Hello Everyone,
I've been monitoring this forum for about a month now while I was deciding which E-Bike to purchase for my short commute. Thanks to members like Zerogas, MilleyM, Gushar, and ArcticFox (sorry I didn't buy from you but I had credits from Ebay that ended up being to big a savings to pass up)it made my decision that much easier (I was torn between a QElectric Milan and the XB-600.) The information provided on this forum was invaluable as I could not find any real world stories or reviews of the 600 on line. I was shocked at how little info is available other than the stock specs on dealer websites. The bad wrap on X-Treme customer service worried me but it appeared, to me at least, to be on the lower priced models that the company offers (sorry to hear about your troubles AztecFembone.) The only other info that I could dig up was on the website I linked to below. Unfortunatley its for the XB-500 I hope to do a similar one for the 600 since you can't find a single comprehensive review anywhere on the web.
Anyway, I hope to become a contributing member to this forum going forward.
As for my brief experience with the bike, I am a very satisfied customer. The bike performs as advertised and is better constructed than I would have thought or led to believe in some posts. Overall I would give it an 8.5 on the quality/cost ratio.
I ordered my bike on June 20th and it arrived on the 27th. I was fearing the shipping damage everyone talks about but the box was unblemished and so was the scooter (it did have some factory handling marks but nothing serious). This was a big relief.
The assembly instructions are somewhat lacking as is the rest of the manual (there are at least two different tire inflation reccomendations in the version I received) but you can get through it well enough if you don't take it too literally and go with the spirit of the suspect Chinese to English translation. It took me about 2 hours to uncrate and assemble ( I am only so-so mechanically). There was enough charge in the batteries to take it for a spin when I was done.
Zerogas wasn't kidding. These things suck going up hill. Yeah, yeah I know they do get you up the hill but its painful. Not just any hill or incline but even a glorified speed bump and the bike slows down to 10mph. I thought it was going to die on me.
The only thing worse than going slow up the hills is the turn signal screech that makes you want to poke your eardrums out. Its like backing up a dump truck when you pull up at an intersection. It literally makes me think twice about turning. WOW! The looks you get are priceless. Its really a shame because the bike is so silent when you ride and then becomes some kind of shrew when you use the blinker.
The last issue I found was that the mirrors move evertime you hit a bump. You end looking at yourself rather than the traffic behind you. Its great for the narcissist in me but disconcerting to say the least (for a variety of reasons).
Having read most of the posts on this forum this is how I solved my issues with the bike.
1) I ordered a spare controller from X-Treme (arrived in two days) and promptly did the shunt mod. I replaced the original controller (keeping it as a spare in case I boomed the new one) and was rewarded with immediate pleasure. 0 to 20mph in 2-3 seconds and the ability to climb and accelerate up even moderately steep hills at up to 20mph. Sweet. I haven't verified the range on the bike yet because I've been enjoying riding around the neighborhood to much to take it on a long trip. Gushar I know you've posted a lot of good questions regarding this mod but I don't know if you've actually done it yet. You should. It is pretty easy and the reward is well worth the $65 dollars for the spare controller and the 2 hours of your time to do it. The difference is almost freaky.
2) Using the diagram that MilleyM(I wonder if he ever got his electrical problem sorted out?)so graciously posted I traced back the turn signal switch and pried it open and removed the tiny offensive speaker soldered to the little circuit board(ahhhhh Silence....) I now have turn signals but no offending sound. This too was super easy to do and took less than a half hour to do.
3) The only problem left is the mirrors. I am all ears if anyone has any suggestions. I am about to take and hot glue gun and cement these things into position unless anyone has any better ideas.
4) I took off most of the silly stickers on the bike. Come on X-Treme it only goes 20mph. Are flame stickers really necessary or warranted?
Overall, I am so happy with this bike that it has prompted me to join a forum (something I've never done in 44 years) and share my experiences as a new member of the EV family.
So again, thanks to all on this forum who have posted so much useful information and shared their experiences for people like me who are just getting into this whole EV thing.
Cheers and Happy Riding!
hyperob
P.S. Gushar: Yes the seat is loose unless you sit on it. (I don't think anyone ever answered your question)and the grey wires don't do anything.
