EP8 Motor, derestricted...potential issues?

[Kamelosa]

I'm currently talking with someone about buying a Nukeproof Megawatt they have for sale.

A few things concern me

In the ad he says its been chipped to desrestrict the speed.
What potential does this have for trouble with the motor? I think I can easily knock a bit off but for the sake of the hassle of dealing with a warranty claim over a couple of hundred quid on something worth a few grand. Something makes me feel dubious about the mileage too if he's chipped it and maybe messed about with the ecu end of things.

I'm new to emtb's so any advice would be much appreciated.

 

[steve_sordy]

Why is he selling it after only riding it for 5 miles?
How was he going to get a warranty claim when he has chipped it?
Will it even work after being steam cleaned and left in store?
He would have to be very persuasive for me to hand over any cash.

In fact, I would want to hear for myself what Rutland Cycles view of the bike was. It is they who will be tackled about any warrant claims. And would they even stand by a warranty on what is a second owner bike? (Albeit at only 30 miles recorded).

 

[Kamelosa]

Why is he selling it after only riding it for 5 miles?
How was he going to get a warranty claim when he has chipped it?
Will it even work after being steam cleaned and left in store?
He would have to be very persuasive for me to hand over any cash.

In fact, I would want to hear for myself what Rutland Cycles view of the bike was. It is they who will be tackled about any warrant claims. And would they even stand by a warranty on what is a second owner bike? (Albeit at only 30 miles recorded).

To be fair, he does have the receipts from them for the purchase. I think I answered my own question in the initial post.
But what you've said are exactly the questions I've been asking myself and whether I really want the hassle of and when some problem arises.

 

[Mikerb]

I scan FB/Gumtree/Ebay regularly on the off chance I spot my stolen Levo. I see lots of ads that immediately raise concerns. They may of course be genuine but some sellers are hapless with their descriptions and raise doubts. I think it is best to be guided by your immediate misgivings and move on because there is a lot of choice on the second hand market. Here are some ads I have seen which could be completely genuine but........!!

Ad No 1: A guy selling 2 Spesh Levo Experts for an old couple who he says had their camper stolen and need to sell the bikes to make upa shortfall in insurance payout. Questions..........he says the lady was 70 and the man 80 years old and only rode on towpaths.........why would a 70 and 80 year old buy 2 expensive mid range premium brand EMTBs, and if they have that sort of disposible income why would a shortfall in insurance payout be a concern?? The mileage for each bike is c 250 miles but with the number of charge cycles that would easilly equate to twice that mileage. Too many questions raised!!

Ad No 2..plus a few: great condition/hardly ridden/ low mileage..mostly road miles..........brand new motor ( my 2021 bikes!!).

Ad no 3: ........Levo Large..........no its not! The downtube has a rubber protector so its a medium. You would think an owner would know what size bike they bought!!

Ad no 4: Levo large etc ........no its not ...its a Levo SL. An owner would of course know that a Levo and a Levo SL are 2 very different bikes.

I have bought an EMTB second hand. It was advertized here/ it was only 1 month old/ I asked for a copy of the purchase receipt and all MC print outs including serial number and a photo of the serial number on the bike. I met the seller at his house...........not in a Macdonalds car park! I rode the bike, albeit only up and down a cul-de sac but enough to confirm the bike worked properly.
I picked out another seller on here for a ike for my son............same process.

Personally I would hesitate to buy any EMTB over 6 months old second hand and be very cautious about why the bike is for sale and that the seller has full proof of ownership.

 

[Mikerb]

There is also the small matter of legality/trade descriptions. The Nukeproof Megawatt is a pedelec. It ceases to be a pedelec if derestricted.............or put another way...it cannot be a Nukeproof Megawatt!!

 

[InRustWeTrust]

This is something that is not true, why has he only ridden the bike once after trimming it?

I get the feeling that others have mentioned that it feels like he has had problems with the engine after trimming and now wants to sell it

 

[Gary]

I wouldn't even consider buying a secondhand Emtb at all unless it was incredibly cheap as you won't have a warranty as it's not transferable. A frame, fork, component and motor/battery warranty is potentially worth thousands.
I'd be far more concerned with the steam cleaning (and not using since) than the chip.
The chip can be removed.

 

[Kamelosa]

All very valid points and it's the age old thing of it's too good to be true.
Didn't realise warranties weren't transferable, so that in itself is huge.

Think it's now turned into a case of which bike.

 

[Mikerb]

Warranties varies from brand to brand but if you are new to EMTBs you are best advised to buy new from a LBS even if that means buying a lower spec bike. You can always upgrade later if required.