The Saxonette Motor Conversion for Bicycles

The Saxonette is a motorised kit for Bicycles and Tricycles, fully imported from Germany. In ACT, NSW, Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania, Northern Territory and WA no licence or registration is needed to take the adapted bike onto the roads and cycleways: the rules are slightly different for SA. The Motorised kit has been available in Australia since November 1990.

If you like riding a bicycle there is little difference in riding the Saxonette power assisted bicycle. It's easy to operate with combination switch for all functions, located on the right hand grip which is also used as the throttle. The three positions are - Start, Go and Off. The rider can pedal as normal, then put on the motor with a simple pull of the hand starter and use an extra boost for hills, distance or the opportunity for a break.

What it is?
The Saxonette is a power assistance kit, comprising a 30cc cc two-stroke motor inside the rear wheel and drum brakes. The rear wheel in the kit replaces the one supplied with the bike and fits 26 and 27 inch bikes, and is most suitable for mountain bikes. The motor runs on premium unleaded mix of 50:1 for Australian Conditions and is governed to produce a maximum output of 200watts power. This enables the power assisted bicycle to be classified as a bicycle and not requiring registration or licensing of the rider.

It has a centrifugal clutch for simplicity of operation, thus equating to an automatic type of transmission. At idle it is in neutral, when you apply the throttle it engages and the more throttle applied the faster you go until maximum power is attained.

Going down hills or on the flat the average cyclist would be able to out-pedal the Saxonette. Where it really shines is on those painful. long and endless grinder climbs. The Saxonette with a little help from the rider can turn a normally middle-chainring climb into a big chainring flight of fancy. On the steep hills you do have to help it along but it is power assistance not a motor bike.

What it isn't?
It is not a motor bike. You can pedal faster than the motor will push you, at a top speed of about 30kph

Who is it for?
The commuter - wear your work cloths on the bike, you don't exert yourself so you save time by not requiring to shower once you get to work. It compares very well very well against other methods of transport (See the table of comparisons at the bottom of this page).

The Tourer  - It could come in very handy for cruising up those long hills. The fuel tank has a compasity of approximately 1.5 Litres. With a fuel consumption of about 100km per litre you can achieve up to 150kms without refuelling. 

The out of shape - Those who wish to continue riding but find steep hills, and long distances too difficult.

The nonconformist - Those who don't want to waste money on parking fees and parking fines. Those who find catching buses or waiting to catch a bus inconvenient or time wasteful. Those on a budget - the initial expense is not cheap but operating costs are low (typically if you travel 100km per week for 45 weeks a year the  Saxonette will cost about $25 plus the cost of a service, inclusive of parts is about $100.

A table of comparisons is shown below (The figures assume a 10km trip twice a day, 5 times a week, 45 weeks a year. That's 4,500kms. If you get a bus service its 450 sections).