Fuel EXe Is motor drag normal?

[malc101]

Maybe. He did say he heard some grinding. I fins that I feel like I am dragging a boat anchor if I go up and back down in assist. Why I have adjusted my riding to not do that. I will go up for a steep climb, but it is hard to go from mid to eco after being on mid for a bit.

On my first ebike (Haibike-Yamaha) I insisted they swap out the motor for same. At times the sudden disengagement of motors can be loud. I still get the boat anchor effect five bikes later, most prevalent on eMTB , due to tire drag, but to a smaller extent on eGravel bikes.

 

[DBSwiss]

Hi all,

I just bought my first e-bike last weekend, It is a second hand Fuel EX-e 9.7 '22 model with 2500km's on it and I'm not sure if it's functioning correctly and hoping for some clarity.

Is there supposed to be some sort of "engine" braking when you stop pedalling? What i mean by that is, sometimes, not always, when i stop pedalling the bike drags and slows down like there is engine braking like a 4 stroke motorbike when you let off the accelerator.
When it happens, if you don't start pedalling again it feels like it will bring you to a stop. It's like it doesn't disengage.

This can happen at any speed, even when switching modes and changing gears. It really throws my momentum off.
It happens even when I hold the "down" button on the lever to disengage the motor, when i pedal it feels like I'm being held back, even rolling down a hill.

The thing is, I don't think it does it all the time, sometimes it doesn't do it.

I thought it was a battery power thing and was only doing it once the battery was a like 30% depleted but it done it yesterday at 100% for the entire ride.

I went to a local trek sub-dealer and rode one of their exact same demo bikes and my bike back to back in the carpark but they felt the same but i think it was when the issue wasn't occuring.

Thanks

That doesn’t sound like a normal thing to me. I have a 9.8XT Fuel exe from 2022 and it never had that behavior. There is the famous grinding noise at low motor output from the clutch not fully disengaging but that is not creating a drag, just makes that noise. Good luck!

 

[Canyon Shawn]

I think what you’re feeling is the motor assist easing up, based on your pedal rpm. It does mess with your mind when you go from pedaling to not pedaling. Both if you stop pedaling quickly or slowly stop pedaling. Compared to a non-Ebike, there is a feeling of de-acceleration. The motor provides more power at higher rpm. Try to pedal at 100 rpm or higher. Unless your wheel bearings are completely shot, or your brakes are horribly rubbing, it would impossible for there to be drag once you stop pedaling.

 

[Ark]

try pedalling with the motor on, then turn the motor off, note how hard pedalling in that gear really is.
the wind resistance you feel is likely the wind and being in a gear you wouldn't be in on a normal bike

on my bike cx4 I can coast down a hill and it gathers speed very quickly.

take the chain off and see if the pedals and rear wheel spins smooth or feel notchy/rubbing

there's going to be some resistance on the pedals but it should be barely anything.
I can do 20mph on my bike on a flat even though it cuts out at 16.

sure it's harder than a normal bike but only because it's heavier, on a normal bike I'd probably be going about 24mph

 

[irie]

And tyres which give really good off road grip are horribly draggy on road. When on the road lycra warriors pass us all the time.

 

[Pean]

Grinding noises in WALK mode indicate engine damage. I had the same problem. Engine needs to be replaced.

 

[Casting_Shadows]

I took the bike to my local Trek dealer and they called me today to tell me that they test rode the bike and instantly noticed the drag stating that its not functioning like normal and agreed that the motor is 100% faulty, even a little bit "grindy" and they are submitting a warranty(which might prove tricky as i bought the bike second and after reaching out to the guy i bought it off, he is saying he doesn't know where the bike was purchased as he is just a reseller so i can't get a receipt or even a place of purchase as the bike was never registered).

My fingers are crossed but i'm not confident.

 

[irie]

I took the bike to my local Trek dealer and they called me today to tell me that they test rode the bike and instantly noticed the drag stating that its not functioning like normal and agreed that the motor is 100% faulty, even a little bit "grindy" and they are submitting a warranty(which might prove tricky as i bought the bike second and after reaching out to the guy i bought it off, he is saying he doesn't know where the bike was purchased as he is just a reseller so i can't get a receipt or even a place of purchase as the bike was never registered).

My fingers are crossed but i'm not confident.

With the serial nunber of your bike I think your "local Trek dealer" may (should?) at least be able find out where it was initially sold.

 

[Casting_Shadows]

Trek were able to trace the sale of the bike and I ended up getting a copy of the original receipt but unfortunately the bike is out of warranty according to Trek.
They are going to submit a request directly to TQ on my behalf in hope they will accept a warranty in good faith.
Fingers crossed but I'm not holding my breath.