Eagle Update.
In the interests of completeness I thought it’s time for an update on my Freego Eagle, which I have owned for a little over 12 months now.
Further to previous missives, I am very pleased to say that there is not a great deal I can add to previous reviews above, because there have been no problems of significance. Nonetheless, I append the following.
The Eagle has travelled 1826 fun miles as of last week. All of this has been leisure riding with a few local chores thrown in. The bike has been reliable as a stone and has never let me down. Mostly the riding is on tarmac, but a fair bit of off-roading has been done, I would estimate around 150 miles off road. This is largely due to the South Downs Way being only 15 miles away, and I have enjoyed many an hour of fun going on mini adventures to discover places new, with my handy thermos flask and extensive puncture repair kit, of which more later.
What problems have there been? Well, not a lot, perhaps I have just been lucky, although I am fastidious about maintenance and keeping the bike clean, and it has been caked in mud a few times. The motor has cut out on two separate occasions after hitting a large pothole, the second of which also broke a spoke and bent two others whilst putting me in the hedge with a ‘pulverised perineum’ the bruising took a while to clear !! Despite this violence, I switched off the power at the key and turned it back on and everything worked just fine. I had to ride home around 10 miles, but whilst riding, there were no issues despite the spoke damage. The wheel rim appeared to come through it all unscathed.
When I contacted Freego and explained what had occurred, they sent, by return, a pack of spokes without charging a penny, even though I had stated it was my own fault. Great service.
Another issue at around 800 miles was that the rear brake lever cut out switch would get a bit sticky occasionally. It was fine in the dry and in heavy rain, but usually would occur on misty, foggy nights, (on the way home from the Pub). It was never an issue, and a few brisk flicks of the lever resolved the problem. I removed and inspected the switch, blasted it with WD40 and re-installed it and it’s been fine since. I did wonder if this issue might cause a problem a long way from home, but another call to Freego was made and all was revealed. The chap I spoke to clearly knew the bike in great detail and was most helpful. He explained how the system was wired so I could disconnect the brake switch in a couple of minutes if I needed to out in the field, to get home. As it happens it’s never been a problem since. I was offered a replacement switch under warranty but I felt this wasn’t necessary, but it’s nice to know that Freego have knowledgeable staff who want to help.
I have endured many punctures, 10 or more. All but two were Blackthorne hedge cuttings left on the road. Most of these occurred over a 10 week period in late Spring when Farmer Giles gets his flail mower going. I’ve had the same twice on a motorcycle tyre and once on the car, so I can’t really blame the tyres. I intend to fit some Shwalbes soon, but an aversion to wasting anything makes me continue with the Kenda tyres until they are a bit more worn, and to be honest I don’t think there is any tyre that will prevent the big thorns getting through. I’ve not had any punctures for some months now, but at least I have become most proficient at popping a new tube in.
The Tektro disc brakes have been fine and they work well, although they do require regular fettling to keep them adjusted and free from squeaking. I may fit some snappy hydraulic ones at a later date, but the Tektro’s do the job just fine.
That’s the sum total of problems encountered, everything else has been just dandy. The battery is still the biggest feature, providing really useful range. This is important for me as mostly I ride around 30 to 45 miles at a time and there are some big hills to deal with around this part of Sussex, and I always get back home with power to spare. Only once have I flattened the battery to the point of cutting out, (except when I conditioned the battery when I first acquired it). By using low power it still gave some assistance for the last 3 miles home and didn’t cut out a second time. But this was after 61 miles, including some off road and plenty of hill climbing, a range I am very happy with. If the battery has lost any capacity, I can’t say I’ve noticed so far.
Generally, I use the pedelec function for 90% of the time and apply some pedal power almost all the time. I do use the throttle for moderating assistance in heavy traffic, and also to moderate speed when riding with others on ‘ordinary’ bicycles. I use the throttle all the time when riding in the woods or off road.
In particular, I have been very impressed with the paint finish. The white metallic paint is rock hard, and is totally unmarked to this day. Even where cables rub against the frame there seems to be no marking of the finish. Top marks for quality. After a wash and wipe down, it still looks like new, and as such I expect the bike to last a long time.
Performance and power are still good, in fact it seems to have got a little faster. In summer months on the flat it will do 16.2 mph throttle only as opposed to the 15.5 mph when it was new, hardly a big difference but encouraging it’s not getting slower.
Whilst the basic design is perhaps a tad agricultural, I believe the bike has been sorted and developed over some years to make a very useable machine. The gears are about right for the power range available. It’s still the most comfortable bike I have ridden. The quick adjust stem is actually very useful. Up on the downs I have the bars low and forward, and for general road use I raise them up and back for extra comfort. Initially I felt this was a gimmick, but it has turned out to be a really good feature.
The maximum speed I have attained is 47.6 mph down a long steep hill. I might have made 50, but conditions dictated that was enough if I was going to stop at the bottom.
I have ridden seven different ebikes over the year, including my pre purchase research, including Bosch and Panasonic crank drives. None were duffers, but still today, I think I would buy the same bike again, it just does what I want very competently, and it’s great fun. I may still buy an extra bike, probably with a Bosch crank drive, just for some serious off roading, but not to replace the Eagle.
Without drivelling on for ages, that’s about it for the Eagle. It’s been bloody great and I fully expect to enjoy many years of fun ******ing about on it.
I have really enjoyed the ebike experience far more than I imagined. Perhaps it is the rediscovery of childhood adventures, perhaps it’s the ease of getting to the pub. I am fortunate to have two large motorcycles and a two seat light aircraft in my toybox. Sometimes, whilst cruising the sunny skies of Sussex I have found myself wanting to get back early, just so I can do more e-cycling! As a lifelong biker and aeroplane nut, this is most unexpected, and very welcome, as it cuts down the fuel costs that have been the bain of my finances for three decades.
For my part, personally, riding an ebike has been a complete revelation. I was smitten within 10 seconds of first riding one, and I enjoy it even more now than at first. I have had major health benefits from riding ebikes. It has motivated me to get fit again and eat a better diet which is important in my 57th year on the planet. In short, I have lost 12 kilos in weight, my waist measurement has reduced by 5 inches and my fitness has increased dramatically, which in turn increases the range available to me. But best of all, the physiotherapic effects of light pedalling have almost completely cured my dodgy left knee. I rather thought an ebike might make the pain more bearable for short rides, but in fact it has cured what the medical profession told me would never get better. This alone makes my foray into e-cycling one of the best decisions I have ever made, and as such Ladies and Gentlemen, I heartily commend it to you all. Fan-bloody-tastic!
