Allan Macdonald

It would be easier if you could rely on everything being properly waterproofed, I mean, the UK is renowned for its changeable ( i.e. rainy) weather and manufacturers should ensure their goods are fit for where they are to be sold. Saying that though, the controller on mine is at the highest point of the wiring so no water will be able to seep along the cables into it. It appears to be well sealed anyway and the cables enter at the bottom. Allan

I've never won any of their competitions either.... I say, bring back Tomorrows World

That's funny, my brother Randy says the same, but I can't see it....

A few weeks ago, BH Emotion in Folkestone were selling an option to buy one of their bikes on ebay for about £200. ( Final cost they said was 10x that amount) I didn't understand why they would do that or who would press the Buy it Now button!

That would mean I would have to clean at least 3mm of metal of the pivot, I don't think thats a convincing explanation either, nor do I have a polish that removes metal.......

I think they are a standard size. We have a bike shop nearby, might nip in tomorrow and have a word. The Shimano pivots must have a smaller collar, although I have changed brakes before to Shimano on a Specialized bike I had and they fitted fine. Allan

Heres a few pics, this was using one of the unused rear pivots but they are the same as the fronts. As you can see, the spring is not seated properly and the face of the arm does not rest next the frame. There is about a 2mm gap. Looking into the pivot, the threads start about 4mm inside Pivot fitted to bike. Collar is about 5mm and the corresponding shoulder inside the brake is less than 3mm Allan

Thanks for the links, unfortunately, all the pivots look exactly the same as the ones fitted to my bike. I have just tried to fit the brakes on again. They don't slide all the way to the end of the pivot and the spring only just slots into the corresponding hole. I can tighten the bolt up and the brake pivots fine, but there is sideways movement which, I am sure will turn into squealing. They don't look very secure! I'll try and get some pics and post them. Allan

My Kudos is fitted with a front V brake made by ProMax. I don't like it, I have had ProMax on other bikes and they, like this one squeal when I apply the brakes. Adjustment lasts for a while and so do decent brake pads, but, eventually, they squeal again. So, I wanted to change them and bought a Shimano Acera front V brake. Problem is, the pivot post fitted to the bike has a long collar, the Shimano won't slide all the way along the post so I can't use them. I have other bikes with V brakes, and all the pivots are the same as the Kudos, i.e., the collars are too long for the Shimano brakes to fit. I have searched on line, but I can't find any pivot posts with shorter collars. Do they exist as after market spares, and if so, where from? Thanks Allan

My B67 cost me £60 inc delivery, so I don't feel too bad. Tell you what, if you all send me a couple of pounds, I'll buy one and test it! Allan

My B67 came a couple of days ago. A rode a few miles on the SelleBig Bum, and comfy as it was, I noticed it was there. I fitted the Brookes. Didn't feel as comfy to start with but after a few miles, you forget you are sitting down. I think that's the mark of a good saddle. I'll keep it on the bike and do a few more miles before passing judgement, but it certainly seems right to me. Looks like I'll be having a saddle sale soon

Thanks, I'll be leaving a drain hole at the bottom, away from any spray from the wheels

It's the one with the wacky glasses that puts me off watching it....

Took the battery off today ( rear tyre puncture!) and noticed the whole battery carrier was loose and the battery wouldn't slot into the controller unit properly, which was also loose. So, I took the top off the controller housing. Inside was a sealed silver alloy box housing the controller and lots of wires and connectors. The bolts holding the controller housing were loose, so I tightened 3 of them, the fourth had pulled through the bottom of the plastic housing. I need to modify these bolts and put washers under them, as they should have done at the factory! Anyway, disappointed as I was with the quality of the carrier/ controller housing, it all looks pretty waterproof in there but I might just try and seal the plastic outer housing a bit better. I tightened up the bolts on the carrier too and the battery went back in fine. Allan

It's interesting that they actually wrote that in the manual. So, just to be on the safe side, I dug my manual out and read it! In the first few pages, it tells you about wet weather riding and being careful of the brakes. Further in the manual, it tells me not to wash the bicycle "direct with spraying water, to avoid water entering electrical components" Further on, it says " Do not use the bike in a rainstorm or thunderstorm, nor use the bike in water" Then, it tells me about maintaining the controller.." Pay more attention to protect from raining and soaking water which may damage the controller". Then it tells me if it does get wet and malfunctions, to turn it off till it dries out, then turn it on again. It also tells me not to punch the battery! I dont intend to go out in a rainstorm or thunderstorm, but if one starts when I am out, do they expect you will wait in a shelter till it stops? Are light rain, drizzle and showers classed as a rainstorm? So, just to be on the safe side, I shall get a cover ( hotel shower cap) for the battery controller and one for the handlebar controller and deploy them in the rain! Allan

Thanks both, I was sure they would be waterproof, they are bikes after all and rain is part of cycling nowadays. The batteries on the bikes are in different places. The Tempo has one behind the down tube, the Safari, in the rear carry rack. I guess some form of waterproof cover would be a good idea, I like the sound of a cape too, and that should keep the batteries dry. I had a cape years ago (60's) when I used to ride to school, I have seen they are still available now, hope they come back in fashion, there was nothing to beat them to keep you dry Allan

I am sure e-bikes are perfectly rain proof, or more accurately, I didn't give it a thought when we bought our Kudos bikes. But recently, there have been one or two threads involving pedelec breakdowns and the question " did it get wet" was asked. So, is it safe to ride our bikes in the rain? Is there anything we need to do when we are out or when we get home? We generally put the bikes in the garage, connect the charger and huge padlock and chain, and go indoors. We both got caught in a deluge last week, it started about 50m away from home, so we turned round and went back. I wiped down the controllers and batteries and stuck them in the garage as normal. They still work. Allan

If you have the same symptoms with two different wheels ( if I have read it correctly) then its unlikely to be the wheels. I would be looking at the controller and the wiring. Have a good look at the wiring and connectors, if, as you say, the tube wrapped around the wheel, it could have damaged wiring, and its not always easy to see. Wires could be broken inside insulation or wires pulled out of connectors, even though they look ok. I'm assuming the battery is ok? Allan

My Kudos takes a half crank or so to get going, has kill switches on both brakes and continues under power for half a second when I stop pedalling. I don't find it a problem at all. It also has an 8 speed Nexus hub and hand throttle. Our other bike, also a Kudos (Tempo) has deraileur gears, operates the same as mine but doesn't have a hand throttle. I haven't ridden any other electric bikes, so have nothing similar to compare them to, I have ridden normal bikes for over 50 years though and know when something works well and when it doesn't. I can't see anything wrong with the way our bikes work, in fact I am very impressed with them both and at their prices, I can't see how they can be any better. Allan

Thanks, we are a bit too far away in Kent

Where are you for pick up? Allan

Can you add me in two places please? We live in the UK and France. UK is CT14. France is 22460 in sunny Brittany Thanks Allan

Thanks Mike, looks like one will be heading my way soon. If I like that more, the Big Bum will be going on my Mother in Laws bike. Allan

The Proofride works well, I used it underneath to stop the saddle getting wet from underneath and on top to soften it a bit. After a while, it does get comfier but riding now a more upright position, mine lost its appeal! I ordered a Selle Big Bum saddle that came today. Mrs A didn't like it, said it was too wide at the front, so I fitted it to mine. Just rode a couple of miles and it is more comfortable than the Brookes B17, but I'll wait till I have done a longer ride ( tomorrow) before I pass judgement. Still fancy the B67 though. Alan

My B17 is over a year old but hadn't been used much. I used to ride to work, about 7 miles, but is was mostly on an old railway track, and I didn't usethe saddle much. I just adjusted the tension, it looked a bit loose, so I will see how I get on with it. I also ordered a Big Bum for Mrs A, should be here next week. I'll be interested in how you get on with the B67