Electric bicycles - who buys them?

[PushedDover]

LuS1fer said:

BlackG7R said:

LuS1fer said:

I narrowed it down to a Cube Reaction with the Bosch central mount motor. However, far from a glut of bikes, everywhere is pretty much sold out. A local bike shop reckoned he could sell 200 Cube Reactions a week but he can't get the stock. Similar story from other suppliers.

A Cube Reaction is what I want too, but I've been quoted "late Spring" so I'm guessing they mean around May !!

The dealer had some coming in but they are all XL and matt black which looks terrible. I need medium. The Haibike sDuro Hardseven/Nine is a better blue and similar money. Some bikes he was talking about July ??

mine is Matt Black.
I wanted the Green and Orange at the time, but I was told no more planned from the factory - and you know what ? You don't see the colour when riding it

The Cube E-Bike Facebooky group thing has bikes pop up frequently - or are you after New only ?


theres a 21inch same as mine here: https://www.paulscycles.co.uk/bikes/electric-bikes...

[LuS1fer]

PushedDover said:

LuS1fer said:

BlackG7R said:

LuS1fer said:

I narrowed it down to a Cube Reaction with the Bosch central mount motor. However, far from a glut of bikes, everywhere is pretty much sold out. A local bike shop reckoned he could sell 200 Cube Reactions a week but he can't get the stock. Similar story from other suppliers.

A Cube Reaction is what I want too, but I've been quoted "late Spring" so I'm guessing they mean around May !!

The dealer had some coming in but they are all XL and matt black which looks terrible. I need medium. The Haibike sDuro Hardseven/Nine is a better blue and similar money. Some bikes he was talking about July ??

mine is Matt Black.
I wanted the Green and Orange at the time, but I was told no more planned from the factory - and you know what ? You don't see the colour when riding it

The Cube E-Bike Facebooky group thing has bikes pop up frequently - or are you after New only ?


theres a 21inch same as mine here: https://www.paulscycles.co.uk/bikes/electric-bikes...

Unfortunately, I'm a shortarse so the big ones are no good to me.
My local dealer purports to have the 21 and 23 but again, in black.
https://www.damianharriscycles.co.uk/prod/mou_1689...

I want to buy locally in case anything goes wrong. How reliable has yours been?

[PushedDover]

LuS1fer said:

Unfortunately, I'm a shortarse so the big ones are no good to me.
My local dealer purports to have the 21 and 23 but again, in black.
https://www.damianharriscycles.co.uk/prod/mou_1689...

I want to buy locally in case anything goes wrong. How reliable has yours been?

hmm. good question

We have his and hers Reaction Pro's
Mine has clocked 2,500 miles since April, hers 1,000miles.

Mine, the battery failed after the first charge. I managed to badger Bosch and source a battery within 48hrs or so, and just knicked her battery in the interim (she rides her horse more than the bike)
I have had my motor replace (about 2,000 miles) which actually was all done within 48 hours so relatively painless.

Hers - faultess. But takes less abuse.

I have only just replaced her rear brakes after 1,000 miles, but also done the fronts and the Chain.

I have had a reasonably heavy attrition rate in pads, chains, and buggered a rear mech - but use it 3-4 times a week through the summer over the moors.
On the whole : I'm thoroughly made up and evangelical about the merits of the eMTB, especially as I live in the midst of the great outdoors.

[Barchettaman]

I have the older Cube Reaction and it’s been fine.

Obviously chains/cassette/brake pads/tyres have been replaced but that’d be the same for any bike.

Motor and battery (400w) both original, at 7500km.

[anonymous-user]

techguyone said:

The Matt Watson review on the go cycle site revealed things like US versions don't even have to pedal to get power, so if it's just a geolock, that too would be available.

Edited by techguyone on Thursday 31st December 18:40

Thanks my ears pricked up at that, I have been waiting for a e-bike that you don't need to pedal.

[ChocolateFrog]

techguyone said:

ChocolateFrog said:

Regarding Gocycle bikes is it as simple as setting the region to US in the app to set the motor to 500W?

No idea, but I had a good look at reviews and web pages, it does seem odd that they'd only have a 500w motor available as it can only be limited by software, unless UK is the only market with 250w (no idea if that is an EU standard)

The Matt Watson review on the go cycle site revealed things like US versions don't even have to pedal to get power, so if it's just a geolock, that too would be available.

Edited by techguyone on Thursday 31st December 18:40

It's definitely exactly the same motor and yes you're correct other markets where it's not mandatory to peddle there's a go button.

I'm 110kg, 115kg with a backpack (right on the upper weight limit) and I'm considering a longish commute so the extra oomph would be much appreciated it just seems unlikely that it would be as simple as an app button press.

[ChocolateFrog]

Vandenberg said:

techguyone said:

The Matt Watson review on the go cycle site revealed things like US versions don't even have to pedal to get power, so if it's just a geolock, that too would be available.

Edited by techguyone on Thursday 31st December 18:40

Thanks my ears pricked up at that, I have been waiting for a e-bike that you don't need to pedal.

Currently not allowed in the UK unless you're on private land so you'd have not make it too obvious that you're not pedalling.

[anonymous-user]

ChocolateFrog said:

Currently not allowed in the UK unless you're on private land so you'd have not make it too obvious that you're not pedalling.

Thats fine plenty of private land I can use, zero chance of being on road and encountering the BiB. I just want the fun of cycling without the tedious bit.

[ChocolateFrog]

Vandenberg said:

ChocolateFrog said:

Currently not allowed in the UK unless you're on private land so you'd have not make it too obvious that you're not pedalling.

Thats fine plenty of private land I can use, zero chance of being on road and encountering the BiB. I just want the fun of cycling without the tedious bit.

https://www.zeromotorcycles.com/en-gb/model/zero-fx

[techguyone]

Is there anything that you can ride on a car licence that is electric or do you have to do all the motorbike CBT and all that gubbins?

[MrsMiggins]

https://www.eskuta.com/collections/bike-range/prod...

They claim this is an e-bike...

ETA i thought this one had a throttle, but it appears not.

Edited by MrsMiggins on Friday 1st January 22:33

[Cupramax]

techguyone said:

Is there anything that you can ride on a car licence that is electric or do you have to do all the motorbike CBT and all that gubbins?

Depends when you got your car license, if it’s early enough, not sure of the exact date you can ride the equivalent of a 125 or 11kw on L plates, be it electric or petrol.

[techguyone]

Cupramax said:

techguyone said:

Is there anything that you can ride on a car licence that is electric or do you have to do all the motorbike CBT and all that gubbins?

Depends when you got your car license, if it’s early enough, not sure of the exact date you can ride the equivalent of a 125 or 11kw on L plates, be it electric or petrol.

I've done some digging.

If your Full car licence was obtained before 1st Dec 2001, you can ride a 30mph electric motorbike without L-plates or a CBT certificate. If it was obtained after 1st Dec 2001, you must have a CBT certificate first.

30mph Electric Motorbikes
If an electric motorbike is restricted to 30mph, the law treats it as a 30mph 50cc petrol scooter. They cannot be ridden on motorways. Riders must wear a helmet and the motorbike needs a registration document, number plate and (once it’s three years old) an MOT. Electric motorbikes must carry a tax disc, but as with all electric vehicles, road tax is free.

Looks like there might be something after all for us that doesn't require pedalling, albeit now its motorbike rather than bike styled and needs other stuff like helmet etc. At least it's legal rather than having to tweak something and risk points/fine.

[vindaloo79]

techguyone said:

Is there anything that you can ride on a car licence that is electric or do you have to do all the motorbike CBT and all that gubbins?

https://www.englishelectricmotorco.com/sur-ron-motorcycles/

Expensive off the shelf answer. There’s a lot of other answers nowadays though.

Frey ebikes would work but harder to get.

Some interesting US news on the subject often found here:

https://electrek.co/guides/ebikes/

This guy may be of interest to you:

https://youtu.be/8fvTVu9FX5M

Edited by vindaloo79 on Saturday 2nd January 09:49

[PushedDover]

techguyone said:

I've done some digging.

If your Full car licence was obtained before 1st Dec 2001, you can ride a 30mph electric motorbike without L-plates or a CBT certificate. If it was obtained after 1st Dec 2001, you must have a CBT certificate first.

30mph Electric Motorbikes
If an electric motorbike is restricted to 30mph, the law treats it as a 30mph 50cc petrol scooter. They cannot be ridden on motorways. Riders must wear a helmet and the motorbike needs a registration document, number plate and (once it’s three years old) an MOT. Electric motorbikes must carry a tax disc, but as with all electric vehicles, road tax is free.

Looks like there might be something after all for us that doesn't require pedalling, albeit now its motorbike rather than bike styled and needs other stuff like helmet etc. At least it's legal rather than having to tweak something and risk points/fine.

Have you tried an ‘Ebike’ ??
You may be pleasantly surprised. Especially if you just left it turned up to 11 I can say it would be near damn equivalent as full electric twist and go without all the fk on / legal red tape and costs.

It’s like the Rocketeer thread I am drooling on.
There’s a kit that works, is hugely applauded as fking great, and you get posters saying: ah but bash the firewall in, freight a LS engine from USA and and and and ........ I’m sure it’s better.


I digress. But go try an Ebike. We can’t all be wrong.....

[BIRMA]

Vandenberg said:

Thanks my ears pricked up at that, I have been waiting for a e-bike that you don't need to pedal.

I did consider buying the Bultaco Brinco, it's an older model now but is a very, very good electric bike. I have a full motorbike licence so thought it was a good idea, but you can not use them on many of the interesting tracks around my area, and the Police do confiscate them as there are a few for sale that the Police have taken (they are a favourite with drug dealers too) so I didn't take the chance.
In the end I bought a Giant e-MTB with a 625 battery and in all honesty there's not an enormous difference plus you can legally go places the Bultaco can't so for about the same money as a secondhand Bultaco you can get a new shiny e-mtb on three years interest free credit.
There are now quite a few electric motorbikes that do green lanes now but you are restricted to where you can legally ride.
All of my friends know me as the guy who said "sod riding anything on two wheels without and engine" my opinion has now changed. I've spent most of my life riding trials bikes, enduro bikes and quads and I find going up in the woods on an e-MTB to be both enjoyable and the air is clean and fresh unlike on the roads.

Edited by BIRMA on Saturday 2nd January 10:08

Edited by BIRMA on Saturday 2nd January 10:13

[gangzoom]

Vandenberg said:

I just want the fun of cycling without the tedious bit.

Have you tried an eBike? My one will give you max 300watts assistance fo less than 90watts input, so combined just shy of 400watts.

Whats 400watts equivalent to interms of pedal bike performance.....Chris Boardman managed 430watts over 1 hr to claim the 1hr world record years ago!

Any of the half decent eBike bikes on max assistance will give you so much power pretty much on demand for the equivalent of essentially spinning the pedals with barely any power.

https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/hour-kid-chri...

I'm absolutely loving my eBike at the moment - its actually my commuter bike, but it can simply go so many more places than my road bike. The motor simply means an otherwise heavy/slow bike becomes as enjoyable to ride over long distances as my road bike!!

Give any eBike a go first before going down the route of illegal eMopeds, given I was having to deal with plenty of oversteer even without the motor on today, a eMoped with 500watt+ on tap would simply be a ticket to your local A&E!

[shady lee]

Over Ilkley moor today then onto Baildon moor, most of Ilkley moor resembled a ice rink.

Bikes performed flawlessly, just the lack of grip on sheet ice is a battle we were never going to win.

I decked it twice, nothing broken luckily.

Was fine weather on the way up, then a snow shower came down on us whilst at the top.

Good fun though

[ruggedscotty]

Covert to e bikes as a commute, brilliant and they get you fit.



often seen on the rural roads around west lothian

[mikeiow]

ruggedscotty said:

Covert to e bikes as a commute, brilliant and they get you fit.



often seen on the rural roads around west lothian

What is going on with that saddle - looks MAHOOSIVE!