Puma rocks!

[dermot]

I met up with Knoxie today and had a quick ride on his Puma / 37V Li-ion bike.

I think I'm in love (no, not you, Knoxie - the motor.)

Pretty damn good - very quiet and (even with my 280 pounds on board) plenty of torque and a top speed of 22/23mph.

I can well believe that the performance is amazing, at 48V or higher.

Since I'm after hill climbing performance, rather than top speed, I'd kind of assumed that a 20" wheel and 48V would be the ultimate, but in practice, I suspect it would be rare that I'd run out of torque even on 36V in a 26" wheel.

The Puma beats the performance of the Heinzmann across the board, with one inconsequential exception: at the instant of starting up, the 'kick' of torque of the Heinzmann is greater - but get past 1mph and it is Puma all the way.

I suspect that this is a function of the known characteristics of the high stall torque of brushed motors.

I would also say that the power curve (for want of a better term) is also flatter across the entire speed range.

I'm not dissing the Heinzmann, mind you - I've been very happy with it for 4+ years; just that the Puma performs better.

 

[Lowell]

More good news... hopefully they will be on dealers shelves very soon! Good oppertunity to grab market share, especially with Crystalyte inventory running low around here.

 

[gwsaltspring]

Hey Lowell have you any info on how the Puma stacks up against your rig?

Greg

 

[Lowell]

Hey Lowell have you any info on how the Puma stacks up against your rig?

Greg

The Puma *could* potentially be quicker and faster, but I don't know how long it would last at the power and speeds I run every day. On slower hillclimbs at part throttle the Puma would be the clear winner since the gear reduction allows the motor to get up on the efficiency curve sooner, where the X5 would be lugging at it's worst area.

While I've never tried it, an X5 in a 20" or 24" rim would give very good hillclimb ability and normally has the advantage of widespread availibility, although not right now it seems

Try the hub motor simulator with an X5, 20" wheel and 72v/35a controller to see if the lbs thrust vs. speed falls into the range you want.

 

[knoxie]

Hello Dermot

Very nice to meet you, glad you enjoyed the Puma, I like that particular rig as its so light and flickable, My Trek is a bit more of a handful!

Yes the low down torque and hill climbing is very good on the Puma as is the top speed, I get 24mph, the BMX Puma is a faster motor and would do more like 28 or so, it has even more low down grunt but is noisier, the Puma is very quiet, it has the usual hub motor burble when you first start off 1-2mph then it clears and pings along.

As far as comparisons go, the X5 is faster per volt but doesnt accelerate as quickly and doesnt climb hills as well at the same volts, the X5 at 37V is pretty tame to be honest.

Dermot can testify the Puma is light, I can lift the whole bike with 1 finger, its handy when carrying up stairs or over obstacles, my X5 bike is very heavy, but then its faster on the flat, a great motor still.

Maytag raced his bros X5 and the Puma won, I think they videoed it somewhere, the X5 should be able to take more power though if you want to go down the road of electric motorbike, the Puma is a high end assist motor still, not really a motorbike motor like the X5.

We must meet up again Dermot, we can meet half way somewhere on our bikes and have a pint, as it was fascinating talking with you!! you must stick around as someone with your knowledge and enthusiasm is of great value to the forum here! I can bring the Raleigh in with 72V and you must have a go in the KMX at least in a car park if not on the road!!

Cheers

Knoxie

 

[gwsaltspring]

So is the Puma an option here in Canada yet?

Greg