The good part of this situation is that the market hates voids. If shops do not want to fix those bikes, then independent mechanics will show up that can do that stuff. I'm into cars and bikes. In the car world, we have the type of people called "mechanic-magicians". Plenty of times I was in a situation with my older/vintage/classic cars when no "certified" shop could figure out how to fix it. Sometimes it was a matter of finding the source of the problem, sometimes it was an issue with finding parts and then suddenly, somehow a mechanic-magician was showing up, who specializes in this particular make and model that was able to either fix it in a few minutes or source a part in 24hrs that was impossible to obtain according to everybody else.
Nature abhors a vacuum. Totally agree. I think these items, and the rate of iteration wind up becoming "disposable". Full negating the eco-friendly part of this. We do business in sectors of the world where Ebiking or E-transportation isn't "fun" and does not involve grandkids and ice cream. It is a family of 5, on a E-Trike, getting around town in South East Asia. They are price driven, and they will find low cost repair shops (like in downtown NYC right now. Go to Canal street and see first hand) but a middle income, weekend rider. He/She isn't going to bother 3-5 years in. At least that is what I observe out of customers. As a store owner, I get to hear the comments people make. "Oh Bob, that's just another toy". Point being, in the US. The way we treat these things. It is going to be both cheaper, and the smarter move to just get a new one. I agree with you on the certified mechanic part. Problem is none of these are classic anything. They are white labeled, burn and churn ebikes. Unless that is some odd situation where, like a Baseball card misprint. It becomes a classic. I don't see it happening on a large scale. Even a dealer, like myself. With industry ties and learned knowledge about where to get discontinued or expired parts...for what. This Ebike that is aging like Milk? This ebike that has iterated 4 times this year?! It's insane. I think the 2025 we reach some sort of terminal velocity as battery constraints slow the train down. The motor Wattage issue. That law needs to be enforced. Kids are on paper mache' rocket ships and they don't know it. Like I said in the video. Spend about 2 grand. Putting you about 2 curves ahead of the cheaper ebikes iteration line. It will have a solid warranty, and honestly. Expect to WANT to get a new one every 3 years. This is not what the eco-friendly space imagined for ebikes. I am a powersports guy, so to be frank. This was never my northstar. I just like fast toys. I am sure people will be able to fix these items, the question is. Why bother. Just wait 3 months and buy the same Ebike that is now 7 iterations better for the same price as the dicey repair. I hope I am wrong. I hope they build on quality. People are conflating the word Bike and Ebike. Bikes are simple, some of my customers have their bikes from their own childhood. The form factor is brainwashing consumers (through no fault of their own) to think there is anything similar other than it having two wheel and a place to sit. These are different animals. Thank you for commenting. Be well.
This video was very enlightening. E-bikes are fun when they are operating normally but when they are in need of repair, finding a shop willing to service them is difficult and parts could take weeks or months to arrive. Add the cost of the repair on top of that and you're left with a very discouraging situation. I don't think many people are aware of these issues when buying an e- bike. Thanks for the information.
True story, last night I had a customer walk in at closing time. The ebike the purchased from me was not working. He uses this ebike to get back and forth to work. I fixed it on the spot (yes it was a very easy display code fix. FYI don't mess around with the ADMIN panel. You risk lock out) BUT, huge but here. If this guy had purchased ANYWHERE else. Anywhere, direct from the manufacturer, Amazon, FB Marketplace...whatever. This guy is out of luck, at least in the moment. He may have gotten service, but it would have been a huge hassle. Especially given he has no car. So why should you buy from a brick and mortar dealer. This is why. This guy spent the same exact amount of money, and had his issue fixed in 20 minutes. I did not charge him a penny. What is that worth? I think that is worth a lot.
Copy that. Not claiming it was...or at least was as it applies to my situational overlay. You see me claim "it's nuts" once he starts on about building your own Ebike. I own a Ebike store and have zero interest in building on myself. Seems like a totally separate passion project that riding an ebike. I like using my countertop, I have no plans on fabricating one. Also, every one pushes what they sell, right? My points were just well articulated by him, and I have zero DIY parts to sell. If anything, I am just trying to get the buying public to understand that a "good deal" on FB marketplace, or online is a false way to quantify what a "good deal" is. A free piece of crap is still a piece of crap. The only exception I make is for DIY folks. If that is how they have fun, go for it. I am speaking to the average customer who wants to get a ebike, but rightfully has no idea what the long tail liabilities are of buying it from a faceless website. Thanks for commenting, I hope the video was okay otherwise. Have a good Holiday. Be well.
The good part of this situation is that the market hates voids. If shops do not want to fix those bikes, then independent mechanics will show up that can do that stuff. I'm into cars and bikes. In the car world, we have the type of people called "mechanic-magicians". Plenty of times I was in a situation with my older/vintage/classic cars when no "certified" shop could figure out how to fix it. Sometimes it was a matter of finding the source of the problem, sometimes it was an issue with finding parts and then suddenly, somehow a mechanic-magician was showing up, who specializes in this particular make and model that was able to either fix it in a few minutes or source a part in 24hrs that was impossible to obtain according to everybody else.
Nature abhors a vacuum. Totally agree. I think these items, and the rate of iteration wind up becoming "disposable". Full negating the eco-friendly part of this. We do business in sectors of the world where Ebiking or E-transportation isn't "fun" and does not involve grandkids and ice cream. It is a family of 5, on a E-Trike, getting around town in South East Asia. They are price driven, and they will find low cost repair shops (like in downtown NYC right now. Go to Canal street and see first hand) but a middle income, weekend rider. He/She isn't going to bother 3-5 years in. At least that is what I observe out of customers. As a store owner, I get to hear the comments people make. "Oh Bob, that's just another toy". Point being, in the US. The way we treat these things. It is going to be both cheaper, and the smarter move to just get a new one. I agree with you on the certified mechanic part. Problem is none of these are classic anything. They are white labeled, burn and churn ebikes. Unless that is some odd situation where, like a Baseball card misprint. It becomes a classic. I don't see it happening on a large scale. Even a dealer, like myself. With industry ties and learned knowledge about where to get discontinued or expired parts...for what. This Ebike that is aging like Milk? This ebike that has iterated 4 times this year?! It's insane. I think the 2025 we reach some sort of terminal velocity as battery constraints slow the train down. The motor Wattage issue. That law needs to be enforced. Kids are on paper mache' rocket ships and they don't know it. Like I said in the video. Spend about 2 grand. Putting you about 2 curves ahead of the cheaper ebikes iteration line. It will have a solid warranty, and honestly. Expect to WANT to get a new one every 3 years. This is not what the eco-friendly space imagined for ebikes. I am a powersports guy, so to be frank. This was never my northstar. I just like fast toys. I am sure people will be able to fix these items, the question is. Why bother. Just wait 3 months and buy the same Ebike that is now 7 iterations better for the same price as the dicey repair. I hope I am wrong. I hope they build on quality. People are conflating the word Bike and Ebike. Bikes are simple, some of my customers have their bikes from their own childhood. The form factor is brainwashing consumers (through no fault of their own) to think there is anything similar other than it having two wheel and a place to sit. These are different animals. Thank you for commenting. Be well.
This video was very enlightening. E-bikes are fun when they are operating normally but when they are in need of repair, finding a shop willing to service them is difficult and parts could take weeks or months to arrive. Add the cost of the repair on top of that and you're left with a very discouraging situation. I don't think many people are aware of these issues when buying an e- bike. Thanks for the information.
True story, last night I had a customer walk in at closing time. The ebike the purchased from me was not working. He uses this ebike to get back and forth to work. I fixed it on the spot (yes it was a very easy display code fix. FYI don't mess around with the ADMIN panel. You risk lock out) BUT, huge but here. If this guy had purchased ANYWHERE else. Anywhere, direct from the manufacturer, Amazon, FB Marketplace...whatever. This guy is out of luck, at least in the moment. He may have gotten service, but it would have been a huge hassle. Especially given he has no car. So why should you buy from a brick and mortar dealer. This is why. This guy spent the same exact amount of money, and had his issue fixed in 20 minutes. I did not charge him a penny. What is that worth? I think that is worth a lot.
Nerd-Out hates any store-bought bike - he pushes DIY parts that he sells. Hardly an unbiased opinion
Copy that. Not claiming it was...or at least was as it applies to my situational overlay. You see me claim "it's nuts" once he starts on about building your own Ebike. I own a Ebike store and have zero interest in building on myself. Seems like a totally separate passion project that riding an ebike. I like using my countertop, I have no plans on fabricating one. Also, every one pushes what they sell, right? My points were just well articulated by him, and I have zero DIY parts to sell. If anything, I am just trying to get the buying public to understand that a "good deal" on FB marketplace, or online is a false way to quantify what a "good deal" is. A free piece of crap is still a piece of crap. The only exception I make is for DIY folks. If that is how they have fun, go for it. I am speaking to the average customer who wants to get a ebike, but rightfully has no idea what the long tail liabilities are of buying it from a faceless website. Thanks for commenting, I hope the video was okay otherwise. Have a good Holiday. Be well.