Well, as an epitath, the welds on the rear battery rack I scavenged from the Scirocco gave way and I've had to cable tie it to secure it. Another thing unfit for purpose...

it's difficult to find a welder who can work on aluminium but you can repair the broken join with this wire, form a scaffolding knot with this wire and araldite the join. It's not pretty but it will last for a few years.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10m-BRASS-PICTURE-WIRE-Heavy-Duty-Long-Cable-Cord-Mirror-Photo-Wall-Hanging-/311363258473

 

http://www.business.govt.nz/worksafe/information-guidance/all-guidance-items/scaffolding-best-practice-guideline-for-scaffolding-in-new-zealand/copy23_of_figure-001a-large.gif

Shame you have to do this though. Ebikes have moved on a fair bit in the last three years, and I suspect the next couple of years will see a diminishing amount of poorly and cheaply built bikes.

My Sirocco is going strong albeit with a few niggles. For the money it has been worth the three years I have had it.

 

But when the battery dies, is it worth replacing? I suspect not.

But when the battery dies, is it worth replacing? I suspect not.

 

I would still say yes. Technology improves all the time, a new battery is much better built than the one that it replaces.

The Bafang motor on the Sirocco is long lasting and easy to maintain, clutch unit and ball bearings may need replacing roughly every 5,000 miles but they are quite cheap to buy.

Racks that house batteries are particularly unpredictable as far as welding goes because the battery is essentially unsprung weight. An unlucky big jolt may crack a weld. Wide tyres may help preventing cracks.

Jason Scott had his Cube's rack cracked recently, the bike is practically new, only 4 week old.

Edited May 5, 20169 yr by trex

A small wooden wedge will minimise stress caused by rack movement. Back to if it is worth replacing the battery you are talking maybe several hundred pounds?

This towards a newer bike would make more sense IMO.

 

Add the money from selling on ( without battery ) and it makes perfect sense.

I don't think a bike without battery would arouse much interest.

warwick tried without success to sell his old Sirocco CDL without battery, admittedly also without the rear rack because he kept them for his new bike. He gave it away at the end.

The replacement battery is about £200 for a 10AH, £300 for a 15AH. You can keep going for less than £100 worth of battery wear and tear a year. Compare that cost against the depreciation hit on a new bike, about 40% for the first year.

Edited May 5, 20169 yr by trex

Thanks for the repair tip. I suspect the battery wouldn't fit into the rack after though. The battery is a tight fit.

I might try drilling and screwing the rack to see if it helps. The cable ties are keeping it together OK at the moment.