I have been very satisfied with the Shimano Steps E5000 system in my Motobecane-- but I don't have that many miles on it, maybe 1,500. However, it has been subjected to some very serious strain-- climbing long, steep hills-- which explains the low miles: I'm in good shape, but an 8 or 10 mile ride here is a serious workout with only 40 nm between the cranks!
But PMC, you're not wrong-- I have also heard that the Steps systems are challenging to service. My LBS tells me they are now a Shimano dealer and would take care of me, though of course I don't know what that means until I have a problem. I do like the design of the motors that Pedal uses on his builds-- and I like the comments I've read from DIYers on other forums regarding repairability.
I like having two bikes-- one is the Moto, the other DIY or custom built one. My Clean Republic (Hiltopper) battery or controller fried twice in about a thousand miles, so I plan to replace that bike with one of Pedal's builds.
Stefan, I would be frustrated being the butt of many jokes, you have all my sympathy. I love your ride reports, and while your taste regarding ride monitoring and tracking software is very different from mine, hey, no problem... I get very obsessive about metrics sometimes, so I get it. I don't always quite understand why folks here go after you so hard. I mean, isn't there always at least one guy in any group who comes on a little strong about some subjects? I have at least one friend who is WAY more outta control than you are-- brash, opinionated, etc. So what?
FWIW, after learning a bit more about Pedal's builds-- and seeing the crazy, totally illegal electric bikes (actually motorcycles with cosmetic chains and pedals!) in New York, I think the way you characterized his business is not fair. He's not building overpowered monsters or dragsters, and none of the parts he's using seem like they are being used for anything they are not designed for. Maybe they go 20 MPH, maybe they go 29 MPH, but bicycles are built to go faster than that. I'm not an engineer, but I don't see anything that's being subjected to more load than it should be.
Generally, I disagree that 'off-the-shelf' products from large manufacturers are better or more reliable than DIY or custom build products. Sometimes they are, but more and more often, it seems like they are not. It feels like the implicit social/commercial contract about that-- if there ever was one-- is breaking down badly.
My 2014 Macbook Air was the second or third best laptop I've ever had, it was fantastic. 2020 Macbook Air is easily the worst laptop I've ever owned. The other day, it leaped off my desk and bit my ankle deeper than my dog ever has, and my laptop is less predictable than my dog, who has a seizure disorder, at least I can tell when he's getting bitey! (Okay, it didn't really bite me. I'm prone to hyperbole. My leg brushed against the non-magnetic, planned-obsolescent-intentionally-downgraded charging cable, and-- because it has frictionless feet-- it fell of the desk and gashed my leg.) I'm at the point where I'm thinking my next laptop is going to be a LINUX DIY that I have someone else build from the ground up.
This puts consumers-- like the OP, dollar, or any of us-- in a really difficult position. How are we to know what's best for our needs? We really can't trust the manufacturers. They might make a great product one year and another the next year that should never have been brought to market. And this is why this forum is so important. Great information and links, thanks, keep it coming.
I'd like to see industry stand by their product with a little more confidence.
