Worst thing you bought for your Ebike .

Binhill1

🍊 Tango Man 🍊
Mar 7, 2019
3,265
5,054
Scotland
Did you really need it . Top of my list is a compresser to blow crapp away and dry out the motor cables as it was a big problem starting . Chain measuring tool really. Torque wrench . Also need to mention the portable bike wash I can plug in to car lighter .bought for analogue bike four years ago never taken out of box. Light hearted thread this remember.
 

steve_sordy

Wedding Crasher
Nov 5, 2018
9,017
9,457
Lincolnshire, UK
Nothing, all good here.
Unless I count the replacement Shimano mech to replace the previous one that snapped, and for the replacement to snap in turn. Both in the same place (obviously a weak point).
I expect that sooner or later I will get three in a row.

It's time I started to find an alternative to a Shimano 12-speed mech. (XT or SLX, made no difference).

Mech 1.jpg


SLX Mech 1.jpg
 

iXi

E*POWAH Master
Feb 17, 2019
427
326
Brisbane
Carbon bars, I thought they would be great but they are horrid. Every little bump feels like it's transferred into my hands and arms..not a fan.
 

RustyIron

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
Subscriber
Jun 5, 2021
1,842
2,880
La Habra, California
I can't believe I paid $150 AUD for a few sticky bits of plastic. Looks like crap to the point I'm only leaving the downtube and back of the seat stay covered.

I've never used any frame protection. My bikes get dings and chips here and there, but I'm not too worried about it. The rear triangle on my Heckler was getting banged up pretty bad from chain slap. The chips were on the bottom and inside, where they aren't readily visible. Even so, it's not cool. So I sliced off about 5" of Gorilla Tape, and stuck it on the vulnerable area. You can't see it, but it's protecting the bike. Reading your post got me thinking that clear box sealing tape would probably be a somewhat effective frame protector... if someone was so inclined.
 

theremotejuggernaut

Active member
Aug 2, 2022
385
276
UK
Never had those problems
...Yet... 🤣

If you're mechanically adept, most things you can tell when they're tight enough but some stuff has surprised me.

RaceFace cinch cranks for example, 62nM is the required torque for the crank bolt. Waaay tighter than I would have gone without a torque wrench.

Stem clamp onto a carbon bar, torque wrench clicked at 4nM and I had to double check it because it felt like no tension at all. Would have easily over tightened that.
 

Shjay

Well-known member
Apr 30, 2019
835
491
Kent
Sram XX1 a solid rear mech have caught branches in it, been on 4 bikes I am a serial bike swapper & don’t do massive mileage but works great with my XTR shifter

Nothing, all good here.
Unless I count the replacement Shimano mech to replace the previous one that snapped, and for the replacement to snap in turn. Both in the same place (obviously a weak point).
I expect that sooner or later I will get three in a row.

It's time I started to find an alternative to a Shimano 12-speed mech. (XT or SLX, made no difference).

View attachment 100306

View attachment 100309
 

Binhill1

🍊 Tango Man 🍊
Mar 7, 2019
3,265
5,054
Scotland
Sram XX1 a solid rear mech have caught branches in it, been on 4 bikes I am a serial bike swapper & don’t do massive mileage but works great with my XTR shifter
Not cheap nowadays I Imagine. I had XX1 groupset when it first came out on a analogue bike.
 

Shjay

Well-known member
Apr 30, 2019
835
491
Kent
I rushed out to get some Helfare frame protector tape, it was sponsored by dyed bro who I have used before, only issue my frame is dark & looked shit (didn’t have white option) plus I pulled off bit of invisiframe on chainstay to fit this stuff!! Left dark stuff on top tube 😂
 

LeftItLancs

Member
Apr 12, 2021
65
55
North UK
Cheap tools on eBay, assuming they were good quality, and that I was getting a bargain. Allen keys that shredded on the first use, etc.

A bargain, ONLY £2.50.

It wasn't until I read a few threads on this and other sites, that I was finally 'educated' and so took the plunge and invested in good quality tools. After replacing crap tools with more crap tools, I had probably spent more than if I had just invested in good quality in the first place.

Lol!
 

steve_sordy

Wedding Crasher
Nov 5, 2018
9,017
9,457
Lincolnshire, UK
Upgrade your rider and they’ll last longer!!
It's a possibility that I was a better rider before I went "E", but I have never damaged a mech until recently. It is only the recent 12-speed mechs that I have damaged. I've had 12-speed on mtbs before I went "E". I suspect that Shimano have taken cost cutting one step too far on the M8100 range. Does anyone know for how long their mechs been made from plastic?
 

cozzy

E*POWAH Elite
Subscriber
Aug 11, 2019
936
1,045
Hampshire UK
Revgrips perhaps? Not to say they are bad, they are very good, but I was chasing a harshness problem & would have been better off spending the money on a fork service, which i subsequently did.
The old normal grips are fitted to another bike with no issues, so £100 wasted really.
 

Beaker2135

Well-known member
Subscriber
May 13, 2021
195
269
Cumbria
VOLspeed V4 works great but I never use it. If I’m going over 25kph I’m going downhill so I don’t need any assistance. Yes it increases % assistance in all modes but I just shift gear or mode so I never use the VOLspeed. I should sell it really and I probably will next time I pull the motor cover off
 

theremotejuggernaut

Active member
Aug 2, 2022
385
276
UK
What mech would you recommend that would fit a 148x12mm axle standard, microspline?
The derailleur only needs to match the cassette and shifter. Axle and freehub don't matter.

I've never broken an SLX or XT or Deore for that matter.

If you're breaking them often, just go with a Deore. I won't look as flash and wont feel quite as nice but it'll certainly sting less when you need to replace it.

What's breaking when it breaks? Are you damaging it hitting stuff on the trail?
 

steve_sordy

Wedding Crasher
Nov 5, 2018
9,017
9,457
Lincolnshire, UK
.......................

What's breaking when it breaks? Are you damaging it hitting stuff on the trail?
Yes, I'm catching shrubbery. The first time, it was definitely a young pine sapling that got swept up. I was moving quite slowly and turning sharply on a steep incline. Those saplings are tough and pliable buggers and difficult to break or snap; a plastic mech had no chance. No other damage to the bike, except I lost six chain links.
The second time, I suspect it was an accumulation of hits over several months. I had previously to straighten the lower mech arm several times and to reset the whole mech with the help of a mech hanger alignment tool. I could see the way things were heading so I had already bought a replacement just in case. Eventually, it was one last little knock that did the damage this time. It had me off the bike on a sharp and rough corner before I knew what the hell as happening; the mech ended up in the wheel. I was lucky to avoid injury and the bike only got three bent spokes. No chain damage this time.
Both mechs fractured cleanly in exactly the same place. Never had this before, now two consecutive mechs, one XT and one SLX.
 

steve_sordy

Wedding Crasher
Nov 5, 2018
9,017
9,457
Lincolnshire, UK
Not a clue Steve. Sorry! It took me days to figure out how to run a 10 speed system. There’s too many options to make sense out of this stuff.

Or just get an eagle axs and run this.
10-speed is probably the best way to go, but my knees need the gear range. :(

400 Euros for a device that carries two jockey wheels! "Midas Gold" is well named!
 

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