headline motors

[fishingpaul]

anybody know anything about these motor kits,on ebay item number 310030315083,they drive through the gears.

 

[flecc]

It's just a fake name I'm afraid, and their quoted prices are suspect

It's the Cyclone motor kit, having quite a few problems, including waterproofing, corrosion, poor chain path, poor instructions with it and difficulty in getting information from them. One member did buy a kit and hit the problems of colour codes not matching the instructions, plus other discrepancies. It's also a cash up front trade, no credit cards accepted so no protection from that.

The 180 watt is very weak, the illegal 360 not too bad but not very powerful, the 500 watt ok but a real juice eater.

One of the biggest disadvantages is that it has to use an extended BB spindle and bent outwards cranks to accommodate the motor width, so it's cycling with splayed legs.

Cyclone UK site

Cyclone Taiwan
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[fishingpaul]

Thanks flecc.

 

[Ian]

The seller does accept paypal who offer buyer protection so is likely to be genuine. However one does wonder how much someone who in the instructions repeatetly refers to the "button bracket" really knows about bikes. Perhaps Aussie bikes do have a button bracket.. could it be an upside down bottom bracket, or is it something to assist with the splayed leg riding style.

 

[flecc]

They got that from the Cyclone Taiwan site Ian. , probably down to "Paul" (real name Ping-Yueh Lin).

It repeatedly refers to "button bracket" in the fitting instructions, and you'll probably enjoy the reference to "three chain notes", scroll down on this page to see that:

New Kits

It would be nice if the kits were sent out with that easy plug in system as shown, instead of a tangle of loose wires with colour codes different and even the number of wires different from the illustrations.

There's no question of them not sending a kit, as you say they use PayPal, but I prefer the credit card cover for purchasing and dislike some of PayPal's practices.

Its very noticeable to me how suppliers who have had serious quality issues and complaints start to refuse credit cards on "security" grounds, Batteryspace and Cyclone here for example.
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[jimmyengland1000]

Ok, so let me just get this clear.... I check the distance between the real wheel and the button bracket. Once I've fitted it to the button bracket, I add some chain to the all chain.... about 3 notes...... right?

 

[Ian]

Well now we know where all the pictures came from, and the bad English.

If the far East ever learns good English we'll lose a source of entertainment.

 

[flecc]

Ok, so let me just get this clear.... I check the distance between the real wheel and the button bracket. Once I've fitted it to the button bracket, I add some chain to the all chain.... about 3 notes...... right?

You've got it exactly.

It hasn't proved so amusing an experience for those who've paid for one though.

Much of the bad experiences with the kits once fitted are from the USA, but it's good enough for me that there are US dealers who refuse to sell Cyclone now following their experiences.
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[chantelauze]

Cyclone DIY kits on fire

different techical drawbacks have been reported from end users about that Cyclone company in Taiwan on the french pedelec forum Cyclurba , including some fire accident in France by explosion of Lithium batteries sold through Cyclone Taiwan Co., i would strongly advise not to buy any of the battery pack they are providing ....

Extraenergy.org of Germany has repeatedly warned about that company ...

 

[flecc]

Thanks for that information chantelauze.

Even Cyclone themselves restrict the sale of their Li-ion battery to the lower powered motors to keep the current demand low. Of course it's a cheap cobalt cathode battery, and the words cheap and cobalt cathode are a dangerous combination.
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[ballparkcy]

Hi, I'd just like to add that I have recently fitted a Cyclone kit to my KMX. So far very impressed with the performance although I have not travelled any great distance so can't comment on the LifePO4 battery pack stamina.

I can confirm that they pulled me up a steep hill (1:4 approx) nearby at 25A - 750w peek on my Doc-Watson only needing very slight pedalling, and that was in top gear flat out.!!! I was quite amazed...

Over 1.6miles average 20mph peeked at 29.5mph (slight downhill)..thats on a 20" KMX wheel.

I can understand the issues mentioned but can't really complain at the overall price/performance you get. As you require some mechanical inspiration to fit one correctly referring to the 'double' free-wheel version, a manual to me would be stating the obvious.

I would recommend this as a cheap starter kit, no problems..!

P.S.

Video of the above to follow once I can sort out a decent camera mount.

Rgds,
Ballparkcy

 

[flecc]

I remember you fitting it ballparkcy, and I think they're suited to a recumbent trike in some ways more than a bike. How was your kit on wiring though, since others have found wiring variations and non-matching instructions, plus difficulty on getting answers? It would be good to know if they've got past this problem.
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[ballparkcy]

My wiring was fine, a large female connector on the battery, and male connector on the motor , handed. The controller has a male one end female the other, handed but of a multi-pin type. Impossible to get this confused.

Paco answered every question I threw at him, the only thing I had to work out was the fitment on the KMX. Paco's original position through photos I sent him was not ideal. Hence additional lower freewheel (which allows for perfect vertical alignment entering the front cross member) + tensioner required under high torque (stop chain derailing)

This was constructed using a replacement KMX underseat freewheel kit + a KoRe tensioner. All mounted with my own bespoke Alu brackets + socket cap bolts.

As far as Im aware I am the first to fit a double-free wheel motor on a KMX. I think tony castle AKA Mr Motivator has done a standard version.

Ther problem with that is you then have to use Cyclone's dog leg cranks!

The double-free wheel leaves the original crank in place, normal displacement.

There were no instructions supplied, but as an Engineer by trade found this not to be an issue....

Regards,
Ballparkcy

 

[flecc]

Thanks Ballparkcy. It's good to hear that they are back to a properly wired setup as illustrated on their site, since that makes the lack of instructions bearable.

I thought your installation was much more sensible than the single freewheel one, the bent cranks and wide leg angle probably even worse on a recumbent than an upright.
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