bindo wrote:[
GARRY SAYS: Please read through this thread for advice on how to ensure you are buying a genuine A-Bike.
Also visit the WHERE TO BUY A-BIKE page at http://www.abikecentral.com/wheretobuy.html for the official guide and helpline on how to choose a real A-Bike. ]
Hi,
I bought a fake A-bike from ebay a couple of weeks ago.
It was clear that 85 Euros were only going to buy me a low quality chinese product, but, alas, the A-bike gets NO press here in Italy and I hadn't seen anything about it online. So I didn't know that a GOOD product in this category existed
I found this forum because my bike has some SERIOUS problems which I was looking to fix. (I think I am sending it back if the seller honours the ebay terms). Still I thought I might share the experience.
The bike looked good. It's called Mini-bike and it seems a perfect replica. Even the manual is the same except for the logo and name. The bag has even the original a-bike logo. This is the original ebay ad:
http://cgi.ebay.it/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie ... 0148419019Unfortunately assembly was terrible. It is missing a metal part in the left handle so it has problems to close correctly.
Worse, the left and right chain regulators are on different settings and the chain "jumps" when I try to pedal (fixing this doesn't seem trivial, I want to experiment but have NO experience with bikes. Any clear instructions here would be appreaciated).
The back wheel is not completely free (maybe for the same reason).
I "enjoyed" for no more tha 10m ...
If I manage to fix the rear wheel I would like to drive this 'til it dies and then decide to buy the original one. Any idea or previous experience ?
I have found no professional willing to work on this bike. This is making me wary of buying the original one. If I have a problem I won't be able to solve it on my own ...
Alberto
Benvenuto, Alberto. You have unfortunately experienced the classic "replica" trap that many early adopters of the A-bike design fell into. Because the original A-bike—designed by Sir Clive Sinclair—is so unique and uses specialized plastic and tiny drive components, cheap copies often fail within the first few kilometers.
The "jumping" chain and the rear wheel not spinning freely are very common on these eBay clones. The drive system in these bikes is actually a dual-chain reduction gear system hidden inside those plastic casings.
Troubleshooting the Drive System
If the chain is jumping, it usually means the internal tensioners are misaligned or the tiny sprockets are made of soft pot-metal that has already deformed. Here is what you can try to do yourself:
Check the Axle Alignment: Since you mentioned the left and right regulators are on different settings, the rear wheel is likely sitting crooked. This causes the chain to run at an angle, making it "climb" the teeth of the sprocket and jump. Use a ruler to ensure the axle is perfectly perpendicular to the frame.
Internal Friction: If the wheel isn't free-spinning, the plastic housing might be rubbing against the chain or the internal cogs. You may need to open the plastic "clamshell" casing (usually held by small Phillips screws) to see if a piece of plastic flashing is catching the chain.
Lubrication: These clones often ship with "shipping grease" that is more like glue. Cleaning the chains with a degreaser and applying a proper dry PTFE bicycle lube can sometimes free up the resistance.
The Maintenance Reality
You are right to be wary. Most professional bike shops refuse to touch these because they aren't "bikes" in the traditional sense; they are closer to folding mechanical gadgets. The original A-bike is built with much higher-grade polymers and reinforced glass-fiber, but even then, it requires a "DIY" mindset. If you aren't comfortable turning a wrench, this category of micro-folder might always be a frustration.
If you take photos of the internal gears or the missing handle parts to show the eBay seller for your refund claim, your phone will likely save them as WebP files. Many eBay dispute forms or older bike forums have trouble uploading this format. You can use
WEBPtoJPGhero to quickly flip those evidence shots into high-quality JPEGs. It ensures the seller and the community can see the defects clearly.
[quote="bindo"][ [b]GARRY SAYS: Please read through this thread for advice on how to ensure you are buying a genuine A-Bike.
Also visit the WHERE TO BUY A-BIKE page at [url]http://www.abikecentral.com/wheretobuy.html[/url] for the official guide and helpline on how to choose a real A-Bike. [/b] ]
Hi,
I bought a fake A-bike from ebay a couple of weeks ago.
It was clear that 85 Euros were only going to buy me a low quality chinese product, but, alas, the A-bike gets NO press here in Italy and I hadn't seen anything about it online. So I didn't know that a GOOD product in this category existed :)
I found this forum because my bike has some SERIOUS problems which I was looking to fix. (I think I am sending it back if the seller honours the ebay terms). Still I thought I might share the experience.
The bike looked good. It's called Mini-bike and it seems a perfect replica. Even the manual is the same except for the logo and name. The bag has even the original a-bike logo. This is the original ebay ad:
http://cgi.ebay.it/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200148419019
Unfortunately assembly was terrible. It is missing a metal part in the left handle so it has problems to close correctly.
Worse, the left and right chain regulators are on different settings and the chain "jumps" when I try to pedal (fixing this doesn't seem trivial, I want to experiment but have NO experience with bikes. Any clear instructions here would be appreaciated).
The back wheel is not completely free (maybe for the same reason).
I "enjoyed" for no more tha 10m ...
If I manage to fix the rear wheel I would like to drive this 'til it dies and then decide to buy the original one. Any idea or previous experience ?
I have found no professional willing to work on this bike. This is making me wary of buying the original one. If I have a problem I won't be able to solve it on my own ...
Alberto[/quote]
Benvenuto, Alberto. You have unfortunately experienced the classic "replica" trap that many early adopters of the A-bike design fell into. Because the original A-bike—designed by Sir Clive Sinclair—is so unique and uses specialized plastic and tiny drive components, cheap copies often fail within the first few kilometers.
The "jumping" chain and the rear wheel not spinning freely are very common on these eBay clones. The drive system in these bikes is actually a dual-chain reduction gear system hidden inside those plastic casings.
Troubleshooting the Drive System
If the chain is jumping, it usually means the internal tensioners are misaligned or the tiny sprockets are made of soft pot-metal that has already deformed. Here is what you can try to do yourself:
Check the Axle Alignment: Since you mentioned the left and right regulators are on different settings, the rear wheel is likely sitting crooked. This causes the chain to run at an angle, making it "climb" the teeth of the sprocket and jump. Use a ruler to ensure the axle is perfectly perpendicular to the frame.
Internal Friction: If the wheel isn't free-spinning, the plastic housing might be rubbing against the chain or the internal cogs. You may need to open the plastic "clamshell" casing (usually held by small Phillips screws) to see if a piece of plastic flashing is catching the chain.
Lubrication: These clones often ship with "shipping grease" that is more like glue. Cleaning the chains with a degreaser and applying a proper dry PTFE bicycle lube can sometimes free up the resistance.
The Maintenance Reality
You are right to be wary. Most professional bike shops refuse to touch these because they aren't "bikes" in the traditional sense; they are closer to folding mechanical gadgets. The original A-bike is built with much higher-grade polymers and reinforced glass-fiber, but even then, it requires a "DIY" mindset. If you aren't comfortable turning a wrench, this category of micro-folder might always be a frustration.
If you take photos of the internal gears or the missing handle parts to show the eBay seller for your refund claim, your phone will likely save them as WebP files. Many eBay dispute forms or older bike forums have trouble uploading this format. You can use [url=https://webptojpghero.com]WEBPtoJPGhero[/url] to quickly flip those evidence shots into high-quality JPEGs. It ensures the seller and the community can see the defects clearly.
