WTB: Vectrix (or functional equivilant)

Post by **memecode** » Thu, 16 Feb 2017, 03:04

Location: Sydney
Item Condition: Preferable in working order (Li-ion upgrade a plus)
Reason for purchase: Replacing ICE scooter for work commute
Price range: <$4k
Payment Method: Cash

There is one on gumtree, but the chap is not responding to email/txt.

Any others out there?

If it's got original batteries I probably won't go about $1500, if it has something giving it >70km range then I'll consider up to $4k depending on condition and so on.

0425363506
fret@memecode.com

Post by **jonescg** » Thu, 16 Feb 2017, 17:00

Are you chasing 100 km/h top speed? There are a few decent electric scooters around but they tend to max out at 70 or 80 km/h.

Post by **memecode** » Thu, 16 Feb 2017, 17:07

Yes definitely. In fact I'm aiming for 110 capable. I do find myself out on the M4 every now and then, and don't want to be not able to keep up with traffic.

The guy selling the green one on gumtree got back to me last night. It's running SLA batteries, and he's claiming it'll do 70-80km on a charge. I'm a little skeptical to be honest. So if I probably need to drop $2.5k of Lithium in there sooner rather than later the $3.5 price seems not such a good deal.

What is a Vectrix with SLA really worth?

Post by **bladecar** » Thu, 16 Feb 2017, 22:35

Yes, it's a pity people won't just give them away.

I mean, what do you get?
A local machine for running around really. I don't see them as highway machines.
You plug them in and then you go to the shops or into town on very short 100Kph freeways. Nothing more.
No petrol, no chain, no oil. But you must check the tyres from time to time.
If I were you, I'd give up on this hair-brained idea and buy a Zero.
They're probably only going to ask for a few thou.

Post by **memecode** » Fri, 17 Feb 2017, 01:50

Ok point taken. I guess I'm fishing for historical info on what their prices have been in the last few years, not trying to bargain someone down to the bottom.

Post by **memecode** » Sat, 18 Feb 2017, 19:25

So I was just outside striping the peeling paint on my house, and I hear the quiet whine of an electric motor coming down the street. Lo and behold a largish red scooter with a big "electric" stenciled down the side drives past. I didn't immediately recognize it, maybe it was a Vectrix? But in the few seconds I had to look at it I couldn't be sure. Could be something else. What production EV scooters have a big white "electric" down the side?

Post by **bladecar** » Sat, 18 Feb 2017, 21:34

That is a very good description for a Vectrix.
They are largish and some have electric down the side as it was added to the bikes.
I bought one without the large "electric" sign on it and as I already had one with that sign on it (not the small "electric" sign you see on the fairing sides near the windscreen, I had to do the same to the new one.
The original one had a white electric decal on it but the other one I obtained was black.
They are big "ships" but they ride well.
When I was buying mine, there were around 4 to 6 for sale at the time though I saw none in the only page I went to just then.
Gotta get 'em while you can

Post by **memecode** » Sun, 19 Feb 2017, 00:54

So hours later it came back up our street and I got another look at it. I think it was a Vectrix, the 3 round dials for the instrument display, the longer length of the body. I was surprised at how loud the engine whine was, like ICE loud....

That's certainly making me think twice. It was pushing up the hill at maybe 50-60 kph. I've heard they do get loud after a while. Is that the brushes on the motor that cause the noise?

Now that I look at a bunch of google images the 2009 seems to have a smaller wheelbase... it looked a lot more like the 2009 model rather than the 2007. (At least they look different to me)

Post by **antiscab** » Sun, 19 Feb 2017, 04:43

The noise is the straight cut gears in the gearbox. They last forever. The quieter helical cut gears ate quieter, but also weaker with higher friction loses

All the vectrix in Australia are 2007. There was only one shipment of like 200 bikes.

They're fairly cheap now due to their age. It's a shame batteries are getting expensive again

Post by **antiscab** » Sun, 19 Feb 2017, 06:49

memecode wrote:I'm aiming for 110 capable. I do find myself out on the M4 every now and then, and don't want to be not able to keep up with traffic.

A vectrix can definately do that, so can a newer Zero.

memecode wrote: The guy selling the green one on gumtree got back to me last night. It's running SLA batteries, and he's claiming it'll do 70-80km on a charge. I'm a little skeptical to be honest. So if I probably need to drop $2.5k of Lithium in there sooner rather than later the $3.5 price seems not such a good deal.

What is a Vectrix with SLA really worth?

SLA in Vectrix is an interesting thought
service life issues tend to spring to mind, given the power requirements (80A continuous to hold 110kmh, 110A if the conditions are bad)

The other is how much capacity have they actually got?
Or in other words, at what speed can you achieve 70-80km range?

memecode wrote: I guess I'm fishing for historical info on what their prices have been in the last few years, not trying to bargain someone down to the bottom.

I sold a Vectrix with 100km@100kmh range for $6000 in 2015 (had low km as well)

A Vectrix with a good nimh battery can have a decent service life now, thanks to The Laird's firmware, but wouldn't give you the range you're chasing.

out of curiosity, how far is your commute presently, and can you charge at work?

A nimh battery might get you buy for the moment till second hand leaf/tesla modules become more readily available

Post by **jonescg** » Mon, 20 Feb 2017, 16:57

Well I just learned that the E-max scooters will take up to 69 volts, so an 18s LiFePO4 battery, or a 16s LiCoO2 battery would easily push it up to 90 km/h.

Still not your highway speeds, but pretty close.

Post by **memecode** » Mon, 20 Feb 2017, 19:45

antiscab wrote:out of curiosity, how far is your commute presently, and can you charge at work?

It's 20km each way, and I don't think I can charge at work. In any case I'm planned to have at least 50km in a worst case scenario: cold, lots of hills, headwind etc. So 70+km in normal conditions.

Post by **adam lippiatt** » Wed, 10 May 2017, 06:52

I have a Vectrix. Easily does 100kmh. Does 80km easy in mixed riding. Great to ride one or two up. I have only 13000 on it so many many years on lion cells before I can justify the upgrade to leaf cells or better. So good.

Post by **Vectrix150V** » Wed, 24 May 2017, 17:23

I've got one that I need to sell - In Newcastle. I've sent you an email.

Post by **memecode** » Wed, 24 May 2017, 17:42

Vectrix150V wrote: I've got one that I need to sell - In Newcastle. I've sent you an email.

Ok got that. Thanks.

Just in the middle of a crazy busy time with selling my house. But it sounds really promising.

Post by **memecode** » Fri, 27 Apr 2018, 19:50

So that particular one fell through when the battery pack died. I since bought a 200cc scoot which turned out to be pretty good. But it's not electric, I guess if a cheap enough Vectrix shows up then I would still be interested. I see that tesla modules (5.5kWh) are now available for individual purchase. I wonder what BMS and charger "glue" would be needed to run it in a Vectrix?

We got Solar PV 2 weeks back. After many years of waiting, I finally moved house to somewhere where the roof isn't shaded. So far we are generating ~10-16kWh a day. And need ways of using that. Like putting it in a scooter

Post by **antiscab** » Sat, 28 Apr 2018, 08:27

There is a fellow who put 3 x Tesla modules into a Vectrix giving 15kwh and 250km range. It means you have to modify the modules into 48v 110Ah units by cutting 2 of the interconnecting plates.

Leaf modules are still the easiest to use.

I do know of a Vectrix in qld whose owner is looking to sell. It has 42 x ts 40ah cells from around 2012. From what I gather one of the cells has died. Fortunately the Vectrix can run with as few as 38 cells

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