Electric bike repair - rear wheel spokes

marchie

marchie

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Early start this morning to get to the local Bike Repair Shop in Moncofa as soon as they opened at 0830. Unfortunately, they had no spokes for a 20 inch wheel, so we went on a quick local tour and found Bicicletas Manrubia, in Val d'Uxio. They don't open until 10:00 and the proprietor spent a few minutes telling me how busy he is ...

Then he said he would get the repair done, but it would be at least 2 hours! Whether that means 2 hours labour is anybody's guess, but with 6-7 spokes to replace, I doubt it will be a quick job. We're not that far from where I had my heart attack in 2020. When I get the bill for the bike repair, I might have a second one ... :ROFLMAO:

Steve
 
jeffmossy said:
You can afford it Steve 😜
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In the end, the Bike Shop Owner replaced 14 spokes (gave me the old spokes back, and showed me where the shearing had started and had worsened as the remaining spokes were overloaded) and charged 48€ labour plus 42€ for the spokes. He also cleaned the rear sprockets, oiled the chain, and adjusted the rear derailleur mechanism. I left the bike with him for just about 2.5 hours and it was waiting to be wheeled away when I called back. Superb customer service!

Steve
 
I kept snaping spokes on my last bike so I got thd local guy to replace all of then with heavy duty as I was running a 500watt motor.I think it was about 80quid for thr full rebuild that's including the new spokes 32 of them
 
marchie said:
In the end, the Bike Shop Owner replaced 14 spokes (gave me the old spokes back, and showed me where the shearing had started and had worsened as the remaining spokes were overloaded) and charged 48€ labour plus 42€ for the spokes. He also cleaned the rear sprockets, oiled the chain, and adjusted the rear derailleur mechanism. I left the bike with him for just about 2.5 hours and it was waiting to be wheeled away when I called back. Superb customer service!

Steve
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If I remember right, your new eBikes are the same basic design as my ebike? maybe I should check my wheels??
 
What caused them to snap Steve? You don't have high power motors do you?
 
marchie said:
Early start this morning to get to the local Bike Repair Shop in Moncofa as soon as they opened at 0830. Unfortunately, they had no spokes for a 20 inch wheel, so we went on a quick local tour and found Bicicletas Manrubia, in Val d'Uxio. They don't open until 10:00 and the proprietor spent a few minutes telling me how busy he is ...

Then he said he would get the repair done, but it would be at least 2 hours! Whether that means 2 hours labour is anybody's guess, but with 6-7 spokes to replace, I doubt it will be a quick job. We're not that far from where I had my heart attack in 2020. When I get the bill for the bike repair, I might have a second one ... :ROFLMAO:

Steve
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Was it a bespoke repair?😬
 
wildebus said:
If I remember right, your new eBikes are the same basic design as my ebike? maybe I should check my wheels??
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The Bike Shop Owner, via a combination of sign language and Google Translate, made it clear that it is my weight (including a rucksack with about 3kg of bike locks and other paraphenalia) that is putting the bike under strain. I asked whether I should have any of the front wheel spokes replaced, and he said they would be fine, although there are a couple that are quite loose. The front end of the bike is under very little load, but the back end (bearing in mind that the basic bike and battery weigh in at around 26kg) takes an awful lot of weight and the spokes do suffer when the bikes are on the external rack for weeks at a time. The Biwbik bikes were around 2/3 of the price of the Whisper ebikes, so the components are more basic. Elaine's Whisper failed after about 105 miles. The Biwbiks have covered over 250 miles each. The cost per mile figures, if we had to scrap both Biwbiks today are £3.98 per mile: the Whispers cost a whopping £11.52 per mile ...

Steve
 
marchie said:
The Bike Shop Owner, via a combination of sign language and Google Translate, made it clear that it is my weight (including a rucksack with about 3kg of bike locks and other paraphenalia) that is putting the bike under strain. I asked whether I should have any of the front wheel spokes replaced, and he said they would be fine, although there are a couple that are quite loose. The front end of the bike is under very little load, but the back end (bearing in mind that the basic bike and battery weigh in at around 26kg) takes an awful lot of weight and the spokes do suffer when the bikes are on the external rack for weeks at a time. The Biwbik bikes were around 2/3 of the price of the Whisper ebikes, so the components are more basic. Elaine's Whisper failed after about 105 miles. The Biwbiks have covered over 250 miles each. The cost per mile figures, if we had to scrap both Biwbiks today are £3.98 per mile: the Whispers cost a whopping £11.52 per mile ...

Steve
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Ouch lol
 
nabsim said:
What caused them to snap Steve? You don't have high power motors do you?
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No, Neil, just a heavy rider on a heavy frame, as the Bike Shop Owner tried to point out diplomatically! The rear rack can take up to 25kg, and with me and a rucksack of shopping, bike locks etc, plus the 4.5kg of the battery, there's too much weight for the long term on the rear end(of the bike ...). Now I know, I can get the spokes changed every 12 months, before they snap, and avoid inconvenience (y)

Steve
 
So, can you not get some heavy duty spokes laced in there if its weight? Also, if it is weight and rear drive, will the hub motor last?

You know it doesn't count as exercise if you let the motor do all the work don't you lol
 
nabsim said:
So, can you not get some heavy duty spokes laced in there if its weight? Also, if it is weight and rear drive, will the hub motor last?

You know it doesn't count as exercise if you let the motor do all the work don't you lol
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Cheek! I rarely move the motor off Level 1 and I do keep pedalling, Neil! It may be possible to get heavy duty spokes fitted for next time; I was just grateful that the Bike Shop Owner had the correct length spokes and was prepared to fit my bike in without an appointment! In the longer term, I may go mad and get a quality bike such as a Cube with better quality components; the counter argument is that bikes on a rear rack will have the paintwork hammered, and rust will play a part. The Hendeman Bike Cover has an open back, much easier to load/unload, but the design does allow spray and moisture to attack the bikes ... We bought the Biwbiks for shopping trips to Mercadona and local pootles to sightseeing/exercise. They do that OK, and spending a few € on repairs each year is something I can budget for.

Steve
 
We are parked round the corner from the Aire, about 300-400m away having used our allotted time on the Aire itself.

Rather than move the M/home such a short distance to empty the cassette, I decided to transport it on the rear carrier, aided by 4 x new bungees from the Chinese shop ...

I was dreading being asked if there was much movement, and wondered whether to reply:
a) No, not after the first bend ...
OR
b) Yes, that's why I have to empty it ... :ROFLMAO:

Steve
 
Why spend more money on a different bike if those do what you want? I would get heavy duty spokes fitted and go from there. I just wondered if the repair guy had mentioned the hub motor
 
nabsim said:
Why spend more money on a different bike if those do what you want? I would get heavy duty spokes fitted and go from there. I just wondered if the repair guy had mentioned the hub motor
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The Biwbiks are a compromise, Neil. The Bike Repair Shop Owner never mentioned the hub motor as a weakness, but I know that the components are nowhere near the quality of the Cube bikes. The latter have standard size wheels, whereas descending a steep hill on 20 inch wheels at almost 50kph was one of the scariest experiences I have had, and reasonable grade Shimano components. However, the Cubes would still suffer from rust, paint damage etc, so I would need to think carefully about what would be the best (or least worst) option. There's no rush if I have another 12 months use of the Biwbiks before the next spoke failure!

Steve
 
Save your dosh, spokes are cheaper than bikes :)

But then again I know you won't listen to me haha
 
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