. I love the odd and unusual vehicles. Bicycles, Trikes, Recumbents, motorized bikes, scooters, mini bikes, motorcycles, mini cars etc. You get the picture. A perennial twelve year old boy. So, you can imagine my excitement when I found the C5. I remembered reading the articles when the C5 came out. Made by a computer genius. Body and frame tweaked by Lotus, lightweight recumbent trike with electric assist! LED dash and wind tunnel tested! Wrapped in a sci fi package! It was all too good to be true.
Over the years I had driven hundreds of vehicles. I was especially queer about electrics, recumbents and trikes. But, I was always disappointed. I have flipped, tipped over and tossed out on my face more times than I like to admit. I was beginning to think there was a reason you didn't see more of them. This was about to change.
My first ride of the C5 was without battery and I found it to be surprising nimble and quick. After I got it sorted, I got an ancient deep cycle RV battery that showed 12 volts but was barely good for more than 1 mile. And the headlight would pull the power way down. Still it was lively and dare I say fun. Then a week later I put in a new 35 ah AGM battery that's about 35 lbs. I weigh in at 180 but, you wouldn't know it from its new found performance. With the extra power I first noticed the drive belt would slip if not moving first.
The chain slips a little on a steep incline when I have to bear down to get It to move. I think it may have stretched over the decades. The tires are originals as well and have some weather cracking. Under very fast tight cornering, the rear tires slide. Maybe hardened rubber or over inflated (30 lbs) Very controllable and Awesome! It just made me attempt a power slide! Not quite enough power for that but, wow!
Coasting is it's wheelhouse. Stealthy, silent and Fast. I'm thinking a 3 or 5 speed hub would be cool but, I only pedal to start and to assist the motor on hills at this point. It's very easy and comfortable going up hill.
The rear brake is squeaking and has a tendency to lock the right wheel. Working on a handbrake turn in my mind right now!
I've never met a 50cc motor that I liked. Or a moped for that matter. Why do they weigh 200lbs!? You can't pedal a bike that heavy! Then you twist the throttle and wait, and wait, and wait, and then too fast! The C5's top speed is the sweet spot that is below the edge of its handling capabilities. And it achieves that speed seamlessly. I never thought I Could be happy under 15 mph. Boy, was I wrong.
Few vehicles have done some much so well. Amazing when almost no one made a good trike or recumbent or ev before the deep cycle lithium battery was developed. I may be an impartial judge but, after all, I'm just a boy at heart.
Over the years I had driven hundreds of vehicles. I was especially queer about electrics, recumbents and trikes. But, I was always disappointed. I have flipped, tipped over and tossed out on my face more times than I like to admit. I was beginning to think there was a reason you didn't see more of them. This was about to change.
My first ride of the C5 was without battery and I found it to be surprising nimble and quick. After I got it sorted, I got an ancient deep cycle RV battery that showed 12 volts but was barely good for more than 1 mile. And the headlight would pull the power way down. Still it was lively and dare I say fun. Then a week later I put in a new 35 ah AGM battery that's about 35 lbs. I weigh in at 180 but, you wouldn't know it from its new found performance. With the extra power I first noticed the drive belt would slip if not moving first.
The chain slips a little on a steep incline when I have to bear down to get It to move. I think it may have stretched over the decades. The tires are originals as well and have some weather cracking. Under very fast tight cornering, the rear tires slide. Maybe hardened rubber or over inflated (30 lbs) Very controllable and Awesome! It just made me attempt a power slide! Not quite enough power for that but, wow!
Coasting is it's wheelhouse. Stealthy, silent and Fast. I'm thinking a 3 or 5 speed hub would be cool but, I only pedal to start and to assist the motor on hills at this point. It's very easy and comfortable going up hill.
The rear brake is squeaking and has a tendency to lock the right wheel. Working on a handbrake turn in my mind right now!
I've never met a 50cc motor that I liked. Or a moped for that matter. Why do they weigh 200lbs!? You can't pedal a bike that heavy! Then you twist the throttle and wait, and wait, and wait, and then too fast! The C5's top speed is the sweet spot that is below the edge of its handling capabilities. And it achieves that speed seamlessly. I never thought I Could be happy under 15 mph. Boy, was I wrong.
Few vehicles have done some much so well. Amazing when almost no one made a good trike or recumbent or ev before the deep cycle lithium battery was developed. I may be an impartial judge but, after all, I'm just a boy at heart.
posted on: 29/08/2015 04:43:57
Hope you have better weather than us 
