eBike reliability

[Cyclothesist]

I think geomanie said it all in the first post.
Standardisation of mounts for ebike motors and batteries would make replacement easier when they're beyond maintenance. At the moment a hub motor edges it on ease of replacement.

[Carlton green]

Reliability of anything is pretty much down to luck, informed selection and sensible use; there’s nothing much you can do about luck and the other two you can only influence to the limits of your knowledge - and hope not to make mistakes.

A few days back I rode up a hill and then happened to meet an old friend at the top. He asked if I’d considered getting an e-bike to which I replied that they sounded good on paper and worked for some folk but were also liable to failure. Batteries to charge, limited lifetime of batteries, electronics to go wrong and more mechanical components to break, etc. Support from manufacturers is mixed and the whole lot isn’t cheap.

At some point I’ll likely be forced to go the e-bike route and hopefully when that time comes there will be better and more long lived choices. In the meantime I’ll do what I can without electric assistance.

How long should a bike last? Well I’ve had mine for several decades and I expect (want) any e-bike that I ever purchase to be both capable of the same long life and readily repairable.

[Paulatic]

Lack of servicing a Bosch can be costly.

Mapdec. https://youtube.com/watch?v=2As4Lqqh7KQ ... PRw56rzsOO

[al_yrpal]

I have a Bosch powered ebike, its been faultless. Its obvious one shouldnt jet wash it and take care riding through deep puddles. When, eventually the motor fails and is unserviceable I expect Bosch to make a replacement motor available that fits the mounts on my bike or to provide a suitable bracket to mount the new motor. Its called interchangeability.

Al

[PH]

Lack of servicing a Bosch can be costly.

Mapdec. https://youtube.com/watch?v=2As4Lqqh7KQ ... PRw56rzsOO

Excellent video, 5 min in and he explains if they'd taken it to a service centre when they were told the bearing had worn the refurb kit would have been £140.

[AndyK]

However, all my bicycles, motored or otherwise, are whisper-quiet - apart from my own grunting and wheezing, of course.

You obviously don't have any bikes with Campagnolo or DT Swiss freehubs, then.. They are very definitely acoustic.

[Cyclewala]

Did a very wet Easter tour in England, where I was often riding in BB-high standing water.

Upon getting home stripped both hubs and BB, cleaned and packed with fresh grease. Bike’s running sweet.

Would hate to think what a BB motor would have been like. No e-bike for me whilst I’m still capable of riding a conventional bike.

[geomannie]

Lack of servicing a Bosch can be costly.

Mapdec. https://youtube.com/watch?v=2As4Lqqh7KQ ... PRw56rzsOO

Excellent video, 5 min in and he explains if they'd taken it to a service centre when they were told the bearing had worn the refurb kit would have been £140.

I agree, an excellent video that emphasises the need for preventive maintenance. However, the video also discusses limited parts availability from the manufacturers resulting in a complete motor replacement rather than a repair. The lack of spares availability seems to be choice by the manufacturers, continuing my original sceptical questioning of long term ebike maintenance.

Also, at the end of the expensive repair the mechanic indicates that the repair cost (£750) is more than the bike is worth and discusses that a main driver of doing it was to keep the bike out of the scrap heap, which is a very worthwhile reason. However, if it were my bike I would then worry about what will go wrong next, the battery? These seem to cost around £350 to £500+!

The repair costs are all a bit ouch, but maybe this particular bike is an outlier. More data needed!

[Carlton green]

I love the essential simplicity of a bicycle, the fact that anyone who wants to do their own repairs can without too much difficulty encompass most aspects of repair, maintenance and replacement of parts. With user TLC a traditional bike can be kept going for years for reasonable cost

I'm getting to the stage when an eBike is starting to seem attractive, but I'm not rushing. Perhaps a bolt on kit so I can remove it when it fails? What is the answer?

Yes, that’s the beauty of traditional bikes. Perhaps I’ve been lucky but my traditional bikes have cost me very little and I hope to continue caring for them myself.

eBikes, well it might happen but if it does then my first preference is a kit of bits to modify an existing bike. Customers who are tied into a brand and working arrangement are at the mercy of some corporate supplier; with a kit of bits there’s some hope of spare parts / units from competing suppliers. One might also reasonably expect some customer support with building the bike up from parts (otherwise why would you buy then) and some sort of interchangeability of parts.

I know that eBikes keep some folk riding. However if you need an eBike is it because you can’t walk far and if you can’t walk far is it time for a traditional mobility scooter? Many questions, I firmly believe that eBikes should be readily cared for by the owner rather than some service centre.

I have a Bosch powered ebike, its been faultless. Its obvious one shouldnt jet wash it and take care riding through deep puddles. When, eventually the motor fails and is unserviceable I expect Bosch to make a replacement motor available that fits the mounts on my bike or to provide a suitable bracket to mount the new motor. Its called interchangeability.

Al

I’ve been thinking about your post for a few hours. To my mind what’s going on with Bosh is commercial control of the customer(s) and screwing the customer(s) for the maximum amount possible. Interchangeability? Well in some mechanical sense maybe, but to my mind the driver behind what’s going on is firmly centred on control for the commercial purposes.

[Saissac]

However, all my bicycles, motored or otherwise, are whisper-quiet - apart from my own grunting and wheezing, of course.

You obviously don't have any bikes with Campagnolo or DT Swiss freehubs, then.. They are very definitely acoustic.

Obviously never been in Italy, when a club or a bunch goes by the clattering of high pitched freewheels is impressive!

[rareposter]

Many questions, I firmly believe that eBikes should be readily cared for by the owner rather than some service centre.

I don't! Given how badly most people look after a normal bike (ie not at all or "only when it's already broken" or even worse "well X wasn't working so I adjusted Y but now it's worse..." which was a regular occurrence in shops I've worked in), the chances of anyone actually being able to properly look after a motor are slim to none!

There's the issue of legality to look at as well with modified motors. Same way that car manufacturers have progressively made it harder and harder to actually access the engine. They want the customer to top up the washer fluid and leave the rest well alone!

The Bosch unit on my e-cargo bike has been flawless so far but I have no intention whatsoever of even attempting to access the thing if it does ever break.

[6.5_lives_left]

Lack of servicing a Bosch can be costly.

Mapdec. https://youtube.com/watch?v=2As4Lqqh7KQ ... PRw56rzsOO

So that raises the question, when is it appropriate to get the motor serviced?
(Before it goes wrong I guess).

My Bosch motor has done 14000 miles (just short by a few miles edit, and about 5-6 years old). I haven't had it serviced. It isn't giving any trouble yet. Should I let the bike shop have a look at it?

[axel_knutt]

the chances of anyone actually being able to properly look after a motor are slim to none!

That's enough reason on it's own to dismiss any possibility of getting an eBike.

[rareposter]

the chances of anyone actually being able to properly look after a motor are slim to none!

That's enough reason on it's own to dismiss any possibility of getting an eBike.

Why?!
How many people can "look after" their car? Their plumbing and central heating?

There's some things in life you just accept that you get a professional to deal with.

Most maintenance on an e-bike is just the same as an unpowered bike - drivetrain, brakes etc. It's only the motor and wiring loom that's extra.

[axel_knutt]

There's some things in life you just accept that you get a professional to deal with.

Yes, and most of them are nothing but trouble. I keep the stuff I'm dependent on others for to an absolute minimum: jobs I can do I do myself, jobs I can't do get left undone unless absolutely necessary. Hiring a tradesman is a last resort.