Is My Bicycle Compatible With Cytronex?
Cytronex will fit to most bicycles but it’s important to check compatibility before ordering. Unless you have a Brompton (see heading below), this means checking 3 things: 1. That you have at least one ferrous rear sprocket (no checking needed for Thru-axle as we supply the cassettes), 2. That the motor hub fits your bike - using a template for front hub motors, 142mm rear Thru-axle motors do not require checking with a template (just cassette compatibility) and 3. Checking that the Bottle Holder will fit on your downtube. Whilst we recommend checking you have ferrous rear sprockets with a magnet, it is very, very rare that there are no ferrous rear sprockets.
For front hub motor kits - if you have a magnet and it is attracted to one of your rear sprockets and your fork has quick release dropouts (i.e. slots for the wheel axle), all you need to do is print out the templates from the links lower down this page (please ensure you print to scale) and check straight away. If there is no access to a printer or you don’t have a magnet, UK customers can order hard copies of the templates and a small magnet HERE
If you have a bicycle with a 142mm wide rear Thru-axle then there is no need to use a motor template - Thru-axle compatibility depends on the cassette (i.e. the rear gear block) you choose from our selection being compatible with your rear gear shifter (i.e. the lever you use to change the rear gears) on your bike. We have a number of cassette choices from 9 speeds to 12 speeds - please note it is very important to choose the cassette and check that it is compatible with your rear shifter - you can view all the cassette options and the shifters they are compatible with HERE
Please also note that the Cytronex Thru-Axle motor is not compatible with 140mm disc brake rotors. If you currently have 140mm disc brake rotors on your bike, you will need to change to a 160mm (minimum) by using an adapter. The required adapter varies for each bike so contact your bike manufacturer for advice.
Cytronex will fit all non-modified Bromptons - with the exception of the Brompton G-Line. If you have a Brompton T-line please Contact Us so we can advise the correct way of ordering. If your Brompton has been modified in any way from "factory" spec, such as fitting Shimano or Rohloff hub gears or fitting third-party rear triangles or forks for larger wheels then please Contact Us before ordering as you will require a non-standard Brompton Kit.
Cytronex should not be fitted to cycles with corroded or damaged forks or frames, low quality forks or frames that have not been made to current standards (newer bikes should be made to the ISO 4210 standard) or forks or frames that have been involved in an accident. Please also check that your water bottle mounts are secure in the frame. If you have checked your bicycle and you’re happy it’s compatible for a Cytronex conversion, grab your tape measure, have your bike in front of you and place your order HERE
Please note that Cytronex currently has three motor types: Front Hub, Brompton and Thru-Axle. Customers who wish to upgrade multiple bikes can share their Cytronex bottles across bikes with the same motor-type. Please contact us if you wish to do this so we can direct you to the correct kit. However, if you have a Cytronex Front Hub for your standard bike and wish to electrify a Brompton or bike with Thru-Axle then you will need to purchase another Cytronex bottle. We suggest marking each bottle so they are not accidentally used with incompatible motor-types.
Cytronex Sensor
Check that a magnet is attracted to at least one of the rear sprockets (these are the rear cogs on bikes that have chains) or the rear pulley for belt drive bikes. If you don’t have a reasonably strong magnet (fridge magnets are usually too weak to tell) a suitable magnet is included in the Cytronex Compatibility Kit, which also contains the templates pre-printed to correct size:
The sensor bracket is designed to adjust to most bicycles and fits to the chain stay as shown above. Some hub gear bikes can be more difficult to fit and may require a separate part – if you have difficulty fitting just send us a photo of your chainstay and we can advise and send you the correct part. To send a photo please message us with the Support Contact Form first.
Front Wheel Motor
Please click on an icon below to print out the correct front wheel hub template for your bike (“Rim Brakes” means all bicycles which brake against the wheel rim, such as V-brake and Caliper Brakes). Remove front wheel from your bicycle and hold template vertically in position to check clearance for motor in your fork:
Important: The above are front wheel motors and are only compatible with standard forks for 100mm wide hubs, with “drop outs” – i.e. not compatible with single sided mono forks or forks designed for “Thru-Axle Hubs” - if you have "Thru-axle" on your bike then please see Rear Motor below. Please note also that some fork dropouts have “Lawyer Lips” which may require the Cytronex torque washers to be amended or a different type to be provided – if you have difficulty fitting please message us with the Support Contact Form.
Cytronex for Brompton
Cytronex will fit all non-modified Bromptons - with the exception of the Brompton G-Line. If you have a Brompton T-line please Contact Us so we can advise the correct way of ordering. If your Brompton has been modified in any way from "factory" spec, such as fitting Shimano or Rohloff hub gears or fitting third-party rear triangles or forks for larger wheels then please Contact Us before ordering as you will require a non-standard Brompton Kit.
Rear Wheel Thru-axle Motor
If you have a bicycle with a frame that fits a 142mm wide rear Thru-axle wheel then there is no need to print out or check a motor template for our Thru-axle motors. Instead, you should select a cassette when purchasing the Thru-axle kit which matches the number of sprockets in your existing rear cassette (e.g. 9, 10, 11 or 12 speed), select similar gear ratios (e.g. 11-32T) to those already fitted and check that we list the model of rear gear shifter fitted to your bike as being compatible with your chosen cassette. Our list is not exhaustive however, so an alternative is to check whether the chosen cassette is compatible with your bike by asking your bicycle supplier. A list of known compatible rear gear shifters is shown when you click on your chosen cassette from the list shown HERE
Please also note that the Cytronex Thru-Axle motor is not compatible with 140mm disc brake rotors. If you currently have 140mm disc brake rotors on your bike, you will need to change to a 160mm (minimum) by using an adapter. The required adapter varies for each bike so contact your bike manufacturer for advice.
Bottle Cage
Please click on the icon below and print out the template so you can check that the Bottle Holder will fit where the two water bottle bolts are positioned on your bicycle downtube. The Bottle Holder is designed to fit in small spaces but it is important to check, particularly with small frame sizes:
Many step-through bikes do not have water bottle mounts on the downtube, but it may still be possible to add the two fixing holes – either at our workshop, via an experienced bicycle shop or installed by a bicycle frame builder.
If you have checked the motor as described above and the Bottle Holder clearance with the templates and your bike has a rear sprocket or pulley that attracts a magnet then you are good to go.
