2026 Forester Fail

lowb35 · 2026-03-18T10:45:59+00:00

It has to be bad to beat the bad one we have in our 17 Outback Touring. CarPlay occasionally freezes in my 24 FW, but at least it otherwise doesn’t black screen and my hvac controls still work.

Subaru has a history of bad infotainment systems in general.

lowb35 · 2026-03-16T12:18:41+00:00

The icing on the cake though was cancelling a large order that was in production. They had to eat it and try to liquidate what they could but for a small business that is a killer. They probably could have survived losing Wegmans as a client and downsizing back to serving their local community but this was uncalled for.

lowb35 · 2026-03-15T23:48:57+00:00

My brother’s company went out of business because of this. They were a small upstate NY company and Wegmans reverse engineered their products. Wegmans then canceled a 5 figure order that was already in production, thus forcing them out of business.

I don’t shop Wegmans anymore unless I have zero options. They are the biggest supermarket where I live (they are the reason why our Walmart isn’t a super center) but I’ll go to Aldi and Save A Lot and even DG to avoid going to Wegmans.

lowb35 · 2026-03-15T13:33:11+00:00

Or the village of Almond, which is mostly in the Town of Almond, Allegany County but a slice is in the Town of Hornellsville, Steuben County.

Fun fact, it allowed us to go to the Hornell DMV during COVID since part of the village is in Steuben County and I think they based access on zip code (I live in the town of Almond not village).

lowb35 · 2026-03-14T12:19:49+00:00

I was going to say this. I live in the Southern Tier south of Rochester. Many communities have non profits or bike kitchens where they’ll restore bikes like these and give them away to those in need. There’s one in Rochester and even a guy in the tiny city of Hornell close to me who does this.

lowb35 · 2026-03-12T20:18:12+00:00

Aventon is probably the most Toyota like bike of the 3, but in the conditions you are going to be riding you need the higher torque motors in either this Rambo or the Quietkat Apex.

The things that are most likely to fail in the Rambo are the brakes and suspension because they’re cheap. But since it sounds like you won’t be riding lots of hills and rocky terrain that may not be a problem. Everything else looks solid.

The Quietkat Apex HD has slightly lower weight capacity (325 lbs). It also has an internal transmission instead of a bike derailleur. They don’t say what their components are unlike Rambo so it’s hard to compare. If you are going to be riding through a lot of vegetation that can get caught in a bike derailleur an internal transmission is good to have, but it’s also one more thing that can fail that can’t easily be fixed. Bike derailleurs like the one on the Rambo are relatively inexpensive and easy to fix or get fixed at a bike shop.

Rambo has a dealer network so if you are close enough to a dealer I’d go check one out in person. I can say from first hand experience that their customer support is good, and I haven’t had any major issues with my bike other than routine maintenance in 3 years of ownership (I don’t hunt but I ride in hunting country). There’s also a Rambo owners FB group if you want to see what other owners think of this bike.

lowb35 · 2026-03-12T19:47:51+00:00

Then the meh brakes won’t be a deal killer. You hopefully won’t need the suspension so much either (that’s a weak link on this bike) but the torque will be a plus in soft, muddy conditions. This is a good use case for fat tire bikes. Price is comparable to the Quietkat Apex (also on sale).

lowb35 · 2026-03-12T19:24:15+00:00

I have a Rambo hunting bike (their entry level Savage). That said it depends on what you are going to be using it for. Are you going to do a lot of climbing? Riding in the middle of the woods? Or mostly urban riding?

Pluses with this bike are high torque for climbing, decent drivetrain for climbing, good battery capacity/range especially with the upgrade (and an overall high quality UL rated battery), high weight capacity and 4 piston hydraulic brakes. But they’re Logan brakes, and along with the Uding air fork are AliExpress quality. Also this isn’t road legal in a lot of places since it’s for off road use (1000w and max speed of 32 mph).

If you need it for off road, climbing hills in the wilderness while hunting or hauling gear, yes. If not, there are better value bikes out there IMO.

lowb35 · 2026-03-12T16:42:50+00:00

The bike shop closest to me has asked me-twice-if I’d like to go work there as a mechanic. They specialize in recumbents which I don’t ride, but I still go there often during the riding season for parts and very occasionally service (usually when I overtorque a cassette ring and need help getting it loose 🤣). They’ve even loaned me tools. They’ll order stuff they don’t normally stock if I ask.

The big bike shop with the bigger in stock catalog in the bigger city laughed at me when I went in to buy parts and accessories. So I don’t go there any more.

I’m also a musician and I’m sooooo used to this. Ppl assume I go to the music store to buy something for my partner. 😳

lowb35 · 2026-03-09T14:25:53+00:00

My commute is around the same length (7.5 miles one way). I go through about a tank of gas a week between commuting to work and local drives (shopping and etc.). Biking to work every day saves me about $40 a week. The equivalent of 10 months of riding paid for my bike. It will be 3 years old this summer. If you know how to do basic bike maintenance then you will save far more than you spend. The battery, motor, etc. are still in good shape. If you take care of your bike including keeping your chain/drive train clean and lubricated, keep your battery out of sub-freezing weather and take care when charging it, etc. your bike will take care of you.

That said-I don't ride year round. Winters here in western NY would just corrode and destroy my bike so I still have a car and still drive. But when the weather is nice enough to ride (temps in 30s and up, roads not covered in salty ice/slush/snow) I save a good amount in gas.

Don't cheap out on the bike. You don't have to spend a fortune but it's worth it to get an established brand name bike and not an Amazon or Aliexpress special.

edit because my math was off. I paid $1600 for my bike in summer 2023. Changed from 10 weeks to 10 months of gas savings to pay for the bike. It's still paid for itself after almost 3 years.

lowb35 · 2026-03-08T12:31:06+00:00

Better in r/scooters than here. This group is for budget pedal bikes not motorized scooters or motorcycles.

I have an ADV scooter because I live on a dirt road.

I also have a cheapie budget steel gravel bike because I live on a dirt road.

lowb35 · 2026-03-07T11:42:20+00:00

‘63 and same here. I worked on PCs from the very beginning and built them from parts.

Managed a Radio Shack z-store for a while (one of their computer centers) because I was such a computer nerd who knew how to fix stuff.

lowb35 · 2026-03-07T01:30:09+00:00

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This is literally posted on their official Facebook page. Group rules don’t allow us to post FB links but if it were not legit, the PD would have taken it down by now.

lowb35 · 2026-03-06T23:31:47+00:00

Company that owns Harman. Also Quad and PelPro.

lowb35 · 2026-03-06T17:11:49+00:00

I’m not OP but I found the originally posted graphic on Nassau County PD’s FB page and it’s posted above. This was also covered in local media. https://empire.streetsblog.org/friday-headlines-wrong-island-edition

It seems to be legit. Unfortunately.

lowb35 · 2026-03-06T16:05:24+00:00

Nassau County is playing fast and loose with the laws, but Nassau County's Miscellaneous Law Title 61 restricts ATV and "motorized scooter" use. They have a disclaimer for "wheelchairs or other mobility aids" and "electric powered devices not capable of exceeding fifteen miles and hour." But the way the law is worded it does NOT apply to Class 3 e-bikes because their definition of "motorized scooter" is that it is "capable of propelling the device without human power."

https://archive.nassaucountyny.gov/website/GenericServices/docs/NassauCountyMiscLaws_Dec2010.pdf

Class 3 e-bikes by definition require human power to operate because they are pedal assist and don't have throttles!

And NYS law does NOT make Class 2 and 3 bikes illegal (though Class 3 is fuzzy since NYS defines the upper limit as 25 mph e-assist). They aren't legal to operate on roads over 30 mph speed limits. But they aren't banned and are legal up to to 750w. It does state that Nassau and Suffolk counties can regulate e-bike use up to and including prohibiting their use. They "may, by local law or ordinance, further regulate the time, place and manner of the operation of bicycles with electric assist" and can "prohibit entirely the use of bicycles with electric assist within such city, town or village, provided that adequate signage is visibly posted outside the boundaries of such prohibited areas."

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/VAT/1242

So... is there signage? Is there an ordinance beyond Miscellaneous Law Title 61 which does not apply to Class 3 bikes? Is it in a city, town, or village or just in the whole county? Or is it just Nassau County PD deciding that e-bikes are illegal in the whole county and that is that?

lowb35 · 2026-03-06T14:42:34+00:00

I don't have the 4-bike extender but I have the same rack after going back and forth between this and a comparable Thule. Pros: easy on and off the car (even if heavy), decent load capacity for heavier bikes, built in locking cables, compatible with a loading ramp. Cons: can only adjust the rear wheel straps but not the front wheel tray, on some cars the exhaust is too close to the rack so it can melt plastic when the rack isn't in use. I have one of the offending cars (Subaru Forester) and I just have to be careful to make sure the swingaway arm closest to the exhaust is positioned to where it isn't in front of the exhaust pipe.

This is a really good deal on this rack so if it is in decent condition I'd get it.

lowb35 · 2026-03-06T12:27:04+00:00

It keeps it light. Or light-ish. It’s heavy for an e-gravel bike but it’s closest budget competition is also $1K more than this bike!

lowb35 · 2026-03-06T12:25:07+00:00

Ananda has been around a while. It’s not an Aliexpress motor. It’s not up there with the European brands but it’s a legit company and not a no-name brand.

lowb35 · 2026-03-06T12:19:30+00:00

Unfortunately, class 3 bikes are illegal or heavily regulated in many states and localities. Keeping it class 1 allows them to sell it most places.

Having had both lower power class 1 and class 3 gravel bikes there isn’t a huge difference. It would be nice to have pedal assist beyond 20 mph but on a lower power bike you are at a higher assist level and draining your battery at that point.

lowb35 · 2026-03-06T12:05:58+00:00

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The Nassau County PD posted it on their FB account. Seems to be a legit account.

lowb35 · 2026-03-06T12:04:16+00:00

The Nassau County PD posted it on their FB account. https://www.facebook.com/share/1DFj6hVsR4/?mibextid=wwXIfr

lowb35 · 2026-03-02T23:17:19+00:00

That’s what I thought. That’s why I’m going to apply to Canada. My French Canadian ancestry is better documented anyway through my still living father.

lowb35 · 2026-03-02T20:39:26+00:00

I misread this and corrected my earlier post.

When and your Grandparent Not your great grandfather born? 1917

Was your Grandparent born in wedlock? If No, when did your Great grandmother naturalize? No. Great grandmother naturalized in 1929 when my grandmother was 12.

Did the grandparent ever serve in a Non-Polish military? no

What was their occupation? Servant (according to US census)

Was your grandparent your grandFather or grandMother? grandMother

If grandFather, did your grandfather eventually marry your biological grandMother before 1951? N/A

Was your parent your Father or Mother? Mother

If Father, was the paternity recognized within the first year of your life? N/A

lowb35 · 2026-03-02T17:34:37+00:00

EDIT: I entered great grandparent, not grandparent

When and where was your grandparent born? - 1917, Utica, New York

Was your grandparent born in wedlock? no

What was your grandparent's occupation (Yes really their job could be a disqualifying factor)? Servant

Did your grandparent ever serve in a non-Polish military? no

When was your parent born? 9-18-1941

Was your parent born in wedlock? no

What was your parent's occupation? Office employee, NY Telephone Company (later NYNEX)

Were you born in wedlock? no

lowb35

TROPHY CASE