The BionX electric bike conversion kit is an aptly named product. By clipping a battery to the frame of almost any conventional bike and installing a special rear wheel that houses an electric motor, the BionX essentially transforms the rider into a bionic super-human, with an electric boost that adds power to every push of the pedal. To get a better feel for what it is like to ride a conventional bike that has been converted to electric, I took a spin on a Montague Crosstown outfitted with a top-of-the line, 48-volt, 350-watt BionX kit.
BionX: Unobtrusive Power
On this particular Crosstown, the BionX battery was mounted on the seat tube, underneath the Montague’s parallel top and down tubes. A football-sized package that extended slightly to either side of the frame, I expected the battery pack to negatively 
impact the Crosstown’s handling, but to my surprise, I found it no more obtrusive that an under-slung water bottle. In fact, the entire setup was exceptionally well-balanced, and far lighter than I had imagined. I found I could hoist the entire rig about as easily as any conventional commuter bike, and amazingly, the Montague was still able to fold down for storage just as it would without the BionX. The battery also pops off the frame at the twist of a key, so the bike can be stored in one space while the battery charges in another.
Intuitive controls, ingenious features
As with many integrated electric bikes, the BionX features an intuitive handlebar-mounted control panel that allows the rider to cycle between four different power settings, adjusting how much the electric motor helps the rider pedal. The control panel also displays standard bicycle computer data, including an odometer, average speed, chronometer, time elapsed, total trip distance, and more. A small, simple throttle is also situated on the handlebar within thumb-reach of the right hand grip. These controls allow the rider to quickly and easily increase or decrease the power settings, and also features a little red button which manually engages the BionX to work as hard as the power settings are set to allow, effectively triggering “motorcycle mode”. Playing with this feature was fun as I coasted up hills or accelerated from a standstill with no effort, recalling the “don’t push the little red button!” scene from Men in Black every time.
One of the coolest features of the BionX system, and something that I have yet to encounter on other electric setups, is that in addition to being able to adjust how much power the motor puts into helping you, the rider can also set the motor to work against 
you. Putting your bike into this “resistance mode” can be used as an exercise technique, increasing the difficulty of your daily commute, or relocating your spin class from a stuffy gym out into a sunny Spring day. The absolute niftiest thing about this mode though, in my opinion, is that as you pedal in resistance mode, the work you are doing to pedal the bike forward actually recharges the battery. Partly as a result of using this feature, my BionX readout showed no loss of battery power at the conclusion of my test ride.
And speaking of the readout–man is that thing addictive! Not only can you monitor your standard cycling data (speed, distance, etc.), battery levels and power settings, but it also tracks how much power the battery is putting out in assist mode, or how much it is being charged in resistance mode. I found myself competing against that scale in much the same way I pit myself against the data displayed on exercise bike and treadmill consoles at the gym–but with far superior scenery.
Safety first
Another nice touch on the BionX system is that whenever the brakes are engaged, the motor instantly cuts out, whether your are in resistance or assist mode. It is a subtle safety feature, but I was relieved to discover it when I had to brake hard while charging down hill with the electric motor spinning full blast. It also came in handy while using the resistance mode, which took me a few minutes to get used to, and during which time I was not as aware of, say, upcoming solid walls. This braking feature simply ensures that even if you are riding an electric bike for the very first time, you will still be able to stop in a predictable, controllable way.
So the BionX electric bike conversion kit packs in a lot of well thought-out features into a low-profile package. Perhaps the system’s greatest strength, however, comes in its adaptability. Here at NyceWheels we have mounted the unit onto a variety of folding bikes for the ultimate in 
portability, but the beauty of the system is that not matter what your favorite bike is, you can upgrade it to be a lean, mean, electric machine–whether it be your dad’s 1970′s Schwinn or your brand-new souped-up Bianchi.
And with the BionX, you can push the little red button.
Click here to learn more about BionX electric bike conversion kits.
About the Author
Miles Schneider is a folding and electric bike specialist at NYCeWheels in New York City, an electric violinist, and a dog lover.
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