What is Bionx?
On Sep 17, 2008, at 8:15 PM, Jim Strasma wrote:

> 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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