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Hi Oldun, I have similar ticker problems, and live in Hemel Hempstead, at the top of a hill, shops etc at the bottom! How steep are your hills, and can you give some assistance via pedals? I have a feeling if your area is very hilly and you can't give at least as much pedal assistance as it...

Got a replacement Powabyke! Time to report back on the problems I had with the first delivered Powabyke, or more correctly how they were resolved. I'd bought the bike from JANES of EDLESBOROUGH in Beds, midway between Hemel Hempstead and Leighton Buzzard. Also close to Luton, Milton Keynes...

Nano in 700c rims I have a Nano motor (front hub) built into a Falcon Camargue sports bike from the late 70s. The Nano is of course a Tongxin as well, but I've had good reliability until recently when I had to have a new ESC. The bike started out with 27" rims but that limits the tyre choice so...

Hi folks, I also have a Nano powered Falcon 700c rimmed lightweight, in addition to the Powabyke I'm moaning about. The Nano has been off the road for a few weeks 'cos the ESC (Electronic Speed Controller) had fried. Tony Castles now has had a delivery from Tongxin after problems with Chinese...

Hi Griswold, I know Portsdown hill. I'd end up pushing! You are right about the noise, on the Nano I can creep through Hemel town centre and no-one looks twice, they assume it's a normal bike. The Powabyke makes people turn round and do a double take, to the point where I have taken to...

I heard from Peter Janes today, he tells me Powabyke are sending out a complete bike for spares and diagnostic comparisons, which is excellent service. Lets hope it result in a solution.

Progress? Well I've given the thing a chance, and I'm now moving things on. I've spoken to Powabyke, and they conceed with provisos there may be a problem, but have quite rightly refered it to the dealer for the next stage. I've contacted the dealer, (Janes of Edlesborough near Dunstable), the...

A few miles later! Well I,ve been out on it today, Down the town twice, 10 miles total, and the motor is smoothing down a bit, but Frank, boy is it gutless! Northridge Way in Hemel is about 1 in 12 or 15 I'd say. Currie romps up at 10mph with a bit of pedaling. Nano 8mph with a similar...

Well, after looking at various postings on this site, and prompted by the death of motor number 4 on my Currie, I took delivery today of a new Powabyke 24 speed commuter. These are first impressions and should not be taken as a complete and full road test, I'll report in detail at a later...

Hi Flecc, all the motors which have died on me are the ones with the integral speed controller and a black painted finned casing. The latest mortality is marked "S S Natu P&M PMT LTD, US Patent 6104112" It's physically identical to all the others which have died, although they seem to come from...

To the scrapheap! I'm now disgusted at the unreliability of the BMC400 motor as used on Currie kits. I've given the thing every chance, but there is such a pattern of unreliability I don't know how such a product could ever have come to the market. First BMC400 burst into flames after a...

Tongxin don't seem to want to talk to me either! I suspect the unreliability of the speed controllers has reared up and bitten their bum and they have gone all silent on everyone. I am currently waiting for a replacement speed controller for my Nano from Systems at Work, the company that the...

I've had a similar experience, don't ride round roundabouts is the solution! As a lifelong motorcyclist and cyclist, in addition to having driven 1/2 million miles I can tell you most motorists don't care, and don't look! Dayglo jackets are invisible to the blind! I had a good one the other...

Quote "lets not forget its hills which are what we have them for, we dont need help on the flat do we....they are "electric assist" not the other way round... well apart from me that is as 20 inch wheels are not for pedaling anywhere when you want to get there as quick as possible....if you...

Hi Paul. you aren't the Paul from the BVWS site are you? If so Welcome! The Currie chain is 1/4 X 1/4 bushing chain, also called no25 in the US of A. Decent roller chain is not available in this size, unfortunately. I got my length of Renolds Chain from Mecro in Luton, but I think they...

Hi. I've done over 6000 miles on my Currie and I can tell you it's been an absolute trial of my backstreet mechanicing skills! Firstly downhill performance. Set up correctly, next to zero drag. The adjustment and condition of the chain is important. The original chain is made of putty...

It's all a matter of the energy available. Think of a water pipe. Water pressure makes the water flow. Water flow is current, ie amps in electricity, pressure is volts. Condensers, or capacitors as we have called them for 50 odd years! (That ages someone!) have comparatively low energy...

John, I must have done about 600 miles in the 4 months I've had it, and the motor itself has been fine, apart from the washers which are meant to prevent the wheel spindle rotating losing the internal shape that locks them to the spindle. I made a new pair out of 1/8 steel sheet, EN16 if you are...

Thanks for your answers Frank. You say toward the end of a discharge cycle the power "soft fades". Is this a function of the controller, or just low volts? SLAs, or indeed any lead acid cell should not be discharged below a certain level or they will be damaged and lose capacity. Does the...

Hi, All here seem to speak well of Powabykes, does anyone have a definitive measure of battery life? Not "I had mine for 5 years and it was fine" - yes, but you may have only used it once a month!, but an idea of how many charge and complete discharge cycles you get from a battery before it...