I have owned a Volt Infinity for over four years.
Due to the infamous Northern Ireland debacle regarding "mopeds" I have only been able to put less than 2,000 light miles on it.
As an ex-auto engineer in a past life I can say that it is excellently engineered and the features are top class especially the Alfine 11 gears. Very smooth and rewarding to use. Overall build quality excellent and brakes superb.
However the Shimano Steps motor has been troublesome in that it had to be torqued up once at 1,000 miles approx as it appeared to be coming apart!
It had also come loose in the cradle and that was remedied by the dealer.
I had used it only on cycle paths, decent(ish) roads and tarmac tow paths.
It has never seen rain, grass or mud.
At 1,300 miles it began showing the same symptoms accompanied by what I would interpret as a bearing "whine".
I spoke to Volt who were "rather busy" apparently at that time which was during the demand for bikes at the beginning of the virus.
I took it to a local Shimano specialist as the dealer was also "too busy" (and it was out of warranty despite being forced into little use over the first 1,000 miles.)
The specialist re-torqued the motor but shortly after I noticed that there was still some axial (lateral) play in the crank.
Now at 1,450 miles the play has increased and the whine continues.
I know enough to be unhappy so I will continue to use it and monitor it until the winter months when I intend taking it back to the dealers and requesting that he follow Volt's later recommendations to send the motor back to them for inspection / repair / replacement.
I will be interested in what cost would be directed at me as the initial fault was reported while the bike was still in the 2 year warranty period.
Otherwise the motor was excellent giving more than enough power for normal leisure use by a pensioner with several health issues.
30 mile days were no problem and my back gave out well before the battery which usually showed 12 - 16 miles left.
Because of my limitations I was using max assist 80% of the time.
Would I recommend an Infinity at this stage?
I would need a conclusion to the motor issues before I would do that.
My wife has a Volt Pulse which has been faultless.
