[RayB]

I have recently purchased and installed a cyclone kit on my old commuter.

With the rainy season coming here in Tokyo soon I am a little anxious about riding this thing in the rain as the controller sits on the motor unit below the bottom bracket and I am sure it will get pretty drenched when it starts to rain. I have avoided using it in the rain thus far.

Any other cyclone users have issues during wet weather?

Thanks,

[The BikeForums Team]

This is an archived thread, you can find the full version of this thread, with images, links and more content here.

Ready to buy? Check out these two online bike stores:
- http://www.nashbar.com (you can find the latest bike nashbar coupons in this thread)
- http://www.performancebike.com (you can find the latest performance bike coupons in this thread)

Cya on the forums,
- The BikeForums Team
- http://www.bikeforums.net

[cerewa]

it is not rainproof. I broke mine (I'm not entirely sure if it's the controller or the motor that broke) and went ahead and replaced the controller/motor combo at considerable expense.

It is entirely rainproof except the hole where the wires enter the motor, and I'm told that can be plugged with caulk.

[RayB]

Thats not good news at all. Perhaps I will have to stick to the normal bike through the rainy season.

Thanks

[BroadwayJoe]

Excuse me, you live in Japan? Why not get one of these instead of the Cyclone?

http://www.jbpi.or.jp/english/JBG/JBG2007-2008/data/014-015.pdf

[RayB]

hehehe, plenty of reasons to be honest.

1) I have spent alot of money on my old commuter to make it comfortable and a great ride. Why ditch that for the sake of getting an electric

2) I only have space here in Japan for maybe 2 bikes

3) The stock ebikes here in Japan are 250 watt and max out at 25km/h. Not strong enough for me.

4) And the biggest reason. All bikes here are made for little people. I am 6'5 so no luck in getting most things local unless custom made. Hence modding one of my existing rides makes the most sense and brining in just a motor is easier than shipping in an entire bike. Also back to reason 1.

And a few other ones to be honest :)

[BroadwayJoe]

Thanks for your reply.

I'm 6'2" 225lbs and ride a 26" National brand Panasonic ViVi with no size complaints. The ViVi Toughness with 10AH battery looks like a good size 27" wheeled eBike?

Gimme 250W through bike gearing over 750W in the wheel - any day. Top speed on a Panasonic drive is easily raised by a smaller rear cog.

As far as your original question - I know my Panasonic drive does just fine in very wet weather.

I'm not arguing or judging anything - I just found it odd you live where perhaps the best BB drive system in the world is readily available and you don't seem interested? Do you realize you're in a position to make many friends and/or money hooking some of us up with Panasonic drive products and modification knowledge?

There's a guy I found on youtube that has some links to cyclone powered bikes - maybe toss a question out there for weatherproofing information about the cyclone? Check some of the cyclone vids here:

http://www.mr-motorvator.co.uk/

best to you...

[RayB]

Thanks for the link.

I would not go with 750W either. I have using a 500W model from Cyclone. Yes, I understand what your saying, but I did not say I was not interested in them. For me, it is down to comfort and numbers. I already invested a large amount of money in decent rims, brakes, saddle and all the other usual parts as I used to use this older bike for touring. Maybe invested upwards of 1500 bucks into the original purchase. So for the comfort of what I know I fit well on, and keeping my decent parts slapping a motor onto this one for me was a no brainer.

I would rather spend 60,000 yen on a motor kit for something I already like as opposed to buying a new bike for the same price and have to go through the whole evaluation process again.

On the supply side of things, yes I do know of what is available here and would be happy to help anyone out who wants to order stuff within reason as I do not have huge amounts of time to dedicate to things outside of my current career. If anyone wants to discuss ordering something drop me a PM.

But to be honest at the end of the day with my body geometry I have not found a size bike yet here in Japan that I am comfortable on especially for the 60km per day that I need this ebike to do.

Now my wife on the other hand, she is admiring my bike now and we may go the panasonic route for her. Have to save some more dosh first though :)

[BroadwayJoe]

Thanks Ray - sounds like you gotta great system working for you! Rain is always gonna be a problem for us eBikers. Even though my Panasonic motor is well sealed from moisture - the control box on the handlebar is sticking out in the open. I've never had it die yet but I haven't been in heavy downpours for very long either.

Thanks for your willingness to help and share. I won't ask you to become involved directly but if you happen to run across a person or business who knows Panasonic eBikes, speaks English and doesn't mind dealing with Americans - please feel free to PM with their info.

Basically, I'm looking for information about replacement batteries and any technical information, including mods that only folks in Japan can help me with. I can make my own battery packs but they're not as slick as OEM.

Thanks again and enjoy the cyclone ride!

best, joe

[RayB]

You want OEM replacement batteries? Just let me know what you want I can ask around to see what the prices are. You can also try dumping model numbers etc into auction.yahoo.co.jp . I always see batteries for local stuff on there.

PM me the details and I will see what I can do.