Perhaps, however it doesn't change the fact that the functionality of these bikes is severely compromised by software issues, and on top of all the fun related to the ongoing availability of components, also begs the question of what happens when the app's are no longer available / supported..?
Cube Software - Angry!!!! 😡
- Thread starter Bad Company
- Start date
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Perhaps, however it doesn't change the fact that the functionality of these bikes is severely compromised by software issues, and on top of all the fun related to the ongoing availability of components, also begs the question of what happens when the app's are no longer available / supported..?
3 separate things here:
Because the controllers necessarily have embedded software then yes functionality can be compromised by issues in that software. Of course all the luddites piled in but in the OP's case the bike was actually both rideable AND the assist was still working! The only issue was they couldn't use the display and would probably use more battery by being in the highest assist mode all the time. They could still have gone for the ride though. And it turned out it was a faulty component anyway not a software update.
I'll give you this, but the underlying issue is the lack of standards and the fact that manufacturers can keep component interfaces proprietary. In an ideal world the protocols should be open source and either standard connectors mandated or the ability to swap out for commodity components, not be coded to only accept manufacturers' components. I see the EU have included bicycles and e-bikes in their right to repair scope, but since we in the UK "tuk are cuntry bak" it doesn't look like we'll get it here any time soon.
Well, as long as the bike doesn't need an app to actually function (which, I agree is shocking) then a no longer supported app would just mean you can't access some of the value add features any more. On mine, it's stuff like a GPS track function, ability to tweak assist levels and to see more data like the number of charge cycles. So not the end of the world.
In general this stuff is a valid concern, but one with wider ramifications than e-bikes. I'll never buy an internet-enabled freezer for instance!
As always we see the faulty bikes because people post them either asking for help or just to rant, but we don't see much about the majority that just work.
Because the controllers necessarily have embedded software then yes functionality can be compromised by issues in that software. Of course all the luddites piled in but in the OP's case the bike was actually both rideable AND the assist was still working! The only issue was they couldn't use the display and would probably use more battery by being in the highest assist mode all the time. They could still have gone for the ride though. And it turned out it was a faulty component anyway not a software update.
I'll give you this, but the underlying issue is the lack of standards and the fact that manufacturers can keep component interfaces proprietary. In an ideal world the protocols should be open source and either standard connectors mandated or the ability to swap out for commodity components, not be coded to only accept manufacturers' components. I see the EU have included bicycles and e-bikes in their right to repair scope, but since we in the UK "tuk are cuntry bak" it doesn't look like we'll get it here any time soon.
Well, as long as the bike doesn't need an app to actually function (which, I agree is shocking) then a no longer supported app would just mean you can't access some of the value add features any more. On mine, it's stuff like a GPS track function, ability to tweak assist levels and to see more data like the number of charge cycles. So not the end of the world.
In general this stuff is a valid concern, but one with wider ramifications than e-bikes. I'll never buy an internet-enabled freezer for instance!
As always we see the faulty bikes because people post them either asking for help or just to rant, but we don't see much about the majority that just work.
Beebo
Firm and Fruity
- Location
- Hexleybeef
Will a bike like this have any value and useability in 10 years once the app and interface stop being supported.
Most of my bikes are well over 10 years old.
Most of my bikes are well over 10 years old.
wiggydiggy
Guru
I'd love to see parts become more compatable over time, I'm not sure exactly how many battery/motor/display combos there are out there but I'm certain not all manufacturers will survive and unfortunately some users will end up with systems not supported or capable of being repaired anymore.
Supersuperleeds
Legendary Member
- Location
- Leicester
That explains a lot of your posts
Ming the Merciless
There is no mercy
- Location
- Inside my skull
Alex321
Guru
- Location
- South Wales
It shouldn't matter whether it is "supported", since updates for such things are rarely if ever necessary for them to continue working.
Ming the Merciless
There is no mercy
- Location
- Inside my skull
It clearly matters, because if it fails again in the future when no longer supported, it’s effectively bricked.
Alex321
Guru
- Location
- South Wales
It was a hardware failure, not software, it seems. Hardware can often be obtained second hand for years after software support may have finished.
Software failures that would result in it being unusable are usually going to show up well within the support period, unless they result from an update close to that end.
Ming the Merciless
There is no mercy
- Location
- Inside my skull
Sure about that?
Alex321
Guru
- Location
- South Wales
You missed the "it seems" in my answer then?
No, I'm not *sure* about it, but it is what appears to have been the case from what we have been told. Swapping out the unit will very rarely fix any software issue.
Ming the Merciless
There is no mercy
- Location
- Inside my skull
Of course it will, the softwar is embedded in the unit. We don’t know what condition the software encountered, but a fresh one without the condition will sort it. Just like you can brick embedded software in a phone, you can do the same in an e-bike head unit. Just like it’s possible to brick a gps and a new gps will sort it etc. You swap it out, and fix bricked unit back at manufacturer. But when manufacturer has long since moved on that’s no longer possible.
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Alex321
Guru
- Location
- South Wales
There can be occasions where it will fix it. That is why I said "very rarely", rather than "never".
OP
OP
Bad Company
Very Old Person
- Location
- East Anglia
Everything’s working now. There’s just the minor irritation of the app still showing ‘software error’. I’ll wait for the next update or maybe uninstall & reinstall the app.
