Gary

 

[Orraman]

Gary,
Would you be willing to post or send to me more details of the kit you got, bike, gearing and performance.
Perhaps an in depth review as this could be a most cost effective and potent conversion.
Dave

 

[gary Gadget]

Hi Dave, this is the ebay link

electric bike kit 250/360watt on eBay, also, Bikes, Cycling, Sporting Goods (end time 27-May-08 17:26:19 BST)

I have it fitted to an Halfords (UK based) Carrera 2 that was a light weight
18" framed 16 speed off the shelf on sale bargain! but with the conversion not so light weight and 8 speed. I have a owners review on here and you could have a look at a youtube vid I did to compare my commute to work - electric bike versus car - though ignor the sound of the bike as it is not that loud, it is my camara's mic that was touching the frame and has amplified it!
YouTube - Electric Bike versus Car over a 3 mile commute to work
this might be helpful and give you an idea of the performance
But compared with my super lightweight 36V Wisper 905e the performance of the 24v Cyclone is about the same on the flat but given a hill it will easily pull ahead and once you get into top gear it will do 32 - 34 MPH the Wisper and the normal hub motor and 6 gears topped out at 26-28 MPH (with me peddaling as well). The down side is it makes more noise and you have to match the gear to the motor RPM, though I love being able to change gear using the motor and in low gear pulling away and peddaling hard it is really fast off the mark, helpfull for those tricky junctions and our UK roundabouts..I average 18.9MPH on the Cyclone and 16.8MPH on the Wisper not a like for like comparison but over the same route.

Gary

 

[burncycle]

Hi Dave, this is the ebay link

electric bike kit 250/360watt on eBay, also, Bikes, Cycling, Sporting Goods (end time 27-May-08 17:26:19 BST)

I have it fitted to an Halfords (UK based) Carrera 2 that was a light weight
18" framed 16 speed off the shelf on sale bargain! but with the conversion not so light weight and 8 speed. I have a owners review on here and you could have a look at a youtube vid I did to compare my commute to work - electric bike versus car - though ignor the sound of the bike as it is not that loud, it is my camara's mic that was touching the frame and has amplified it!
YouTube - Electric Bike versus Car over a 3 mile commute to work
this might be helpful and give you an idea of the performance
But compared with my super lightweight 36V Wisper 905e the performance of the 24v Cyclone is about the same on the flat but given a hill it will easily pull ahead and once you get into top gear it will do 32 - 34 MPH the Wisper and the normal hub motor and 6 gears topped out at 26-28 MPH (with me peddaling as well). The down side is it makes more noise and you have to match the gear to the motor RPM, though I love being able to change gear using the motor and in low gear pulling away and peddaling hard it is really fast off the mark, helpfull for those tricky junctions and our UK roundabouts..I average 18.9MPH on the Cyclone and 16.8MPH on the Wisper not a like for like comparison but over the same route.

Gary

Great Video Gary.
Pity the bike lost, but the bike on a nice day would be the only way to travel.
Also if a traffic jam occured the car would lose always.
Keep up the good work.

Regards Bob.

 

[Orraman]

wgaBloke,
Thank you for your information, I look foreword to hearing your comments, particularly on the performance with the 20Ah batteries.
Gary,
Thank you for your comprehensive reply and a most interesting video. I do admire your use of the smaller lead acid batteries, with your relatively short commute they seem to be an economic and effective choice. Your video is a convincing demonstration of the possibilities electric bikes.

Dave.

 

[wgaBloke]

Well ive got the kit fitted and running.
Gee alot of things have changed on a bike after 30 or so years i must say.
I had to start thismorning with a visit to the local bike shop and pick up a few handy tools Crank puller, cartridge socket etc, joiners.
Everything went on well, with not alot of room to spare mainly because of the bike i chose.
Here is a picture of my bike, sorry about the light its evening;
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/wgaBloke/Standard.jpg

Now after being completed and test rode, i carn't wait until tomorrow to take her for a good ride.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y156/wgaBloke/200watt.jpg

Seems quieter than the one on You-Tube, still makes some noise but not any bother at all.
I will know more after tomorrow that for sure.
Im using a 7 speed cassette 13t/34t .

 

[gary Gadget]

My Aiptek Sportcam camera mic is on the bottom and this was against the frame and amplifying the sound (I have a mic foam cover on it now). Glad to see you had no problems fitting the kit and like you I think the motor noise is ok, maybe a bit louder than a hub motor though. A trick you might want to try is to use some chain wax on the nylon cog. I found this helped it turn more freely with the chain and keeps out dirt and water.

 

[wgaBloke]

wgaBloke,
Thank you for your information, I look foreword to hearing your comments, particularly on the performance with the 20Ah batteries.

Dave.

Sorry about the delay Orraman, ive riden to work and back a few times. The trip being 30kms return, (about 7miles each way). Each time the battery light is still green, so i went and found a couple of nice hills near my house and tackled them both with excellent results. The battery light was on yellow after that. (say 7kms of hard work) I haven't got it to to red light as yet.
I havent got myself a speedo/ odometer as yet, this weekend i will fit one and get more accurate results.