Oxygen Scross MTB ongoing review

[Deleted member 4366]

Do you take the battery off for charging?

 

[Andy Bluenoes]

Do you take the battery off for charging?

Yes.

I have no choice at work as the bike is parked up in an underground dungeon...I could charge on the bike at home, but didn't think it would be a good idea while is still connected to the bike?

 

[anotherkiwi]

Yes.

I have no choice at work as the bike is parked up in an underground dungeon...I could charge on the bike at home, but didn't think it would be a good idea while is still connected to the bike?

My bike is parked about a meter from a power plug so yes it is a good idea, much less wear and tear on the connector. Switch controller off, turn battery on and plug in charger. Simples!

 

[Andy Bluenoes]

My bike is parked about a meter from a power plug so yes it is a good idea, much less wear and tear on the connector. Switch controller off, turn battery on and plug in charger. Simples!

Okay, thanks...i'll certainly do that at home from now on then

 

[anotherkiwi]

Of course check that your battery needs to be turned on during charging, that is the case for many but maybe not all.

 

[Andy Bluenoes]

Of course check that your battery needs to be turned on during charging, that is the case for many but maybe not all.

There isn't a power switch as such on the battery, just a power level indicator switch, so that makes that easy

 

[Deleted member 4366]

There isn't a power switch as such on the battery, just a power level indicator switch, so that makes that easy

Yes, but that's not so good for frequent connecting because it makes a spark when you connect with a live battery. Eventually, the contacts erode, which is probably the cause of your problem. New connectors will fix it for a bit, but they will erode too.

The connectors are a wearing part, like the tyres on a car. The more you use them, the faster you wear out. Connecting with a live battery is equivalent to doing wheel-spin starts in a car.

Taking the battery off twice a day is way beyond what any manufacturer would expect and outside normal usage, so we couldn't make a case that it's a design fault or whatever.

 

[Andy Bluenoes]

So, the Oxygen battery is always live then. Not much I can do about that I suppose. Ill leave it on the bike at home when charging, and see if there is any electric available in the works cycle shed, but I doubt it. Any point putting vaseline or something on the terminals?

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Bosch recommend greasing their battery terminals. I can't figure out whether it would be better or worse. The problem is the instant high current (spark) when the connection is made. I can't see how grease would help that.

 

[Andy Bluenoes]

Bosch recommend greasing their battery terminals. I can't figure out whether it would be better or worse. The problem is the instant high current (spark) when the connection is made. I can't see how grease would help that.

Wouldn't a switch on the battery be the best idea?

 

[Warwick]

My eMate has a battery switch, but it isn't an integrated battery like yours, Andy. I have to have my battery switched on when charging. That way there isn't a spark when hooking it up to the charger. If it's switched off there is a spark. I almost always charge in-situ.

 

[Andy Bluenoes]

My eMate has a battery switch, but it isn't an integrated battery like yours, Andy. I have to have my battery switched on when charging. That way there isn't a spark when hooking it up to the charger. If it's switched off there is a spark. I almost always charge in-situ.

Ok, thanks Warwick.
I'm dropping the battery into oxygen in Rotherham on Saturday morning, I'll ask them what they recommend while I'm there.

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[TheLeithToe]

So how is the bike? Powerful enough for a 10 mile commute all round?? Thinking of buying one.

 

[Andy Bluenoes]

So how is the bike? Powerful enough for a 10 mile commute all round?? Thinking of buying one.

Easily.
My commute is 19 each way, I charge the battery at work for the return journey.
I have done 24 miles in one ride without a charge....bike on max assist with me and a couple of pannier bags, so probably close to 90kg plus the bike.

I did for the first time run out of battery on the way home today...not surprising when I looked on garmin and had 28 mph winds in my face. Horrible ride, probably the worst in 18 months of commuting in all weathers.


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[TheLeithToe]

What about if you have a slight couple of hills on the way & downhill on the way back? Will it cope with the uphill?

 

[Warwick]

I'll interject here and add that Andy is using his bike on the maximum setting of 18 on the bike. So, he uses Power mode with maximum assist. That really does give the battery some use! It's his choice and I make no judgement at all about that.

I have an Oxygen eMate with a 2.5-year-old battery with a load of about 90Kg and I use it with the Eco setting on assist level 5 or 6. Even with a battery not in its first flush of youth, I can achieve 35 miles range at an average speed of about 17MPH. My commute is undulating and not flat. That does require some pedalling input, of course, but it shows that the bike that you are looking at (with the larger battery chosen) would offer even more range using a similar assist level as I use.

 

[TheLeithToe]

Thanks for reply guys. Think I'll be going for this bicycle.

 

[Andy Bluenoes]

Thanks for reply guys. Think I'll be going for this bicycle.

I dont think you will have any regrets

 

[Andy Bluenoes]

Just want to publicly say a big thanks to Oxygen bicycles for the super fast service with the repair on the battery.

I dropped it into them Saturday morning, and it was ready for collection on Monday afternoon, complete with a new battery terminal for me to fit to the bike.

Also thanks to e-bikes direct for the speed of arranging it all for me.

Great customer service

 

[RobF]

Pleased you are sorted - Oxygen do seem pretty good for service.

As remarked, your use is hard, so your overall experience reflects well on the reliability of an Oxygen bike.

I'm still confused about this talk of sparks.

In 10,000+ miles on three Bosch bikes I've never seen a spark, and that's using all permutations of connection/disconnection/on bike/off bike charging.

All I would say is the downtube battery cup of the latest shape Bosch battery seems to attract more dirt than the cup on the clunky square shaped first generation Bosch bikes.