VelectriX Brunswick Electric Commuter Bike $1,499 + Delivery / C&C @ 99 Bikes

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Aleigh123 on 01/08/2024 - 22:31 99bikes.com.au (599 clicks)
Last edited 10/08/2024 - 19:42 by 2 other users

Pros

• Pretty good price, potentially an all-time low
• Mid-drive motor (Bafang M200, 250W, 60 Nm)
• Belt drive
• Integrated 460 Wh battery
• Internal gears (no derailleur)
• Integrated lights
• Comes with mud guards, and a rear pannier rack

Cons

• Other regular bike components seem to be fairly bottom of the barrel
• Only three internal gears - may not be suitable for steeper uphills
• The belt is not a Gates belt - it's a Dayco automotive belt

Note

This bike originally had a belt from Toptrans, but those had issues and were replaced with the belts from Dayco. If you have one with a Toptrans bike, Velectrix should replace it with a Dayco one.

I wanted this bike, but I went and tested it. The small turned out to be a little tall for me.

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  bargaino on 01/08/2024 - 22:41

  3-speed hub gears! Have not seen that since the Sturmey-Archer when I was a kid. Does it have back-pedal braking?
  Enough for an e-Bike, I guess, especially if limited to 25km/h.

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  Noslee on 01/08/2024 - 23:27

  This one $500 cheaper at $999 https://www.99bikes.com.au/velectrix-newtown-electric-commut…

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    Aleigh123 on 01/08/2024 - 23:28

    +3

    That one is a rear hub motor with less torque, smaller battery, single gear, no pannier rack, and no mudguards.

    • 

      subydooby on 01/08/2024 - 23:30

      -5

      So same then.

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      Noslee on 01/08/2024 - 23:55

      I have a Shimano mid-drive e-bike, with many gears, tbh, I kept it at single gear 90% of the time on street. Unless you always do steep climb, there isn’t much use for gears. Rear hub gives a push feeling sometimes it’s quite nice, mid-drive not good for mod… since it’s pulling with the chain/belt.

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  feisty on 02/08/2024 - 00:48

  Great write up. Either this or the single gear model would probably suit retired me. They don't look too ugly which puts me off most ebikes. Will a firmware update give the option of more performance? Is this an easy thing to do?

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    Aleigh123 on 02/08/2024 - 08:42

    From some quick Google results and some Reddit posts, it seems it's possible - but perhaps not easy. Your mileage may vary.

    Also, I believe Australian regulations requires e-bikes for use in public to be limited to 250W with a maximum speed of 25km/h.

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  shaybisc on 02/08/2024 - 08:20

  "The belt is not a Gates belt - it's a Dayco automotive belt"

  I had never heard of Davco bike belts until this week, now this is the second bike posted on Ozbargain with it. I can't find any reviews of them. Are they comparable to Gates belts? Davco obviously know how to make automotive belts.

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    Aleigh123 on 02/08/2024 - 08:34

    I have no idea. I have read some reviews for the Brunswick, and one of them mentioned that their belt failed, but that seemed to be on the old Toptrans belts.
    I've had a few email correspondences with VelectriX's sales team, and they have said:

    There have been 2 belts used on our bikes to date.
    The original belt was produced by Toptrans and did not meet our expectations.
    The current belt is made by automotive giant Dayco and is a very good unit.

    And

    We did not get the longevity from the original belt that we were promised by the manufacturer.
    The belts are clearly branded with either Toptrans or Dayco.
    Our dealers have generally replaced Toptrans belts with Dayco prior to sale.
    Owners of any bikes not fitted with Dayco belts can contact us for a free replacement.

    VelectriX's warranty also indicates that they offer a one year warranty from the date of purchase for the drive belt, and their sales team have said:

    I have not seen the brand of belt we use on bikes other than VelectriX but it is a “standard” size.
    That is, standard amongst belts for bicycles. I know that the most notable producer of bicycle belt drive systems, Gates, stocks the same size belt.
    Regardless, we stock them, and are happy to sell you one directly if you were to need one at a cost of $40.

    Note, that while they say that they see no reason why a Gates belt wouldn't work, I have been told by some people that the belts for bikes made by Gates have some slight differences in design. I don't know whether this is accurate or not, but it is information I have received at some point.

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  lbreav on 02/08/2024 - 10:09

  Should I be worried about battery explosion? Do we know who makes these cells, and how they rate for safety?

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    Noslee on 02/08/2024 - 10:22

    99 bikes has webchat if you keen on details to that level. 99 bikes is reputable brand with physical stores (not the kind of online drop shipping) so a degree of responsibilities on regulations and safety should be on their mind.

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    Aleigh123 on 02/08/2024 - 10:46

    From my email correspondence with VelectriX.

    The battery manufacturer would have been Tianhong Lithium Battery Technology Co., Ltd or Veken Technology Co., Ltd depending on production date.
    Both are manufactured to the same standard and both use the same LG cells.
    Both companies are very reputable and the only reason we changed manufacturer was at the request of our factory for reasons of improved supply.

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  Tradey on 02/08/2024 - 10:59

  +1

  Velectrix, Reid, Pedal all come out of the same OEM factory but with different paint, stickers and components.

  Pedal Lynx 2 is identical to Reid eTrail 2.0 with different derailleur and brakes.

  https://www.99bikes.com.au/pedal-lynx-2-black
  https://www.reidcycles.com.au/products/etrail-2-ebike-my23-c…