Cube Bosch Performance cx Burns out

£2000 For a cube bike with Bosch performance cx. 3 years in and the motor burns out, dead. That’s it. Out of warranty and can’t be fixed. Other people must be having this problem. Bosch is no help (it’s out of warranty). Only option is another £8-900 to replace or dump the entire bike, which is now worthless.

https://www.performancelinebearings.com/

 

he sells second hand motors and imo could use what you have for parts if the controller/pcb is toast just bung him a email

Get your self a rear hub bike for reliability and then any part of the electrical system can be replaced should any thing burn out for matter of ££'s usually.

In 6 years I have replaced stuff to up grade on my hub bikes, had three mid drive kits and all have failed they just don't have the reliability.

or you just service it your self after the warranty ends

looking good after 5 years with a dongle

or you just service it your self after the warranty ends

[ATTACH type=full]36547[/ATTACH][ATTACH type=full]36548[/ATTACH][ATTACH type=full]36549[/ATTACH]

looking good after 5 years with a dongle

I told you, the flux capacitor is swollen. It could blow any time soon.

I told you, the flux capacitor is swollen. It could blow any time soon.

there is no flux capacitor that was a item in a film called back to the future and does not exist on a bosch controller pcb.

 

go google bga chip replacement and programming them and hack the bosch software so i can use a usb cable to change my motor settings via a laptop.

 

ill use the same link you gave me for all the answers to hack this system.

 

https://www.bosch-ebike.com/en/

£2000 For a cube bike with Bosch performance cx. 3 years in and the motor burns out, dead. That’s it. Out of warranty and can’t be fixed. Other people must be having this problem. Bosch is no help (it’s out of warranty). Only option is another £8-900 to replace or dump the entire bike, which is now worthless.

 

Are you sure you are not Andy Mat ?

three mid drive kits and all have failed they just don't have the reliability.

 

Apologies for the thread-jack OP

 

[mention=9614]Nealh[/mention] what motors were they and what happened to them? Were there common failure point in all of them?

The controllers are the Achilles heel on the kits followed by the nylon drive gears.

Two were the ill fated GSM mid drive one failed at 250 miles and the other 70miles.

One was the BBS01 two controller fails both about the 1600 mark just not reliable enough.

The BBS one day I will dig out of the parts/scrap bin and have another go with an external controller to get it up and running as they can and do work. Although I got mine working the phase wasn't happy.

Interesting. I suspect the nylon gears are designed as a "mechanical fuse" on all the mid-drives, loke the shear-pin on an outboard. Did they fail under high load?

 

Were the controller failures caused by overheating do you think?

 

As an aside, you might wanna contact the guy in this thread- he's looking for a broken mid-drive....

 

https://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/looking-for-broken-midrive-please.38205/

Get yourself a rear hub bike for reliability

 

I've never ridden a hub motor bike that feels like a normal bike in the way a crank-drive does, they're just not for me.

£2000 For a cube bike with Bosch performance cx. 3 years in and the motor burns out, dead. That’s it. Out of warranty and can’t be fixed. Other people must be having this problem. Bosch is no help (it’s out of warranty). Only option is another £8-900 to replace or dump the entire bike, which is now worthless.

Your post is very important to all Pedelecers, but especially the newer ones here, ones evaluating the market before buying.

I would like to personally thank you for telling us all, just how it is with many mid motor products, not just Bosch.

I hope that some reasonably priced solution, comes your way, but it may be possibly worth more to you personally (just guessing), selling the parts for spares, than the price of a new Chinese bike is on the market today.

(Bosch is also Chinese parts apparently, but they do not tell you that, so its a secret YOU MUST KEEP! :mad:)

For instance, my Chinese bike cost, with 2 batteries, all extras except the GPS module, including import duties and transport cost, only a little more than the replacement/repair of a defective Bosch mid motor, which apparently comes in at around £ 800.

(My bike cost just over £ 900 here delivered at the front door 3 years ago)

A thought, if the bike frame is still good, you could talk to some members here and find a good rear hub motor wheel kit, with battery and all electronics, for far less than getting your Bosch bike repaired....and as Nealh mentions in a post here, each and every part can be replaced at a comparatively minor cost, IF it goes wrong.

Just how complicated it will be to have a bike's Cranks grafted on, and it will depend on your DIY skills as well, but a good DIYer, might be able to do something, possibly working together with others here and their bikes with defective Bosch mid motors......Just a thought!

But maybe too much work, I am simply thinking aloud, sorry!

regards and condolences for your appalling Bosch problems, and many thanks for bringing it to our attention.

Andy

Are you sure you are not Andy Mat ?

There is simply no need for anyone, least of all myself, to try those sort of child's games you talk and obviously know about.

As there are simply SO many people here, with 100% genuine mid motor problems in the e-bike world nowadays, especially in the higher price sector, showing just how awful some manufacturers are, without needing my help!;);)

What I really do not understand, is why some people try to "shut down" any negative, but truthful accounts of Bosch's general wrongdoing? Wrongdoing they are still complicit in doing further.....

Do you yourself know why that is?

You would expect that any "honest" forum members would be only too happy to see true facts here, and not try to erase or whitewash them!

But each and every time, ANY member here mentions such problems of ANY mid motor bike (not just Bosch, but mostly!), certain people become apparently seemingly demented, that such a problem has come to light AND IS DISCUSSED BY OTHER MEMBERS OPENLY, to their chagrin!

I myself find that it does not show OUR Forum to any visitors or new members, in a very good light to try an "cover up" such things, and therefore should be ignored by the greater majority, of all our good, faithful and honest members.

Don't you also agree with that?

Awaiting your comments to my questions.

I wish us all here a really great day, mine even started a full hour before most of yours did!

CET Rules!!:)

Andy

It's not the fact that you discuss the issue; it's the fact that you do so endlessly, irrelevantly and hijack people's threads with you tirades. It's like Pavlov's dog when you see the word 'Bosch' and feel the need to vent your spleen ad infinitum. If you can't answer the original question in the thread, there's no need for you to add your 'wisdom'.

This is a bit of a problem. I can't understand why some people just can't be honest. Over the years, I've had a lot of contact with dealers and people in the trade, so I hear lots of interesting stories and stuff. I can say categorically that people have been coming on the forum, recommending their bike and boasting about how reliable it's been, when they've had major problems that needed to be fixed during the warranty period.

 

Also, for some reason, people with expensive bikes never want to talk about the running and servicing costs. Does anybody know the annual cost of running a full-suspension mid-drive bike with the latest gears, when they take it somewhere off-road every weekend?

 

By expensive, I mean £1800 upwards.

[mention=20993]Andy-Mat[/mention], as soon as I saw the title of this post I knew it would be "Manna from Heaven" for you! You're clearly very impassioned about Bosch mid-drives for whatever reason.

 

I absolutely agree that people need to know facts, and the more facts a person has, the wiser they are. Your posts however, only contain opinion.

 

Please provide us with data to back up your opinions around mid-drives in general and Bosch in particular. Useful data would include:

 

What percentage of them break?

What is the average lifespan?

Percentage of breakages fixed under warranty and outside of warranty.

Average cost of repair.

Percentage of users that would recommend the brand.

 

This would at least allow potential purchasers a balanced, fact-based view of the market, and be a more valuable use of your time than simply slandering Bosch's reputation for no apparent gain....

For anyone who compares for themselves e-bikes, front hub, mid motor and rear hub, as I have done, may find as I did that the front hub simply does always not do a good job on certain, steep hills. Ones with a slippery surface, whether dust, mud or moisture, but, if you drive manly on the flat, and are maybe prepared to push on some steep hills, technically its the easiest one to repair punctures on! Some here could maybe do it blindfolded at night (when many punctures happen!)

I did not have any problems of balance, it rode well and gave a good battery range on the one I had to test from my neigbour!

Furthermore, front hubs doe not suffer from having to be pushed home if the chain or part of the chain drive breaks. Nor do they need to be pushed if the battery runs out of power!!

 

The problems of middle motors and their lack of long term reliability, possibly at least partly due to their being bought by amateurs that are not mechanically, electrically or electronically DIY minded, did go through my mind, but I have no valid proof of that!

The better DIYers apparently seem to keep them running longer reading om this Forum, but with how much effort, it is difficult to judge truthfully.

The well known, mid motor, "single point of failure", is very apparent in terms of wear and the need to carry a spare chain and tools for each and every ride. Not forgetting a light source that can be easily directed to the chain area, if biking at night!

Many mid motors have the battery forward of the rider, all the Bosch bikes I have myself seen, for example. And the rider's weight and motor weight, one above the other. This makes them too light at the rear IMHO.

It may be an explanation for a Lady rider, who kept coming off her bike in wet conditions that lives locally, even though she had good tyres, correctly inflated..... IMHO but she never was a slow rider from birth! Guessing only! But her husband could never ever keep up on his bike.....

But the Bosch offerings with electronic Data Bus (possibly the CanBus) connected parts - Battery, Controller, LCD and Motor - try to be modern, but all it does is, that it simply removes the possibility for a completely normal owner to use his own labour and to be able to buy and fit replacement parts.....

Bosch even stops most LBSs from buying parts too!!! SIMPLY AWFUL!!

 

The rear hub bike, which I have owned two of (still own one), which both were so well balanced, with the weight just where it should be, with battery hidden from view in the frame towards the handlebars, my weight keeping the rear hub's tyre tread firmly embedded on the road or track, allowing dramatically steep hills to be climbed still seated, at even my age of well over 73.

Furthermore, rear hubs doe not suffer from having to be pushed home if the chain or part of the chain drive breaks. Nor do they need to be pushed if the battery runs out of power as the likelihood of the chain breaking AND the battery being empty at one and the same time, are remote at best!!!

Such hills which would (and still do), have stressed any mid motor with plastic gears, heating both the motor and the plastic, with eventually disastrous results at some future point in time!

And at the same time, always stressing components in the chain area far more than Hubs.

 

In the above text, I am only comparing EU legal bikes only, no modified ones.

 

Have a great day all.

Andy

[mention=20993]Andy-Mat[/mention], as soon as I saw the title of this post I knew it would be "Manna from Heaven" for you! You're clearly very impassioned about Bosch mid-drives for whatever reason.

 

I absolutely agree that people need to know facts, and the more facts a person has, the wiser they are. Your posts however, only contain opinion.

 

Please provide us with data to back up your opinions around mid-drives in general and Bosch in particular. Useful data would include:

 

What percentage of them break?

What is the average lifespan?

Percentage of breakages fixed under warranty and outside of warranty.

Average cost of repair.

Percentage of users that would recommend the brand.

 

This would at least allow potential purchasers a balanced, fact-based view of the market, and be a more valuable use of your time than simply slandering Bosch's reputation for no apparent gain....

That's not easy because a lot of it is hushed up. I was at a dealer a couple of years ago during the Bosch CX water ingress pandemic, and he showed me a pile of 5 or 6 Bosch motors waiting to go back. He told me that it wasn't just Bosch either.

 

Don't forget, these people have built a business on the back of it:

https://www.performancelinebearings.com/

£2000 For a cube bike with Bosch performance cx. 3 years in and the motor burns out, dead.

 

Hi Izumojo

Sorry to hear of your problems. I’m curious so may I ask how was the motor diagnosed as burnt out? Was it diagnosed by a Bosch dealer or do you have a way of determining it yourself.

 

Thanks

That's not easy

 

That's the idea- it might keep [mention=20993]Andy-Mat[/mention] busy for a few months!!

 

As you say, it's created a whole sub-industry on the mechanical side of things. I doubt anybody can be bothered to try and defeat their locked CANBUS systems though. Big investment in for a relatively small return....

The well known, mid motor, "single point of failure", is very apparent in terms of wear and the need to carry a spare chain and tools for each and every ride. Not forgetting a light source that can be easily directed to the chain area, if biking at night!

Ridiculous scare mongering, your so called "single point of failure" would apply to any bike without a hub motor whether electric or non electric and in 50 years of riding bikes and motorbikes I have never had a chain snap and never known professional cyclists to carry a spare chain, and they probably generate the same amount of stress on a chain as a mid-motor and a motorbike certainly does.

It ought to be noted, that the revered rear hub motors could also well feature plastic gears.

There however the bike only has one unique road speed where it's motor is functioning at peak efficiency.

This is very unlikely designed to fall where it is struggling up a steep incline, I suggest more likely optimised for the offered maximum assisted speed?

Therefore, more of the power is turned into heat to affect the plastic gearing than in mid drives where variable gearing can ensure the motor revs more freely.

If knocking the concept of mid drives, one needs not to be blind to the design issues with alternatives, or risk coming across rather bias. Each route has its issues.

 

QUOTE: The well known, mid motor, "single point of failure", is very apparent in terms of wear and the need to carry a spare chain and tools for each and every ride.

 

Whilst it is true a chain, or belt would be a single point failure issue, it is however with a bike not alone in that regard. The claim there is a need to carry a spare chain on each and every ride, discredits totally the integrity of the argument, IMO. Anyone else here dared venture out without one, that should prove the point?

 

In now 75 years cycling, I have never had a chain fail, even the narrow section dérailleur, cog jumping variants. Let alone with the heavier scantlings single ratio type that marries with a hub gear that adopting a mid drive enables.

Edited July 1, 20205 yr by Ocsid

It ought to be noted, that the revered rear hub motors could also well feature plastic gears.

There however the bike only has one unique road speed where it's motor is functioning at peak efficiency.

This is very unlikely designed to fall where it is struggling up a steep incline, I suggest more likely optimised for the offered maximum assisted speed?

Therefore, more of the power is turned into heat to affect the plastic gearing than in mid drives where variable gearing can ensure the motor revs more freely.

If knocking the concept of mid drives, one needs not to be blind to the design issues with alternatives, or risk coming across rather bias. Each route has its issues.

 

QUOTE: The well known, mid motor, "single point of failure", is very apparent in terms of wear and the need to carry a spare chain and tools for each and every ride.

 

Whilst it is true a chain, or belt would be a single point failure issue, it is however with a bike not alone in that regard. The claim there is a need to carry a spare chain on each and every ride, discredits totally the integrity of the argument, IMO. Anyone else here dared venture out without one, that should prove the point?

 

In now 75 years cycling, I have never had a chain fail, even the narrow section dérailleur, cog jumping variants. Let alone with the heavier scantlings single ratio type that marries with a hub gear that adopting a mid drive enables.

There have been loads of cases of chains snapping on this forum, along with smashed derailleurs. The Bosch CX is noted for its chain suck that smashes chains like they're made of cheese. It's created a whole industry of after-market devices:

https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1CHZL_enGB733GB733&biw=1552&bih=744&sxsrf=ALeKk01AlgYsXGstFDHc3bX84vxOg1lEDw%3A1593608107412&ei=q4f8Xpu5GMiM1fAP6uKV8AM&q=bosch+cx+chain+suck&oq=bosch+cx+chain+suck&gs_lcp=CgZwc3ktYWIQAzoECCMQJzoICAAQgwEQkQI6BQgAEJECOgQIABBDOgUIABCxAzoFCAAQgwE6BwgAELEDEEM6AggAOgcIABAUEIcCOgYIABAWEB46CAgAEBYQChAeUPqFBliWuAZgtrwGaABwAHgAgAFwiAGNC5IBBDE4LjGYAQCgAQGqAQdnd3Mtd2l6&sclient=psy-ab&ved=0ahUKEwjbupzpjKzqAhVIRhUIHWpxBT44ChDh1QMIDA&uact=5

 

Some smashed chains on the forum:

https://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/brand-new-haibike-two-broken-chains-in-first-35-miles-and-other-problems-advice-needed.27439/

Post #8 in this one gives some insight:

https://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/crank-drive-pedelecs-chain-wear-and-maintenance.21299/

It ought to be noted, that the revered rear hub motors could also well feature plastic gears.

There however the bike only has one unique road speed where it's motor is functioning at peak efficiency.

This is very unlikely designed to fall where it is struggling up a steep incline, I suggest more likely optimised for the offered maximum assisted speed?

Therefore, more of the power is turned into heat to affect the plastic gearing than in mid drives where variable gearing can ensure the motor revs more freely.

If knocking the concept of mid drives, one needs not to be blind to the design issues with alternatives, or risk coming across rather bias. Each route has its issues.

it's easy enough to make a plastic gear that is strong enough to cope with the torque near stalling point. The motor will stall before the gears melt.

a problem with CD bikes is bad use of gears.

Some people don't like high cadence and still insist on buying a CD bike.

It's not the fact that you discuss the issue; it's the fact that you do so endlessly, irrelevantly and hijack people's threads with you tirades. It's like Pavlov's dog when you see the word 'Bosch' and feel the need to vent your spleen ad infinitum. If you can't answer the original question in the thread, there's no need for you to add your 'wisdom'.

The problem is that there is always someone here, who feels clever enough to "poke me with a stick", so to say.

This wakes me up!

Deus did it this time.

I can honestly say that for my WHOLE life, I have NEVER EVER given up on correcting petty little Hitlers and trouble makers.....

And I 'aint starting to give up now!!!

But up to now, all the petty little Hitlers have not understood that! Probably all too dumb? Your guess is as good as mine!

The old saying is:- "let sleeping dogs lie!"

Furthermore, people here who like middle motors have got to start to be 100% honest, all the time, and to not be rude, when posting on Pedelec, as I will pay such people back in Spades!

This is possibly a bit of a tirade, answering back your comments, also a Tirade:-

This person who started this Topic, has had a huge financial loss due to a Bosch motor burning out, so I am 100% on subject! Comparing the various types of e-bike!

Thats not hijacking! You should look the word up in a good dictionary!

If anyone is reacting , Pavlov's Dog wise, its YOU!

You did not mention the OPs problems once! You simply picked a gun fight and came armed with a pen knife!

Therefore, you obviously do not understand what the subject is!

And you are being VERY argumentative!

You posted:- If you can't answer the original question in the thread, there's no need for you to add your 'wisdom'.

Well your whole post added no wisdom, or addressed the subject here, which is a burned out Bosch motor, or have you already forgotten that?

Did I address you personally, poke you with a stick? Of course not, so as you are WAY off the subject (Remember, aburned out Bosch motor, OK?), please go back to sleep!

Andy