Planet X "Rock Machine" ebikes

[slowridr]

Has anyone any experience of these bikes? Looks like they've imported a batch to test the market and on the face of it they're amazing value, although the components are a bit unusual, "SportDrive" motors from somewhere and a basic coil fork. I found a little review on a Czech website but nothing else useful.

Here's the maker's website: https://rockmachine.us/en/2019/flash/crossride-e350/matte-black-silver-brick-red - spec seems fine for a light-usage ready-built bike?

At the risk of being a bit Top Gear: for £930 delivered, how bad can one be?

 

[Pale Rider]

About the going rate for a basic hub drive bike.

It has a Dapu motor, which I've heard of and should be OK.

Not clear from the Planet X site which size battery you get, which would have an impact on value.

https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/FBELRMCRE35018/rock-machine-crossride-e350-touring-e-bike

 

[Spartak]

I've just been looking at one of these....

https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/FBELR...ide-e375-touring-e-bike--(incl-battery-500wh)

Extra 30% off today - brings it down to £1120 !!!

 

[slowridr]

Just ordered the “women’s” version of the e375 with the rack/lock/mudguards/lights in dark pink and dropped top tube. Fingers crossed.

 

[Pale Rider]

Just ordered the “women’s” version of the e375 with the rack/lock/mudguards/lights in dark pink and dropped top tube. Fingers crossed.

Well done for putting your money where your mouth is.

You've taken a bit of a punt, but if the rest of the bike is equivalent spec to the Dapu motor you shouldn't have any worries.

The bike doesn't have a very low first gear - 42/32 - which might be a struggle for some in hilly Bristol.

No problem if you are fairly light and/or have some fitness.

 

[slowridr]

Well it’s arrived, I’ve put it together and first impressions are pretty good.

The colour is less pink than I was expecting: instead of fuchsia it’s a sort of deep raspberry matt finish. Welds on the frame are very tidy, the matching mudguards and wired-in lights are very clean, the WTB Riddler tyres look enormous next to the tyres on my other bikes. Even came with pedals and a nice bell, which I wasn’t expecting. Looking forward to trying it out tomorrow.

 

[Pale Rider]

Well it’s arrived, I’ve put it together and first impressions are pretty good.

The colour is less pink than I was expecting: instead of fuchsia it’s a sort of deep raspberry matt finish. Welds on the frame are very tidy, the matching mudguards and wired-in lights are very clean, the WTB Riddler tyres look enormous next to the tyres on my other bikes. Even came with pedals and a nice bell, which I wasn’t expecting. Looking forward to trying it out tomorrow.

Sounds promising.

Probably worth 'cycling' the battery a couple of times in the first week or two - run it down from fully charged until the software cuts out the motor.

You may already know, but don't leave the battery fully charged for any longer than you have to.

When you are up and running, it's best to start every ride with a fully charged battery, unless you are literally only going to do a handful of miles.

I am sure we would all like to see a few pics.

 

[slowridr]

Good tips on the battery, thanks.

First run out was as hilarious as I expected. The motor makes only a quiet whoosh, there are a few rattles which I think is the frame lock; I’m used to my road bike running silently so might see if I can stick a felt pad into it. Need to get used to the wide MTB style bars too.

I might need to tighten the headset and wind a bit more cable tension on the derailleur, but that’s normal for a new bike. Overall, very happy.

Couple of photos attached.

 

[Pale Rider]

Good tips on the battery, thanks.

First run out was as hilarious as I expected. The motor makes only a quiet whoosh, there are a few rattles which I think is the frame lock; I’m used to my road bike running silently so might see if I can stick a felt pad into it. Need to get used to the wide MTB style bars too.

I might need to tighten the headset and wind a bit more cable tension on the derailleur, but that’s normal for a new bike. Overall, very happy.

Couple of photos attached.

Looks nicely made.

The extra stuff on ebikes means they can be rattly compared to a well-fettled road bike.

I would chop two or three inches of both ends of those bars.

You don't need the extra MTB leverage for road and gravel path use.

 

[Spartak]

Good tips on the battery, thanks.

First run out was as hilarious as I expected. The motor makes only a quiet whoosh, there are a few rattles which I think is the frame lock; I’m used to my road bike running silently so might see if I can stick a felt pad into it. Need to get used to the wide MTB style bars too.

I might need to tighten the headset and wind a bit more cable tension on the derailleur, but that’s normal for a new bike. Overall, very happy.

Couple of photos attached.

Looks very nice, thanks for suppling pics.
I was so tempted with the 375 version but my cautious side stopped me from hitting the 'buy now' key when they had 30% off... 🙄

EDIT : Rear light looks really cool built into mudguards... 👍

 

[Pale Rider]

I thought there was something odd looking about the pics, but couldn't pin it down.

Got it now - no front mudguard.

 

[slowridr]

Got it now - no front mudguard.

It was supplied with one, I just haven't fitted it yet

 

[tribanjules]

Good tips on the battery, thanks.

First run out was as hilarious as I expected. The motor makes only a quiet whoosh, there are a few rattles which I think is the frame lock; I’m used to my road bike running silently so might see if I can stick a felt pad into it. Need to get used to the wide MTB style bars too.

I might need to tighten the headset and wind a bit more cable tension on the derailleur, but that’s normal for a new bike. Overall, very happy.

Couple of photos attached.

Looks great 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

 

[Pale Rider]

It was supplied with one, I just haven't fitted it yet

The wide down tube would act like an MTB flinger, which would give you some protection.

That, and a short guard under the headset would be almost as good as a mudguard, particularly if the supplied one is shallow, as many are.

Why would you?

Mudguards, especially front ones, can be a faff to fit well and often play up in use.

You have a nice, rigid, carrier mudguard on the back.

https://muckynutz.com/face_fender

 

[slowridr]

The front guard it came with is also rigid, and there's plenty of toe clearance, but as it's not going to spend much time anywhere too muddy/wet I'm thinking I'll just stick some helitape on the down tube (it's just over 60mm wide, 75mm surface width) to protect from stone chips and that'll do fine.