Zoomi Life

It’s not often you find something like this. By “like this” I mean… well… something on the market that looks like a high school science project. That’s the best way to describe this contraption.

The Neodymics Cyclemotor is a one-piece electric motor and battery unit that you attach to the front handlebars and forks of your bicycle to provide an instant electric propulsion unit for it. Sounds great until you see the thing. It’s horrifically sci-fi (I mean 1950s sci-fi, not ST:NG sci-fi) and I seriously doubt anyone with any sort of fashion sense is going to use one.

This is basically a case of someone saying “Hey, what a great idea!” and then going with it. Without any consideration as to whether it should leave the drawing board. I mean, really, lots of ideas are awesome. At least until you try to implement them in the real world. Sort of like the “fill the water weenie with gasoline so we can make a blowtorch” idea.

Most people with any sense will realize the idea is not practical and quit before they get too deep into it. Most people. Others will get third degree burns over half their body trying first.

The part that kills me is that they bothered to make a cover for the thing. Like that’d somehow pretty it up. I’d be more likely to buy it if it had flashing lights and a couple of dangly, pig tail antennas bouncing around. Really. Come on.

OK, OK, I’ll talk about the actual machine. It replaces the front tire of your bike, with its smaller, built-in tire. I’ll get to why the tire is smaller later. It has simple no-tools-required thumb locks like most bikes for quick-release of the front tire. The throttle and other controls are at the top to match the position of your handlebars. They are, of course, easily moved to get an exact fit with your bike.

Now for why that front tire is smaller. Basically, because it’s “front wheel drive,” having a regular-sized tire creates some obvious physics problems for the rider who wants to stay upright and in control. A smaller tire eliminates most of those worries. The unit is long enough that it doesn’t give your bicycle that muscle-car tilt forward, so you’ll still say on your seat.

One other problem is inherent in this one: weight. The unit weighs forty pounds, which for most of us would nearly quadruple our bicycle’s weight. It’s all on the front too, which I can imagine makes for interesting downhills and braking.

Here’s some pertinent data:

• 1 hp dual-speed motor
• Maximum speed of 20mph
• Range averages 20 miles per charge
• Speedometer, cruise control, and charge indicator on bars
• 1 hour recharge time

It will fit any bicycle that has a 26 or 27 inch front wheel and includes three inches of suspension travel on that tire, which will help with the weight a little. The new wheel is only sixteen inches, for reference.

Once again, the Neodymics Cyclemotor is a great idea that probably shouldn’t have left paper. Or at least should have had some serious thought put into how useful it would be. Wires and velcro aren’t a big deal and I can’t see why moving the batteries to the back of the bike to distribute the weight a little would hurt. I mean, the installation time of 40 seconds would be compromised, but most of us aren’t NASCAR mechanics and 40 seconds and two minutes are basically the same thing. Just a thought.

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Here’s a video demo of the Neodymics Cyclemotor: