I have had the A2B Bike for 5 days and find several negatives that come with it which should be considered before you purchase one. Have just had the privalege of walking my A2B 7 miles after being stranded with it. The tires on it are very cheap and cheesy. They puncture easily and after being deflated they are very soft and mushy. Walked to the bus terminal to take it home thinking I could just drop it in the rack like a normal bike rider could do but NO!! It does not fit. Tires are too fat and the bike is longer than a normal bike and does not fit, hence I was refused to load it and had to walk. Another observation is the power does not always activate when you applicate it. Was at a stop light and after it had turned green at times it had taken 4-5 tries to get it to kick in. I believe the A2B is still too much in it's infancy to be at least dependable.
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I have two 2009 A2B Metro with a few thousand miles on them. I use my bike in St Augustine, Florida (flat and wet). I make a commute to work about 9 miles one way and charge my bike at work. I gave it 4 stars because of the upgrades I had to make (mainly tires). Otherwise, I would say it is a 5. I'm writing this review because I buy a lot of stuff on Amazon and I appreciate others taking the time to share their experiences.
Overall, I'm happy with this bike. It has a sturdy frame and well designed motor battery system. The bike will be enhanced by some upgrades and I'd recommend doing some research on various forums.(do a search on "metro" or "ultramotor")
First, the original motors had problems and needed to be replaced. This was done under warranty. I also needed to upgrade the chargers, also under warranty. I think these issues have been resolved on the newer models.
The bike gives me a 20 mile range, more if you get the additional battery. I have seen reports of range up to 50 miles with two batteries. I like to pedal and use the accelerator at the same time. This keeps me at about 20mph. Some people have changed the crank to enhance their pedaling and I may consider this. It will go just as fast with pedaling or without. My wife is usually ahead of me and she rarely pedals her bike. I'd prefer a top speed of 30mph, but I think the laws have limited the top speed and motor horsepower.
I replaced the original soft Kenda tires with Shinko SR714 DOT approved tire, 2,25x16. This works well, but you may want a scooter store to do this, as it is a tight fit. I had had two flats with the original tires. This upgrade made my bike feel more solid and the rear suspension seemed to work better -no chain rattle. I don't think I will have another flat. If you don't want to be stranded this is the most important change I'd make.
The brake pads need to be replaced often. Semi-metalic Disco Brakes have been reported to wear better. It is a heavy bike and you need to watch the brakes.
Ergongrips have been reported to work better and give your hands a rest. I have these on order (from Amazon).
Chain noise had been an issue until I changed the tires. Some have recommended flip flopping the upper pulley and metal stay. I'm not sure about this. There may be a better chain tensioner solution.
My rear fender cracked, I sawed the back half off. It works fine and looks like it was designed that way. On the other bike I removed it completely. I hear the newer bikes have made improvements on this issue.
Make sure you upgrade the rear shock. This may already be upgraded on newer bikes. The elastomer rod and spring combo shock is needed if using an additional battery. Some have found an airshock that works well. Be careful not to carry a person on the rear as the weight could crack the weld.
I should mention, that I disconnected a wire that delayed acceleration after I braked. This means that you can ride it in traffic with instant response after braking. The newer bikes don't have this long delay.
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Overall, I give this bike good marks. It has replaced a second car. I gave it to my son. My wife got the Mercedes, but to be honest, I'd much rather use the bike around town.
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I have had this bike for over a year and all it does it break down. They work great for the first few months and then everything just starts breaking. The tires are thin and cheap and i get flats every couple of weeks. Costing me about $35 each time. Also, the break pads are terrible. I have had the bike for 11 months and they have had to been replaced 3 times each already....Very costly on that. The warranty is bogus too. Do some research...Don't buy this bike. You will end up putting hundreds into it,
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I cannot recommend this mike. It does looks great and the ride is fun but you will be buying new batteries quite often at $600 a pop. I rode the bike no more that 600 miles and I needed a new battery ! Save your money, buy something else. Again, if they ever fix the battery problem and lower the price this can be an amazing bike.... but it's not there yet
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I bought two of these bikes for commuting...and two extra chargers to keep at each of my offices, so that way I can charge for the ride home. The second battery is very expensive, but the second charger is not. I had a flat tire from letting the tire go too low and then taking a curve...the bike shop called it a "slider" flat...otherwise, I ride long distances and don't have trouble. It needs to have rack accessories, inlcuding panniers, that you can actually get...they don't seem to sell them even though they have pictures. You will experience the motor cut out the other reviewer talked about if you "ride the brake"...as long as you let go of the brake before you engage the throttle, that doesn't happen. These bikes are so zippy they are a blast! My biggest problem has been with the brakes...they do seem to need adjustment often, and new pads. I try not to use the brakes, but let's face it, the disks are tiny and the bike weighs 75 pounds. Still, the world would be a better place if everyone rode these bikes. I also own several Segways and an electric boat (DUFFY), so I like electric stuff. As with all the other electric things, it is best to keep charged...the lower half of "the tank" always seems to go faster than the 1st half...so you may have to pedal if you run out...and if you do, it will probably be on a hill! But the good news is that you CAN pedal...and it's good for you. Great product. And I'm sure it will get better.
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