Electric bicycles - who buys them?
Discussion
Lord Marylebone said:
I fancy one of the small folding ones. Been eying up the numerous ‘Chinese’ folding e-bikes for around £350-500. Not sure if these will be any good though.
Good evening m'lord. My neighbour had one of the folding chinese bikes you refer to. It was rubbish. The worst bit was the front forks which were stupidly flimsy and would likely have bent double in an emergency stop situation. The manufacturer, however, had thoughtfully circumvented this design fault by fitting brakes that didn't work at all, emergency or otherwise. He replaced it with a Halfords "Connect" which was a vast improvement,
He rode the Connect almost every day for over a year till he had to stop riding for health reasons.
I'd recommend upping your budget to around a grand if possible. There are folders in Halfords for less than a grand and plenty of choice from a grand upwards. Take a look at WOOSH bikes, for instance.
Just don't buy £400 worth of chinese rubbish.
Does it have to be a folding bike, your Lordship?
spyder dryver said:
Lord Marylebone said:
I fancy one of the small folding ones. Been eying up the numerous ‘Chinese’ folding e-bikes for around £350-500. Not sure if these will be any good though.
Good evening m'lord. My neighbour had one of the folding chinese bikes you refer to. It was rubbish. The worst bit was the front forks which were stupidly flimsy and would likely have bent double in an emergency stop situation. The manufacturer, however, had thoughtfully circumvented this design fault by fitting brakes that didn't work at all, emergency or otherwise. He replaced it with a Halfords "Connect" which was a vast improvement,
He rode the Connect almost every day for over a year till he had to stop riding for health reasons.
I'd recommend upping your budget to around a grand if possible. There are folders in Halfords for less than a grand and plenty of choice from a grand upwards. Take a look at WOOSH bikes, for instance.
Just don't buy £400 worth of chinese rubbish.
Does it have to be a folding bike, your Lordship?
https://wisperbikes.com/shop/e-bikes/folding-ebike...
spyder dryver said:
Lord Marylebone said:
I fancy one of the small folding ones. Been eying up the numerous ‘Chinese’ folding e-bikes for around £350-500. Not sure if these will be any good though.
Good evening m'lord. My neighbour had one of the folding chinese bikes you refer to. It was rubbish. The worst bit was the front forks which were stupidly flimsy and would likely have bent double in an emergency stop situation. The manufacturer, however, had thoughtfully circumvented this design fault by fitting brakes that didn't work at all, emergency or otherwise. He replaced it with a Halfords "Connect" which was a vast improvement,
He rode the Connect almost every day for over a year till he had to stop riding for health reasons.
I'd recommend upping your budget to around a grand if possible. There are folders in Halfords for less than a grand and plenty of choice from a grand upwards. Take a look at WOOSH bikes, for instance.
Just don't buy £400 worth of chinese rubbish.
Does it have to be a folding bike, your Lordship?
It doesn’t have to be a folding bike. I just thought that on the occasion I take it on a train it will be easier, but then again you can take a non-folding bike on a train so perhaps it’s a moot point...
I only set my budget low because I haven’t bothered with a bicycle for probably 10 years or more, and didn’t really want to go out and spend £2K on something that I’ll use twice, then put in my garage and never see again.
I just want a bike that’ll do for town, pub, cycling to friends houses and so on.
I doubt it’ll be used for lengthy recreational rides, but more like me trying to use it instead of the train/car/taxi where possible.
Doesn’t have to be anything fancy at all. Just the basics.
I bought my first ebike secondhand off eBay for 500. Was a halfords mountain bike 1 month old.
Sold it 18 months later for 400 and decided ebikes were for me so spunked 2k on a Cube bike with a big battery and powerful CX motor.
I would also recommend spending your money on a better than new cheap Chinese if you can. You do t have to spend loads though if you search eBay for a known brand. There will also be resale value in it after if you don't like it or, more than likely, want better.
Sold it 18 months later for 400 and decided ebikes were for me so spunked 2k on a Cube bike with a big battery and powerful CX motor.
I would also recommend spending your money on a better than new cheap Chinese if you can. You do t have to spend loads though if you search eBay for a known brand. There will also be resale value in it after if you don't like it or, more than likely, want better.
Tampon said:
I bought my first ebike secondhand off eBay for 500. Was a halfords mountain bike 1 month old.
Sold it 18 months later for 400 and decided ebikes were for me so spunked 2k on a Cube bike with a big battery and powerful CX motor.
I would also recommend spending your money on a better than new cheap Chinese if you can. You do t have to spend loads though if you search eBay for a known brand. There will also be resale value in it after if you don't like it or, more than likely, want better.
It’s a good point.Sold it 18 months later for 400 and decided ebikes were for me so spunked 2k on a Cube bike with a big battery and powerful CX motor.
I would also recommend spending your money on a better than new cheap Chinese if you can. You do t have to spend loads though if you search eBay for a known brand. There will also be resale value in it after if you don't like it or, more than likely, want better.
I’m more than happy to buy secondhand?
I got my Cube hardtail for €900 second hand, and it’s been terrific. I’m now on the lookout for a lightly-used full-suspension Cube. They pop up occasionally here in DE.
One important thing to note: on the newer models the riding experience is essentially the same, but design-wise the battery is just better integrated.
One important thing to note: on the newer models the riding experience is essentially the same, but design-wise the battery is just better integrated.
Joscal said:
Have you looked into the cycle to work scheme? You can pay it off monthly with big savings if relevant!
The savings are slightly over hyped. I bought a road bike to cycle to Paris on cycle to work. After finding one in the sales from a retailer that offered cycle to work, then being told that sale bikes have an 50 fee added for cycling scheme bikes and then the admin fee and the limited places you can buy from the savings weren't quite as great as the headlines suggest.I went to buy the top of the line Carrera ebike on cycle to work scheme from Halfords as they to cycle2work, again once everything was taken into account I was able to buy my cube hybrid pro with bigger battery and better motor for 200 quid more. The shop selling the cube were offering interest free for 12 months if needed. I don't need it but the world of bikes opens up when you are of the cycle to work scheme.
I think it is great if you are happy to choose a bike from Evans or Halfords but it isn't the best for those who know what they want ot can find deals online. They definitely do not price match on cycle to work schemes. My LBS offer to try and match as best they can cycle to work prices with interest free 12 month credit.There is a lot of arse ache for the sellers with C2W sales so I don't blame them.
Also you own the bike outright at the end, although I have never had Croydon council ever come back and ask for the final payment or more rental.
Tampon said:
The savings are slightly over hyped. I bought a road bike to cycle to Paris on cycle to work. After finding one in the sales from a retailer that offered cycle to work, then being told that sale bikes have an 50 fee added for cycling scheme bikes and then the admin fee and the limited places you can buy from the savings weren't quite as great as the headlines suggest.
I went to buy the top of the line Carrera ebike on cycle to work scheme from Halfords as they to cycle2work, again once everything was taken into account I was able to buy my cube hybrid pro with bigger battery and better motor for 200 quid more. The shop selling the cube were offering interest free for 12 months if needed. I don't need it but the world of bikes opens up when you are of the cycle to work scheme.
I think it is great if you are happy to choose a bike from Evans or Halfords but it isn't the best for those who know what they want ot can find deals online. They definitely do not price match on cycle to work schemes. My LBS offer to try and match as best they can cycle to work prices with interest free 12 month credit.There is a lot of arse ache for the sellers with C2W sales so I don't blame them.
Also you own the bike outright at the end, although I have never had Croydon council ever come back and ask for the final payment or more rental.
Depends on the Scheme..I went to buy the top of the line Carrera ebike on cycle to work scheme from Halfords as they to cycle2work, again once everything was taken into account I was able to buy my cube hybrid pro with bigger battery and better motor for 200 quid more. The shop selling the cube were offering interest free for 12 months if needed. I don't need it but the world of bikes opens up when you are of the cycle to work scheme.
I think it is great if you are happy to choose a bike from Evans or Halfords but it isn't the best for those who know what they want ot can find deals online. They definitely do not price match on cycle to work schemes. My LBS offer to try and match as best they can cycle to work prices with interest free 12 month credit.There is a lot of arse ache for the sellers with C2W sales so I don't blame them.
Also you own the bike outright at the end, although I have never had Croydon council ever come back and ask for the final payment or more rental.
My company use cycle solutions & now have a 3k limit. Cycle solutions take 10% off bike price
So a £3300 bike is reduced to £3000, the scheme over a year means it will cost me around £1700 with no more fees.
Or you can get a 3k voucher to use at a long list or their partner stores, incl sale bikes.
I’ve been strong & resisting as have 3 bikes,, but a Moulton or Electric Brompton are calling..
Jimboka said:
Depends on the Scheme..
My company use cycle solutions & now have a 3k limit. Cycle solutions take 10% off bike price
So a £3300 bike is reduced to £3000, the scheme over a year means it will cost me around £1700 with no more fees.
Or you can get a 3k voucher to use at a long list or their partner stores, incl sale bikes.
I’ve been strong & resisting as have 3 bikes,, but a Moulton or Electric Brompton are calling..
I bet you can find that bike in the sale cheaper some where else and if you are 20% tax rate then the savings make that bike 2400 or 2640 without the discount (that sounds great they offer auto discount and on sale bikes as everywhere I have looked they up it not discount). Had a look at the cycle solutions site and the 1k cap is still in place unless your employer allows different and I couldn't find the 10% discount there and it didn't come up in their calculator. Like I said they sound great and work for some but not quite as amazing as the are in the headlines. They allow credit for everyone wanting a bike and there is definitely some discount (more if you are a higher tax payer)My company use cycle solutions & now have a 3k limit. Cycle solutions take 10% off bike price
So a £3300 bike is reduced to £3000, the scheme over a year means it will cost me around £1700 with no more fees.
Or you can get a 3k voucher to use at a long list or their partner stores, incl sale bikes.
I’ve been strong & resisting as have 3 bikes,, but a Moulton or Electric Brompton are calling..
Again you don't officially own it when it ends so can be more payments.
I do like that they have stopped the 1k limit though. Should help people get into ebikes more.
Edited by Tampon on Monday 30th December 10:51
Hi
My employer has upper the cap to 3k a month or so back, perhaps the 10% is specific to my company, but it’s there ..
It’s right what you say though, I had my eye on a £3300 bike in there (so 3k to me), but it was readily available & 3k elsewhere !
Extend the rental by a few more years, there is no final or other payments..
I have a couple of Brompton, when the limit was 1k
My employer has upper the cap to 3k a month or so back, perhaps the 10% is specific to my company, but it’s there ..
It’s right what you say though, I had my eye on a £3300 bike in there (so 3k to me), but it was readily available & 3k elsewhere !
Extend the rental by a few more years, there is no final or other payments..
I have a couple of Brompton, when the limit was 1k
Tampon said:
Again you don't officially own it when it ends so can be more payments.
This is bit that worries me. Edited by Tampon on Monday 30th December 10:51
I've done the scheme before and never heard anything at the end of the year. Nobody from work did. There was also no checking that the bikes were used for work. Guys were not cycling 60 miles to work.
They go on about how much is saved, but if you don't get ownership it's been a very expensive bike hire for a year. It's a significant amount of money if we are talking ebike money.
Has anyone had the transfer of ownership rejected?
Jimboka said:
Hi
My employer has upper the cap to 3k a month or so back, perhaps the 10% is specific to my company, but it’s there ..
It’s right what you say though, I had my eye on a £3300 bike in there (so 3k to me), but it was readily available & 3k elsewhere !
Extend the rental by a few more years, there is no final or other payments..
I have a couple of Brompton, when the limit was 1k
Extending it for 36 months does incur a 3-7% fee. My employer has upper the cap to 3k a month or so back, perhaps the 10% is specific to my company, but it’s there ..
It’s right what you say though, I had my eye on a £3300 bike in there (so 3k to me), but it was readily available & 3k elsewhere !
Extend the rental by a few more years, there is no final or other payments..
I have a couple of Brompton, when the limit was 1k
I don't understand how they can make you commit to lease the bike for 4 years.
shady lee said:
Great thread guys, keep up the pics too.
Just waiting on delivery of my first ebike, went for a cube acid 400. Bosch gen 3 motor and battery.
Hopefully Bosch are decent!
Mrs DS has one of those (and I used to have one too, but traded it in for a Haibike as I wanted to get into some MTBing), very good bike indeed. She has this rather good Topeak beamrack thing with an insulated bag that goes on the back which can fit two bottles of prosecco in it and some collapsible glasses. She carries the supplies for our beercycling trips.Just waiting on delivery of my first ebike, went for a cube acid 400. Bosch gen 3 motor and battery.
Hopefully Bosch are decent!
As to the 400 battery - in hindsight I'd have gone for the 500, although we still managed a ride from Houffalize to La Roche en Ardenne and back last year (70km) with some bonkers climbs on it.
We've been all over the place on them.... here's me near Neuschwanstein...
Dog Star said:
Mrs DS has one of those (and I used to have one too, but traded it in for a Haibike as I wanted to get into some MTBing), very good bike indeed. She has this rather good Topeak beamrack thing with an insulated bag that goes on the back which can fit two bottles of prosecco in it and some collapsible glasses. She carries the supplies for our beercycling trips.
Wait. What ? Pics and I see a post on the https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&... thread coming up....
That’s the only pic I have to hand. It clamps onto the seat post (no use with a dropper). There are different variants of the beam - the straight one works best with the Acid 29er. Then you get lightweight side guards and these side bags fold out of the bag. I’ve noticed Halfords now selling this stuff.
ETA - of ffs I have NO IDEA why it's upside down. Shoot me
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