'The big problem is water': UK ebike owners plagued by failing motors

Post by graemep » Sat, Jun 15, 2024, 2:11 PM UTC

makingstuffs wrote: post #32

graemep wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Further to that, it generally feels as though the UK is a country massively in decline To a large extent it is a self-fulfilling prophecy. People expect decline so it happens. It has been happening for a long time - back to the 1960s or so when the UK became the only only country ever (still true) to have a space launch capability and lose it. That said, IMO the causes of this are widespread across the west. It is…

> drift away from competitive free markets, the rise of culture war politics, short termism is business and politics, naivety about the rest of the world (disastrously reflected in foreign policy - Russia being the obvious example) and so on seem to be spreading. I think you’ve hit the nail on the head here. Especially the naivety about the rest of the world. As someone whom travels to India regularly (my family are…

Post by dgacmu » Sat, Jun 15, 2024, 4:11 PM UTC

serf wrote: post #11

it's not surprising to me that the bosch mid-drives are failing, they're typically placed at an angle that catches all the run off from every tube at the lowest point on the bike (except on recumbents), and the controller is (usually) integrated. mid-drives are great, the gear advantage rocks; the bosch units suck but unfortunately they had so much industry sway that a lot of ebike frames are coming out built around…

Post by prmoustache » Sat, Jun 15, 2024, 5:37 PM UTC

andrewshadura wrote: post #50

prmoustache wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The bike brand doesn't really matter, the brand of the electrical motor system matters. There are 3 big leaders: Bosch and Shimano on the high end, Bafang on the low end with Brose, Yamaha and a handful of other smaller brands occupying a much smaller fraction of the market. Bosch is also widely used in the Netherlands.

It does matter since different brands may offer different levels of weather protection. Typically only Dutch bicycle makers care about things like proper mudguards and chain guards, for example. And some, like Azor go crazy and test their parts in a rust chamber. And, for example, the Cube bicycle as depicted in the article, is clearly not designed to be used in rainy weather. Who knows what else shortcuts they took?

Post by lostlogin » Sat, Jun 15, 2024, 6:30 PM UTC

andrewshadura wrote: post #45

lostlogin wrote: post #16

I’ve been doing a bit of (non e-bike) riding in poor weather of late, and it’s really surprising just how wet and dirty everything gets. After a wet road ride, every surface is covered in black, greasy dirt. It rots fabric, makes grinding paste in mechanical parts and generally makes everything worse. You need really good seals to keep that crap out.

Use mudguards, chain guard and coat guards.

Post by jerlam » Sat, Jun 15, 2024, 7:38 PM UTC

prmoustache wrote: post #48

tyingq wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Netherlands does have a reputation for the best built/maintained roads in Europe. Maybe better drainage, fewer puddles and potholes? Plus flatter terrain, so less overall strain on the motor.

This. Road condition is the key. Most of the water you collect while riding, even with full length fenders, is dirty water sprayed by your and other users tires. The rain itself usually account for very little in comparison.