Electric bicycles - who buys them?

[Barchettaman]

Mrs B is loving hers.

8 mins lopped off the commute to work, 15 mins faster back.

The bike is more comfortable as the position is more upright. I had set up her hybrid quite agressively so she could get a move on.

She loves not having to wear lycra & bring a change of clothes to work.

Not arriving sweaty is also appreciated.

[Mykap]

I've just bought one and I'm well impressed. I wanted a bike for short trips to the supermarket to avoid using the car for a 3km journey when all you need is milk or bread. We live in the hills, I'm 59 and fairly fit but didn't fancy the 1 in 5 hill to our urbanisation and the long steady rise leading to it.

This is the hill



The last time I owned and rode a bike regularly was in 1973 - my beloved Sun Snipe racer.

After a lot of research I decided on an NCM Milano, it comes with a 48V battery, 250W motor and is fully equipped out of the box with lights pannier rack etc. Delivered 3 days ahead of target.



Brilliant fun, handles the hill with me and a bottle of Jim Beam with ease! Suddenly the Arenal bars are accessible without the need for taxis etc. In the first day of ownership I've already done 32Km. Its opened up new possibilities and the next stage is to get the wife one. Most fun purchase in a while

[Cupramax]

Excellent, is that Arenal, Mallorca? Trying to work out where those pics are, don’t recognise it.

[funinhounslow]

Mykap said:

Its opened up new possibilities ...Most fun purchase in a while

These are the crucial points, when you get on an ebike they just make perfect sense, and the inevitable "cheating" comments don't merit a response.

Yesterday I clocked up 1,000 miles on my ebike. I absolutely would not be without one now. I also have a CX but for errands and darting around town the gocycle is just a far better option...

[Mykap]

Mykap said:

It's the Arenal in Javea Spain.

[Cupramax]

Ah, didn’t think it looked like anywhere I recognised.

[Gee68]

andy kirby said:

Believe that's why each post has a title so you no what people are talking about. Also they are pedal assist bikes.

My bike by the way

Had a demo on one of these at the weekend(after i'd done 20 odd miles on my hardtail) and i've got to say it's the best fun i've had on an MTB in years.
Instead of looking at a trail and weighing up whether you can be arsed to do it you actively search them out.
They're very heavy but very stable,massive tyres so mud and sand no problem.

Been on the phone to the bike shop this morning to organise a full day demo and one of these is definitely going to be on the Christmas list.

[Sa Calobra]

Barchettaman said:

A good article about whether e-bikes are 'cheating':

http://ebiketips.road.cc/content/advice/advice/are...

Brought to you by a ebike website

[EazyDuz]

RizzoTheRat said:

Dropped in to a local e-bike shop today, as I tempted to get one to commute on.

I really liked the KTM Cross 9, but am torn between the standard 250W motor powered A4, and the CX4 version which has the bigger motor, nicer bars and the fancier computer, but is £200 more.

I thought 250w is the legal limit

[RizzoTheRat]

A valid point, well made. Looks like I misunderstood.

It seems they're both 250W, but the CX is 75N compared to the A4's 40NM. Interestingly the A4 has a conventional looking front chain ring that turns with the pedals, while the CX has a smaller chain ring that is geared so it turns at a different speed to the crank. I wonder if that means they're using a higher torque lower speed motor to keep the motor power in limits, and then gearing it higher to end up with a more power at the wheel?

Bosch also do a 350W motor that they say does 45kph, dunno where they sell that though.

[anonymous-user]

£100k subsidy scheme in guernsey was used up in less than a month - 366 e bikes bought

https://www.bikebiz.com/.amp/news/bike-subsidy-end...

[Barchettaman]

RizzoTheRat said:

Bosch also do a 350W motor that they say does 45kph, dunno where they sell that though.

So-called ´speed pedelecs´ are sold here in DE, basically anything above 250W requires registration plates, insurance and (I think) moped training. The way round this is to plug in a module to the 250W motor to disable the speed sensor and prevent assistance cutting out at 26kmh. Loads of companies offer this.

Even the standard 250W motor feels like it would pull well beyond 26kmh, I would imagine 40kmh would be easily attainable on the flat.

[Barchettaman]

Sa Calobra said:

Barchettaman said:

A good article about whether e-bikes are 'cheating':

http://ebiketips.road.cc/content/advice/advice/are...

Brought to you by a ebike website

Any thoughts on the article itself?

[EazyDuz]

Well ive just sold my Ebike pictured earlier, going to a nice elderly lady for bumbling about down canal paths near her new house up north. Wonderful stuff

[Dog Star]

I was out on my (motor)bike yesterday and there was an old (72) geezer admiring my bike, got talking to him and he was on his KTM E-MTB. He very kindly let me have a go on it. Fatal! I was sold on it in about 20 seconds flat; absolutely bloody amazing. I coulldn't believe how it just flew up steep stuff.

So this morning I put in an order for a pair of these for me and Mrs DS.....



That's our holiday in Bavaria sorted then

[superlightr]

Dog Star said:

I was out on my (motor)bike yesterday and there was an old (72) geezer admiring my bike, got talking to him and he was on his KTM E-MTB. He very kindly let me have a go on it. Fatal! I was sold on it in about 20 seconds flat; absolutely bloody amazing. I coulldn't believe how it just flew up steep stuff.

So this morning I put in an order for a pair of these for me and Mrs DS.....



That's our holiday in Bavaria sorted then

its quite an enlightening moment isn't it !!! Bike looks ace.

[HardtopManual]

Cupramax said:

It’s jealousy, nothing more or less.

How is it jealousy? It is very easy to spend as much on a half-decent road bike or mountain bike as it is on an eBike.

I'd much rather share my commute with people on eBikes than people in cars. I still wouldn't have one as it would remove most of the fitness benefits of cycling to work and, yes, I'd feel lazy.

[Hoofy]

HardtopManual said:

Cupramax said:

It’s jealousy, nothing more or less.

How is it jealousy? It is very easy to spend as much on a half-decent road bike or mountain bike as it is on an eBike.

I'd much rather share my commute with people on eBikes than people in cars. I still wouldn't have one as it would remove most of the fitness benefits of cycling to work and, yes, I'd feel lazy.

Pfff. Cycle to work? Lazy bastid. I inchworm into work every morning*.














* - home office.

[LeadFarmer]

HardtopManual said:

I still wouldn't have one as it would remove most of the fitness benefits of cycling to work and, yes, I'd feel lazy.

This is exactly what I don't understand when normal cyclist say this, Ebikes don't remove most of the fitness benefits as you can still choose to use the same amount of energy but you just get there quicker, or cover more distance for the same energy used. And have more fun.

[stuckmojo]

well, st, Haibike Sduro with Yamaha motor on its way. I decided to not do trail riding anymore on the KTM and use it exclusively on an MX track. I have tried another E-Bike yesterday and was blown away. I can see myself trailing Kielder Forrest on a weekly basis now