Electric Bikes - BionX Seminar - Questions anyone?

So my work is taking me to a BionX seminar, where i get to meet all the bionX people.
I was wondering if anyone on the forums had any unanswered questions that they would like me to bring to BionX while I am meeting with them??

Just let me know!

Any plans for cassette instead of freewheel?

I'd love to have (maybe this is already there) an outlet for a 6 volt lighting (http://peterwhitecycles.com/lightingsystems.htm) setup.

[QUOTE=bsut;8411337]Any plans for cassette instead of freewheel?QUOTE]

I can totally ask about cassettes for you :)

possibility to mount Bionx on a Brompton or Dahon Curve

One day producing a front hub app. with all the functionality of a standard BionX rear hub set-up (you just knew I'd be asking about that).

I have a bionx 350 36v li-ion in a bag on my rack on a trex hybrid 7500 and there are times i would like to have 2 battery for it. that i could switch from one to the outher.

I have a couple questions:

1. When will they support a BionX users forum?

2. I have noticed a firmware bug in version 2.7 that causes the controller to lockup (system crash) every 150 miles or so. The lockup makes the motor and all buttons non-functional. To restore system, I have found that I can unlock the battery and slide it just enough to disconnect electrical power to the controller. I haven't tried disconnecting the controller at the handle bars. Is BionX aware of this problem and have a fix?

there are times i would like to have 2 battery for it. that i could switch from one to the outher.I would like to mount two batteries on my bike and have them both simultaneously connected, just like having a battery that's twice as big. Using the current style batteries, I would mount the second on the water bottle bosses on the underside of my downtube.

How about a battery package that could mount on the front of the bike, like touring luggage. It could be either in two sections like lowrider panniers, on a rack like the Tubus Duo (http://peterwhitecycles.com/tubus_racks.asp#Duo) or Tara (http://peterwhitecycles.com/tubus_racks.asp#Tara), or in one section to mount above the wheel on a constructeur or randonneur style rack (http://www.velo-orange.com/racks.html). There would be some challenge involved in routing the power cable, but that's not insurmountable.

I am marking all of these down on my list, and I will be happy to see them all addressed! If you guys have any other questions, I need them by Thursday, 10:30pm MST

I would like to know if there is any plans in the future to change the system so we can buy other manafacturers batteries?

Thank You

Hi raevyn - thanks for your offer - I have a few questions:
1. Why don't they sell their 500w models in Canada? (Only sold in California but would be legal in many parts of Canada)
2. What are they doing to improve and expand their dealer network? (At the moment there are very few dealers who know anything about Bionx - even the ones selling Bionx)
3. When will they publish a full list of mods and programming tips? (Their manual doesn't give much detail.)
4. Since dealer support is so spotty, will they consider adding more support on their website? (Currently it is quite general.)
5. What changes to the company can we expect as a result of the Magna purchase of Bionx?

Hi raevyn - thanks for your offer - I have a few questions:
1. Why don't they sell their 500w models in Canada? (Only sold in California but would be legal in many parts of Canada)

I know of at least one BionX dealer here in Vancouver selling the PL500 kit.

Okee dokee...
im sitting here in the seminar RIGHT NOW! not only have i addressed all of these questions for you, but I have also sent a link to this form to the BionX people to actually start posting on here as well!!

so here are the answers to your questions.

1. Any plans for cassette instead of freewheel? yes, however it will not work with the sensor gauge.
2. possibility to mount Bionx on a Brompton or Dahon Curve? brompton - no, dahon- probably.
3. switching between 2 batteries? it is a consideration for the future.
4. will they sell 500 motors in Canada? only as a 20", as when it is in a 26" wheel, it exceeds legal speeds. as a dealer, we cannot re-spoke it for you.
5. What are they doing to improve and expand their dealer network? they are holding seminars like the one i am in right now, to help dealers understand how the product works better, so we can better help you guys out. once that is completed, it will help us dealers become more competent!
6. Since dealer support is so spotty, will they consider adding more support on their website? BionX would prefer customers to directly deal with your local dealer,.
7. What changes to the company can we expect as a result of the Magna purchase of Bionx? better warranty times, better made products,
8. Is BionX aware of the 2.7 firmware problem and have a fix? yes this is something that they are aware of, and advise taking it to your dealer. your dealer should be able to help you determine if the problem is with the battery, cables, or the console. once the problem has been determined, your dealer should then be able to contact Bionx for a repair or replacement.
9. is there any plans in the future to change the system so we can buy other manufacturers batteries? there is little to no chance of this, as they cannot assure the quality of those batteries and their components if you get them from an outside source.
10. One day producing a front hub app. with all the functionality of a standard BionX rear hub set-up? if you purchase a bionx front hub, it has no way of working with a sensor gauge, there for, you will be spending extra money for no assistance. it can only work with a throttle.


and there we are! now this seminar has been very informative, and I hope that in the future i will be able to answer your questions much better now!

Raevyn your help is very much appreciated. Thank You

Thank you Raevyn. i did not know of the firmware bug but i have it to i just un plug an plug back in and off i go. I will need to talk to dealer.

Thanks Raevyn, a comprehensive set of answers. I'm glad they're making dealers more aware. I keep telling dealers (blank stare, then look of disdain when asked about ebikes) : "This is your future, you'd better get on board." The smart ones know this but there's still a lot of snobbery out there towards electric assist bikes of any kind. I believe that Bionx is one of the better kits out there and even though it costs a bit more than most, its feature set is pretty unmatched.

It's not possible at that moment to have a cassette with the BionX. But they offer a good quality of freewheel. For the DC it's possible to buy your system with a 6V output.

"BionX would prefer customers to directly deal with your local dealer."

One Seminar does not a REAL dealer network make. It is my opinion that the BionX business model has always been "OUR WAY OR THE HIGHWAY". I see nothing in the recent attempts at communication that indicates any change on the horizon.

If people (testers in the real world) want to use different batteries, maybe BionX should consider asking WHY? Might help build a better bridge and product than just saying NO, NO, NO...

A little humble-pie could go a long way towards rebuilding the tarnished image of BionX as an EXPENSIVE, somewhat abusive and definitely non-attentive company...

it may not make a true dealer network, but they are trying to make us better informed so that we are prepared to help you guys when you need us. I haven't seen an other company who makes e-bikes do that.