[AUSTRALIA] Sur-Ron Light Bee / Fire Fly - Mid drive ebike

[Aebrennan]

Not sure what Jay is up to? Sorry.

I have just had an update from the factory, and it seems the 60v batteries are now built!

The bikes should be ready to get shipped on the 25th or 26th.

[Volts]

what type of 18650 cell are they using does anyone know

[Aebrennan]

From a previous email from marketing manager

-. For lithium battery, we use HighStar’s sub-brand Knap Tech for 48V battery, and Panasonic for 60V battery.
a. 48V 25Ah (1300wh) lithium battery is formed by 140pcs 18650 high-rate battery cells.
b. 60V 32Ah (1900wh) Lithium battery is formed by 176pcs Panasonic 18650Pf high-rate battery cells.

The battery’s max electricity release current is 100Ah

[Aebrennan]

More info if interested...

-. For 48V version and 60V version
a. Weight: Only the different batteries will affect the weight. The weight for 40V 25Ah battery is 9.3kg, and the weight for 60V 32Ah battery is 10.9kg.
b. The motors for both version are the same motor. Rated power is 3KW. But with different voltages, the peak power will be different. With 48V voltage, the peak power will be 3.8KW. With 60V voltage, the peak power will be 4.8KW. Also, due to the different peak power, the top speed for the 60V version is about 10-12% faster than the 48V version. Also, in case of same speed, 60V version will have a longer range. Even the feeling for power is obviously different.

1. In both version, the motor is the same.
2. The controller is the same. We developed the controller to be ok with 2 different voltages. Controller’s max voltage is limited to be 70V.
3. For the 48V battery pack, this moment, it’s 14S 10P, and the capacity is given to be 25Ah

[JonnyJay]

Very interested in this bike.. Any chance of having a look at the bike when it lands? Am in Sydney..

[scrambler]

In case you are not monitoring all the sur-ron threads., there is an Interesting first report from Arthur on the Firefly bike.
https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewt ... 1#p1334044

[Aebrennan]

Finally the order has set sail.
Bikes will be here by christmas so real aussie reviews and videos will be coming.
I am planning to test the bikes head to head against a Stealth bomber and 6kw Tangent drive mtb.
I can’t wait

[Hyena]

That's probably not going to be a fair fight, but atleast you can compare noise to the tangent
We can compare the 60 vs 48v models as well.
If you're free over the xmas holidays I have a few days free where we could make a nice video. It's hard to do solo but with a second rider I'd love to bust out the drone and gimbal and get some proper shots.

[Aebrennan]

I just wanted to get some mates around and have the different bikes out together with gopros to get a general comparison, I know it’s not a fair fight but would get some good footage and sounds.
I’m planning on pushing the Sur-Ron/s hard over the holidays to see what they can take!

[Aebrennan]

After 4 months, and hundreds of emails and skype calls, the Light Bee has landed in Australia.
Testing will commence this weekend!

[dirkdiggler]

Nice! Excited to hear how thing go with them.

[Aebrennan]

First shakedown complete
These bikes are perfect for the riding I do which is bush trail riding.
After 34 kms the 48v battery was down to 10% and the 60v battery is at 53% the two bikes were ridden side by side on the same trails.
The 48v has Rst and the 60v Fastace forks.
I prefer the fast ace usd fork over the Rst.
The Fastace fork has offset triple clamps that have the fork legs forward of the head tube and it seems to give the bike much better handling.
Power wise the 60v has more torque and top speed but when rolling side by side they are very similar paced.
The noise is not silent but I think much different to the vid from Motomoto, I will post a video later.
The bikes are small, seat height is 820mm bar end height is 1050mm
I am 173cms and 75kg and am very comfortable, though I want the bars 50mm higher
My brother is 183cms and 85kg and he also felt comfortable.
Build quality is awesome especially for China, I will post pics once I work out how to resize them
Brakes are adequate 4 pot front and rear with 203mm rotors and have reed switches fitted, not sure how many functions they perform but you can't use throttle with brakes on or stand down.
Battery case is super impressive and has built in power display to monitor whilst riding.
10a charger took less than 3 hours to fill up.
Overall I'm very impressed and glad I have not had any issues as yet.
I will be riding them everyday and posting updates, I might start a thread in the motorcycle section.

[Hyena]

Nice initial impressions, and good to hear they actually come with 4 pot brakes standard now. They were going to be the first thing I upgraded, at least on the front.
I'm the same height as you and I agree, that seat height sounds perfect for being able to flick it around and being low enough to have your feet down to push off stuff, climb over logs etc
I can't wait to get mine - The wife just got me an early christmas present she doesn't know about yet

[Aebrennan]

Here is the first part of the testing process more vids currently uploading to youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFBLHOIZHxM&t=189s

[Aebrennan]

Part 2 video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xj8dPgWJg3U

[Aebrennan]

Part 3

https://youtu.be/nGpScquIH1M

[alswiseowl]

LOOK NICE AND POWERFUL
IM KEEN FOR ONE IF WE COULD DOCTER SOME PEDALS ON THERE..& POSSIBLE BICYCLE SEAT POST..NICE BIKES

[Aebrennan]

Really? Pedals and a bicycle seat?

I hope you never get your hands on one!

This is by far the most impressive designed vehicle I’ve seen come from China, to butcher it into some sort of “bicycle looking motorbike” would be such an insult

Apparently Luna cycle is offering a pedal kit...

[scrambler]

I would see no insult in making a version that would compete with the Neematic
https://www.neematic.com/

We had that discussion before, but there is a legitimate use for hi power pedal assist E-bike.
I rode motorcycles all my life, but I do see a different pleasure in powering the bike using leg effort and pedals, just being 10 times stronger when doing so because of the E-assist.
This is a different experience than throttling the bike, but a very satisfying one too

Keeping minds open

[SlowCo]

ebike.jpg (107.58 KiB) Viewed 1070 times

[Aebrennan]

Yes this is exactly the reason motorbike manufacturers are holding off on production, as research shows that a lot of people want pedals on a motorcycle!

Please upload videos of 6kw + pedal bikes that are using the full motor power and pedal power harmoniously.

[scrambler]

The latest one is the Neematic with a 9 speed Pinion gearbox, and torque sensing pedal assist.

What is true, is that most high power pedal assist bikes are based on a poor cadence only sensor.
The best pedal assist experience (most natural) is with a Torque base sensing pedal assist which Neematic has.
Also, you start to see bikes based on the 1500W Bafang Ultra that are providing the natural feel of torque sensing pedal assist.

The fact is having both a throtle and torque sensing pedal assist gives you the best of both worlds, you can enjoy the superman power feel in some situation, and throtle trough others.

Again, you do not have to like it, and are free to prefer the motorcycle throttle feel, but trying to put down those who like pedal assist is meaningless

What is also true is that the pedals are often there just to provide Bicycle legality for access to trails

[Aebrennan]

Procrastination about butchering a beautiful pure e- moto to be a pedal assist bicycle is hardly hating on someone for liking pedal assist!

Your theory is correct but it is highly unlikely that the Es member in question will redesign the bike to perform the way you describe.

The Neematic is the best looking conceptual pedal assist bike but will probably never see production because everyone whinges about the cost.

The search for the infamous goldilocks bike continues...

[Aebrennan]

FYI I own and ride three different “pedal assist e-bicycles” all of which at full power the pedals are a nuisance IMHO

[scrambler]

Procrastination about butchering a beautiful pure e- moto to be a pedal assist bicycle is hardly hating on someone for liking pedal assist!

That is indeed a different subject. Not seeing the bike up close, I have no idea if it could be made to use pedals in a clean efficient way, so you may be right that there is not way to do a good job of that on that bike.