Black Scott Spark with CYC Photon & A52 Battery | Dream Builds Episode 1

[@jaydenedmand3514]

Great video looking foward to more of these builds

[@SebSto3D]

the photon is the most interesting motor in your line up to me. would love to see more builds with this motor, maybe with a custom triangle battery

[@MrJames_1]

I put a CYC Photon into my 2016 Scott Spark. It's AWESOME :)

[@andersd6817]

I'm happy to see you using my build as a basis for dream build marketing :)

[@Goldenstateprospectors]

I just built mine in a 2016 Titus. It’s pretty slick.

[@eBikeaholic]

Well done, beautiful build!

[@davidramez6219]

Such a clean build! It would be nice to mention the frame size and maybe display a photo gallery on the CYC website.

[@cycmotor]

Thanks for the feedback! We'll keep this in mind.

[@robertportillo7723]

Very nice build.

[@JoeBManco]

You mean nice and outrageously priced.

[@robertportillo7723]

@@JoeBManco half the price of a Specialized Turbo Levo, with a way more powerful battery, and a wayyyyyyy better motor.

[@JoeBManco]

@@robertportillo7723 I do not care.

[@JoeBManco]

I don't care about your bike or the wayyyyyyy better motor.

[@hungliketictacs]

I want to better understand the method of reasoning behind the comments at 4:20 sleek build!

[@Andreas92]

Not sure why people are taking the cost of the bike into account when trying to make a value judgment. Just get a cheaper MTB and slap it on and the total will be like 2,5k.

[@chrisregister8021]

I completely rebuilt a 2004 specialized enduro and converted it to a 1x10, for about $900. I've been waiting for just the right kit to make it an ebike...

[@dre.vil4]

hello are you guys able to ship to california?

[@cycmotor]

Of course! No problem at all.

[@SofiaisSunshine]

Have the reliability issues been fixed with the Photon? Looking around youtube, I have found these units have some problems that need to be sorted And $60 chain rings and the fact you cant even grease the unit without sending it in for repair is kind of insane

[@robertportillo7723]

My 4 Photons have been reliable. There are no "reliability issues". Its an insanely well built motor! Only people with problems post. The Photon owners who don't have problems don't post. $60 is not much for a chainring as strong and well made as the Photon chainrings are.

[@SofiaisSunshine]

@@robertportillo7723 I found a discord thread where many users are reporting the same issues. In all fairness the issues seem to be from running the motor in unrestricted mode. Apparently the Photon doesnt seem to dissipate heat very well and prolonged exposure to this heat build up is causing issues over time. The channel High Voltage Diy has fantastic data and documentation with his experience. For me personally I still think the Photon might be a great option as I can easily live with limiting the motor to 750w peak. Im looking for pedal assist only and will not be installing a throttle. Also where I will be riding is mostly flat but it is a very hot climate pretty much year round. It seems the people having the issues are looking for a mid drive they can use at full throttle 40mph all day long up steep hills and crazy terrain at which point they should really be looking at dirt bikes.

[@hindesite]

​@robertportillo7723 actually, although I love my Photon, I got one of the very early 34t chainrings and it looks like it is prototype level and hand made. Not good value for what it cost, the newer versions seem much better but that doesn't help me with mine. Everything else about the Photon is awesome and I've had no reliability problems.

[@cycmotor]

The Photons are self-serviceable. You can contact our support team for help anytime or have a look at our Knowledge Base available on our website which provides a list of videos for self-servicing and repairing the Photon, including sprag clutch, motor, controller, and torque sensor replacements. It includes a section on re-greasing too. Also, we hear you about the issues and can assure you that 90% of the issues out there have already been addressed in the current batches. You're also welcome to contact our team to address any of the concerns you have. We'll provide you with a clear update on it.

[@caraqal]

Nice video, and I personally can attest to the Photon being so far (1100 kms riden) a very nice motor. However consider fixing the voice over as there are some mistakes that are kind of glaring and especially noticable to enthusiasts (basically your target audience). The voicover states Shimano Deore for example, but it is clearly a Sram NX groupset.

[@cycmotor]

Oh yeah! Thanks for pointing this out... must've been a Monday when we did the recording 😅

[@cm9748]

I put a photon on a Kona Stinky Deeeeelux ! lol...

[@Iwo26]

Where did you get the black Scott Spark ? I can't find it anywhere

[@robertportillo7723]

They're all over the internet.

[@kenwilson9390]

Hi any word on how far will the A65 (18s4p) battery". Moreover will be released thanks

[@cycmotor]

It's released!

[@howcanthinkman8519]

The price of this build is rather insane, 2600$ spark 970 (cheapest new), 993+573 for motor and battery is a 4.4k build. this is rather mismanged of a build to price, battery is far to small 52v 10ah battery, even with a light person with all that is around 25-30 mile range depending on if you are going for speed over range. This isn't a dream build at all, astheticly yes, but nothing else. 60v35ah (or 72v25ah you can do) prebuilt battery (with samsung battery 35e OR 3q) (900$) (just to say it costs about 600$ at most to build) and top spec with lights gen 4 with normal spacing (1343$) is 2,243$ without tax with that much you still have 2000~ for a FS bike or a hardtail, you can go low end and really upgrade the bike. This build just doesn't quite make sense mainly due to how much the photon and battery cost. this build is around the point of being slightly to much for the majority of consumers that are interested in your parts (which is middrive tons of watts silly fun).. An amazing actual dream build that most users would "want" to do that can afford a bike, is for example the 2,243$ motor+battery cost(as example for either more range or more speed) with the motor, and upgrading a hardtail budget bike, with a better 9/8 speed driveset, with steel parts/heavy duty parts to be able to handle the power of the gen4 even at 1500w while also allowing physical pedaling/less snapping the chain due to power, with front brake upgrade to 220mm+ (or show something rare that you don't see much a 246mm front rotor due to the speed/weight with decent 4 piston budget friendly brakes (such as BR-MT520).. The build would go something like, Ozart Trail Vibe 300$, Motor+Battery~ 2,243$, Brake Upgrade (Front 246mm 136$+60$~ for adapters) 60$ 220mm rear brake (you can do 180mm), Hydrulic 4 piston brakes 220$(BR-MT520), and 230$ for steel 8/9 speed+Clutch rear end. That would total to around 3,250$~ (i wanted to do this but money ran short would have done a huge video's) and best part is that the user doesn't need all the other stuff asap as long as they keep it at a moderate speed 28mph~, this would allow users to grow into the cost and grow into having a more powerful bike, the hardest thing to see is both the phantom cost and the battery cost.thats the largest weakpoint of this video overall. for a cross country its a little silly.

[@lukewalker1051]

I generally agree. Instead, just build a BBSHD bike. 1700 watts with 52v 20-25 amp-hr battery. I have two. One a Cannondale 29'er hardtail...about $1200 for the bike and the second, a dropbar specialized Aluminum road bike. Both will do close to 40 mph. Lekkie chainrings. Name brand Li-Ion cells. The BBSHD can take 4-5000watts without failure which isn't the track record of the Photon with much less heat sink. Too many reliability issues with CYC. The e-bike community is rooting for CYC. As an engineer, I want to see their products designed to be more robust. This hasn't been demonstrated. Perhaps they are learning their lessons albeit very slowly. The $700 BBSHD has been bulletproof since its inception and parts are dirt cheap to rebuild it.

[@JoeBManco]

I bought a nice used car for way less than the price of this bike. No thanks.

[@SofiaisSunshine]

Go with a cheaper bike, add the kit and save on insurance, gas, maintenance, traffic etc… My wife and I have one car and honestly dont want another.

[@JoeBManco]

@@SofiaisSunshine That's exactly what I decided to do. This week I put in an order for a Motor Goat Bike. If I like it, I will consider selling the used car I purchased.

[@Zulwind]

HAHAHA almos5 5k??? Just buy an e-ride Pro ss 2.0 youll be waay happier

[@robertportillo7723]

You're comparing apples to oranges. That is not a bike. It has no torque sensor. It's an electric motorcycle. These are being targeting more and more, and banned on all bike paths. The photon motor is for bikes, for people who like to mountain bike, or bike anywhere, and want to peddle and get exercise.

[@Zulwind]

@@robertportillo7723 People like you shouldn't be aloud on trails at all if you don't like having fun or being respectful.

[@theoutdoorsstuff338]

Ya that bike is better than any thing you can buy and I would no it is mine

[@powerower]

Why do you start the discussion with "almost 5k", since you see that the total cost was calculated on $4,015? Compare branded bikes with similar specification - classic and electric. You will see then that the electric ones are 2,5k more expensive (and even more), than similar classic ones. As a result, using Photon, which gives more opportunities than a branded bike, turns out to be a much cheaper solution. And if you want to save money, imagine a situation in which I use one Photon in several bikes - in the summer I have them on an enduro bike, and in winter I install it to my fatbike. The conversion takes less than 2 hours, so it's worth doing. I even had it in my gravel in the past.

[@robertportillo7723]

@@powerower That's a great use of the motor. Super cool. Not to mention that the motor's torque sensing is world-class.

[@mani-00]

this kit is way too expensive i don't see it lasting over the years

[@robertportillo7723]

Why not? You have absolutely no basis for your assumption. It has a 2-year warranty, thats more than any other ebike.

[@mani-00]

@@robertportillo7723 wtf you talking about "no basis"?? it's expensive in today's money!! Lol you so dense! Get lost 😂

[@JoeBManco]

Exactly. Better off with a e-bike from the online rainforest site. There is a rather impressive selection starting at ~$700.

[@petermitchell2351]

My friend has a $15000 German ebike ...I prefer my photon which cost $3000 all up ....and yes I've riden cheap ebikes ....not good

[@JoeBManco]

@@petermitchell2351 I have ridden an expensive e-bike... not impressed.

[@JpnathanWood]

I am looking for a kit for my sunseeker fat tad and my Catrike 700. any thing for me in your company?

[@vanthursday]

I wanted to get the CYC X1 Pro Gen 4 for my PXID but my bottom bracket is too wide for it. 🥲its like 133 mm

[@cycmotor]

Sorry to hear that! Excentric bottom brackets can be tricky. You can consider grinding it down if you really want to but we don't recommend making changes to frames generally.