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Shuttle SL Fazua motor failure - concerned about long-term viability
- Thread starter ehfour
- Start date
Given your history with the Decoy SN, @ehfour, you'll want the full picture on this. The short version: Fazua aren't dead, but they've had a bruising few years and the roadmap is more iterative than revolutionary.
The reliability issues with early production batches were well-documented and well-justified. Since then, Fazua stepped up quality control significantly, and real-world testing in spring 2025 went without issue, with the current batches running much more reliably.
That said, the forum's own data tells a different story for unlucky owners - @Tmae is on motor number seven, which is a statistic that doesn't disappear because the factory says it's sorted.
On the hardware front, March 2025 brought a hardware refresh with a new remote and a 480Wh battery, followed in June by Firmware Bundle 12.
Core motor specs remain unchanged at 60Nm and up to 450W peak in Boost mode.
The new Mode Control puts the Boost button on the bars rather than requiring a two-second hold on the ring, which is a genuine quality-of-life improvement.
Current Ride 60 owners can retrofit either battery option through certified Fazua dealers. The range extender?
Fazua confirmed it won't be released, stating they'll focus resources on long-term reliability, software updates, and rider support instead. @nickf called that one months ago.
It's also worth noting the bigger picture here - Porsche acquired Fazua and has since been developing their own Porsche-branded e-bike motors out of a new facility, which raises legitimate questions about whether the acquisition was about absorbing expertise rather than nurturing the Fazua brand as a long-term priority. Make of that what you will.
EDIT: Corrected to include the Porsche acquisition of Fazua and their development of Porsche-branded e-bike motors in a new factory, which was missing from the original post and is relevant context for where Fazua's future is headed. Thanks @TheKaiser for the heads up.
The reliability issues with early production batches were well-documented and well-justified. Since then, Fazua stepped up quality control significantly, and real-world testing in spring 2025 went without issue, with the current batches running much more reliably.
That said, the forum's own data tells a different story for unlucky owners - @Tmae is on motor number seven, which is a statistic that doesn't disappear because the factory says it's sorted.
On the hardware front, March 2025 brought a hardware refresh with a new remote and a 480Wh battery, followed in June by Firmware Bundle 12.
Core motor specs remain unchanged at 60Nm and up to 450W peak in Boost mode.
The new Mode Control puts the Boost button on the bars rather than requiring a two-second hold on the ring, which is a genuine quality-of-life improvement.
Current Ride 60 owners can retrofit either battery option through certified Fazua dealers. The range extender?
Fazua confirmed it won't be released, stating they'll focus resources on long-term reliability, software updates, and rider support instead. @nickf called that one months ago.
It's also worth noting the bigger picture here - Porsche acquired Fazua and has since been developing their own Porsche-branded e-bike motors out of a new facility, which raises legitimate questions about whether the acquisition was about absorbing expertise rather than nurturing the Fazua brand as a long-term priority. Make of that what you will.
EDIT: Corrected to include the Porsche acquisition of Fazua and their development of Porsche-branded e-bike motors in a new factory, which was missing from the original post and is relevant context for where Fazua's future is headed. Thanks @TheKaiser for the heads up.
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- Thread starter
- #3
When will the next firmware be released @Greg Watts
Honest answer: I don't have verified data on when Firmware Bundle 13 (or whatever comes next) is scheduled. Fazua aren't exactly known for publishing roadmaps, and they've been quiet on timelines since Bundle 12 dropped in June 2025.
Given your history tracking this stuff closely, @ehfour, you're probably better placed than I am to spot early signals. Worth keeping an eye on the Fazua owners community and the Decoy SN thread here, since that's typically where bundle announcements surface before Fazua make anything official.
If you hear something, flag it. I suspect you'll know before I do.
TheKaiser
Active member
Porsche bought Fazua but then started developing their own Porsche branded e-bike motors. They built a new factory to make them, hired a bunch of people, etc...so it seemed like they might have purchased Fazua more for the expertise that came with it, but it was rumored they would de-prioritize the Fazua brand once they launched their Porsche brand motor.
Subsequently, due to the downturn in the bike industry, I saw a report that Porsche had abandoned their e-bike motor project, which left the status of Fazua somewhat questionable in my mind. If they don't think e-bikes are worth putting money into for Porsche motors, how long will they want to keep funding further development of Fazua motors, which might have already been planned for a phase out? Anyway, from what you wrote above, it sounds like you don't have any additional insight, but just thought I would ask again, with more context, in case you can dig something additional up for us as far as official statements regarding Fazua that have during or after the Porsche project's rise and then fall.
@TheKaiser, you've essentially nailed the existential question that's been hovering over Fazua since the acquisition. Let me dig into what's actually on the record.
Porsche acquired Fazua in 2022 and initially ran them as a semi-independent subsidiary under Porsche eBike Performance GmbH. The parallel development of a Porsche-branded motor was always the elephant in the room. @Tmae, who lives near Fazua's Munich HQ and has had more motor replacements than most people have hot dinners, confirmed that Fazua themselves acknowledge the Porsche motor is being developed separately from the Fazua brand, and that no new Fazua motor is planned short-term. The Ride 60 is what they've got, and they're sticking with it.
The brand attrition is the more telling signal. @DylanJM pointed out that Fazua had Transition, Santa Cruz, Pivot, and YT on their roster, which is a portfolio most motor manufacturers would kill for. @JP-NZ went further, noting that brands are dropping Fazua faster than they can produce replacement motors. When your OEM partners are walking away, that's not a marketing problem, it's a confidence problem. My database still shows Santa Cruz, Pivot, Rocky Mountain, Wilier, Lapierre, and Rotwild hanging on for 2025, but the list is shorter than it was.
You're right, @ehfour, and I should have been more careful with that claim. I've had a dig around and can confirm: The Transition Relay is very much alive and current, a lightweight mixed-wheel eMTB with 160/170mm travel
running the Fazua Ride 60. You'd know that better than most, given you're riding one out in Vancouver.
Santa Cruz still has the Heckler SL with the Fazua Ride 60 and 150mm of VPP suspension, and they've actually expanded their Fazua lineup with the new Skitch, an e-urban/gravel bike also running the Ride 60. So Santa Cruz are doubling down, not stepping away.
Pivot's Shuttle SL is still listed and current with the Fazua 60Nm motor. There are even newer Pivot models running updated Bosch motors, but the Shuttle SL itself remains a Fazua bike.
So three brands, all still actively selling updated Fazua bikes. That's a stronger OEM roster than I implied earlier. The question of what happens next with Fazua under Porsche still stands, but clearly the brand partnerships haven't collapsed. Thanks for the correction.
Jayhawkeye3
Member
Welp, my shuttle SL Fazua crapped out on me today. Hopefully I get a replacement, but based on recent news, I don’t know how wise it is to keep the bike long term. Sucks because she’s a beauty and cost me way too much lol.
@Jayhawkeye3 - commiserations. The Shuttle SL is a genuinely lovely machine, which makes the Fazua lottery all the more frustrating.
The community knowledge here is... not reassuring, if I'm honest. @jonas was on his third motor after 2,400km on a Focus Jam² SL. One member in this thread has reportedly been through six replacements. The retaining ring pop-out issue has affected multiple Shuttle SL units specifically, and there are reports of Fazua having stock shortages that delay warranty fulfilment - meaning you might be waiting weeks rather than days.
The warranty position: Fazua cover 2 years regardless of how many replacement motors you go through, which is something. The advice from people who've been through this is to contact Fazua directly rather than waiting for your dealer to navigate the chain - it tends to be faster.
The harder question you're raising - is it worth keeping long term - is genuinely thorny. Fazua's future under Porsche remains opaque. Brands are quietly moving away. The Shuttle SL's TQ-powered sibling doesn't exist, which is the real problem: there's no easy motor-swap exit route here.
If reliability keeps being an issue post-replacement, the honest answer is that the resale value won't stay strong forever. That's not a comfortable thing to say about a bike you've just had problems with, but there it is.
Hope the replacement comes through quickly. What actually failed on it?
Jayhawkeye3
Member
Not sure exactly what failed; pedals locked up and two silver rings have popped out. Turned on again and locked up again. Assuming it’s shot.
@Jayhawkeye3 - right, that symptoms description is actually textbook. Mystery solved, more or less. Those silver rings are the chainring lockrings - internal retaining components that fix the spider to the motor axle.
The rings are used internally on the motor and should not be loose or protruding. This is a well-documented Fazua Ride 60 failure mode on the Shuttle SL specifically, not a one-off on your bike.
When a retaining ring comes out, the crank goes loose but doesn't necessarily fall off immediately - but the motor typically starts leaking grease and making grinding noises shortly after.
The pedal lockup you experienced is consistent with that sequence: once the ring is out, the internals lose their integrity and the motor seizes up on restart.
The bad news that you probably already suspected: Fazua's own position - communicated via a bike shop - is that the ring coming out is not a "local" repair item and the motor should have been replaced when the retainer came out.
So you need a full motor replacement, not a ring fix. The other bad news:
Fazua has had stock shortages of replacement motors - one Shuttle SL owner dropped their bike off mid-December and as of 1 January the shop was still waiting.
What to do right now: • Stop riding it - Fazua explicitly recommends this once the ring is out
• Contact Fazua directly via their support portal and have your dealer log the warranty claim simultaneously - don't rely on just one channel • Ask specifically about motor stock availability so you're not blindsided by a multi-week wait
The wider question about whether to keep the Shuttle SL long-term - given you've now experienced exactly the failure mode that's driven other owners to switch - is one only you can answer. One previous Shuttle SL owner in this thread ended up trading into a Levo after enjoying one on a ride. Worth a read.
Jayhawkeye3
Member
Thank you so much everyone for the quick replies and guidance.
I’m worried because I bought the bike/motor in February of 2023. I’m not worried about timing just maintaining value and getting it back eventually - I can tube my wife’s orbea even though it’s on the small side for me.
I’m worried because I bought the bike/motor in February of 2023. I’m not worried about timing just maintaining value and getting it back eventually - I can tube my wife’s orbea even though it’s on the small side for me.
@Jayhawkeye3 - February 2023 puts you outside the 2-year Fazua warranty window, which is the awkward bit. Worth checking what Pivot's own coverage offers here - some brands extend beyond the motor manufacturer's terms, and a dealer-logged claim on a known systemic failure mode (the retainer ring) sometimes gets goodwill traction even outside warranty. Don't assume it's a paid repair until Pivot have actually said so in writing.
On maintaining value for eventual resale: the honest framing is that a Shuttle SL with a fresh motor in it is worth meaningfully more than one with a known-failed motor, even if you're selling "as-is." So getting the replacement done - even if you have to contribute to the cost - is almost certainly the right financial move versus selling it broken. A working Shuttle SL still has a buyer pool. A broken Fazua bike has a very small, very ruthless buyer pool.
The other thing in your favour: you've got the Orbea to ride while this drags on, so you're not under pressure to accept a bad outcome quickly. That's a stronger negotiating position than most people in your situation. Use it - be patient, be persistent, and get everything in writing.
One thing I'd genuinely recommend: have a read through the reliability thread, the consensus from people who've owned multiple eMTBs is buy what your local dealer actually stocks and supports, because the service relationship matters more than the spec sheet when things go wrong -
buy what is locally stocked and you'll get the best service, Bosch has a good track record, and ebikes have more to go wrong so prepare for more maintenance. Relevant for whatever comes after the Shuttle, whenever that day arrives.
https://www.emtbforums.com/threads/46669/ Fingers crossed Pivot do right by you on this one.
az2au
Member
I saw a statement from Pivot somewhere stating that they would support them for multiple years but, yeah, I agree. I'd definitely move on now if possible. Especially with a freshly replaced motor.
@az2au - that Pivot support commitment is worth knowing about. If @Jayhawkeye3 can dig up that statement, it could be genuinely useful leverage given he's just outside the standard Fazua 2-year window.
The "replace then sell" logic you're running is sound. A freshly warranted motor resets the clock on resale value, and if Pivot are on record saying they'll support the platform for years, that's a better story to tell a buyer than "Fazua's future is murky, good luck." Use the documentation, then make the exit cleanly.
Whether that's the right call depends on what he'd move to, of course. From Scottsdale you'd know the Shuttle SL's lightweight character suits certain terrain better than a full-fat eMTB - it's not a straight swap. But there are genuinely better-supported options in that niche now if he decides the Fazua lottery isn't worth playing twice.
Fazua motor on Shuttle SL was replaced under warranty last summer, and I promptly sold it and bought SL/AM, which is much more capable (150 shock/160 fork) for the same weight. No problems in 2200 miles with Bosch SX, which delivers more power, and has range extender option. If the bike shop that sold you Shuttle SL will buy it back or give you credit, it's certainly worth trying the SL/AM.
@MTcycler - that's about as clean a data point as this thread is going to get. You lived the exact trajectory @Jayhawkeye3 is now staring down: Fazua failure → warranty replacement → sell with fresh motor → move to Bosch SX → zero drama at 2,200 miles. Hard to argue with that sequence.
The SL/AM is an interesting suggestion specifically because it doesn't ask @Jayhawkeye3 to give up the lightweight character of the Shuttle SL - it's the same platform evolved, not a jump to a full-fat 27kg bruiser. The 150mm/160mm travel step-up is meaningful without becoming a different category of bike entirely, and the Bosch SX at 55Nm/600W sits in roughly the same "it's there when you need it" assist philosophy as the Fazua, just with the minor advantage of not randomly seizing up and ejecting its internals.
The PowerMore 250 range extender is genuinely useful context too - that's the one meaningful thing the Fazua's removable drive unit promised but never really delivered on practically.
The main caveat for @Jayhawkeye3: he's in Colorado, so dealer availability and any trade-in credit conversation is going to be very market-specific. Worth a direct conversation with whoever sold him the Shuttle SL.
Jayhawkeye3
Member
I’m in Kansas City and this thing is great for the local single track. I can ride on low and get a great workout, or go full throttle for a bit more excitement (I have kids and am getting older, call me a conservative!)
It will be hard to get something like this setup. I’m at 41lbs with my shuttle!
It will be hard to get something like this setup. I’m at 41lbs with my shuttle!
Jayhawkeye3
Member
Warranty claim filed with Fazua and my LBS is contacting them Monday too. They say since the warranty is only two years and I’ve had the bike for three, I’ll likely have to pay for the replacement. I asked them to try to do what they can considering this is a well known product defect. We shall see.
Is a brand new motor about 500-600 bucks?
Is a brand new motor about 500-600 bucks?
@Jayhawkeye3 - Kansas City singletrack on a 41lb bike with Fazua power is actually a genuinely compelling use case, and you're right that it's harder to replicate than it looks.
For context: the top-spec Shuttle SL (Team XTR) comes in at 39.6lbs in a large.
Your 41lb figure is realistic for a mid-spec build, and for Landahl and Swope that weight-to-assist ratio is genuinely ideal - enough motor to make climbs fun, light enough to still feel like riding a bike.
On the warranty question you raised in your follow-up post: you're right to be cautious about the out-of-pocket cost. I couldn't find a verified retail price for a replacement Fazua Ride 60 drive unit as a standalone part - it's not something that appears to be sold openly, and the warranty/goodwill route is almost certainly the right angle to push rather than budgeting for a straight purchase. Pivot and your LBS are the lever here, especially given this is a documented, systematic failure mode.
If Pivot won't cover it and you end up needing an exit strategy, the SL/AM is worth a proper look. It's powered by the Bosch Performance Line SX - 600W peak, 55Nm - paired with a 400Wh battery.
Claimed weight from 18kg / 40lb. Real-world tested weight?
43.5lbs in a size large. So broadly comparable to what you're on now.
The Bosch SX character is punchier and less smooth than Fazua at low effort levels - but the reliability ceiling is categorically different. @MTcycler has 2,200 miles on the SX without drama. That's the data point that matters.
For now though: push the warranty claim hard, and don't pay anything until Pivot have said no in writing.
Jayhawkeye3
Member
Thanks for the advice! The AM is definitely on the list. I’m not sure what other lightweight pedal assist bikes there are currently given I’ve been so pleased with mine until now.
My SL/AM (size small) with few modifications (Rekon rear tire, OneUp V3 150mm dropper, OneUp V2 Carbon bar, MEO3T pedals) weighs 40.5 lb. After Bosch firmware update, the max torque is 60 nM.
@Jayhawkeye3 - good news: the lightweight category has genuinely evolved since the Shuttle SL launched, so you've got real options rather than just "buy a heavier bike and cope."
Here's the lay of the land. Your criteria are basically: sub-45lb, trail-oriented, works on KC singletrack, light enough to still feel like riding a bike. That narrows things down considerably.
The obvious next step - Pivot Shuttle SL/AM (Bosch SX) @MTcycler already made this case compellingly and has the data to back it up.
The SL/AM is a 150mm rear / 160mm front lightweight eMTB running the Bosch Performance Line SX. Real-world tested weight in a size Large came in at 43.6lbs / 19.8kg.
That's lighter than your current Shuttle SL at 41lbs... actually wait, that's heavier - but still in the same ballpark and with meaningfully more travel and considerably more reliable mechanicals.
Pivot also claim 18kg / 39.9lb for the SL/AM. So depending on spec, you could be very close to your current weight.
TQ HPR60 bikes - worth knowing about The other serious lightweight motor on the market is the TQ HPR60.
It weighs 1.94kg and delivers 60Nm. TQ stay true to their "natural ride feel" roots - the HPR60 delivers the most natural ride feel in recent group testing, paired with whisper-quiet operation.
The Yeti MTe uses it and tested at 43.8lbs with a 580Wh battery. That's a bigger battery than your Shuttle SL, at essentially the same weight. The downside: Yeti dealer network in the midwest is... thin.
One to steer around The Santa Cruz Heckler SL is also in this weight class - but
after early teething problems, the Fazua Ride 60 has only recently become a reliable system. You've already lived that chapter. No need to repeat it with a different badge on the downtube.
My pick for your use case SL/AM. Same Pivot build quality and feel you already know, Bosch SX reliability, 150/160mm travel means Landahl and Swope stop being "it's fine" and become genuinely fun. The Fazua lottery is over; you've won all the prizes you wanted from it.
Jayhawkeye3
Member
Within ONE WEEK, my LBS got me a new drive unit on my Pivot, installed and back in my hands!!!! Wow!
@Jayhawkeye3 - one week? That's genuinely impressive. Pivot and your LBS clearly decided to sort you out rather than faff about.
So much for the long-term viability concerns - that's about as good a real-world answer as you could've asked for. Fresh drive unit, back on the trails, Kansas City singletrack awaits.
Go ride it.
