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  • Beware of swytch, on regular hybrids they are OK, they are well enough made, good enough instructions and seem to be reliable (so long as not DOA).
    But on folding bikes, jesus, just avoid in my extensive recent experience.

    Loads of them for Brompton (and the other popular folder, Dahon?) have been shipped with front axles way way too short for safe usage, their 'fix' for the actual axle being too short is to use dangerously undersize and substandard fasteners. Note also Brompton do not condone use of anything but their own add e system, I think the front part of the frame and the fork are different for e bike variants (much beefier), as the classic style fork leg brazed into cast crown is NOT up to the job of resisting the forces from a front wheel hub motor.

    There have been issues, there have been accidents (though when something is not manufactured right and 'passed qc', its not really an accident, its a court case) and there will be more.

    As for deliveroo riders, yeah bound to happen. Many are riding legit e bikes (and then hacked), others just put together some far east express parts and use a hand throttle. That part of it isn't the worst. Its the absolute POS bikes they fit them to that don't have brakes capable of stopping very well even when new (£89.99 of argo's finest with a £600 500w kit attached with zip ties). Regularly get them in the shop with punctures, but unless they commit to £££ brake upgrades and maintenance I have to turn them away, otherwise it can become my liability for enabling them to ride a bike with actually no brakes.

    Many of the legit riders who used to use scooters/motorbikes gave up and went to ebikes, as the cost of legitmate businesses hire + reward insurance for the job is in the £1500-3200pa range, motorbike theft is high and in the UK there is a serious shortage of good and affordable MC mechanics, so their bikes often become total deathtraps (that thankfully the UK MOT system mostly weed out).

  • Thanks, in-depth rebuttal!
    As I mentioned, I’ve only seen it used on 559 622 wheels where it has performed admirably. I agree that the bike that the drive is fitted to needs to be robust and have decent braking power and reliability.

  • As for deliveroo riders, yeah bound to happen. Many are riding legit e bikes (and then be hacked), others just put together some far east express parts and use a hand throttle. That part of it isn't the worst. Its the absolute POS bikes they fit them to that don't have brakes capable of stopping very well even when new (£89.99 of argo's finest with a £600 500w kit attached with zip ties). Regularly get them in the shop with punctures, but unless they commit to £££ brake upgrades

    I used to see those when I worked in a shop, and aside from proper maintenance, all those bikes really needed was a Shimano hydraulic front brake, $30.

    Oh, and a motherfucking plug so the rear wheel can be removed from the bike without busting out a fucking soldering iron.

    They're total shit, but the cable discs and hardwired motor are just utterly beyond the pale.

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