KMC Steps Up Manufacturing Ebike Drives with Kynamic

Taiwan is known to be a hotspot of the international bicycle industry. Numerous manufacturers come from there, maintain large branches on the island or have their goods manufactured in huge factories by suppliers. One big name on the island is KMC. Some of you may know the company as a manufacturer of chains, chainrings and sprockets – also for the ebike segment. KMC has now fully immersed itself in this segment. The company offers several of its own ebike systems under the name Kynamic.

Already in 2021, under the impression of the global corona pandemic and the bicycle boom, KMC founded the subsidiary Kynamic. The reason for this could have been to get a bigger piece of the action from the increasingly lucrative ebike market than is possible by selling accessories. Or it could be to better prepare for a future in which bikes without motorised assistance may soon only take a back seat. Or a mixture of both.

From the drive to the complete bike

Unsurprisingly, KMC approached the project on a large scale. Kynamic is looking for customers who would like to sell ebikes but are unable or unwilling to take on the complete development, production and service. They can either purchase the shell for an ebike, i.e. a finished frame concept. Or an ebike drive unit that is already on the shelf. Preferably both, of course. Kynamic also advises on the search for manufacturing partners, trains employees there and monitors the processes on site in Taiwan. As KMC itself has been active in the field since 1977, the necessary contacts and access to reliable global sales channels are likely to be two of the arguments that might make some interested parties prick up their ears.

As mentioned, the varied bunch of services includes several drive systems. Kynamic presents four of them in more detail on its website. According to the company, they all have the necessary certifications such as EN15194:2017, ISO13849-1, and UN38.3. Two of these systems are one with a rear hub motor. They are based on an operating voltage of 36 volts and deliver the 250 watts permitted in Europe in continuous operation. A maximum torque of 40 Newton metres is specified in each case.

Two motors and the question: which one is which?

The only obvious difference between the two rear-wheel drives is their name. One is simply called “Rear Motor Series”, while the other is labelled “Light Weight Motor Series”. Presumably they have at least a different weight. How much this is and in what other details they may differ from each other is not clear from the information.

At another part of the website, in the FAQs, a specific product name suddenly appears. It mentions the MRC-A250 hub motor. It can be combined with cassettes that can feature a maximum of ten sprockets. It was not possible to determine which of the two motors mentioned above is the MRC-A250. Nevertheless, the units can probably be operated with LED control units that support data exchange via Bluetooth and allow you to switch between three riding modes.

For the use of the rear wheel motors, Kynamic envisions an e-gravel bike and a trekking e-bike with suspension fork. A permanently installed battery seems to be planned for the gravel bike, while the battery on the trekking bike can be removed. The different approaches could also result in different battery capacities. However, as the manufacturer has once again not provided any further information, this remains pure speculation.

More transparency for the mid-mounted motors

Things get a little more specific when looking at the two remaining mid-motors. Motor number one is located in a fully equipped urban ebike with a very low step-through. It generates a maximum torque of 65 Newton metres from the 250 watts available in continuous operation. This is on a par with a Bosch Performance Line of the second development stage. However, we cannot say anything about the maximum assistance or the weight and therefore cannot make a real comparison.

The battery is an energy storage unit with a capacity of 497 watt hours that can be removed from the down tube. In Eco mode, this results in a good 100 kilometres of range. With a 4A charger, the battery would be fully charged in around 3.5 hours.

The second mid-motor drives a hardtail e-mountainbike. Apparently, it needs to be ridden a little more sportily. Its output is a good deal lower at 200 watts in continuous operation. Nevertheless, a torque of 65 Newton metres should be achievable. To generate this, you need to exert more force and pedalling frequency.

Both mid-motors provide four levels of assistance, one more than the hub motors. Bluetooth technology can also be used here for communication with the rest of the ebike system.

Prospects and early successes

Given the limited information available, it is difficult to predict what exactly will become of Kynamic’s drives in the coming years. What the manufacturer has presented so far suggests that, at least for the time being, it would rather like to distinguish itself as an alternative that offers an affordable system and scores points with potential customers with additional services. Hyena has acted in a similar way. Trek now uses its drives, albeit with certain modifications.

In fact, Kynamic’s customer list already includes a first prominent name. The British manufacturer Whyte Bicycles recently added ebikes for urban and leisure use to its range, which are equipped with a rear hub motor from Taiwan. In two product ranges, the RHeO 3 and the RHeO 2, it demonstrates the potential that the drive system offers for bicycle manufacturers. Whyte gets an additional five Newton metres of torque out of the system. The battery is an unspecified internal battery with 250 watt hours, which is apparently firmly integrated. Based on an aluminium frame, the RHeO 3 in frame size M weighs less than 17 kilograms with full equipment including a dropper seat post, mudguards, a rear carrier and lighting system as well as a Shimano drive and Tektro brakes. At a price of less than 2,700 euros, this is absolutely respectable. Who knows, maybe this is just the start of more ebikes with Kynamic ebike systems.

 

Pictures: Kynamic Inc., Whyte Bikes Limited