Brompton Electric Issues

[Jordan_H]

Hi All,

I’m completely new to all this but signed up as the help and advice I’ve come across is really brilliant.

I recently bought a Brompton Electric, direct from Brompton and received it on the 10th March.
Followed all the set up and then came to installing the battery on the bike.
The battery is totally unresponsive when docked on the bike and wouldn’t connect to the bike or recognise that it was in place.
The battery does turn on and charges, but then powers back off.
Contacted Brompton via the live chat and they mention about leaving the battery in situ for 30 Seconds, but obviously the battery doesn’t recognise the bike and so this doesn’t work.

On the 11th March having not heard back from Brompton, I decided to drive to a Brompton specialist that I found on there website to try and get it resolved and to look for an answer.
They checked over the bike and found multiple issues that as a new rider I was totally unaware of:
- Crankshaft was dangerously loose
- The bike has two functioning gears instead of 6
- the rear break hadn’t been aligned
- most bolts required tightening
- Three critical failures in one day and the firmware required updating
- and also my main issue the battery wouldn’t connect to the bike

The bike guys looked over the bike fully and couldn’t really see what the problem was, after a few tries it appears that the battery bag case is the issue and that trying to install the battery on the bike required all you body weight to try and get a connection, they switched the bag for one of there own and tried with my battery in which worked and allowed the to update the firmware.

An hour and a half after all this I decided to go and finally try out my new bike this being only the second day of owning it.
The bike still has connection issues with ERROR A & ERROR B, but also separately the Charge level LED’s light up but the Pedal Assist and Bike lights don’t illuminate yet I can feel the motor kick in and have no idea what assist level it is doing & also still has constant connection issues.
I’ve even had to place duct tape on the battery to keep it from moving in the little battery bag.

Has anyone experienced anything like this?
As I’ve only had the Brompton 4 days and all this has just meant I haven’t been able to enjoy it, I’m worried about using the bike as it doesn’t feel safe with all the issues.
All the bags have the new latch pieces.
Just so frustrated having spent all this money and having this many issues in the first two days of owning it and still having on going problems.

I’m still waiting to hear back from Brompton.

Thanks,
Jordan

 

[JRA]

I believe there are laws in the UK that protect you and make it easy to return a defective item for a full refund. That is the avenue I would take and try another brand.

 

[Jordan_H]

I believe there are laws in the UK that protect you and make it easy to return a defective item for a full refund. That is the avenue I would take and try another brand.

Hi JRA,

Thanks for taking the time to reply I really appreciate it.

I have emailed Brompton, explaining the above & that the bike isn’t fit for purpose which is a condition of the Consumer Rights Act, plus I also mentioned that in the item specification the saddle to be supplied is the Brompton Handle saddle, yet I’ve received a random saddle with out prior notification.

Just worried that the process with Brompton isn’t going to be straight forward, plus I still need a bike but feel this whole experience has tarnished it now.

Thanks,
Jordan

 

[rich c]

Hi JRA,

Thanks for taking the time to reply I really appreciate it.

I have emailed Brompton, explaining the above & that the bike isn’t fit for purpose which is a condition of the Consumer Rights Act, plus I also mentioned that in the item specification the saddle to be supplied is the Brompton Handle saddle, yet I’ve received a random saddle with out prior notification.

Just worried that the process with Brompton isn’t going to be straight forward, plus I still need a bike but feel this whole experience has tarnished it now.

Thanks,
Jordan

First take a deep breath. The bike is only 4 days old and you've lost faith already? You expect less than 24 hour response? Give them a chance. As I understand all their bikes are hand made and this is the height of production. Are companies in the UK having as much trouble as in the states with labor and parts shortages? What were the three critical failures? Are you counting loose bolts? Why didn't you buy it from a dealer? Not that loose bolts are great, but you have to have a torque wrench if you intend to ride it a lot anyway. Did you use a torque wrench or were they just loose as a matter of opinion?

 

[JRA]

Tough decision either way and not the best entrance into eBiking unfortunately for you. I know that Brompton is a company that has been in business for a long time selling pedal only bikes but I have seen other instances on forums where their e versions have had issues. I would assume that a big reason that you went with the Brompton is their folding/portability ease and other options for that are out there but not sure on availability there in the UK of others?

 

[Jordan_H]

Tough decision either way and not the best entrance into eBiking unfortunately for you. I know that Brompton is a company that has been in business for a long time selling pedal only bikes but I have seen other instances on forums where their e versions have had issues. I would assume that a big reason that you went with the Brompton is their folding/portability ease and other options for that are out there but not sure on availability there in the UK of others?

Hi JRA,

Exactly that, I only live in a small flat so the ability to fold down and to be stored at the side of the door made it perfect for me.

I can appreciate Rich’s comment above, but as someone who is completely new to all this and to invest in an item which I can only just afford, I believe would make anyone panic and disheartened if these unexpected issues where to happen to them.

Thanks,
Jordan

 

[Jordan_H]

First take a deep breath. The bike is only 4 days old and you've lost faith already? You expect less than 24 hour response? Give them a chance. As I understand all their bikes are hand made and this is the height of production. Are companies in the UK having as much trouble as in the states with labor and parts shortages? What were the three critical failures? Are you counting loose bolts? Why didn't you buy it from a dealer? Not that loose bolts are great, but you have to have a torque wrench if you intend to ride it a lot anyway. Did you use a torque wrench or were they just loose as a matter of opinion?

Hi Rich,

Thanks for your reply.

So the critical failures were all related to the Battery. I’m not sure what the actual codes were on the Brompton software but the guy who inspected my bike made note of them.

In regards to the bolts, I have no clue with bikes as I’m completely new to them, hence why I’d taken the bike to the Brompton Specialist.

I don’t expect a 24 hour response,
But if your panicking and not sure what to do to sort out the issues with your new expensive purchase.
Then you do panic and wonder what to do to fix it.

Thanks,
Jordan

 

[tomjasz]

Sadly the ebikes.ca Brompton kits are better than the gear Brompton uses. But typically Brompton stands tall and fixes problems. It's just irritating and nerve-racking waiting for support. I'm confident you'll get the support you need and deserve.

 

[Tossthesalad]

I have 2 bikes.

Problems on the first in 2 years and 9k km =
3 motors swap (twice the ticking noise, once the motor was dead) + 1 controler + 1 battery at the Junction for 10 months (still in the shop) .

Problem on the second in only 21 km =
Dead battery from box + dead controler !

And the worst = a mecanic from Cyclable (Saint Mandé in France) does not even know how to upgrade the mudguard (put upset down and Brompton tells me by e-mail it was well done !).

 

[Tossthesalad]

A friend of mine had the noise after less than 1 month.

We went to Junction Paris together. I let a defective battery (5 months later, now news...) and he showed the noise.

Junction told he him to come back in 3 weeks. Yes, in this shop you must get an appointment in 3 weeks...

After 3 weeks, he lets the bike.

Result = the shop did nothing because the noise was gone.

The shop knows about the problem in this bike and in general so why not swaping the motor and asking the client to lose its time to come back ?

So very poor service from Junction Paris.

 

[tomjasz]

The best electric Brompton are those kitted using kits from ebike.ca Grin!
Far better components and reliability!