A BBSHD Killer? Here comes the CYC Photon

[Gionnirocket]

A couple of years ago I looked at hydraulic drive. The problem is that the system would require large hoses and too much fluid weight for a bike.

A few years ago I looked into a steam powered bike.... but then realized I like my vegetables steamed, not my olives

 

[kevinmccune]

A couple of years ago I looked at hydraulic drive. The problem is that the system would require large hoses and too much fluid weight for a bike.

Its amazing what can be done if the will exists to do it( of course if it works why change?) A small accumulator ,the frame tubing as the fluid route, egads!(I digress) Caterpillar added an accumulator and hydraulic force regenerator to some of their excavators and realized upwards of a 25% fuel savings( they called it a hybrid system-havent checked back with "Cat' lately) just saying there is still some room for improvement, the system I am interested in is the"Dynamo drive" for want of a better adjective( muddy and weed bound cassettes do not interest me)There still some room in the world oif Faraday and Tesla.
Anybody heard anymore about the "ceramic drive"? Of course "apples and oranges" some systems naturally work better at scale(Flux capacitor anyone? I should watch that flick, never have and have no interest in doing so- call it a "Delorean Allergy" I suppose, in my fevered imagination things sprout, "gravity filaments", new elements, airplane wimgs that are actually part ot the storage system, yada, yada-it never stops things start really getting fuzzy at the 'quantum level'( if you can imagine it, there may be some substance there) perhaps my last crash give me too much of a jolt it was a freakin' lawnmower for petes sake.
Peace,Sojourners( I will never envy your cassette)

 

[kevinmccune]

A few years ago I looked into a steam powered bike.... but then realized I like my vegetables steamed, not my olives

Wiseman say"Cod is better cooked".

 

[m@Robertson]

It appears that cyc Has/had some serious issues with x6 controller. They had to do some changes to design. Now they Are waiting for delivery from factory.

Yeah but that is the X1 Pro. They have never had a reliable controller for that motor, it seems. The latest open source x6 was supposed to be the fix, and for awhile it seemed to be. I'm glad I never got on that merry-go-round and instead I put an aftermarket BAC800 on mine.

This is why I would not get on the Photon bandwagon for at least a year after release to just sit and watch what happens. And... it doesn't seem like it but we are 7 months into that year post-release. Maybe add a few months to that year just on GP.

 

[tomjasz]

Yeah but that is the X1 Pro.

mea culpa from the unwashed!

 

[PedalUma]

I like that the Photon is half the weight and it allows for the option be run from a smaller 36V battery for most rides under 50 miles. let's hope they work out the bugs. I also like that the Photon gives two drive profile modes from the display such as Off Road Racing and Around Town MUPs.

 

[Gionnirocket]

I like that the Photon is half the weight and it allows for the option be run from a smaller 36V battery for most rides under 50 miles. let's hope they work out the bugs. I also like that the Photon gives two drive profile modes from the display such as Off Road Racing and Around Town MUPs.

On paper it seems like a winner. The problem seems to be CYC's execution, especially on introduction.

 

[tomjasz]

The problem seems to be CYC's execution, especially on introduction.

Déjà vu Bafang

 

[PedalUma]

Déjà vu Bafang

You also had a early TS.

 

[tomjasz]

You also had an early TS.

yeah. going strong 5000 hard miles $100 inrepairs

 

[mclewis1]

yeah. going strong 5000 hard miles $100 inrepairs

Tom, That's not really relevant (but still impressive) ... the comments were about the startup characteristics and if I remember correctly TS also had serious problems with the early units. But like any effective organization they sorted them out and have a reasonably well respected product today.

 

[PedalUma]

Oh that equestrianophile with the trailer for hay has the cargo motor that is super smooth.

 

[Jimmy666]

JohnnyNerdout review

 

[kevinmccune]

JohnnyNerdout review

Looks very modern.

 

[RipShitzUp]

And given the BBSHD parts, repair, and build support I don't see it ever being a BBSHD killer.
I'm reminded of those hundreds of pedicabs with operators beating on their motors, and they go and go, like that battery bunny.

Repair and maintenance is a huge factor. Until DIY guys like us can repair and change parts I have zero interest. Don't want a motor that has to be removed and sent back to the factory for a simple repair!!!

 

[RipShitzUp]

New to this forum, as well as this being my first foray into eMTB, but been riding mountain bikes since the late 80's. I recently installed a CYC Photon motor, SW102 controller and thumb throttle, as well as a CYC B-52 battery pack, onto a 29er titanium hardtail with a Rock Shox Pike fork set to 140 mm of travel and set up as singlespeed with a 34/18 gearset. Total bike weight of 41.25 pounds. Initial results have been mixed as I've had what seems to be overheating on each of my first 4 shakedown rides. I've done maybe 3-4 miles of a gradual grade uphill on mixed surfaces (mostly road then some smooth dirt rail trail), and by the time I get up to the top, the motor stops providing propulsion but may or may not be displaying wattage output while pedaling back home. These rides are way less taxing than trail rides I normally do, but I'm seeing motor temps upwards of 180 F by the time the motor stops providing propulsion. Weather has been < 60 F and overcast.

Yesterday, I experienced a weird throttle issue where my speed was displaying 4 mph (was moving much faster than 4 mph) but the throttle stayed on even after being released.

Some bugs to work out, but when it is working, the bike is fast and feels great. I've got some emails in to [email protected] to see if they can help me sort out my bugs. I'll report back as I get more information.

This is the kinda feedback that puts me perfectly at peace with my decision to go BBSHD and to let a new product be out for a year or two before pulling the trigger! Thank You to the brave first generation gamblers...I'll listen to your pains and see how the manufacturer responds. Then if it is rectified and proven reliable I consider. Good luck!

 

[RipShitzUp]

The nine speed cassettes can give a strong chain and wide range for a moderate replacement cost. Here is a nine that is 11-42 for $24. If you are going to be replacing them every quarter this kind of thing is better than $240 cassettes. So what if it weighs a little more.

Dead on, we ride motors with over 110NM of torque..there is zero reason to be concerned with weight. Slightly heavier means stronger and more durable.

 

[RipShitzUp]

All in all it sounds like a promising option that needs more time to be refined and prove itself. I'll continue to enjoy the F outta my BBSHD tuned for singletrack riding in the meantime and then see what the future holds for CYC as an option.

 

[Bakunin]

I decided to get one for my steel drop-bar mountain bike, and installed it today. Although I have no prior experience with e-bike conversions, this was reasonably straightforward. The installation instructions were quite minimalistic but adequate. The operation instruction a bit less so. I think I foolishly got a massive battery (not the one Cyc sells). The motor itself is fairly discrete. The display is very minimalistic, but that is the way I like it. I may come back crying at some point, but it looks like a promising start. (I have a grand total of 6 miles on the thing now.) I was mainly interested in pedal assist, and so far it feels very natural, perhaps even more so than my wife's Bosch/Cannondale.

 

[Bakunin]

I'm at 110 mi on the photon now, the only issues I'm having are gearing related, chain jumping off at high high torque. I've made all the adjustments I can, but the only thing that's going to fix it is gearing up in the front.

I ordered it with the 38 (42 was not available), as I didn't want the 50 so I could maintain high cadence climbing. But 38 is not enough, so I emailed CYC, they said they will have chain rings on the website soon. In the meantime they sent me a direct invoice for a 42 tooth sprocket and are shipping it out.

So again on the customer service front CYC is absolutely killing it. They are quick to respond and quick with solutions.

I special-ordered mine with a 34T chainring, basically to make it fit my unusual frame (steel frame boost/fat 2.8" tires, and stays that prohibit using a larger ring). I took off my 24T/34T aluminum chain-ring boost crankset, and replaced it with this.

I immediately noticed on the stand that something was amiss. I have an 11-speed drivetrain, which even under my feeble power, can wear quite quickly. The chain, in fact, had worn/stretched enough to make it skip a bit even on the stand. I put a new XTR chain I had already waxed and was going to use on my road bike, but decided instead to use it on this. The engagement with the new (steel) 34T cog is a lot better now, and so far hasn't come off. It did make me wonder if the chainring is really compatible with 11-speed chains.

Also, in the course of panicking about this, I read that you can use any standard 5-bolt inner chain-ring with the supplied mount and bash guard. I also wonder if you can replace the bash guard with an outer chain-ring?