Handcycle With BionX Motor

About Bionx
BionX (pronounced by-on-ex) electric bike motor conversion kits are lightweight and offer a range of up to 60 miles to a charge. BionX is for riders who want to ride longer or those who want help up hills and against the wind. Four assistance levels amplify the cyclist’s effort by 25%, 50%, 100% or 300%, allowing the cyclist to ride faster while giving the same effort (or ride at the same speed with less effort). Each assistance level is proportional to the rider’s effort. BionX offers four levels of power generation to charge the battery while riding. Regenerative braking activates when the handbrake associated with the drive wheel is used. It is possible to charge the BionX battery pack while breaking or when going downhill. Note that the generative mode does not replace the existing brakes, but considerably increases braking efficiency, especially on extended downhill runs.

Bionx Suitability for Handcycle
I was introduced to the concept of a motor assist for handcycle by one of the the technical staff at work who suggested that handcycles might be a good application for the BionX bike motor. At about the same time one of my Oregon Handcycle Alliance (OHA) riding partners was looking for a motor to attach to his FreedomRyder. He wanted help going up hills due to persistent problems with a shoulder. Likewise I had reoccurring problems with shoulders, elbows and wrists. We both started looking for available solutions. My friend was discouraged by the high cost and lack of information regarding their suitability for handcycle. After surfing the Internet, I found two references to BionX and handcycle. One was for a Greenspeed and the other was for a handcycle attachment for a wheelchair. Neither reference contained information other than the increased ability to climb hills. The Bionx web site had a link to Corvallis Cyclery of Corvallis, Oregon. I brought my handcycle to Corvallis Cyclery and asked them if they could install the BionX. They thought probably yes, but Dan, their BionX expert, was off that day. I left them my phone number and emailed some pictures. Dan got back to me. He not only thought it could be done but he was knowledgeable and engaged. I left the handcycle with him and what ensued were a couple of weeks of phone discussions over design alternatives between him and me and BionX engineers. The collaboration was excellent. The BionX engineers tested the scenarios we sent them and they were forthright with the results good or bad. The outcome is a prototype; the findings and pros and cons of which I will share in future entries along with additional pictures.