Issue Four - Early 2012 - Electric Bike Magazine

Specification
Weight overall (inc batteries):
23.48 kg
Battery weight: 3.42 kg
Bike only weight: 20.06 kg
Charger weight: 0.58 kg
(inc. mains cable).
Battery type: Li-Ion.
Battery capacity: 360 Watt hours
(10Ah 36V).
Gearing: 6-speed Shimano
derailleur gear. 46T ring, 14-28T
sprockets. Ratios 30"-61".
Brakes: V-brakes.
Lighting: front LED, rear LED.
Other accessories fitted:
mudguards, carrier rack, stand.
Price as tested: £575, inc VAT
and free UK delivery.
Founded in 2008, Byocycles
are based on England’s south
coast, at Havant. They’re
now part of A-data, a wellestablished
electronics company,
and are also members of the BEBA
industry group. Recently a new sales
manager has been really shaking up
the range, switching battery supplier
for better reliability, and moving to
dealer only sales.
They currently have a range of
five models, ranging from the £1346
ON TEST: Byocycles ON TEST: Chameleon Ezee Torq 20
‘Fox’ (with infinitely-variable Nuvinci
transmission) to the £699 ‘Chameleon
20’ reviewed here. There’s also a
24"-wheeled version of the Chameleon
(for £799). All use the same drive
system and battery, although the
more pricey models have a more
sophisticated LCD display.
Byocycles bikes are available only
through their 15 or so dealers; as we
go to press the list is being finalised
and they’re also about to launch a
fully revamped website. They provide
a one year guarantee on all bikes
including the battery.
» ON THE BIKE
The Chameleon’s frame is, despite
the name, fixed in colour, but it’s
a goes-with-everything black. It’s
built in aluminium alloy, with the
frame extended at the back to
accommodate the battery pack, and
with a sturdy hinge in the main tube
for the folding. Another hinge at the
base of the stem lets the handlebars
fold down. The stem itself is in
two sections, with a quick-release
allowing you to set the height of the
handlebars.
At the front there’s a set of basic
suspension forks. The 20" wheels
are shod with some comfortably
wide-section Kenda tyres. Some
rather short plastic mudguards are
provided at each end, as are front
and rear LED lights – the front driven
from the main battery, and the rear
a stand-alone battery unit. There’s
also a useful kickstand. The pannier
rack is a basic quality model, but
it’s well-chosen for this bike with
loops extending well back to support
panniers – which you’ll have to
place well back on the rack to give
clearance for your heels. Especially if
you have size 12 feet like me!
The back of the wide saddle is
supported on rubber balls, forming
a sort of suspension system, and it’s
mounted to a flip-up mechanism for
access to the battery.
This an aluminium-cased unit, with
the usual flip-up handle and battery
status display on top, and with
contacts underneath which engage
with the bike. Capacity is claimed
to be 360 Wh (10 Ah, 36V). Control
electronics are concealed below the
battery base, and wires run from
here to the motor and handlebars. It
all seemed pretty much hard-wired
in: I couldn’t see connectors to let
Issue 4 Electric Bike 15