The Neodymics Cyclemotor Electric Bicycle Conversion Kit
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.
Here’s a video demo of the Neodymics Cyclemotor:
Tags: cyclemotor, electric bicycle, electric bike conversion kit, Featured, neodymics
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4 Responses to “The Neodymics Cyclemotor Electric Bicycle Conversion Kit”
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Really great blog post, this is really interesting.
We have been doing electric car conversions for over 10 years , but this is something we are going to investigate too.
Want more information about electric car conversions.
http://www.electric-car-conversions.com
All the best,
Les and Jane
Aaron:
Here are some errors in your blog post:
1. The Neodymics Electric Cyclemotor is not on the market yet.
2. The documented version is a prototype. Prototype is designed for function, so that performance could be tested. Appearance was not a consideration in prototype design.
3. The front tire is smaller so that self-contained suspension could be added, not because of front wheel drive creating any “obvious physics problems for the rider who wants to stay upright and in control.” One of your own “Top 5 Electric Bicycles of 2008″ features front wheel drive.
4. Testing has included 2500 miles on our Cyclemotor prototypes, with over 200 conversions between electric bicycle and conventional bicycles. The prototypes do exactly what they were designed for.
5. Adding weight down low and forward improves stability. Think of an arrow in flight with a heavy arrowhead. Also, since the moment arm about the front wheel contact point is so short, this does NOT make it more likely that one will go over the handlebars during an emergency stop. The center of mass of the added material is well below the existing CM, so handling during a stop is improved. I routinely brake heavily on the front, with no loss of control.
Above points are clear from our website. Do your research before posting something intended to educate others.
Finally, I welcome any suggestions to improve the appearance of the Neodymics Cyclemotor.
- Cyclemotor Engineer
Anonymous Cyclemotor Engineer:
First, your website states that the prototype is available for consideration, which reads to me like it’s ready for purchase. If I offered you $500 for one, would you sell it to me? I suggest you re-read your own website again and try to use a critical eye. A lack of PayPal buttons does not indicate “not for sale.”
Second, I wrote this article with the data that was listed on the site as I understood it. If it’s a prototype and it’s not designed for looks, then am I supposed to ignore the looks and focus instead only on its functionality? Hate to break it to you, but how things look are as important to people nowadays as how well they work. Often more so. I know, it’s illogical, but it’s human nature.
I talked about stability issues because that arrow in flight has to stop somehow. How does your bike ride downhill? What about when the motor cuts out or otherwise malfunctions? Sorry, but if I’m rolling twenty miles an hour downhill, I want to be able to control my descent. Having all the weight forward changes how that control happens. I’m no physicist, but I’ve ridden enough 2-wheeled units to know that much.
Anyway, thanks for the comments and for visiting the blog. I’m sorry I couldn’t give your Cyclemotor a good review. Reviews are matters of opinion and no one is forced to listen what I say or read what I write. I think your unit has a lot of promise, but will require a lot of work to make it marketable. Especially with the costs of electric bicycles off-the-shelf from makers like Schwinn and others getting cheaper every year.
–Aaron, Blog Posting Guy
personally i think its a great idea..and the shield would keep the wind resistance down and crap from accumulating on the working parts…yes..great idea 20 miles per hour and 20 miles on a charge..not bad..one hour charge up..also not bad.
congrats guys.