I received my Frey CC bike yesterday and have so far ridden 15 miles on a gravel trail to get a feel on how it performs. Here are my first impressions.
The bike is everything I was hoping for and I think Frey has managed to come up with a winner.
I have another hard-tail e-bike with a rear hub motor and I usually try to go around bumps and holes when I ride that bike. With the CC, the drive is so smooth that I find myself aiming for the bumps and holes because it is so much fun; it is like riding on a cloud.
Positive impressions:
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The Maxxis 2.8" nubby tires: I ride exclusively on trails (gravel, dirt, forest) and the control offered by those tires is amazing, especially in conditions that would be slippery with my other bike.
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Magura MT5 brakes: I have been following the braking noise issues reported by Tom and Dave. So far, I have not noticed any noise coming from the braking system. I have a different set of rim/tires and I don't know if this might play a role. As well, so far I have noticed that both the rear and front brakes are very efficient, either when used together or one at the time. No complaint on the brake bite so far.
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The motor controller: I have exercised all the PAS levels (1-5) in Eco mode, going rapidly back and forth between the levels, and found a very good responsiveness of the motor. Increasing the pressure on the pedals causes the motor to quickly respond in kind and it makes you feel like superman at times. I have not tried the Sport mode yet.
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Stand-up Height: The CC stand-up height is very comfortable with the CC. I did measure 25.5" from the ground to the top of the cross bar, which is exactly what Frey had in their CC geometry specs.
Items that may benefit from improvements:
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Water Bottle Holder: I found that water bottle holder is often in the way when mounting/dismounting the bike. I may simply remove it.
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The Rear Light: When I opened the bike package, I found the rear light was dislodged from the rack and just hanging by its wires. It became loose as a result of the shipping. The rear light is precariously held by only two very small screws that could easily become loose with the vibrations of the rack. As a general comment, I would have been happier to pay extra money for a set of front and rear lights that are commensurate with the quality of the CC bike.
Item under investigation:
- I have noticed an occasional clattering sound (click, click,...click) that appears to be coming from the area of the motor, I think. I am trying to pin it down more specifically. It may be just the normal working of the motor. I am planning to check with Frey about it.
Here is my bike below. I am also trying a combination of Topeak rack and bag. The bag slides on a track and locks at the end of track. It is very sturdy and there is enough clearance with the stock rack at the bottom. I will likely take out the stock rack and move the rear light on the Topeak rack.
Thank you for reading,
Stay safe
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