Best electric bike for day to day use low budget

[OctaneV8]

Low budget, as in sub- £1k?

Happy to spend a bit more if worth the premium,

have been keen to build my own using an old hard tail but not had the time,

would a second-hand haibike (hardseven? or similar) fit the bill,

or is there a brand-new cheaper bike that would do, heybike ec1?

currently I cycle to get grocery shopping say 1-2 times per week, it's less than 3 miles, but there are opportunities to avoid using the car also if I had a comfortable electric bike for say 5-10 mile trips.

I love cycling but always wanted to try an e bike,

in the summer I go to the local trails on my old whyte hardtail, perhaps there is an e-bike that could do both


thanks

[1175Mk1]

convert your existing hard tail?

[PushedDover]

2nd hand would be my recommendation - or I think Decathlon have a well liked range-

for a little over budget, a new bike: https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/long-distance-500-el...


or even less? https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/smart-electric-city-...

[croyde]

Mate of mine has a Woosh bike, loves it.

I'm tempted by their cheapest model at £699 with the battery in the down pipe (if that's what it's called). Only a little battery but it might tempt me to actually cycle.

Their bigger models with detachable batteries are just over a grand.

Borrowed my mate's, its tough and comes with mud guards and a decent rack on the back.

[ChocolateFrog]

Definitely second hand. There's lots around with no more than a handful of miles.

Plenty of £3k rrp bikes that stand the owner at maybe £1200 because they bought an already discounted bike through a cycle to work scheme and then realised that they just didn't use it.

[Pickled Piper]

Have a look at the Fiido C21 and Tenways. Both are getting good reviews and available for £999 new.

[OctaneV8]

Thanks for your replies,

I'm quite keen on the Decathlon Rockrider EST 900 second hand, I know it's a rockrider at the end of the day, but heard the brose motor is good quality and plenty of power, and I've got a "btwin" hybrid bike for my daily use, had it for years and it's been a great base to fit out with upgraded wheels, tyres etc.

other bikes that have caught my attention:


cube hybrid pro 500/ 625,
trek powerfly,

specialized levo sl (but seems to be above budget)

are there any other off the shelf e bikes with motor torque > 80nm for up to £1500

Edited by OctaneV8 on Thursday 21st August 07:47

[durbster]

OctaneV8 said:

other bikes that have caught my attention:


cube hybrid pro 500/ 625,

I got a Cube Hybrid Touring 500 through a bike to work scheme that I've been using for a couple of months now. I'm really happy with it. I got it for a 7.5 mile each-way commute and it's spot on for that, and if I can keep it going for a few years should pay for itself in cost savings.

It's quick off the line so you can pull away from cars at the lights, so you're not obsessing over momentum which takes a lot of the stress out of city riding. Plus it cruises comfortably at 16mph so I often breeze (sheepishly) past the "proper" cyclists, but not arrive at work drenched in sweat.

I think all the motors are pretty much the same in all of them at the same torque, so that's probably true of all them and it's more about the spec of bike.

[OctaneV8]

thank you, I've had a cube attain sl disc for a few years before and really liked the look and quality of it, I'll have a look at more second hand cube e bikes

[ian996]

croyde said:

....in the down pipe (if that's what it's called.

More conventionally known as down tube, but down pipe probably quite appropriate for 1970's & 80's entry level bikes, which were rumoured to be built with "gas pipe tubing" due to their immense weight.

[ian996]

ian996 said:

croyde said:

....in the down pipe (if that's what it's called.

More conventionally known as down tube, but down pipe probably quite appropriate for 1970's & 80's entry level bikes, which were rumoured to be built with "gas pipe tubing" due to their immense weight.

On a possibly more constructive note, I have used one of the Geeko ebike conversion kits to create a winter ebike







Uses good quality battery cells and a decent ce marked charger. For 600 quid I've been pretty pleased with it. The only downside is the power can be a bit slow to kick in when you have been descending at speed then hit a rise.

[PushedDover]

durbster said:

OctaneV8 said:

other bikes that have caught my attention:


cube hybrid pro 500/ 625,

I got a Cube Hybrid Touring 500 through a bike to work scheme that I've been using for a couple of months now. I'm really happy with it. I got it for a 7.5 mile each-way commute and it's spot on for that, and if I can keep it going for a few years should pay for itself in cost savings.

It's quick off the line so you can pull away from cars at the lights, so you're not obsessing over momentum which takes a lot of the stress out of city riding. Plus it cruises comfortably at 16mph so I often breeze (sheepishly) past the "proper" cyclists, but not arrive at work drenched in sweat.

I think all the motors are pretty much the same in all of them at the same torque, so that's probably true of all them and it's more about the spec of bike.

same - some Cube Hybrid Pro's here.
Maybe not the cool and smart - but do what they say on the tin. Solid

[croyde]

Interesting thread as I gave my old Giant to my son last week and although it has sat in the garage for over 2 years, owned over a decade, I now miss it.

Have looked at the various sub £1000 bikes mentioned here and I do like the simplicity of the single speed ones. I had a Specialized Langster a long time ago.

My worry is battery longevity.

Taking the Pure as an example, many reviews talk of the battery performance dropping dramatically only a few months after buying new.

So I'd be worried that the bikes with integral power would just be heavy scrap after a while.

Maybe I shouldn't be a wuss and buy an actual human powered bicycle

[SwissJonese]

Wifey cycles to work daily. We used to have an amazon el-cheapo Hyper ebike. Worked brilliantly for 3+ years, but ergonomics was really bad.

So before Chain Reaction went bust we picked up a Buzz Bike (was a rental in London?) but they also went bust. However the bike is excellent, integrated front and rear lights, belt driven, 2 gears in the rear hub, disc brakes and panniers. She has ridden it for last 2 years in all conditions, zero issues, zero maintenance (the beauty of belt drive).

There is one for sale Buzz Bike Ebay

[PushedDover]

croyde said:

My worry is battery longevity.

My Cube / Bosch / 500W battery has been used 3 times a week for 5 years, I would guess 6,000 miles +
Not noticed any difference in the battery

[Alickadoo]

e-bikes direct in Robertsbridge, near Bodiam castle.

[ian996]

croyde said:

Interesting thread as I gave my old Giant to my son last week and although it has sat in the garage for over 2 years, owned over a decade, I now miss it.

Have looked at the various sub £1000 bikes mentioned here and I do like the simplicity of the single speed ones. I had a Specialized Langster a long time ago.

My worry is battery longevity.

Taking the Pure as an example, many reviews talk of the battery performance dropping dramatically only a few months after buying new.

So I'd be worried that the bikes with integral power would just be heavy scrap after a while.

Maybe I shouldn't be a wuss and buy an actual human powered bicycle

I know it's only anecdotal, but I bought my Ribble SLE as an ex-dem model in Feb 2021 (with an activation date of 31Mar2019). I'm sure there has been some battery degredation, but it really has been minor. I tend to use a similar percentage of charge every time I ride the same routes, and if it has dropped it's only been a couple of per cent over the four and a half years I've had it.

That said, I'm a real battery-nerd and always optimise storage charge levels and never leave it at 100% (I pretty much head off out the door as soon as it is fully charged). The bike also lives inside, so is not exposed to long periods of low temp.

I believe that, if you leave a battery at low charge unused in near zero temps, it will degrade signifiantly and quickly. (which is obviously a diadvantage with integral batteries if you have to leave the bike outside).