Powabyke x-24?

[gwing]

It seems my new employer runs the 'cycle to work' scheme although unfortunately they only do this through Evans

This limits the choice of e-bikes to the Powabyke range, of which the x-24 appeals to me the most as I only have a short but steep commute.

If anyone has one it would be great to see a review -but some questions if I may:

What motor does it have fitted?

Is it sufficiently drag free to ride under 'human power' significantly above the 15mph mark? I anticipate enjoying the power for hill climbing and headwinds but expect to cycle at 18mph or so unassisted on easy terrain and do want a bike that won't prevent me from doing this.

Any chance of the frame actually fitting me? (6'2" and 36" inside leg). On which subject I must say that I find incredibly frustrating the almost total non provision of different frame sizes in the e-bike industry. Do the manufacturers really think that we don't care if we can pedal a bike properly?????

Does the Cytronex provide a significantly different cycling experience to the x-24? Cycle to work availability aside the Cytonex does appeal ...

 

[Bigbee]

If your employer is on the scheme you can buy a bike from any dealer in the country I think?

There are various companies like Cycle Scheme who " sign up " dealers and take 10% of their profit for the privilege.They also contact companies to get them on board their scheme,taking the paperwork away from lazy HR depts.
I bet your company has joined such a scheme,best to find out.Or it could be that Evans are being proactive and have contacted your company about the scheme,failing to inform them that you can buy a bike any where !Im sure the Powabyke is a wonderful machine.If you would like any other bike you can chose from any dealer.What other bike do you fancy?

This is the official Government blurb ,when you Google " Cycle To Work Schme " The company Cycle Scheme are number one.I think people go on to their site thinking its the official one,I did at first!


Department for Transport - Cycle to Work Scheme implementation guidance

It seems my new employer runs the 'cycle to work' scheme although unfortunately they only do this through Evans

 

[Mussels]

Evans is part of a bigger scheme, I've heard them talking about it in there but I've also heard other people complain that Evans is the only shop they can buy in. Whenever I'm in there I think of the Harry Enfield sketch 'I saw you coming'.
I hope if I ever get my company to sign up that they go with Halford, as Halfords have a deal with ETS to supply a big range of pedelecs.

 

[Bigbee]

Mussels,your company doesnt " sign up " with any particular shop or company!Once they have joined the Government scheme you can buy your bike from any where!

 

[Mussels]

Mussels,your company doesnt " sign up " with any particular shop or company!Once they have joined the Government scheme you can buy your bike from any where!

I thought that originally but most sign an agreement with a particular supplier, I guess it make the contract and invoices easier to manage.

 

[HarryB]

Does the Cytronex provide a significantly different cycling experience to the x-24? Cycle to work availability aside the Cytonex does appeal ...

I would be really surprised if they provided the same riding experience -they are after all in a different price range. The Cytronex is very different to most hub motored ebike in that it lacks any drag from the motor and feels more or less like an unpowered bicycle until you hit that power button. I think you would struggle to cycle at 18mph with the x-24 - you would definitely feel the drag holding you back. If you after a better cycling experience then the Pro-connect is another good choice - although the power delivery doesn't suit some (me).

In terms of the cycle to work scheme I know that Mark at Cytronex is not keen for some reason - best to ask him - maybe he has more demand than supply (lucky him).

 

[flecc]

The X24 uses the traditional Powabyke motor, so trying any Powabyke will show you what that's like, very powerful but a bit noisy. I've never ridden one but it's based on a normal Raleigh bike so should cycle reasonably well with just a bit of drag from the hub motor. I doubt it's range will be as good as the Cytronex potentially can be. A to B magazine reviewed the X bike in the latest issue 69 for January and Mike in this forum reviewed the X6, only the gears different. Mike's review.

The Cytronex will be the more free for cycling, effectively no drag from it's almost quiet Nano motor and will be the closest to a normal cycling experience. A to B reviewed the Cytronex in issue 67 for September 2008, but no formal reviews in here though several very pleased owners.

P.S. Crossed with Harry's post.

 

[Rad]

I've got the x6 and the resistance from the hub is noticeable. I echo Flecc's sentiments and recommend you try one out. There are plenty of Powabyke dealers around who'd let you have a go. It might be worth you talking to Evans about your requirements as they may be able to source alternative machines from other dealers. At the end of the day they want your cash and should be doing all the can to service your requirements.

 

[Vikki]

Why is there drag on the Powabyke hub motor? My old Powabyke has a freewheel in the hub motor and is only engaged when being driven or being pushed backwards. Hey! You're not going to be cycling backwards are you I'd pay money to see that

My old one had SLA batteries, weighs 38kg and is an absolute dog to pedal unpowered. You can hear tendons pinging one by one as they snap - hang on, that could be spokes - nah, it's tendons.

Vikki.

 

[Rad]

All I can say Vikki, is that 'I' definitely feel resistance from the front end of the bike. It doesn't roll downhill as well as my non powered bike.

 

[Vikki]

I find that intriguing. Is it a brushless motor? My old one was brushed so that might be the difference.

Vikki.

 

[flecc]

Why is there drag on the Powabyke hub motor? My old Powabyke has a freewheel in the hub motor and is only engaged when being driven or being pushed backwards.

Vikki.

The gears in all these hub motors are always engaged Vikki, the freewheel is between the motor and the gear(s) that drive the toothed ring in the hub shell, so those gears are always being dragged around when the motor isn't driving them. As speed rises, their drag increases.
.

 

[Vikki]

Ahhhh, I see. That's different to the motor on my old Powabyke. I've stripped it twice to do servicing and the freewheel (which is huge) is between the gear outputshaft and the hub outer case. There's no drag at all on mine other than that weight and chunky tyre-iness.

That's why I was getting confused.

Best regards.

Vikki.

 

[HarryB]

...but no formal reviews in here though several very pleased owners.

I am waiting until I have used mine a bit before posting a review - I need to test reliabilty (not 100%, but very much more Trek problems than Cytronex problems). Review coming soon...

 

[fcurran]

It seems my new employer runs the 'cycle to work' scheme although unfortunately they only do this through Evans

This limits the choice of e-bikes to the Powabyke range, of which the x-24 appeals to me the most as I only have a short but steep commute.

If anyone has one it would be great to see a review -but some questions if I may:

What motor does it have fitted?

Is it sufficiently drag free to ride under 'human power' significantly above the 15mph mark? I anticipate enjoying the power for hill climbing and headwinds but expect to cycle at 18mph or so unassisted on easy terrain and do want a bike that won't prevent me from doing this.

Any chance of the frame actually fitting me? (6'2" and 36" inside leg). On which subject I must say that I find incredibly frustrating the almost total non provision of different frame sizes in the e-bike industry. Do the manufacturers really think that we don't care if we can pedal a bike properly?????

Does the Cytronex provide a significantly different cycling experience to the x-24? Cycle to work availability aside the Cytonex does appeal ...

Hi Gwing,

The XG24 uses a 250 watt brushed motor. It comes with a 700c wheel and a 21" frame so will be fine for you as it has a sprung seat post which adds 3". Because it is based on a hybrid style bike, riding without power is very easy with no resistance from the motor. Top speed unassisted is 15.5mph but you can easily get 18mph with assistance.

Rad, when you say there is resistance from the motor, have you tried lifting the front wheel off the ground and just spinning the wheel? There is no resistance at all. What non electric bike are you comparing it to (e.g a road racing bike)? and what tyres did they have?

Gwing, where are you located in the country as I would like to point you in the direction of a dealer who has a demo bike for you to try before you decide on which bike to go for.

Kind Regards

FrankC
Powabyke Ltd
fcurran@powabyke.com

 

[Mussels]

It seems my new employer runs the 'cycle to work' scheme although unfortunately they only do this through Evans

It may be worth asking Evans if you can combine the LCC 10% discount with this, see if they stutter.

 

[Bigbee]

It may be worth asking Evans if you can combine the LCC 10% discount with this, see if they stutter.

To reitorate,he doesnt have to go to Evans,he can chose any dealer.Also the dealer gets paid in full,part by the company and part by the Government.I dont know what a 10% LCC discount is,but the dealer would actually be only giving a 10% discount.Im sure most dealers would be happy to do this to make a sale.I know my local Powabyke dealer gives discounts on top of Government scheme,unless the customer want to go through the Cycle Scheme system,then the dealer has to give up 10% of the RRP ( as I said earlier) to Cycle Scheme for doing nothing and can not pass the saving to the customer.

If you look at the Cycle Scheme website and see how many dealers have signed up to them,you can imagine lots of nice 10% of RRP's off all those dealers going into line their pockets.If people got off their bums and went through the Government site the dealers wouldnt have to pay out commissions and could pass this amount to the consumers if they wanted to.

 

[Mussels]

To reitorate,he doesnt have to go to Evans,he can chose any dealer.Also the dealer gets paid in full,part by the company and part by the Government.I dont know what a 10% LCC discount is,but the dealer would actually be only giving a 10% discount.Im sure most dealers would be happy to do this to make a sale.I know my local Powabyke dealer gives discounts on top of Government scheme,unless the customer want to go through the Cycle Scheme system,then the dealer has to give up 10% of the RRP ( as I said earlier) to Cycle Scheme for doing nothing and can not pass the saving to the customer.

If you look at the Cycle Scheme website and see how many dealers have signed up to them,you can imagine lots of nice 10% of RRP's off all those dealers going into line their pockets.If people got off their bums and went through the Government site the dealers wouldnt have to pay out commissions and could pass this amount to the consumers if they wanted to.

His company can choose any dealer, he can't. His company are paying for the bike* so can dictate where he gets it.

* I remember someone talking about the finance coming from the dealer so companies may be using them so not to finance it themselves, which will be why some get a rigid £1000 limit imposed when it shouldn't be. I suspect there is something funny going on and it isn't being used as the government intended, leading to a poor service for the buyer.

 

[Rad]

Hi Gwing,
Rad, when you say there is resistance from the motor, have you tried lifting the front wheel off the ground and just spinning the wheel? There is no resistance at all. What non electric bike are you comparing it to (e.g a road racing bike)? and what tyres did they have?

Hi Frank, can't say I have mate. What I describe as resistance may well be my having to push the extra weight of the motor. But the X-6 definitely doesn't downhill as fast as my old Claude Butler Odyssey. Which itself is a bit of a beastie!.

 

[fcurran]

Hi Frank, can't say I have mate. What I describe as resistance may well be my having to push the extra weight of the motor. But the X-6 definitely doesn't downhill as fast as my old Claude Butler Odyssey. Which itself is a bit of a beastie!.

How strange, when you get a sec could I ask you to just try spinning the wheel and see if there is any resistance and let me know. Also check tyre pressure is around 65-75 psi.

Regards

FrankC