fly f

[handbaked]

Anyone had experience of these?

http://flykly.com/smart-wheel

looks interesting.

6ah, 3kg, looks great.

 

[jonathan75]

It does look great, aesthetically and just the idea of it, but I'd worry about the motor barbecuing the battery which encircles it. The inner motor itself looks very small, I'd worry that it wouldn't really do the job. And 6ah really means 5 or 4ah given that total discharge is a nono on lithium. 1k Euros and another 200 for a charger sounds a bit steep.

 

[Emo Rider]

I would spend my money on a Freego Raptor first. Nice idea though.

 

[flecc]

Ever since the Berkestrand "Motorised Wheel" in the USA about 15 years ago, there has been a succession of these one wheel solutions, some with integral battery, some without.

Not one has ever succeeded, so it's a pity that people dreaming these up don't do a little research first.
.

 

[anotherkiwi]

Ever since the Berkestrand "Motorised Wheel" in the USA about 15 years ago, there has been a succession of these one wheel solutions, some with integral battery, some without.

Not one has ever succeeded, so it's a pity that people dreaming these up don't do a little research first.
.

Ah but you aren't following flecc! The goal isn't customer dollars it is all about getting investment dollars, living like kings while they last and then saying "oh too bad our wonderful idea flopped" to the stupid investors without clues who don't know that people have been inventing the wheel for years (sorry couldn't resist that one...). And of course their App is so great they will succeed where the others failed ad nauseum...

Tony

 

[flecc]

I agree some of them are like that Tony, but not all. Some reach the market on the company's money but just fail to sell.

It's an idea that only the creators seem to like, the public clearly don't for some reason.
.

 

[SteveRuss]

From reading up on the Copenhagen Wheel and now this, i'm starting to realise there is probably a future market for these sorts of 'wheel only' modifications of people's existing pedal bikes. The idea of being able to lock it out is surely going to put off some of the better educated thieves as well.

I still feel these companies may come and go until someone gets these designs (and prices) just right for the right type of customer. All that back pedalling is a little odd to me though..

 

[Deleted member 4366]

The basic idea of putting the battery, motor and controller in the wheel is a a sound one. The various companies previously discussed have made a bit of a meal of their development, which has delayed the launch of their products. I guess that we, ll see a flood of copycats from China and Taiwan before the original ones even get started. Here's one I've not seen before:

http://www.taipeicycle.com.tw/en_US/product/info.html?id=0FB1A49D01822B26599E65A37D10CD33

 

[anotherkiwi]

I agree if:

- Make it user servicable, let me swap out the battery if, when, however etc...
- price it competively with a separate battery and motor conversion kit

See how your example looks like the GoSwiss drive, at least they are copying attractive industrial design

Tony

 

[flecc]

Not being able to charge a battery separately indoors is a major disadvantage with these one wheel systems. Not all outdoor locations have electricity on tap and garages and sheds are often remote from homes. Work locations also usually require any recharge there to be for the battery indoors.

And a linked disadvantage is not being able to tackle longer runs with a second battery, made even more important with the small batteries in these wheels.

If they really were a good commercial proposition, why haven't existing e-bike companies offered them? After all they sometimes offer kits as well as complete e-bikes, so these would superficially seem to be an attractive addition.

On the evidence I think that the past failures are likely to continue, with these wheels never really catching on.
.

 

[selrahc1992]

Not being able to charge a battery separately indoors is a major disadvantage with these one wheel systems. Not all outdoor locations have electricity on tap and garages and sheds are often remote from homes. Work locations also usually require any recharge there to be for the battery indoors.

And a linked disadvantage is not being able to tackle longer runs with a second battery, made even more important with the small batteries in these wheels.

If they really were a good commercial proposition, why haven't existing e-bike companies offered them? After all they sometimes offer kits as well as complete e-bikes, so these would superficially seem to be an attractive addition.

On the evidence I think that the past failures are likely to continue, with these wheels never really catching on.
.

I'm no engineer, but i fail to see the actualk advantage of all that unnecesary unsprung weight - i can see the concepot might seem good, but in practice separating the compnents of teh system makes loads of sense

 

[anotherkiwi]

Yep the only way it would work for a lot of people would be motor in the front wheel which with quick release would solve two problems: indoor charging and theft. Concerning the target demographic I think that they are only aiming at short (flat) inner city commutes. As for the unsprung weight it will work much better on bigapple mounted cruiser type bikes than the fixie ultalight racing frames with skinny tyres they keep showing them off on.

While looking at e-bike porn on the net I stumbled upon the pinion e1.8. Now there is a motor/gearbox combination to damn yourself for! Quick give me the contract I will sign away my soul in the blink of an eye!

Tony

 

[SteveRuss]

And a linked disadvantage is not being able to tackle longer runs with a second battery, made even more important with the small batteries in these wheels.
.

Point taken and that is one of the reasons I would personally not have one..

I just wonder how many people though, attracted to riding a bike to work on shorter distances (or stopping smoking or drinking less wine etc..) may see the reasoning in owning of these.

From what i've learnt from people on this forum, like your good self, is that batteries will ultimately become lighter and more efficient. Whether that will substantially change these kind of mods in the shorter term, I don't know. But I can still see the value at the moment, for the short distance rider that wants something they can carry up and down the stairs at West Brompton Station without having to wait for a rugby team to help them carry it up for them..

 

[flecc]

I can still see the value at the moment, for the short distance rider that wants something they can carry up and down the stairs at West Brompton Station without having to wait for a rugby team to help them carry it up for them..

The trouble is that this is only a part of what is a small e-bike market in the UK, made even smaller by the shortest distances best handled unpowered for weight reasons.

The big pedelec markets in such as The Netherlands and Germany are generally happy to buy quite expensive e-bikes, the former now with one in six bikes bought being e-bikes and the kit approach hardly in evidence.

Maybe one day, but I see no evidence to give me any confidence in that so far.
.

 

[anotherkiwi]

"drinking less wine etc..

You just lost me there, living inFrance and drinking less wine... you must be on hops!!!

Tony

 

[flecc]

You just lost me there, living inFrance and drinking less wine... you must be on hops!!!

Tony

Being teetotal I didn't drink a drop when living in France!

I suppose that made me doubly an alien.
.

 

[SteveRuss]

You just lost me there, living inFrance and drinking less wine... you must be on hops!!!

Tony

Hops before wine fine.. That's how my days generally pan out..