E bikes

[marchie]

Elaine's E bike battery died about 2 weeks ago (out of guarantee but covered less than 100 miles), with a BMS fault that stops any charge reaching the (fully charged) battery, but where the BMS is convinced that the battery is empty! Investigations and resetting the BMS would cost a minimum of £130, a new battery would cost £300 plus delivery (and there are other bits that are making odd sounds, including the drive).

We have been trawling local bike shops over the last week and eventually found ebikes340 in Benicarlo. Had a quick look on Thursday, just before closing time, went back on Friday to try the new bikes and collected them yesterday lunchtime. In all, almost 40 miles cycling with very little/none battery assistance and a saddle that had ceased to support my rear end!

The new bikes are as cheap as you can sensibly get, and new batteries will be available off the shelf if needed, during subsequent trips to Spain. Something we did learn from buying the previous Ebikes was that the paintwork gets hammered lifting the bikes on and off the rack and locking them to the supermarket parking rails, so a 'cheap and cheerful' new bike won't cause too much angst when half the paint remains at the local Mercadona ... But here is a photo during the maiden voyage on the outskirts of Benicarlo before the paint loses its lustre ...

Steve

 

[witzend]

Bargain for someone here

Two Ampere Altar low step folding ebikes £1000 each ono | in Truro, Cornwall | Gumtree

Two Almost as new folding E bikes less than 10 mls both with 15 AH batterys + two chargers I bought these bikes but have been unable to use owing to health problem, viewing is in Truro City payment will be made by cash or bank transfer 1000 £ each ono bargain for someone

www.gumtree.com

 

[andyjanet]

Perfect for your trip in Bavaria

 

[saxonborg]

Scrapped you previous bikes then Steve?

 

[Wully]

That’s a shame the two you had looked decent if you still have them there’s a guy opened up in Glasgow that will fix them even the batteries he’s a bid eccentric but a genius with them. Enjoy your new ones and the rest of your trip.

 

[marchie]

Scrapped you previous bikes then Steve?

Yes, Eric. The previous bikes were over hyped, and the quality of components not great, considering the money we paid for them. Ignoring the BMS battery problem, the inspection costs&/or replacing the battery itself, the poor paint job where wheels and frame have gone to bare metal, and the grinding noise on the drive motor should have avoided a 'good money after bad' exercise. The new bikes were £600 cheaper than the original bikes but have better paint finishes and some simple brackets/guards to protect against everyday damage. And if they have to be scrapped in a couple of years, the write off cost will be less expensive

Steve

 

[saxonborg]

Yes, Eric. The previous bikes were over hyped, and the quality of components not great, considering the money we paid for them. Ignoring the BMS battery problem, the inspection costs&/or replacing the battery itself, the poor paint job where wheels and frame have gone to bare metal, and the grinding noise on the drive motor should have avoided a 'good money after bad' exercise. The new bikes were £600 cheaper than the original bikes but have better paint finishes and some simple brackets/guards to protect against everyday damage. And if they have to be scrapped in a couple of years, the write off cost will be less expensive

Steve

Pity, they did look quite good bikes, wish you well with your new steads and you get plenty of miles under your belt so to speak.

 

[wildebus]

Steve,
one of the guys in my Archery club is a dealer and specialist in eBikes (with a workshop in Berwick). If you bring the duff battery with you when you come over in February if you still have it, I can see if he can have a look at it? Often there is a common fault on a given item and he may well be familiar with that battery? might be worth something on eBay if working.

Your new ones have the same batteries as mine by the look of it As you say, new batteries readily available and at a reasonable price (you could even carry a spare couple for both a backup and extra range).

 

[GMJ]

Can I ask how much the new ones were Steve? PM me if you prefer.

Also did you scrap the old ones when in Spain? If so could I ask where?

 

[marchie]

Can I ask how much the new ones were Steve? PM me if you prefer.

Also did you scrap the old ones when in Spain? If so could I ask where?

€1199 each, Graham, including the 2 year guarantee, so ignoring the cost of a new battery, the rest of each new bike cost some £733

The dealer was quite happy to take the old bikes off us ('the Moroccans will take them'), as we're the other 2 shops we visited. What we have seen between Peniscola and Benicarlo is small groups of North Africans bin raking, taking scrap metal etc and carrying it off in supermarket trollies. So, we could just have parked the old bikes up and walked away ...

Steve

 

[GMJ]

Thanks for that Steve

That's still a big hit on the old credit card that you could have done without on your trip though I suspect.

 

[marchie]

Steve,
one of the guys in my Archery club is a dealer and specialist in eBikes (with a workshop in Berwick). If you bring the duff battery with you when you come over in February if you still have it, I can see if he can have a look at it? Often there is a common fault on a given item and he may well be familiar with that battery? might be worth something on eBay if working.

Your new ones have the same batteries as mine by the look of it As you say, new batteries readily available and at a reasonable price (you could even carry a spare couple for both a backup and extra range).

David, the batteries went with the old bikes. The problem is the BMS and Whisper say they can now interrogate it and reprogram it, at a 'carton cost' of £150'ish incl shipping plus the delay with getting it to and fro. Their support for the paint flaking wheels was promised but not undertaken, so new bikes, cheaper, and with local support in Spain, felt more sensible. 3 dealers for Spanish made bikes we visited all said that they carry one of each bike in stock, ready to ride away the same day (visit AM, collect at 5pm reopening). If you want a 2nd bike, the factory delivery is 2 days maximum (early morning visit may get you the bike on the next day evening opening)

Steve

 

[wildebus]

David, the batteries went with the old bikes. The problem is the BMS and Whisper say they can now interrogate it and reprogram it, at a 'carton cost' of £150'ish incl shipping plus the delay with getting it to and fro. Their support for the paint flaking wheels was promised but not undertaken, so new bikes, cheaper, and with local support in Spain, felt more sensible. 3 dealers for Spanish made bikes we visited all said that they carry one of each bike in stock, ready to ride away the same day (visit AM, collect at 5pm reopening). If you want a 2nd bike, the factory delivery is 2 days maximum (early morning visit may get you the bike on the next day evening opening)

Steve

Your new bikes look like they will do the job just fine . the batteries are the same as mine and the bikes look near-identical as well


The battery BMS problem is one reason why - IMO - the oft-quoted 'a Lithium battery will last 10/15/20 years' is often nonsense as they are so dependant on the makers choice of the cheapest possible bit of electronics (the BMS) module they can find to stick in it. True for E-Bikes; true for Motorhome Leisure Batteries.
(which is why, when working on the best setup for a overland-to-Mongolia van electrics upgrade, 100% dismissed going Lithium and fitted Lead-Carbon instead)

 

[marchie]

Thanks for that Steve

That's still a big hit on the old credit card that you could have done without on your trip though I suspect.

It's only money, Graham ... The other way of looking at it is, the cost of the 60 day trip will probably be around £3,000, excluding food (which we would have bought at home anyway), so at £50 per day when we cannot use the bikes, or when the use is reduced, that's an easy way to reduce the value of the Trip. We were also pretty sure that the Lithium wouldn't get enough power to keep us going at Aires, and so it has proved. So we have a new 230Ah battery on order ...

Each(winter) trip involves a 'what do we need to make the next trip better/more effective?' and the bikes + battery answer that question!

Steve

 

[marchie]

Your new bikes look like they will do the job just fine . the batteries are the same as mine and the bikes look near-identical as well

The dealer was really good and spent a decent amount of time helping with the choice of bike. He said 'Autocaravanas to Mercadona plus town tour and back to Autocaravanas will be fine', but the battery range may be a little light. If the Lithium struggles on Aires with the recharge frequency, we will have to look at a more powerful battery. We've recharged each battery already, but don't know how much time the Dealer was able to charge them for initially. My bike needed almost 3 hours (probably the model ready built in the Shop), whereas Elaine's took only 50 minutes or so. My weight will obviously take more out of the battery!

Steve

 

[We Luv Freedom]

We have had e bikes for a number of yrs & had a new motor fitted to one on Spain last year for €145 but got us thinking if alternatives for Europe so have now bought 2 x e scooters ... Both fit into the M/H garage area without taking up much space & good fun to ride... Will be riding along Levante Sea Front next week

 

[rugbyken]

steve with your philosophy of it’s only money ! you said your going for the 230A battery are you aware that the 230/280/300 are in exactly the same L380 W190 H245 case you are just paying for the number of cells in said battery ie 230=£699 280=£799. 300=£849 so with the 300 you get an almost 30% increase capacity for an extra £150?

 

[marchie]

steve with your philosophy of it’s only money ! you said your going for the 230A battery are you aware that the 230/280/300 are in exactly the same L380 W190 H245 case you are just paying for the number of cells in said battery ie 230=£699 280=£799. 300=£849 so with the 300 you get an almost 30% increase capacity for an extra £150?

Roamer 230 Seat base model, Ken. About the only model that will fit the tiny space available, and even then, there's a reasonable amount of shifting of components to do to get enough space. The purchase has been made (with 10% January discount BUT with 15% price hike for UK delivery, courtesy of Brexit duties, tariffs etc. I'm happy with what I'm purchasing and having almost double the existing power should take the pressure off when the bike batteries need recharged but the solar isn't going to generate enough energy for a day or two. Famous last words ...

Steve

 

[Geek]

We have had e bikes for a number of yrs & had a new motor fitted to one on Spain last year for €145 but got us thinking if alternatives for Europe so have now bought 2 x e scooters ... Both fit into the M/H garage area without taking up much space & good fun to ride... Will be riding along Levante Sea Front next week

View attachment 71123View attachment 71124

Use one of those in the UK and you are putting your driving licence at risk. Use one anywhere and you're putting your life at risk.

 

[marchie]

Use one of those in the UK and you are putting your driving licence at risk. Use one anywhere and you're putting your life at risk.

My bike (the model on display in the Shop) has the cabling for the throttle operation fitted, but not the throttle mechanism, whereas Elaine's doesn't. But both bikes have prominent warnings with the documentation, 'use the throttle only on private ground, at your risk, and we will not be liable in any connection for subsequent legal action'

Steve