May 20, 20214 yr I've been dreaming of an R&M Supercharger2. I've got an R&M Birdy which has been just fantastic the last 10 years, so I'm sold on the brand. But I'm new to the ebike world, and while my heart wants one of these bikes, my head is asking awkward questions, such as: what happens when the motor fails after, say, 8 years? From what I can see Bosch guarantee parts for 5-7 years. So after that, would it be a case of searching on eBay for parts, or calling around Bosch service providers hoping they have parts? And if that fails, the bike would be scrap?
May 20, 20214 yr Bosh service centres don't carry parts all motors have to go back. Performance Line Bearings or try and bag a spares only motor.
May 20, 20214 yr bosch dont sell most motor parts so it will be peter to the rescue. https://www.performancelinebearings.com/ when bosch say parts they mean a new motor but my bosch motor from 2014 is still going with a dongle.
May 20, 20214 yr tho i doubt a power tube battery will be repaired to be recelled because of how they are made. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HQfAxmuxQE:33
May 20, 20214 yr Author tho i doubt a power tube battery will be abled to be recelled because of how they are made. Quick replies, thanks guys. I took a good look at Peter's site, and it looks great what he's doing. But he too might run out of parts for specific models after a number of years? It's interesting that the Supercharger2 at around £7k could be obsolete after 7 years. If that's just the way it is for bosch ebikes, then all good.
May 20, 20214 yr Quick replies, thanks guys. I took a good look at Peter's site, and it looks great what he's doing. But he too might run out of parts for specific models after a number of years? It's interesting that the Supercharger2 at around £7k could be obsolete after 7 years. If that's just the way it is for bosch ebikes, then all good. Bosh are anti competition I wouldn't touch one of their bikes, though the other mid drive brands are all much the same.
May 20, 20214 yr peter has got all his bearings made for him but most motor problems are from water ingress destroying bearings or shorting the controller boards which bosch dont sell. he has some vids here so you can see what i mean. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVs9rcoUVQIOMH43_ZutqHA
May 20, 20214 yr Author Bosh are anti competition I wouldn't touch one of their bikes, though the other mid drive brands are all much the same. What type of motor do you use? No standards-based motors have come on my radar yet.
May 20, 20214 yr Author peter has got all his bearings made for him but most motor problems are from water ingress destroying bearings or shorting the controller boards which bosch dont sell. he has some vids here so you can see what i mean. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVs9rcoUVQIOMH43_ZutqHA So a bearing failure might well be OK to fix, but a controller board failure means the bike could well be toast.
May 20, 20214 yr So a bearing failure might well be OK, but a controller board failure means the bike could well be toast. peter would take your motor in exchange for a refurbed one or fit a new controller if he has one in stock. if you look after it they do last my bike is 7 years old and still turns heads and the original batt is still going but half the range from new as expected. https://www.e-bikeshop.co.uk/Haibike-xDuro-AMT-PRO-2014
May 20, 20214 yr You can always get a new motor from Bosch, which is around £800, then probably another couple of hundred for the dealer to take out the old, put in the new and program it.
May 20, 20214 yr Even after 7 years? this will fit my frame so yes if you want to pay for a new one. https://www.pro-cycling-golla.de/Antriebseinheit_/_Drive_Unit_Bosch_Performance__25_km/h.html
May 20, 20214 yr Author So thanks all for your help, you've answered my original question: what happens when the motor fails after, say, 8 years? The answer is: Hope for the best, no guarantees. Tricky to justify that risk for a high-end/expensive bike like the Supercharger2. I couldn't afford one anyway, but at least I can stop dreaming now
May 20, 20214 yr What type of motor do you use? No standards-based motors have come on my radar yet. Chinese generic branded hub motors, all use std wire connection sequence, any generic battery and controller. Mid drive brand frame/bike means no std motor mount is used with each only looking out for them selves. Hub motor can fit nearly any 9mm qr drop out. Never ever had an LBS repair or look at a bike and only have had minor issues with the electronics which are repaired often in hours. Generic hub type bikes are pretty easy to fault find if one knows what to check/test for.
May 20, 20214 yr i bought it of ebay for £3500 stock in 2014 with 160 miles on it it now goes 35mph on the flat
May 20, 20214 yr Author Chinese generic branded hub motors, all use std wire connection sequence, any generic battery and controller. Mid drive brand frame/bike means no std motor mount is used with each only looking out for them selves. Hub motor can fit nearly any 9mm qr drop out. Never ever had an LBS repair or look at a bike and only have had minor issues with the electronics which are repaired often in hours. Generic hub type bikes are pretty easy to fault find if one knows what to check/test for. This looks like the most future-proof way to go. And it takes advantage of future tech advances.
May 20, 20214 yr Author [ATTACH type=full" alt="DSC_0082_02.JPG]42606[/ATTACH] i bought it of ebay for £3500 stock in 2014 with 160 miles on it it now goes 35mph on the flat Nice one, good purchase. I'm way too cautious for 35mph though!
May 20, 20214 yr Yep, SW has OCD and mothers that bike like no other. Except EddiePJ who no longer posts. edited spelling. Edited May 21, 20214 yr by Nealh
May 20, 20214 yr Yep, SW has OCD nad mothers that bike like no other. Except EddiePJ who no longer posts. but i dont go out in thunderstorms and ride up streams of mud and all his motors had to go back for warranty replacement as they never lasted 2 years which imo was the plan as id do the same if i paid full price. but he never had a dongle lol.
May 21, 20214 yr Yes EPJ road them for what they were designed to do in any and all weather, though I don't think they were quite made to be submarine like. Edited May 21, 20214 yr by Nealh
May 21, 20214 yr From what I can see Bosch guarantee parts for 5-7 years. My understanding is that Bosch have stated they will keep providing spare parts for a minimum of 7 years - although offhand I'm not sure if that's 7 years from the last production run, or 7 years from when the product was officially available for sale. I imagine it would be the latter, but I could be wrong.
May 22, 20214 yr I have just skimmed through this thread so sorry if this advise has been given, but if you love your current non electric bike, why not electrify it with a kit, either yourself or with a quality specialist. I have never used him but Brighton ebikes are such an outfit. https://www.brightonebikes.co.uk/
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