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- ‘Before You Buy’ and read the latest updates.
Not all e-Bikes are built the same and may have no backup support. You buy online and 'On Your Bike' when it comes to having it fixed. Not good for the rider, the environment or the bike industry.
We advice customers the following before buying an e-Bike:
Are you prepared for the costs of an e-Bike? Part of owning a e-Bike is the preventive maintenance. If you are happy read on, if not learn more and read
FreE-Bikes
Before You Buy:
- Make sure it's the right e-Bike for your needs. That's the reason we have encouraged you to thoroughly test ride as much as is needed to make an informed decision.
- Make sure parts are available to the e-Bike system fitted to the bike you are interested in.
- Check the guarantee
- How will you get the bike to the shop for repair
- Where are you going to get your bike fixed? Is there a mechanic or shop near you, that will work on a particular e-Bike
you are interested in.
- Consider spending a little more on a brand name that offers a good level of service and 2-Years warranty.
Many dealers won't work on bikes they did not sell or will only work on brands like Bosch and Shimano. And some dealers and online shops don't do any repairs. Find out about about support and warranty being carried out, before you buy
Type of bike:
- Live in an apartment or take on your travels in a motorhome, you will need this type of bike (Light and maybe foldable)
- Limited accessibility and mobility - Having a fat tyre e-Bike will make this difficult if you don't have a drive and a garage.
- Used for work you need to spend this amount of money (£2k upwards for mid motor assistance)
- The bike is the correct size (Some e-Bikes come in one size) try before you buy or talk with a professional.
- Folding e-Bikes can be heavy do the research (Not unusual to be marketed as light and the reality is the opposite)
- Different types (Rear & front hub or mid motor) and power output of motors (Max 250 w) Live where there are hills, you will need a mid drive motor with a minimum of 75Nm of torque.
- Battery quality, size and range suited to the end user. Batteries can get expensive to replace.
If you are new to cycling or have not ridden for a while, then try before you buy. Compare a few different bikes. step-through bikes prove popular and easy to get on and off. Some folding bikes can be clumsy and heavy.
Where to buy from:
- Buy from someone who cares and is likely to be around in the future
- We recommend a reputable bike shop, who is established and has experience with the e-bikes they are selling. Having the manufactures support and spares backup.
- While more e-Bikes are sold online, when buying online, first check independent reviews of their business and the brand of e-Bike you are interested in, plus how long they have been established. Check their returns policy, and money back guarantee if it ends up being not fit for purpose. Any returns could be at your cost, but this is known as cutting your losses if it is a money pit e-Bike and you end-up not using it.
Don't buy on the grounds of being discounted, the savings could mean a cost when it come to finding someone to repair it when it goes wrong or there are no parts available.
Can you make my e-Bike go faster or fit a throttle?:
- The motors fitted to bicycle brands Cycle Tech UK work on, are designed to assist the rider and are limited to 15.5 mph. When riding on the road, you may experience the assistants cutting out and in, as you speed up / slow down or your riding buddies are cycling past you. This can feel annoying, and we get asked;
"If you can make my bike go just a bit faster?"... In a word 'No' In this scenario we recommend choosing a lower gear, by going 2 mph below the 15.5 mph. Coupled with changing the power assistant mode to a more Eco mode, you will find a good pedal cadence to cycle to. This will help to give your battery a longer range, and result in less wear on the drive chain, and motor while protecting the battery from creating any issues or sucking the life out of it, voiding warranty, and manipulating the true miles coved for service schedule... While you enjoy the pleasure and experience of cycling - Responsible e-Biking... Not been built to go faster. If you need to go faster, then consider an e-Motor Bike
or a
FreE Bike.
- Since 2016 throttles are no longer fitted to e-Bikes, only in the exception as a second assistance to pedaling and these throttles are now limited to walking speed 4.6 mph, EN 15194. e-Bikes with throttles that allow you to go faster than 4.6 mph, need to be registered as a motorbike.
- Pointing out to the above, that the legal limit is 15.5 mph and we could be held legally responsible if we "unrestricted" the bike... Especially in an accident situation. For this reason it's not in our policy to carry out this work.
Do you fit e-Bike Conversion Kits?
- Yes, Cycle Tech UK has partnered with
Boost
a British company. The kit's are fitted by a Cycle Tech after an inspection of your bike, to make sure the bike is suitable.
And with
CYC Photon
- 250W EPAC Compliant eBike Torque Sensing Mid Drive Conversion Kit.
Do you repair batteries?
- No, we only supply and fit new batteries. And with the implications of Brexit, if there is not a dedicated distributor in the UK, at this moment we are unable to supply any parts from Europe.
My motor is making a noise, can you help?
- We tend to fear the worst, and it's not always coming from inside the motor. When was you bike last serviced? We would first need to see and inspect your bike. It could be the motor mounting bolts or brackets, associated parts that are worn or something else. Depending on the make and model of the motor is whether we can repair it or not (Subject to parts being available or if the electrics are also become damaged) it could be a replacement.
Many motors are not diagnosed early enough, leading to drastic failure a little later down the line.
For warranty and to reduce serving costs, it's essential to keep the service schedule intervals up to date.
Let us inspect your motor to first determine if it is at fault, and is it can be repaired, exchanged for a reconditioned unit or requires a new motor.
The motors we currently support are the following:
- Bosch
- Brose
- Impulse
- Mahle
- Panasonic
- Yamaha
Whilst we can diagnose and support Shimano, we are not rebuilding Shimano motors at this time. We have difficulty fully supporting Bafang at this time, and looking how to support Fazura in the future with motor repairs.
Read More:
e-Bike Motor Repairs
Service and prevented maintenance is to help keep your bike running at its best, to prevent breakdowns, costly repairs and time not riding. Book a service TODAY
Waterproof... Chinese motors recommend not going out in heavy rain. If the bike needs working on do you have a backup way to get to work?
Did you know, some good online brands offer e-bikes built by a professional Cycle Technician and handed over showing you how everything works and how to look after the battery at your home. Including a free first service after 30-days.
Buying cheap, means buying twice. -
Cycling should be a pleasure.
Cheaper bikes can’t get the parts, poor quality and little backup with no responsibility.
If you are not sure, speak with an independent Technician before parting with your money.
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