Electric bicycles - who buys them?
Discussion
Gazzab said:
Was cycling past Evans in the City (on my electric ‘swytch’ 10 year old Brompton) and nearly fell off when I saw their electric model is £3695. What the……! Who the heck can afford these crazy prices.
Electric versions of the Brompton don't seem all that bad value to me - at least compared to other e-bikes. Their website shows a P-line urban is from £2355, and the electric version you saw is from £3695; that's £1340 extra for the electric bits. Fully factory warrantied and developed. How much is a Swytch kit for a Brompton?Gazzab said:
Was cycling past Evans in the City (on my electric ‘swytch’ 10 year old Brompton) and nearly fell off when I saw their electric model is £3695. What the……! Who the heck can afford these crazy prices.
I suppose many people will buy them on the cycle to work scheme. When you also factor in how much it will save in public transport it wouldn’t take too long to “pay for itself” - I think Gocycle compare the monthly cost of their bikes to a monthly 1-4 zone travel card. Plus Brompton are getting expensive as noted above. A bog standard 6 speed is £1400 now…
Jobbo said:
Gazzab said:
Was cycling past Evans in the City (on my electric ‘swytch’ 10 year old Brompton) and nearly fell off when I saw their electric model is £3695. What the……! Who the heck can afford these crazy prices.
Electric versions of the Brompton don't seem all that bad value to me - at least compared to other e-bikes. Their website shows a P-line urban is from £2355, and the electric version you saw is from £3695; that's £1340 extra for the electric bits. Fully factory warrantied and developed. How much is a Swytch kit for a Brompton?The Brompton electric is a front wheel job and not a crank system.
sociopath said:
Gazzab said:
Was cycling past Evans in the City (on my electric ‘swytch’ 10 year old Brompton) and nearly fell off when I saw their electric model is £3695. What the……! Who the heck can afford these crazy prices.
If you're in the City, then probably anyone who wants one Well I'm now part of the club...
Bid on a Vitus E-Sommet last night and ended up winning it. It's a top of the range VRX with full XT kit, Zeb Ultimates and Nukeporoof finishing kit.
Used but it's a Wiggle ex-demo bike with less than 200 miles on it and just a few cosmetic scratches which as far as I can see from the pics is largely just the frame protection that's scuffed.
All for just £2750 which seems like a bargain to me. RRP is £5500 with Wiggles last price on them before they went out of stock being £4500...
Bid on a Vitus E-Sommet last night and ended up winning it. It's a top of the range VRX with full XT kit, Zeb Ultimates and Nukeporoof finishing kit.
Used but it's a Wiggle ex-demo bike with less than 200 miles on it and just a few cosmetic scratches which as far as I can see from the pics is largely just the frame protection that's scuffed.
All for just £2750 which seems like a bargain to me. RRP is £5500 with Wiggles last price on them before they went out of stock being £4500...
vindaloo79 said:
-Cappo- said:
It’s probably back in the depths of this long thread, but has anyone chipped a Bosch-powered bike? Legalities to one side for a moment, how was the bike afterwards? Just curious.
Amazing. Get it bought/done.Just make sure the model you get are derestrictable - the latest gens blocked it last time I looked.
Captain Smerc said:
VOLspeed V4 box on my Cube for the last 12 months, no issues at all. Restricted emtb's feel broken now. Do it.
Wow - yes, couldn't agree more. Probably my imagination but it seems to have perked the bike up right across the range, not just >15mph? It really has made a huge difference and makes the bike much nicer to ride.PushedDover said:
On my fourth Bosch CX performance motor- all courtesy of warranty
Ain’t no way I would jeopardise that with a hack to enable assists over the limit. Rarely needed.
What has happened to need 4 motors? And how long was your warranty? My Cube is out of warranty now so it's academic really I guess.Ain’t no way I would jeopardise that with a hack to enable assists over the limit. Rarely needed.
Bosch motors are known to be among the more reliable units. Brose as fitted to Spesh bikes had a reputation for grenading belts, although they have improved. Shimano are ok UNTIL something goes wrong at which point owners discover Shimano's attitude to customer service can be highly questionable & I would strongly urge anyone contemplating a Shimano powered bike to look into error E299 & its implications before buying.
Burning through four Bosch CX motors within the two year warranty period is suggestive of one of two things - either the world's unluckiest owner or repeatedly exposing the bike to sustained wet conditions which is the number one killer of Ebike motors, either via the local environment or cleaning the bike with a Jet wash or similar.
The Bosch CX4 motor is enclosed at the crank spindles by a moulded hard plastic seal, in front of which there is a second rubber seal & o ring which Bosch pack with tacky marine type grease. It's all to stop water getting in, since the internal components are highly susceptible to corrosion. It is possible four motor guy is just unlucky but my doubts are rooted in knowledge of how these motors are designed..
Burning through four Bosch CX motors within the two year warranty period is suggestive of one of two things - either the world's unluckiest owner or repeatedly exposing the bike to sustained wet conditions which is the number one killer of Ebike motors, either via the local environment or cleaning the bike with a Jet wash or similar.
The Bosch CX4 motor is enclosed at the crank spindles by a moulded hard plastic seal, in front of which there is a second rubber seal & o ring which Bosch pack with tacky marine type grease. It's all to stop water getting in, since the internal components are highly susceptible to corrosion. It is possible four motor guy is just unlucky but my doubts are rooted in knowledge of how these motors are designed..
bobbo89 said:
Well I'm now part of the club...
Bid on a Vitus E-Sommet last night and ended up winning it. It's a top of the range VRX with full XT kit, Zeb Ultimates and Nukeporoof finishing kit.
Used but it's a Wiggle ex-demo bike with less than 200 miles on it and just a few cosmetic scratches which as far as I can see from the pics is largely just the frame protection that's scuffed.
All for just £2750 which seems like a bargain to me. RRP is £5500 with Wiggles last price on them before they went out of stock being £4500...
Cracking price - do you still get the 2 yr warranty?Bid on a Vitus E-Sommet last night and ended up winning it. It's a top of the range VRX with full XT kit, Zeb Ultimates and Nukeporoof finishing kit.
Used but it's a Wiggle ex-demo bike with less than 200 miles on it and just a few cosmetic scratches which as far as I can see from the pics is largely just the frame protection that's scuffed.
All for just £2750 which seems like a bargain to me. RRP is £5500 with Wiggles last price on them before they went out of stock being £4500...
I've got the e7000 one, the bottom of the range, and i am delighted with the bike as a whole, it handles really well. Only complaints are the stupid headset design (though later ones are better, less open) and being a L the handlebars are a bit too wide, so i'm going to cut them down.
bmwmike said:
Cracking price - do you still get the 2 yr warranty?
I've got the e7000 one, the bottom of the range, and i am delighted with the bike as a whole, it handles really well. Only complaints are the stupid headset design (though later ones are better, less open) and being a L the handlebars are a bit too wide, so i'm going to cut them down.
No warranty unfortunately so fingers are very much crossed that I don't have any issues with the motor..... I've got the e7000 one, the bottom of the range, and i am delighted with the bike as a whole, it handles really well. Only complaints are the stupid headset design (though later ones are better, less open) and being a L the handlebars are a bit too wide, so i'm going to cut them down.
bobbo89 said:
No warranty unfortunately so fingers are very much crossed that I don't have any issues with the motor.....
That's the EP8 one isn't it. Seems pot luck either way. I think bafang have options for this frame too.Oh and the hubs fail, rear one in particular - lots of owners getting replacements. Mine failed, made a grinding noise. I fixed it with new pawls and greased the bearings. There was hardly any grease in them. They are cartridge bearings but you can take the hub apart and pop the dirt covers off and add grease. My rear is now on my non-E but its working fine. The front hub bearings had very little grease either, so good preventative maint to add some. I think lack of grease is the main issue, my pawls were mashed because of over exuberance
.550 miles since Jan, all weathers including storms, been through streams, snow, you name it - its a tank you'll love it.
Only real downside is i've put on weight since i've had it, so i do some climbs with the motor turned off, and try to get out on non-E at least 2 rides a week.
Edited by bmwmike on Monday 24th April 10:40
bmwmike said:
That's the EP8 one isn't it. Seems pot luck either way. I think bafang have options for this frame too.
Oh and the hubs fail, rear one in particular - lots of owners getting replacements. Mine failed, made a grinding noise. I fixed it with new pawls and greased the bearings. There was hardly any grease in them. They are cartridge bearings but you can take the hub apart and pop the dirt covers off and add grease. My rear is now on my non-E but its working fine. The front hub bearings had very little grease either, so good preventative maint to add some. I think lack of grease is the main issue, my pawls were mashed because of over exuberance.
550 miles since Jan, all weathers including storms, been through streams, snow, you name it - its a tank you'll love it.
Only real downside is i've put on weight since i've had it, so i do some climbs with the motor turned off, and try to get out on non-E at least 2 rides a week.
The wheels are going to get changed straight away for a set of Hunt Enduro Wide's I've got along with a few other bits like the bar and stem, seatpost and saddle. I might even swap out the brakes for a set of Shigura's I've got and flog the XT's. Oh and the hubs fail, rear one in particular - lots of owners getting replacements. Mine failed, made a grinding noise. I fixed it with new pawls and greased the bearings. There was hardly any grease in them. They are cartridge bearings but you can take the hub apart and pop the dirt covers off and add grease. My rear is now on my non-E but its working fine. The front hub bearings had very little grease either, so good preventative maint to add some. I think lack of grease is the main issue, my pawls were mashed because of over exuberance
.550 miles since Jan, all weathers including storms, been through streams, snow, you name it - its a tank you'll love it.
Only real downside is i've put on weight since i've had it, so i do some climbs with the motor turned off, and try to get out on non-E at least 2 rides a week.
Edited by bmwmike on Monday 24th April 10:40
My intention is to only use it for long epic rides and still use my non-e bikes for shorter local loops but there's a niggle in the back of my head telling me I'll always gravitate towards the E. One thing I'm hoping it'll be really good for is battling through wind, it's one of my biggest peeves when riding and where I live all the best riding is on high ground where we regularly get 20mph+ winds and it's grim, stops me going out most of the time!
bobbo89 said:
The wheels are going to get changed straight away for a set of Hunt Enduro Wide's I've got along with a few other bits like the bar and stem, seatpost and saddle. I might even swap out the brakes for a set of Shigura's I've got and flog the XT's.
My intention is to only use it for long epic rides and still use my non-e bikes for shorter local loops but there's a niggle in the back of my head telling me I'll always gravitate towards the E. One thing I'm hoping it'll be really good for is battling through wind, it's one of my biggest peeves when riding and where I live all the best riding is on high ground where we regularly get 20mph+ winds and it's grim, stops me going out most of the time!
Ah good planMy intention is to only use it for long epic rides and still use my non-e bikes for shorter local loops but there's a niggle in the back of my head telling me I'll always gravitate towards the E. One thing I'm hoping it'll be really good for is battling through wind, it's one of my biggest peeves when riding and where I live all the best riding is on high ground where we regularly get 20mph+ winds and it's grim, stops me going out most of the time!
Mine came with SRAM DB8 brakes and they are really good, as good as the magura MT5's i run on my non E. You do feel the weight of the ebike though, especially on downhill trails. Even with good brakes and tyres, you still fight the mass. I can't see me giving up my hardtail mtb any time soon but ebikes are a different kind of fun alright.
President Merkin said:
Bosch motors are known to be among the more reliable units. Brose as fitted to Spesh bikes had a reputation for grenading belts, although they have improved. Shimano are ok UNTIL something goes wrong at which point owners discover Shimano's attitude to customer service can be highly questionable & I would strongly urge anyone contemplating a Shimano powered bike to look into error E299 & its implications before buying.
Burning through four Bosch CX motors within the two year warranty period is suggestive of one of two things - either the world's unluckiest owner or repeatedly exposing the bike to sustained wet conditions which is the number one killer of Ebike motors, either via the local environment or cleaning the bike with a Jet wash or similar.
The Bosch CX4 motor is enclosed at the crank spindles by a moulded hard plastic seal, in front of which there is a second rubber seal & o ring which Bosch pack with tacky marine type grease. It's all to stop water getting in, since the internal components are highly susceptible to corrosion. It is possible four motor guy is just unlucky but my doubts are rooted in knowledge of how these motors are designed..
Then I am unlucky. Burning through four Bosch CX motors within the two year warranty period is suggestive of one of two things - either the world's unluckiest owner or repeatedly exposing the bike to sustained wet conditions which is the number one killer of Ebike motors, either via the local environment or cleaning the bike with a Jet wash or similar.
The Bosch CX4 motor is enclosed at the crank spindles by a moulded hard plastic seal, in front of which there is a second rubber seal & o ring which Bosch pack with tacky marine type grease. It's all to stop water getting in, since the internal components are highly susceptible to corrosion. It is possible four motor guy is just unlucky but my doubts are rooted in knowledge of how these motors are designed..
The bike has never seen a pressure washer.
It is hosed off as soon as home (I am lucky the trails are on the doorstep) so the hose is just to knock the loose mud off.
The fact that the bike gets 'used' relatively heavily and a Hard tail was one theory as it is taking hammer / vibrations.
-Cappo- said:
What has happened to need 4 motors? And how long was your warranty? My Cube is out of warranty now so it's academic really I guess.
Warranty is same as all, but managed to get the replacements replaced under the replacements warrantly IYKWIM 
What is the cause ? no idea, see above for one theory.
(FWIW, no sign of water damage has ever been reported)
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