Stock Cyclamatic vs The Beastamatic

[Fordulike]

I've now managed to test both versions of the bike, and here are some pros and cons of both:

Cyclamatic 24v 9Ah battery, 14A maximum rated sensored controller

Pros

• 
  Great, cheap starter electric bike, that is surprisingly robust and good looking

• Good range on battery

• 
  Comes with throttle for slow, controllable maneuvers

• Strong rear servo brake in dry conditions (see cons)

• 
  Pedelec operation to maximize range of battery

• 
  Light, easy to carry battery, with key lock to lock battery to bike if you can't carry it

• Good back up support from SportsHQ

Cons

• 
  Potentially squeaky front brake, which at some stage will need to be replaced for a better assembly

• 
  Rear servo brake can be a liability in wet conditions. Prone to lock up (see pros)

• Spokes loosen fairly quickly and need to be tightened for safety

• 
  Controller power ON/OFF button can be accidently pushed whilst riding, which can make you think the bike is knackered

• 
  The position and orientation of the battery means it suffers a lot from road shock, which can cause the battery to break

• 
  Pedelec continues to operate for a split second after pedal rotation stops, which can cause low speed turning issues

Beastamatic 36v 10Ah battery, 25A maximum rated sensorless controller

Pros

• 
  36v battery and controller adds useful torque, and allows the bike to sit at the legal speed more of the time

• 
  No more burnt out hall sensors

• 
  Uprated Shimano front caliper and pads, eliminated brake squeal

• 
  Promotes less use of the gears. 7th gear is fine for most conditions

• 
  Arrive at your destination slightly less sweaty than with the stock bike

Cons

• 
  Battery attached to rack on rear of bike upsets the bike's balance, and creates a few handling issues in the wet. In my opinion, the rear of a bike will never be the right place to fit a battery

• 
  The sensorless controller has no pedelec function

• 
  Possibly less range with higher powered set-up. I have managed only 9 miles with extensive throttle use, although this battery is one and a half years old

• 
  Modding the bike instantly voids any warranty