Understater
Member
I picked up my new Amflow 3 days ago, and I just got back from my shakedown ride. I love the way the bike rides, and the power is something else, especially coming of a TQ powered Trek. BUT.... the motor rattles like HELL! It did it right out of the shop. The first time I rode it off a curb it rattled. I thought it was brake pads or something as the other bikes I rode (parking lot test behind the shop) were really quiet, and to be honest I was sure it was something other than the motor.
A closer inspection showed there is noticeable play in the axle on the non-drive side. The whole crank arm moves like it isn't done up tight.... (It is... I checked). If I tap on the end of the left pedal it makes a clacking sound. It is so bad I even hear it when I change gears, so you can imagine what it sounds like bouncing over tree roots.
My guess is that either the axle is out of spec and moving in the bearing, or the housing is out of spec and the bearing is moving. Either way it will probably get a lot worse quite quickly, so it will be going back to the shop at the first opportunity.
Shame really, as I really like the bike.
Edit:
Well It took the bike back and asked about the rattle. The shop staff reckoned it was all normal. Each Avinox I have touched has the same play in the axle, which I find really strange. I visited the shop I bought my my Trek Ex-e from and we were talking about it. They showed me a video of a Velduro with a grinding sound coming from the motor while pedalling. It sounded exactly like the meshing was too tight. So my conclusion is that whoever makes the metal gears inside the avinox motors struggles to hit consistent tolerances.
For my own bike, I have just learned to live with the noise. For sure it is a bit disappointing, but the bike is so fast that I'm willing to live with it. Over time I am suure I will notice it less and less. I will probably get a mullet rear wheel built at some point and might look at that DT Swiss DEG hub to reduce the chain's tugging on the motor.
A closer inspection showed there is noticeable play in the axle on the non-drive side. The whole crank arm moves like it isn't done up tight.... (It is... I checked). If I tap on the end of the left pedal it makes a clacking sound. It is so bad I even hear it when I change gears, so you can imagine what it sounds like bouncing over tree roots.
My guess is that either the axle is out of spec and moving in the bearing, or the housing is out of spec and the bearing is moving. Either way it will probably get a lot worse quite quickly, so it will be going back to the shop at the first opportunity.
Shame really, as I really like the bike.
Edit:
Well It took the bike back and asked about the rattle. The shop staff reckoned it was all normal. Each Avinox I have touched has the same play in the axle, which I find really strange. I visited the shop I bought my my Trek Ex-e from and we were talking about it. They showed me a video of a Velduro with a grinding sound coming from the motor while pedalling. It sounded exactly like the meshing was too tight. So my conclusion is that whoever makes the metal gears inside the avinox motors struggles to hit consistent tolerances.
For my own bike, I have just learned to live with the noise. For sure it is a bit disappointing, but the bike is so fast that I'm willing to live with it. Over time I am suure I will notice it less and less. I will probably get a mullet rear wheel built at some point and might look at that DT Swiss DEG hub to reduce the chain's tugging on the motor.
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