V11 bearing issue after 20 min ride in the rain (Batch #2 and #3)

[Tryptych]

I passed 600km on my V11 (batch #2 with supposedly rubber sealed 'RS'  bearings) last week, always being careful to keep it dry. Once I hit 600km I decided it was time to ride it in the rain for the first time. Within 20 minutes of riding in light rain I started hearing weird "squeaky" noises from my motor/bearings.

Video #1: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Ww5jxKy8is7N9TtK9 

Video #2: https://photos.app.goo.gl/dtVfyamSfpQhTUJ5A 

As soon as I started hearing the noises I went straight home and let it dry overnight with a big fan blasting it. In the morning the sound was greatly reduced but still there if you listen closely. I have contacted my retailer and they will be replacing my motor.

Maybe it was just my bad luck (there are tons of V11 out there now and the failure rate is low from what I can tell) but I would keep your batch 1 or 2 dry until the motor supply is better, I'm sure I'll be waiting a while. I am really hoping something is different with the batch #3 motors - does anyone know exactly what was changed?

(ps: this is an incredible wheel and I don't want to ride anything else, it was absolutely perfect until I got it wet)

Edited December 10, 2020 by Tryptych

[Kekafuch]

Sorry to hear about the hollow core motor bearing issues. My experience with a V10F is received it in mid October. Have 700km on it now and I live in an urban rainforest. I would say more of my riding so far has been in light rain/wet roads vs dry conditions.  Glad to report no issues. Was really tempted to get the V11 after selling my V8 but cheaped out and was afraid of the bigger weight penalty. Still want an inmotion big wheel or V11 with more range but going to wait till they get things sorted.

[DjPanJan]

3 hours ago, Tryptych said:

I am really hoping something is different with the batch #3 motors - does anyone know exactly what was changed?

(ps: this is an incredible wheel and I don't want to ride anything else, it was absolutely perfect until I got it wet)

I think this is not be easy fixable soon. 

Some V11 "devil advocate" can say something diferent but true is: All new "big" holow bearings Ruber seal or not is big fail to IP standarts (with troublefree using) gotway/begode and inmotion move yourelf to very bad situation what need more time and ideas.

 Is good seler change you motor perfect customer service this is good if brand can offer good afterservice and RMA.(i have personaly great experience with inmotion oficial service)

Question is how many motors you change in 365 days 1-2or3 because without permanent fix this is endless loop(until warranty).

Damn what hapend to euc in 2020 from all seson comuters we have "toys/products" what is can save ride in nice weather and perfect asphalt only (if you ride euc 4000miles/km plus .this is crazy for 2000 dollar/eur + EUCs 

This EUC (V11) have some IP (xx) ratings  in laboratory condition (exactly how you say 600km no problem until you realy start use like comuter/daily rider not care weather).

For context my V10F with thousands miles rain not rain   0 mechanical problems. My MSP 2022km now and many times i go ride after rain with water on route zero problems.

Example inmotion and begode face same engenering/production chalenges : This is bearings after 200km (source ecodrift.ru disasembling Begode EX after 200km ) on picture on Begode EX. Inmotion have in second batch little beter ruber sealed bearings but not miracle hoew sw see. Most expensive bearings on planet canot fix this 100% propably need remake some internal desing "new motor" EUCs with canals for dirt and water maybee  engeners must find solution how protect bearings from contact with dirt and water/snow. In my country they use salt against snow you can imagine what salty snow make with V11(or any "new motors") bearings wow bearingscalypse

Maybe solution be just pay 200 dolar/eur extra for high tech topend ultra hypermega bearings edition EUC i personaly pay this i want euc what can be troublefree 4000+ miles kilometers.

 

 

 

Edited November 29, 2020 by DjPanJan
edit my tragicglish

[Bumblebees]

Maybe adding a rust inhibitor like rustoleum or wd40 can prevent it from rusting out completely

[Finn Bjerke]

Its just not good enough - My V11 is the love of my corona life. For petes sake I cant bloody live with out it - and now its making bizar noises too. I live in Denmark so I bloody well have to send it to the UK or fix it my self.  Im not a technical person at all and this is not what we paid for.  I waited forever to get it I prepaid. 

I want a new wheel  -  Send the old one to China.  Too many bloody errors on this.  Make it work.  

[Tryptych]

As an update: I have ridden my V11 another 200km since the bearing issue developed and have no plans to stop - this wheel is incredibly addictive. Currently the bearing noises are very faint, you can't hear them when your riding fast. It doesn't seem to be getting worse so far, but I have no doubt it would come back with a vengeance if I rode in the rain again.

After 800km I have to say again: this is an incredible wheel, such a pleasure to ride, sooo comfortable with the seat and the suspension. I really love it.  It would be absolutely perfect if it wasn't for the bearing issue. I hope InMotion can resolve this permanently in the 3rd batch - but nobody seems to know exactly what has changed on batch #3... does anyone have info?

 

[realsh00p]

Hi

I'm new here.

I can confirm this happened also on batch #3.

Here's a video of me riding outside approximately two days after a rainy ride: https://streamable.com/jsmt6p

A couple of days later the squeaks disappeared but was instead replaced by what sounds like friction: https://streamable.com/67mo2g

I've talked to myewheel which provided it to me and they have been very helpful and are sending me a replacement motor.

Anyway, just wanted to share.

Best Regards

 

[EUChristian]

Ugh. Thats a lot of wheels affected. Is there a reason why only a few people are having this issue?  Is it due to tolerances on individual wheels?  I've ridden in the rain no issue. Batch 2. Maybe hasn't developed yet. 

[Rawnei]

3 hours ago, EUChristian said:

Ugh. Thats a lot of wheels affected. Is there a reason why only a few people are having this issue?  Is it due to tolerances on individual wheels?  I've ridden in the rain no issue. Batch 2. Maybe hasn't developed yet. 

Who can say, I rode my Batch 2 wheel only 5 times in less than 2 weeks, not in rain (but it was wet and moist outside) and problems started after that, it would be nice with some official confirmation from Inmotion about this.

[Tryptych]

21 hours ago, Rawnei said:

it would be nice with some official confirmation from Inmotion about this.

Now that it is confirmed the problem exists on all V11's and not just batch 1 or 2 I have to assume their silence on these forums and on Telegram is because they have no solution.  It looks like we're going to be on our own to deal with this issue after our warranties expire. Keep your V11s dry (and your Gotway RS and EX's too).

(ps: 900km now and I'm still riding with my noisy bearings but I think the volume is very very slowly increasing)
 

EDIT - below are some really good articles from EcoDrift (translated from Russian) that have super valuable info about the bearing problems with hollow motors:

One (Begode RS)
Two (Begode EX)
Three (Begode EX - Part 2)
Four (InMotion V11)

More people need to be talking about this.

Edited December 10, 2020 by Tryptych

[Tryptych]

On 12/8/2020 at 1:13 PM, realsh00p said:

I can confirm this happened also on batch #3.

Can you tell us more details? When did you order, from which vendor, and when did it arrive?

[Finn Bjerke]

Im trying to show new and old bearings here - if batch 3 is sick too and Inmotion is silent  - I really think that is annoying as hell: 

 

[Finn Bjerke]

Russian :
"К сожалению, одна из неприятных особенностей V11 заключается в том, что замена камеры превращается в достаточно сложный квест."  = 
"Unfortunately, one of the unpleasant things about the V11 is that replacing the camera turns out to be a rather difficult quest. "  (Eng) 
"Desværre er en af de irriterende ting ved V11, at det er en ret skræmmende søgen at udskifte kameraet."  (Danish)

Camera = chamber ? 

 

 

[realsh00p]

On 12/10/2020 at 9:32 PM, Tryptych said:

Can you tell us more details? When did you order, from which vendor, and when did it arrive?

Sure

I ordered mine as a pre-order in late August from https://myewheel.com/. Due to cicumstances unknown to me it didn't arrive until 28th or 27th of November (I don't remember exactly, but somewhere around there). 

My vendor has confirmed that my wheel is definitely from Batch #3. I used it for maybe 3 days until I rode it on a rainy day and then the day after I noticed squeaks coming from the bearings. Then those squeaks were there for a day or two but then they vanished and I was left with what sounds like scraping bearings.

A new motor is headed to me which I'll replace myself without voiding any further warranty.

[RagingGrandpa]

23 hours ago, Finn Bjerke said:

"Unfortunately, one of the unpleasant things about the V11 is that replacing the <inner tube> turns out to be a rather difficult quest. "

V11 tire change requires disassembling the PCB enclosure. Quite a pain.

Edited December 11, 2020 by RagingGrandpa

[Finn Bjerke]

I just got the spare parts - no instructions from Inmotion - nothing Zilch Nada.  Not Ok. 

[Tryptych]

On 12/10/2020 at 3:53 PM, Finn Bjerke said:

Im trying to show new and old bearings here - if batch 3 is sick too and Inmotion is silent  - I really think that is annoying as hell: 

Thanks for posting that video - can you confirm there is no model number on your bearings anywhere? 

I hit 1000km this evening so I've now ridden 400km with bad bearings. I have no plans to stop until they disintegrate or I get a new motor, which ever comes first. Currently the noise is still very faint, much quieter than the night I made my videos.

Even though mine will be fixed under warranty I am still trying to get as much info as possible and learn as much as possible about bearings - I agree with Finn that InMotion isn't being very helpful on this subject, they are definitely avoiding the topic in Telegram Chat. 

So... Can anyone confirm the bearings we need for the V11 are called "6812 2RS" (photo below)? 

Is this "Koyo" brand in the picture above any good? What are the absolute best bearings we can buy for the V11 - anyone know if there's a stainless steel version?

[spliner]

Most of chinese bearings have bad cealing. I've got two V8 eucs and both got problems with their bearings after say month of daily winter riding (noises) and a month later one of them got backlash. I replaced the bearings with ones of high quality (SKF) and rode for almost two years (including winter of course) without bearing issue.
The scenario of this problem is always the same. No matter how good the metal of the bearing is. First the water with the mud comes through the cealing and starts the abrasive action on metal parts (balls and races). Then at some moment a backlash froms between them and this leads the sealing to became more loose and allow more water and mud to come inside. Some time later the backlash becomes obvious.

On 12/11/2020 at 12:23 AM, Finn Bjerke said:

Camera = chamber ? 

camera = inner tube (of the tire)

[EUChristian]

So I am terrified to take my V11 out in rain or puddles. Should I not be? I do not want to swap motors. 

[Rawnei]

1 hour ago, EUChristian said:

So I am terrified to take my V11 out in rain or puddles. Should I not be? I do not want to swap motors. 

You should be able to ride it in wet conditions and if it breaks then you shouldn't be afraid for the motor swap because if you have a bearing with potential issue you will get it sooner or later either way so instead embrace that it might happen and ride it for now and hope you don't get the issue, my two cents.

[EUChristian]

13 minutes ago, Rawnei said:

You should be able to ride it in wet conditions and if it breaks then you shouldn't be afraid for the motor swap because if you have a bearing with potential issue you will get it sooner or later either way so instead embrace that it might happen and ride it for now and hope you don't get the issue, my two cents.

Great call. I'm getting out there today. Rather get it fixed in winter than summer right?

Doesn't this mean every wheel will be affected...just at different times depending on when not if bearing seals fail?

[Finn Bjerke]

Quote

 So... Can anyone confirm the bearings we need for the V11 are called "6812 2RS" (photo below)? 

Yeah Is think its correct, 2 rs is 2 rubber safe sex typed Diaphragm you can C on the pix below.  So in order to swap bearings I get an entire wheel plus motor. Im also under the impression that the retailers are under a lot of pressure from the producers.  So Its a DIY project to install this bloody thing.  Ill dry my tears and stand up to the harsh macho sarcasm from the internet police and learn from this. Dont except good communication from EUC producers, but expect Inmotion to be a little better at times? 

Quote

Doesn't this mean every wheel will be affected...just at different times depending on when not if bearing seals fail?

I certainly hope the new system is better and water proof, my wonderfully-crazy Norwegian EUC freinds ride in snow using stud tires. But maybe snow is better than rain? 

Tire swapping is a very Danish thing to do and I hate it, so Ill leave it to the local bicycle shop. 

https://ibb.co/0BX3rvd
https://ibb.co/HrKC491
https://ibb.co/SdczyxK
https://ibb.co/MGpQhnb
https://ibb.co/Mf6w1kT

Edited December 18, 2020 by Finn Bjerke
better

[Rawnei]

1 minute ago, EUChristian said:

Great call. I'm getting out there today. Rather get it fixed in winter than summer right?

Doesn't this mean every wheel will be affected...just at different times depending on when not if bearing seals fail?

We don't know the exact cause of  he bearing problem so can not say, but purely based on observation seems that people who got the issue had it early on while people who ridden their V11's a lot without issue seem safe (again disclaimer I have no proof it's just a subjective observation), but who knows the bearings have a rubber part which might get worn with time as well.

[Rawnei]

1 minute ago, Finn Bjerke said:

Yeah Is think its correct, 2 rs is 2 rubber safe sex typed Diaphragm you can C on the pix below.  So in order to swap bearings I get an entire wheel plus motor. Im also under the impression that the retailers are under a lot of pressure from the producers.  So Its a DIY project to install this bloody thing.  Ill dry my tears and stand up to the harsh macho sarcasm from the internet police and learn from this. Dont except good communication from EUC producers, but expect Inmotion to be a little better at times? 

Tire swapping is a very Danish thing to do and I hate it, so Ill leave it to the local bicycle shop. 

https://ibb.co/0BX3rvd
https://ibb.co/HrKC491
https://ibb.co/SdczyxK
https://ibb.co/MGpQhnb
https://ibb.co/Mf6w1kT

Did you not get your new motor a while back? Thought you had gotten around to changing it already. 🙂 Still waiting on mine will be here in like February.. train from China.

[RagingGrandpa]

8 hours ago, Tryptych said:

Can anyone confirm the bearings we need for the V11 are called "-----"

Inmo has changed the bearing size for V11.

V11's until November 2020 had size 6816.
Now it's been changed to size 6916.
Same ID, larger OD. And a different aluminum motor cover to match.

All models need "rubber seals, both sides" which is typically code 2RS. Different bearing suppliers may use variations of this: 2RS1, 2RSH, etc.

Edited December 18, 2020 by RagingGrandpa