January 11, 201115 yr This post is mainly aimed at Mark but if anyone else knows please feel free to comment. There are lots of rumors flying about the internet that the Metro is due an overhaul for 2011, can you confirm what is changing? So far we have heard 1)A proper battery gauge and speedo now standard. 2)Integrated lights. 3)Fix for the mudguards. 4)More powerful Motor. 5)Fix for the annoying chain rattle. 6)A proper oil rear shock. Can you confirm any of this? If true i would start to consider one of them especially as we can get the in frame battery. Talking of the in frame battery how easy is it to replace? Where can you buy spare parts for this bike in the uk, plenty of spares from the usa but none here? And last but not least will there be a price increase due to these changes? Edited January 11, 201115 yr by overlander
January 11, 201115 yr This post is mainly aimed at Mark but if anyone else knows please feel free to comment. There are lots of rumors flying about the internet that the Metro is due an overhaul for 2011, can you confirm what is changing? So far we have heard 1)A proper battery gauge and speedo now standard. 2)Integrated lights. 3)Fix for the mudguards. 4)More powerful Motor. 5)Fix for the annoying chain rattle. 6)A proper oil rear shock. Can you confirm any of this? If true i would start to consider one of them especially as we can get the in frame battery. Talking of the in frame battery how easy is it to replace? Where can you buy spare parts for this bike in the uk, plenty of spares from the usa but none here? And last but not least will there be a price increase due to these changes? Hi Overlander, Sorry for the delayed response! Please see individual responses below: 1)A proper battery gauge and speedo now standard. On Metro Gen 2 yes. 2)Integrated lights. Yes LED running off the battery on Metro Gen 2. 3)Fix for the mudguards. Yes- they have been fixed for a while now, although we have strengthened further. 4)More powerful Motor. Yes, we have moved from Analogue to Digital, makes it an extremelly smooth power delivery. 5)Fix for the annoying chain rattle- This remains, but we have converted a few to single speed which I ride on Bristol hills with no issue 6)A proper oil rear shock.- As an option, but not standard. SR Suntour provide it for circa £160 Internal battery is very easy to fit. Its a bit of a fiddle to squeeze final cables in, but is a 20 minute job. Spares are all held at our Technical Centre in Cheltenham. Against most peoples interpretation Ultra Motor is actually a UK company and HQ is in London. Everyone thinks USA because that was the first market we entered. To give you an overview of our operations: - HQ - London, UK - Technical Centre and spares- Cheltenham, UK - Design, our own team in Berlin, Germany - Engineers and final production- Taiwan - Subsidiaries- USA, UK, Germany - Distributors- 17 different countries and growing On price, yes there will be a charge for these mods. We were going to be able to keep it close to current pricing but with an increase in raw materials and the Dollar has weakened this will push it up to £2399 (we anticipate). The current model (gen 1) remains at £1999. The new Hybrid 24 is launched next month too with similar spec at £1999. Let me know if you need any further information Thanks Mark
January 11, 201115 yr Author Hello Mark, Thank you for the detailed response, all sounds good and the bike is getting a good reputation as a quality machine. I have one last question as you know i am tall and i was concerned that the bike would be too small. But after some digging about i am not concerned anymore. But does the Mk2 use the same frame? What shock is it from SA Suntour range as i cannot see one with 60mm travel? Forgot to add, if i was to get the internal frame battery, can you buy the rear battery separately and if so what is the current price? As a stop gap(before buying oil shock) when you add the second battery and given the fact i'm pretty heavy is there an upgraded shock, i seem to remember some insert to stop it bottoming out. Thanks Edited January 11, 201115 yr by overlander
January 11, 201115 yr Hello Mark, Thank you for the detailed response, all sounds good and the bike is getting a good reputation as a quality machine. I have one last question as you know i am tall and i was concerned that the bike would be too small. But after some digging about i am not concerned anymore. But does the Mk2 use the same frame? What shock is it from SA Suntour range as i cannot see one with 60mm travel? Forgot to add, if i was to get the internal frame battery, can you buy the rear battery separately and if so what is the current price? As a stop gap(before buying oil shock) when you add the second battery and given the fact i'm pretty heavy is there an upgraded shock, i seem to remember some insert to stop it bottoming out. Thanks Hi Overlander, Yeh, we experience very, very high rates of reliability. Makes our jobs easier The Mk2 does use the same frame. Thats right, you can get it with internal or external as standard. The other battery RRP is £500 and is a Sanyo Li-ion. There was a case with the shocks at one point where the elastomer wasn't installed in the shock. So we retro-fitted a lot of bikes. This was only on one batch and all is fine now. If you email/call our technical manager Steve Taitt: stevet@ultramotor.com/01242 252 334 or I can have him contact you about the alternative shock. He works Tuesday - Saturday. Thanks Mark
January 11, 201115 yr Hi Mark, when do you think the Mk2 will be available? Scott Hi Scott We have a few models in at the moment (only 8) with a color choice of White or Black. I'd have to work out the RRP though if you were interested. Main stocks will arrive around March time all the best Mark
January 11, 201115 yr Author Hi Mark, Not at the moment as i want to get the worse of the winter past using the Trek, so End of march would be perfect for me. One last question will it still have the offroad facility? Thanks Scott
January 12, 201115 yr Any reason why you are replacing the Trek, overlander? (i.e. should I avoid them?)
January 12, 201115 yr Author Hi OTH, No, none at all i will still keep the Trek and when the roads are fixed will use this for my commuting. The state of the roads here at present are a disgrace and the salt and grit is hammering the bike. The Trek will still be my main mode of transport as its so bike like that you can if you choose get really fit on it. My current thinking is, the wife now wants in on the act so we need another bike anyway so typical me i buy what i like. Sounds bad when you write it down but trust me she will lose interest and if she was the only user it would sit there all winter. It would be a waste of money if i bought one that would only fit her. So I was thinking that if we got the A2B i could use it to commute to take some of the strain off the Trek and she could use it at the weekends. So no warnings about the Trek, just a reflection of the state of the roads that are giving the Trek a hammering with potholes every 100 yards. Edited January 12, 201115 yr by overlander
January 12, 201115 yr Many thanks for the quick response. Am reassured. The A2B looks fun too, but my nearest bike shop deals in Treks.
January 12, 201115 yr Author You will have no worry's with the Trek, its just so bike like except you have bionic legs
January 12, 201115 yr Hi Mark, Not at the moment as i want to get the worse of the winter past using the Trek, so End of march would be perfect for me. One last question will it still have the offroad facility? Thanks Scott Hi Scott Gen 1 will but Gen 2 won't. It will be possible to permanently de-restrict it but this is obviously for off road purposes only Thanks Mark
January 12, 201115 yr Author Hi Mark, Yes of course it would only be used offroad but how difficult a procedure would it be? And if done would the warranty still be valid, to be honest it is one of the big attractions of this bike.
January 12, 201115 yr Hi Mark, Yes of course it would only be used offroad but how difficult a procedure would it be? And if done would the warranty still be valid, to be honest it is one of the big attractions of this bike. Hi Overlander, It can be done by us here before dispatch. We are just considering warranty implications at the moment, worst case is it will reduce to 1year, but I'll let you know Thanks Mark
January 12, 201115 yr What are the updates coming to the Hybrid? You mentioned it was being put on a diet and Can bus integration?
January 12, 201115 yr Author Hi Mark, Please do keep us informed as soon as a decision is made. Thanks Scott
February 28, 201115 yr I've been hearing rumors about the new Metro as well and am wondering if there is any changes to the battery chemistry, range, overall bike weight and charging times. Thank you for any incite, I'm looking forward to this new model. It's on my radar!
February 28, 201115 yr I've been hearing rumors about the new Metro as well and am wondering if there is any changes to the battery chemistry, range, overall bike weight and charging times. Thank you for any incite, I'm looking forward to this new model. It's on my radar! Hi Suffixated, The new Metro changes will be as follows: - LCD display - Digital controller - Built in lights powered off the battery - 15.5mph top speed, but de-restrictable for offroad use. - Weight and frame remains the same - RRP £2399 Availability is late May. I'd also urge you to checkout the new Hybrid 24, its an amazing bit of kit and has converted me from my Metro!! Mark
February 28, 201115 yr Author Anymore news on the offroad de-restriction and its consequences with regards to warranty and price etc?
February 28, 201115 yr Anymore news on the offroad de-restriction and its consequences with regards to warranty and price etc? Hi Overlander Warranty will be halved with de-restriction to one year. To be honest there is a very slim chance of anything else going wrong. Current model remains at £1999 Thanks Mark
February 28, 201115 yr Author Hi mark, can it only be done by yourselves or can it be reversed at home?
February 28, 201115 yr Thanks for the reply Mark! I'm in Canada so are they expected in North America during a similar time frame? I assume also they'll have a 32km limit for North American markets? Thanks again, Dennis
March 2, 201115 yr wow expensive keep it at £2000 Hi Scott We have a few models in at the moment (only 8) with a color choice of White or Black. I'd have to work out the RRP though if you were interested. Main stocks will arrive around March time all the best Mark £2300 is too much. The old bike is expensive at £2000. Please dont kill it off at £2300!! The replacement battery is £500. Where other bike batteries are half the price with double the range! It will be pushing £3000 with the extra battery giving a range of 40 miles. Please have a rethink
March 2, 201115 yr Hi Scott We have a few models in at the moment (only 8) with a color choice of White or Black. I'd have to work out the RRP though if you were interested. Main stocks will arrive around March time all the best Mark £2300 is too much. The old bike is expensive at £2000. Please dont kill it off at £2300!! The replacement battery is £500. Where other bike batteries are half the price with double the range! It will be pushing £3000 with the extra battery giving a range of 40 miles. Please have a rethink
March 23, 201115 yr Aussie bike upgrade Hi all, I'm in Sydney for a year with work. I have just bought an Australian A2B Metro (Gen 1, LED power meter, Aussie 200w limit). It is absolutely fabulous and has saved my legs from a very tedious walk! Just a couple of questions - I am due back in the UK in Feb 2012. I am going to have my bike shipped back. 1) Can my A2B be de-restricted to British spec? Can I get a "boost" button which is absent from the Aussie spec'd bike? 2) Could my bike be upgraded to gen 2 spec (digital motor + controller etc)? How much would this cost? BW, Neil
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