Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Anyone has bought a Pinion.MGU e-bike yet? 
Pinion Motor.Gearbox.Unit (MGU)
- Thread starter onlineaddy
- Start date
Tom@WashDC
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Loudoun County, VA.
I found his owner's review on Reddit
CinemaPlugins
•6mo ago•Edited 6mo ago
I own one. Bulls vuca sfx 1. pinion 1:12. had it since last Friday. Was a pita at first. Front sprocket was not connected tightly causing all sorts of issues. That Needs a special pinion tool just to tighten it. That Cost me 3 days as it was unridable like that. Other than that, once the initial excitement fades, its still just a bike. Depends what you do with it. I got this as a kind of SUV for day tours eith my wife. Its kinda not really much good at that task tbh. Here in germany, it can only assist up to 25kmh. Above that, the behavior of the mgu is frankly awful. It blocks the peddles like putting the breaks on the motor. Jerky and not nice at all. I wonder why nobody is talking abou this on YouTube. Its totally different to how i.e. a bosch cx behaves without assist. it feels like its broke if assist is off. Kinda regretting it already, as an early adopter. Its kinda not really ridable above 25kmh unless you are rolling downhill. You cant turn the peddles. My suggestion to any potential buyer would be to try it out fully. Rent one or test one for a full day. I did not have that opportunity. If I had such an opportunity, I would not have let myself get carried away by the hype and those youtube videos. Lesson to be learned „try properly before you buy“......i think the hype around pinion MGU is all marketing at this point. Its being pushed real hard right now. Sure, Its pretty good. Its alright, ect. Obviously the package is technically very interesting to any obsessive person(like myself) who has to have the latest + greatest. However in reality, I struggle to keep up with my wife on her ktm bosch cx wich is a couple if years old, and cost less half what my new mgu super wizzbang has cost. The battery is 960w, hers is 750w. Hers is much quieter, smoother, far less flapping around, and way better behaved without assist. The mgu promises much, but frankly it does not really deliver on the hype IMO. On paper and youtube, it all sounds/looks great, but in reality I am struggling to find advantages in actual use. Having said all that, i do think this is the future. but before its gets to the bosch cx level of refinement, they have much work to do, and early adopters like myself are going to be remain somewhat disappointed. I have been here before with other new/fancy tech.
CinemaPlugins
•6mo ago•Edited 6mo ago
I own one. Bulls vuca sfx 1. pinion 1:12. had it since last Friday. Was a pita at first. Front sprocket was not connected tightly causing all sorts of issues. That Needs a special pinion tool just to tighten it. That Cost me 3 days as it was unridable like that. Other than that, once the initial excitement fades, its still just a bike. Depends what you do with it. I got this as a kind of SUV for day tours eith my wife. Its kinda not really much good at that task tbh. Here in germany, it can only assist up to 25kmh. Above that, the behavior of the mgu is frankly awful. It blocks the peddles like putting the breaks on the motor. Jerky and not nice at all. I wonder why nobody is talking abou this on YouTube. Its totally different to how i.e. a bosch cx behaves without assist. it feels like its broke if assist is off. Kinda regretting it already, as an early adopter. Its kinda not really ridable above 25kmh unless you are rolling downhill. You cant turn the peddles. My suggestion to any potential buyer would be to try it out fully. Rent one or test one for a full day. I did not have that opportunity. If I had such an opportunity, I would not have let myself get carried away by the hype and those youtube videos. Lesson to be learned „try properly before you buy“......i think the hype around pinion MGU is all marketing at this point. Its being pushed real hard right now. Sure, Its pretty good. Its alright, ect. Obviously the package is technically very interesting to any obsessive person(like myself) who has to have the latest + greatest. However in reality, I struggle to keep up with my wife on her ktm bosch cx wich is a couple if years old, and cost less half what my new mgu super wizzbang has cost. The battery is 960w, hers is 750w. Hers is much quieter, smoother, far less flapping around, and way better behaved without assist. The mgu promises much, but frankly it does not really deliver on the hype IMO. On paper and youtube, it all sounds/looks great, but in reality I am struggling to find advantages in actual use. Having said all that, i do think this is the future. but before its gets to the bosch cx level of refinement, they have much work to do, and early adopters like myself are going to be remain somewhat disappointed. I have been here before with other new/fancy tech.
Gionnirocket
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Y. O.
Sounds like the main issue is the ridiculous EU 15mph ( 25kmh) restriction 
If they were only allowed to play as adults
If they were only allowed to play as adults
scrambler
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Bay Area, CA
It does not sound right that it would block the pedals when reaching the limit of assist.
I would suggest contacting the vendor and or pinion and press the issue with them, to figure out what is wrong with your bike, rather than assuming it is normal...
I would suggest contacting the vendor and or pinion and press the issue with them, to figure out what is wrong with your bike, rather than assuming it is normal...
Tom@WashDC
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Loudoun County, VA.
I rented a Bianchi eMTB in Lake Como Italy a few years back. I felt that restriction resitance once I went over 15mph while riding on the main roads. Very irritating.Sounds like the main issue is the ridiculous EU 15mph ( 25kmh) restriction
If they were only allowed to play as adults
Gionnirocket
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Y. O.
Tom@WashDC
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Loudoun County, VA.
If I lived in Europe, I would tollally have 1,500 Watt ebike, somehow.Must suck to live there.... Though it is my favorite place to visit.
I'd defintely be an Outlaw, and no doubt suffer the fate of an Outlaw. But I would do it. Certainly in a rural mountain setting.
In Lake Como I was with my Brother in Law. He broke his collar bone and smashed his knees walking his ebike about 500 ft from the top of Mt St. Primo. Walking his bike!
Intradrive, another potential MGU manufacturer launched a prototype at Eurobike a couple of years ago and I hadn't heard anymore since but it looks like they have been busy. The fact the motor uses the same frame bolts as the Shimano EP8 raises interesting ideas about longevity of frames after warranty period. Plus they are intending the motor gearbox to be easily repairable. These are sound & positive approaches, early days but I hope they gain a foothold and I'm interested to see what brands they are working with.
singletrackworld.com
Intradrive: UK made gearbox drive unit begins pilot production
With manufacturing based in Scotland, and designed for repairability from the outset, it should tick a few sustainability boxes.
singletrackworld.com
New Vado out. 61lbs €6000 720wh battery, gates carbon drive & not a derailleur in sight. Heavy fast good looking bike for long commutes in all weather & low maintenance.
urbanbike.news
Specialized Turbo Vado S — a fast Speed Pedelec for safer everyday riding and commuting
The Specialized Turbo Vado S adds another model to the tried-and-tested Vado series, which now supports speeds of up to 45 km/h electrically as an S-Pedelec.
urbanbike.news
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
It is an L1e-B, a 45 km/h Speed Pedelec. Interesting!
How good I already own a Vado 6.0
www.specialized.com
How good I already own a Vado 6.0
Turbo Vado S IGH
Model Vado S sprawia, że przejażdżki do sklepu zmieniają się w poważne wyprawy zakupowe. Vado S spełnia marzenia o rowerze miejskim dzięki maksymalnej p...
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