There was a fellow at our university "Sustainability Week" cycling
event Monday with several Bionix-powered electric bikes. I got to ride
one briefly, just long enough to conclude that it would be better on a
recumbent trike than on the upright trike I was testing. (It was
narrow enough and top-heavy enough to make cornering even at slow
speed exciting at best.) the Bionix motor seemed to work well though,
either in doing all the work mode or in assisting your pedaling mode.
The dealer definitely recommends getting the best available Lithium
ion battery for the Bionix, in order to get enough range, and thought
it very unlikely anyone could ride one on a Century (100 miles) even
using it only to assist in pedaling. On the other hand, his bikes were
very heavy, very solid steel models, so results might well be much
better on a lighter bike. I'm glad I got a chance to try this, but
don't think my wife is quite ready to deal with it yet. I suspect
she'd be happier on a tandem trike with me there too, though one of
those costs even more, and takes up more space in the garage, and is
harder to pack.

Thanks for your post below.


--- In Greenspeedtrikeowners@yahoogroups.com, jimbrown70@... wrote:
>
> Below is my previous reply regarding the subject of BionX Power Assist
> that seems to have gotten buried under the 'New Member' heading. I have
> received no comments or any other questions regarding Power Assist so I
> hereby create a new topic. (I hope)
>
> Sincerely, D. J. Brown, DBOG <:-)#<<=
> Sedro Woolley WA USA
>
> Date: Sun, 24 Aug 2008 13:22:51 -0700
> Subject: BionX on My GTO
>
> Yes, the BionX unit does work. And with only a couple exceptions quite
> well. There are quirks in most new items and the largest BionX one is
> delivery time. Lack of dealers & mechanic experience sees to be
> improving. I was told that the rear hub provided with the motor &
> wheel unit does not use a standard freewheel, so I ordered the whole
> trike from PBW in CA. I could find no local or even WA state dealers
> that would play with such systems. And BionX refuses to correspond
> with anyone other than dealers.
>
> A year ago I purchased the top of the line BionX and am very glad I did.
> The 350 watt lithium ion battery has driven me 50 or so miles with
> assist. It is NOT intended for full time use but can do so using the
hand
> throttle after starting motion. On my 10% grade gravel drive I have to
> assist with peddling while hauling groceries. I think the torque
> sensor is calibrated for upright bikes as it seems to take too much
> peddle pressure to activate it at the 35% and 75% assist settings.
> Such continuous pressure will kill one's knees on a recumbent. So I
> run it mostly at 150% assist and hit the hand throttle when my crank
> cadence gets below 70 RPM. On the old MTB years ago I could average 12
> MPH overall. The GTR72 I averaged 10 MPH. With the power assist on the
> GTO I now average 15 MPH overall. Most of my travel is on the valley
> floor and smooth paved roads but I have a mile of 2% grade up a course
> McAdam (now called chip seal) road home. My main problem with that road
> is vibration transmitted by the 100PSI Scorcher tires which loosens
bolts
> and knocks off lights & fender mounts.
>
> Battery drain depends upon many factors. The BionX web page states
> that their figures do not consider wind resistance, slope, rolling
> resistance, etc. I assume it to mean the results were done on a
> trainer stand. But the figures do appear reasonable. I made one ride
> last September of 55 miles using 150% assist and hand throttle for
> starts, hills and cadence control with only an hour recharge during a
> mid point meeting. When I tried the same ride in November, cold and
> stiff head wind, I ran out of power half way and had to cycle home
> with NO assist. One can turn the controller off and cycle normally
> but of course than the controller does not record statistics. (I keep
> a log of all my rides.)
>
> I have heard from a fellow in Port Angeles, WA, that converted his 26"
> touring bike who said the BionX 350 did not have enough power for his
> hill. Of course, on a trike one can always gear down and creep up a hill
> and the power assist does assist. I run my rig in the 65 tooth
> Schlumpf chain wheel all the time. If I forget to gear down at a stop
> all I have to do is click my right heel against the shift lever to get
> a 2.5X gear reduction that will get me moving enough to hit the
> throttle lever to get me up to speed. I have calculated the gear-inch
> table for my rigs if anyone is interested and can decode a MS Excel
> table.
>
> Sincerely, D. J. Brown, DBOG <:-)#<<=
> Sedro Woolley WA USA
>
> --- In Greenspeedtrikeowners@yahoogroups.com, "Jim Strasma"
> <jimstrasma@> wrote:
> >
> > Welcome! Tell us about your experience with the BionX. Does it do all
> the work, or just make the pedaling easier? And for how many miles
> > before it needs a recharge (I've read that maximum distance epends
> > somewhat on which battery you have for your BionX.)
> >
> > I ask because my wife can only go about 8 MPH on her GT3, and I've
> wondered if adding a BionX would allow her to keep up with me, while
> still getting a workout herself. Unfortunately, I don't think the
> > BionX is available for 16" wheels, so we'd have to figure out some way
> to get at least an 18" wheel on that bike.
> > -Jim S.
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