High Maintenance? eMTBs Require More Adjustment | Is it worth it?

[@oldmansadventures4627]

Okay Kev, from my experience any made in China ebike purchased as a complete unit is subject to most all the issues you've pointed out. That being said, building an ebike up from a decent analog bike like the Schwinn Axum DP paired with a Bafang BBS02B or a Tongsheng TSDZ8 mid drive usually results in a more reliable eMTB. I've got over 500 miles on my Axum ebike and it's just now beginning to show a bit of drivetrain wear and I'm running a cheap 10 speed ZRace chain and cassette with an Ltwo A7 derailleur. Now granted I'm 66 years old and don't hit the trails near as hard as someone a few years younger and that may factor in.

[@KevCentral]

Thanks for sharing

[@5gvaccinator343]

Thanks for another great video! I own an EMTB with a Fazua motor. Around 4700 km, or 3000 miles, on it so far. Doesn't come with brakes with a killswitch or a shift breaker. But I got used to it, plus it looks way cleaner this way. What I recommend for new EMTB owners is buying a chain wear tool. Normally a Deore chain would last me around 1000 km or 700 miles before it stretches to 0.5. Which is way faster than a normal bike, but is to be expected. At this point, replace the chain immediately. Because 0.5 to 1 mm of wear could happen in like 200 km (120 mi). Way faster than you expect. You'll have to change the entire drivetrain if you let that happen. Another thing no one talks about is pedal strikes can kill your motor. All the energy is transferred directly to your motor gears. And they are not designed for that. Worst case, they can shatter or go out of alignment and destroy themselves quickly after. So if you're getting pedal strikes on your eMTB, get shorter cranks or try to add some spacers inside your suspension to keep it higher in its travel.

[@KevCentral]

Thanks for sharing. I didn’t think about any strikes relating stress straight to motor gearing. Good tip

[@Ayvengo21]

My chain stretched a bit on a regular bike in just about 200 km with extra motor torque it sounds like it could stretch even faster.

[@yukiko_5051]

Wow, what a money pit huh? I can't imagine buying expensive chain every 1000 km. I have been riding my roadbike for 14k km, and i only replaced the chain once. Guess i am not the market target for ebike lol

[@dogbreath6974]

Saying 10kg of hardware is more damaging to the bike than 40kg of extra rider weight is utter nonsense. Over 2000 miles on my emtb, with the same chain on mostly hilly terrain.

[@KevCentral]

That’s not what I said. I said dead weight on a frame - referring to an eMTB frame which is designed differently to accommodate the motor and battery - is more stressing than equal weight from a rider on a standard MTB. What eMTB do you have?

[@johndent8813]

One more thing I strongly suggest you add to your maintenance check list is the speed magnet on the spoke of the rear wheel. Make sure it is correctly aligned and firmly secure. If you lose that out on the trail, it's a long, hard push/ride home with no power. For safety I always carry a spare with me just in case. I've not lost one yet but.......

[@KevCentral]

Coincidental you mention that. A buddy called me not long ago asking if I had a spare. His came off on a ride and his motor would only engage in small burst without it.

[@acedotcom]

kev, man...why dont you do an ebike conversion on a bike from your existing fleet? I did this and i LOVE my custom build and it's so much easier then a lot of people realize

[@KevCentral]

I don’t like the idea of a non-conformal battery on any of the frames I have, but maybe at some point I’ll find a combo I can’t resist testing

[@michaelbrinks8089]

7:20 on my motorized bicycle 🚲 I use a fabric like velcro strap. (Similar to what straps my mini air pump down in it's frame holder). On the mess of front cables & wires to keep em from flopping around. So I don't have to waste zip ties, cutting ✂️ them off. When I need to work on the bike. It actually works well. 🤓

[@cerberus1981]

Re. self-loosening fasteners: I started using boiled linseed oil on threaded fasteners after a couple instances of chainring coupling nuts loosening themselves. Even after several years of riding, the bolts stay tight!

[@tarstarkusz]

The main reason you see hub motors on mountain bikes is to keep the weight out of the wheels (unsprung weight). Also, the hubs of wheel motors aren't as robust as a high quality mountain bike wheel hub. Hub motors are not good for a bicycle. Every electric motor driven item from electric toothbrushes to 100s or thousands of hp industrial motors are ALL geared down. The motor spins a belt with a small pulley and the driven item has a large pulley. Torque is multiplied, speed is reduced. The bicycle drive train is not designed for motors, it's designed for legs. Legs spin slowly at high torque. Electric motors like to spin very fast with a torque multiplying belt. On mountain bikes, maybe the top 2 gears are under 1:1 (torque multiplying). The rest are all torque dividing (overdrive). They also multiply inefficiencies. (The bottom bracket motor is likely geared down inside the motor.) The internal gearing and the bicycle's gearing. There are other reasons for picking a bottom bracket motor, but efficiency of the drivetrain is not one of them. They tend to be higher quality. They are certainly better for stunt racing. The weight is sprung and not unsprung.

[@EditioCastigata]

6:45 How much gap you have is important when picking a threadlocker. Consult the datasheets and pick one that bridges better, might even want look into 603/608…. Or the threads are bad in the first place and you need a new wheel.

[@Charlie-wt7ct]

I'm wondering what you consider to be the better "value". This bike, or the cheap 26" hyper eride you have/had? Personally, I often consider the cheap ebikes to be just like disposable razors. When they crap out, you get a new one with the latest updates. A $500 bike that lasts "only" one year, averages to less than $1.50 a day. (more than a lot of us spend on our morning coffee). What do you think?

[@TinyTitian]

I never have headset issues in my ebike, I have had the issue in my rear brake but red lock tite fixed that. My rear brake is 180mm, my front brake which never gave bolt issues is 203 mm.

[@KevCentral]

Is yours ridden on mountain bike trails?

[@TinyTitian]

@@KevCentral mixed use, bike is full suspension though.

[@harcormor]

How can we find out about these rides and I go on with you?

[@KevCentral]

Are you local?

[@harcormor]

@ local-ISH…I’m up in Waynesboro, ride at wildwood fairly often.

[@KevCentral]

You’re welcome to join me anytime. We ‘might’ ride a night ride tomorrow evening. Would you be interested in that?

[@harcormor]

@@KevCentral Wednesdays are no good for me. Sadly. We definitely need to get together at some point for sure.

[@camkelly7785]

KMCe or ex ? Got it, thank you, very informative video, on the way to my local bike shop...well after he opens his banker hours. Ha!

[@BabyboyShafe]

Is that a Miami fruit sticker???

[@KevCentral]

It is. They’re a great company I’ve bought from many times. One of (if not the) last resources for Gros Michel bananas in the US

[@BabyboyShafe]

@ just got a big box of fruit from them. I will have to put one of my Miami fruit stickers on my bike too 🤙

[@katropanigerry2984]

SOAP.. should be SOFT.😅

[@KevCentral]

Ha!

[@tarstarkusz]

You are making a lot of excuses for a 2500 Dollar bicycle. Rotors falling off. Headsets self-loosening. Random popping noises. etc.

[@KevCentral]

I haven’t made any excuses. I’m sharing experiences.

[@tarstarkusz]

@@KevCentral IMHO, it fails to meet any reasonable quality assurance. Glad you reported it though. Younger people are willing to put up with a lot. Don't really know why. You could have gotten seriously injured with the rotor coming off.

[@JoshuaMarcAragon]

I have had all of this happen on other (non electric) bikes that cost just as much or more. If you are pushing your mountain bikes hard, bolts come loose. That's the point of regular maintenance.

[@CJGrand1]

Nope. It's a fad and marketing gimmick.

[@KevCentral]

eMTBs?

[@CJGrand1]

@KevCentral yeah, they are reaching that level. Every KZbin creator is pushing them. It's worse than wireless shifting and droppers.

[@KevCentral]

They bring more people into cycling, and are the only growing segment in cycling. I think you are confusing “every KZbin creator pushing them” with the natural result of popularity (eMTB/eBike) creating more people taking about them.

[@CJGrand1]

@@KevCentral they do, but when I see a creator getting a ebike to review almost weekly, that is more than populartiy.

[@KevCentral]

Ah…those channels

[@Nick-cs5yc]

Ebikes, like 29” clown wheels, tubeless tires, among others are a gimmick!! Keep it simple folks!!

[@Ayvengo21]

Why do you call 29 clown wheel?

[@michaelbrinks8089]

29in wheels are great for taller riders and higher speeds......But I do think tubeless bicycle tires are a joke. Unless you're a pro & need the lightest bike possible....I told an ebike rider I use tubes & tire/ tube liners. Along with some with green slime (or better product) to seal & self balance the wheels.. He claimed tubeless was so much better & lighter weight. But he kept getting flats & had to keep using a ton sealer in the tires. He spent quite a bit $$ on sealer that constantly leaked out & finally went to tubes. He added 50 pounds of ebike parts but was worried about tubes & tire liners being a few ounces heavier. 😂