Electric bicycles - who buys them?
Discussion
Sorry guys I can see I’ve sparked an argument here.
This is NOT required as a ‘mountain’ bike. It will NOT be going anywhere near any hills lol. It’s just a bike to muck around on and more importantly he’s just starting sixth form and so he’ll be coming and going’ from school a lot during his non lesson times. It’s a 3 mile journey and he just ‘fancies’ an ebike.
Nothing serious is needed. I am concerned about these safety concerns that a couple of you have mentioned so will do a bit of research on that before making any decisions (might look at the decathlon ones too). He doesn’t need full suspension, he just likes the look of this one and having the battery built into the frame looks better.
This is NOT required as a ‘mountain’ bike. It will NOT be going anywhere near any hills lol. It’s just a bike to muck around on and more importantly he’s just starting sixth form and so he’ll be coming and going’ from school a lot during his non lesson times. It’s a 3 mile journey and he just ‘fancies’ an ebike.
Nothing serious is needed. I am concerned about these safety concerns that a couple of you have mentioned so will do a bit of research on that before making any decisions (might look at the decathlon ones too). He doesn’t need full suspension, he just likes the look of this one and having the battery built into the frame looks better.
bobbo89 said:
monthou said:
I have a 20 year old at home who would disagree with you re the vengeance. But then he's a casual cyclist, not a serious mountain biker.
If it suits his needs then fair enough but I don't see that as a proper mountain bike, it's a commuter made to look like a mountain bike. They've even welded aluminium sections to the downtube near the BB to make it look like a mid-drive bike rather than the hub-drive bike that it is. Read what I wrote about it. You're agreeing with me.
Tell me which bit you think is wrong.
audi321 said:
Sorry guys I can see I’ve sparked an argument here.
This is NOT required as a ‘mountain’ bike. It will NOT be going anywhere near any hills lol. It’s just a bike to muck around on and more importantly he’s just starting sixth form and so he’ll be coming and going’ from school a lot during his non lesson times. It’s a 3 mile journey and he just ‘fancies’ an ebike.
Nothing serious is needed. I am concerned about these safety concerns that a couple of you have mentioned so will do a bit of research on that before making any decisions (might look at the decathlon ones too). He doesn’t need full suspension, he just likes the look of this one and having the battery built into the frame looks better.
No need to apologise, you asked a reasonable question. This is NOT required as a ‘mountain’ bike. It will NOT be going anywhere near any hills lol. It’s just a bike to muck around on and more importantly he’s just starting sixth form and so he’ll be coming and going’ from school a lot during his non lesson times. It’s a 3 mile journey and he just ‘fancies’ an ebike.
Nothing serious is needed. I am concerned about these safety concerns that a couple of you have mentioned so will do a bit of research on that before making any decisions (might look at the decathlon ones too). He doesn’t need full suspension, he just likes the look of this one and having the battery built into the frame looks better.
If it's just a commutey kind of bike you need you can get much better quality kit by focussing on just that and so something like monthou suggested is what you want to be looking at.
bobbo89 said:
monthou said:
It's an e-bike.
Read what I wrote about it. You're agreeing with me.
Tell me which bit you think is wrong.
Is it a full suspension eeb and is your 20 year old a teenager? Read what I wrote about it. You're agreeing with me.
Tell me which bit you think is wrong.
And he was 18 a couple of years ago when the bike was bought.
HoHoHo said:
I managed 64 miles this morning on my new Creo Turbo Comp SL 5E (had it for a week and got 200 miles on it so far) and it’s a great machine and Specialized really have it together. There was one point whilst riding for some time along the coast I didn’t realise it was off and I was simply ‘cycling’ unaided.
However the most amazing thing this does is allow me to ride long distances with no range anxiety and when hills appear I simply press the plus button, perhaps go into Trail or Turbo and up I go. I’ve got the range extender and after 64 miles, 2700ft climbing and an average speed of 15mph I still had 80% of battery left (you start with 150%). This gives the bike a range of about 140 miles or so and more if the conditions are ideal.
Anyone who suggests these make cycling a doddle and it’s cheating should try one, you’re still working out to the point where I lost 3.5lbs this morning and my legs are shot to be honest (I have a damaged in one knee which doesn’t help).
They are a brilliant piece of technology and they’re only going to get better.
Good review that, it was similar to my experience on a Scott last year and really made the ride on challenging terrain enjoyable. However the most amazing thing this does is allow me to ride long distances with no range anxiety and when hills appear I simply press the plus button, perhaps go into Trail or Turbo and up I go. I’ve got the range extender and after 64 miles, 2700ft climbing and an average speed of 15mph I still had 80% of battery left (you start with 150%). This gives the bike a range of about 140 miles or so and more if the conditions are ideal.
Anyone who suggests these make cycling a doddle and it’s cheating should try one, you’re still working out to the point where I lost 3.5lbs this morning and my legs are shot to be honest (I have a damaged in one knee which doesn’t help).
They are a brilliant piece of technology and they’re only going to get better.
bobbo89 said:
monthou said:
The only person obsessing about full suspension eMTBs is you.
And he was 18 a couple of years ago when the bike was bought.
The kind of bike and what it's used for matters massively. And he was 18 a couple of years ago when the bike was bought.
t.Where have I said anything else?
I tried to be polite in my reply to your original post. Maybe I should have been blunter.
bobbo89 said:
Be more blunt then. I'm not sure what your point is....
Okay.bobbo89 said:
In that price range e-bikes aren't an option, you'll get the worst of everything with some components genuinely being dangerous.
You need to be spending £2k+ to get something that's safe and usable. If £800 is your max budget then you're not going to get anything worth buying.
This is a load of uninformed scaremongering bYou need to be spending £2k+ to get something that's safe and usable. If £800 is your max budget then you're not going to get anything worth buying.
ks.If you'd said you can't get a proper eMTB for less than £2K you would have a point.
But you didn't. And you kept digging.
I gave my experience and made it clear the bike I described wasn't a proper eMTB but a safe usable ebike, but that apparently wasn't valid. No teenager would be seen dead on anything costing less than a squillion quid with a Bosch motor. Apparently.
And if it costs less than £2K it's nameless chinese s
t that will spontaneously combust.Edited by monthou on Friday 24th May 21:42
Added to the discussion is who would give a 16 year old a £2k bike to go to school on. It’s gonna get bashed, scraped, kicked and possibly even nicked.
The question was, is that £800 bike ‘ok’ for £800 or is there something better which I should consider.
I seem to have both ends of the spectrum here. From it been ‘ok’ to it been ‘downright dangerous’ to even enter my garage.
It’s on Amazon with free returns so I might just buy it and see for myself. Of course I will report back my thoughts.
The question was, is that £800 bike ‘ok’ for £800 or is there something better which I should consider.
I seem to have both ends of the spectrum here. From it been ‘ok’ to it been ‘downright dangerous’ to even enter my garage.
It’s on Amazon with free returns so I might just buy it and see for myself. Of course I will report back my thoughts.
audi321 said:
Added to the discussion is who would give a 16 year old a £2k bike to go to school on. It’s gonna get bashed, scraped, kicked and possibly even nicked.
The question was, is that £800 bike ‘ok’ for £800 or is there something better which I should consider.
I seem to have both ends of the spectrum here. From it been ‘ok’ to it been ‘downright dangerous’ to even enter my garage.
It’s on Amazon with free returns so I might just buy it and see for myself. Of course I will report back my thoughts.
Maybe time to take some heat out of the discussion. Audi, you asked a reasonable question but it's emerging you've wandered into a contentious topic without a clear idea of what you need to know, That's not your fault, it's a big subject.The question was, is that £800 bike ‘ok’ for £800 or is there something better which I should consider.
I seem to have both ends of the spectrum here. From it been ‘ok’ to it been ‘downright dangerous’ to even enter my garage.
It’s on Amazon with free returns so I might just buy it and see for myself. Of course I will report back my thoughts.
Bobbo is a connosieur of mountain bikes & you asked after a mountain bike on Amazon. It happens not to be a very good bike with possible quality issues, Monthou is also right that perfectly reasonable bikes are available at lower price points, the friction is coming from how they see the specs of decent bike differently but that comes down to what you want from a bike.
If it's shredding trails, then the Amazon thing looks the part but will be awful & for commuting back & forth to college it's overkill. From what you subsequently clarified, your lad would probably suit something middle of the road like a Boardman from Halfords. The top & bottom of it is you should consider electrical safety - lots of cheap Amazon & Ali Express off brand, cheap bikes have been implicated in catastrophic fires, so it pays to buy a bike with a reputable motor & battery & after that, it comes down to aesthetics & componentry because you'll want something durable. All the major manufacturers like Specialized, Trek, Giant, Cube etc. will have bikes that suit but you would have to stretch the budget a bit but in the end you get what you pay for. On motor systems, you should consider the likes of Bosch, Shimano, Yamaha, Fazua, Specialized, Bafang & TQ.
It's a big subject, some research is worthwhile.
monthou said:
This is a load of uninformed scaremongering bks.
If you'd said you can't get a proper eMTB for less than £2K you would have a point.
But you didn't. And you kept digging.
I gave my experience and made it clear the bike I described wasn't a proper eMTB but a safe usable ebike, but that apparently wasn't valid. No teenager would be seen dead on anything costing less than a squillion quid with a Bosch motor. Apparently.
And if it costs less than £2K it's nameless chinese st that will spontaneously combust.
Come on man, its fairly obvious what point Bobbo was making, and in that context it is entirely fair. No need for the aggressive posting style here, everyone here is a bike rider and just trying to give helpful advice ks.If you'd said you can't get a proper eMTB for less than £2K you would have a point.
But you didn't. And you kept digging.
I gave my experience and made it clear the bike I described wasn't a proper eMTB but a safe usable ebike, but that apparently wasn't valid. No teenager would be seen dead on anything costing less than a squillion quid with a Bosch motor. Apparently.
And if it costs less than £2K it's nameless chinese s
t that will spontaneously combust.Edited by monthou on Friday 24th May 21:42
audi321 said:
Sorry guys I can see I’ve sparked an argument here.
This is NOT required as a ‘mountain’ bike. It will NOT be going anywhere near any hills lol. It’s just a bike to muck around on and more importantly he’s just starting sixth form and so he’ll be coming and going’ from school a lot during his non lesson times. It’s a 3 mile journey and he just ‘fancies’ an ebike.
Nothing serious is needed. I am concerned about these safety concerns that a couple of you have mentioned so will do a bit of research on that before making any decisions (might look at the decathlon ones too). He doesn’t need full suspension, he just likes the look of this one and having the battery built into the frame looks better.
Winstanleys have got a pretty good sale on at present, as have Tredz...maybe worth a look there at hybrid style bikes, that sounds like it might meet your requirements. I'm sure if you found something that caught your eye, in your price range, people would be happy to comment on it This is NOT required as a ‘mountain’ bike. It will NOT be going anywhere near any hills lol. It’s just a bike to muck around on and more importantly he’s just starting sixth form and so he’ll be coming and going’ from school a lot during his non lesson times. It’s a 3 mile journey and he just ‘fancies’ an ebike.
Nothing serious is needed. I am concerned about these safety concerns that a couple of you have mentioned so will do a bit of research on that before making any decisions (might look at the decathlon ones too). He doesn’t need full suspension, he just likes the look of this one and having the battery built into the frame looks better.
President Merkin said:
Maybe time to take some heat out of the discussion. Audi, you asked a reasonable question but it's emerging you've wandered into a contentious topic without a clear idea of what you need to know, That's not your fault, it's a big subject.
Bobbo is a connosieur of mountain bikes & you asked after a mountain bike on Amazon. It happens not to be a very good bike with possible quality issues, Monthou is also right that perfectly reasonable bikes are available at lower price points, the friction is coming from how they see the specs of decent bike differently but that comes down to what you want from a bike.
If it's shredding trails, then the Amazon thing looks the part but will be awful & for commuting back & forth to college it's overkill. From what you subsequently clarified, your lad would probably suit something middle of the road like a Boardman from Halfords. The top & bottom of it is you should consider electrical safety - lots of cheap Amazon & Ali Express off brand, cheap bikes have been implicated in catastrophic fires, so it pays to buy a bike with a reputable motor & battery & after that, it comes down to aesthetics & componentry because you'll want something durable. All the major manufacturers like Specialized, Trek, Giant, Cube etc. will have bikes that suit but you would have to stretch the budget a bit but in the end you get what you pay for. On motor systems, you should consider the likes of Bosch, Shimano, Yamaha, Fazua, Specialized, Bafang & TQ.
It's a big subject, some research is worthwhile.
Bobbo is a connosieur of mountain bikes & you asked after a mountain bike on Amazon. It happens not to be a very good bike with possible quality issues, Monthou is also right that perfectly reasonable bikes are available at lower price points, the friction is coming from how they see the specs of decent bike differently but that comes down to what you want from a bike.
If it's shredding trails, then the Amazon thing looks the part but will be awful & for commuting back & forth to college it's overkill. From what you subsequently clarified, your lad would probably suit something middle of the road like a Boardman from Halfords. The top & bottom of it is you should consider electrical safety - lots of cheap Amazon & Ali Express off brand, cheap bikes have been implicated in catastrophic fires, so it pays to buy a bike with a reputable motor & battery & after that, it comes down to aesthetics & componentry because you'll want something durable. All the major manufacturers like Specialized, Trek, Giant, Cube etc. will have bikes that suit but you would have to stretch the budget a bit but in the end you get what you pay for. On motor systems, you should consider the likes of Bosch, Shimano, Yamaha, Fazua, Specialized, Bafang & TQ.
It's a big subject, some research is worthwhile.
trails said:
monthou said:
This is a load of uninformed scaremongering bks.
If you'd said you can't get a proper eMTB for less than £2K you would have a point.
But you didn't. And you kept digging.
I gave my experience and made it clear the bike I described wasn't a proper eMTB but a safe usable ebike, but that apparently wasn't valid. No teenager would be seen dead on anything costing less than a squillion quid with a Bosch motor. Apparently.
And if it costs less than £2K it's nameless chinese st that will spontaneously combust.
Come on man, its fairly obvious what point Bobbo was making, and in that context it is entirely fair. No need for the aggressive posting style here, everyone here is a bike rider and just trying to give helpful advice ks.If you'd said you can't get a proper eMTB for less than £2K you would have a point.
But you didn't. And you kept digging.
I gave my experience and made it clear the bike I described wasn't a proper eMTB but a safe usable ebike, but that apparently wasn't valid. No teenager would be seen dead on anything costing less than a squillion quid with a Bosch motor. Apparently.
And if it costs less than £2K it's nameless chinese s
t that will spontaneously combust.Edited by monthou on Friday 24th May 21:42
I gave an example from my experience and he came back with a comment about unbranded chinese s
t and fires.Edited by monthou on Friday 24th May 23:07
monthou said:
It's not obvious when he starts by saying how dangerous anything below his chosen price point - not just the linked bike - is. That's not helpful advice.
Having read your posts on cycling threads, I'm not getting into a discussion with you about it. Just be nice, it's free and easy; this is a pro-cycling thread where people are trying to help others. I'm about finished with my pre-bedtime dump so I'll wipe my arse and wish you a good night audi321 said:
I seem to have both ends of the spectrum here. From it been ‘ok’ to it been ‘downright dangerous’ to even enter my garage.
The 'dangerous' bit is purely about thermal run-away risk with an unknown, unbranded, likely not CE marked battery. Thermal run-away is rare, but it happens, branded battery/motor systems sold by Halfords etc are any price point will have gone through some safety assessment, stuff sold on Amazon is the wild west.This video shows graphically how quickly things develop in a battery fire, eBike batteries are much smaller but at the same time, do you want this happening in your garage??
One of my Fazua battery packs just died about 12 months ago, it was only 18 months old, had 1% degradation, but I presume one of the cells became unbalanced and the BMS (battery management system) killed the pack for safety. Fazua battery packs cost £500 for just 250-300wh, the question is do you think the BMS in the £800 Amazon bike would have killed pack if it detected a bad cell, or kept charging till it burnt your garage down? Or if the BMS did kill the cell/pack, would you be able to get a replacement?
Do your own research and make a judgement call you self, we all have different risk appetites, but for the sake of few extra hundred £££, personally I would stick to branded motor/battery packs bought from well established retailers. There are plenty of eBikes avaliable from Halfords/Decathlon for under £1k.
https://youtu.be/WdDi1haA71Q?si=K4x4l9GHyTJ0rf6D
Edited by gangzoom on Saturday 25th May 05:42
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