Hi,
I live in the UK and I've had my Vectrix about a week now, and have been enjoying it every day for my commute and general use. My commute is 12-13 miles each way on a mixture of dual carriageway (freeway) and urban roads. My Vectrix lives outside and I plug it into an external socket which is on a timeswitch, so it gets 5.5hrs every weekday night. Mine is a 2008 model with 62mph top speed and has done 5000 miles on the original battery pack as far as I can tell. I plan to use it year round for commuting. So having gained a bit of experience in life with a Vectrix, I've got a few questions for the veterans of Vectrix ownership:
1. Is there any official Vectrix support in the UK? If not, are there any specialists who can I get parts or support/software upgrades from? Specifically I'm after a Vectrix badge for the steering yolk and a spare fuse in case mine ever goes. I'm also considering the later software.
2. Should I deep discharge my battery regularly? Depending on my route from I can run the battery down till 0 bars/red light, or can make it with 1/3 of a charge remaining if I take the slower/shorter route. I'm worried that with unknown history and comparatively high mileage, that some of my cells may be damaged, and running it very low may cause further damage.
3. Is charging the Vectrix from a 1500W portable petrol generator feasible? Is the unclean power a risk to the Vectrix charger?
4. Does it need the full 5.5 hours every night? (I got this figure from a post on here which added up all the charging phases) My timeswitch is programmable on a 7 day basis so could alternate with shorter charges.
5. I currently get a minimum of 25 miles range with temperatures in the mid to high teens deg C. What sort of impact are near 0 deg C temps likely to have on range?
6. Does anyone in the UK have experience of the EV-Network membership? Do you get loads of people wanting to use your charging facilities?
7. Is the a workshop manual available? I've got the owners manual, but that's it. I've also seen the Collaborative handbook on here which has got me started.
Any other help or advice for a new owner would be much appreciated.
thanks in advance!
If you have a pre-October 2008 software installed, try to get the latest software ASAP.
You can check it by turning on the bike, turn the kill switch to off position and pull the rear brake. If you left LCD display shows battery temperature and battery Voltage, you should be ok.
Otherwise, try to get the latest software ASAP and don't discharge to the red battery telltale light until you do update the software. Pre-October 2008 software has to low cut-off and will shorten the life of your pack in a matter of a few 1000 kms.
Thanks AndY1, I do get the voltage & temp display so it sounds like my software is safe.
Is the 68mph software better? I've read it may give reduced range and/or power.
Both 62mph (post-October 2008) and 68mph software are basically the same - so they say. I'm still riding on the same software you have :-)
Post-October 2008 software's acceleration was more limited than pre-October 2008 software, mostly due to 125A fuses burning out, so that it protects the riders, who still have the 125A fuse (like me).
Hi,
Congrats with your bike, you'll love it.
2. Should I deep discharge my battery regularly? Depending on my route from I can run the battery down till 0 bars/red light, or can make it with 1/3 of a charge remaining if I take the slower/shorter route. I'm worried that with unknown history and comparatively high mileage, that some of my cells may be damaged, and running it very low may cause further damage.
deep discharging is, as you may already found out, dangerous if your individual cells are out of balance. Avoid it. I do it maybe once every one-two months to resync the gauge and to excersise the pack. So far no probs (10000kms done)
3. Is charging the Vectrix from a 1500W portable petrol generator feasible? Is the unclean power a risk to the Vectrix charger?
1500W may be too little, and I certainly wouldn't risk to damage the (expensive!) charger.
4. Does it need the full 5.5 hours every night? (I got this figure from a post on here which added up all the charging phases) My timeswitch is programmable on a 7 day basis so could alternate with shorter charges.
The automatic overcharging (in order to top-balance the cells) is not good, especially if the ambient (or pack) temps are already high. Some avoid it with a timer, I don't.
5. I currently get a minimum of 25 miles range with temperatures in the mid to high teens deg C. What sort of impact are near 0 deg C temps likely to have on range?
My range (easy on the throttle) differs between 40kms (winter - around 0°C) and 60kms (summer 20+). Also I get substantially less power in cold temps.
7. Is the a workshop manual available? I've got the owners manual, but that's it. I've also seen the Collaborative handbook on here which has got me started.
There is a service manual available, if you haven't found it yet, pm me.
"doing nothin = doing nothing wrong" is invalid when the subject is environment
Thanks for the comprehensive replies Turok.
I do love the Vectrix, it's very enjoyable to ride though I did nearly kill myself today riding on my normal bike - a Honda SuperBlackbird - when I tried to slow down by reversing the throttle!
I have the 110km/h software on my 2008 Vectrix - it's fantastic and I can recommend it!
It's ideal for those times when you need a little extra top speed for short bursts. Of course, if the journey is fairly short, you can use it for as long as you wish, but it does drain the power a lot quicker. With my commute being around 27 miles each way of mixed dual carriage way and A/B roads I have to restrict myself sometimes, especially if it's windy.
Mine has over 12,000 miles on the clock with everything original (apart from the main fuse). This had to be replaced when the bike was about 6 months old as it blew unexpectedly. No further issues to report with the new 200A version.
My normal riding style sees 2-4 bars left before a full and thorough recharge, but every so often I will ride down to 1-2 bars until the red light displays.
I know next to nothing about electrics, but this simple 'unplug and play' procedure has worked a treat so far.
the difference was actually a raised minimum battery voltage in the controller.
it had more to do with extending battery service life than the fuse.
As long as your battery is in good condition, there is no difference in performance between the latest firmware, and pre-2008 firmware (I switch between the two on occasion when trying things out)
I had no trouble blowing my 125A fuse on post-2008 software.
Matt
Daily Ride:
2007 Vectrix, modified with 42 x Thundersky 60Ah in July 2010. Done 194'000km
Wellcome in the club. ;-) I try to stop my Virago this way now and then. But as I use the other brakes of the V too it isn´t that dramatic...
Greetings Mike
Yesterday I drove the vectrix of my brother. My hydraulic brakes are swapped (pulling the left lever brakes the front disc)
I didn't remember how easy is to lock the rear tyre when regen and hydraulic work together, until I drove that Vectrix. Pretty dangerous, I really prefer the brake disposition of my VX-1: left hand controls front brake, right hand controls rear brakeS...
It's a fantastic idea. Right from the start I thought the original set up was ridiculous. Very dangerous IMO. Anyone who doesn't think so has obviously never had to use the brake in an emergency. I'm extremely happy I made the change and I had no trouble adapting, and anyone who thinks it works fine as it is is fooling themselves.
My Vectrix also has that modification. Apparently it's not difficult to swap them round?
Front and rear have the same hidrualic system. They're 100% swapable.