Cytronex

[Mike63]

Hi...I am still considering purchasing a Cytronex in favour of my X6 and i'm hopeing to travel to Winchester in June in the hope of having a test drive :
I have had no luck at actually seeing a Cytronex so if I decide to go for it I may have to buy on the fly ...so to speak.

I do however have some questions so if someone can help I would appreciate.

I just bike for pleasure, as an alternative to fishing, playing golf, fllying model aeroplanes or any of the other hundreds of pursuits that we might indulge in, I am 70 years old and this is the only one that interests me.
I have ridden various mountain bikes for the last 20 years but some 2 years ago my knees went."Osteoarthritis" and I can no longer bike like I did. but I need to know that if I run out of power I will still be able to get home.

Mainly I need to bike 30/40 miles, most of this under pedal power, saving the power for the hard bits.
I keep reading about a 20 mile range but most of us can do more than that without power, surely many cytronex owners do more than 20 miles on a trip.

If I run out of power, will the Cytronex weighing 17/18 kilos handle exactly like my Schwinn mountain bike which also weighs 18 kilos ? and allow me to get home under my own power.

Also is there a disadvantage in having the front suspension forks ? most of my bikes have had these and I have always found them to be a great advantage over the fixed forks on my X6 which feels every bump in the road.

Are there any serious disadvantages with the Cytronex ? but mainly, as i've said, will it handle, without power, exactly like a normal mountain bike ?
....this is vitaly important .

...all advice and comments appreciated :

....regards....Mike

 

[eddieo]

I am a novice and technically challenged...... ....but no E bike is going to

"handle, without power, exactly like a normal mountain bike"


its extra batteries I would think...........Have always considered the cytronex compromised because of this. You have already purchased a bike you are unhappy with, why not get a train down and try one........

failing that, what about a spare battery for your present bike?

 

[Barnowl]

Hi Mike

I'm not sure I see that much difference between the Cytronex and the X6 which I take it you already have. I have no experience of the X6 but the Cytronex rides very well without power. The downside as with the X6 is that without power you will have that extra weight to cycle up the hill or into the headwind. No different to your mountain bike in that respect and probably better since it has thinner harder tyres and less rolling resistance.

I have Osteoarthritis in the knees and the most I've cycled is 25 miles. It's not that I couldn't have cycled further it's just that I use my bike for practical use rather than for pleasure and cycle trips. The problem I would have is that I like to keep the pressure off my knees. With low gearing up hill I don't think you would have much of a problem, without power, as long as you keep your cadence fairly high (60rpm+). A lot depends on the terrain, wind, and how much weight the bike will be taking. It sounds as though you are a reasonably strong cyclist.

I can see no reason why the Cytronex weighing 17/18 kilos would not handle exactly like your Schwinn mountain bike which also weighs 18 kilos in terms of effort required. In fact I would think the Cytronex having thinner harder tyres and a geometry a closer to a road bike would be easier and require less effort.
In use the drag from the motor is negligible as far as I can tell.

The Cytronex 7.3fx has no suspension. This makes it lighter and more efficient but at the cost of comfort. The Cytronex Trek 7300 has suspension but is heavier and less efficient. Personally I ride on tarmac mostly. I have a gel seat and I wear cycling gloves with gel inserts. I don't really have a problem with road vibration unless the roads are rough. The cytronex 7.3FX is not an MTB and is classed by Trek as a Type 2 bike which means it's for road and light trail use (gravel paths) where the wheels stay on the ground. The nano hub motor in the Cytronex may be a bit lighter than the X6 but you are still going to feel the bumps without the suspension.

Hope this helps.

 

[Mike63]

Hi friends....thanks for your responses to my post :

I find it difficult to explain my needs...I am 70 years old and my knees have gone.
doc. says it's osteoarthritis...can't do nothing ...rest 'em he says,
How on earth can i rest my knees ? I could rest my brain, no problem...LOL..... but I need my knees with me.
If i don't go out on my bike i'm just sat in front of the t.v. falling asleep...no kind of life that.
There may not be a lot of difference in weight between my mountain bike and my X6 but in practice it appears far more.

According to Mark at Cytronex his bike weighs and handles like my mountain bike, if that's the case I could go out and bike 30/40 miles and if the power runs out still get home...I cannot possibly do that on my X6 and i'm struggling at 20 miles on my mountain bike.

I'm hopeing to make Prestiegn this weekend...so i'll check out the Cytronex.

thanks again....Mike

 

[Barnowl]

Good luck Mike.

Might be worth checking out the Wisper while you are at Presteigne. They have the bigger capacity battery and hence the range you are looking for. Other than that I think the Cytronex is a great bike.

PS. The doctors probably right. Don't push those knees too hard.

 

[frank9755]

Mike,

The Cytronex will handle almost like a normal bike. You will hardly notice any resistance from the motor and both motor and battery are light.

It will feel much closer to a normal bike than it will to a Powabyke or Wisper, partly because it's a bit lighter, but mainly because the motor has far less resistance.

Frank

 

[Mike63]

Thanks guys...I will check out the Wisper but I am not looking for more range,
I am quite happy to pedal but I need to be able to take the pressure off my knees when the going gets hard and to get home if the power runs out.

cheers.....Mike

 

[Encantador]

Thanks guys...I will check out the Wisper but I am not looking for more range,
I am quite happy to pedal but I need to be able to take the pressure off my knees when the going gets hard and to get home if the power runs out.

cheers.....Mike

Is there no one with a bike close enough for you to visit? Ask Mark, when I purchased mine I told him I was happy for hime to give my number to any potential buyers, one person has taken the opportunity. You nevr know.

I am about 100 miles away, but if you find yourself heading towards the Midlands, drop me a PM.