Sad death of Cyclotricity Revolver :-( Help choosing a new ebike?

[Ani]

Two years ago I bought myself a Cyclotricity Revolver to use on a daily 9 mile commute up to my horses' yard and back.

It has been regularly serviced & looked after, but started to fall to bits about 6 months ago. It's latest issue is the motor cutting out because the pedal sensor cant stay aligned due to a wobbly crank. The mechanic who looked at it also mentioned the bearings in my motor are on their last legs.

I really thought £650 would get me more than 18 months but hey ho, we live and learn! Suffice to say I won't be buying another...

So, whilst the Revolver does still work if I continuously hold down the thumb throttle as I pedal, I am now on the hunt for a new machine. It needs to be an mtb, have at least a 36v 10ah battery (bottle style), decent gears, good quality disc brakes & front suspension. Having read a bit about them, I'd prefer it *didn't* have a torque sensor.

It also needs to last longer than 18 months....

Any ideas??

 

[Alan103]

Two years ago I bought myself a Cyclotricity Revolver to use on a daily 9 mile commute up to my horses' yard and back.

It has been regularly serviced & looked after, but started to fall to bits about 6 months ago. It's latest issue is the motor cutting out because the pedal sensor cant stay aligned due to a wobbly crank. The mechanic who looked at it also mentioned the bearings in my motor are on their last legs.

I really thought £650 would get me more than 18 months but hey ho, we live and learn! Suffice to say I won't be buying another...

So, whilst the Revolver does still work if I continuously hold down the thumb throttle as I pedal, I am now on the hunt for a new machine. It needs to be an mtb, have at least a 36v 10ah battery (bottle style), decent gears, good quality disc brakes & front suspension. Having read a bit about them, I'd prefer it *didn't* have a torque sensor.

It also needs to last longer than 18 months....

Any ideas??

As you have experience of Cyclotricity, how was the service from them and based on your experience of the bike, how was it to ride before it started having issues?

 

[Ani]

Service was actually pretty awesome! Asked questions via email before purchase, all were answered promptly & thoroughly. Bought it direct, it arrived in two days!

Absolutely loved it before it wore out! Fast, responsive, great to handle.

 

[trex]

wouldn't it be easier to fix your bike? if it still works with the throttle, you'd probably only need to fix the pedelec sensor which costs only £3-£5.

 

[Ani]

You misunderstand, there's nothing wrong with the sensor, the crank has movement in it and thus the sensor goes out of alignment on pedalling, so the motor cuts out.

The bike has been to the local mechanic (who also sells these now, so is familiar with them) and it's diagnosis is poor. Pretty much everything that can wear out has, including the motor...

 

[Alan103]

Service was actually pretty awesome! Asked questions via email before purchase, all were answered promptly & thoroughly. Bought it direct, it arrived in two days!

Absolutely loved it before it wore out! Fast, responsive, great to handle.

Thanks.
Check out this link, http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/opinions-please.20616/ there's quite a few bikes mentioned throughout the thread you may be interested in, don't see the point in repeating it all. But someone at some point will say, you get what you pay for and anything under £1000 is just a basic bike.

 

[trex]

how many miles did you do in the last 18 months with the Revolver?
If you do a lot of miles, you may be better off converting a good bike than buying another cheap one.

 

[Ani]

Thanks.
Check out this link, http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/opinions-please.20616/ there's quite a few bikes mentioned throughout the thread you may be interested in, don't see the point in repeating it all.

Thanks, that's really helpful!

But someone at some point will say, you get what you pay for and anything under £1000 is just a basic bike.

You are so right. I have resigned both myself and my overdraft to this sad fact!

 

[Ani]

how many miles did you do in the last 18 months with the Revolver?
If you do a lot of miles, you may be better off converting a good bike than buying another cheap one.

Circa 5000.... Another cheap one isn't an option!

 

[trex]

5,000 miles, £650 less may be £250 residual value, about 8p-10p per mile running cost. It's not bad going.
so what's your budget now?

 

[Ani]

£1500 max, but it really needs to be the last time I buy one!

Third time lucky eh? First one was an utter disaster!

I guess 10p a mile isn't that bad, plus I'm likely to get another week or two out of it before I stop faffing about what to replace it with! I'm just miserable about it's demise :-(

 

[trex]

there are few bikes that can be described as indestructible.
£1500 would only buy you an entry level German bike.
Your best bet would be an Ezee bike for that budget.

 

[flecc]

there are few bikes that can be described as indestructible.
£1500 would only buy you an entry level German bike.
Your best bet would be an Ezee bike for that budget.

I'll second that, my present eZee bike I bought in August 2006. No idea of the total mileage any more, but on one occasion in 2008 testing a new battery type for the manufacturer I covered 3784 miles in exactly six months using it in the most brutal fashion imaginable to make sure the battery was up to it. The bike certainly was.

It's had to work hard all it's life including heavy haulage like this photo example of it at work.
.

 

[jimmyhackers]

hang on a second.....you have a perfectly good bike. minus the torque arm sensor and some bearings????

bearings are a few quid each and a twist throttle off of ebay is about 15 quid...

then thers the possible few hours to swap/fit them over

and youd rather spend over 500 on a brand new bike? : s

cant you get your mech mate to replace if you dont feel upto it???

failing that id seriously consider getting an ebay kit for 200quid ish and bolting that onto your exsisting bike. itll come with everything you need

thats what i did. 48v 1000w motor kit for 200quid on a cheap chinese bike that i got for free..... and i get a reliable 30miles range and 30mph.

get your hands a bit messy crack out some spanners and give two fingers to "the man"

ive always said "tools are the people who are scared to use them"

 

[Cyclezee]

there are few bikes that can be described as indestructible.
£1500 would only buy you an entry level German bike.
.

Uh nope, Ansmann from £995 http://www.cyclezee.com/ansmann-e-bikes--pedelecs.html

 

[Cyclezee]

there are few bikes that can be described as indestructible.
Your best bet would be an Ezee bike for that budget.

Agree entirely eZee bikes from £795 http://www.cyclezee.com/ezee-e-bikes--pedelecs.html

 

[Deleted member 4366]

The bike has been to the local mechanic (who also sells these now, so is familiar with them) and it's diagnosis is poor. Pretty much everything that can wear out has, including the motor...

I'd find a new mechanic if I were you. You can get a replacement bottom bracket from Halfords for £10. Once fitted, your crank will last for years.

I've never heard of motor bearings wearing out on your sort of motor. They should be good for 30,000 miles. If they were worn, the motor wouldn't work.

 

[Ani]

Methinks mechanic possibly taking the proverbial...

Will be taking poor bike to decent shop tomorrow & having that crank replaced.

Because it needs a replacement battery before winter, I'm still likely to take the plunge & get a more robust machine, so do please keep the suggestions coming, they're much appreciated

 

[SteveRuss]

I'd find a new mechanic if I were you. You can get a replacement bottom bracket from Halfords for £10. Once fitted, your crank will last for years.

I've never heard of motor bearings wearing out on your sort of motor. They should be good for 30,000 miles. If they were worn, the motor wouldn't work.

This whole thread so far sounded like it was based on one mechanics viewpoint which sounds dodgy to me. I'd second getting a second opinion or just taking it to a normal bike shop would may likely work on the crank of an e-bike.

Also. I bought my Kalkhoff Pro Connect Alfine 8G for £1100 used. It had just over a 1000miles on the clock and is still under warranty (2 years) until April 2016. Still rides like the day I bought it. I know the dealers would rather sell you a new one but a second hand e-bike market does exist and has some decent bikes available it would appear.

http://www.gumtree.com/p/bicycles/classic-kalkhoff-agattu-ladies-electric-bike-size-s-49cm.-strong-geared-motor/1113034542

Okay it's 2009 and the battery may not be peaking but they aren't that much to replace on those if you had to. Not a recommendation from me specifically but it's worth considering as some people do take a serious dive on the original buying price, as was the case with mine.

 

[Croxden]

It sounds like you just want a new bike and using the wear as a good excuse. Don't have a problem with that but at least give the manufacturer a bit of credit for giving something you were happy with at the lowest end of the market.