My mother decided to get one of these to help with the UK hills around her area as she cycles daily, and asked me for advice being a cyclist. She liked this model having done a cycle scheme rent for a month. I was a little hesitant at first due to lack of reviews on Evans cycles website, but then found more very positive reviews on Raleigh's site so thought it seemed a decent choice for her being easy to get on/off, reputable brand etc.
6 weeks or so on she is due to take it in for the free checkup with Evans. However I've found a number of issues with it, having tried it out:
- Gears 6-8 dont change smoothly and fairly noisy gear changes in general (latter part might just be the bike?). I've oiled the chain and found nothing visibly wrong.
- Front brake still a bit noisy after wearing in. And both brake levers seem spongey- hydraulic brakes so presumably need bleeding due to poor set up?
- Battery life up to 110 miles according to website. Yet after a full charge and set on eco it says 70 miles range, and now somehow even less at 55 after full charge. Is battery range inaccurate? Either way it doesn't seem you can ever get more than 70 miles from a charge?
- While pedaling on the Tour power setting, I notice vibration on the soles of my feet. When on Eco and Sport mode the vibration is almost gone, so surely this again must be down to poor set up?
- I can't get the battery lock to actually lock. It pushes in leaving a very tiny gap which might be normal, but after turning key to lock it still can be pulled out just as easily as when it's unlocked! Everything looks fine with no damage, the key clearly works when I try it with the battery out. I think it could have been faulty from the start yet my mum didn't realise as it's stiff to remove anyway!
- Battery socket cap doesn't seem to close properly, and nothing is damaged. In wet weather there's a chance water could get into the socket which is no bueno. Does it really require taping already?
Now obviously the battery lock is a huge deal, so that will need to be sorted somehow. But otherwise am I being too fussy or should I expect all these issues to get sorted? I expected for the money paid that there wouldn't be any issues whatsoever after only a short time, especially not this many. I think some like the brake set-up was done badly from the start, but no way to prove that now. I'm a bit apprehensive about having to mention so many things so any advice appreciated!
6 weeks or so on she is due to take it in for the free checkup with Evans. However I've found a number of issues with it, having tried it out:
- Gears 6-8 dont change smoothly and fairly noisy gear changes in general (latter part might just be the bike?). I've oiled the chain and found nothing visibly wrong.
- Front brake still a bit noisy after wearing in. And both brake levers seem spongey- hydraulic brakes so presumably need bleeding due to poor set up?
- Battery life up to 110 miles according to website. Yet after a full charge and set on eco it says 70 miles range, and now somehow even less at 55 after full charge. Is battery range inaccurate? Either way it doesn't seem you can ever get more than 70 miles from a charge?
- While pedaling on the Tour power setting, I notice vibration on the soles of my feet. When on Eco and Sport mode the vibration is almost gone, so surely this again must be down to poor set up?
- I can't get the battery lock to actually lock. It pushes in leaving a very tiny gap which might be normal, but after turning key to lock it still can be pulled out just as easily as when it's unlocked! Everything looks fine with no damage, the key clearly works when I try it with the battery out. I think it could have been faulty from the start yet my mum didn't realise as it's stiff to remove anyway!
- Battery socket cap doesn't seem to close properly, and nothing is damaged. In wet weather there's a chance water could get into the socket which is no bueno. Does it really require taping already?
Now obviously the battery lock is a huge deal, so that will need to be sorted somehow. But otherwise am I being too fussy or should I expect all these issues to get sorted? I expected for the money paid that there wouldn't be any issues whatsoever after only a short time, especially not this many. I think some like the brake set-up was done badly from the start, but no way to prove that now. I'm a bit apprehensive about having to mention so many things so any advice appreciated!
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