No offers from NuVinci

[tapholov]

Hi,

I've been using the NuVinci hub for my e-bike application and there's been ups and downs but I just love shifting.

A few members here have been doing so.

I don't post very often anymore but I still have questions about the NuVinci hub now and then on Youtube.

And I just want to say that this company probably doesn't like experimenters because they're not friendly nor forthcoming.

If I had a product that was so revolutionary, I'd gladly let and help people use my product. Innovation comes from all around.

What's it to you NuVinci ?

 

[Hardcarve1]

Yes it's a great hub and I have had no problems with it up to this time.
The only thing I find is I just don't need the range it offers, I really only need about 3 speeds which is making me thing about a 3 speed chain and sprocket reduction again.

Alex

 

[Ypedal]

I do like my nuvi, it's been reliable and tough, but not efficient at the power levels i put thru it..


I posted my RC bike on their forum, they replied with a " Cool bike " reply.. but not much else.

Going to a geared hub next.

 

[tapholov]

Yea! I think 2-3 gear range would be enough, like slow and powerful, medium and fast and the in-betwen. that 's all about e-motor, it's different. It doesn't have to emulate 2-trockes, nor 4 strokes. I'm just pissed about the marketing of the NuVinci. I'm happy with my e-bike, I'm not into making world-records. I'm sad about the fact that it really f... works and this forum is a fantastic place for the new millenium but manufacturers don't care.

@Yped`al: I know you want to but despise the noise of that f... RC motor, you're running.. You've seen this, I really hope NuVinci preps up. Why do I need to have a chainsaw where batteries are situated nowadays ? We have better bikes, cool ideas! We've made more videos for them than they ever made.

Can I say the same with GM ?

That would be funny !

For all the shit! It works too.

 

[tapholov]

@ Hardcarve1 Sorry, sorry, sorry, but aren't you under water ? Is your heck of the wood O.K. ?

 

[LI-ghtcycle]

Man, that is really weird! It's the exact opposite on this forum! They appear to have the ear of a Nuvinci developer, and have you see the auto-shifting and beefed-up developer's kit!? Wish I had the money to spend, I can't justify it at my income, just going to use my Nuvinci with the normal shifting and internal parts, there are guys here putting 9HP through it! (it starts slipping around this power after long though! :wink: )

http://motorbicycling.com/f48/inside-nuvinci-hub-21827.html

 

[dumbass]

Man, that is really weird! It's the exact opposite on this forum! They appear to have the ear of a Nuvinci developer, and have you see the auto-shifting and beefed-up developer's kit!? Wish I had the money to spend, I can't justify it at my income, just going to use my Nuvinci with the normal shifting and internal parts, there are guys here putting 9HP through it! (it starts slipping around this power after long though! :wink: )

http://motorbicycling.com/f48/inside-nuvinci-hub-21827.html

I agree. I'm not doing anything special with my Nuvinci but any time I had a question I called cust service and spoke to someone (the same guy until he changed jobs and then a new guy took over where the first guy left off). They have always replied to my emails and phone calls. They even sent me a new shifter setup and a full set of really nice tools to take off the freewheel and locking sys. They did it all at no charge (not even for the Fed X next day delivery).

It might depends a lot on who you talk to and maybe how you talk to them too. Like I said I was upfront with them and they took care of me....and they never asked how long I had the unit ether.

Bob

 

[grindz145]

If you only need 3 speeds nexus has a great internally geared hub.

 

[MrBoots]

Tapholov, I originally wanted to equip my bike with a NuVinci hub after seeing your ebike build. However, because I've got a few different bikes and trying to build a somewhat standardized build across a couple bikes, a NuVinci hub was just cost-prohibitive. It's a shame they don't seem too keen on your build. It's understandable that a company isn't completely supportive of their product being used in a way that they didn't intend for it. However, if its mild hostility you're receiving from them, then that's ludicrous.

I just recently equipped my bike with a Sturmey Archer 3-speed internal-gear cassette hub and its been perfect so far. I'm not one for brand loyalty, but the last couple of Sturmey Archer products I bought (drum brake, generator hub, 3-speed hub) have been awesome and I'm nearly an evangelist for them now. I paid less than a $100 shipped to my door from StudEbiker - anyone considering a 3-speed hub should reach out to him!

 

[amberwolf]

I guess it's been a couple of years ago that I approached them with questions regarding me setting up an etrike-building business using their hub as the gearshifting for both motor and pedals, as a jackshaft rather than in the rear wheel (as I wanted to power both wheels with it, via a chain/freewheel differential).

But they basically weren't interested, and it tended to take weeks, sometimes months, to even get a reply at all.

The only answer I really got was that my use of the hub would void their warranty on two counts: using it as other than exactly as they specify within a rear wheel, and running anything other than human pedal power thru it, with a very specific crank-to-hub input ratio. Oh, and they advised me where to find a list of dealers.

They did sort of say that they "might consider" removing the requirements for using it in a wheel and/or allowing use with a motor, but AFAIK that has never happened, despite them promoting it's use on motorized vehicles in quite a few places. (and that bothers me, that they promote this use without supporting those that use it that way)

So I gave up on the idea, since there is no way I could build a business using a part that I couldn't get replaced under warranty, should a customer have trouble with it. I probably couldn't have gotten started easily anyway, but my main target was going to be grocery trikes for Sun City residents, who are generally older and in some cases can't get a driver's license for various reasons, and/or don't have the income to support a car and it's insurance and maintenance, or don't like driving, etc.


Anyhow, that's my experience with them.

 

[Ypedal]

I think the gassers work best with them because of the efficiency factor, ebikes need to use precious watthours as efficiently as possible if range matters ( and it usually does ) .. but with a gas motor that wastes energy to begin with , the nuvi loosing a few ml of fuel is not such a big deal.. imo.

 

[NoDerail]

From a customer service point of view, I completely agree with dumbass. I have worked in retail for over 15 years and I can tell you that any customer that came in with a bad attitude was less likely to get a positive response out of me than someone who came in with the same problem but with a positive attitude. I have been following the Nuvinci forum on and off for the past year or so and it looks like they really try to get the answers to people's questions. They have mentioned about voiding the warranty a few times and probably from a legal standpoint they are not allowed to comment because it could put them in hot water. I'm no lawyer (see above statement about retail), but that would be my guess as to why some people can't get answers.

I wouldn't bag on them just because you can't get the answer you want.

As for my experience with them, like dumbass, when I have called with questions, they have taken the time to answer them for me and if the person I spoke with didn't know the answer, they got back to me in 24-48 hours. That's pretty cool in my book.

BTW- thanks for the link LI-ghtcycle. That was really informative.

 

[Lock]

Probably can file this somewhere under Cheap Thrills but todaze NuVinci press release:
http://www.fallbrooktech.com/05_PressReleases_250W.asp

Press Release January 21, 2011

Fallbrook Technologies Inc. Announces Award-Winning NuVinci® N360â„¢ Drivetrain Approved for Use with All Pedal-Assisted Bicycles with 250W (Rated) Motors
(San Diego, Calif. — (January 21, 2011) — Fallbrook Technologies Inc. (Fallbrook) today announced that the company’s NuVinci® N360â„¢ drivetrain has been approved for use with all pedal-assist bicycles with 250W (rated) electric motors, including those with mid-mounted motors. The N360 drivetrain is the next generation of Fallbrook’s award-winning continuously variable planetary (CVP) transmission for bicycles.

Balance of their press release in the link
tks
10cK

 

[dumbass]

Interesting that they are finally coming around to the market but 250w........They are really taking a conservative route. Who the hell would hookup a 250w motor to a Nuvinci?

Bob

 

[Lock]

Who the hell would hookup a 250w motor to a Nuvinci?

Maybe some of the 500 million folks in the 250W-limited European Union? :wink:
LocK

 

[mdd0127]

I haven't done any real testing but it seems like a NuVinci would eat up around a few watts. I've had both versions and there's definitely a little drag in them but neither are broken in and I haven't used one on a bike yet, just fiddled around on the bench. NuVinci is about to see what they designed that thing for. They just don't know it yet :wink:

 

[dumbass]

Who the hell would hookup a 250w motor to a Nuvinci?

Maybe some of the 500 million folks in the 250W-limited European Union? :wink:
LocK

Yes without question it will work on a 250w motor. My point was it works better with higher power. And I'll bet the vast majority of the 1% or so of those 500 million people who actually ride ebikes would prefer to be riding with more power. I have put about 500 miles on a 371 with a 360w motor and it did fine but I knew I lost some power from the hub. However, you can say that that lose was made up for in being able to set a perfect ratio for the needs of the moment. Unlike a 3 to 7 speed shifter, whereas, you are always settling for the next full gear change. Until you ride a CVS hub you don't relize how much you are settling not getting the exact ratio you need/want. I now run with twin 450w motors and would not want a bike without the Nuvinci hub no matter what the motor power (even without a motor).

Bob