Zen Photon Ultra - limited version (Bafang Ultra, Rohloff Speed hub, Gates belt drive)

[Gionnirocket]

This was the most recent I've seen. https://www.facebook.com/reel/1798902154160924

I found it curious that it had nothing to do with bikes. Feels like the bike business was just a stepping stone to battery factory from the outside looking in in this case. And I guess fair enough, just wish there was transparency that it was going to be the case. Too bad they couldn't hand the business to someone else to run if so, too. I would have loved to keep seeing improvements...and service, and all the good stuff that comes with a solid bike company.

And yeah, I just don't have that comfort level with electronics, so it's a shame for me. Need that extra bit of help with service(and heck, there's times I just want to hand it to more skilled hands and say, "please help"). The regular bike-related stuff? No problem. I can generally figure it out, or have friends who can help me. Makes me think I should drop the electric part...but it's so much fun, and I get such distance per ride, I don't think I ever will.

Ok... That's one post in the past year.
Here's a funny excerpt
"They say the true test of character isn’t how you act on your best days—but how you show up on your hardest ones.
We are grateful to each and every customer of Zen and our team will come back stronger in 2026 to support you.
- Team Zen"

My personal take. Ravi is trying to do the right thing but perhaps has bitten of more than one can handle and prioritizing the battery factory.
I've spoken to 4 or 5 others there and each has been more useless than the other. He doesn't seem to have a lot of capable help.
I think if the battery factory succeeds... he'll get back into the eBike business. If not,

 

[DrewInSK]

Ok... That's one post in the past year.
Here's a funny excerpt
"They say the true test of character isn’t how you act on your best days—but how you show up on your hardest ones.
We are grateful to each and every customer of Zen and our team will come back stronger in 2026 to support you.
- Team Zen"

My personal take. Ravi is trying to do the right thing but perhaps has bitten of more than one can handle and prioritizing the battery factory.
I've spoken to 4 or 5 others there and each has been more useless than the other. He doesn't seem to have a lot of capable help.
I think if the battery factory succeeds... he'll get back into the eBike business. If not, View attachment 203516

Good help is hard to find kind of thing? Yeah, could be so. Well fingers crossed for them and us, frankly.

 

[Mike TowpathTraveler]

@Cybersnow -- As a long time owner of a Haibike with the Yamaha PW drive, I kind of feel your pain in a way; 1- Haibike departed the US market several years ago & Yamaha ebikes has left the US market as well. For real dealer representation after the sale, I'm thinking now it's either Specialized or Trek and all the rest are a crapshoot, you take your chances with your hard earned money.

This may be a bit late to this discussion, but I copied this off the Peter White Cycles website, Rohloff section: By the way, Peter White Cycles and Propel (www.propelbikes.com) are the only authorized service centers for Rohloff in North America.

So there you go, these are the folks who can help you get that Rohloff repaired, once and for all. My opinion would be not to scrap that and go to a derailleur set up. My H-bike has a derailleur and it involves a good bit of maintenance as the miles rack up. Not to mention, stretched chains, constant need of chain cleaning and relubrication. Worn jockey wheels....

Alot of folks here rooted on Ravi as he started up his business, so all of this is a bit disappointing regarding the lack of followup after the sale and warranty issues.

So....... give either Peter White a call or Propel (note-Chris Nolte of Propel spent alot of time with Court during the first few years of this forum; so it'd not hurt to mention you are a member of this forum).

Let us know how it works out.....and don't scrap that Rohloff!

 

[Gionnirocket]

@Cybersnow -- As a long time owner of a Haibike with the Yamaha PW drive, I kind of feel your pain in a way; 1- Haibike departed the US market several years ago & Yamaha ebikes has left the US market as well. For real dealer representation after the sale, I'm thinking now it's either Specialized or Trek and all the rest are a crapshoot, you take your chances with your hard earned money.

This may be a bit late to this discussion, but I copied this off the Peter White Cycles website, Rohloff section: By the way, Peter White Cycles and Propel (www.propelbikes.com) are the only authorized service centers for Rohloff in North America.

So there you go, these are the folks who can help you get that Rohloff repaired, once and for all. My opinion would be not to scrap that and go to a derailleur set up. My H-bike has a derailleur and it involves a good bit of maintenance as the miles rack up. Not to mention, stretched chains, constant need of chain cleaning and relubrication. Worn jockey wheels....

Alot of folks here rooted on Ravi as he started up his business, so all of this is a bit disappointing regarding the lack of followup after the sale and warranty issues.

So....... give either Peter White a call or Propel (note-Chris Nolte of Propel spent alot of time with Court during the first few years of this forum; so it'd not hurt to mention you are a member of this forum).

Let us know how it works out.....and don't scrap that Rohloff!

I concur.
My Zen is similar to his with a Rohloff and I may never go back to a derailleur.
If Zen won't assist under their 3 year warranty, Rohloff may since this failure is on a fairly new unit.
I've dealt with Propel for my Rohloff and they were pretty responsive with locations in NY and CA.

 

[Mike TowpathTraveler]

The Rohloff locked up and stopped shifting. Up until this point there was never a problem. Oil was changed once a year. Rohloff has offered a replacement/repair and so no complaints there. The other option is to get the Rohloff repaired and use the bike only locally, it pulls my doggie trailer with no issues. I just do not want to repeat the experience of trying to get it fixed only to be told by the nearest LBS that they have no clue or tools to work on it.

Just wanted to piggyback on your post here..... As the only two factory authorized service centers are Propel and Peter White, I'd contact Peter White first. Why? Peter White has been building wheels for some 4 or 5 decades. So, with them, you have an in-house expert wheel builder on-hand who also happens to be a Rohloff service center. If you have the info between Rohloff and you in regards to having no problems servicing or replacing it outright under the warrany, it would probably make the process more smooth. At this point, I'd keep Zen out of the discussion and deal with either Peter White or Propel. Just a matter of packing up and shipping your rear wheel/hub to either vendor. Peter White is in New Hampshire; an old school touring bicyclist. I purchased a Schmidt front and rear light set up for my Haibike several years back with no problems at all. It seems to me anymore that so many local bike shops have dried up and gone away. But Peter White is one of those who has been in it for the long haul.

Been reading Crazy Guy on a Bicycle for a good long time and on that site, a ton of world traveling touring cyclists have done it on Rohloffs with very little trouble overall. If I could do it, I'd have one retrofitted on my Haibike.

@Gionnirocket -- You've got a nice bike there! I remember when Propel expanded from Brooklyn, NY to CA. They've also opened a warehouse in Delaware. I know their website still lists CA and DE, but I kinda wonder if they rebooted and just went with the original Brooklyn shop/store.

Good luck in getting that hub repaired and let us know how it turns out!

 

[Gionnirocket]

Just wanted to piggyback on your post here..... As the only two factory authorized service centers are Propel and Peter White, I'd contact Peter White first. Why? Peter White has been building wheels for some 4 or 5 decades. So, with them, you have an in-house expert wheel builder on-hand who also happens to be a Rohloff service center. If you have the info between Rohloff and you in regards to having no problems servicing or replacing it outright under the warrany, it would probably make the process more smooth. At this point, I'd keep Zen out of the discussion and deal with either Peter White or Propel. Just a matter of packing up and shipping your rear wheel/hub to either vendor. Peter White is in New Hampshire; an old school touring bicyclist. I purchased a Schmidt front and rear light set up for my Haibike several years back with no problems at all. It seems to me anymore that so many local bike shops have dried up and gone away. But Peter White is one of those who has been in it for the long haul.

Been reading Crazy Guy on a Bicycle for a good long time and on that site, a ton of world traveling touring cyclists have done it on Rohloffs with very little trouble overall. If I could do it, I'd have one retrofitted on my Haibike.

@Gionnirocket -- You've got a nice bike there! I remember when Propel expanded from Brooklyn, NY to CA. They've also opened a warehouse in Delaware. I know their website still lists CA and DE, but I kinda wonder if they rebooted and just went with the original Brooklyn shop/store.

Good luck in getting that hub repaired and let us know how it turns out!

Good point on time/experience. I used Propel for parts, not repair...and Zen picked up the bill.
That said... Once you have it apart the Rohloff is not complex rocket science and the instructions are pretty straight forward with plenty of video available. After the first half hour I felt more than confident working on it.
That, that said all my issues were assembly mistakes and the engineers and mechanics at Zen made a mess of it.. all of which slipped passed their "quality control"