disappointed!

[cazza]

Hi Everyone

We are so disappointed with the electric bikes we bought! I did my homework (maybe not enough) and I read this forum, and we went out and looked at bikes and tried ones too. We ended up buying two e-tourers, from Pro-Rider Mobility. I wanted the Raleigh Dover, but at £1,600 each it was way beyond our budget, and Charles wanted a bike with a throttle, so he could just sit there and zoom along LOL. With these bikes they are either on or off, no variable power control.

Anyhow, they have constantly failed to perform!

We bought them just over a year ago and they were delivered promptly. We assembled Charles bike and mine stayed in the box, as I was going to Nuneaton to dog sit for my daughter and son in law in January. Anyhow you know how cold the weather was, so it was February before I managed to get out on mine and get used to it round the streets of Nuneaton. There are a few hills there too, so it got a good run a few times.

We were told by the service department to charge up the batteries after each use and to keep them topped up if they were to be unused for any period, this we did. My first good trip, up hill and down dale I did about 25km, battery hadn't gone flat on my bike, so duly charged it. And then just poodled around the streets as I had no need to actually go anywhere on the bike, and I was out with the dog walking a lot. So when I got home I decided to test the batteries properly to see how far they would go before going flat. I found a circuit round the lanes to the south of Grantham, 12km start to finish, and got just over 2 circuits, so not much really as there aren't many ups and down here. I did the same with Charles's bike and got just another 1k out of it. Needless to say I was disappointed, and emailed Pro-Rider and told them. Their reply was 'perhaps that is all you will get on the terrain you have been cycling,' and 'maybe the batteries will perform better when they have been conditioned'.

Well, we work in France for the summer and took the bikes with us on the back of the motorhome, but we didn't have the opportunity to use them as often as we wanted as we were busy, and we had our ordinary push bike with us too.

When we did get out with them, on fully charged batteries, they fell well short of the advertised 'up to 48km on a charge' Not even 25km, once I got 15km and then it dropped down to 10km and finally to only 8km on a full charge. We work in Argeles sur Mer, and its flat, very, very flat, so 50% of the ride is free wheeling.

We got back at the beginning of the month and I have been in contact with the service department at Pro-Rider and they have been supportive, and the batteries are there being tested. But what if they find there isn't a problem with the batteries?

Any suggestions, other than getting rid of them!

Thanks in anticipation

Carol and Charles in Grantham

 

[Deleted member 4366]

That range seems too low. Are you pedalling as wel, or just using the throttle? With medium pedalling (i.e. not so hard that you get puffed out or tired legs) you should be able to do about 30 miles with a 36v 10aH battery. With throttle only, about 15 miles as long as there aren't any steep hills. It's easy to measure the battery capacity with a wattmeter. Hopefully, that's what Pro-Rider are doing now. It would be unusual for anything other than your battery to effect the range. If Pro-Rider say that your batteries have full power, I have a wattmeter that you can borrow to confirm the capacity. Let us know how you get on.

Edit:Just had another thought. It might be a faulty charger. If you still have one of the batteries, try putting it on charge twice before using it, and see if any charge goes in the second time

 

[Scottyf]

Does seem low but really does depend on how much you pedal. Also the weather saps capacity considerably in the cold. Just a thought

 

[cazza]

Thanks for the replies.

I always pedal except for the first couple of yards, just to get me moving, Charles mostly uses the throttle.

Pro-Rider did not want the chargers, so they are still here.

The weather during the summer averages 25C, so when the batteries declined rapidly it was not cold.

Neither of us are grossly over weight, I am about 10.5 st and Charles is 12.5.

25km max I could live with, because that was pedalling up hill and on the flat and free wheeling down dale, but 15km on some of the most flat cycle paths and roads in that part of France and then even less, and on both bikes. It seems bizarre!

 

[Deleted member 4366]

I think you need to wait for Pr-Rider's conclusions, then let us know the results to see whether you need any more help. Something's not right - maybe the batteries, but I'd be surprised. I'm going to bet on it being a charger fault. Did you use both chargers or just one?

 

[cazza]

We used both the chargers, but I did notice that from completely discharged the battery didn't take all that long for the red light to go out on the charger, maybe only 2 hours! Would this make a difference?

I also found the bikes hard to pedal without power, and they are brushless motors! It was a bottom gear only job! I do cycle, but would not call myself a cyclist! as I don't do hills anymore. Yes ok they are heavy, but if I was 12.5st surely it would be no different? The motor in the hub must be a drag?

 

[Deleted member 4366]

2 hours charge time sounds too short. If you look on the charger it will say how many amps it gives - probably about 2 amps. Divide that into 10aHs and it'll give you the approximate charge time which I'd guess is at least 4 hours,

regarding drag from the motor: It's very easy to get a false impression. Lift the back wheel and spin it. it should spin reasonably freely. if there were motor drag, it would stop after one or two revolutions. Check that the brakes aren't rubbing first, and check the front wheel as well. Please report back what you find.

 

[cazza]

I have been out and checked the bikes, the brakes aren't binding and the back wheels spin freely. I went up and down the gears and no 1 is not engaging on the largest cog on either bike, is this adjustable?
I went for a little ride, all ok.
So now we wait for the results of the battery checks from Pro Rider and take it from there.

the battery chargers info is as follows
SANS Electronic Co Ltd
Model - SSLC084V42
Input - AC100V - 240v - 1.8A max 47-63Hz
Output - 42.0v (then a line and broken line underneath) 1.8A
Made in China

 

[Deleted member 4366]

charging a flat 10aH battery at 1.8a should take about 6 hours. There's two possibilities that I can think of:
1 Faulty charger or charger connection. You have two chargers, so, if they both do the same, then that's not so likely.
2 Many battery cells are arranged in banks, e.g. 10 in a row (series) and 5 side by side (parallel) =50 cells. Perhaps some of the connections have broken within a group so that there's effectively only 2 in the group. These would charge/discharge normally but would only give 4aH for the pack. Hopefully the supplier will find that if he tests them.

The gears are adjustable. Setting them up is easy when you get your head round how it works. The cable pulls the changer from side to side, so you have to have the cable length and position adjusted properly. Then, there's two end-stops that have to be set with the two little screws in the derailleur.
How to Adjust Your Rear Derailleur - Bicycle Tutor Video

 

[cazza]

Hi All

Thanks for all the replies concerning the batteries on our electric bikes.

They have now been tested and found to be under - performing, due to not being kept topped up before use when we first bought them last November, if you remember the weather was particularly cold for a considerable time. I freely admit that my bike did not even come out of the box until after Christmas. So it seems the problems with the batteries were unknowingly at the time caused by us.

Pro Rider Mobility have been really supportive and have offered to replace the batteries free of charge and we can't thank them enough for being so generous.

So all's well that ends well, many thanks to Pro rider Mobility for all the help and support you have given us.

Carol and Charles in Grantham

 

[Deleted member 4366]

I'm pleased that it's sorted. let us know if there's any further problems. Personally, I'm a little doubtful about the stated cause, so I wouldn't feel too guilty, but leaving batteries uncharged can sometimes damage them.

 

[Bikeman]

Prorider service

Hello I would like to tell you about my experience with prorider mobility ,last year I bought
An ewayfarer electric bike from them was very satisfied with it till just after six months old
My battery stopped working when I emailed the service to see what to do next he told me that the battery wasn't garanteed for twelv months but if I bought another one it would
So I ended up paying nearly as much as the bike was in the first place for a new battery
First one to come with the bike six months gaurentee second one twelve months
How strange is that. The performance figures are extremely exaggerated unless you weigh
Six stone and never go up hills would not trust them again.
All their good reviews are for mobility scooters and golf trolleys that's what they might be good at

 

[eddieo]

should have just used the inexpensive small claims court to sue their asses under the sales of goods act.

and bought a proper bike in the meantime...

I know Carol and Charles from motorhome forum, and have meet them, lovely people. Time and time again people come on here looking for advice, get recommendations and do the entirely opposite thing and buy something from someone, we as a group know nothing about...its bizarre.

then later come back here wondering why....

 

[wombatz]

Apart from the declinng range, sounds very similar to my disappointment with the range of my Tonaro Princess rear hub 36V 10A battery. A meagre 14-16 miles on hilly-ish terrain.

Changed batteries, charger and finally just swopped bike from Powerpedals (good service - altho a dealer 250 miles away is always going to be problematic!).

I can do 20 miles on low power, flat terrain and I'm 50kg. Hillier riding drops to about 14-16 miles.

I now put this down to low gearing. I am not providing (can't) give much human power ooommmppphhh. basically it's just like using the throttle all the time!

As for dealer support. Powerpedals no problems. Helpful and I even got a spare battery. So no compliants.

As for what people want an ebike for , well a low range but lots of ooommpphh/no effort riding is great for transporting me and my heavy spuds, fruit and all sorts of heavy shopping up a mile of 10%. Hate car supermarket shopping. It is brilliant for that. For other needs - like abit of cycle camping - I'm looking at Kalkhoff Sahel compact (it's cute) or the more sensible Agattu Impulse. Both ooze quality. But tired of chinese semi rubbish. I have a CG125cc motorcycle chinese clone so am familiar!

 

[Tinker]

I've just noticed this thread & as I have the same bike as the OP thought I'd add my observations.
I weigh in at 10 1/2 stone use the bike for an average of around 14 miles a week on full assist on reasonably steep inclines. I'm disabled and cannot pedal so being reliant on the bike I carru a spare battery on all my bikes but have never had to use it on the E-wayfarer even after some trips when I fully expected to. ( use a cycle analyst to monitor 'fuel')
Am I the only one to find Eddios cheap shots on anything he doesn't like rather distasteful. It's a pity he doesn't realise that most thing are made in the far east and that most of the components of his branded 'Proper bikes' start in the same place.

 

[john a]

..........That being said I find the OPs constant invective wearisome. He buys something of ebay but decides to do a cash deal outside of ebay...No receipt appears to have changed hands, what exactly does he expect to happen. Has already been given choices. Get bike running by investing a little more money. small claims court. or sell on......Simples

Caveat Emptor

I have only been using this forum for 24 hours, and haven't amassed 4000+ posts, so perhaps I haven't yet had time to become weary of other people's situations. I would have thought that if something made you weary, then maybe its best you abstain from passing comment, rather than to rile people with cynical comment under the guise of so-called wit.

If you are referring to me by your term 'OP' - may I point out that there was no problem with the initial Ebay deal. It was through ebay that I initially met the seller - some 5 years previously. We had other dealings - bike related - over those five years - and built up some degree of trust. Alas, this came to an end as described on the other thread.

I am aware of my options. Which, others have pointed out in a far less cynical / witty manner. I am grateful to them for their input, and will take their comment on board.

 

[john a]

that being the case, please keep your ill-judged words to those that appreciate them - if you would be so kind.

 

[eddieo]

ill judged ? Now from you that is rich...

 

[john a]

Your COMMENTS on others are ill-judged. They are egocentric and symptomatic of a person who obviously believes that contributing to a forum for four years gives them the god-given right to treat and speak to whoever they like in whatever fashion they choose, safely hiding behind your monitor.

Nobody knows it all, and hindsight is a wonderful thing. When you have achieved perfection, perhaps then you may have the right to judge and criticize others. You have some way to go yet, it seems.

 

[eddieo]

)
Am I the only one to find Eddios cheap shots on anything he doesn't like rather distasteful. It's a pity he doesn't realise that most thing are made in the far east and that most of the components of his branded 'Proper bikes' start in the same place.

What have my likes and interests got to do with you exactly.

Yet another example of the inverted snobbery that permeates this forum from time to time.

FYI by proper bike I meant ones with a reputation, nothing to do with price. A good few cheaper bikes available from dealers who offer decent back up and service. Probably not cheap enough for you or your tight wad mate, but there we go.....