CYC Photon Gen 2

New build on Catrike Dumont

I just installed a Photon Gen2 on my Catrike Dumont recumbent. I had installed a Tongsheng TSDZ2B on it a couple years ago and to be honest the Tongsheng was great and is still running after 6K+ miles. But I wanted something a little more upscale and decided to switch it out for the Gen2. After only 150 miles I have the following observations: I was very impressed with the packaging of the Gen2. It was like opening an Apple product. The look, fit and feel of the CYC is amazing. It just seems like a quality product right out of the box. The Photon is smooth and powerful but a lot louder than the Tongsheng. Maybe that's because of the quiet but vulnerable nylon-like gear in the Tongsheng. For a recumbent I needed an additional battery extension cable. I also needed a seven pin extension cable for the speed sensor. There is no way to secure the motor sufficiently under the "boom" to keep it from rotating even with moderate pedal pressure. The Tongsheng had a convenient bracket that allowed an me to securely attach it to the boom. After some serious thought it dawned on me that I could simply place the Gen2 upside down on the boom where it naturally braced itself. Easy. No bracket needed and it looks good. It would be good if the Electrify sales folks could advise the recumbent owners about the cables and mounting issue before purchase. I really like the little CYC display and the phone app is a great bonus. So after only 150 miles I can't give any recommendation in terms of longevity but my initial impressions are that this is a great upgrade. Although I realize that recumbents are a small part of the CYC market, the Photon could be a great middle alternative to a market dominated by Tongsheng and Bosch for torque sensing motors. BTW: I've modified my Catrike with Shimano XT 12 speed rear cassette and a 650B rear wheel. I run a 52v 25ah battery but can add a second when I'm doing centuries or more. I mostly run it on Indiana flats and hills but frequently in the Appalachians of NE Georgia.

Convert a EMTB

I have 2016 Bulls EMTB that does not work. So I purchased a photon kit. After stripping wiring,battery,and motor I had to make a bottom bracket fixture to install the middrive motor. The photon fits where the old motor was. I bought the mini max batteries to fit where the old battery was. After a 30 mile ride I definitely can say it is worth the effort to convert of a old emtb

Mountain Tandem Conversion

Just completed the e-tandem conversion with the CYC Photon Gen 2. The installation was pleasantly easy. Used PAS only. Looking forward to really testing it out in Colorado next spring.