Comments on: Giant Twist Freedom Dx Full Review http://citizenbloomington.wordpress.com/2008/08/20/giant-twist-freedom-dx-full-review/ voted "The Best Corner of the Internet" by my mom Sat, 15 Aug 2009 16:09:51 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Tom http://citizenbloomington.wordpress.com/2008/08/20/giant-twist-freedom-dx-full-review/#comment-55 Tom Sat, 15 Aug 2009 16:09:51 +0000 http://citizenbloomington.wordpress.com/?p=38#comment-55 I have a Giant Twist for a year and a half. Your review is right on the mark. I bought the bike for commuting. My work changed location and my 2 mile commute changed to 12.5 miles each way. (20Km). I was determined to commute using the bicycle but was not confident about commuting the distance in bad weather. I decided to invest in a high quality battery bike. I am very happy with the bicycle. I have gained confidence and fitness. I commute occasionally using the normal bike usually when the Giant Twist is being repaired. I am now confident enough for this and my fitness is up at a level where this I am not daunted at the prospect. For a serious commute really a second spare bike or alternative mode of transport is needed to cover breakdowns. Most of the time I get 25 miles with spare charge from a fully charged battery. If the wind is strong then the battery runs out before I get to the end of the second half of the commute. When this happens I switch to the second battery. No problem. There is some glass on the roads here so puncture resistant tyres are essential. I replaced the tyres that came with the bike after getting 2 punctures in the first week. Since I got the puncture resistant tyres I have had no problems. (Provided I keep the tyres properly inflated.) I have over 8000 miles on the bike now. I have found no deterioration in the battery capacity. Roughly 350 charges in total or 175 charges per battery. The bike is very comfortable to ride and I get to work fresh if really ready for a shower. For the 12.5 miles I allow an hour. This covers traffic stops and allows a few minutes for unexpected delays. The weather is not a problem. The motor takes the strain out of the wind and hills. It still takes an extra couple of minutes if there is a strong wind against me. I have cycled the bicycle without the battery. When I forgot to charge the battery and it ran out. It is possible but I would not recommend it. The bike is heavy and the motor impedes the wheel. Cycling a normal bike is much easier. I have found some problems with the bike. The nuts holding the back wheel in place are aluminium and not really up to the job. The back wheel went out of alignment and the treads in the nut failed when I tightened them. I have replaced the aluminium nuts with steel nuts and have had no problems since. This brings me to my second problem. The cables carrying power from the battery are on the inside of the chain stay (tube connecting the back wheel to the pedals). When the back wheel went out of alignment it cut through the insulation on the cables. A better location for these cables would be the bottom of the chain stay. Insulating tape fixed this problem. Not a pretty though. At about 7700 miles the motor failed. The cogs in the motor are plastic and gave way. I was disappointed that plastic rather than a hard fray resistant metal was used in a bike costing over $2000. Giant replaced the wheel with no quibbles although I did have to pay for the labour to replace the wheel. The chain guard prevents oil soiling trousers however it makes maintenance more difficult. If the chain comes off it is quite difficult to put it back on. The chain guard in the newer model looks better allowing access for maintenance and it looks like putting the chain back on would be easier. Some other maintenance notes. The break blocks need to be replaced more often than a normal bike. Probably because bike is heavier and needs more stopping. Similarly the break cables need to be replaced more often. During the first year the chain stretched and had 3 links take out to bring it back to the correct length. The gear mechanism is inside the back wheel so there is only one cog on the back wheel. The lengthening of the chain makes the chain rub off the chain guard and make an annoying noise. Also the chain is more likely to come off the cog. The rubbing noise should no longer be a problem with the new model. The more usual outside gearing system has a self adjusting spring mechanism which keeps small stretches in the chain from causing problems. Hence I think the normal gears would be preferable. One final note. The bike comes with a small hand pump in the same colour scheme as the frame. I cycled the bike for a year without seeing it and I carried a second unnecessary spare pump in the pannier. I have a Giant Twist for a year and a half. Your review is right on the mark. I bought the bike for commuting. My work changed location and my 2 mile commute changed to 12.5 miles each way. (20Km). I was determined to commute using the bicycle but was not confident about commuting the distance in bad weather. I decided to invest in a high quality battery bike. I am very happy with the bicycle. I have gained confidence and fitness. I commute occasionally using the normal bike usually when the Giant Twist is being repaired. I am now confident enough for this and my fitness is up at a level where this I am not daunted at the prospect. For a serious commute really a second spare bike or alternative mode of transport is needed to cover breakdowns.

Most of the time I get 25 miles with spare charge from a fully charged battery. If the wind is strong then the battery runs out before I get to the end of the second half of the commute. When this happens I switch to the second battery. No problem.

There is some glass on the roads here so puncture resistant tyres are essential. I replaced the tyres that came with the bike after getting 2 punctures in the first week. Since I got the puncture resistant tyres I have had no problems. (Provided I keep the tyres properly inflated.)

I have over 8000 miles on the bike now. I have found no deterioration in the battery capacity. Roughly 350 charges in total or 175 charges per battery. The bike is very comfortable to ride and I get to work fresh if really ready for a shower. For the 12.5 miles I allow an hour. This covers traffic stops and allows a few minutes for unexpected delays. The weather is not a problem. The motor takes the strain out of the wind and hills. It still takes an extra couple of minutes if there is a strong wind against me.

I have cycled the bicycle without the battery. When I forgot to charge the battery and it ran out. It is possible but I would not recommend it. The bike is heavy and the motor impedes the wheel. Cycling a normal bike is much easier.

I have found some problems with the bike. The nuts holding the back wheel in place are aluminium and not really up to the job. The back wheel went out of alignment and the treads in the nut failed when I tightened them. I have replaced the aluminium nuts with steel nuts and have had no problems since. This brings me to my second problem. The cables carrying power from the battery are on the inside of the chain stay (tube connecting the back wheel to the pedals). When the back wheel went out of alignment it cut through the insulation on the cables. A better location for these cables would be the bottom of the chain stay. Insulating tape fixed this problem. Not a pretty though. At about 7700 miles the motor failed. The cogs in the motor are plastic and gave way. I was disappointed that plastic rather than a hard fray resistant metal was used in a bike costing over $2000. Giant replaced the wheel with no quibbles although I did have to pay for the labour to replace the wheel.

The chain guard prevents oil soiling trousers however it makes maintenance more difficult. If the chain comes off it is quite difficult to put it back on. The chain guard in the newer model looks better allowing access for maintenance and it looks like putting the chain back on would be easier.
Some other maintenance notes. The break blocks need to be replaced more often than a normal bike. Probably because bike is heavier and needs more stopping. Similarly the break cables need to be replaced more often. During the first year the chain stretched and had 3 links take out to bring it back to the correct length. The gear mechanism is inside the back wheel so there is only one cog on the back wheel. The lengthening of the chain makes the chain rub off the chain guard and make an annoying noise. Also the chain is more likely to come off the cog. The rubbing noise should no longer be a problem with the new model. The more usual outside gearing system has a self adjusting spring mechanism which keeps small stretches in the chain from causing problems. Hence I think the normal gears would be preferable.

One final note. The bike comes with a small hand pump in the same colour scheme as the frame. I cycled the bike for a year without seeing it and I carried a second unnecessary spare pump in the pannier.

]]> By: Rick http://citizenbloomington.wordpress.com/2008/08/20/giant-twist-freedom-dx-full-review/#comment-53 Rick Mon, 11 May 2009 22:44:47 +0000 http://citizenbloomington.wordpress.com/?p=38#comment-53 Thanks for the great review!!! We now have two of the Giant Freedom Twist bikes. We are older and slightly overweight. We hope that the bikes will help with the overweight part. Rick Thanks for the great review!!!

We now have two of the Giant Freedom Twist bikes. We are older and slightly overweight. We hope that the bikes will help with the overweight part.

Rick

]]> By: Sammy Anderson http://citizenbloomington.wordpress.com/2008/08/20/giant-twist-freedom-dx-full-review/#comment-50 Sammy Anderson Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:39:57 +0000 http://citizenbloomington.wordpress.com/?p=38#comment-50 My husband and I both use a more economical conversion kit we found at www.ampedbikes.com We paid around $360 and we love them! We both had a couple bikes in the garage we weren't using as we are in our 50's and the hills are not easy on us. The amped people were very helpful and had us up and running in just a few hours. We are retired so we do not commute to work but we do a 30+ mile ride at least three times a week. We get good exercise and the hills do not put us in a bad mood anymore. Samantha My husband and I both use a more economical conversion kit we found at http://www.ampedbikes.com

We paid around $360 and we love them! We both had a couple bikes in the garage we weren’t using as we are in our 50’s and the hills are not easy on us. The amped people were very helpful and had us up and running in just a few hours. We are retired so we do not commute to work but we do a 30+ mile ride at least three times a week. We get good exercise and the hills do not put us in a bad mood anymore.

Samantha

]]> By: moko http://citizenbloomington.wordpress.com/2008/08/20/giant-twist-freedom-dx-full-review/#comment-49 moko Fri, 27 Feb 2009 09:35:33 +0000 http://citizenbloomington.wordpress.com/?p=38#comment-49 thanks for information.... thanks for information….

]]> By: Maggie http://citizenbloomington.wordpress.com/2008/08/20/giant-twist-freedom-dx-full-review/#comment-42 Maggie Thu, 25 Dec 2008 00:24:37 +0000 http://citizenbloomington.wordpress.com/?p=38#comment-42 Hi and thanks for the great review I just purchased this bike, however I won't take delivery until after the winter. I live in NY. I did test ride this bike and am very excited about owning it. I live in a hilly area and have a huge problem with hills. I have done lots of research on the electric bikes. It seems to me that spending the money on this bike will be a good investment. Most of the bikes I see on line are limited as to range and quality Any bike I have seen lower priced has a very limited gaurentee. This one has a great gaurentee on the frame and parts just like a regular bike thanks again keep peddling Maggie Hi and thanks for the great review
I just purchased this bike, however I won’t take delivery until after the winter. I live in NY.
I did test ride this bike and am very excited about owning it. I live in a hilly area and have a huge problem with hills.
I have done lots of research on the electric bikes. It seems to me that spending the money on this bike will be a good investment.
Most of the bikes I see on line are limited as to range and quality
Any bike I have seen lower priced has a very limited gaurentee. This one has a great gaurentee on the frame and parts just like a regular bike
thanks again keep peddling
Maggie

]]> By: Santiago http://citizenbloomington.wordpress.com/2008/08/20/giant-twist-freedom-dx-full-review/#comment-31 Santiago Sat, 25 Oct 2008 08:46:33 +0000 http://citizenbloomington.wordpress.com/?p=38#comment-31 Hi chrobb, thank you very much for the review, I'm looking for an e-bike and in Europe Giant has the freedom model, it costs 1800 €, also there's a version with only one battery that costs 1500€. I like his weight "only" 50 lib, the older version (giant twist 1.1) weighs 64 lib. I heard that now the motor is freewheel so there's less resitance when pedaling and the motor isn't engaged (ie when you go faster and you aren't assisted, or when batteries are out of charge). I need the bike for commute 25 miles every day with some hills where I'll need to use the first gears. E-bikes or pedelec are expensive cause the high price of li-ion batteries, A replace battery cost around 400€ or 600$, the motor and controller around 300-400$ the diference is for the bike, investment. It will be cheaper but when more people buy this kind of bicicle. Nice article and thanks. Hi chrobb,
thank you very much for the review, I’m looking for an e-bike and in Europe Giant has the freedom model, it costs 1800 €, also there’s a version with only one battery that costs 1500€. I like his weight “only” 50 lib, the older version (giant twist 1.1) weighs 64 lib. I heard that now the motor is freewheel so there’s less resitance when pedaling and the motor isn’t engaged (ie when you go faster and you aren’t assisted, or when batteries are out of charge). I need the bike for commute 25 miles every day with some hills where I’ll need to use the first gears. E-bikes or pedelec are expensive cause the high price of li-ion batteries, A replace battery cost around 400€ or 600$, the motor and controller around 300-400$ the diference is for the bike, investment. It will be cheaper but when more people buy this kind of bicicle.
Nice article and thanks.

]]> By: Joe Hren http://citizenbloomington.wordpress.com/2008/08/20/giant-twist-freedom-dx-full-review/#comment-15 Joe Hren Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:55:38 +0000 http://citizenbloomington.wordpress.com/?p=38#comment-15 I once had bike in high school. It was decked out with a generator motor, that when flipped to the bike wheel, would produce energy to light a headlight and red back light. It did make it more difficult to pedal and then the light would go out when I would come to a stop. I also had a bike bell and spokey dokeys that ran along the bike wheel spokes. At fast speeds, the multi-colored spokey-dokeys would pull to the outside of the wheel... at slow speeds, they would fall closer to the center of the wheel. I wonder if they still make spokey-dokeys. Nice article on your new bike. I once had bike in high school. It was decked out with a generator motor, that when flipped to the bike wheel, would produce energy to light a headlight and red back light. It did make it more difficult to pedal and then the light would go out when I would come to a stop. I also had a bike bell and spokey dokeys that ran along the bike wheel spokes. At fast speeds, the multi-colored spokey-dokeys would pull to the outside of the wheel… at slow speeds, they would fall closer to the center of the wheel. I wonder if they still make spokey-dokeys. Nice article on your new bike.

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