BonafideZoocity said:
Hey all,
As has been stated here earlier there's lots of good info here as I'm studying different bike options.
Currently I'm looking at the Elite Cyclone Coaxial. I've assembled my own bike previously and did lots of work with RC vehicles so I'm not concerned about the prospect of learning and making things work.
Really, after messaging Paul at cyclone-tw, I'm not sure it makes much financial sense to get the frame and motor kit over the un-assembled full bike kit. I can't get the elite-motor site to work so I'm essentially stuck with the cyclone-tw site which runs about $200 higher in price.
All of these are without a battery as I'd source a 52v battery elsewhere.
Frame and motor/controller kit shipped to my door: $1,168.70
Complete kit without wheels shipped to my door: $1,817.40
Complete kit with 26" wheels shipped to my door: $1,947.40
I'd have to find wheels, a fork, a rear shock, rear derailleur, chain, cassette, brakes, levers, shifters, etc. all to complete the kit under $779 which is a feat. I can find some cheap second hand components but I'm not sure I can swing anything that well. I do understand that I could acquire better components piecing them together separately but I'm not using the bike for anything more than enjoying the outdoors and getting around town occasionally.
I guess I'm looking for some input whether this is a fair price for this kit based on experiences.
Thanks.
A few things,
1, Ignore the pricing on the web pages, ask for an offer from them in mail.
2, The gear the bikes come with as a complete bike is fairly low end, they don't compare at all to what you could build it with for a similar price. Asking as a full bike will also increase you ship cost and tax cost!
3, You can get a banging, modern mid range setup from $800 if you get used(like new) quality wheels a fork on clearance and the rest new.
4, Be sure to ask for a tapered headtube frame for future proofing, and get a dnm 200mm eye to eye coil shock, $40), or maybe even 210. The 190mm they advise as standard is leaving a lot of suspension travel on the table.
5, Ask for the 142mm rear dropout as opposed to 170mm fatbike. Since the frame is steel, it is quite flexible, I used 148mm hub from day 1 and now even 150mm (dh standard).
6, Bike will happily eat 26, 27.5 or 29" wheels if you fork does too. 26 forks will generally eat 27.5 tires and long as you keep it under 2.8, same goes with 27.5 forks eating 29" wheels.
Example build for you resulting in incomparably better setup for a similar price:
- Dnm rear coil shock 200-210mm $40
- Shimano RD-M6000-GS long cage (42t max) $40 from aliexpress
- Boolany 9s 50t cassette with extender (use extender as hanger) $25
- Cassette spacer kit to fix chainline
https://www.ebay.com/itm/233392370257 $15
- Sram x5/s500 9 speed shifter $25
- Clearance or lightly used, x-fusion fork 36mm stanchion 160-180mm travel, $230
For example:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/X-Fusion-Metric-27-5-650b-Fork-180mm-Travel-Tapered-36mm-Stanchions/164143554435
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/X-Fusion-Sweep-RL2-27-5-160mm-Forks/174226045111
First one 110x20mm axle, second one 110x15 axle, these are $1000 MSRP forks.
- Lightly used, like new Dt swiss wheel with ratchet 350 or 240 hub, $200
https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/2721437/ 100x15 front
https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/2708228/ 110x15 front, 29", will 90% fit linked 110x15 fork if you keep tire under 2.8
These are $600 MSRP wheels.
- Chain kmc e9 ept from rosebikes $25
- Chainring 30t narrow wide from aliexpress $8
- Long chainring bolts 10.5mm from ebay
https://www.ebay.com/itm/5pcs-lot-B...m-8-5mm-10-5mm-Steel-MTB-RD-bike/273314133858 $10
- Seat post, get the biggest offset one you can find, it will make the medium size bike feel roomier, $25
- Pedal,
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000791200114.html $28
- Brakes, magure mt5e (closer switch) 4 pot ebike/s-pedelec brakes for a pair $190
- Rotors, 203mm $8 each from aliexpress
- Tires, if you go 29" then possibly 2.25 29" marathon plus mtb, else supermoto-x 27.5" 2.8 $50
- Some brake mounts, and seat you may have some but whatever you like.
Optional but very good idea
- Domino highest quality throttle
https://fasterbikes.eu/en/accessories/throttles/203/domino-premium-full-twist-grip-throttle $90
- Resistor assortment to wire the throttle up
you will need between 30 and 300 ohm, assortment has everything, $3
Stem, hanldebar, headset, headset spacers, don't bother, ask cyclone to send you some, they may do it for free (they did for me and I still use it).
$900 and you have components you would find on a $4000 e-MTB, instead of some cheap shiit you would find on a rental bike cyclone would give you.