keithd
Active Member
What ever reason Evelo has for not using a belt ( whether Gates or Continental ) at this time I will accept.
New Aurora 2019 Model
- Thread starter TWBKR
- Start date
What ever reason Evelo has for not using a belt ( whether Gates or Continental ) at this time I will accept.
Scarecrow
Member
I'm bummed-out because they confirmed yesterday that until the motor manufacturers create, or Evelo can find, a design where the larger motors create a straight inline alignment with the gear on the rear internal hub, we won't be seeing any belt drives on higher than 350W. Unlike derailleurs, the chain sprocket (belt sprocket) on the mid-drive must align stright with the one on the rear wheel -- otherwise, belts will not work. The larger 500W and 750W motors push this alignment too far outwards to allow this. Maybe the newest Bosch will help. But Thomas at Evelo in Seattle thought the Dapu Motor was going to resolve this. Alex at Evelo has confirmed they will not have a design on the larger motors using a belt drive until 2020, at the earliest.
I do like a lot of the features on the new Aurora Mid-Drive.
Automatic Transmission.
500W and 750W motor options.
Lights are Hard-Wired to the Battery -- not sure if the cables are rouyted through the frame.
Included Rear Rack and they offer a Pannier Bag to fit it.
But I wish it had wider tires (still stuck at 2").
Do NOT like the report that you cannot turn off that battery completely - or lock it out of operating the ebike until you are ready (as in, keeping would-be thieves from turning it on).
Do NOT like the reports of troublesome Monitors and Battery-drain issues.
Love the company, though! They push all the right buttons. Showroom in Seattle is startlingly simplistic -- looks more like a Repair Shop. But they may be working on that. Their Warranty is great, at 4 Years -- but reading over it yesterday, it jumped out at me that it does NOT cover Warranty-Repair LABOR Charges beyond 30 Days. The Warranty is primarily for failing parts, but covers batteries, the Nuvinci (even though they are pushing it way past Enviolo's restriction to 350W motors), and every major part. Free Shipping of Warranty-Repair Parts, too. Wow! Does anybody offer a better Warranty in this industry?? They are very responsive to emails, and will discuss just about any subject at length, and in great detail. And -- get this -- I have not experienced any "I was out of the office!" excuses. If Alex is away, Thomas or one of the others answers, instead. Cool!
I do like a lot of the features on the new Aurora Mid-Drive.
Automatic Transmission.
500W and 750W motor options.
Lights are Hard-Wired to the Battery -- not sure if the cables are rouyted through the frame.
Included Rear Rack and they offer a Pannier Bag to fit it.
But I wish it had wider tires (still stuck at 2").
Do NOT like the report that you cannot turn off that battery completely - or lock it out of operating the ebike until you are ready (as in, keeping would-be thieves from turning it on).
Do NOT like the reports of troublesome Monitors and Battery-drain issues.
Love the company, though! They push all the right buttons. Showroom in Seattle is startlingly simplistic -- looks more like a Repair Shop. But they may be working on that. Their Warranty is great, at 4 Years -- but reading over it yesterday, it jumped out at me that it does NOT cover Warranty-Repair LABOR Charges beyond 30 Days. The Warranty is primarily for failing parts, but covers batteries, the Nuvinci (even though they are pushing it way past Enviolo's restriction to 350W motors), and every major part. Free Shipping of Warranty-Repair Parts, too. Wow! Does anybody offer a better Warranty in this industry?? They are very responsive to emails, and will discuss just about any subject at length, and in great detail. And -- get this -- I have not experienced any "I was out of the office!" excuses. If Alex is away, Thomas or one of the others answers, instead. Cool!
Regarding the battery drain issues, Evelo thinks it is a problem with what the display is showing, not the battery really draining. They have duplicated this issue on some bikes and have a fix. Still waiting to get my display back to see if this trick fixes the issue for me.
Regarding not being able to turn off the battery, you can put a password lock on the display, so that someone cannot just turn the display on and have access to turning it on and working the display controls. They can still turn it on, but cant get anywhere, if you choose to have the PW lock on the display. Of course, it is a tradeoff, when you are doing a number of stops, where you leave your bike for a bit, as you have to enter the PW each time, which is a bit cumbersome. Fingerprint sensor here would be nice.
If you want wider tires, you could also consider the Evelo Delta X. But, for me, and the Aurora being aimed at mostly city riding and some all purpose use, I think 2" width tires is a good in between width and nice balance between rolling efficiency and good traction and handling multiple types of surfaces, dirt or gravel as well as paved. But, of course, everyone has different preferences and needs.
And agree that Evelo has very good customer service, so that is worth a lot.
Regarding not being able to turn off the battery, you can put a password lock on the display, so that someone cannot just turn the display on and have access to turning it on and working the display controls. They can still turn it on, but cant get anywhere, if you choose to have the PW lock on the display. Of course, it is a tradeoff, when you are doing a number of stops, where you leave your bike for a bit, as you have to enter the PW each time, which is a bit cumbersome. Fingerprint sensor here would be nice.
If you want wider tires, you could also consider the Evelo Delta X. But, for me, and the Aurora being aimed at mostly city riding and some all purpose use, I think 2" width tires is a good in between width and nice balance between rolling efficiency and good traction and handling multiple types of surfaces, dirt or gravel as well as paved. But, of course, everyone has different preferences and needs.
And agree that Evelo has very good customer service, so that is worth a lot.
keithd
Active Member
Thanks for the update. I just received my bike a couple days ago I am posting my progress here:
https://electricbikereview.com/forums/threads/aurora-fully-loaded-on-order.28137/
https://electricbikereview.com/forums/threads/aurora-fully-loaded-on-order.28137/
Scarecrow
Member
Latest update from one of the Techs at Evelo's Seattle location, concerning another expected Aurora version (V3), due to be released possibly in late 2019 or early 2020. No guarantees. I want the 3" Tires for usability on different riding surfaces (2" is great for street-only). And I am especially hopeful they can get this new one outfitted with a Gates Belt Drive -- I'm after simplicity, most of all. The step-thru design is perfect for my age (adding a Pannier Bag to that rear rack would be especially bothersome when getting on a normal design bike). And the hard-wired lights are a plus. The big issue for me is the motor power. I weigh 255lbs -- I'm convinced I need 750W, minimum, to climb those hills, play on the beach, etc. Finally, that Warranty means a lot to me -- but keep in mind it does not cover Labor after a fairly short time. Parts only (and some shipping expenses of those Parts).
Note: I know the Trade Tariffs might be hurting this pricing for some time to come. But I found Evelo VERY understanding and helpful in applying / extending any sale offers, and even in giving a credit if I picked mine up instead of shipping it. You just have to ask nicely. No other manufacturer that I've spoken with has responded so steadily as Evelo. They are not hesitant to answer any question I've thrown at them. And very direct ones, at that.
I am NOT trying to discourage anyone from deciding to buy their latest model. If the features that I desire do not matter to you, the current Aurora designs are pretty good, but expensive. If you barely weigh 180lbs, the motor sizes are good in their default sizes. If you weigh well under 200lbs, the 250W motors "might" be okay for commuting or street use.
<< Guy,
The Aurora you are seeking is not in production yet. The hub drive Aurora was released as the new entry level price point and trim package to replace what we used to call the "Premium" line. The mid Aurora is the same as what we used to label the "Fully Loaded". There were a few tiny changes made on this model now, but the wider tire clearance is not one of them.
There are still plans for a Dapu motor belt drive Aurora with 3 inch tires. Our communication with Dapu has been very positive and it seems like they will be able to provide a 750watt version of the 500watt motor we got from them as a sample. There is still no ETA on the release date of the Aurora v3 that you are interested in, but educated guesses would make it lat 2019 possibly early 2020.
The current Aurora is sporting a 750watt mid drive motor or 750watt hub motor. The mid drive Aurora is using a 2" street tire and is built up with the Harmony shifting system on the Nuvinci CVT. The hub drive Aurora is built up with a 7 speed Shimano drive-train and does sport the new 3 inch tires. These wheels and 3 inch tires will make its way onto the Aurora mid once the production on those goes into affect. We have to redesign the majority of the frame in order to accommodate the new motor and that gives us the opportunity to also widen the rear end for the clearance of bigger tires.
The headlight and tail light on the current Aurora and going forward are hardwired. The front light is wired through the frame while the rear light is secured to the inside of the rear rack on dedicated wire/cable routing mounts (not entirely concealed but secured out of the way and properly). We have a demo model of this bicycle here at the showroom which you are welcome to come look at and/or test ride.
All the best,
Thomas Weber
Customer Service Manager
EVELO Electric Bicycles
877-991-7272 | 7 Days | 7am - 5pm PST >>
Note: I know the Trade Tariffs might be hurting this pricing for some time to come. But I found Evelo VERY understanding and helpful in applying / extending any sale offers, and even in giving a credit if I picked mine up instead of shipping it. You just have to ask nicely. No other manufacturer that I've spoken with has responded so steadily as Evelo. They are not hesitant to answer any question I've thrown at them. And very direct ones, at that.
I am NOT trying to discourage anyone from deciding to buy their latest model. If the features that I desire do not matter to you, the current Aurora designs are pretty good, but expensive. If you barely weigh 180lbs, the motor sizes are good in their default sizes. If you weigh well under 200lbs, the 250W motors "might" be okay for commuting or street use.
<< Guy,
The Aurora you are seeking is not in production yet. The hub drive Aurora was released as the new entry level price point and trim package to replace what we used to call the "Premium" line. The mid Aurora is the same as what we used to label the "Fully Loaded". There were a few tiny changes made on this model now, but the wider tire clearance is not one of them.
There are still plans for a Dapu motor belt drive Aurora with 3 inch tires. Our communication with Dapu has been very positive and it seems like they will be able to provide a 750watt version of the 500watt motor we got from them as a sample. There is still no ETA on the release date of the Aurora v3 that you are interested in, but educated guesses would make it lat 2019 possibly early 2020.
The current Aurora is sporting a 750watt mid drive motor or 750watt hub motor. The mid drive Aurora is using a 2" street tire and is built up with the Harmony shifting system on the Nuvinci CVT. The hub drive Aurora is built up with a 7 speed Shimano drive-train and does sport the new 3 inch tires. These wheels and 3 inch tires will make its way onto the Aurora mid once the production on those goes into affect. We have to redesign the majority of the frame in order to accommodate the new motor and that gives us the opportunity to also widen the rear end for the clearance of bigger tires.
The headlight and tail light on the current Aurora and going forward are hardwired. The front light is wired through the frame while the rear light is secured to the inside of the rear rack on dedicated wire/cable routing mounts (not entirely concealed but secured out of the way and properly). We have a demo model of this bicycle here at the showroom which you are welcome to come look at and/or test ride.
All the best,
Thomas Weber
Customer Service Manager
EVELO Electric Bicycles
877-991-7272 | 7 Days | 7am - 5pm PST >>
I have had my Aurora fully loaded for two weeks now. Generally I really like it. I did find the ride a little rough (even with the Thudbuster) with the stock tires inflated to 50 pounds, so I changed out the tires to 2.35 Schwabe Big Apples. Inflated to 30 pounds, they roll faster and provide a much softer ride than the stock tires at 50lbs.. I did however have to give up the fenders to make room for the new tires. Since I never ride in the rain or mud, this is no sacrifice. The Big Apple comes in narrower versions that would fit with the fenders in place if you need to keep them.
The only issue I have with the performance of the bike is the vibration that sometimes occurs at higher speeds with motor assist. I have been talking to Evelo about this and they think it might be the chain tension. I have to try changing the tension to see if this helps. It is also possible that Evelo will change out the chain. They are still working on this and will let me know.
The only issue I have with the performance of the bike is the vibration that sometimes occurs at higher speeds with motor assist. I have been talking to Evelo about this and they think it might be the chain tension. I have to try changing the tension to see if this helps. It is also possible that Evelo will change out the chain. They are still working on this and will let me know.
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Mikelu:
I certainly agree that the Aurora is stiff, like all rigid ebike frames, but I've had success with bringing the 2" CST Sensamos down to 45 psi and installing both a new seat (an Ergon ST Core) and a Kinekt seat post from Cirrus Cycles (which allows you to choose springs appropriate to your weight, and to fine tune travel and stiffness). I also find that I need more height and a bit more width for the handlebar, so I've ordered a Deity Highside 760 with 80 mm of rise. I THINK I'm done customizing the bike. And I think the battery pack is approaching full capacity, but it's not there yet -- I've only completed 4 or 5 drawdown/full recharge cycles so far. Otherwise, I'm very pleased with this bike. I have substantial hills in my town and have no trouble with them, thanks to the powerful motor and the Enviolo transmission. Pretty confident that I chose the right bike for me.
I certainly agree that the Aurora is stiff, like all rigid ebike frames, but I've had success with bringing the 2" CST Sensamos down to 45 psi and installing both a new seat (an Ergon ST Core) and a Kinekt seat post from Cirrus Cycles (which allows you to choose springs appropriate to your weight, and to fine tune travel and stiffness). I also find that I need more height and a bit more width for the handlebar, so I've ordered a Deity Highside 760 with 80 mm of rise. I THINK I'm done customizing the bike. And I think the battery pack is approaching full capacity, but it's not there yet -- I've only completed 4 or 5 drawdown/full recharge cycles so far. Otherwise, I'm very pleased with this bike. I have substantial hills in my town and have no trouble with them, thanks to the powerful motor and the Enviolo transmission. Pretty confident that I chose the right bike for me.
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TRC,
From what I have read, CST tires don’t roll so well with less pressure, which is not true of the Schwalbe balloon tires. Do you experience any vibration when traveling with power assist at speeds of 15 mph and higher?
The Thudbuster seems to work well on the big bumps, and the tires smooth out the small changes in the surface. I am using the elastomer that Thudbuster recommends for people 20 pounds lighter than I am and it works well on the street. I was under the impression that the Kinect seat posts do well on small bumps but not so well on large ones, but I am curious to compare it with the Thudbuster, and I may well do that.
From what I have read, CST tires don’t roll so well with less pressure, which is not true of the Schwalbe balloon tires. Do you experience any vibration when traveling with power assist at speeds of 15 mph and higher?
The Thudbuster seems to work well on the big bumps, and the tires smooth out the small changes in the surface. I am using the elastomer that Thudbuster recommends for people 20 pounds lighter than I am and it works well on the street. I was under the impression that the Kinect seat posts do well on small bumps but not so well on large ones, but I am curious to compare it with the Thudbuster, and I may well do that.
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I haven’t experienced the vibration you mention, but I’m open to switching in future to another tire brand, maybe one with better puncture protection, as long as I don’t need to give up those fenders. Also, the Kinekt seem able to handle a good range of bumps ( e.g. potholes and speed humps) — I do little to no off-road riding.
The vibration is not from the wheels, but either the chain or the motor. The Evelo people are trying to figure it out, but it only occurs on some, not all Auroras. I think the Apple tires in the 2.15 size will allow keeping the fenders. I guess I will have to try the Kineckt.
I’ll start paying more attention to vibrations, Mikelu. Thanks for the heads-up on that.
keithd
Active Member
I have had my Aurora fully loaded about 10 days now and have about 60 miles on her. I find the ride comfortable with the comfort package. Overall I like the bike there is a little chain noise when climbing steep grades, but other than that a very smooth ride. Tires are at 50psi. I really love the Nuvinci so far not as much drag as I was anticipating. I could still be a little more upright and may look into H-bars with a rise. So far battery life has been very good to good using 1 or 2 level of power. When using level 3 for my commute home with several hills battery drops about 18% in the 6 mile ride averaging 21mph. I do not seem to have any vibration as of yet. The lights could be brighter and have some daytime modes.
The Trek/Bontrager brand's Ion and Flare RT daytime running lights (the little cube-shaped ones), although expensive, provide great "being seen" visibility -- coming and going.
evelo-bikes
New Member
I'll try to clarify a couple things...
First: yes, we've seen some issues where the display was incorrectly reporting State of Charge. That was a new trick for us, but easily remedied.
Regarding belts and Enviolo (Nuvinci): The larger Bafang motors just do not line up correctly to use a belt with the chainline (beltline?) necessary for the Enviolo hub. The belts are plenty strong enough to take the torque. Funny enough, the Gates belt is just slightly less efficient than a chain at human power levels; as power increases, it becomes more efficient than a chain.
Also yes, we stand behind the products we sell, even when we use them in manners that might not be recommended by the manufacturer. The Enviolo hubs have been fantastically durable, even with our 750-watt bikes. We don't warranty more than a few in any given year.
All this leads up to... yes, a belt-driven Aurora is coming. I wish it were coming faster, but that's just how it goes sometimes. Since the cat's already out of the bag, the plan is to use a Dapu motor; this has the power level we want, fits a belt, and offers throttle from zero as well as a torque sensor. So far, the sample units are working great, and we will continue to try and break them.
Cheers,
David
First: yes, we've seen some issues where the display was incorrectly reporting State of Charge. That was a new trick for us, but easily remedied.
Regarding belts and Enviolo (Nuvinci): The larger Bafang motors just do not line up correctly to use a belt with the chainline (beltline?) necessary for the Enviolo hub. The belts are plenty strong enough to take the torque. Funny enough, the Gates belt is just slightly less efficient than a chain at human power levels; as power increases, it becomes more efficient than a chain.
Also yes, we stand behind the products we sell, even when we use them in manners that might not be recommended by the manufacturer. The Enviolo hubs have been fantastically durable, even with our 750-watt bikes. We don't warranty more than a few in any given year.
All this leads up to... yes, a belt-driven Aurora is coming. I wish it were coming faster, but that's just how it goes sometimes. Since the cat's already out of the bag, the plan is to use a Dapu motor; this has the power level we want, fits a belt, and offers throttle from zero as well as a torque sensor. So far, the sample units are working great, and we will continue to try and break them.
Cheers,
David
keithd
Active Member
This is aimed at anyone, but Dave from Evelo I would love to hear from you as well. My Aurora FL arrived on June 4th, I also went with the comfort package all is well. The bike is great, smooth, pretty quick and the Nuvinci better than anticipated. There is far less drag from the Nuvinci than I have read about, and the full auto mode totally works.
How ever I would still prefer a more upright position so I was thinking of an adjustable stem or possibly Jones 2" rise "H" handle bars. Not sure what will fit correctly. All ideas, suggestions and advice is welcome.
Thanks
Keith
How ever I would still prefer a more upright position so I was thinking of an adjustable stem or possibly Jones 2" rise "H" handle bars. Not sure what will fit correctly. All ideas, suggestions and advice is welcome.
Thanks
Keith
I feel the same about a more upright position. So this Friday I expect delivery of a Deity Highrise 760 handlebar -- it has an 80 mm rise (a little over 3") and is 760 mm wide (approx. 4" wider than the stock bar). The middle diameter is 31.8 mm, pretty much the same as the stock bar, so the stem clamp won't be an issue. I'm not certain that the bar won't exceed the bike's cable slack at full width, but I can easily cut the bar shorter if needed. The main change I'm looking for is more height. I'll let you know how it works out for me.
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