The terrible Reevo

[Dogtrousers]

In a now closed thread* @HMS_Dave linked to a video about the ming bogglingly bad Reevo bike.
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/the-monumental-c-k-up-thread.300986/page-15#post-7345442

I've just watched the follow up video in which they take it to bits. It's full of bad ideas. Worth a watch, if you don't mind the presenter's style.


View: https://youtu.be/MgPUpccQ_mw?si=6Dr8Kee5Kr5ozp23


*Yeah, sorry about that.

 

[HMS_Dave]

It's a completely unfathomable bike. Its utter crap and pretty dangerous but i appreciate it's engineering.

Also, there isn't a snowball's chance in hell that they're getting that back wheel back together...

 

[Drago]

It's the engineering that makes it so crap and dangerous.

 

[bonzobanana]

It shows why mostly evolution of engineering is better than revolution of engineering. I sort of feel a bit like this towards mid-drive ebikes when you look inside and they have a huge number of sealed bearings, sometimes a belt and loads of plastic cogs plus they deliver all their power through the drivetrain. Such a huge number of failure points compared to hub motors which represent the simple reliable and repairable technology.

 

[DCLane]

I watched the strip-down video a few days ago and it did seem to be an over-complication solution to their original idea. With basic parts.

 

[Jameshow]

Wow what a how not too on engineering!
The engineered must have played too much down fall as kids!🤣

 

[Marchrider]

I popped into the thread to agree 100%, but then I see its about a bike

 

[Gwylan]

Allegedly the Americans developed special pens for their space programme. The Russians used pencils.

And I thought my Cowboy bike was a bit of a bodge.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

It shows why mostly evolution of engineering is better than revolution of engineering. I sort of feel a bit like this towards mid-drive ebikes when you look inside and they have a huge number of sealed bearings, sometimes a belt and loads of plastic cogs plus they deliver all their power through the drivetrain. Such a huge number of failure points compared to hub motors which represent the simple reliable and repairable technology.

I agree - I bought a hub drive ebike but it had a design fault (now fixed) with the charger connector and Raleigh were very good about it and eventually just replaced it with a better model
possibly to shut me up
and the better version has Bosch mid drive

which is very good and works well - but is very much a "anything breaks replace most of the whole thing" type design

I rember a big problem with my previous ebike - which was hub drive
the sort of problem that break the chainwheel, chain and all sorts - and I got it home quite happily just using the throttle (legal - pre 2016!)

had a chain problem on this one and I had to walk home!

 

[Dogtrousers]

The concept is good. A really cool looking bike with hubless wheels, electric assist and electronic wizardry. Comfortable and efficient. Secure. It's just that it's a bit of an unattainable dream.

I wonder how soon in the process did someone say "These hubless wheels ... They'll weigh a ton and resist going round. And be really hard to maintain. And make a terrible noise. And give a really bumpy ride. How about we make a protype with normal bike wheels? That would work much better".

I guess that was then overriden by someone with "vision" who said something like "I have the ideas, you make them work." Or maybe "You're fired. I'll hire someone less negative".

 

[Punkawallah]

Allegedly the Americans developed special pens for their space programme. The Russians used pencils.

And I thought my Cowboy bike was a bit of a bodge.

Apparently an urban myth. Not that the Americans used special pens, but that the Russians used pencils. Something to do with graphite particles in zero gravity getting where they shouldn’t?

 

[Tenkaykev]

Allegedly the Americans developed special pens for their space programme. The Russians used pencils.

And I thought my Cowboy bike was a bit of a bodge.

Not the whole story, both America and Russia started off using pencils, but pencils can be dangerous.
Snopes has the real story which is quite an interesting read.
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/the-write-stuff/

 

[presta]

Anyone who can't see why it's many times higher friction than a hub bearing didn't ought to be designing anything.

Those mechanics aren't much better: "If we pull all these pins out, the rollers will fall to the bottom so we can get the rim off".
Yes, and how would it have been assembled that way in the first place, using the patent Beno un-falling tool? It's obvious that the means of disassembly had to be hidden under the tyre somewhere.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Anyone who can't see why it's many times higher friction than a hub bearing didn't ought to be designing anything.

Those mechanics aren't much better: "If we pull all these pins out, the rollers will fall to the bottom so we can get the rim off".
Yes, and how would it have been assembled that way in the first place, using the patent Beno un-falling tool? It's obvious that the means of disassembly had to be hidden under the tyre somewhere.

I think it was fairly clear that they had no intention of putting it back together.