Shimano E8000 wet weather capability

[Trail-Niels]

Just getting my first eMTB - a Commencal Meta Power 29 - in a few weeks. It will be arriving in the wet autumn season. I live in Denmark where the autumn and winter usually turns out wet and cold. Trails is usually with a lot of mud and one the heavy build new ones a lot of puddles which gives the bike a lot spray from underneath. What is your experience with wet weather riding an E8000 powered eMTB?

 

[Zimmerframe]

I never had any problems with mine.

I think others have suggested putting some grease around the electrical connections under the top cover and round the cranks.

 

[Gary]

Seal the entire connection bay cover. Tape or bathroom sealant will work
and also block the opening to the top rear where the cables come in from. Motofoam does a good job there.
Both are not adequately sealed from new

 

[Trail-Niels]

I think others have suggested putting some grease around the electrical connections under the top cover and round the cranks.

it seems as grease also is the solution here

 

[Trail-Niels]

Seal the entire connection bay cover. Tape or bathroom sealant will work
and also block the opening to the top rear where the cables come in from. Motofoam does a good job there.
Both are not adequately sealed from new

I guess the factory sealant is inadequate as usual. I’ll get going with some sealing

 

[Gary]

there's no sealing
it's a simple moulded plastic cover attached with 3 screws.
water can get in through the edges

The opening at the rear/top will be more protected on some frame designs than others. shine a torch from behind/outside the frame and see if any light is showing through the opening. if it is water can get in. Block/plug it. Sealant is messy so I suggest moto foam around the wiring and in the gap

 

[steve_sordy]

My bike is a Focus with a battery in the down tube, not designed for casual removal.

It has two big air scoops on the headset to channel cooling air down past the battery and Shimano E8000 motor. The scoops are perfectly positioned to channel rain and water splashes down there too. The water flows out of holes in the bottom around the motor. These holes are also perfectly positioned to let water in from puddles and puddle splashes.

Despite this apparently crap design, I have had zero problems with water either on the trail, on the tow-bar rack in rainstorms, or when washing the bike. Not such a crap design after all then!

 

[Gary]

Despite this apparently crap design, I have had zero problems with water either on the trail, on the tow-bar rack in rainstorms, or when washing the bike. Not such a crap design after all then!

That'll be because the scoops and channels you're describing won't go into the motor casing OR the connector bay and (presumably?) just scoop cool air around the sealed motor casing.

 

[Jamsxr]

To be fair I’ve done 1,400 miles on my e8000, mainly casing the hell out of the bike and abusing the motor in wet and dry conditions. So far so good, but based on the feedback here it won’t be long before I experience some sort of problem.

 

[steve_sordy]

That'll be because the scoops and channels you're describing won't go into the motor casing OR the connector bay and (presumably?) just scoop cool air around the sealed motor casing.

That makes sense to me, but the publicity does not make that clear, at all. Maybe it was just cleverly worded and I saw what they wanted me to see, or what I wanted to see.

 

[Peaky Rider]

I always thought the scoops were to keep the battery cool although I doubt their effectiveness as they seem to have been dropped on the new model.

 

[RickBullotta]

Mine has been very reliable in wet weather, though I'd avoid deep creek crossings, and be certain that the charging port seal is fully closed/seated. The only water-related issue I've had is with my DI2 rear derailleur when I crossed a stream and the port plug for the unused DI2 port was missing. Stopped working for a day until it dried out.

 

[Rallysaloon]

Just getting my first eMTB - a Commencal Meta Power 29 - in a few weeks. It will be arriving in the wet autumn season. I live in Denmark where the autumn and winter usually turns out wet and cold. Trails is usually with a lot of mud and one the heavy build new ones a lot of puddles which gives the bike a lot spray from underneath. What is your experience with wet weather riding an E8000 powered eMTB?

No problems with cold, mud or wet conditions and I've ridden my E8000 equipped bike in all conditions for 3500+ miles over the last two years.

 

[Trail-Niels]

No problems with cold, mud or wet conditions and I've ridden my E8000 equipped bike in all conditions for 3500+ miles over the last two years.

View attachment 20076

@Rallysaloon That‘s cool - have you done anything to prevent water intake or similar ?

 

[Jamsxr]

I’ve had a good few weeks of wet weather abuse at bike parks. I’ve slammed 30ft plus jumps and cased the hell out of my Commencal but she’s still good and the e8000 is fine ?

A good few of my riding pals have e8000 bikes and zeros problems for them so far.

 

[Trail-Niels]

My bike is a Focus with a battery in the down tube, not designed for casual removal.

It has two big air scoops on the headset to channel cooling air down past the battery and Shimano E8000 motor. The scoops are perfectly positioned to channel rain and water splashes down there too. The water flows out of holes in the bottom around the motor. These holes are also perfectly positioned to let water in from puddles and puddle splashes.

Despite this apparently crap design, I have had zero problems with water either on the trail, on the tow-bar rack in rainstorms, or when washing the bike. Not such a crap design after all then!

@steve_sordy did you ever had troubles with the motor or battery after splash of deep puddle?

This is a pretty typical small puddle on one of my trails - around 10 cm deep - it’s the sort that gives quite a splash up when riding through them at speed.

 

[steve_sordy]

@Trail-Niels No problems at all!

This may be because (as Gary pointed out) the air may flow down channels that keep the water away from the battery, connectors and the motor. I don't know this to be true, but it makes sense.

 

[Rallysaloon]

@Rallysaloon That‘s cool - have you done anything to prevent water intake or similar ?

The only thing non standard on my Merida is the motor bash guard. This does give it great rock strike protection and keeps some mud off but apart from that I’ve not done anything.

 

[Trail-Niels]

The only thing non standard on my Merida is the motor bash guard. This does give it great rock strike protection and keeps some mud off but apart from that I’ve not done anything.

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I like the homemade motor protection that you’ve made. Fortunately for me the guys at Commencal have made an integrated MX inspired motor protection on the Meta.

 

[ottoshape]

How long would the motor last if nearly submerged and having to pedal through an unexpectedly deep puddle?

 

[RickBullotta]

How long would the motor last if nearly submerged and having to pedal through an unexpectedly deep puddle?

From the FAQ:

"Can I ride an e-bike in the rain?
Yes, STEPS equipped e-bikes are water resistant. This means they can be ridden in the rain but note; they are not meant to be submerged under water."

I've ridden in pouring rain on trails that were basically running streams, without incident. I would NOT however cross a deep stream or long, deep puddle with mine. I'd carry it across.

 

[Zimmerframe]

"OK .. who's the U-Boat Commander"

 

[ottoshape]

From the FAQ:

"Can I ride an e-bike in the rain?
Yes, STEPS equipped e-bikes are water resistant. This means they can be ridden in the rain but note; they are not meant to be submerged under water."

I've ridden in pouring rain on trails that were basically running streams, without incident. I would NOT however cross a deep stream or long, deep puddle with mine. I'd carry it across.[/QUOTE]

Excellent! We have volunteer(victim) to shuttle our heavy bikes across the water hole...

 

[RickBullotta]

Ha. Thankfully it’s such a light bike. ;-)

 

[Trail-Niels]

I've ridden in pouring rain on trails that were basically running streams, without incident. I would NOT however cross a deep stream or long, deep puddle with mine. I'd carry it across.

I guess that I’ll have to improve my bunny hopping technique

 

[Trail-Niels]

From the FAQ:
"Can I ride an e-bike in the rain?
Yes, STEPS equipped e-bikes are water resistant. This means they can be ridden in the rain but note; they are not meant to be submerged under water."

I’ve read that too, but first of all it’s a mountain bike, which is supposed to hit the dirt even though it has a motor. Second it’s always easier to judge the capability from people who have firsthand experience rather than from a sales text. When it all adds up, Shimano would probably rather be safe than sorry so obviously submerging it in water is not a good idea

 

[S D]

On route to Morzine earlier this year we drove through the worst rain storm I’ve ever seen , two full hours of torrential rain with the bike on a rear rack .
I was convinced the bike would be dead on arrival but fortunately it was fine and has been ever since.
I would be interested to see some pics of the aforementioned gaps to be sealed if anybody has the time to post any ?

 

[Peaky Rider]

Much as I love my e-mtbs, I just wish e-mtb ownership could be as carefree as it was in the good old days of unassisted pedalling.
Just have to accept that the increased enjoyment compensates for inevitable electrical failure, similar to the one I experienced last night.

 

[Jamsxr]

Much as I love my e-mtbs, I just wish e-mtb ownership could be as carefree as it was in the good old days of unassisted pedalling.
Just have to accept that the increased enjoyment compensates for inevitable electrical failure, similar to the one I experienced last night.

That’s why having both is the one ?

 

[ottoshape]

That’s why having both is the one ?

IMHO, Owning a spare battery and a spare motor for your eMTB is more cost effective than owning an eMTB and a mid-tier MTB...