Ok guys. I know I would have lapped up this sort of info before I took ownership of my TC Max so heres some thoughts after a few days with the bike:
Performance:
The bike is very torquey in all 3 power modes. When you think of a vehicle having a 30MPH to speed, you sort of expect it to be generally gutless. However, the Max has no problem zipping up to 25+MPH. Its perfectly safe pulling out at busy roundabouts in the city even on the economy setting, and leaving it in this mode around a busy town/city is perfectly feasable. The only issue I found with economy mode (being the higher end of 13 stone may have contributed to this) was that I often dont get more than 25MPH in some circumstances. I hate having to hold people up and its sort of an unspoken rule here in the UK that in a 30MPH limit, you should really be doing as close to 30 as possible. Leaving the bike in power mode 1 sometimes just doesnt cut it.
On a similar note, Ive found setting 2 sometimes doesnt quite reach 40MPH; other times, I get 45MPH. Headwinds or hills dont really come into it. It seems to me like the battery seems to have a bit more of a willingness to reach the higher speeds when started from fresh or after stopping at traffic lights for a minute. On a sustained long ride, the power seems to lull ever so slightly and the extra 2-3MPH gets a bit elusive.
Like I said, this is my opinion and there may be other factors involved that I am not aware of.
In the so called 'sport' mode (setting 3), the bike is a beast. A bit like a 2-stroke on the powerband! Theres not much progression in the throttle; its either on or off. This mode gets me up to between 45MPH and 59MPH depending on battery charge, duration of load and hill/wind friction.
Each increase in the setting number brings with it additional increases in torque and top end speed, so having the bike in setting 3 at, say, 25MPH is perhaps less easy to ride than having it at setting 2 or 1, due to the on-off nature of the power. It wont quite blip the bike hard enough to pull a wheelie, but you will have to take care applying throttle (even if you do it gently!) around tight corners.
All in all though, I am very pleased with the bike and am generally starting to abandon use of setting 1 in my general work commute. I have a 26 mile commute, through generally 40MPH limit country roads, so its generally mode 2 or 3 that gets used. I only tend to use mode 1 for town/city streets, which are few in my journey. Ive also abandoned the idea of trying to get to work and back on 1 charge. I generally use the next setting up to what speed I need. Its more practical. So: mode 2 for 30MPH and mode 3 for everything else.
Hope this has helped you all. If you have any more question not covered here, I will try to answer to the best of my ability! 😉
Thx for the clear explanation! Still waiting for my delivery, but eager to test it!
Nice - would agree in the main. I’ve been commuting 10 miles each way to work every day and love it. I’m pushing 14st and haven’t noticed the speed drop off you mention. Head wind for me does make a difference.
Well, I could be mistaken on a few variables here. Im not sure if sometimes I may be on what looks like a level road when infact its a slight uphill slope. The same with wind direction.
The fact remains that the top end speed in each mode can be somewhat below expectation, even in favourable conditions (i.e. on a slight downhill mode 1 will only do 26MPH, mode 2 38MPH, mode 3 56MPH). At other times the speed is spot on.
Maybe I have a below par battery? Infact, I dont seem to be able to find any documentation on the best practices of charging the battery (e.g. discharging completely or not, etc).
Out of curiosity, does anyone here get ABOVE 30/40/60MPH in the respective modes? (Long downhill slopes not included!)
Hi , I test rode one yesterday.
i weigh 18.5 stone. I found it pulled well and clean in 1&2. But in 3 doesn’t like sitting on a part throttle at 40mph it is quite choppy ; on off. But a nice ride very light with precise handling.
Never the less I really think this is a great bit of kit and look forward to mine arriving in September.
@Ben: Yes thats right. The throttle is literally either on or off! At higher speed where the power is waning this is not as much of a problem, but like you say, at 40MPH on setting 3 still has some power left.
It may be more appropriate to go down to setting 2 which will tone down that aggressive torque. (Although wether you will maintain 40MPH will be relatively random, but generally unlikely. In my experience this will be more like 35-38MPH.)
Although sounding critical in all my observations above, I must admit, for what you are paying for, ths is a great little bike. You can pay £20K+ for something better which is still not perfect. This tech is still in its infancy really, so with that in mind, they've done a great job with the TCMax.
