Who's got the highest mile bike & motor?

jimbob

Active member
Aug 3, 2020
523
433
East UK
Table updated, and additional column added for the number of motors if people have provided the info.

I'll add an additional table later for motor mileage as well as people seem interested in that. Feel free to update info / add if not previously provided and I'll update accordingly. And, no, "my bike stopped recording, but it's probably done 5000000000miles" won't be counted!

As for a prize for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, we could look at some new padded shorts as you probably need them by this point.
 

jimbob

Active member
Aug 3, 2020
523
433
East UK
The Neuron ON has ODO 23231 km today, but the circumference of the wheel is 1365 mm instead of 2300mm, then the actual kilometers are 34835, but I can not prove it with a photo
No need for proof, all just for fun / interest! I'll update.

Thats some bloody good going though, and puts you well at the top of the leaderboard, both for bike and motor
 

Grannyjones

Member
May 25, 2020
385
80
England
If we are talking about Ebikes and what everyone wants to know is how long the motor is going to last so the distance the original motor is what would be important here

But it's not just the Motor.
Most other parts fail on E Bikes just as frequently, if not more so.
As you can see from my comprehsive list. Forks, Shocks, Droppers, full brake systems, rear wheels, rock guards, power cables, speed sensor wires, frame pivot bearings, rear mechs.
I wipe out a rear wheel on every visit to an Uplift Centre.
Nearly everything apart from the frame has had to be replaced in some cases 3 times or more.

A manual mountain bike is the same - a constant headache, minus a few things that an E Bike has.
 
Last edited:

Binhill1

🍊 Tango Man 🍊
Mar 7, 2019
3,265
5,054
Scotland
Yes so much in an Ebike is just not up to the task . Road bike maintenance for example is a fraction of the cost . Maintenance on Ebike in UK condition is a lot of hours. Be interested in a survey of that . Three hours riding in wet conditions probably needs ninety minutes maintenance. Three times a week . As Alice said We still got a long way to go .
 

franciscoasismm

Active member
May 31, 2021
246
252
Badajoz
But it's not just the Motor.
Most other parts fail on E Bikes just as frequently, if not more so.
As you can see from my comprehsive list. Forks, Shocks, Droppers, full brake systems, rear wheels, rock guards, power cables, speed sensor wires, frame pivot bearings, rear mechs.
I wipe out a rear wheel on every visit to an Uplift Centre.
Nearly everything apart from the frame has had to be replaced in some cases 3 times or more.

A manual mountain bike is the same - a constant headache, minus a few things that an E Bike has.
Luck, never washing the engine with hose or Kärcher and cleaning the transmission well I think is the key
 

Grannyjones

Member
May 25, 2020
385
80
England
Yes so much in an Ebike is just not up to the task . Road bike maintenance for example is a fraction of the cost . Maintenance on Ebike in UK condition is a lot of hours. Be interested in a survey of that . Three hours riding in wet conditions probably needs ninety minutes maintenance. Three times a week . As Alice said We still got a long way to go
The constant headache of maintenance and failures seems consistant whether it's wet or dry. Apart from all the bike cleaning when its wet and muddy. Incidentally 2023 has so far been a very bad year in the UK for wet weather. At least in Western England. There has only been a 4 week spell so far where I haven't had to clean the bike after a ride. Plus a little bit during the Winter but that was due to Snow cover. But apart from that, full bike wash garbage needed after every ride. Increasing the maintenance time after every wet ride considerably.

Manual bikes are very nearly as bad. They still have a long way to go as well. An E Bike has a few more things that can go wrong but about 90% of the problems are on both forms of bike. I should know, I ride both.
 
Last edited:

Streddaz

Active member
Jul 7, 2022
302
429
Tasmania
But it's not just the Motor.
Most other parts fail on E Bikes just as frequently, if not more so.
As you can see from my comprehsive list. Forks, Shocks, Droppers, full brake systems, rear wheels, rock guards, power cables, speed sensor wires, frame pivot bearings, rear mechs.
I wipe out a rear wheel on every visit to an Uplift Centre.
Nearly everything apart from the frame has had to be replaced in some cases 3 times or more.

A manual mountain bike is the same - a constant headache, minus a few things that an E Bike has.
But where do you draw the line on what's the original bike? You can crack the frame and get that warrantied as well, but it that the same bike? As I said before, being an Ebike, the thing that most people want to know is how long is the motor going to last. It's an expensive part of the bike and something that commonly fails.
The constant headache of maintenance and failures seems consistant whether it's wet or dry. Apart from all the bike cleaning when its wet and muddy. Incidentally 2023 has so far been a very bad year in the UK for wet weather. At least in Western England. There has only been a 4 week spell so far where I haven't had to clean the bike after a ride. Plus a little bit during the Winter but that was due to Snow cover. But apart from that, full bike wash garbage needed after every ride. Increasing the maintenance time after every wet ride considerably.

Manual bikes are very nearly as bad. They still have a long way to go as well. An E Bike has a few more things that can go wrong but about 90% of the problems are on both forms of bike. I should know, I ride both.
Really? How much maintenance are you doing? We get some pretty wet winters in Tasmania and all I do after a muddy ride is hose the bike off, wipe it down and relube the chain. Takes about 10 to 15 minutes at most.
You should try looking after a dirt bike in the winter. That's about an hour of work after a ride.
 
Last edited:

Binhill1

🍊 Tango Man 🍊
Mar 7, 2019
3,265
5,054
Scotland
The constant headache of maintenance and failures seems consistant whether it's wet or dry. Apart from all the bike cleaning when its wet and muddy. Incidentally 2023 has so far been a very bad year in the UK for wet weather. At least in Western England. There has only been a 4 week spell so far where I haven't had to clean the bike after a ride. Plus a little bit during the Winter but that was due to Snow cover. But apart from that, full bike wash garbage needed after every ride. Increasing the maintenance time after every wet ride considerably.

Manual bikes are very nearly as bad. They still have a long way to go as well. An E Bike has a few more things that can go wrong but about 90% of the problems are on both forms of bike. I should know, I ride both.
Yes i agree .The corrosion on parts of the last motor of mine to fail was horrendous only 15 months old that one was . But you would have had to drop it out to see it or clean it properly. Removing all these piddly little bolts then cleaning the crap out round about the delicate wires on the motor TCU on the Levo is asking for trouble. Mine gets a good careful wash if needed. That can be three times a week at worst. To properly do that you would need to take cranks plastic motor covers of every time. I won't mention checking bearings etc. My headset ones get filthy I have gone through at least 2 a year . Next person saying that theirs lasts for years . Same with cassette and chains . You will never know how hard people are riding or a bike unless you go out with them . Plus I live on coast saltier air compared to inland you see it on neglected cars.
Rant over
 

Grannyjones

Member
May 25, 2020
385
80
England
I've gone through 3 Motors but I've also gone through 2 Forks, 3 Rear Shocks, 3 Rear Wheels, 3 Full Brake Systems, 3 Dropper Posts. A Motor is another complicated and expensive componant to a bike just like a Fork, Rear Shock, Hydraulic brake system and Dropper Post and what all these also have in common is levels of unreliability.
 

Binhill1

🍊 Tango Man 🍊
Mar 7, 2019
3,265
5,054
Scotland
I've gone through 3 Motors but I've also gone through 2 Forks, 3 Rear Shocks, 3 Rear Wheels, 3 Full Brake Systems, 3 Dropper Posts. A Motor is another complicated and expensive componant to a bike just like a Fork, Rear Shock, Hydraulic brake system and Dropper Post and what all these also have in common is levels of unreliability.
Dare I say all mine luckily been warranty claims over and above what I should have got. Dropper a few cables sone of which are not cheap as you know 3 motors frame so i cant complain. . Ebikes have a long way to go if they are to be used to their full capability 😠 but that's only my opinion. Some folk on here do megamiles no maintenance and everything is tickets boo. Others get loads and it's because of their maintenance routine. We will never know.
 

jimbob

Active member
Aug 3, 2020
523
433
East UK
I've gone through 3 Motors but I've also gone through 2 Forks, 3 Rear Shocks, 3 Rear Wheels, 3 Full Brake Systems, 3 Dropper Posts. A Motor is another complicated and expensive componant to a bike just like a Fork, Rear Shock, Hydraulic brake system and Dropper Post and what all these also have in common is levels of unreliability.
That's quite the casualty rate of parts there... how did you go through so many forks and shocks?
 

Flatslide

E*POWAH Master
Jul 14, 2019
265
250
Dunedin NZ
2019 Rocky Mountain C50 Altitude PowerPlay. 14,000km on the bike, 8000km on original motor and 6000km on replacement motor. Original unit was replaced due to the transfer cog retaining nut not being up to the job resulting in wear to the splined shaft. Bottom bracket, headset and front wheel bearings all original and still mint. 504W/hr battery still good - maybe 80% of what it was new but plenty of power and range for what I need. Seat stay replaced under warranty after it broke above the axle. Seat post still mint, never serviced - thanks Mudhugger 29er.
 

Grannyjones

Member
May 25, 2020
385
80
England
I think it is best to buy the ebike you decide in its cheapest version, because the reliability is the same, but the price you pay is not
I was wondering about this for a while. I bought the Levo Comp for £5k but noticed the S Works was over £13k. I was wondering if the S Works has the same reliability, and thought I'd be gutted if it was after paying that much!
 

Grannyjones

Member
May 25, 2020
385
80
England
That's quite the casualty rate of parts there... how did you go through so many forks and shocks?
The forks developed CSU (Crown Steerer Unit) issues and the shocks were still working but started leaking oil and/or the stantions started going discoloured which meant they were on their way out and needed replacing.

The CSU issues in particular are exceptionally common, regardless of how much maintenance.

Luckily all the Motor failures were all covered by a 4 year warranty but the forks, shocks, brake systems and dropper posts sadly weren't
 

Alexbn921

Well-known member
Sep 27, 2021
545
511
East Bay CA
I was wondering about this for a while. I bought the Levo Comp for £5k but noticed the S Works was over £13k. I was wondering if the S Works has the same reliability, and thought I'd be gutted if it was after paying that much!
The motors and electronics are identical. All 700 batteries are the same as well. S-works is just the parts bolted to it.
There are 3 Levo frames with decreasing total weight limits. 300lb aluminum, 275lb heavy carbon(comp) and 240lb light carbon(expert and s-works).
 

Binhill1

🍊 Tango Man 🍊
Mar 7, 2019
3,265
5,054
Scotland
Met a lad lad yesterday on the trail . He was saying he had done 50,000 miles on a Levo Expert still on the original motor. Said he's on here a lot but I've never heard of him Pinocchio .
 

Vaau839

Member
Mar 31, 2020
15
18
Uk
12'030 miles Cube Acid One 2020, Bosch performance line original motor.


mil.jpg
 

jimbob

Active member
Aug 3, 2020
523
433
East UK
That's not really relevant to the motor though. I can go down a really steep hill and hit 80kph with the motor off.
It's kind of the point of the thread, is to show how well people motors were lasting.
Agreed. A good idea, but would probably be better in another thread.
 

EMTB Forums

Since 2018

The World's largest electric mountain bike community.

555K
Messages
28,072
Members
Join Our Community

Latest articles


Top