Well done Kudos,the replacement chain guard arrived early this morning,fitted it and went out for a 12 mile round trip. I have got the hang of backing off to change gears, still not keen on the motor cutting out when you stop peddling, it does not kick back in quick enough when you do peddle again. Its a very big bike,much bigger than I thought, even with the seat at its lowest I barely can touch the floor,I think if I change the seat post from the sprung one to a basic solid one I could get it a bit lower. The Jury is out at present as to keeping it long term though,nothing wrong with the build quality at all. My neighbour took it down to the local shops and he loves it,then again he's 6` 3".
Kudos Not Impressed (Resolved)
- Thread starter denwyn
- Start date
I bought two Kudos Sports ebikes priced at £695 each and after 4 months use had five separate faults which Dave Elderfield, head of Kudos, told me were because the bikes had not been ridden properly and referred me to their almost non existent Terms and Conditions of Warranty.Therefore no warranty on the electric motor, head stock which had changed colour from black to bronze,defective rear light, blemished paintwork and cheap crank bearing. He did however replace the inferior motor pickup discs which had shattered. He referred to the bikes as cheap!
If you can barely touch the ground whilst on the seat it sounds like you have the bike saddle height about right.
Whilst sitting on the saddle your leg should be almost straight with your foot placed comfortably on the lowered pedal, any more of a bend in your leg than that and you won't get full power when peddling, plus a very real risk of knee injury.
This means that just before you come to a stop and with at least one foot still on a pedal you need to slide forward off the saddle.
My bike has quite short cranks and I can't touch the ground at all whilst on the seat.
Now if the bike frame top tube is stopping you from putting your feet flat on the ground the bike is definitely too big, and boy will you know about it!
Stay with it if you can, it does take a good few miles to get used to a new bike.
A rigid seatpost will almost certainly enable you to set the saddle a couple of inches lower.
On some bikes, it is also possible to mount the saddle a little lower on the post, but you need to make sure everything is tight afterwards so there's no chance of the post piercing the saddle.
If your feet can barely touch the ground, saddle height sounds about right.
The starting point is to have the saddle set so as your leg is fully extended with your heel on the pedal, thus when you pedal with the ball of your foot, your leg will not quite be extended.
That's only a starting point, some riders prefer the saddle a little higher or lower.
But as has been said, too low is quite common and will almost inevitably lead to knee pain.
On some bikes, it is also possible to mount the saddle a little lower on the post, but you need to make sure everything is tight afterwards so there's no chance of the post piercing the saddle.
If your feet can barely touch the ground, saddle height sounds about right.
The starting point is to have the saddle set so as your leg is fully extended with your heel on the pedal, thus when you pedal with the ball of your foot, your leg will not quite be extended.
That's only a starting point, some riders prefer the saddle a little higher or lower.
But as has been said, too low is quite common and will almost inevitably lead to knee pain.
I notice people that sell bike often quote a persons hight,and tell them bike frame should be this size, for a person that tall. this is wrong it should be the lenght of the inside leg, two people can be the same hight [ie 5ft 7in] one could have an isl of 29inches the other of 31inches,the diffrence in mountain bike frames would be one 17 inch the other 18 inches fit.that is why it is best to try bikes out to get best fit.
When I decided on mine, I tried getting the smaller size. After reading info on sizes I got the one I thought was too big. With the seat on the lowest setting I can put my toes on the floor, not my flat feet. When I come to a stand, I get off the seat and straddle the crossbar, my feet can be flat on the floor now.
It still seems odd to be stood at traffic lights but not to be sat on the saddle, but it's getting more normal every day.
Can't believe I've had my seat set at the wrong height for 20+ years
It still seems odd to be stood at traffic lights but not to be sat on the saddle, but it's getting more normal every day.
Can't believe I've had my seat set at the wrong height for 20+ years
Stopping and starting video here:
Starting and Stopping
Looks simple, but takes a bit of practice to do well.
Starting and Stopping
Looks simple, but takes a bit of practice to do well.
Used bike to get to work for first time today,bit of a scare when in busy traffic I selected gear 5 and initially it engaged then slipped, huge wobble,lots of angry motorists,really shook my confidence. Email to Kudos,had prompt phone reply,very helpful,explained I had to a just the hub gears,fairly straight forward to do,more trouble getting chain guard off and on again. Quick try out and it seems to be OK now. At the moment I'm not feeling confident on the bike at all,nothing wrong with bike,but I feel its to big for me,give it a few more days though, will try out a ride on a smaller bike just to see if its just me. If its the bike size I'll have to put it down as my fault,and chuck it on EBay.
unbelievable - they shouldn't be close enough to you to be effected by a bit of wobbling. I can't touch the floor on my bike which means setting off from lights or roundabouts is always a bit of an adventure
i don't think you can quantify height to frame size, i'm 6'1 and ride a 17" frame (a combination of short legs long body, and history of downhilling - liking to have any crossbar far enough away that when i fall off, there is a space between my vital components and a huge bit of metal
I also find smaller frames more manouverable and easier to ride in general.
If you're really intent on changing it, i'd talk to kudos before whacking it on ebay, might be other options (thinner seat?)
so you have the same inside leg as me, i ride a 17" frame with the seat high, but i can't touch the floor while sitting on the seat without leaning the bike.
And with your inside leg in mind, how much is a little overweight in ounces? Again, if you don't mind me asking.
MS.
I,m 2 stone 10 lbs overweight, Yes I know its over, its on the way down though,lost 10 lb since beginning of June, mainly through diet, and Doctors orders
. weight doesn't bother me on the bike,getting on and off that's the pain,on the move is OK,although the bike does look very big for me.Don't like to admit it but I've made a big mistake in buying this Kudos City, teething problems sorted,and its perfect,except for being to big for me,I really don't feel confident on it at all,its my fault,I really shouldn't have bought online,I was warned by my other half not to,and as much as it hurts . To say it she's right again. I went out on it this morning and while it's fine on the move,the electric motor is excellent,but in slow moving traffic and getting on and off its not good, or should I say I'm not good on it. Its a shame as I like the bike style,but need to be confident in using bit,and I,m not. So I think I'm going to have to probably sell it as I don't think local bike shops do a part ex,even though its only 5 days old. I am Hooke on getting another e bike,but only from a local dealer this time. I may have to put it on Ebay in the end ....
. To say it she's right again. I went out on it this morning and while it's fine on the move,the electric motor is excellent,but in slow moving traffic and getting on and off its not good, or should I say I'm not good on it. Its a shame as I like the bike style,but need to be confident in using bit,and I,m not. So I think I'm going to have to probably sell it as I don't think local bike shops do a part ex,even though its only 5 days old. I am Hooke on getting another e bike,but only from a local dealer this time. I may have to put it on Ebay in the end ....
C
Cyclezee
Guest
Hi Denwyn,
Why not try contacting Kudos Dave and see if he will do a part exchange for another model?
Why not try contacting Kudos Dave and see if he will do a part exchange for another model?
shame to hear it but my girlfriend is the same. Tried a petrol scooter, was brilliant I might add, just got on rode it around easily on the road but just said 'it wasn't her thing'.
I tried to get her onto the e-bike and she did, again handled it like a pro even with our daughter on the crossbar seat infront of her.
Despite this she would never use one every day & prefers her normal pushbike and to her credit commutes 10 miles a day rain or shine (unless its totally bucketing down).
I personally love the constant challenge of matching man to machine to get the maximum out of the bike and save my own energy!
I tried to get her onto the e-bike and she did, again handled it like a pro even with our daughter on the crossbar seat infront of her.
Despite this she would never use one every day & prefers her normal pushbike and to her credit commutes 10 miles a day rain or shine (unless its totally bucketing down).
I personally love the constant challenge of matching man to machine to get the maximum out of the bike and save my own energy!
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