Long term ownership: a general survey

[pmcdonald]

Here's a poll and some questions for everyone with ebikes you've owned for 5 years and over.

How has your ownership been? How reliable is your ebike?

For those of us aiming for a long ownership we'd love to hear experiences, good and bad. Please share your make and model, as well as how supportive the manufacturer and dealers have been over that time.

 

[Bigal1463]

You might also want them to add how many miles traveled.

 

[AHicks]

I'd put the question of reliability almost solely on the degree of maintenance a bike is getting.

Poor maintenance = poor reliability.......

 

[Deleted member 18083]

• 2017 Kalkhoff Integrale : 4,000 km
  Terrible. Irreparable or not cost effective to repair.
• 2018 Trek Powerfly : 9,500 km
  Good. Some minor replacements and repairs.
• 2019 R&M Homage : 18,000 km
  Not good. Considerable downtime.

 

[J.R.]

I voted good. I think the thing that will skew the poll results is the 5 year qualifier. I don't know how many forum members have had their bikes for 5 years. I like the idea of this poll. I'd also like to see the results of long term ownership, but I think the poll is likely going to include bikes that are much newer.

 

[Alex M]

This won't be productive. There are few top brands and then there are dozens online retailers of much lower quality but some of them sell bikes in huge numbers (their revenues are still lower because bikes are cheaper).

 

[Browneye]

Ebikes have really come on to the scene in the most recent few years. Five years ago they were virtually an unknown.

 

[christob]

Not quite halfway to the 5 year mark here.
Vintage Electric Bike's Cafe. Some issues (purchased bike was a 'demo' bike at a discount... later, whole bike was replaced with a brand new one.) Manufacturer has been STELLAR in all regards in addressing / resolving the issues. Total miles on both Cafe frames (original and replacement) around 8,200.

 

[harryS]

I bought an EG Maui 500X beach cruiser in 2015 from Crazy Lennys in Wisconsin. My sister has it now, and says she rides 3-5 times a week on the original battery.

Never had to do anything to that bike, except bend the derailleur back straight. We carried it home on its side in our car, and bent the hanger.

 

[GypsyTreker]

I like this survey, very useful, however....5 years is maybe not as useful as a starting point. It would also be nice to break the survey into price points. $800-1800. 1900-2900. etc. Serious junk is usually visable when unboxing occurs. The next tier show up in the first 6 months. Beyond that usage , maintenance performed etc will provide a varience in polled response. So perhaps for casual riding a 1.5 year baseline, 2.5 for extensive use. Just a thought

 

[rich c]

Can't vote because of your time requirement. I have a 2016 Haibike XDURO (Bosch) Trekking S RX with 4,143 miles. Replaced the chain at 2,500 miles, everything else is as the day I rode it away from Crazy Lenny's. I have a spare cassette and brake pads, but they haven't been needed yet.

 

[Taylor57]

I cant vote due to just recently joining the ranks however how long should I expect my $1000 ebike (Lectric XP) to last? I plan on riding around 200-300 miles per month on well paved streets and golf cart paths and maybe an occasional trail. I have no idea what I just got myself into, however after about 2 weeks I love it. I have gained 2 lbs...

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Five years? "People don't live so long..."
PMc, e-bikes are so new phenomenon for most of us it would take three or four year more before you'd get a considerable number of votes, and the technology will change over that time

 

[PDoz]

• 2017 Kalkhoff Integrale : 4,000 km
  Terrible. Irreparable or not cost effective to repair.
• 2018 Trek Powerfly : 9,500 km
  Good. Some minor replacements and repairs.
• 2019 R&M Homage : 18,000 km
  Not good. Considerable downtime.

over 30,000 km and many of those are on dirt - much more useful information than 5 years of urban ownership. I'd love to read an in depth thread about what bike next and why