Bionx Electric Bike Kit Review
Nov 14, 2010
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I have ridden many different bikes with the Bionx electric bike conversion kit and I have to say that it is probably the most refined ebike kit that you can buy.
To compare it to cars, it is like the Mercedes Benz of electric bike kits.
This is a review based on a number of rides on the Bionx electric bike kit. This is not an in depth review based on hundreds of miles of use, etc.
I just wanted to let you know what I think of the system based on some ride experiences.
Here is a video about the Bionx system:
What I like about the Bionx ebike kit:
- The way the system adds assistance is so seamless it just feels like you have a strong tailwind the whole time you are riding
- The motor is nearly silent
- The Bionx ebike kit is relatively light weight compared to other kits out there. They have a few different models to choose from with different weights.
- The quality of the components are very good. It makes the kit feel “solid”.
- It is a very “clean” kit. There is not a mess of wires going everywhere
- It is very easy to install for the do it yourselfer
- The LCD display is very easy to see and understand and provides 4 different levels of assist
- The battery is housed in a nice plastic case that can be locked to the bike, yet easily removed. Can be on the downtube of the bike frame or the rear rack.
- There is a way to plug the system into a computer and run a diagnostics program on the kit to see how everything is performing
- You can have the option of pedal assist and/or throttle (throttle only available in US & Canadian markets)
- It has regenerative braking (the battery is charged when you use the brakes) and the display shows you how much the battery is being charged
- Uses a lithium magnesium battery chemistry, which according to Bionx is the safest battery chemistry available
- You can charge the battery by switching the system to training mode where you have to pedal harder to charge the battery. Great if you want an extra tough workout!
- Bionx is a kit that can be used well for sport cyclists that may want to add some assist to their mountain or road bike for a little extra help on the hills and wind in the wind.
What I don’t like about the Bionx electric bicycle kit:
- The price! Bionx is a well refined electric bike conversion kit, but with that comes the price tag. You can buy a whole electric bike for the price of just this kit. But if you want the best, most streamlined kit, the higher price is all part of the deal.
- If you plan on hauling heavy loads up steep hills with a cargo bike or trailer then the Bionx system may not be as helpful as a mid drive kit. A mid drive electric kit positions the motor so that it can power your bicycle through it gears (drivetrain). This allows you to get the electric assist in the lower gears of your bicycle to pull heavier loads up hill more effectively. Checkout this guide if you are interested in mid drive electric bike kits. The Bionx kit will still help with hauling heavier loads, but if you see yourself hauling heavy loads consistently then you may want to consider a mid drive kit.
Other notes:
- Bionx is owned by Magna which is a big automobile parts manufacturer. Nice to see ebike funding from the auto industry.
- Bionx is the kit being speced on a lot of new electric bikes from Trek, Ohm, Kilowatt, Villiger, KTM, BiXS, Diamant, Matra, Wheeler, riese und müller
- Bionx has been making electric bike kits since 1998.
Conclusion:
To wrap it up, you can see that I like the Bionx kit. I think it is a great kit if you want a solid dependable system that is very clean and can quietly give you that extra assist. You will pay a premium for a kit like this, but it is what you can expect to pay for this level of quality components and a well refined electric bike system.
If you are interested in buying the Bionx kit you should check with your local bike shop. If they don’t offer the kits you could purchase the Bionx system online.
Do you have any comments or questions about the Bionx electric bike kit? Please leave them below.
Thanks!
-Pete
P.S. Don’t forget to sign up for updates from the electric bike world, plus ebike riding and maintenance tips! (upper right hand corner of this site)
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Peter has covered the Bion X system, well in his report. It’s exactly what i have been saying about the product for years as being a Dealer for the product here in Saskatchewan Canada .
Thanks Ken!
Nice review, thanks. It looks like a nice kit for a commuter bike. A couple of questions:
Is the computer interface available for everyone, not just IBDs?
Do you notice what happens above the 20mph limit? Does it feel like you hit a wall and the motor kicks into regen mode when you instead want it to get out of the way so you can pedal above 20 without the drag of the motor?
Hi Dan! I just heard from Alex at Bionx and he said that the computer diagnostics are only available for Bionx and Trek dealers at the moment.
I agree with what peteathome said above. It is a smooth transition to no additional assist above 20 mph. As long as you are not fighting a head wind I think it is pretty easy to be cruising in that 20+ area.
I’ve been using a Bionx 350PL kit for three years now and still love it. I’m a very long-time bike commuter and recreational cyclist who was having some neurological problems and wanted to keep riding and this kit fit the bill. It is light enough that even turned off the bike still rides and handles nicely – I don’t even notice it is there, although I do live in flat terrain. Pop the battery off and all that is on the bike is the hub motor, which weighs very little.
I actually ride much more now with the kit than I did at the peak of my health.
In the older models, the assist drops off pretty quickly as you exceed 20 mph. But, no, the motor does not go into regen! Some people said it felt like you suddenly got a flat or hit a wall when the assist dropped off. The newer models have a more ramped reduction of assist near 20 mph that is not noticible. I have the older model and ride faster than 20 mph all the time and do not notice the assist dropping off.
My main complaint is the cost of battery replacement. For a daily long-distance rider like me the battery will probably poop out at about 4 years. It is the most expensive component of the kit. However, Bionx recently told me they will rebuild the battery at half the replacement cost. That’s a lot more acceptable.
Hi Pete! Thanks for your input. Great to hear from long time Bionx user.
It seems that it would be easy to fit this kit to your e-bike, I had never got a chance to use Bionx kit as I am less used to e-bike, but as I am planning for e-bike, would love to use this.
I hope you get an e-bike soon. They are a lot of fun!
Just came across this blog.. I have the BionX 350PL system, got it back in Feb/March. Installed it ourselves on a recumbent trike. The install was pretty easy, but not a total cakewalk. You do need a special tool to get the rear wheel on correctly with the notch pointed correctly. I have had problems with mine, and at this point, the entire system, save the console, has been replaced under warranty. It is really fabulous on the hills. I keep it in level 1 most of the time It’s a hill climbing monster. The 20MPH speed limit is a real downside though. We got it as an alternative to a tandem so my husband and I could ride together at his pace. One of routes we take is a slight uphill outbound, and a slight downhill back. On the return trip, especially with a tail wind, I’m really limited speed wise. The assist starts to drop off at about 15-16mph.. Even putting it on Level 4 doesn’t do any good. At that point, with all the weight of the system, I’m pretty much pussing a 60lb bike on my own power — 17mph is about all I can do. While it was being fixed, I was riding my 2 wheel recumbent, and though I couldn’t come close to keeping pace with husband on the hills, without the weight, I was flying on anything with any downgrade. There is no longer any way to disable the speed limit, as could be done on earlier models. The trick of changing the wheel size does not work on current models. One important note, BionX does not deal directly with the consumer. YOu have to go through a dealer. So, I ended up paying $140 to local dealers (if you call 90 miles local) to troubleshoot and deal with the warranty repairs because we are in California, we bought it online from a NY dealer, and didn’t want to take the time to first ship it to NY before they then shipped it to BionX. (we were on time constraints when we originally bought it, and they were the only ones who could get us one by the time we needed it.) But, it does work great when it is working, and so long as you are not pushing into the 16mph+ range.
Thanks letting us know about your experience. It is great to hear from people who have used the Bionx kit a lot. Sorry to hear that you have had some troubles, but it sounds like you still like the system.
No argument from me there EBP! Bionx is defo the best out there at the moment. I just clicked 3,000 kms with mine. No problems whatsoever (except I once lost the little white regen magnet switch down by the brake lever which locked it in regen mode…)
Bionx doesn’t make a kit for 130mm drop outs so this rules out a huge portion of road bikes.
The entire electrical system of bike weights 6.6 kg. The motor, controller, cables and the screen weighs 2.5 kg and 4.1 kg battery. This makes the system BionX energy pedelecs more compact sensor, which is not Japan. Not only does riding easier in the G-modes can also be used as a training tool.
I have never seen a BionX to examine it and I have some questions about the kit.
Does the kit replace the rear wheel?
If so, are all the rear gears gone?
If all the rear gears are gone, how does one control cadence with varying speeds?
Hi Dave, the Bionx kit does replace the rear wheel and it does allow
you to have the same gears on the rear wheel.
Bionx warranty is non existent. Their product is okay but they skirt any attempts to get service or replacement parts. I would never do business with them again.
I agree about the “hitting the wall ” comment . What is up with that ? Is it necessary ? And what about the cost of a battery if it goes bad . Their warrenty is useless ! Lots of room for competition !
Pete: I have a Bionx system on my Catrike Expedition and it works great. I have no trouble reaching 18.5 mph on the level and have gotten as high as 22+ on short downhills. Unfortunately, my normal rid is on relatively flat land so I haven’t experienced long downhill stretches. You mention a computer adaptor to get ride info from the system. How can I get that? I have been dependent on my local dealer (100 miles away) to get upgrades.
Hello,
Can a dynamo powered headlight be connected, such as the Lumotec IQ CYO T Licht 24, which is what I have or will I need to get a new lighting system. I was going to upgrade to a dynamo hub system but am considering this instead. Not needing to purchase a wheel and dynamo hub to run the headlight savings makes the cost easier to digest.
The lighting system is critical for me in Chicago. Also, I would like the option to add a USB charger for my iPhone as I use the GPS quite a bit.
Thanks.
Is there a limit on the top speed? Can I turn off the assist and go down hill at top speed?
Hi Hal,
The BionX kit will stop assisting at 20 mph but it won’t limit you going faster downhill.
I’ve owned three BionX systems over the years. My latest one I bought two years ago. Big problem: their price for batteries is simply HUGE and off-putting. I had one system on a trike which simply never worked at all and soon had to be returned to the dealer. Trying to get help from the BionX people in Canada was almost impossible: language difficulties and arrogant attitude made the dealer give them up eventually. My current system works well — but the batteries just don’t last very long. My oldest battery of two, gets only about 13 miles before it quits and the newest gets about 20. And there is simply not enough “ooomph” to make it up long or steep hills without huge effort. Because of health problems, I bought into ebikes back in the mid-90’s and the BionX system was my third choice over the years. My wife has a conventional ebike kit on her trike (mine is a recumbent bike) and she has much much more power and speed on her trike than I have on my bike. The smallest replacement part costs a fortune.
On my previous BionX system, when the battery went kaput, the manufacturer would not rebuild it nor even take it as a trade in on a new battery. So I’m glad to hear they’re offering to rebuild a battery for lower price. But, when I’m done with this system, I will ditch BionX.