Electric bike

Author
Discussion

wjwren

Original Poster:

4,484 posts

134 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
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Anyone got one? There are loads of promo type vids on youtube but very little real world videos that someone hasnt been paid to do.
I was looking at the Gtech bike, also Halfords have some but they look a bit Chinese imports.

spyder dryver

1,329 posts

215 months

Thursday 20th July 2017
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Get over to WOOSH BIKES website. They are well regarded on the ebike forums. The "Rio" and "Karoo" models look ace.
I built my own ebike two years ago using a Xiongda motor and a high capacity battery from INSAT.
Go for a larger capacity battery if possible.
Opinion is divided regarding the GTech bike. No gears and a low capacity battery.
Some ebike dealers will hire you a bike to try it out.
What sort of thing are you looking for? Mountain bike? Flat bar hybrid? Commuter?
The main forum is called "pedelecs".

mike13

715 posts

181 months

Friday 21st July 2017
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I've got a Volt Pulse hybrid, best thing i've bought in last 18 months, totally takes the stress off my knees, arrive at work ( 7miles) without breaking sweat, bought it through cycle scheme!

Wacky Racer

38,099 posts

246 months

Friday 21st July 2017
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I've got a Dawes "City" electric bike.

It was bought brand new by an elderly customer of mine for around £1000, but he only used it once to travel eight miles, (four there, four back) and happened to mention he never got round to use it in the eighteen months he had it, I didn't particularly want or need a bike, especially an electric one, so I made a cheeky offer of £300 and he accepted it,... I think it was in the way.

It's a lovely bike, totally as new, and whilst I've only been on it twice, along the prom at Blackpool, I hope to get a bit of use out of it in the future.

It's fast, probably gets up to around 35mph if I help it along...no effort at all.......it has five gears.

Range is around 20 miles.

I think electric bikes are going to be very popular in the future, as prices come down.

ChilledOut

14 posts

80 months

Friday 21st July 2017
quotequote all
spyder dryver said:
Get over to WOOSH BIKES website. They are well regarded on the ebike forums. The "Rio" and "Karoo" models look ace.
I built my own ebike two years ago using a Xiongda motor and a high capacity battery from INSAT.
Go for a larger capacity battery if possible.
Opinion is divided regarding the GTech bike. No gears and a low capacity battery.
Some ebike dealers will hire you a bike to try it out.
What sort of thing are you looking for? Mountain bike? Flat bar hybrid? Commuter?
The main forum is called "pedelecs".
I tried a Gtech bike at their factory in Worcestershire. It rode very well but it was too small and underpowered for me... 6ft 7in 18 stone and knackered knees!
If you are at all interested, the factory has a fantastic test track with a few hills to give it proper trial. I think they still do a 30 day home trial.

Magic919

14,126 posts

200 months

Saturday 22nd July 2017
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I have a Scott I bought for the commute. Test rode a few at a dealer and having tried a few types I settled on a full suspension MTB. It sounds OTT for use on the road, but smooth tyres and suspension work well. Extra weight is offset by the assistance.

The ability to turn the assistance up or down (or off) means you can tweak it to suit the journey, wind, fitness or mood. Eco mode lets me work a bit when riding slower with the youngsters in the family.

I'd prefer to bin some of the lower gears and it's a bit expensive.

greenamex2

509 posts

254 months

Saturday 22nd July 2017
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My wife has a Volt Metro IS. Very nicely made. absolute hoot to ride. easiest 15.5mph I have done in my life

It was a lot better than the slightly cheaper ones we tried.

I am so impressed with it I would happily consider one of the higher end models for myself.


anonymous-user

53 months

Sunday 23rd July 2017
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Wacky Racer said:
I've got a Dawes "City" electric bike.

It was bought brand new by an elderly customer of mine for around £1000, but he only used it once to travel eight miles, (four there, four back) and happened to mention he never got round to use it in the eighteen months he had it, I didn't particularly want or need a bike, especially an electric one, so I made a cheeky offer of £300 and he accepted it,... I think it was in the way.

It's a lovely bike, totally as new, and whilst I've only been on it twice, along the prom at Blackpool, I hope to get a bit of use out of it in the future.

It's fast, probably gets up to around 35mph if I help it along...no effort at all.......it has five gears.

Range is around 20 miles.

I think electric bikes are going to be very popular in the future, as prices come down.
35mph... Did the elderly customer have it de-restricted? It's over twice the legal limit! :-
''If your ebike doesn’t meet these regulations – either because the motor is more powerful than 250W, or if it assists you when you’re riding more than 15.5 mph – it will need to be registered, insured and taxed as a motor vehicle. In this case, you will also need a driving licence, and you must wear a motorcycle helmet.''

ChilledOut

14 posts

80 months

Monday 24th July 2017
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I had a KTM Macina Cross 10 with the Bosch Performance CX Line and loved it. However I have "poorly" knees and had trouble getting my leg over (the cross bar!) so
I sold it and bought a Cube 58cm step through frame, like all the Dutch e-bikes, with the same motor as the KTM. I upgraded the gears from 7 speed to 11 so I can climb very steep hills with ease.
The Cube is definitely a sit up and beg style but very comfortable and fast... ok the motor cuts out at the legal limit but I can cruise in comfort at 20+ mpg. In fact when the bike was tested by the pro cyclist it shows a top speed on the computer of 43mph!
I only got to 35.4 on my KTM but decided it was a silly speed to do as it would smart somewhat if I fell off!! I now restrict myself to 25 mph.
I must add I am fully insured!

RizzoTheRat

25,085 posts

191 months

Monday 24th July 2017
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Hired a Raleigh Motus on holiday a while back and bloody loved it. The Bosch drive system works well, allowing you to set how much assist you want, and it then amplifies the amount of power you put in to the pedals. Didn't really just how good it was until cruising up a hill at 25kph on an upright hybrid overtaking fit looking people on normal bikes. Makes a lot more sense to me than the basic motor controls on cheaper ones.

Very tempted to get something similar (like the look of the KTM Macina fun 9) and use it commuting to work (no showers at work so electric would mean ability to cycle without getting sweaty), but I'd want to look in to how long the batteries really last first. Wouldn't really want to be spending a few hundred quid on a new one every couple of years. They're also very heavy (24kg) if you ever need to put on a roof rack or lift it over a fence/gate.

Magic919

14,126 posts

200 months

Monday 24th July 2017
quotequote all
ChilledOut said:
II can cruise in comfort at 20+ mpg.
Gallons of what?

ChilledOut

14 posts

80 months

Monday 24th July 2017
quotequote all
I had a KTM Macina Cross 10 with the Bosch Performance CX Line and loved it. However I have "poorly" knees and had trouble getting my leg over (the cross bar!) so
I sold it and bought a Cube 58cm step through frame, like all the Dutch e-bikes, with the same motor as the KTM. I upgraded the gears from 7 speed to 11 so I can climb very steep hills with ease.
The Cube is definitely a sit up and beg style but very comfortable and fast... ok the motor cuts out at the legal limit but I can cruise in comfort at 20+ mpg. In fact when the bike was tested by the pro cyclist it shows a top speed on the computer of 43mph!
I only got to 35.4 on my KTM but decided it was a silly speed to do as it would smart somewhat if I fell off!! I now restrict myself to 25 mph.
I must add I am fully insured!