[Dmac]

Hi friends

I just got a brand new bike yesterday and did a 60 minute workout. It was silent as a mouse. Today I’m noticing on the top of every pedal stroke there is now a faint taking or clicking sound it sounds like a digital watch tick coming from around the flywheel. My pedals are super super tight.

It’s not loud at all. I don’t think it’s defective. Is it just normal operation? It’s hard to hear but it’s in this video.

Thanks in advance if anybody has any insight.

 

[Captain Kidd]

I, too, have had this question! I purchased an EX-4S from Costco before Christmas (2020). The bike was silent for multiple workouts for multiple family members during the first week. Then, into the second or third week, I started to notice a "clicking" sound (not necessarily the perfect description for it) coming from the flywheel--not the pedals. I checked on the tension of the screws on the flywheel and found them to be super tight. My only conclusion was that the sound might be coming from some bearings in the flywheel area.

When I reached out to Customer Support, the first person was concerned and offered to send new pedals, but invited me to provide a video. After doing so, my question was escalated with the attached video. After a little back and forth, I was told that a supervisor said that the sound (which had become a constant sound ... much more than occasional "clicking") was normal and that the bike should not be expected to be silent. This surprised me because it seems like bikes with magnetic resistance would be virtually silent. (And the bike wasn't cheap!)

Nothing else about the bike performed poorly during the first 5-6 weeks, so I did my best to accept the sound. But, after talking to my local Costco, it was suggested that I return my first bike and replace it with a new one. I did so a few weeks ago. For the first full week, the new bike has been completely silent for multiple workouts across multiple family members. But, after finishing a workout yesterday, I thought I heard the beginning of that "clicking" sound from the bearings--almost identical to the sound heard in the video in the original post.

So, it would be good to know if this is just a "Costco bike (EX-4S) thing" or if others who own different Echelon bikes can support the message from the Echelon supervisor that the sounds from the flywheel area are normal and that the bike should not be expected to be silent. I love the bike and the workouts. I haven't found the sounds to affect the bike's performance. But I also don't to be left with an expensive bike that is afflicted with a unique problem that may not have a solution.

 

[Dmac]

Damn. You read my mind exactly. That’s exactly what I want to know too. Is this normal. Or. Do other riders have similar tiny click sounds.
At one point I thought it may be intended? Like a cadence meter or something that is totally working as intended. I just don’t know.

 

[Captain Kidd]

Agreed! I want this to be normal, although I really want the bike to be as silent as it was when I did my first rides--but it will really help to hear from others in the Community (and it wouldn't hurt to also hear an additional "official" word from Echelon). In the meantime, thank you for starting this post!

p.s. After doing another ride today, that small "click" sound (and I really wish I had a better word for it) has definitely established itself in my new bike.

 

[Dmac]

Yup. Same here! At least we are not alone 😂

 

[rcowell17]

I will assume you all looked at this but I had this issue and it was just the cages coming loose.

 

[ChrisM]

Got the bike two weeks ago and had a sound while peddling that disappears peddling backwards. Sent a video to support and got a 'normal sounds' answer.

 

[Captain Kidd]

I will assume you all looked at this but I had this issue and it was just the cages coming loose.

Thank you for the suggestion. I made sure to check that--and to double-check to confirm the pedals were tightened. I really hoped one of those two things would stop the sound but it is clear to me that it comes from some kind of bearing in the flywheel area.

 

[Captain Kidd]

Got the bike two weeks ago and had a sound while peddling that disappears peddling backwards. Sent a video to support and got a 'normal sounds' answer.

I just tried the "reverse pedaling" approach. Sadly, I have the "bearing-clicking" sound (which really isn't a clicking sound, but it is close enough) pedaling either direction. But, knowing that someone else checked with Customer Service and was told the sound is normal is somewhat reassuring. At least I'm not the only one who has been caught off guard by a bike I thought would be virtually silent.

 

[ChrisM]

I just tried the "reverse pedaling" approach. Sadly, I have the "bearing-clicking" sound (which really isn't a clicking sound, but it is close enough) pedaling either direction. But, knowing that someone else checked with Customer Service and was told the sound is normal is somewhat reassuring. At least I'm not the only one who has been caught off guard by a bike I thought would be virtually silent.

I am paying attention though just in case it gets louder not really convinced it is normal but time will tell!

 

[Lkan333]

I, too, have had this question! I purchased an EX-4S from Costco before Christmas (2020). The bike was silent for multiple workouts for multiple family members during the first week. Then, into the second or third week, I started to notice a "clicking" sound (not necessarily the perfect description for it) coming from the flywheel--not the pedals. I checked on the tension of the screws on the flywheel and found them to be super tight. My only conclusion was that the sound might be coming from some bearings in the flywheel area.

When I reached out to Customer Support, the first person was concerned and offered to send new pedals, but invited me to provide a video. After doing so, my question was escalated with the attached video. After a little back and forth, I was told that a supervisor said that the sound (which had become a constant sound ... much more than occasional "clicking") was normal and that the bike should not be expected to be silent. This surprised me because it seems like bikes with magnetic resistance would be virtually silent. (And the bike wasn't cheap!)

Nothing else about the bike performed poorly during the first 5-6 weeks, so I did my best to accept the sound. But, after talking to my local Costco, it was suggested that I return my first bike and replace it with a new one. I did so a few weeks ago. For the first full week, the new bike has been completely silent for multiple workouts across multiple family members. But, after finishing a workout yesterday, I thought I heard the beginning of that "clicking" sound from the bearings--almost identical to the sound heard in the video in the original post.

So, it would be good to know if this is just a "Costco bike (EX-4S) thing" or if others who own different Echelon bikes can support the message from the Echelon supervisor that the sounds from the flywheel area are normal and that the bike should not be expected to be silent. I love the bike and the workouts. I haven't found the sounds to affect the bike's performance. But I also don't to be left with an expensive bike that is afflicted with a unique problem that may not have a solution.

This is hilarious to me because we were in the same boat. Or are I guess. Got our first bike 12/30 from Costco.. Slow start to clicking/thumping.. Returned it 2/6 and got a new one.. less than a week of quiet and now we are met with a clicking/thumping. Constant tinkering, annoyed husband, fixing or try to figure out the noise. At this point I am 100% convinced Costco has sold all lemons... I am upset because I LOVE my bike and have used it daily, but at this point I am tempted to just return it all together. Like you said, it isn't affecting the workouts or the bike--it all works... It is just this noise that really puts a damper on it for me.. I thought it was the red clip in part, but that isn't removable. I am wondering if the pedals can be taken off all together and new ones not Echelon be put on.

 

[Captain Kidd]

This is hilarious to me because we were in the same boat. Or are I guess. Got our first bike 12/30 from Costco.. Slow start to clicking/thumping.. Returned it 2/6 and got a new one.. less than a week of quiet and now we are met with a clicking/thumping. Constant tinkering, annoyed husband, fixing or try to figure out the noise. At this point I am 100% convinced Costco has sold all lemons... I am upset because I LOVE my bike and have used it daily, but at this point I am tempted to just return it all together. Like you said, it isn't affecting the workouts or the bike--it all works... It is just this noise that really puts a damper on it for me.. I thought it was the red clip in part, but that isn't removable. I am wondering if the pedals can be taken off all together and new ones not Echelon be put on.

Yeah ... it would be helpful to know if it is just us Costco EX-4S owners that are hearing the sound from the flywheel. Or, do all Echelon bikes do the same thing? One thing I was advised to do from Customer Service is purchase a lubricating spray from a bike store and to apply it to the flywheel every 4-6 months. I opted for the return-and-buy-a-new-bike approach only to have my current bike do the same as the previous one.

Like you, we love the bike (and the now-discounted price) too much to want to return it again. So--for now--we are learning to live with the sound (for now), hoping that the bike continues to perform flawlessly in every other way (which it does). We have determined that if something else develops (we hope not!), we will be covered by Costco's generous and lengthy return policy. But if we have to do that, we would like to know if it is just the EX-4S bike that produces the sound or if all Echelon bikes do the same thing. In a weird way, it would be comforting to know that all Echelon bikes do this because we have really enjoyed the bike and the Echelon workouts.

 

[Kelo]

I purchased an EX3 a month ago and just recently is making sounds in the wheel. stay tune..

 

[Captain Kidd]

From one point of view, I am very sorry to hear that the EX3 also develops/makes a "clicking" or "grinding" sound in the flywheel area. From another point of view, I feel a small sense of relief to know that this may not be just an "EX-4S thing." I would still like to know if owners of other models are experiencing the same thing. As I continue to ride my EX-4S, the sounds that were intermittent are now constant. In spite of this, the bike's performance doesn't seem to be affected in any way. But, I had hoped that my once-silent bike would remain silent.

 

[Marc-S]

Are you 100% sure it’s not your laces taping the top of the toe holders?

 

[Captain Kidd]

100% positive. I use clip-in shoes. I have heard the clicking sound of laces on shoes when my wife rides the bike. The clicking-grinding (neither description is perfectly accurate) sound to which I refer that comes from the flywheel area is nothing like that.

 

[killerapl]

I'm glad I found this page. I am also hearing noise from my flywheel on my 4S. Mine seems more like a rubbing noise. I followed the directions of making sure the flywheel nuts were tight but the sound is still there. I contacted customer service and they made me send them pictures of the pedals and crank. I don't believe its the pedals. The sound is definitely coming from the flywheel. This is extremely frustrating. I was about to return to costco but it seems that its on all models???? Check out my video. Is this what you're experiencing??

20210302_175634.mp4

drive.google.com

 

[Captain Kidd]

I'm glad I found this page. I am also hearing noise from my flywheel on my 4S. Mine seems more like a rubbing noise. I followed the directions of making sure the flywheel nuts were tight but the sound is still there. I contacted customer service and they made me send them pictures of the pedals and crank. I don't believe its the pedals. The sound is definitely coming from the flywheel. This is extremely frustrating. I was about to return to costco but it seems that its on all models???? Check out my video. Is this what you're experiencing??

20210302_175634.mp4

drive.google.com

Yes! THAT is the sound! I could never find the best words to describe the sound: "click" or "grind" was close, but still not adequate. It has always been one of those, "You just have to hear it to know what I mean" things.

I, too, contacted Customer Service. Initially, the online chat suggested there might be a need for new pedals (which never seemed like the right solution). Then, I was asked to make a video. The person who received the video got a supervisor involved. That was when I was told that the sound is normal and not to expect the bike to be perfectly silent when riding it. I was, however, advised to go to a bike store to purchase some lubricant to apply to the flywheel every 3-6 months or so. At that time, I felt like the response was suspicious, so I returned my first bike to Costco. When I brought a new bike home, the new bike was silent for the first 2 weeks, then the sound started to slowly develop and increase in frequency and regularity. Unless other Echelon bike owners (owners of other models) can confirm that they hear the same sound, it is either "normal" for the Costco-model bike (EX-4S)--which would be sad (even though I love the bike!)--or there is a different of better response from Customer Service. So, I will be interested to know what Customer Service suggests after reviewing your video!

As I have suggested in an earlier post, Costco's return policy provides great comfort and reassurance. I was told that the bike can be returned up to 3-4 years for a full refund. I don't want to return the bike again because I am hooked on the workouts and I really do like the Echelon product overall. So, this forum has been a nice way to monitor how "normal" the situation is.

 

[killerapl]

They said it was due to a bad crank, which I doubt. They are sending me a new bike. Let's see when I receive it and let's see if it develops the same noise. I'm just wondering if it's easier to just take it back to costco haha. Who knows when I will receive the new bike. The only issue is I got this when it was on sale and that sale is over. I don't know if costco will honor the sale price.

 

[Captain Kidd]

Because the sounds seem to come from the flywheel (it seems like a bearing issue to me), I will certainly be interested to know if the "bad crank" diagnosis becomes the long-term solution. If so, I will need to make a similar warranty request and push back on the "it's normal" diagnosis, which doesn't seem right. At this point, there aren't many Echelon bike owners (owners of different models) visiting this thread, confirming that the sound we hear is normal for all Echelon bikes.

I paid full price at Costco ($999) in December and then got a price match when the bike was discounted by $200 one month later. So, I am in the same situation about another potential return: Getting a full refund and then needing to pay more to bring home a new bike from Costco, if I choose to do so at some point in the future--which I really hope I won't need to do!

Keep us posted, okay?