bion x motor assisted bikes

[treknavigator]

anybody out there usuing this system

[electrogreen]

No, I understand they are good. Canadian design. regenerative braking...

A yahoo electric forum has a rumor spreding that there about to be bought by Magna International (big cdn auto piece maker).

[GreenGrasshoppr]

No, I understand they are good. Canadian design. regenerative braking...

A yahoo electric forum has a rumor spreding that there about to be bought by Magna International (big cdn auto piece maker).

Apparently it's not a rumor. They were bought on December 21.

[cerewa]

One or two bikeforums members have posted rave reviews of the bionx system. (I know Zeuser & his family have more than one bionx bike) You can get a great electric assist setup for less than the price of a Bionx. But bionx customers seem to love what they've got.

[adamtki]

Count me in as another happy Bionx user. I'm at 4800 miles so far.

[adamtki]

Apparently it's not a rumor. They were bought on December 21.

Where did you hear this?

[treknavigator]

adamtki just wondering what unit you are usuing . Iam approaching 6000klms on my p250 unit no problems Sold out to a big company i find that interesting as i am a dealer for the product they must be getting ready to go into the international market

[GreenGrasshoppr]

Where did you hear this?


On the above-mentionned yahoo group, from the EV Solutions guy.

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/power-assist/message/70331

Read the whole thread for all the details

[adamtki]

adamtki just wondering what unit you are usuing . Iam approaching 6000klms on my p250 unit no problems Sold out to a big company i find that interesting as i am a dealer for the product they must be getting ready to go into the international market

I use a bionx PL250. No problems either, except for my battery capacity shrinking. I'm only at 75% capacity according to the battery level meter.

[blippo]

I have the bionx PL350. It is terrific

[treknavigator]

adamtki i top my unit up just before going out there is some charge loss if one just leaves it after a few hours of full charge

[treknavigator]

Blippo i have sold a pl350 unit to a close friend of mine It sure gets up and go eh glad you are enjoying the product

[Zeuser]

I love my PL350. And my mom really likes hers as well.

[adamtki]

adamtki i top my unit up just before going out there is some charge loss if one just leaves it after a few hours of full charge

How many miles are you at? Mine didn't start to drop until about 3500 miles.

[4fingerwoo]

I have about 600 miles on my PL350. I love it. I did, however, have a battery failure three weeks ago. Picking up the repaired battery from NYCeWheels tomorrow--about a 17 day turnaround. This isn't too bad considering they had to ship from NYC to Canada.

Woo

[4fingerwoo]

Just wanted to clarify...My battery was fully charged. No reduction in charge capacity...it just died after my commute back from work...

[adamtki]

I have about 600 miles on my PL350. I love it. I did, however, have a battery failure three weeks ago. Picking up the repaired battery from NYCeWheels tomorrow--about a 17 day turnaround. This isn't too bad considering they had to ship from NYC to Canada.

Woo

600 miles? Your advice sounded like you were at the thousands of miles like me. Lithium Ion batteries don't need to be topped. They'll perform just as well not topped.

I'm interested to know how far other people have gone before their battery levels started to drop.

[4fingerwoo]

Just an update...my repaired bionx battery works better than it did before I sent it out for repairs. On a very steep section of hills, my prior speed was about 4-6 mph and it is now about 7-9 mph. Now mind you this hill breaks alot of people...anyway, battery is fine, holds a charge just fine. Just rode in to work this AM and it was 5.5 F outside. On my return trip, it was about 13F outside. No trouble holding a charge in this weather but I make sure I bring the battery inside when it is not being used...

Woo

[treknavigator]

Nice to heard everbody's having a good time on there Bion X systems really is a great product isn't it Reach 6000klms on mine and working on the 7th 1000 klm's

[RHoude]

Nice to heard everbody's having a good time on there Bion X systems really is a great product isn't it Reach 6000klms on mine and working on the 7th 1000 klm's

Definitely nice to hear all the good comments about the BionX. We're considering fitting four of our cycling vacation bikes with the BionX PL250 wheel. We think they would be a fantastic option for those cyclists who are afraid they could not keep up with their partner or the group, or for those portions of the week when we will face some climbing or headwinds.

How have you all mounted your battery unit? On the frame or the bike rack?

Thanks,
Ron

[treknavigator]

on the frame is best if you can do it some times it doesn't lend itself well to that though

[4fingerwoo]

My 350 is mounted on the bike frame where the water bottle usually sits...

Woo

[adamtki]

Frame as well. It distributes the weight more evenly (for those with rear wheel bionx) for better handling.

[RHoude]

Frame as well. It distributes the weight more evenly (for those with rear wheel bionx) for better handling.

I assume you also want to keep the bike's Center of Gravity as low as possible. Fitting the battery pack on the rack is not a very good place in that respect and it will make the bike less stable.

Thanks for the feedback,

[RHoude]

Apparently it's not a rumor. They were bought on December 21.

Has anyone found a confirmation of this? I went to the BionX and Magna International web sites and nothing is mentioned on either of the sites about the buy-out. BionX is an interesting little company. Its founder and the inventor of the BionX wheel come from a region of Quebec (Beauce) well known for its inventors. I had an opportunity to meet and talk with Jean-Yves Dubé at a bike show and he is a very interesting fellow.

Cheers,

[treknavigator]

Keep up the reseach of the Bion X take over and post any news of it if you can

[RHoude]

Keep up the reseach of the Bion X take over and post any news of it if you can

I came across an indirect confirmation of the buy-out of the BionX brand by Magna International. The lead came from a job advertisement for electrical engineers in the Beauce area. The ad identified the makers of the BionX wheel as Electrical Power & Systems EPS inc., part of the Magna Marque consumer products division of Magna International. The BionX whell is shown as a product line of the Magna Marque division on their web page.

It seems that Magna International has kept really low key on the purchase. A combing over of their web site with the additional information has not yielded any more official news.

Cheers,

[treknavigator]

Any more info on the Magna International take over of Bionx love to hear the news

[treknavigator]

please supply link to magna marque web site if you could please

[cerewa]

treknavigator,

as far as I know there is no website for the Magna Bicycles brand, although you can find their bikes at target.com, kmart.com and walmart.com . Magna International's website is www.magna.com .

As stated before, they don't seem to be advertising anything about the takeover of BionX or whether it actually occured. Looks like there isn't any news on the subject at all.

[RHoude]

please supply link to magna marque web site if you could please

This is the link I found for Magna Marque (http://www.magnaaftermarket.com/). This is the most uncommunicative web site I have ever seen, but it docujments a link between Magna International and BionX.

Best,
Ron

[bsut]

I am impressed with the BionX design and features. I'm considering building a 650c rear wheel around a PL350 for use in a Volae recumbent. With windshield, tail sok, and side fairings, it's almost a velomobile.

Why is the power-assist max speed regulated to 20mph in North America? Any hacks to lift that limit?

[cerewa]

bsut:

if you want to learn about how to remove the BionX system's built in speed limiter, you can check out http://endless-sphere.com/forums .

One of the ways you can fool the speed limit (i hear) is to tell it you have a smaller wheel than you really do.

FYI, the BIONX motor is not a particularly good choice for a high top speed. It is designed to work well at 20mph and down and I think the useful power really drops off after that because the motor isn't designed to spin faster. With the cyclone system, your top speed is higher because you can use your gearing to keep the motor within its preferred operating-speed range until about 28 or 30mph.

With front-to-back fairings you'll be able to get either motor close to its top operating speed on flat ground.

[treknavigator]

it is out on you tube magna bionx merger look for What is Bion X on Bion X BIKES ON YOU TUBE

[JohnM1949]

Why is the power-assist max speed regulated to 20mph in North America? Any hacks to lift that limit?

It keeps the BionX equipped bike within the US Consumer Products Safety Commission's definition of a "low-speed electric bicycle".

http://www.cpsc.gov/BUSINFO/frnotices/fr03/low.pdf

Public Law 107–319, 116 Stat.
2776 (the Act), enacted December 4,
2002, subjects low-speed electric
bicycles to the Commission’s existing
regulations at 16 CFR part 1512 and 16
CFR 1500.18(a)(12) for bicycles that are
solely human powered. For purposes of
this requirement, the Act defines a lowspeed
electric bicycle as ‘‘a two-or threewheeled
vehicle with fully operable
pedals and an electric motor of less than
750 watts (1 h.p.), whose maximum
speed on a paved level surface, when
powered solely by such a motor while
ridden by an operator who weighs 170
pounds, is less than 20 mph.’’

[treknavigator]

Anyone having problems with the 350 watt motor with spoke breakage is it possibale to apply to much physical torque along withe motor torque to warrant spoke breakage . share similiar problems please

[bsut]

Anyone having problems with the 350 watt motor with spoke breakage is it possibale to apply to much physical torque along withe motor torque to warrant spoke breakage . share similiar problems please

Spokes break because the wheel was built poorly, usually with low and uneven spoke tension. I wouldn't build a wheel for a motorized bike with low spoke count and radial lacing. Use conventional wheel building techniques to produce a quality wheel and you should be fine, whatever the load and power.

[JeanCoutu]

That's funny I don't recall reading about someone with a bionx having spoke problems. I've checked out a couple bionx wheels and thinking back all of them seemed excellent, they come pre-built and squeezing the spokes reveals good tension, not machine built. They have real looking rims and are laced with real looking spokes, I dunno what but it's not toy store grade. Overall a different timezone next to the crap that seems typical with crystalyte motors. I think it speaks pretty highly how people who use them almost never come on forums like this telling about problems or asking how to fix them.

[adamtki]

This is the link I found for Magna Marque (http://www.magnaaftermarket.com/). This is the most uncommunicative web site I have ever seen, but it docujments a link between Magna International and BionX.

Best,
Ron


Well, the video here from a guy from Bionx reassures me that they're only getting bigger with the Magna "partnership". He didn't go into too much detail on this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ka6-8Gdcg1g

[Schpoink]

bsut:

if you want to learn about how to remove the BionX system's built in speed limiter, you can check out http://endless-sphere.com/forums .

One of the ways you can fool the speed limit (i hear) is to tell it you have a smaller wheel than you really do.




Bionx may have updated the controller's firmware to prevent the override of the top-speed limiter. See this post on the endless-sphere forum:

http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=896&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&hilit=bionx

"Re: Everything you ever wanted to know about BionX...
"
"Post by russel on Thu Apr 17, 2008 2:11 am
"Hi!
"
"I´m from germany and i´m new in this forum.
"
"I guess that Bionx have enabled the 3773 code.
"They announced that in the future it won´t be possible to play with the speed "parameters anymore and now i guess this has come true...
"A member In a german forum wrote that everytime he enters the 3773 code the "display of the console shows
" "max speed 25 km/h"...! He can´t change this setting.
"So what else can we do to make the system a bit faster?


I just ordered a 350w Bionx kit for my Specialized Expedition. I was looking forward to turning off the limiter for off-road use. Anyone else know a way around this?

[kbdog]

Does anyone know of a Bionx dealer in Toronto who actually has the PL350 in stock? They seem to be sold out nearly everywhere.
On another topic, I noticed that Bionx sells a 500w version but only in California. This version would be legal in Ontario if limited to 32km/h. I wonder why it's not offered here.

[treknavigator]

sales have outstripped production Bion x is having problems getting batterys from Sony as well as production for motors is 5 weeks behind got the info from our rep there is a 500watt made but it borders on having to be licenced and we don't want that .

[mostlybent]

Does anyone know of a Bionx dealer in Toronto who actually has the PL350 in stock? They seem to be sold out nearly everywhere.
On another topic, I noticed that Bionx sells a 500w version but only in California. This version would be legal in Ontario if limited to 32km/h. I wonder why it's not offered here.

I have a PL350 spoked onto a 700C wheel ...

Bionx will probly start to sell the 500watt units when they get production beefed-up because they are the best system in north America, and cannot keep up with demand.


marc

[chainstrainer]

Check out the 500W Bionx on a 20" Dahon folder here:

http://www.dahon.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=5074&st=0&#entry38353

Pretty fast little bike. And it tucks away in your car's trunk.

[nipperdawg]

Hi All.

I've been wating for a 350 watt since May 1st. At first i was told two weeks, then I was told they were moving the factory, then i called today and i was told another 2 weeks (for a total of six weeks so far). I have nerve damage in one leg, so I can't pedal, and thought this would be a perfect thing for me.

I dont mind being told the truth, but dont keep telling me something different each time. I sent an email to Bionx, my next step is to make a phone call and see what exactly is going on, if i can find a phone number for them. By the time I get it the riding season will be over, and I will not be a happy csutomer.

I had heard many good things about this system, but now it is leaving a bad taste in my mouth.

And Yes Magna bought them, as Magna wanted thier motor technology. Magna wants to get into the electric car business (Autmotive engineering is my field).

nipper

[Zeuser]

I had to wait a Month in April '07 to get mine.

No biggie.

[Zeuser]

Removing the limiter. And other handy console settings I use:


Initial Setup

Throttle
Turn on system
Press Mode and -G for 2 seconds
During countdown, press throttle lever all the way down
Once throttle reaches 0 , release throttle
Turn off system

Choose PIN
Press and hold +A and -G for 2 seconds
Using +A and -G keys, choose digits
Press Mode to select digit and move to next digit

Configure menus
Press and hold Mode and Chrono buttons for 2 seconds to get into menu system.
Use +A and -G to set each digit and press Mode to go to next digit
Use +A and -G to select options for each menu
Some menus have extra options which can be selected with Chrono button
Press Mode button to save changes and exit programming menu
0007 : Set to 3.0
0008 : Set "A" to 4.0, Set "B" to 1.0
1234 : Sensor speed signal , set to 4
1970 : Configuration backlight. Set to OFF
1976 : Motor direction. Set to 1 (forward)
2001 : Set to km/h
2002 : Generative braking, set to max (64)
2003 : Activate battery remain display (toggle)
2004 : Set the clock to current time
2005 : Set wheel size to 2075
2006 : Brake sensor, set to ON
2007 : Polarity throttle, set to 0
3771 : Set wheel size to 2075
3773 : Max speed (assist), set to OFF
3774 : PR ? set to ON
3775 : Max speed (throttle) , set to OFF
3776 : Speed motor will start, set to OFF
3779 : Time and Distance remaining display, activate if not active already.

Useful settings

Menu code 5000 to reset console
Menu code 3772 to set console to diagnostic mode
Menu code 0041 to activate 12C. Unknown setting
Press and hold Mode for 5 cycles of backlight toggles to reset battery. Will beep rapidly when reset.
Hold Mode button 2 seconds for backlight
Press Chrono and +A or -G to set display contrast
Press Chrono to select display type. Hold Chrono 2 seconds to reset data
Press and hold Mode and +A to arm alarm


PS: Write down your current settings first before changing them to the values I use. That way, if you don't like it you can restored it to what you had before.

[kbdog]

I ordered a Bionx 350 PL two weeks ago. It apparently is on back order and should arrive in Early August!!

[brebis_egaree00]

http://www.alibaba.com/catalog/101109946/Bionx_E_Bike_Conversion_Set_Electric_Bike_Kit_Lithium_Polymer_Technology.html

look at that it s a bit strange no ?

[nipperdawg]

I finally got mine after only 9 weeks of waiting. The shop (NYCeBikes) said he had a back order of 75 units. SO this isnt going to go away any time soon. So far i love it and am wondering if there is any way to tap into the battery to power a GOOD headlight.

nipper