-Bugsy-
100 mW
Hi Guys.
Since my hub build died and I have been e-bikeless, I've been feeling like my dog ran away.
Going into the shed and looking at it was like seeing an empty blanket and food bowl in the corner. Never again to hear the sound of the Hyperion chiming that it was balanced and charged.
So when it came time to select a new motor, I was tempted to get another BMC V2t. The last one took so much punishment before giving up that it may have been worth sticking with what I know (bent axle and broken hall wires in the axle as I used to jump it). Instead, I started looking at the Mid-Drive option.
The GNG didn't really speak to me as I was concerned that the belt would clog with mud and snap or derail. As most of my riding is in sloppy snot
The EGO looked pretty good (pricy as it was). But after numerous emails, begging for information, I finally convinced them that I was worthy of owning one and I got a quote (AU$4.5K landed). Yeah....Na
It was then that I stumbled onto AFT http://www.af-tech.com.au
A quick email question, a same day reply and before I knew it, Jim had offered to drop around to mine to do a mock fit up of the motor and discuss further. Lucky we were both in Melbourne. Can't argue with service like that.
I was impressed with how he'd taken a stock Cyclone kit and improved it.
Ceramic bearings and oil lubrication in the gear box improve power and efficiency. The proprietary mounting bracket - rock solid and easy to fit. Also sound deadening material in various guards quietens it down from stock. And way less than half the price of the Ego with all the options.
I'm currently recovering from a dislocated shoulder so haven't had the chance to throw it down a DH track yet but I reckon it'd hold up pretty well considering what I've done with it so far. The sprung weight distribution in the frame is chalk and cheese compared to the old hub build.
One of my initial concerns was that I had a diamond shaped bottom tube on the frame and that the motor clamps would either crush the frame or not be secure enough. Jim put me onto this stuff 'Polymorph'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhVuc6RNyaw (google and you shall find) You can see it on one of the pictures below.
I also elected to go with an ISIS splined bottom bracket from the cyclone website as I believe them to be stronger that the square taper when it comes to off-road abuse. As a note to those who want to install one of these. You will need a small C-Spanner as no 'off the shelf' MTB tool will fit this BB and remember to loctite the bolts into the crank / BB.
Anyway. Enough talk. Here's some photo's:
Apologies for the audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUiy1oMUprE
And another super fun triple header in one day:
http://youtu.be/ZlCIe72gDNU
Overall. I'm very happy with the end result of the build and recommend the services of AFT. The love is back.
Since my hub build died and I have been e-bikeless, I've been feeling like my dog ran away.
Going into the shed and looking at it was like seeing an empty blanket and food bowl in the corner. Never again to hear the sound of the Hyperion chiming that it was balanced and charged.
So when it came time to select a new motor, I was tempted to get another BMC V2t. The last one took so much punishment before giving up that it may have been worth sticking with what I know (bent axle and broken hall wires in the axle as I used to jump it). Instead, I started looking at the Mid-Drive option.
The GNG didn't really speak to me as I was concerned that the belt would clog with mud and snap or derail. As most of my riding is in sloppy snot
The EGO looked pretty good (pricy as it was). But after numerous emails, begging for information, I finally convinced them that I was worthy of owning one and I got a quote (AU$4.5K landed). Yeah....Na
It was then that I stumbled onto AFT http://www.af-tech.com.au
A quick email question, a same day reply and before I knew it, Jim had offered to drop around to mine to do a mock fit up of the motor and discuss further. Lucky we were both in Melbourne. Can't argue with service like that.
I was impressed with how he'd taken a stock Cyclone kit and improved it.
Ceramic bearings and oil lubrication in the gear box improve power and efficiency. The proprietary mounting bracket - rock solid and easy to fit. Also sound deadening material in various guards quietens it down from stock. And way less than half the price of the Ego with all the options.
I'm currently recovering from a dislocated shoulder so haven't had the chance to throw it down a DH track yet but I reckon it'd hold up pretty well considering what I've done with it so far. The sprung weight distribution in the frame is chalk and cheese compared to the old hub build.
One of my initial concerns was that I had a diamond shaped bottom tube on the frame and that the motor clamps would either crush the frame or not be secure enough. Jim put me onto this stuff 'Polymorph'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhVuc6RNyaw (google and you shall find) You can see it on one of the pictures below.
I also elected to go with an ISIS splined bottom bracket from the cyclone website as I believe them to be stronger that the square taper when it comes to off-road abuse. As a note to those who want to install one of these. You will need a small C-Spanner as no 'off the shelf' MTB tool will fit this BB and remember to loctite the bolts into the crank / BB.
Anyway. Enough talk. Here's some photo's:
Apologies for the audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUiy1oMUprE
And another super fun triple header in one day:
http://youtu.be/ZlCIe72gDNU
Overall. I'm very happy with the end result of the build and recommend the services of AFT. The love is back.
