About a year ago, I posted this thread:

https://www.ar15.com/forums/outdoors/-/1-699848/

I bought a Vivi S2 from Amazon in January of 2021. I really enjoyed it for the first few months that I had it. As an ebike, it wasn't overpowered, but adequate for my needs.

In June, I was riding up a long hill, pedaling with motor assist, when I suddenly lost all power. The bike was still under warranty (which was supposedly 6 months).

Took the controller box apart and found melted insulation and burned wires. Motor was taxed, amperage spiked, and apparently, no protections were built in to stop the surge. I let the smoke out.

So, I started trying to get warranty service for it.

Instead of detailing that entire process for you, I posted a video on Youtube following my harrowing experience.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmgkSIDiA5M&ab_channel=squashpup

TL;DW: There is no customer service, and they lie through their teeth. I am still getting messages from the seller who is adamant that he has shipped replacement parts, but he refers to a tracking number for a package that ended up in Texas months ago. He really wants me to remove my negative feedback. And, although he did issue a partial refund for less than half of the purchase cost of the bike, he didn't honor the warranty that was promised at the time of purchase.

In the end, my purchase price was $550, I got a $250 refund, and I sold the bike as being DRT on Facebook for $125. So, I lost $175 on the deal. Could have been worse, but bad enough.

The bad part is, after the fact, if I'd KNOWN that the bike itself had no overload protection, it would have been relatively easy to wire in a 10-15 amp fuse that likely would have prevented the problem.

So, if you order one of these bikes, understand that you are likely on your own. And if you possess any electrical knowledge at all, you'd best install a fuse to prevent a complete meltdown of the controller or motor.

For my second ebike, I ponied up the money and ordered from an American company with a good reputation for customer service. Just passed the 100 mile mark on the new bike and I'll post a review here shortly.

No surprise.

Cheap bikes are cheap.

Even entry level quality eBikes are 10x what you paid.

Go check out Trek, Specialized, Orbea, etc. Even their non electrified bikes are 2-15x what you paid.

At the end of the day, bicycles are definitely a you get what you pay for item.

I'm still rocking my DIY ebike i put together 10yr ago with a walmart mongoose and electronics from ebikekit.  I run that thing hard.  Max speed ive hit is 39mph going downhill.

I do need to replace the batteries on it at some point.

So.... Made in China.

We really need to stop buying Chinese crap.

What's almost as disappointing as the poor customer service that I got from the seller is the fact that Amazon promised at several points to step in, but never did.

They know the guy is not honoring his warranty, but they let him continue. They put me off at least 10 times, promising me that they would step in after 48 hours, but they never did.

Something I have found is Amazon sides with the seller, eBay sides with the buyer.

Just be aware.

I've learned that my $2200 AR Ebike has limited service available too, it isn't just the cheapo bikes.

If you buy the extra Amazon insurance, you don't need to package or pay shipping.  They will pay quickly, I have seen me do it.

If you used a credit card to purchase the bike, you should be able to dispute the charges.  Go get your $175.

Not if you buy the add on insurance.  Amazon often pays out within the hour, sometimes doesn't even want the trash back.

I did this with a log splitter and two ice makers.

I wonder if you could do some research and file a lawsuit against Amazon without a lawyer.
Get their attention, forcing them to do something, take them to small claims court just for the principle of it.
I dont know how that works across state lines but you would be doing other US consumers a service.
It seems like selling something on the internet and not honoring the stated warranty is mail fraud.
Al Capone went down for less.

Wonder what the statute of limitations is on that?

EDIT: found it.. 60 days.  The bike was still functioning within 60 days...

Looks like Step 1 is do-able.



Might be worth a shot. If I'm only asking for a very small (and completely reasonable) amount of money, and they repeatedly promised me that they would step in and did not, then I might get lucky, lol. I could include the repeated promises of the CSR's to step in, as well as the fact that I pointed out that the seller was not honoring the warranty and that the CSR told me that action would be taken.

I would go for it, if you had not sold the bike I would think you would be better off.
I would also pen a letter the the attorney general's office explaining the situation with all the printed documentation and include that in a certified letter to Amazon.
If the have other complaints like yours and still selling them they are committing mail fraud.

Abso-fucking-lutely this.^

In no way am I defending made-in-China, but it's not so much about being made in China, but by which company. Some products have much higher QA/QC AND and an America company that will stand by the warranty; some are simply scammers.  Chinese products are like playing Russian roulette with five out of six cylinders loaded The only safe way to order Chinese if it's from a reputable American company that shipped their production overseas but still mentions their QA/QC involvement.

ROCK6

What American made bike did you buy?

This right here. It's easy to say stop buying from China, but there are people typing that very phrase on an I-Phone that is made in China. Look at the chip shortage for vehicles, where do you think those are coming from? What other electronics do you use every day that has chips in it?  We have become dependedant on China for everything and I don't see that ending anytime soon.

Well said. There's unfortunately really no such thing as made in America anymore. Is there an ebike made with mostly US made components, right down to the lithium battery and microchips?  Probably not. Best you can do is "assembled in America" from foreign parts, and expect to pay so much that only an anorak would pony up. Barring that, like you said. An American company that is involved in the overseas production of their products is the best you can hope for. A lot of "high end" manufacturers do this (Trek, Specialized, etc). Firearms industry manufacturers do this as well (Primary Arms, Holosun, etc.).

Unfortunately, it's the American way. Your alternative is to basically never have anything...

But, hey! At least we can still make trash cans!  Probably from Chinese "High Grade" Steel, tho.

So what’s a good ebike brand and who sells them ?

I've had excellent luck with my Ride1Up Core 5.

March will be one year of ownership. I've thrown a lot at it and it has handled all of it without complaint. I paid just over $1000 for it, assembled it myself, and have been maintaining it myself.

Spent 56 miles riding in the rain over a weekend on the local rail trail, and carried the bike home on an external rack with no cover in even more rain. No problems. All the electronics are shielded against the elements.

Pulled an 80+ lb trailer for that 56 miles as well, bike didn't even seem to notice it (until the trailer had a flat). Stayed on pedal assist 1 and still had battery left at the end of the trip.

I've ridden it a couple times in below freezing weather. As long as you store the battery inside, it's not an issue.

Only casualty has been a broken spoke which was fairly easily replaced by myself. Other than that, it's just been occasional adjustments to the derailleur, brakes, etc.  Normal stuff you'd have with any bike.

So far, I haven't seen anything about it that concerns me or makes me second guess my purchase. It's been rock solid reliable and a good value.

My rolling review thread:

https://www.ar15.com/forums/Outdoors/The-replacement-e-bike-Ride1up-Core-5-long-winded-review-/1-702577/