I’ve been helping CSC in the last few days compile specifications for the new City Slicker electric motorcycle, and the bike is looking better and better the more I learn about it. Here’s what’s going up on the CSC site in the near future…
Any questions? Post them in the comments section, and I’ll see if I can get answers.
Thanks for all the specs and demo experiences you have been sharing. Having ordered my bike, I am hanging on every word you write while I await my baby.
Very curious for your next range-ride at higher speeds. My commute to work is 12 miles on “local” roads. My car tells me I average 25-27 MPH depending on the day, however that’s with time stopped at lights. I do cruise at 40 MPH (in 35 MPH zones) for big portions of the commute. As long as I can get there and back, I’m good, and I expect I can.
One question I have on regen, my ride encompasses 2 very steep hills/semi-mountainous ascents – which makes cycling to work a very difficult and dangerous task (imagine cycling in your climbing ring at 5 MPH with cars passing you at 40 in rush hour with no berm due to the steep terrain). What I’m wondering is how much re-gen I will get going down the back-side of these hills to help compensate for the increased draw going up.
Can’t wait to read more and to receive my wheels! Thanks again, looking forward to more.
The next range test will be in the Power mode over the same course. I should have a chance to run it in the next few days. After that, I’m riding Slick up to Mt. Baldy. I don’t know if I’ll be able to quantify the regen input, but your question about how much power is regenerated is a good one and I’ll forward it to my contacts at CSC and Zongshen.
I don’t have to imagine the bicycling situation you describe…I’ve experienced it. Like you, I’m a cyclist (I ride a couple of vintage Bianchi road bikes and one newer one). One of these days we’ll post something about the Bianchis on the blog.
If you get a chance, post the ExhaustNotes.us link where you can. We’re growing our readership and every link helps.
Thanks again.
If you descend a long downhill will the regenerative system show battery charge level increasing?
Joe, it does. When you charge the battery with the external charger, it shows a red plug to the left of the battery charge indicator on the dash. It’s like when you’re charging your iPhone and the charge indicator on the phone turns green. When you decelerate or roll down a hill on the Slicker, the red plug light (to the left of the charge level indicator) illuminates, indicating that the bike is regeneratively charging. Regeneratively…I think I just created a new word!
I too spend the majority of my time on a Ridley Damocles road bike and Orbea Occam 29er mountain bike. Updating those rides to suit my needs and fit are part of the fun.
I’m new to the motorcycle scene. I’m not sure about standards for parts or parts availability in general. Do you have any idea of parts exchangeability between this bike and something similar like a GROM? I’m wondering if the handlebars, grips, wheels, forks / suspension components, rear suspension, brake discs, tires, brake pads etc. are all standardized and easily swapped? That would improve part availability greatly. It would also allow me to choose from a large selection of parts to help dial the bike perfectly to my style.
Again thank you for all your posts and sharing your experience. I’m very excited about this motorcycle and look forward to purchasing one in the second batch.
Ridley? Orbea? Those are very high class bicycles. I think they each cost more than the City Slicker.
Regarding parts interchangeability with the Grom, I’m not all that familiar with the Grom. There’s a possibility some of the standard items might be interchangeable with the Grom (e.g., perhaps handlebars), but I wouldn’t count on it. I would not worry at all about parts availability. I used to write the blog for CSC and I am very familiar with the company’s practices. CSC won’t sell a motorcycle without stocking all of the parts. You can poke around a bit on some of the forums to see what CSC customers say about this (e.g., Chinariders.net). CSC’s parts availability is better than the dealers for other companies, who typically have to go back to their distributors for parts, and sometimes they have to go back to the manufacturers. CSC will stock everything for the Slicker, as they have done for the RX3, the TT250, and other CSC bikes. You might also pick up a copy of 5000 Miles at 8000 RPM to learn more about the company and its owners. I hear it’s a pretty good read…