Or alternatively....

C

Cyclezee

Guest
Please let us all know when you have it.............or is it yours?
 

lemmy

Esteemed Pedelecer
I can't make up my mind whether to bid for this wonderful item or poke a pointed stick in my eye.

Some of the guys in a photo studio I used to use off Farringdon Road had one of these, they used to bomb around the corridors in it. About the only use for the things I ever saw.

Incidentally like an idiot I paid £70 for an electric motor with friction drive to the front wheel (tyre) when I moved to a very hilly part of the south coast ten years or more ago. It was utter, total, complete garbage, useless. I don't know how he ever had the nerve to invent the stupid thing let alone flog it.

Unfortunately, I felt that his experience with the C5 might have taught him something but obviously it hadn't.
 

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,604
30,874
Yes, that Zeta friction drive motor of his was totally gutless. How he ever thought it could be any use defies reason:

 

eddieo

Banned
Jul 7, 2008
5,070
6
Yes, that Zeta friction drive motor of his was totally gutless. How he ever thought it could be any use defies reason:

He could of at least fitted some elastic bands to the forks to give some grip...even I know dat!:p
 

wurly

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 2, 2008
501
9
Yeovil, Somerset
My friend has one. Pretty sure he would have aquired it either from an elderly relative or had it left in a will.
He uses it quite often so there are not entirely useless. He also seems to think they are a pretty good investment. I guess we'll see when the auction finishes. Personally i think they look about as futuristic as a Bond Bug...that is...not very.
I don't know anything about them, except my mate nearly ran one over on a roundabout in Cheltenham years ago.
Are they friction drive? i guess a brushed dc motor and speed controller?
 

rog_london

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jan 3, 2009
764
2
Harrow, Middlesex
I don't know anything about them, except my mate nearly ran one over on a roundabout in Cheltenham years ago.
Are they friction drive? i guess a brushed dc motor and speed controller?
If memory serves, it's a modified washing machine motor - and no, I'm NOT kidding!

Rog.
 

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,604
30,874
I think washing machine motor is actually just folklore, no 240 volts AC on the roads!

The story arose from the fact that it was Hoover's motor supplier Polymotor who were persuaded to make the motor drive units for the C5. Hoover made the C5s at their Welsh factory of course.
.
 
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rog_london

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jan 3, 2009
764
2
Harrow, Middlesex
I think washing machine motor is actually just folklore, no 240 volts AC on the roads!

The story arose from the fact that it was Hoover's motor supplier Polymotor who were persuaded to make the motor drive units for the C5. Hoover made the C5s at their Welsh factory of course.
.
You're absolutely right: made in Italy, and a 12 volt brushed motor. Apparently Polymotor made motors for torpedos as well, which are probably closer to what was fitted to a C5.

Rog.
 

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,604
30,874
I quite like the new one if it ever comes to the market.

I'm pretty sure we'll never see the X1. Things have moved on too much since then and I never saw it as really practical. I think Clive has lost the plot even more in recent designs like this and the A bike.