Whats the most reliable ebike??

Hale_Storming

Member
Oct 14, 2020
54
4
Munich, Germany
Hey Guys, I have a YT Decoy Elite. I think it's an awesome bike. However, I just traveled to Val di Fassa for a long weekend riding and the bike sadly died on my first run.

This got me thinking, how expensive ebiking can be, and I wonder whats the most reliable ebike?

What do you think guys?
 

Zimmerframe

MUPPET
Subscriber
Jun 12, 2019
14,070
20,874
Brittany, France
Presumably .. you mean motor/battery combination - which eventually leads to motor...

The actual bike probably doesn't make much difference - though arguably Giants could be considered the most reliable ? Whilst there are lots of hardcore Giant riders who kick arse, there's proportionately more cantankerous old b4stards who would buy one (I'll class myself as a COB even though I don't have a Giant). Much of Giants success in the OAP market comes from the fact that they're the only mainstream ebike manufacturer to advertise on the back of Viagra packets. So most of their bikes are only used on road and for an average of 43 miles per year (Giants statistics *).

Ultimately, much of the reliability of all the motors depends to a huge degree on how they're users/abused. Wet/Mud/Jetwashed/Car Rack in the rain - they're all going to reduce life span through moisture. Pedal strikes on Brose's ... death !

*Statistically, there's a good chance this is made up.
 

Julie_X1

Active member
Jan 22, 2023
141
116
Canada
Reliability can also depend on whether a new model / motor has just come out vs it’s been out a few years and has been continuously improved upon.

IMO, this is the best forum to find out more about potential problem spots of a particular model you’re interested in.
 

franciscoasismm

Active member
May 31, 2021
252
265
Badajoz
Canyon Neuron ON 2020

IMG_20230720_112057~2.jpg
 

Zimmerframe

MUPPET
Subscriber
Jun 12, 2019
14,070
20,874
Brittany, France
I think Francis's experience is a perfect example of how you treat your bike/motor - will have an enormous impact on it's longevity.

If you're mainly trail riding and touring (in all sorts of conditions), presumably not having pedal strikes too, but taking it relatively easy compared to DH - you can expect great longevity - even from a Shimano motor. It's like the Bosch motored Cargo bikes which go on without problem for 50,000 miles. (I'm still waiting for him to do some saddle reviews as they must be pretty well tested !)

A huge variable on "reliability" will be the rider and where and how they ride - then add in if they're a a quick draw on the jet wash and you just throw in more variables.

Then you have the whole flip side to it .. which motor can I get repaired.

Ironically, the Brose motor, which sold in vast quantities in Levo's and Kenevo's, doesn't really have the best reputation on the reliability front. But due to the large customer base and the issues, there's now an excellent third party support infrastructure in place to get your motor repaired.

The Brose is quiet, powerful, efficient, when used carefully - reliable and you can actually get the thing repaired !

I say ironically, because it's ultimately led to the situation that the bike you buy new, which maybe didn't always have the most stella reliability record, is actually probably one of the safest bikes to buy second hand - because of that very reason !
 

Paulquattro

E*POWAH Elite
May 7, 2020
2,362
1,305
The Darkside
Can't find it anymore, but a study was made by some magazine and Giant/Yamaha powered bikes were the most reliable followed by Bosch.
My mate would disagree
His yamaha / giant lasted 330 miles and the main bearings needed changing
He rides what i ride as we always go out together only difference is he doesn't wash his bike so doesn't suffer from hosing problems LOL

I have a gen4 bosch with 2750miles on it by the way (y)
 

franciscoasismm

Active member
May 31, 2021
252
265
Badajoz
Creo que la experiencia de Francis es un ejemplo perfecto de cómo tratas tu bicicleta/motor: tendrá un enorme impacto en su longevidad.

Si te dedicas principalmente a la conducción por senderos y al turismo (en todo tipo de condiciones), es de suponer que tampoco tengas golpes de pedal, pero te lo tomes con relativa calma en comparación con DH, puedes esperar una gran longevidad, incluso de un motor Shimano. Es como las bicicletas Cargo con motor Bosch que funcionan sin problemas durante 50,000 millas. (¡Todavía estoy esperando que haga algunas revisiones de sillas de montar, ya que deben estar bastante bien probadas!)

Una gran variable en la "confiabilidad" será el ciclista y dónde y cómo viaja, luego agregue si son un sorteo rápido en el lavado a chorro y simplemente agrega más variables.

Entonces tienes toda la otra cara... ¿Qué motor puedo reparar?

Irónicamente, el motor Brose, que se vendió en grandes cantidades en Levo's y Kenevo's, en realidad no tiene la mejor reputación en el frente de la confiabilidad. Pero debido a la gran base de clientes y los problemas, ahora existe una excelente infraestructura de soporte de terceros para reparar su motor.

El Brose es silencioso, potente, eficiente, cuando se usa con cuidado: ¡confiable y realmente puede repararlo!

Digo irónicamente, porque en última instancia ha llevado a la situación de que la bicicleta que compras nueva, que tal vez no siempre tuvo el récord de confiabilidad más estelar, en realidad es probablemente una de las bicicletas más seguras para comprar de segunda mano, ¡por esa misma razón!
Zimmerframe, totalmente de acuerdo. Mi A3 TDIe tiene 340.000 km y cero problemas y el Golf TDI de mi cuñado se rompió motor a los 140.000 km
 

cappuccino34

Active member
Nov 24, 2020
530
329
Helmshore
In my experience Giant has been both the least reliable and Giant UK has been the least helpful in sorting problems out. Absolutely disgraceful in fact.

I've had zero issues with my other bikes, but my favorite is probably my Polini motor. Not only has it been completely trouble free, but if reliability is a worry for you you can send your motor in for a service at the end end of its standard two year warranty period and you get a fresh warranty. Service costs €200-300, depending on what it needs on the service.
Plus, all the parts for Polini are available separately, so there's never going to be a "tough shit, buy a new motor" like you get from Shitmano/Madison.
 

MAC5280

Member
Sep 24, 2022
4
4
Denver
Would love to see a Bafang added to the comparisons with their reliability and ability to be serviced and repaired from home. Other Manufactures are afraid to sell their motors and parts separately.
Bafang has proven to take a lot of abuse even when often upgraded to void warrantees.
 

cappuccino34

Active member
Nov 24, 2020
530
329
Helmshore
Would love to see a Bafang added to the comparisons with their reliability and ability to be serviced and repaired from home. Other Manufactures are afraid to sell their motors and parts separately.
Bafang has proven to take a lot of abuse even when often upgraded to void warrantees.
You can buy everything for a Polini motor too.
 

Polar

Well-known member
Jun 16, 2023
429
554
Norway
Most reliable ebike is about the motor and I guess it's Pinion only need to change a little bit of oil every 10.000 km/yearly. Hopefully Specialized realise a Pinion in their lineup soon.
 

Sep 18, 2020
61
74
Truckee Ca
Presumably .. you mean motor/battery combination - which eventually leads to motor...

The actual bike probably doesn't make much difference - though arguably Giants could be considered the most reliable ? Whilst there are lots of hardcore Giant riders who kick arse, there's proportionately more cantankerous old b4stards who would buy one (I'll class myself as a COB even though I don't have a Giant). Much of Giants success in the OAP market comes from the fact that they're the only mainstream ebike manufacturer to advertise on the back of Viagra packets. So most of their bikes are only used on road and for an average of 43 miles per year (Giants statistics *).

Ultimately, much of the reliability of all the motors depends to a huge degree on how they're users/abused. Wet/Mud/Jetwashed/Car Rack in the rain - they're all going to reduce life span through moisture. Pedal strikes on Brose's ... death !

*Statistically, there's a good chance this is made up.
I’m a COB who has my 2nd EReign and love it. At 64 I ride a thousand plus mi a yr. No problems with motor or battery but after 2 seasons 1 racing CES series I cracked the frame. My LBS never had this happen and they sell a lot of giant bikes and have them in their renal fleet. Replaced within 1 week and they paid 50% of tbe cost to rebuild it. Shit happens and I’m very satisfied with my purchases. My buddy has a Rocky Mountain and has had all sorts of electrical issues.
 

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