Electric Bikes

[Vespid]

Anyone into them?

Is the market growing in the UK? Apparently they're getting very popular in continental Europe.

I'm thinking of getting a conversion kit for my hybrid just because I like fiddling with stuff and I love gadgets.

[Gizmoish]

Good if you're lazy/unfit but want to cycle rather than using a car.
Pointless once you actually get into cycling because you'll want to go further than the charge lasts, and the weight penalty is considerable.

But a kit that would be removable... Actually, that's an interesting idea.

[1]

Some pretty good options coming in at sub 20kg with 25km range now. So you wouldn't really notice the weight difference and he range depends how much you use it.

I'm looking at one myself to get into central London on. I would be much more inclined to use the bike if I knew I had a bit of assistance when I needed it.

I was looking at Haibikes range of mountain bikes.

[Mr Will]

1 said:

Some pretty good options coming in at sub 20kg with 25km range now. So you wouldn't really notice the weight difference and he range depends how much you use it.

I'm looking at one myself to get into central London on. I would be much more inclined to use the bike if I knew I had a bit of assistance when I needed it.

I was looking at Haibikes range of mountain bikes.

Spend the same amount of money on a decent bike and you won't need the assistance. Ever.

[yellowjack]

They are a good idea for a certain type of riding, I think. I used to work in Essex, and a number of times I was out for an evening ride when I would be passed by a city type, in a suit and heavy overcoat, briefcase strapped to the rear rack. Uphill. I would be sweating and gurning, at <10mph, he would sail past at about 15mph, and not have a dab on. I would always catch him and pass him on the flat section through Debden village, and the downhill that followed.

One time, I took a closer look and noticed the battery, and the hub motor, so I asked him about it. Turns out that he was a regular cyclist, with road and mountain bikes, but this 'electric assist' bike was his 'home to station, station to work' bike. He selected a percentage of assistance, 25, 50, 75, 100, 150 or 200%. Whatever effort he put in, the bike would multiply it by the percentage selected and assist him, up to a limited 15mph, I seem to remember. He could go faster than that, but it would have to be all down to him. He said the main reason for buying the bike was to save the need for using the car, and paying for station parking, yet still being able to wear his suit on the commute, as work didn't have shower facilities. The assistance was used to reduce the need to work hard on hills, thereby reducing his propensity to overheat and sweat.

Electric bikes are just not for me, right now, but any bike that gets more cyclists out on the roads is a good thing, and who knows, if the effort gets too much in my later years, I wouldn't rule out buying one in order to stay mobile on two wheels that little bit longer.

[Laurel Green]

There's a couple of threads on this subject Here
and Here

Mind, as said above, best go with a good bike rather than a heavy battery powered one.

[anonymous-user]

Quite a good range at decathlon sports & getting more popular as you say. Cycling is not a sport or a hobby to most people, just a convenient way to get about, as on the continent. Their popularity is bound to increase, which can only be a good thing if it cuts down on car journeys etc

[Gizmoish]

Jimboka said:

can only be a good thing if it cuts down on car journeys etc

This is it for me. Which would I rather have - people riding pedelecs, or people using cars for short trips? Bike every time.

Although I'm not sure I'd want to leave a £2k e-bike locked outside Sainsburys - charming Irish-accented heather-selling folk will work out that the batteries are valuable and easily removable pretty quickly.

[anonymous-user]

Also, in the Uk at least, riding a bike but not actually exerting oneself isn't too fun. You get very cold and wet very quickly!

[Vespid]

Gizmoish said:

This is it for me. Which would I rather have - people riding pedelecs, or people using cars for short trips? Bike every time.

Although I'm not sure I'd want to leave a £2k e-bike locked outside Sainsburys - charming Irish-accented heather-selling folk will work out that the batteries are valuable and easily removable pretty quickly.

Good point but they do have batteries that lock in place and there are many bikes a lot less than £2k.

£399 from Tesco Direct



£599 from Woosh bikes



£699 from Cyclotricity



£699 from Woosh bikes

[Laurel Green]

Before deciding which bike to go for, decide how many miles you need to travel. You'll find the further you need to travel, the further the price will travel up the scale!
Mine(Oxygen City E-Mate)does around 60/70 miles on a charge with battery assist; 30 on throttle only. Though I usually get around the 160 mile range as I mostly cycle above where the motor cuts out(15MPH).

[Vespid]

Laurel Green said:

Before deciding which bike to go for, decide how many miles you need to travel. You'll find the further you need to travel, the further the price will travel up the scale!
Mine(Oxygen City E-Mate)does around 60/70 miles on a charge with battery assist; 30 on throttle only. Though I usually get around the 160 mile range as I mostly cycle above where the motor cuts out(15MPH).

I have been looking at conversion kits and I'm very impressed with the Oxygen Oxydrive kit.

Although it's more expensive than most kits it seems to be very well made.

This guy reviews one here, he gets 20mph and a 36 mile range from his, fitted with a 36v 9Ah battery, he said it also freewheels very well.

http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/electric-bicycles/...

Edited by Vespid on Saturday 27th October 14:33

[yellowjack]

Vespid said:

I have been looking at conversion kits and I'm very impressed with the Oxygen Oxydrive kit.

Although it's more expensive than most kits it seems to be very well made.

This guy reviews one here, he gets 20mph and a 36 mile range from his, fitted with a 36v 9Ah battery, he said it also freewheels very well.

http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/electric-bicycles/...

Edited by Vespid on Saturday 27th October 14:33

That looks like the 'leccy hub is on the front wheel? Does that make it the Cube Analog AWD? That should be ace off road

[DrMekon]

I have an electric trike. Twin motor, 17.4Ah rack mounted li-ion battery. Range is fine for my needs, and it's a big help on the hills. Will happily cruise at 15mph on the flat loaded up as in the picture.

I know where there is a custom bike that'll do 40mph. Not sure of the specs, but it's built around a GT full sus frame. I've seen it keeping up with rush hour traffic on the A603. I think he said it's 1400w. My advice would be wait for the legislation to change. The technology is way ahead of what is allowed currently.

BTW, for people who aren't very fit, they are a really good gateway to increasing physical activity - paper just published - http://www.hubmed.org/display.cgi?uids=23085705

[Vespid]

yellowjack said:

Vespid said:

I have been looking at conversion kits and I'm very impressed with the Oxygen Oxydrive kit.

Although it's more expensive than most kits it seems to be very well made.

This guy reviews one here, he gets 20mph and a 36 mile range from his, fitted with a 36v 9Ah battery, he said it also freewheels very well.

http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/electric-bicycles/...

Edited by Vespid on Saturday 27th October 14:33

That looks like the 'leccy hub is on the front wheel? Does that make it the Cube Analog AWD? That should be ace off road

The motor is indeed fitted to the front hub, there is a third option of crank-driven motors, like this Kalkhoff:



So yes, I guess bikes with front hub motors are AWD.

If you think that Cube would be good off-road, check out the Xipi Ghost, a motor on each wheel!

Xipi claim 38+ MPH, off-road use only unless you put a numberplate on it.

[Vespid]

DrMekon said:

I have an electric trike. Twin motor, 17.4Ah rack mounted li-ion battery. Range is fine for my needs, and it's a big help on the hills. Will happily cruise at 15mph on the flat loaded up as in the picture.

Fantastic!

[Fishtigua]

I've used a 24speed PowaByke for the last 7 years for my 5 mile commute to work. I live on a long coast road that has 30mph headwinds quite often. It gets hammered with salt and rain, being front wheel drive it's not bad in the snow either, and has never let me down. I'll never be without a leccy bike again. Brilliant.

http://www.powabyke.com/

[yellowjack]

I can't put my finger on exactly why, but I feel that this is the best looking of all the bikes on this thread so far.

[Laurel Green]

yellowjack said:

I can't put my finger on exactly why, but I feel that this is the best looking of all the bikes on this thread so far.

I have been pondering this and, have come to the conclusion it must be that stylishly sculpted luggage rack.

[yellowjack]

Laurel Green said:

yellowjack said:

I can't put my finger on exactly why, but I feel that this is the best looking of all the bikes on this thread so far.

I have been pondering this and, have come to the conclusion it must be that stylishly sculpted luggage rack.

You could be right. That is a very nice rack. Maybe I could get an aftermarket version, and fit it to a tandem?