Adding BionX to AT

[glennd]

I've had my AT since 2002. Bought it locally here in Maine from LL Bean shortly before BikeE closed up shop. It spent several years on Prince Edward Island in Canada, at my summer home. They've converted all the rail lines on the Island to bike trails and it's about as close to heaven as you can get. But I wasn't getting up there often enough so I brought the bike back last summer.

I'm enjoying more riding but the hills here can take their toll so I've ordered a BionX electric conversion kit for it and I'm looking forward to trying it out. www.bionx.ca/en/main/default/1.shtml

Anyone else out there running an electric conversion on their BileE?

[ivor]

I see you posted this in July... so how did it go, assuming you followed through with it? I'm currently getting www.ecospeed.com assist on my CT for commuting here in Portland OR. If anyone is interested in this setup, chime in, I'll have first hand info very soon.

[jman]

I'm interested to hear how either the Bionx or the Ecospeed conversions went. Any feedback?

[ratman]

I would like to add one of those to my Bikee for the hills on the way to work.......man life would be easy then.

[matth]

I am currently running an AT XL with the eco-speed conversion powered by a 24v 12Ah Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery. It has MANY miles on it, having already gone thru one Standard 20aH Lithium Ion battery pack. I bought it used. It is truly an amazing around town vehicle with a BikeE zipper fairing, custom diamond plate alum rear rack/battery holder, BIkeE backpack and minor mods to attach my single wheel Bob Ibex suspension trailer.
I built a Sun EZ-1 last year and put the Electro-Portal E-4 Kit on it. I added a fuse box, front & rear LED running lights and dual 20W MR-16 Quartz Halogen driving lights, but the AT, with the 3 speed rear hub and plush rear suspension makes a FAR FAR superior bike.
Powered recumbents without rear suspension are like riding a hard-tail Harley without footpegs. So d**n harsh on the bumps you don't want to go fast. And letting the motor "see" all 21 speeds is really the way to go. The EZ-1 only sees 7 speeds, as the front sprocket never gets engaged, being in front of the motor. Although it accelerates faster than the eco-speed, it is slow in comparison and has limited hill climbing capacity. My AT can climb a tree and can easily beat cars around town. Pedaling hard on the flats will top you out around 40 mph. It is so fast I have to be EXTREMELY careful of other drivers, and usually come across a situation on a daily basis where if I wasn't paying close attention and driving like everyone wanted to kill me, I would be dead (like passing cars on the right side ). Luckily the bike is so fast, most cars never get a chance to pass me in town and I usually just "take" the lane.

The biggest "weak link" in the BikeE that I have found so far is that the bike rims are too weak. I have replaced both the front and rear with heavy duty units. The front from taking a pothole at speed and the rear from extreme side wear of the brake pads. I go thru pads quite often too.

Matt from Corvallis, OR.