Did I buy an original Stealth B-52 with reg number B052?

[qi689]

Hi,

I recently met this bike builder online. I was looking for a battery for my first e-bike build and had bought the QS203 with fardriver 72450kit. So this guy tells me he has a new original b52 battery pack that is worth 1500$ he is willing to sell me for 750$, this was initally over my budget but i told him i was gonna consider it. So I went online and read all about the B-52 and I was sold. So I told him ill get the battery. Then he tells me I can buy his original Stealth B-52 for 3500. It just need assembly as he have packed it away. Having seen all the videos about the bike i said sure thats a great deal. So I used my 2 next pay checks and paid for it even though he didnt send me any picture of it yet but he assured me I was getting a killer dead that just the shocks and reg nr is worth 3500 alone B052 is kinda cool. So the day i pay he of course just happend to have to travel away for a week. Then when he back he sends me this photo:I then straight away tell him that that is a frankenbike and that i dont want it. he say i have paid for an original b52 so thats what he will send me, with a battery of course. I tell him if i get something that was not agreed then I will press charges. Then today i get this: A bike without controller, broked break wheel, seat is loose, wheel forks looks welded. overall i dont know if i should cry or laugh. He insist its an original because of the number plate. I am wondering if he is correct because of the gearbox. I havent seen any other bikes with this kind of gearbox. But this bike doesnt even have a chain. And yes its was stupid to pay before i see anything, but he doesnt live that far away and he does build ebikes for others. So i figured 3500usd is a good deal. so please help me.. is this an original or some kind of frankenbike? and is there any point in trything to get it back in shape?and how much is it worth in this current state. He also sent me this "original new" battery. looks swollen and not original to me... any input is appreciated!!!

 

[amberwolf]

Well, I'd say you've been scammed, but you already know that.

That first image is from some previous period in this bike's history, if it isn't of a different one entirely. :/

Can't recommend any specific actions, other than contacting a legal specialist to see what you can actually do.

So this guy tells me he has a new original b52 battery pack that is worth 1500$ he is willing to sell me for 750$,

If it's original and from a bike that old (#52 would have been quite a few years ago), it's not "new" and is possibly going to be trash from age even if it was never used. IIRC they were all built from pouch cells without proper compression; I don't recall the BMS type but if it was ever left just sitting, the BMS could easily drain the cells (some or all, depending on BMS design), and they can then puff up without the physical compression required to prevent this (very few pouch packs outside of large EVs are built correctly in this regard).

If the pouches are swollen, it's probably not safe to salvage the battery, and would be much better to get a new one of known providence and quality. You'd have to replace all the cells in there to fix one that's in that kind of condition.

He insist its an original because of the number plate. I am wondering if he is correct because of the gearbox. I havent seen any other bikes with this kind of gearbox.

You can check with stealthbikes in australia to see if it's the genuine bike or not, and possibly even what it was originally configured with. IIRC the Stealthbikes came with the Pinion gearbox in the BB.

There is a loooooong thread you can peruse for real pictures of real Stealthbikes, and other info about them.

E-S Stealth Electric Bike Owners

A few of us on E-S now have Stealth Electric Bikes so I think it's time for a dedicated owners thread. Post up your photos, share & discuss 8) I'll start things off with a few that I know of...

endless-sphere.com

Regarding condition and usability:

The motor axle looks like it was welded to the dropouts for whatever reason; if you have to service the wheel, replace a tire or tube, etc., you'll have to cut the welds or the frame. Personally, given the visual indications of cracking in the frame there, I'd be inclined to cut the entire dropout section away and replace it with something custom built for it that does the same clamping job. You could probably grind and file the weld and axle nut away precisely enough to allow still using the existing motor in the new dropouts.

The rust on the frame in various places (other htan dropouts) might be just surface, but you'd have to examine it for pitting, cracks, warping, flaking, etc., to see if it's structurally compromised.


Personally, I'd just see what could be done about getting my money back and spend it on building my own bike from scratch--I (anyone, really) could probably build quite a bike for $3500, and I could get a really good battery from somewhere like Greentecauto (repurposed EV battery module) and stick a good BMS on it, for the $750.

 

[marty]

what could be done about getting my money back

How did you pay? How was money transferred from buyer to seller?

 

[amberwolf]

what could be done about getting my money back

How did you pay? How was money transferred from buyer to seller?

I didn't. You might want to talk to the OP instead.

 

[bananu7]

And yes its was stupid to pay before i see anything, but he doesnt live that far away and he does build ebikes for others. So i figured 3500usd is a good deal.

It was stupid and it wasn't a good deal. It might have been a good deal if you actually got what he claimed.

is there any point in trything to get it back in shape?and how much is it worth in this current state.

Honestly? Probably not. Most of those parts require maintenance and repair that will take more time and effort than they're worth. The swingarm is trash, and by extension, so is the motor axle since it's all welded together. That means you need to do a motor axle replacement and find a new swingarm. If that was the only issue, it could be worth it, but then the frame itself is heavily damaged. Basically even if you cut this up for parts, even the individual parts don't have much value.

I'd instantly message the seller stating that you want to return it and cancel the transaction for everything that he sent, and check how the law treats cases of buying used items sight unseen. If you have no standing to formally cancel the transaction, maybe you could bargain with the seller to get at least something back to minimize the damage. In that case take the thing apart, sell all the parts to get back anything you can, and start saving up for a better deal next time.

 

[E-HP]

please help me.. is this an original or some kind of frankenbike? and is there any point in trything to get it back in shape?and how much is it worth in this current state. He also sent me this "original new" battery. looks swollen and not original to me... any input is appreciated!!!

Sadly, it’s a costly lesson learned. On the other hand, it must be nice to live in a culture where there is still such a high level of trust. I remember when people didn’t lock their doors. I also remember the first time I talked to someone with the mind of a thief. It was so foreign to me, to think that victims are at fault and deserve to be taken advantage of for being so trusting. That turned out to be a very eye opening and valuable experience, in that I learned that trust must also be accompanied by discernment, because all people are not good.
I would just move forward. Seems like this setback will provide more time to plan your build.
PS. Here, once a year, they offer free junk removal, where you just let them know a few days ahead, and they pick up your extra junk on the regular trash pick up day. If they have that, then at least you don’t have to pay to have it hauled away.

 

[and whatnot]

Sry. for your bad deal.

But! Not all is Lost
First Clean this thing real good und Wire brush off the rust/Paint/Dirt so you can really see what you dealing with. Rust and dirt is deceiving.
Then Take this thing apart and inspect the Parts you got.
In the end these bikes are made off steel, a angle grinder and a welder are your friends



(In my twenties I bought old dirt bikes, restored and then sold them. I've seen much worse than what you have here.)

 

[bananu7]

First Clean this thing real good und Wire brush off the rust/Paint/Dirt

Doing that means the seller certainly won't take it back. If there's a chance to get money back for all of this, it probaly requires not touching anything.

 

[and whatnot]

Just trying to help in case there is no going back on this deal