CheckMag | Ossby Geo: Broken frame after just a few days of using this lightweight, foldable e-bike made from recycled materials
I didn't even get to use a full battery charge on the Ossby Geo, which, according to the specs, could take me up to 70 kilometers (43 miles) around the city. Instead, my new bike has to go back to the factory. At the end of 2022, the author of this somewhat short ebike experience-report noticed a Kickstarter project by Spanish bike company Ossby, shortly after a disappointing Fiido X experience with recalled bikes due to frame stability issues. The Chinese company made amends by delivering an improved version of their Fiido X a few months later. (links in German)
While the magnesium frame of the Fiido X never broke on my bike, it's a completely different story with the Ossby Geo, which was introduced to Kickstarter backers at the end of 2022 with a total weight of just 11 kilograms or 24 pounds, front and rear lights and a maximum range of 50 km. It was supposed to be delivered in June 2023, but actually arrived at my home at the beginning of August 2024. The foldable e-bike, which has won the iF Design Award and the Delta Silver Award 2024, is now available directly from the manufacturer for 1,690 euros ($1,866 including tax), although the specifications have changed a little in the final product.
Kickstarter specs vs. final specs
The originally planned 50 km range eventually evolved into a more helpful 70 km radius, although the promised front light and a bell were missing from the delivered product and the weight increased to 16 kilograms or around 35 pounds. And one more detail stands out in retrospect: The touted lifetime warranty on the frame made from recycled materials has been reduced to seven years in the manufacturer's online store. Still a big number, which unfortunately my bike didn't even come close to.
A sustainable frame made in Europe
Honestly, the fact that the unconventional frame of the Ossby Geo is made from recycled materials wasn't quite as important for my buying decision compared to the combination of extremely low weight with the promise of high stability and a lifetime guarantee. However, I did check with the manufacturer in 2022 due to stability concerns. With the Fiido experience in the back of my head, I wanted to make sure that this "composite frame" would not become an issue yet again. The manufacturer's response to my questions sounded reassuring (see screenshot below).
Its not an experimental material, I was told. This mix of recycled materials and plant resins has supposedly been used in the industry for years and can withstand several thousand kilograms of weight, also the manufacturer has a lot of experience with it, so they said on Kickstarter. Ossby's product page even mentions a strength exceeding that of aluminum (see screenshot below). Considering that the battery has an increased range, we will generously ignore the fact that the few extra 100 grams of weight they mentioned back in 2022 as a possibility for the final product turned out to be around 5 kilograms in the end.
Frame breaks after just a few hours of use in the city
On the last day of August 2024, in the middle of a shopping trip, I noticed an unusual prong on the black front part of the frame, where it is flexibly anchored to the white main frame via a hinge. Unfortunately, on closer inspection, it turned out to be a genuine break, although the reason for it is a mystery to me. Sure, weighing just under 100 kilograms or 220 pounds I am certainly not the lightest bike rider out there and I even dared to take the Geo over one or two kerbs during the last few weeks. After all, this is a bike that is supposedly made for city terrain and recommended for a load of up to 110 kg. It has also survived a heavy rain storm a few days ago, but for the life of me I can't remember a specific trigger for this serious frame defect that must have occurred over the last few days.
A somewhat wonky experience at first ...
It is definitely possible that I have used the bike a while before even noticing the broken frame. Obviously the bike has also been left outside of stores unattended several times over the last few weeks, locked of course. In total, I may have been on the saddle for just under 40 kilometers or what feels like a mere 4 hours since delivery. When I first tested the bike after unpacking it, I noticed that steering the front wheel felt a tiny bit wiggly, especially around tight curves. At that time, I assumed this was due to the comparably tiny 14 inch front wheel, which I am not used to (a 16-inch wheel is used at the rear of the bike).
In retrospect, of course, it is certainly possible that something was already wrong with the frame right from the start, even though I did not see a visual break in the frame at first. I cannot rule out the possibility of this being an isolated incident at this moment in time. Nevertheless, this is not a good omen for the touted stability of this supposedly non-experimental frame material and its aluminum level strength. Whether Ossby will take further steps in the near future remains to be seen. In conclusion, I don't want to end this report without mentioning that I was overall quite satisfied with the bike in the short time I was able to spend with it.
... but overall pleasing up to the incident
I really enjoyed the extremely quick and easy folding mechanism which I made extensive use of to take the Ossby Geo up to my apartment after each ride. The fact that you can still push the ebike easily when folded thanks to its asymmetric design helps quite a bit. The five-speed gears and the electric drive worked perfectly, although I would prefer to see a higher transmission ratio in the highest gear for less pedaling with higher speeds. The hydraulic brakes worked reliably, although they made very loud squeaking noises the first time I used them on a wet road during rain. Both the app and the optional tiny Bluetooth remote control with solar panel on top leave a very spartan impression but fulfill their purpose. It's a shame that my relationship with the Ossby Geo had to end so abruptly.
03.09.2024 14:00 CEST update - Official statement of the manufacturer
Today I received a written statement from Ossby (see in full below). In short, an investigation into the incident apparently identified a defective sheet of material that was used in the production of the first batch of the Geo, that can lead to safety and stability issues. According to the statement all buyers of these bikes were identified and informed to stop using the bike until the parts can be replaced for which Ossby will bear all costs. At the moment I do not have details on how the replacement/repair will be carried out.
This statement at least sounds like this incident is not caused by an inherent design flaw but an isolated quality control issue with the source material. As for the changed specifications, Ossby mentions challenges that can occur during development and the inherent risk of crowdfunding.
Before addressing the details of your message, we would like to express our sincere apologies for the incident you experienced with the Ossby GEO. We are relieved to hear that you detected the problem in time. The safety of our users is our top priority, and we appreciate your prompt communication in this regard.
Upon receiving your message and the details you provided, we immediately initiated a thorough investigation with the manufacturer of the affected frame component to fully analyse the source of the issue. The result of this investigation has revealed that one of the sheets of material used in the initial production of the Ossby GEO is from a batch that the supplier has identified as defective. This defect could compromise the structural properties of the material, which could affect both the durability and safety of the frame. This was the cause of the incident you experienced.
Although the incident is due to a supply chain failure outside of our direct control, we take full responsibility for what happened. We have been able to identify the units that may be affected based on production dates and, as a precautionary measure, we have notified all potentially affected users and advised them to temporarily suspend use of the bike until we are able to replace this part.
As for the solution, we want to assure you that we are already manufacturing the replacement parts. Each customer has received precise instructions on how to proceed with the repair. Ossby will bear all costs related to this replacement.
We understand that such situations can be frustrating for our users, as they are for us, and we are deeply sorry for any inconvenience this has caused you. It has been a long process for all, and this was not what we hoped for in the first weeks after launching.
The Kickstarter backer community and their feedback, as early adopters and active participants in this innovative project, is invaluable to us. We remain committed to providing the best possible product and support throughout this process.
It is important to remember that the nature of a crowdfunding project implies certain challenges inherent to the development and improvement of complex products, as is the case of the Ossby GEO. All the modifications to our original plans were made with the best of intentions and the information we had at each respective moment. Some of the choices were not what we would have liked, but the decision was made always with the safety and stability of the bike and its components in mind. This idea is mentioned in the terms of the platform and is of course not unique to our project, i.e., it is possible that the final product may present some variations with respect to the initial prototype, both in design and technical specifications, due to the evolution of the project and the improvements implemented.
We sincerely appreciate your understanding and patience as we work to resolve this situation. We are not only committed to resolving this issue, but also to learning from this experience in order to continue to improve both the quality of our products and our service.
Quelle(n)
Own, Ossby
