I'm looking at a new battery for my three year old 800Li and confirmed that the new system (i.e. more than just a different battery) will only be available on new bikes. Trade-ins are gladly accepted, though ;-)
> The bike will not have the cycle analyst installed, because looking at
> numbers at this speed is the fast track to the Emergency Room.
The truth is that the cycle analyst will not be installed because the decision makers at Optibike have determined that most customers don't care so the few of use who are clamoring for more information can be ignored. I think they even believe themselves when they say they listen to customers. Well listen to this, guys: Posting disingenuous excuses to customers making legitimate requests is offensive. If you are not going to support technically curious customers by installing a CycleAnalysts, that's your choice, but don't lie to us with ridiculous excuses about the danger of installing cycle computers when every bike you make includes one as standard equipment.
You can do better, Craig.
> From what I've seen on the CA website, its incredibly easy to install, just requires a bit of time and some poking around
Is installing a CA covered by my warranty? Didn't think so :-(
I can understand that there is not enough demand for a better display to be worth spending Opti's limited resources in supporting a new console, or even CA option. However I don't believe for a moment the party line (which I first heard from Jim, and now from Nicholas) that only the four or five of us technically oriented active group participants would appreciate a better, more informative console. Craig claims that we are listened to, but it sure doesn't feel that way when the response from Jim and Nicholas is, essentially, that we are wrong.
On 30/08/2011, at 4:46 PM, Nimbuzz <mar...@aol.com> wrote:
"With high prices, come high expectations."
(...and, you can quote me on that one...).
I saw on this Optibike Owners Groip forum someone express that "the CA is like an Atari console relative to it cool factor." Well, the three flashing "idiot lights" are even lower technology and "uncool" considering how "unuseful" they are. I sound like I grew up in the 1970's drinking the UnCola...
As a long-time keelboat sailor that enjoys "eeking" power from the 12 volt house battery system on long cruises in the PNW in my power hungry sailboat, I understand the value of an accurate A-hr energy meter. Grin Technologies, the company that makes the CA is a cool company with an entrepreneurial spirit of a successful start up. I love the idea of supporting them by purchasing their useful product that looks like an uncool "Atari console."
I am installing a Stand Alone CA similar to what Bike On did only with OEM plugs into the Optibike relay board. I am routing the shunt sense wire through the frame opening where the Rohloff shifter cable and rear brake hydraulic line routes. I plan on mounting the CA display unit on the headlight housing similar to how Jim Kirk mounted his aftermarket headlight to provide the best OEM looking installation that my garage can produce! Thanks all on this forum for the ideas.
I am looking forward to be able to closely monitor battery usage to improve energy efficiency and to have a better understanding of the remaining life of some very expensive internal AND external Optibike batteries.
At least when finished, my inexpensive CA installation will help my expensive Optibike meet my very high expectations.
I love the Optibike in every way except for those three stupid little "idiot lights."
- Idiot lights are so 1960's...
- LCD displays are so 1990's...
- Bluetooth and "an App for that" is so now...
Until now is here, I will be using my new CA.
I'll let you know how the CA installation goes by posting pictures if others are interested.
Dave
David B. Swanson, P.E., S.E.
Principal, LEED AP
Reid Middleton, Inc.
(425) 741-3800 office
(425) 508-7971 mobile
www.reidmiddleton.com
BTW your video was a teaser right? I want more :)
> Well put, but Ferrari still has a gas gauge that probably is no more
> accurate than Opti's lights....
My 1996 BMW has a reasonably accurate computer with mileage and remaining range displays. This is much better information (more relevant) than you get with the old style gas gauge. I suspect Ferrari offers similar information on their street cars.
Ferrari's race cars, on the other hand, are packed with 100-150 sensors and provide full telemetry to the pit. You better believe they know how much fuel is available.
> And like in a Ferrari, if you're spending time looking at the gas
> gauge, you're missing the point of owning one.
The pit crews might disagree...
> Whatever Optibike makes someone will not find it to their liking. Mark
> my not-so-humble words about that.
Right. Let's never ask for improvements, someone won't like it. Better to discourage the complaints ... then the world can become blissfully quiet.
David B. Swanson, P.E., S.E.
Principal, LEED AP
Reid Middleton, Inc.
(425) 741-3800 office
(425) 508-7971 mobile
www.reidmiddleton.com
Tor Atle
Leave the LEDs if that's what people want, but add a couple in between to make a proper bar graph display and give me full computer information so I can find out what they mean when my bike is acting strange ()also so I can find out lots of other useful stuff). That's really my biggest complaint - the meaning of the LEDs changes with temperature and battery health enough that can't trust them.
> How do you read the CA without spending time starting at the display?
Isn't this the wrong comparison? No one has suggested eliminating a separate gas gauge display.
You might compare the CA with a regular bicycle computer, but since the CA is our only option for getting detailed data I don't really see the point.
> I think its good argument, but I can see the flashing LED's out of the corner of my eye a lot easier than the numbers off a CA
Apparently you have line of sight from your eyes to the LEDs. Not so for me - I need to bend my head pretty far down to view the display (and I suspect I am not alone).
its been made very clear that Opti will simply not put a CA on period.
-Jim
On Tuesday, September 13, 2011 9:43:25 AM UTC-4, Jim_Kirk wrote:its been made very clear that Opti will simply not put a CA on period.-Jim
Thanks for summing it up Jim. There is not much point discussing CA if Opti is dead set against it. I'll quietly cling to irrational hope that Opti will make a CA plug an option.
Have you heard of anybody opening up the battery pack and replacing all the individual cells? I am guessing the cells are standard size 18650 LIon. I dread opening up the Optibike for surgery again but I think the hardest part would be drilling out the many rivets around the edge of the battery pack.
BTW, just to compare CA to CA stats, your 650Watts on the flats is
what my 850Li does, was doing, even with decent capacity in 2010
Ken,
Questions:
- You paid for the CA and you are bringing your CA and your bike to the factory. How are you being charged for the install? Could it be gratis so the factory can see what's involved?
- Where will the CA mount on your bike?
- Can you ask the factory powers on high, if someone buys a new Opti and wants a CA installed on his new bike, will this be a factory option starting immediately?