CYC PHOTON

I'll leave that to somebody else. I've got better things to do when it hits 37C, and I think most other people have, too.

That is actually why I got into ebikes. Because they travel so fast, they keep you cool even on the hottest of days. August here in San Gabriel Valley is brutal. At 26mph to 28mph the wind-cooling effect is substantial. I don't know why this is never discussed. If you live in a hot, dry climate, ebiking on a hot day feels awesome.
 
That has been mentioned and discussed. It even makes a big difference here in the mid Atlantic humid summer where a 10-15% climb can be taken at, say, 15 mph with a moderate human effort on a 95 degree F day with absurd humidity, instead of 5 to 7 mph with a max effort on a pedal bike. Much cooler on the e-bike.

That is actually why I got into ebikes. Because they travel so fast, they keep you cool even on the hottest of days. August here in San Gabriel Valley is brutal. At 26mph to 28mph the wind-cooling effect is substantial. I don't know why this is never discussed. If you live in a hot, dry climate, ebiking on a hot day feels awesome.
 
That has been mentioned and discussed. It even makes a big difference here in the mid Atlantic humid summer where a 10-15% climb can be taken at, say, 15 mph with a moderate human effort on a 95 degree F day with absurd humidity, instead of 5 to 7 mph with a max effort on a pedal bike. Much cooler on the e-bike.
We can’t all live in Frodo’s Shire like @hindesite over there!
 
I have a friend with a 250W specialized, and he loves it and rides it everyday. The specialized probably peaks at 500W bursts. I think those are the bikes that the Photon should be judged against.
CYC would agree with you. In fact they left a long comment on YouTube:

I've reproduced it here because it goes a long way to clearing up the misconceptions/expectations for this motor.

@cycmotor

3 months ago
Thanks for the breakdown! Allow our everyday rider and project engineer to add a few comments. His personal Photon is approaching 8000km and has been through floods submerging the motor and heavy mud conditions.

1. We'd like to state that the Photon is specifically targeted and designed to be an alternative choice for fully integrated EMTBs such as the Bosch and Shimano motors. Ensuring the system runs smoothly with pedal assist is the main performance goal. We wanted to get as close as possible to match the pedal assist feeling of fully integrated systems with a bit more ohms. Throttle capability is simply an added advantage for a burst of power when needed. Running at full throttle on 1200W makes complete sense as to why the motor will heat up fast. This is not what the system was intended to be used for. You can, however, run it continuously using throttle in the appropriate gear and at 750W rated power.

2. Regarding the assumption of outrunner being the wrong choice is quite relative if you look at our design goals. The outrunner motor was chosen due to its superior performance in such a small form factor in terms of torque and efficiency. If the design had an inrunner, it would be twice the size with lower torque and terrible efficiency for power larger than 700W. If we did this, we would be sacrificing the good chainline as well as clearance between the motor and bottom bracket. In the Photon, you will also notice that it is potted, unlike other ebike and skateboard motors. This allows the coil temperature to conduct to the potting (direct contact) and then to the stator plate itself (again, direct contact). From the stator plate, there is a direct pathway to conduct heat to the whole motor system including the heat sinks.

3. The hall sensor failure that you have experienced was also not due to the temperature.The PCB for the hall sensor is also rated up to 140deg C. ESD protection is the reason for the hall sensor failure. Hall sensor failures are extremely uncommon given the amount of Photons sold and have also been addressed and revised by the development team.

4. From our records and our resellers' records, the quality of the latest batch is very stable. We do apologize for the initial batch failure rate being higher than what we aimed for (although not near the levels reported by some online), we tried our best to test with third-party lab and in-house as much as we could before launching, but some issues arise only in mass production. Since then, we have addressed the issues that caused the failures. Meanwhile, we are improving our servicing networks and improving parts availability to ensure a quick turnaround time if there are servicing needs.

5. A point that we'd also like to stress is that the failures that have been seen so far are 90% caused by us upscaling our manufacturing. For a small company to start mass producing is a major challenge. There has been a few design modifications needed but these are very small adjustments and do not affect the base design of the system. We have been revising our scaling-up strategy along with the manufacturing and assembly processes. This includes better implementation of QC procedures.

6. Running it in the "Unrestricted" mode is no problem at all in terms of durability but you will run into thermal limiting. We have enabled access to the motor's peak performance simply because it's great fun to have that available when riding.

7. Shhhhhhh, we don't talk about the Proton yet... although... it's aimed to run at higher power levels continuously but it will also be heavier and have a larger form factor. Details about the motor itself will also be released later on. We're taking our time and working on scaling up our production and quality capabilities first.




Edited: to reduce focus on video, which is itself not the point of this post.
 
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So the narrator, High Voltage guy, is espousing in the video above an opinion I'm seeing voiced also in this thread: that pricing should be per watt... like you are buying a CPU for your PC. But he bought a tiny CPU that allowed overclocking, and he was able to overclock it match the fastest CPU you can buy, but then he got mad that it ran hot while overclocked to the extreme. There is just no logic in it. He says in this video that he bought it specifically to hot-rod it, and that $950 is too expensive for a 500W-750W motor...

But here's the weird part. 9 months ago he posted a review of the Photon where he seemed to clearly understand the design decisions made, understood the target market, and said don't buy this to hot-rod it. So 9 months ago, he clearly understood what this product was... and then 3 months ago posts this new video that flies in the face of that. I just don't get it. He fell back to his old school early ebike days of thinking that every motor you can bolt onto your bicycle frame should make it a motorcycle... a drastic flip-flop. He says he will dial it down to 750W and give it to his wife as a commuter... so, um, using it as intended? Sounds like a great plan.

Here is the earlier video where he seemed to fully grasp the product, it's market, and it's limitations:

 
So the narrator, High Voltage guy, is espousing in the video above an opinion I'm seeing voiced also in this thread: that pricing should be per watt... like you are buying a CPU for your PC. But he bought a tiny CPU that allowed overclocking, and he was able to overclock it match the fastest CPU you can buy, but then he got mad that it ran hot while overclocked to the extreme. There is just no logic in it. He says in this video that he bought it specifically to hot-rod it, and that $950 is too expensive for a 500W-750W motor...

But here's the weird part. 9 months ago he posted a review of the Photon where he seemed to clearly understand the design decisions made, understood the target market, and said don't buy this to hot-rod it. So 9 months ago, he clearly understood what this product was... and then 3 months ago posts this new video that flies in the face of that. I just don't get it. He fell back to his old school early ebike days of thinking that every motor you can bolt onto your bicycle frame should make it a motorcycle... a drastic flip-flop. He says he will dial it down to 750W and give it to his wife as a commuter... so, um, using it as intended? Sounds like a great plan.

Here is the earlier video where he seemed to fully grasp the product, it's market, and it's limitations:

TBC, I don't have any criticism at all of John's videos, I enjoy them, but they are his opinion and experience and while helpful, they are his. Where, what and how he rides is VERY different to what I do. I still get value from the work he puts into his video and appreciate that he makes them.

I only linked to the video because it was where the CYC comment was originally posted, and I wanted to cite the source. The real point of my post was CYC's comment (and I would hope, this conversation) and not John's video; perhaps I should have put the video after the comment.
 
So that "Cotton Mouth" _vehicle_ that High Voltage is involved with and riding on sidewalks is so insane that it inspired a bit of fanfic:

He zoomed along at a breathtaking 45 miles per hour, threading through the bike paths and pedestrian walkways. Perched atop a bike frame originally meant for a Bafang Ultra, it now housed a monstrous 10,000-watt Lightning Rods big block motor, injecting a whopping 4 kilowatts of power into his every move. Aptly named "Cotton Mouth," this 13-horse-strong electric steed stood as a testament to the audacious spirit of its creator, teetering on the precipice between human ingenuity and outright lunacy.

This unholy fusion of man and machine emitted a cacophony of noise, as if a legion of power drills had suddenly taken to the streets. With dual drive trains... one for the rider's effort on the right, and the other for the relentless, screeching electric motor on the left... it was a symphony of chaos that echoed through the air. To those unfortunate souls within earshot, it was an assault on the senses, a sensation akin to the infamous Havana Syndrome. He was a sonic weapon.

Yet, amidst the whirlwind of noise and speed, he couldn't suppress a wry grin. As he streaked past bewildered bystanders, he couldn't help but feel a strange sense of triumph. For in this mad world of improbable inventions and audacious exploits, he was both creator and conqueror of the absurd, leaving behind a zero-carbon trail of bemusement and disbelief in his wake.

A portly, middle-age woman walking a poodle flips him off and yells "asshole!" This just further fuels his electric-fever-dream of a joyride. He cackles to himself as he returns the hand gesture while struggling to maintain control of his untamed Cotton Mouth, "I am the alpha and the omega... I am High Voltage!"
 
So the real-world sustained power limits on the Photon is 500W? That seems OK for the right market segment. I have a friend with a 250W specialized, and he loves it and rides it everyday. The specialized probably peaks at 500W bursts. I think those are the bikes that the Photon should be judged against. This motor is 7 pounds, very small, and fairly quiet. The ToSeven motors sound terrible and are quite heavy. The BBS02 is heavier and lacks torque sensing. And the consensus on the torque sensing on the photon is that it is fantastic, the best there is.

I’d really like to see a video of this motor on a long climb in 100F weather.
Toseven dm02 weights less than 4kg. Cyc photon is only marginally lighter. Photon is extremely expensive if you add shipping cost , VAT, duty. Total price is around 1400 USD. Even Bosch, Brose motors are cheaper! (Around 900 USD) DM02 will cost you 2.5-3x less. Latest firmware from 27th of March solves all problems.


Pedal assist is on par with photon. Photon is dead. Let's not forget about even cheaper TSDZ8.
 
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Not so here in the States when you order from in-country suppliers. Shipping is minimal or even free. But yes, I agree, it is still a bit expensive for the capabilities. If the "other guys" ever get their firmware and torque sensors sorted they may be a decent option.

Photon is extremely expensive if you add shipping cost , VAT, duty. Total price is around 1400 USD. Even Bosch, Brose motors are cheaper! (Around 900 USD) DM02 will cost you 2.5-3x less. Latest firmware from 27th of March solves all problems.

[U
 
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That is actually why I got into ebikes. Because they travel so fast, they keep you cool even on the hottest of days. August here in San Gabriel Valley is brutal. At 26mph to 28mph the wind-cooling effect is substantial.
I lived and cycled for decades in Central California, where in recent years we were seeing semi-regular temperatures north of 105 fahrenheit, with weeks going by where the daytime peak consistently passed 100 degrees.

The blast-furnace cooling effect is real, although living thru it you wouldn't call it a cooling effect. Its more like an "I did the ride and it sucked but I didn't die" effect. There is no freaking way I could do a 15 mile commute in 110-degree weather, but I did it repeatedly on an ebike I am pedaling that is going 28-30 mph. Niot comfortable so much, but I'm not getting heatstroke, either (I'd go thru about 2 liters of water per trip).
 
Not so here in the States when you order from in-country suppliers. Shipping is minimal or even free. But yes, I agree, it is still a bit expensive for the capabilities. If the "other guys" ever get their firmware and torque sensors sorted they may be a decent option.
It is already sorted out. TSDZ8 and Toseven. Especially for T7 motors. Users on discord claim that this new firmware is a game changer.
 
Haven't seen any real user reports here on ES, however. Except the one thread about elliptical feeling torque sense and another mentioning unpotted(!) electronics.

It is already sorted out. TSDZ8 and Toseven. Especially for T7 motors. Users on discord claim that this new firmware is a game changer.
 
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tsdz8 feels great . stiff and strong . I wish the display showed used wh from last trip reset . downside is short main harness and huge chainring hub . I couldn't it get even warm when testing at full pedal on flat 50kmh for some time
 
Haven't seen any real user reports here on ES, however. Except the one thread about elliptical feeling torque sense and another mentioning unpotted(!) electronics.
The Toseven is half-assed. The majority of controller electronics are potted, but where the controller connects to the core is a major water ingress point. The BBSHD is not designed this way. On the BBSHD, the motor core is also sealed from the controller chamber (same with Photon).

DM01:

Screenshot 2024-04-01 10533434444444445.png
Screenshot 2024-04-01 102344534999229.png

BBSHD:

Screenshot 2024-04-01 10352323233444444323214.png

And all this talk about air gaps on the Photon. The Toseven engineers like pointless air gaps:

Screenshot 2024-04-01 10456767667888778717.png

Top right. That is a big ol' hot air pocket that serves no purpose.

I think if you just make sure your controller chamber on the Toseven is really sealed well it probably won't be a problem.
 
The Toseven is half-assed. The majority of controller electronics are potted, but where the controller connects to the core is a major water ingress point. The BBSHD is not designed this way. On the BBSHD, the motor core is also sealed from the controller chamber (same with Photon).
Looking at those images I can see why the Photon is more expensive than those other motors. The Toseven looks positively agricultural.

You can also see why an outrunner gets more torque for the same size - the rotor can be much larger diameter whereas on all those motors the space is taken up by those unnecessarily bulky windings.

I'll bet CYC are working on a heatpipe cooling system - or some other way of getting heat out the ends of the core to a heatsink. Won't be cheap though.
 
I sure hope they are working on that. It would make a good motor even better. But the way CYC trickles out upgrades I suspect this might not be ready for V2. They'll nickel and dime us on a few others first. LOL.

I'll bet CYC are working on a heatpipe cooling system - or some other way of getting heat out the ends of the core to a heatsink. Won't be cheap though.
 
If anyone fancies helping out I have a poll going on the photon owners group to help establish reliability for people sitting on the fence to purchase, myself included...

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