Gazelle Ultimate T10

[Chazmo]

Totally understand. Bosch is a company like any other, and they are subject to market forces. I think you were told a lie about support for 10 years in this business, but I’m skeptical that way.

My solution, by the way, for dealing with the (unfortunately, immediate) obsolescence when my bike manufacturer disappeared was to buy a spare bike and collect up some parts. I don’t know about the Powertube, but there are an awful lot of Bosch motors and parts out there. My goal has been 5 years of independence (continuous riding of an obsoleted product, that is). I think 10 would be pushing it, @PHXRDR, but you might be able to make it work.

 

[stompandgo]

The normal way to replace your drive unit would be to order one through your bike manufacturer. In your case, that is Gazelle. Bosch does not sell drive units directly to the end user, as they have to be set up by an authorized dealer for that bike. Contact Gazelle to find out if you can get a replacement. If you are using third party sites like Ebay to determine supply, they only reflect dealer overstock, not what Bosch can provide through proper channels. If you are concerned about having a replacement down the road, just purchase one now and put it on the shelf.

 

[PHXRDR]

Step 1: Buy shovel
Step 2: Dig deeper
Not for me!

 

[stompandgo]

So what exactly are you complaining about then?

 

[PHXRDR]

26,000 miles and counting.

 

[Brendon@OEB]

Love the mileage and updates, nice work!!

As far as your concerns for longevity moving forward, Bosch is a longstanding German company and what I mean by that is they're going to support the Gen 2 product for a long time. Sure you might not have the same display available (Purion) but there are other displays that work and are much better all around as you've found out upgrading to the Intuvia (might consider the Kiox or Nyon in the future).

Drive unit concerns are very valid, but those drive units can withstand some serious miles as you're proving! There are companies, specifically Ebike Motor Repair that can refresh the DU. I've had them rebuild a Brose unit to great success and I'm sure they could overhaul the Bosch DU no problem (they advertise this service on their site).

Great notes on drivetrain use too, well done! Chain longevity has been pretty good for you! Here in the PNW if you ride year round the chains and rotating bits don't last nearly as long (as expected with the rain/dirty weather).

Personally I wouldn't lose any sleep worrying about Bosch not supporting your product. New bikes are still sold with gen 2 product. The Bosch warehouse is full of service bits both batteries and DU's. As noted you cannot buy one new from Bosch, you have to be a dealer and start the warranty/service process. Granted you're outside of the warranty period but if you suspect something isn't right, take it into a dealer for a checkup and have them start the service process to make a ticket in Bosch's database.

Ebike Motor Repair took about 3ish weeks to turnaround my DU. Retrofitting a BB or other DU seems like a ton of work for little reward. At the same time, you don't currently have any DU issues, yeah?

Do you have a 2nd battery on the bike? Might be worth considering given your mileage! Replacement batteries for your horizontal Powertube 500wh are readily available, I just looked at the warehouse inventory. $999.50 is what they go for brand new.

I've been a Gazelle dealer for some time so holler if you have any q's!

 

[PHXRDR]

Brendon - I greatly appreciate your encouraging post. Fact is I've been alternating a second battery for a year and a half and 12,000 mi (so the longevity data might be skewed regarding battery life). I figure close to 500 full charge equivalents on the original battery (although it acts new) and 120 on the second one.
Just installed my 12th chain and 4th brake sets yesterday. Continue to get 3,000 mi out of a Wipperman (with Muc-Off ebike dry lube) and change the brakes yearly (even though they're at a probable 75%wear).
I believe (the bike will be 4 yo in 22 days) much of this longevity is due to the fact that I brought good analog bicycling skills along when I entered exclusive ebiking. My cadence is 75 plus. In this desert heat (it was 95 when I rode this morning at 0300), I'm convinced the DU is kept as cool as possible by high rpm. I immediately remove the battery and let it cool (4 hours in my apartment) before topping off the charge, for example.
I truly don't know how long She'll continue but as it performs as the first day I bought it, my riding enjoyment is over the top.
Since I've been reporting all along, I promise to report its demise and the post mortem whenever it occurs.
Regards

 

[PHXRDR]

Battery management systems in extremis:
A Gazelle Ultimate T10 at 4 years and 26,700 miles utilizing two batteries, alternating every other day.
My rides this summer are unchanged from previous years; due to the desert heat, departing 2 to 4 hours before sunrise, two hours and 27 mi avg duration including (typically) 500 ft ascent.
Only thing is, this year we have yet to enjoy temps below 90F that you could count on previously. Every ride starts out at about 95F and ends at 90F.
Along with this heat, blessedly, is lower than normal humidity (dew point and rain events), which makes riding in these conditions completely tolerable, not breaking a noticeable sweat.
The Bosch BMS appears to be working as advertised, although I haven't seen them in these conditions before now;
1. I have NEVER thrown an error code. Running in Sport mode and fairly frequent Turbo.
2. The full charge indication at ECO is 90 miles on both batteries (at a computed 500 and 150 full charge hours). Both act the same. In cooler conditions they are typically at 115 to 130 mi at ECO.
3. Immediately upon returning (placing the bike in my air conditioned apartment) I remove the battery (which is very warm) and let it sit 3 to 4 hours before charging, to be used the day after next.
I (absolutely) believe this is the Bosch BMS working at its best in (what many might agree) repeated extreme conditions.

 

[Brendon@OEB]

Do you have a Bosch dealer nearby? If so it might be useful to have them plug the bike in and get you the data from the batteries and bike. Could be handy for your records based on your incredible record keeping!

 

[PHXRDR]

Brendon - My purchasing dealer (and closest) is 15 mi and (although obviously, not a "deal breaker") I could ride there (don't have a vehicle). Matter of fact, at purchase, I was charged $89 for "Service for Life" constituting tune-ups etc. I've never availed myself of it as (if you'll permit me to say) I can do an equal or better job of maintaining my bike. With the exception of the added macro information that such a Bosch dealer analysis would provide.
Maybe come late fall I'll pop over to them.
For now, being long beyond warranty and, according to the information available, beyond an expected service life, I'll just keep on...

 

[Brendon@OEB]

Gotcha, good on you for using the e-bike as your main/only transport, nice!!

The software check/update is by no means mandatory but suggested. The dealer report they can provide is nice to have for your records. I'd consider upgrading displays to the Nyon, you can install everything yourself and next ride to the dealer have them plug it in for an update, usually only takes 10 mins or so to perform the update.