Bicycle review and experience

In April 2011, I plunked down payment in full - $2,495.00 for a Picycle electric bicycle from Pi Mobility in Sausalito, CA. I was told the lead time was two months. So in June I was expecting to embark on this adventure with a new, radical uber cool electric bike. Riding just as the summer riding season would be in full swing. This is a blog to document that love affair gone bad so we can all learn more about the buying experience, the entry into the world of electric bikes, and the joys of riding in Minneapolis. I'll be posting several times a week to get caught up on the timeline of anticipation and disappointment. Why did I choose Pi? First their website picycle.com was very cool, demonstrating the innovations and overall value of the design. I love(ed) the design of the bike and I believe it holds promise as a long life bike to buy and own - That's why I ordered it. Also, there was a review by Susan Carpenter of the LA Times that - if I hadn't been sold yet - sold me as

Has anyone seen the latest note on the home page for picycle.com? Apparently they aren't taking any orders from customers until all current orders are filled. "PiMobility regrets to announce that we will not be accepting any new orders until all existing orders are filled. We anticipate this occuring on or about October 15th, 2012. However, while we are not accepting orders we are available to answer any questions you may have. Sincerely, Team Pi"   I wonder if this means my bike will be completed and sent. I'm not holding my breath. Additionally, they have moved from their cool digs in Sausalito to a dump across the bay. Since my last post I've been putting the Pi back in shape for sale. I removed the battery (good) and controller (junk) and all the wiring to the controls. The big tube can hide a lot of ills. I learned that apart from the tube and other machined parts, Pi seems to buy everything off the shelf from Ebike.ca. These are great peopl

So the bike (demo) was delivered near the end of July. For the rest of the summer and well into the fall, I rode the bike an average of 20 miles a day. I enjoy(ed) the bike. It felt like a cruiser with the weight at over 60 lbs. The bike lived up to expectations in terms of power and range. Marcus Hays once said "park this bike next to a Ferrari and it will compete favorable for attention". I happened onto our Wheels of Italy car show one Saturday last summer and parked the bike next to a red Ferrari and he was right. Lot's of attention.  About the end of October as our (in Minneapolis) warm riding season comes to a close I was caught about 4 miles from home and the motor failed - almost seized right up. I walked the bike home - not a happy man - and sent off a text to Marcus telling of the failure. He offered to send me a new motor/wheel assembly but I declined the offer thinking I could do fine on my peddle bike until the bike I ordered was ready. I figured we wer

In May of 2017 I had a business trip to the Bay Area so I visited the factory/shop and rode a red demo. It was pouring rain that day so I had to be satisfied with a brief ride around the parking lot. Nevertheless, I loved the bike and was eager to get mine. I was impressed with his operation and the bikes "lying around" were also impressive. Excitement continued to build. With the money down mid-April, I was expecting delivery mid-June. On June 6th, 2011, I sent an email to Marcus (Hays, CEO) asking him if could give me a delivery date. His reply: "Hi Tony, Currently I am estimating June 21st. Cheers, Marcus" After the cheerful email, I was excited to begin riding. On the 27th I wrote him an email: "Marcus Did the bike ship last week? Tony " And his reply the same day: "Hi Tony, The bike did not ship yet. We're having a production meeting in a little while from which I should be able to glean an exact date. I will let you know tom

So...Let's start at the end. After over a year of fabricated stories,misplaced promises, broken communications, I finally threw in the towel and bought a Stromer eBike with which I've been delighted. It's better bike bike than Pi in a bout a hundred ways not the least of which is that there is a local dealer - Varisty Bike and Transit (awesome people) - that sells and services the bike. I ordered with little money down and voila, ten days later the bike appeared. About mid-April, I requested a refund from Marcus Hays, Pi Mobility's Founder and CEO. He said that his finance folks were processing the refund and that it would go out the first week in May. Since then ....... crickets. No refund to date. At the end of May attorney wrote Marcus a letter asking for the refund tied to a threat to litigate. I've considered filing a suit in California Small Claims Court but I fear the additional $$$ for travel to appear might be sending good money after bad. My real fe