Haibike quality issue

[Deere John]

Hi all!

Have now had my Haibike Fatsix Xduro RC for almost 8 months. Have had some problems, and now again. So this time I am mighty frustrated about it and recorded a video and some photos.

The front hubs bearings are totally wasted, look:

It came a little suddendly, have never noticed anything special about it, but last ride home it went from good to wasted in about one hour.

Not only that. The same thing happened on the rear hub after only 4 months!!!

That time the bike was down for several weeks when waiting for spare parts and then fix it (bought myself). This time I don't know how to proceed.

The hubs are XLC Evo (12x197 & 15x150).

Two things to notice about them is that the axle has been very though to get out, even when I have greased it. It kind of merges with the material in the hub kind of. And the rear disc was not fully tightened when I got the bike, I noticed that after a few rides, when the disc was loose and had already damaged the rear brake caliper.

It might be that the hubs/wheels are built wrong, or just that the hubs (and material choice) are really bad. Whatever it is. It's really crap. The Haibikes come at a premium price. I think you should except premium quality also. But... seems not

Also my front fork (RST) is now a little bad and needs maintenance, I can't find any spare parts for that one and the service info was very hard to find (mailed them a few times to get a schematic that's not even correct).

So I must say I am a little disappointed. I'll think I'll contact the reseller and ask what they say about this wheel issue. I think this should be under some factory warranty. Not acceptable this. What do you think?

 

[soundwave]

i done the same thing to my xd hub on the rear and was a fkn mission to remove it but got another from crank bros under warranty as was 100 quid back then.

just get some new bearings and fit them ur self or see what the shop says but wear parts are not covered buy warranty tho it says what is in the winora manual.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Bearings are cheap if you buy them from a bearing supplier. you'll probably pay 10 times the price to buy them from a bike shop. Take them out and show them to your bearing supplier or get the number off the side and order them online.

 

[soundwave]

Bearings are cheap if you buy them from a bearing supplier. you'll probably pay 10 times the price to buy them from a bike shop. Take them out and show them to your bearing supplier or get the number off the side and order them online.

lets just hope the hub is not bent or will need a new one ;(

 

[Deleted member 4366]

lets just hope the hub is not bent or will need a new one ;(

I can't see how one could bend because it's not subjected to any bending loads. Maybe the axle could bend, but that through-axle looks pretty hefty to me.

 

[Deere John]

The axle is ok.

When this happened on the rear hub before the hub got damaged when I tried to remove the axle.

There are two nuts/rings that you tigthen to the bearing. Those that you can see in the video (the second clip in there).

For me that looks overengineered and might be the problem if the tension gets wrong. I don't know but if I compare to the Hope hub which I bought to the rear wheel that one is more simple in the design. And notice this: on the Hope hub the axle is easy to get off, even when I haven't removed it for some weeks.
http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/emtb-owners-photo-and-ride-thread.24089/page-52#post-364056

I have several bikes and had a few before also. Never had any problems with this. I don't consider this normal wear.

 

[Gaz]

I don't consider this normal wear.

Given that we've seen this bike past its axles in mud, I'm not so surprised. It doesn't take very much ingress of grit to erode bearings. Different strokes for different folks, but maybe the demands on the bike are not 'normal' either.

Gaz

 

[Deere John]

Given that we've seen this bike past its axles in mud, I'm not so surprised. It doesn't take very much ingress of grit to erode bearings. Different strokes for different folks, but maybe the demands on the bike are not 'normal' either.

Ok, but can you please explain to me why the rear axle is easy to remove now with the other hub and impossible to remove with the old hub? (same ride time, same amuse)

 

[Gaz]

That's not something I'd be able to explain I'm afraid.

If I were to guess, I'd suggest that grit in bearing grease will turn it into what is essentially a grinding paste. A long time ago, I used to use grinding paste for re-seating valves into cylinder heads on cars, and it's quite surprising how effective paste can be on even the hardest of components. If the bearings have been worn to the extent they are smaller, and the bearing cups have also been ground away to the extent that tolerances are much larger, then it follows a certain logic that things will come apart easier.

Gaz

 

[Deere John]

Yes, that is a probable cause, but what could have been done to avoid that? Change bearing, different sealing. Or was the bearing good but the hub construction bad that made this happen? Something IS different with these hubs.

 

[Rouge Rider]

I think it's shocking an 8month old bike at these very expensive prices is having problem after problem.

 

[Deere John]

I think it's shocking an 8month old bike at these very expensive prices is having problem after problem.

yes, I wonder if the RX model has better hubs, guess so. They have changed spec a little to this years model, Rock Shox fork and maybe something else.

Well. Aside from this I am pleased with the bike. The electrics have been flawless and actually very impressive. The frame is very nice and the other components great. As someone said it has been through alot but nothing strange in the MTB-world I would say.

The seller said I should return the defect items to them or if there is a local Haibike shop I could speak with them instead (and keep the seller informed). Luckily we have a local Haibike supplier here so I mailed them and asked, they take care of things like this. So it seems, for now, hopeful.

 

[chris_n]

I think it's shocking an 8month old bike at these very expensive prices is having problem after problem.

This bike is known to have been filthy many times, cleaning around bearing areas is notoriously difficult. The parts used are standard MTB parts chosen to fit the price point. If you look at 'normal' MTB forums you will find the same issues over and over again.
After less than a year of owning any of my bikes ( all of them not just ebikes )I would not consider going back to the dealers for a warranty claim other than a broken frame / fork or in the case of an ebike major electrical problems. If you are going to use it hard be ready to look after it properly (not suggesting for one moment that the OP hasn't tried ) or pay for replacement parts which are not usually that expensive.

 

[Rouge Rider]

This bike is known to have been filthy many times, cleaning around bearing areas is notoriously difficult. The parts used are standard MTB parts chosen to fit the price point. If you look at 'normal' MTB forums you will find the same issues over and over again.
After less than a year of owning any of my bikes ( all of them not just ebikes )I would not consider going back to the dealers for a warranty claim other than a broken frame / fork or in the case of an ebike major electrical problems. If you are going to use it hard be ready to look after it properly (not suggesting for one moment that the OP hasn't tried ) or pay for replacement parts which are not usually that expensive.

I e been riding bikes for years,some cheap some mid range price points...thousands of miles over many years and never had so much as a sniff of trouble other than basic maintainance...

 

[RobF]

Hubs is one area where bike makers skimp because there's little impact at point of sale.

Even those buyers who do study spec sheets tend to take more notice of the make of gears, brakes, wheels, and tyres.

 

[Zlatan]

Sambal
How were you cleaning bike / hubs after heavy use ???

 

[Deere John]

How were you cleaning bike / hubs after heavy use ???

directly after ride wash with regular water hose

 

[Steve A]

The wheel set on my bike allmtn rx, before mods were very basic dt swiss hub/rims. Changed for dt240 hubs and hope flow rims, very serviceable and happy now.

 

[soundwave]

http://www.nextie.net/fatbike-wild-dragon-90mm-NXT90WD-tri-spoke

 

[Zlatan]

directly after ride wash with regular water hose

directly after ride wash with regular water hose

That shouldn't cause problems... An issue rarely mentioned that is common on off road motorbikes and boat trailers is the hub,s sudden immersion in water. Bearing and housing are always warm and if binding hot. Hub cools , air inside contracts and sucks in water ( even on so called sealed bearings) On many trailers a reservoir is fitted between hub and outside, so hub sucks in grease. On bikes there simply isn't room but it might have a bearing ( pardon pun) if you do ride through deep water. ( Boaters often wait for bearings to cool before launching, but the effect is unavoidable, water is always cooler than hub)
Not defending Haibike,should be more resilient than your problems. Had superb reliability with my S Duro, but it has an easy life. And I don't immerse in lakes)

Avoid deep water , if you cant check bearings after ride ??

Good luck