Seago CityLite Pro folding ebike - folding handlebar hinge “worn out”

[Cat20]

I’m having some trouble with my Seago bike and wondered whether anyone else has had this issue? (Or a similar problem with another brand of folding bike…)

The front of my bike started wobbling uncontrollably as I was cycling over Waterloo Bridge this afternoon. It was pretty scary! I was able to pull over and walked the rest of the way home, past a bike shop - where some mechanics had a look for me. They were sceptical about the problem until they had a go riding the bike themselves, at which point there was a lot of interest in what was causing the wobble. Initially they thought the front wheel axel had somehow snapped, but that proved not to be the case. Eventually the conclusion was that the hinge of the handlebar folding mechanism has simply worn out. (There are bolts to tighten it, but it made no difference as the hinge itself seems to no longer work...) They were clear that the bike was not safe to ride and I had to bring it home in a taxi.

Apparently these hinges are replaceable on Bromptons, and I’ve emailed Seago to see if there are components available.

This bike is two years old and has had moderate use. I’m genuinely shocked that this has happened (although of course relieved that it did not result in an accident). Is this a common problem with folding bike models or have I just been very unlucky?!

 

[egroover]

probably not exactly the same, but it looks like you can buy them https://bankruptbikeparts.co.uk/products/folding-25-4mm-handlebar-stem-extension-for-folding-bikes-with-1-1-8-forks

 

[cyclebuddy]

I don't know if it's "common", but I've read of a couple of similar cases on folding bikes with tall stems. In one case, it was the headset bearings had worked themselves loose, and over time the neglect/lack of attention (retightening the locking collar) had resulted in the bearings being crushed. In another case there was an adjustable nylon fixture in the locking clamp mechanism that had worked loose with use and subsequently cracked, where again if it had been caught and adjusted in time wouldn't have destroyed itself. AFAIK, both cases were fixable.

Folding e-bikes do seem to be subject to all manner of odd stresses that don't seem to affect normal-sized bikes to anything like the same degree.

 

[guerney]

I don't know if it's "common", but I've read of a couple of similar cases on folding bikes with tall stems. In one case, it was the headset bearings had worked themselves loose, and over time the neglect/lack of attention (retightening the locking collar) had resulted in the bearings being crushed. In another case there was an adjustable nylon fixture in the locking clamp mechanism that had worked loose with use and subsequently cracked, where again if it had been caught and adjusted in time wouldn't have destroyed itself. AFAIK, both cases were fixable.

Folding e-bikes do seem to be subject to all manner of odd stresses that don't seem to affect normal-sized bikes to anything like the same degree.

My 2006 Dahon folder hasn't had the handlbar problem, nor the weld problem which becomes apparent when more modern folding bikes break in two - it worked great non-electrified and still works wonderfully converted with a bbs01b. It creaks a little at high motor torque onset, no sure where that's coming from but it doesn't feel like catastrophic failure and carnage will ensue, and it now topples over more easily when it's parked using it's integral one-sided kickstand, because it's unbalanced by the heavy 19.2ah battery on the rear rack, and it becomes wildly unbalanced on it's kickstand when the panniers are full of dense heavy pumpkins... but other than than that, it remains structurally sound. I've crashed it twice. Other than buy new wheels because the rims were worn and there were no rims available for those particular hubs, there have been no replacements of parts necessary (ok, chain, brake cables, gear cables, brake pads etc. small consumable stuff needed replacing obvs). Whatever voodoo Dahon engaged in during their younger days, clearly continues to work. Therefore it must still be possible for folders to be reliably made to their more demanding design brief.

 

[cyclebuddy]

Whatever voodoo Dahon engaged in during their younger days, clearly continues to work. Therefore it must still be possible for folders to be reliably made to their more demanding design brief.

Unfortunately, Dahon folding bikes have suffered their fair share of fatigue, fractures, and frame failures too - just google "dahon frame fracture" for a selection... and they suffer wobbling handlebar stems too here.

That link may help the OP... I've seen that same problem on other makes too.

 

[guerney]

Unfortunately, Dahon folding bikes have suffered their fair share of fatigue, fractures, and frame failures too - just google "dahon frame fracture" for a selection.

CH White sell a lot of Dahons and Terns, they say that the older Dahon designs with the "Rebar" they had very few returns with frame cracking problems. It's the newer Dahon frames which get sent back with failing welds, they think it's because of the lack of rebars. But I really don't know - I don't sell or have to repair a lot of Dahons, and certainly haven't had to do it for decades like CH Whites. I haven't asked them about Terns, but I use Tern wheels (which are lower quality than Dahon Kinetix [Tern have now bought the Kinetix trademark - drat!]), purely because Dahon's wheels don't accommodate 1.75" or wider tyres. I wouldn't buy a new Dahon, certainly not any of their current designs. I wouldn't buy a Tern or Fiido either. The latter because of lack of firmware customisability, because I've been spoiled by Bafang. There haven't been widespread Fiido frame breakages apart from this model, as far as I know.

 

[Cat20]

Thanks all. I am pretty careful with the bike - it has a full service every six months, and is only two years old. (This is because I have severe arthritis in my hands and need support with the maintenance.) So I don‘t think the underlying problem is neglect!

I am hopeful that it will be repairable by way of a new stem. That stackexhchange link is really helpful, thank you