What issues have you experienced on your e-MTB?

[Simon78]

i have about 800km on my 2026 Trek Rail+, and the only problem i have had is a broken chain, almost all on red and blue trails

 

[Mikerb]

The motor failure in a wet climate is 10 fold to the failures in a dry climate. Its suspected that the motor casing expands with heat and when water is present, it gets drawn in to the casing ? Is that your opinion

Look up how condensation forms. On our bikes it is not just a motor issue.....condensation also occurs inside the bike frame.......one reason I am not a big fan of top tube mounted controllers

 

[ozzybmx]

Look up how condensation forms. On our bikes it is not just a motor issue.....condensation also occurs inside the bike frame.......one reason I am not a big fan of top tube mounted controllers

I know how condensation forms, would it be more wet from rain or puddles for motor ingress. As for controllers, yet again, it seems a wet climate issue rather that just washing the bike.

 

[Cleggy]

Shimano EP801 coming up on three years (3 in aug) no real issues.

I had an error code E914 which when I investigated was a failure of either the Bike manufacturer or bike shop - basically the two small but long bolts holding in the upper battery mount were loose causing connection issues.

The only other issue was when i lifted the bike by the handlebar and pretty much pulled a wire out of the screen - W945 warning

 

[Mikerb]

I know how condensation forms, would it be more wet from rain or puddles for motor ingress. As for controllers, yet again, it seems a wet climate issue rather that just washing the bike.

Maybe you dont! The battery and motor create heat in use. That warms the air within the motor casing and bike frame. Warm air carries more moisture. If/when that warm air cools to the dew point it deposits water droplets on thd nearest hard surface. So spraying the bike with cold water will cause condensation. That is something to be aware of in both hot and temperate climates.

 

[jetskier973]

nothing but fun

This should be an option in your poll

 

[baldiebenty]

2019 YT Decoy E8000 motor with over 5000 miles and still going but .....
Main frame pivot sleeve debonded frome the carbon and developed play, Frame replaced.
On the second frame the pivot axle basically kinda seized inside the frame after less than 2 years, it'd still rotate on the bearings but they were rough as f..k and it would not pull out to allow me to replace them, not until I got creative and eventually was able to twat it out with a hammer.
Handlebar display/speedo was going, lines on the display were dead, replacement is fine so it was just the display dying, not bad after 6+ years ridden through some pretty grim British winters
First battery, developed a number of cracks around where the mounts screw into the battery (into plastic), 2nd battery has also developed some hairline cracks in it in the same places. If you look at the way a battery is mounted in a Decoy it's basically hanging from the mounts, even when bolted up tight it must be undergoing a lot of shock on every ride, it's a flawed design I reckon.
Apart from that it's been the usual bike stuff, pads, tyres, wheels,

 

[Paul F]

none! I maintain all my bikes....that includes a thorough check on any new bike of assembly and potential issues....and I fix them before they cause issues. . Since 2019 I have bought 2 Specialized bikes ( one was stolen!) and 3 Whyte bikes.

Do you maintain the motors. Open them up and service them?

 

[Paul F]

The motor failure in a wet climate is 10 fold to the failures in a dry climate. Its suspected that the motor casing expands with heat and when water is present, it gets drawn in to the casing ? Is that your opinion ?

Nope. If you have ever cleaned and regreased the motor seals around the BB crank drive you will see that the seals are very open to water ingress. Poor design to keep the price down.

 

[Mikerb]

Do you maintain the motors. Open them up and service them?

No , if I thought it was needed I would send it to the ebike motor centre. My mate did that recently wjth his gen 2 Levo motor..... not because of any problem but as a precaution since it had done 4k miles. Cost no more than a short service on my BMW.

 

[ozzybmx]

Nope. If you have ever cleaned and regreased the motor seals around the BB crank drive you will see that the seals are very open to water ingress. Poor design to keep the price down.

Zero, I have never needed to clean around the crank seals.

 

[Mikerb]

Avinox Failure Videos - Avinox – Google Drive

Simple suggestion.

If the majority of e-bikes are reliable, extend the warranty from 2 years to a realistic lifecycle of the frame, such as 5 years.

Having 2 motors fail with little use, one without even being turned on - my faith in Avinox is lost.

Videos - Avinox – Google Drive

Early adopters are always beta triallists. Add to that a product from a previously unknown brand and you are likely to pay the price.

 

[Mikerb]

Nope. If you have ever cleaned and regreased the motor seals around the BB crank drive you will see that the seals are very open to water ingress. Poor design to keep the price down.

It is not about price....it is about keeping friction to a minimum. The ebike centre has a solution however. One issue with motors is that the bike brands do not deal with repairs....the failed motor is kept sealed and returned to the motor supplier. They probably just scrap it.

 

[Leep]

I had a computer display on Specialized turbo Levo 4 -2025 lose bluetooth in 1st 100 miles. Replaced under warranty.

 

[Kevjob51]

2024 Orbea rise link was creaking within 200 miles Orbea sent new link no problems since with 1200 miles.

None on my 2022 giant reign e+2 other than dropper cartridge had to be replaced 4 years in.

On 3rd chain on Reign e same cassette and chaining from new about 2600 miles.

Rear tires replaced once a season.

 

[thmas.bike]

Early adopters are always beta triallists. Add to that a product from a previously unknown brand and you are likely to pay the price.

DJI isn’t an unknown brand. They make motors for all sorts of products in a variety of different sectors.

Quality Control is clearly the issue here, whether it’s a bad batch of bearings or something else, who knows. The M2s has documented same issues so how early is too early to adopt a new system?

 

[Mikerb]

DJI isn’t an unknown brand. They make motors for all sorts of products in a variety of different sectors.

Quality Control is clearly the issue here, whether it’s a bad batch of bearings or something else, who knows. The M2s has documented same issues so how early is too early to adopt a new system?

DJI is the parent company not the brand. Amflow is the brand. DJI developed the Avinox motor and system. Their electronics experience is in drones and cameras neither of which are anywhere close to the stresses and environment an emtb experiences. No bike, mtb, emtb experience in DJI or Amflow. Just access to low cost electronic components and labour and no doubt additional financial support from CCP to help disrupt another Western industry sector.

 

[thmas.bike]

DJI is the parent company not the brand. Amflow is the brand. DJI developed the Avinox motor and system. Their electronics experience is in drones and cameras neither of which are anywhere close to the stresses and environment an emtb experiences. No bike, mtb, emtb experience in DJI or Amflow. Just access to low cost electronic components and labour and no doubt additional financial support from CCP to help disrupt another Western industry sector.

Yes, DJI is the parent company. It’s probably split for corp structure and tax purposes, such as the recent tariff issues between China & the USA.

I would imagine DJI head hunted engineers from the bike industry to help develop the system.

As I originally said, the failures point to a QC issue. Be that assembly line issues, or bad batches of components such as bearings.

Other brands have had their issues such as Bosch and Shimano, so it’s unfair to say they just have no experience & simply access to cheap components.

The downfall will be the poor customer service & failure to compensate existing customers to the latest iterations when there’s underlying issues in some units.

 

[TostigX]

Giant Trance E+, all the wheels bearings, headset bearings, cassette, chains, bearings seized on top and bottom suspension pivots, new pivots, new bearings.

I’ve stopped washing it.

Derailleurs a bit wobbly after it tried to eat a bit of tree but is hanging(!) in there.

Bike shop staff instructed not to acknowledge me if they see me in public and I’m with the wife.

Very wet winter here in the UK, but motor surprisingly doing fine.

 

[Rbnhood66]

Only real issue that I had to have the dealer rememdy was on my first Gen Rail 9.7. I had to have that battery tray part they used to fix the battery disconnecting sent to me. Trek did me right and got it right to me. No issues since. Have broke a link on a chain, a newer one, but that was on me for not checking it closer after each ride. It held up on one side till I got back to the truck, but I had a quick link in the bag. Only other issue, and I fixed it by upgrading to a newer system, was the purion display plastic was pretty flimsy. I went to a Kiosk I bought off someone who wrecked their Rail, with a motor and extra battery. Love the better display. As far as everything else, cassettes are changed out as needed, and my fork and shock aren't stock. Nor is my cockpit or tires. Everything else has held up. Have 2600 miles on mine since I got it last year.

 

[MTBINNC]

2025 Amflo Carbon PL Pro XL, purchased here in the US from the awesome people at Carolina Pedal Works in Highpoint NC. Love the bike so far. almost 500mi so far, got it at end of Feb 2026. Broke a few spokes on rear wheel (carbon wheel), replaced and then broke a few more. Replaced myself and Amflo sent me a few replacements (Thanks Amflo!) Recent flatted my rear tire (Tubeless, Maxxis Dissector 2.4) when I took a what looked like a wood shark tooth through the tread. Couple of Darts later and it is holding. Other than that a few quirks on the Amflo app on the iphone and one hard reset on the bike (It was not responding when trying to download the most recent ride map). Other than that awesome ride. I hope it holds up. 220lbs, advanced rider but taking less jumps these days, 61yrs young!

 

[Brad Trent]

I bought a Canyon Spectral...'nuff said!!!