After some internal discussions, planning and even garage space organising, i decided not to get an eeb after all, so let my mate know i’m not having it… I think (hope) he’s happy with this and based upon his message he’s cool with it.

So i’m going to make the wifes eeb a little better.

You decided you didn’t want a shimano motor then? 😉

Have you seen the cheap Vitus? Would be a good shout if you felt the need to eeb.

You decided you didn’t want a shimano motor then?

Not really fella.. there were a couple of little things that i can honestly say didn’t massively inspire after more reading up like the infamous circlip on the NDS chainstay, some of the linkages, but the motor didn’t worry me, the bike is under warranty for ages and would be covered. Well, no more than Ebike motors worry me in general. But the truth is, the more i thought about it, the less i want and need an Eeb at the moment, especially as we already have one lying about here that’s fine in terms of motor (better gearing would be nice though) , the main thing it’s lacking in is forks.
SR Suntour XCR is what it came with, which are about as cheap and cheerful as you can find. So i may jump on a pair of Fox 36s which are daft money in sale at the moment. That’ll make it just a little bit nicer.

https://www.merlincycles.com/fox-36-float-grip-performance-forks-275-244684.html

Anyway, i just bought the Liv a pair of these… They’re longer than standard i’ll admit, but i’ll try them as they come first and see, but may get them dropped (assuming it’s easy enough). They’re going to be better for sure.

Forks in and pressures set, brakes aligned and new pads installed.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2p5RfFc]IMG_20230928_141108[/url] by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

ready to roll at weekend.

Sure, it’s not the thread it started as… but it is a conclusion to it.

Due to some circumstances i almost went back to the decision with my mate and bought it… but it’s a daft idea currently in truth.

Well our Eeb is having some issues. When you turn it on, the power levels cannot be adjusted, but added to that, the motor/wheel spins on it’s own ! I lift the back wheel and off it goes… Obviously this ain’t right.

So i bought a replacement controller unit for the bars, it goes into the loom near the headstock. Sadly this ALMOST fixes it, apart from the fact it won’t power off using the button. Well, it will, but it powers itself back on straight away…

With no simple ideas left, i’ve emailed Ebike Motor Center to get it booked in for repairs… Then, i’ll be laying it up and leaving it there for the wife to use, not me.

So with that in mind, i may re-visit this Orbea Rise idea. It’s not moved since we did this thread and is unlikely to move again under his legs… But we’re meeting up a few times in the next few weeks and i may trial it for a day to see how it rides.

https://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/bikes/electric-bikes/specialized-turbo-kenevo-sl-comp-electric-mountain-bike-2022-smoke__372045

Not as much power as the Rise, but suspension performance eclipses it. You can get rid of all your other bikes.

You can get rid of all your other bikes.

I honestly don’t wanna matey. I still love riding manuals and even with Eeb riding mates i really enjoy it.. Although being the slowest uphill is quite hard to accept 😀

I don’t think the Liv has any real value and even though i paid for it, it’s Mrs Weeksys bike so i wouldn’t get anything back in the pot if i sold that. So it only leaves my Trek which is £2500 tops. A long way from buying the Specialized. We’ve got a million things planned for 2024 which will eat up my finances meaning that’s really not an option.

Initial thoughts from the company are “new motor” after a lot of discussions as to why/what/maybe. But he thinks it’s deffo likely/possible…. £900 ! Oooof. I don’t think that includes fitting either.

But i must admit, it’s blown any thoughts of getting my mates Orbea Rise out of the window. Even though we could sort so i’d have warranty etc… I’m still not feeling the love that after the warranty ends, i’m £1000 out of pocket if it failed.

£900+ Ouch

Is that the Yamaha motor? You going to get the Liv fixed? (regardless of the Orbea)

Yeah Yamaha motor, apparently this version it’s possible it;s the PCB and Giant won’t sell the PCB (well they kinda will but you need 100 other bits that take it to the same price as a motor).

I have no choice on the Liv, it’s the wifes bike and she’s only used it 3-4 times, maybe 5-6 but you know what i mean. I’ve used it for Uplifts, BPW, towing and general muddy horrible rides, so if anyone has broken it, it’s arguably me…. Funny part is, i bought the sodding thing for her too 😀

I have no choice on the Liv, it’s the wifes bike and she’s only used it 3-4 times, maybe 5-6 but you know what i mean.

If it’s hardly used why not just agree to hire one when she wants to use one? My wife has a normal bike for local use but we hire an e-bike if she wants to ride with me when we’re away.

Well I’m not sure it’ll ever get used, but I can’t just bin it can I? Even if she sold it next week when fixed, it’s still needing sorting

I keep thinking about getting an ebike, but every time I read a thread about a dead motor or talk to mates who have bikes in bits with electronics issues, crap warranty services and huge costs to repair them I decide they’re shit and I don’t want one. £900 for a motor, you can buy a fairly good hardtail for that!

@core – same, I would really like one as a second bike to compliment my hardtail and to tow kids up hills now they’re getting too big for the Shotgun seats (the wife wants one as well). But they don’t quite seem to be reliable enough just yet. Hopefully that will change soon and I can justify getting one that won’t shit the bed

Ebikes are in some ways ACE and wipe the floor with manual bikes… But if i have a list of Pros and Cons for my riding in the majority, the Eeb loses. Sometimes though the Eeb is just ‘better’ at sessioning trails, with climb/descent/climb/descent. They’re great… but then £1000 bill…. FFS really.

£900

😲

It does seem that the variety of mounts, of motor types and parts is a real issue when it comes to maintenance and replacement. Even more of an issue when the bike industry is having issues at present. I do hope that some more ‘standardised’ parts and fittings can be developed, ensuring that ongoing supply of parts is easier and cheaper. But I suspect not.

We bought mrs_oab’s Eeb new from LBS so that the two year warranty is in place – and likely will keep replacing on C2W every couple of years as it gets out of warranty.

I keep thinking about getting an ebike, but every time I read a thread about a dead motor or talk to mates who have bikes in bits with electronics issues, crap warranty services and huge costs to repair them I decide they’re shit and I don’t want one

Issues are around for sure, but if the 1000s of people who had no issues all started threads about having no issues on the internet, you’d probably… have no issues with them.

Bought mine in 2018 – zero issues, other than losing a bit of battery health

It does seem that the variety of mounts, of motor types and parts is a real issue when it comes to maintenance and replacement

That’s one of the main irritations with mine… Whatever my motor in this is, it’s a Giant only in terms of PCB, but according to the experts even then its’ the same price as they say well, if you want a PCB you need XYZ, ABC etc which makes it the same price as a motor. But what irritates me is that there’s 3-4 Giant/Liv models and you can’t swap motor A type for Motor B type… I can buy a new B or C type for £500 instead.. but of course that won’t fit. So i’m either in for a new motor or bin the bike… As much as that pains me, i can’t bin the bike.
It’s vaguely possible that one of the other parts of the loom may fix it.. But he suspects not. I’m not dropping it off until tomorrow as i’m also taking the other one from here with the rounded bolt to get his fixed too. Otherwise i’d have already taken it today.

It could be argued that the £1000 is somewhat negated by the fact it’s a 10 speed bike and in the 4 years we’ve owned it, all i’ve done is swap a set of pads on it. So not as expensive as some bikes in terms of upkeep. But that also tells us, i’ve maybe got 50 hours on it, maybe 75 at an absolute push.. which isn’t a hell of a lot really is it.

None of this changes anything of course, it still needs sorting… but it’s made me unhappy.

I could go down the C2W or the buy on sale and sell in 18 months, but i rekon anyone doing that is dropping more than a grand each time anyway, especially now we’re back to discounted sale bikes. So i’m not going to go down that route either.

I could park it up until we think Mrs Weeksy needs it… but that may be 3 months, 6 months, and it’ll still need sorting.. So at some stage i’ve got to just suck it up and pay the money.

^ that just sucks really. 🙁

Issues are around for sure, but if the 1000s of people who had no issues all started threads about having no issues on the internet, you’d probably… have no issues with them.

Of course, i get that… but you only have to look at emtbforums and see how many people are having issues and items replaced after days, weeks, months.. Sure a lot of them are warranty jobbies, but there has to come a time when warranty is over.. what then… Well, we know the answer.. You pay the money lol.

https://www.emtbforums.com/whats-new/

a large chunk of the 20 latest topics are for bike issues.

I’m not trying to put anyone off Eebs here.. Just threw it up as it was a bike discussion.

So at some stage i’ve got to just suck it up and pay the money.

That sucks balls. Is there not Ebay for this sort of thing?

I looked at the Orbea when I was looking to buy an Emtb. Test rode one at the Whinlatter demo day, but as you say the warranty is/can be an issue. I think there is an issue with the rear triangle de-bonding but that might just be the carbon Orbea Rise

Eventually bought a Turbo Levo SL, better warranty etc. As a buyer its not if the motor will go wrong, but when and will the manufacturer be able to fix the issue.

edit -is it the Orbea or Giant thats FUBAR?

Is there not Ebay for this sort of thing?

For what ? a motor ? Mmmm not really. I’m still not 100% on what motor exactly it is.

https://www.liv-cycling.com/gb/embolden-eplus-2-electric-bike-2019

That’s her bike. (with Fox 36s now)
Giant SyncDrive Sport, 80Nm powered by YAMAHA, 350% tuneable support

but i rekon anyone doing that is dropping more than a grand each time anyway,

You’re right. But mtbing has never been break even.

but you only have to look at emtbforums and see how many people are having issues and items replaced after days, weeks, months..

Well yes, but that’s largely because people who don’t have issues, don’t tend to go on the internet and start threads about it.
You only see the issues because when people have issues they tend to go online about it, unlike people who don’t.

Pick virtually any electronic device. If there is a forum for it, it’ll largely be full of threads about issues people are having.

Ebikes can have issues certainly, but it’s not really any different from most things.
The internet skews things to the negative.

My Orbea Rise is 2 years old and has no electrical issues that I’m aware of.

I’ve been through a couple of motor covers and a rockguardz, had to put a metal skid plate on it.

Bent a crank arm so replced those.

Cracked a piston on the XT caliper so had to replace that.

Replaced a seized rear mech

Wore out the oem seatpost so replaced that with a longer dropper.

Done a full set of bearings incl headset.

All of this is as a result of shite riding in shite conditions and would have happened if it were a Rallon, not a Rise. It’s probably done less than 1000 km.

Its out of warranty but I figure with the amount I’ve saved on servicing/ fixing the above at home, I don’t think it will be the nail in the coffin when it does lunch itself. Just have to suck it up and foot the bill.

Don’t buy a Land Rover said the internet.

2016 Discovery bought 5 years ago on 30k. Now on 130k and has had no more issues (minor) than any other vehicle I’ve had. It’s had some abuse too and it’s the longest I’ve ever kept a vehicle

For what ? a motor ? Mmmm not really. I’m still not 100% on what motor exactly it is.

Pretty sure the 2019 sport was the PW-ST, the 2019 pro was the PW-X, then in 2020 they moved to PW-X and PW-X2.

Always a proper pain when the PCB is damaged, it’s the killer of many motors, finding the older PW style motors will be a struggle as well, they’ve had 3 or 4 models in-between that and now, and the newer ones have all been reduced in size, as always, so no chance of fitting.

I dropped the Liv and Alex on here’s Whyte with the rounded bolt off today at ebike motor center. They have a LOT of motors and stuff and a clean and lovely workshop.

We’ll see in the next week or so what they say.

No idea how this will play out, but i’m riding my mates Orbea tomorrow. We’ve got 3 hours of playtime over at FoD at Shutcastle area to see if this is indeed something that can tempt me, even with the issues the Liv has potentially brought upon us. It’s my first proper go on a lite-eeb so i’m really curious as to how it rides, especially when the geometry and travel is right in my preferred sort of ball park ranges. I know the trails on 50% of the ride really well and on the other 50% i know some bits… so again it’ll be really useful i think.

Whether or not i take it home with me, i’m not sure yet.