Commuter companion - infinite upgrades!

[Ebiker33]

This seems to be a pretty awesome program, this is from their website:

We are happy to launch a program to help our customers keep up with the advancements in e-bike technologies.

The easy part - components
As we develop new parts, packs, enclosures, and work with new components, we will provide our customers a pathway to upgrade. As an example, if we come up with a new battery pack with cool features, or higher capacity, we will try to make it backward compatible, and you can buy it from us at a discounted price.



The cool part - frame and motor
If in the future we work with a new motor which means getting a new frame, OR the same motor but a better frame design / capability, we will offer our customers the option to upgrade to a new frame and / or the new motor !



How will this work ?
The program will have a nominal annual charge of $10/yr to cover administrative costs. You must enroll in the program within 90 days of getting the bike using the following

• The Order number
• Frame serial number
• Motor serial number

At the moment the registration will be processed manually by sending an email to [email protected] . Once we launch a customer portal, we will send you a link to register your bikes online.

We do not want our customers to have upgrade anxiety, or new bike envy. It is important to note that all this is only possible if we keep an open platform.

Can you share anything else with us, for example since you created the bike you upgraded cranks and the handle, if you were signed up for this system would your customers get cost plus pricing on these changes, do you send the old ones back, please expand on the details of this program for us, if you can. A new frame is pretty much a rebuild of the bike as well. Bafang is working on a transmission to handle the full torque of the G510, so let's say that happens and people need to change it out...what then?

 

[pushkar]

Oh.. this is SUCH a great post. Let me do a deep dive

This seems to be a pretty awesome program, this is from their website:

Can you share anything else with us, for example since you created the bike you upgraded cranks and the handle, if you were signed up for this system would your customers get cost plus pricing on these changes, do you send the old ones back, please expand on the details of this program for us, if you can. A new frame is pretty much a rebuild of the bike as well. Bafang is working on a transmission to handle the full torque of the G510, so let's say that happens and people need to change it out...what then?

This is such a great question. Specifically on the custom upgrades !



1. Yes, the cranks, larger 60T chain-rings, and handlebars are available at a special pricing for our customers (cant say cost plus for legal reasons). I haven't had a chance to put up the items on the site yet, but a couple of customers have already bought and upgraded the cranks! I do not offer swap out pricing for the cranks / handlebars. Old parts cannot be refurbished /recycled back to the manufacturer.

2. Yes, agreed, a new frame is nearly a full build. My current bikes take between 3-5 hours to swap out frames. If you have Velofix in your area, they will be able to take the frame and re-build it for you at your house in a matter of hours. For Titanium frames, those can be shipped back to me. I provide a swap out credit since Ti can be re-processed. The cost is thus a lot lower than one would imagine.

3. Yes, as and when Bafang has new offerings (not quite sure what those are tbh) - it will be available to all existing customers. That includes motors, firmware upgrades. Sometimes bafang charges for these, so I will know as and when those become available.

4. There are a few other interesting things I am working on (motor / battery / frame) that will be offered to WW customers first.

My goal with the program is to keep iterating and coming out with parts, bikes, components etc that make the ownership fun and interesting. Cranks and Handlebars are a great example. There is a lot more in store this year - some of it will make having a WW an even better value for customers. Feel free to ask more questions.

 

[Ebiker33]

Sounds good, as a boutique manufacture you have the ability to change parts every few builds, whereas most other Ebikes companies do it only annually, for example 2019 to 2020 models.
They will announce this is what is new for this year. So if you were going to buy a bike in September there would be perhaps at least some thinking that you should wait until the next model year comes out that is new and improved. Your company doesn't have that issue, and not every upgrade is of interest to all customers, I can see myself not worried about new handlebars, but something else might be of interest. Some upgrades are very obvious why they are better, some not so much. And other people just might want them, like the bell you added, not too expensive in the overall scheme, but still a welcome edition.

 

[pushkar]

If we keep an open platform, there are a lot of ways to innovate at a quicker pace. You are not constrained by limitations on battery or motor, bespoke components. The trade off is looks tend to be a little bare.

 

[Ebiker33]

If we keep an open platform, there are a lot of ways to innovate at a quicker pace. You are not constrained by limitations on battery or motor, bespoke components. The trade off is looks tend to be a little bare.

Function over form, I guess each person can decide what is more important.
With a Ti frame can you just sand/buff out scratches and that is great long term.
I sell sandpaper at my job, you can use 2000 grit Crocus cloth for Titanium, it's pretty cheap under 2 dollars per sheet.
Crocus Cloth