e bike buying thoughts

[Tilt]

Any reason that you would / wouldn't buy or at least consider buying this bike. 

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/115389722533

 

It's on ebay local to me. (so other than it being miles away from you, Lol).

 

I have mailed the seller and it's a 2019 and he bought it 2nd hand (not happy about that)

 

He has good feedback but only sold 3 items / PS4 games...

 

I have said I want a viewing and will not buy it without this but main concern is the battery being 3 years old. Talks in progress at the mo.

 

Cheers.

 

[Gaz]

Nothing wrong with the bike per se.  Battery should still be in good order unless it's not been looked after/left drained.  I like 'em as bikes!

 

Realise local is good but there's a new (2020) one quite a bit cheaper:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224991299369?hash=item346286c729:g:YvQAAOSwnLlig~i~

 

Gaz 

[Tilt]

@Gaz

Thanks mate. 

The one in the link isn't full suss though.

 

Having said that, I always think a used bike that is a few years old  is worth about 50% of it's retail. That is if it is in good condition.

[Gaz]

Stick a Thudbuster seat post on it?

 

I’ve never needed rear suspension, so didn’t think about it being different.

 

G

[olduns]

Ask for pics after full charge on the display, mine if turned off in Eco usually displays around 80km / 50 mile... 625w battery. 

As with any second hand bike factor in any potential replacements needed... 

Cassette / chain / chain ring up to  £120+ depending on speeds

Suspension bushings

Battery  500w £550?  625w  £700?

At least if you can view the bike you'll get a feel for the seller and what sort of condition the bike is... ie someone who looks after it or trying to make a quick buck

 

[Tilt]

A little update

I went to have a look at the bike today and intending a test ride.

 

I checked out the property online first and was nicely surprised that it was a decent property and area and they had lived there for about 15 years.

Indian English family mum dad and son. twas the sons bike.

 

Well, two almost flat tyres and them not having a pump (any kind of pump it seemed) put a damper on the test ride. I took my shock pump but never expected flat tyres.

I took it up and down the street very carefully but told them I needed a proper ride to even consider an offer.

We have agreed that I will return tomorrow with a tyre pump for me to take a proper test ride. (I intend letting the air back out of the tyres before I return the bike. I will tell them that the tyres are loosing air ........ I'm not daft, Lol)

 

Not the best looked after bike, needs a full service ideally. I can probably do the forks (I do my Rockshox Recon's myself) and do the brakes but I ended up taking my Ario rear shock to Evans for them to do .......... so expenses to pay out.

 

Gonna see how it goes / feels tomorrow (weather permitting) .

 

The other thing is that it has been de-restricted. The seller advertised this and to be fair a mate of mine says these need de-restricting as once the assistance cuts out at the usual 15.5mph, you are then left fighting against the motor / gearbox (something like that.

 

The issue is that it has not been set up correctly as it doesn't display the correct speed. It displays slower than what you are going.

I need to find out what has been done regarding this.

@Gaz @olduns @roottoot or others. Anyone know how the bike works out it's speed, how it is supposed to work, at least.

 

Cheers guys.

 

 

[Gaz]

I had a Badass dongle on mine to de-restrict it.  These are little square boxes that cover the speed sensor and trick it, also fooling the speedo - mine would show 4 to 9mph when I might've been doing 28 to 30mph.

 

Some people move the speed sensor and magnet onto the pedal arm.

 

Google will be your friend on the most obvious ways to de-restrict that particular motor, so how to look for what's been done.

 

I now prefer the 15.5mph cut-off as keeping it above that gives me much more exercise.

 

Weather's gonna be nice tomorrow 

 

Gaz

Edited 2 June, 2022 by Gaz

[Tilt]

@Gaz Thanks mate. 

 

If you look at the first pic in his listing you can just see something zip tied underneath the swing-arm, just rear of the motor.

Someone just stuck the magnet on the front wheel OR they had another computer fitted too. You can just see the magnet in same pic.

 

He has now deleted the listing so either sold it, decided NOT to sell it OR expecting me to buy it tomorrow......... Hmmm.

 

Probably contact him in the morning.

[Gaz]

On mine (Shimano):

 

Dongle:

 

Speed sensor:

 

Dongle not fully located, but you get the idea:

 

Just in case it helps.

 

Gaz

 

PS: See what you mean about the photo - doesn't look like a normal cable run to me - caveat emptor!

 

Edited 2 June, 2022 by Gaz

[olduns]

My Orbea, Bosch 4 motor, has a magnet bolted to the rear wheel near the disc mounts and the pickup on the swing arm.

I'm guessing it's calibrated by Bosch to rotate at that distance from axle for 29 wheels, possibly moved slightly for 27.5?

Is it possible that when de-restricting the magnet is moved further out to fool the pickup re wheel speed?

[olduns]

https://ibb.co/wYkzC5K
https://ibb.co/5vX3Yn2

 

'Scuse the crappy pic upload, can't do a lot with kbs..

Need to find a host that can do the job

One pic is magnet, other wire into swingarm and looks to be internal pickup, no obvious sign on outside

 

 

 

Edited 1 June, 2022 by olduns

[Ootohere]

On my Specialised Levo with a 'Hack' for speed but no 'Dongle' the wheel circumference is reset to cheat the Brose motor / controller.

 

On my Cannondale / Bosch motor i have a Chip / Dongle allowing 'Offroad' mode in the UK.  (28 mph max assistance)

 

2255 mm is the standard wheel circumference, and this can be reset. 

Edited 2 June, 2022 by roottoot

[olduns]

I'd love to be able to change my settings....

With the lower spec Bosch displays it's limited I think and dealer only, not too sure on top end stuff, I know there is an app for them?

[Ootohere]

I have read the stuff on the Bosch 'remap', and non Dealer / Bosch approved and getting 3 chances and locked out or such like.

My 'hardware and software' was applied / fitted before the bike was delivered from the EU by an approved dealer. 

 

https://www.electricbikesales.co.uk/content/how-to-de-restrict-or-tune-your-electric-bike-to-make-it-go-faster.aspx

 

Edited 2 June, 2022 by roottoot

[Tilt]

Moving the magnet out wouldn't make any difference though would it?

 

Rotational speed would still be the same.

 

Changing the wheel size would affect the speed though, fair enough.

 

I think my mate has the 'speedbox' fitted.  

 

Simply press the 'Walk' button on your handlebar control and 6.2km/h will appear, meaning the tuning chip is active and the 25km/h restriction is removed. To turn the chip off, you simply press 'Walk' again and 1.6km/h will appear.

 

 

Lots of food for thought for me guys, thank you.

[Tilt]

Also, any of you familiar with the SR Suntour XCR 34 suspension forks???

 

Are they much good, particularly for half decent off roading??? I'm not even sure if they are air or spring. I think they are air???

 

Won't be as good as the Recon's on my Scott Spark 40...... And they are Rockshox lower end I believe.

[Gaz]

1 hour ago, Tilt said:

Moving the magnet out wouldn't make any difference though would it?

 

Rotational speed would still be the same.

 

That would be my thinking.  The magnet might go past the sensor a bit quicker the further out from the axle, but the number of rotations remain the same.

 

Gaz

[olduns]

1 hour ago, Tilt said:

Also, any of you familiar with the SR Suntour XCR 34 suspension forks???

 

Are they much good, particularly for half decent off roading??? I'm not even sure if they are air or spring. I think they are air???

 

Won't be as good as the Recon's on my Scott Spark 40...... And they are Rockshox lower end I believe.

XCR is the bottom end of Suntour air....perfectly usable unless you're doing full on downhill stuff, if you're even thinking of changing then possibly not the right bike/price?

Possibly not as much adjustment as Recons but as long as you can set compression and rebound it's tuneable to a degree.

My Orbea I've literally just set the sag and put everything else in the middle 😀....works so far.

The Fox 34s on the Whyte hardtail I've played with a tad more and I do adjust the tyre pressures to suit conditions more.

[Tilt]

And finally ................................. Lol.

 

After all this looking I have come to the realisation that we (my mate is after one, too) are not going to be able to actually see any FS emtb's in store, I did more searching online and found a few Scott's available in my size.

 

I was looking at either the Scott Genius (really like the look of these) there was a Genius 10 available about £5500 and also noticed the Scott Strike 40 at £4249.

 

Bit of a coincidence that my old FS is a Scott Spark 40.

 

I would have loved to test ride both of them but obvs not possible so I decided that the Strike should do what I want.

General difference was Carbon vs Alloy frame and 625wh vs 500wh battery then slightly better suspension with even more travel 160/150 vs 140/140. Most of the rest is the same really.so..............

 

I purchased the Strike, only available in a midnight blue. Unusual colour for a bike but I think I will like it. I did like the matt black and gold of the Genius but thought the travel may be more than I need and of course the extra grand and a half, Lol.

 

Awaiting email confirmation of delivery date, it should be 23rd....................... 🚲

[Phil-E]

I looked around on some UK sites and it seems you don't have a great choice over there.

 

Over here in Germany they are super popular and all bike shops have a massive selection available.

 

I've just ordered myself a KTM E-Bike through a work leasing scheme (salary sacrifice).

 

Since my boss is putting £50 a month towards it it was a no-brainer.

 

I had a test ride in the shop of a very similar one they had in my size.

 

So 28" wheels and a 60cm frame size with 625wh battery and a Bosch motor with 85nm of torque.

[Ootohere]

They are super popular in the UK which left the EU and because of supply and demand there are not loads to chose from for quick delivery.

Just a while back you could have a ready to ride e-Bike after the bars were turned, delivery to the UK from the EU quicker than you might get one from a UK retailer or distributor. 

http://electricbikesupermarket.co.uk/collections/ktm-e-bikes

 

 

 

Edited 21 June, 2022 by roottoot

[Tilt]

14 hours ago, Phil-E said:

 

I've just ordered myself a KTM E-Bike through a work leasing scheme (salary sacrifice

 

Austrian company........ bit nearer to you I guess, Lol.

 

Scott are now a Swiss company I believe. Thinking originated in USA though. 

[Tilt]

20 hours ago, Tilt said:

And finally ................................. Lol. not laughing right now

 

Unbelievable................ TNT have delivered the bike ................... to completely the wrong address ........... apparently.

 

According to Tredz (I had to get the info through them) TNT delivered the bike this morning to an L Appleby at Nottingham Universities Clifton Campus.

 

Not my name and not my address. Tredz have spoken to the University, or so they say, and guess what, no-one there named Appleby. 

 

To say i'm annoyed at the moment is an understatement.

 

Just ordered a replacement from eVelo . I hope they use a better delivery company.

 

I have opened a review with Paypal credit for them to sort it.

Tredz are useless IMO. Telling me it will take up to 3 days just to get an answer 

Edited 22 June, 2022 by Tilt

[Warrior193]

26 minutes ago, Tilt said:

 

Unbelievable................ TNT have delivered the bike ................... to completely the wrong address ........... apparently.

 

According to Tredz (I had to get the info through them) TNT delivered the bike this morning to an L Appleby at Nottingham Universities Clifton Campus.

 

Not my name and not my address. Tredz have spoken to the University, or so they say, and guess what, no-one there named Appleby. 

 

To say i'm annoyed at the moment is an understatement.

 

Just ordered a replacement from eVelo . I hope they use a better delivery company.

 

I have opened a review with Paypal credit for them to sort it.

Tredz are useless IMO. Telling me it will take up to 3 days just to get an answer 

Posted 'Sad' emoticon because there's no 'screaming, homicidal' one. 

[Ootohere]

But then HALFORDS own Tredz & Wheelies.  So that tells you lots.

I used to use Tredz to buy bikes and had a reliable local delivery driver / bike enthusiast that found time to see what i was getting and help take them out the box.

 

As for TNT and the other delivery companies, when i worked for a cycle shop we ended up owning bikes we never ordered and having to reorder bikes we had that never arrived.