Cytronex

[indalo]

The Wisper is functional and practical. Its quite a heavy bike and you’re never in any doubt that you’re on an Ebike. Seldom used without power. Its great for shopping, walking the dogs, rough surfaces up to forest tracks. Very tough and reliable.

The Cytronex feels like a “proper” cycle. Its light, flickable and flatters your riding. The power delivery is subtle and can used unpowered without feeling like you’re pedalling in treacle.

The Wisper would suit someone looking for robust practical transport while the Cytronex would suit someone looking for a “purer” cycling experience.

I think you have summed it up pretty well there Stumpi. Although I have never ridden a Cytronex, I'm sure I'd enjoy it for the reasons you describe but I like to have storage, suspension and a comfortable seat, all of which dictates I need a BMW 5 Series Estate rather than a Lotus Exige. Ok, I know that's all possible on a Cytronex but large capacity pannier bags look naff on a sleek racing-style bike.



Indalo

 

[blanche_aline]

hmmm - I just bought a Cytronex a few days ago and in my case I'd say they certainly found their niche
I'm a 35years old Swiss (female) and after over a year considering (and waiting for the kit) I finally overcame all scruples and ordered the CAAD 10 without even a testride.
The reason is quite simple: as far as I know they're the only company that sells multigeared assisted roadbikes and that was exactly what I wanted. For me it's crucial to ride something that feels like a "real" bike and that allows me to put as much effort in it as I like without any limitations to cadence or roadability. On the other hand, the course I take to commute is just a tad too far and steep to be fun to ride (10miles and nearly 400m rise on the way home) I used to do this for a few years some time ago with a common roadbike but never managed it more than twice or three times a week. I missed commuting by bike and ogled pedelecs for quite a while but detested the thought of using precious energy (mine or the batteries) to move all this wasteful weight....

After the testride in Winchester, when I collected the bike, I was simply stunned as it works so beautifully and intuitive and back home I'm still very impressed - today I had to ride back home with an empty battery, as the bike was at a lokal dealer to center the front wheel and adjust the gears and of course they used all the energy for their testrides
It's not my usual way back home but still about 8miles and 300m - just imagine doing this with a common e-bike

 

[jerrysimon]

My second ebike was a s/h Cytronex and I have to admit I loved it after my first Alien ATB conversion. The conversion was a great introduction but the Cytronex was so much more refined. They aint cheap though.

The Cytronex introduced me to light weight ebikes and specifically Tongxin motors and I haven't looked back since

PS Welcome to the forum blanche_aline

Regards

Jerry

 

[blanche_aline]

No, they certainly aint cheap; but the next best bike I was considering was a single speed Electrolyte Straßenfeger | Electrolyte Bicycles
For it's price here in Switzerland I could easily come to england to collect my CAAD10 which is a much bether, high-end fitted bike; stay each a night in London and lovely Winchester, pay british and swiss VAT and had still some money left... If I decide one day not to use the bike as pedelec any more I remain with a fully functional roadbike. I guess that flexibility of the system doesn't come cheap as all the components are on the outside of the bike and need to be robust and easy to maintain. You cannot muddle things into a frame or box...

 

[kitchenman]

hmmm - I just bought a Cytronex a few days ago ...

welcome to the forum and welcome to your new bike. You are going to have such fun. I did 8k miles on my CX700 before switching to my recumbent. Look forward to future reviews.

 

[kitchenman]

almost forgot!.. Can you take some photos or video? ...thanks,

 

[blanche_aline]

I added some photos to my Gallery
View Profile: blanche_aline - Electric Bikes Community - Pedelecs UK
If you're interested in a particular detail, just pn me.... I also copied the infos on the label of the controller as long as it's still readable - it dates from 2/2012

Today's a holiday in the catholic parts of Switzerland - just came back from a 30miles ride and I'm still delighted how well this bike behaves

 

[jerrysimon]

Interesting Blanche, thanks for the pics.

I notice they are now using Tongxins new sized controllers.

Regards

Jerry

 

[kitchenman]

Nice. Will you be getting a bicycle computer or any other gadgets?

 

[blanche_aline]

The bike came with a small sigma computer (I took it off for the fotos because I turned the bike upside-down for some shots) beside that I don't need any more gadgets. But I already regret that I didn't buy a second battery - I never thought it would be so easy to ride on a long distance without the motor and was totally fixed on my commuting route for which one battery is sufficient. But after this morning I'm already longing for 50miles plus and it would be nice to add a few more hills....

@jerry: I thought you would notice the controller, it was the first thing I checked after reading your thread

 

[alfazzr]

Hi, new to this forum, I am considering a e-bike since finding you can buy them with the Bike4work scheme the my company runs giving approx. 42% discount on a new bike up to £1000 and e-bikes are included. I test rode a 3E Urban 2012 but thought it might be a little slow/undergeared and it was exactly £1000.

I have not biked for a long time and have 10 miles each way to work and back. Unfortunately to avoid a furhter 3 miles each way and a long busy dual carriageway A road hill I would have to go on a woodland path for about 400 yards up to a motorway bridge. Since getting interested I have found someone local selling a fixed gear 2009 Cannondale Capo that's covered 1600 miles for around £600 with lights and rack, questions: 1. Do you think this bike would handle a woodland path? 2. Would a 50 year old who can just manage 10 miles on a mountain bike in about 50 minnutes (I tried the other night) cope with a single gear with electric assist. 3. Does anyone know if I could fit a rear derailleur to this bike ?
thanks,
alfazzr

 

[kitchenman]

The bike came with a small sigma computer ...

Mine too. I keep stats for all my rides. Here they are for my first 10 rides:

Weth Bat Dst Avg Max Time
Rain Warm 15.4 miles 16.5 mph 41.3 mph 00:55:54
Cldy Warm 15.8 miles 15.9 mph 33.9 mph 00:59:49
Cldy Warm 15.4 miles 16.5 mph 41.0 mph 00:55:46
Cldy Warm 15.4 miles 16.4 mph 35.6 mph 00:56:18
Fine Warm 15.4 miles 17.2 mph 40.3 mph 00:53:55
Fine Warm 15.4 miles 16.9 mph 39.3 mph 00:54:44
Fine Warm 15.4 miles 17.7 mph 40.3 mph 00:51:59
Fine Warm 15.4 miles 17.2 mph 38.7 mph 00:53:32
Rain Warm 15.4 miles 17.2 mph 38.7 mph 00:53:57
Cldy Warm 15.4 miles 17.3 mph 40.7 mph 00:53:11

My complete cycle log is here:
https://sites.google.com/site/mycyclelog/

 

[kitchenman]

But I already regret that I didn't buy a second battery - longing for 50miles plus ...

I've got 2 batteries. I used them a couple of times for some long trips. See this thread:

http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/electric-bicycles/9439-cycling-travelling-train.html

The battery weighs about 2kg. I would suggest you fill a water bottle with sand or something, experiment with placement and see how your bike handles. If its ok then get one. If you decide to stick with one battery, carry your charger and get some charge points registered! Do they have pubs in Switzerland?

 

[blanche_aline]

Hi, new to this forum, I am considering a e-bike since finding you can buy them with the Bike4work scheme the my company runs giving approx. 42% discount on a new bike up to £1000 and e-bikes are included. I test rode a 3E Urban 2012 but thought it might be a little slow/undergeared and it was exactly £1000.

I have not biked for a long time and have 10 miles each way to work and back. Unfortunately to avoid a furhter 3 miles each way and a long busy dual carriageway A road hill I would have to go on a woodland path for about 400 yards up to a motorway bridge. Since getting interested I have found someone local selling a fixed gear 2009 Cannondale Capo that's covered 1600 miles for around £600 with lights and rack, questions: 1. Do you think this bike would handle a woodland path? 2. Would a 50 year old who can just manage 10 miles on a mountain bike in about 50 minnutes (I tried the other night) cope with a single gear with electric assist. 3. Does anyone know if I could fit a rear derailleur to this bike ?
thanks,
alfazzr

£600 is certainly a tempting price but even if it's only on a short distance, I woudn't ride such a bike on a woodland path; roadbikes are optimised for weight and not durability/ robustness, if you ride them on rough terrain you shorten their life span or even damage them...
For the use on woodland paths I'd chose completely different tyres on a bike than I would like to see on a capo - I'm not really an expert on this, but I doubt you would even get a suitable tyre on the rims they used with the Capo and with roadbike tyres you would slip horribly on a muddy surface.

The 10miles distance shoudn't be a problem though if you recharge the battery at work.

 

[blanche_aline]

We do have "publike" places here in Switzerland - but as you shoudn't recharge the battery while still warm from use I don't think recharging en route is really a practical option and the charger is nearly as heavy as a spare battery... I think I'm soon going to receive a parcel from Winchester

 

[kitchenman]

We do have "publike" places here in Switzerland - but as you shoudn't recharge the battery while still warm from use I don't think recharging en route is really a practical option and the charger is nearly as heavy as a spare battery... I think I'm soon going to receive a parcel from Winchester

My understanding is that it is ok to recharge after a period of about 15 mins. Add to that my average charge time of about 1:10 mins and you've got yourself a nice lunchtime break. just enough time for a light meal and some Swiss ale! .. The charger is about 1kg which IS a bit on the heavy side ... having 2 batteries does make sense. Just make sure you make a charging plan and look after both of them ..

 

[kitchenman]

£600 is certainly a tempting price but even if it's only on a short distance, I woudn't ride such a bike on a woodland path; roadbikes are optimised for weight and not durability/ robustness, if you ride them on rough terrain you shorten their life span or even damage them...
For the use on woodland paths I'd chose completely different tyres on a bike than I would like to see on a capo - I'm not really an expert on this, but I doubt you would even get a suitable tyre on the rims they used with the Capo and with roadbike tyres you would slip horribly on a muddy surface.

The 10miles distance shoudn't be a problem though if you recharge the battery at work.

I'd get it just for the electric "kit" and put it on a another bike. What is the history of the battery?

 

[indalo]

I woudn't ride such a bike on a woodland path; roadbikes are optimised for weight and not durability/ robustness, if you ride them on rough terrain you shorten their life span

Yes Blanche, I totally agree with that. It's the "horses for courses" situation again and I can't imagine that anyone would seriously choose a Tongxin motor fitted to a lightweight bicycle with skinny road tyres for regular, or even occasional, travel over rough terrain. There are lots of motors and bikes eminently more suited to that kind of work.

Having said that, the Cytronex set-up is perfect in the role for which it is intended.

Indalo

 

[alfazzr]

Thanks for your comments everyone, most helpful to me anyway. I am not going to buy it.

alfazzr