e-Bikes.

[Cr0-Magnon]

I know this is reaaallly off-topic but does anyone on here have much experience buying and owning one or more (most of us are geared towards collecting!)?

I am considering getting one, ideally <£2500. So any tips etc would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Jez_Armstrong]

What do you need to know, I custom built my one (which I'm probably selling too) 

View attachment 136918

 

[Tackle]

What do you need to know, I custom built my one (which I'm probably selling too) 

View attachment 136918

As a motorcyclist,  gotta admit that looks cool af Jez?

 

[Jez_Armstrong]

As a motorcyclist,  gotta admit that looks cool af Jez?

Thanks bud! I spent the majority of my 20's working in bike shops so have a love for bikes but unfortunately I've lost a fair few friends to motorbike accidents so I'm not allowed a motorbike so this is the closest and safest way to have one (plus it's a bit more pokey than what you're allowed, but it does have a 250w sticker on the motor so ?) 

This is how it looked when I got it, only thing original is the frame 

View attachment 136923

 

[Rogerborg]

If you mean a road-legal 250W electrically assisted pedal cycle, I would thoroughly recommend them.  I use mine for a 12 mile (each way) commute with an 800 foot climb, recharging during the day so that I can use full power both ways.  It means that I arrive without being soaked with sweat, and turns the climbs from a nightmare into a breeze.

I ride a Halfrauds special Carrera Subway, bought on the Ride to Work scheme as a salary sacrifice, which brought the cost to my pocket down significantly.  Not the lightest, but disk brakes, bolt points for luggage racks, mudguards and sidestand, the same power as any other EAPC, and reasonable battery life - I've done 40 miles on minimum power, but that was with some pushing on beyond 16mph where the motor actually cuts out.  You'll quickly find a riding style that suits you, either using the motor just for hill climbs, or putting in the minimum pedal effort to keep it at the cut-off limit.  I'm at about 2500 miles and ~125 charge cycles, and am starting to see some slight range loss, so I'm doubtful that it will make it to the claimed 500 cycles. Temperature also plays a part - like all battery tech, they don't enjoy the cold.

The front wheel is quick-detach on the Carrera, and I do occasionally sling it in the back of my car, but if you want folding and portable, the MiRiDER gets a lot of love from its owners.

One thing, there's a consultation ongoing about increasing the maximum power to 500W (constant) and allowing twist-and-go without type approval, so you may want to hang on and see how that works out.  Anything more... pokey... than 250W sustained / 400W peak is technically a motorcycle like any other, with all the licensing/registration/VED/MOT/insurance/helmet laws that go with that.  However, there's observably very little policing of pedal cycles, or electric transport in general.  Most DeliverEats drivers ride Allegro emotorcycles  with 500W motors and twist-and-go throttles, which are essentially what the proposed new limits would cover.  However, that would move us out of alignment with the EU limits for EAPCs, so it might end up getting shelved.

 

[Jez_Armstrong]

This is why I treat mine like a 250w, always wear a helmet and don't act like a doc to attract attention because my bike already does that, I just needed a bit more poke to pull my lazy arse up hills on the way home as my scaitia really fucks me when I try and ride normal bikes, this way I can enjoy riding still and have something that's a bit different 

 

[Cr0-Magnon]

Oh cool, way more bites than I thought I'd get here.

I was considering a "hybrid" style as I may use it on roads but mostly trail type riding, definitely no hardcore literal-mountain biking though. So I don't think I need a full-suspension £10K beast.

I did see the Halfords ones, but they seem suspiciously cheap. Glad to hear you're getting some good bang for your buck though @Rogerborg. My commute would be doable by bike, but as you mentioned, I don't want to arrive a sweaty mess and spend the next eight hours sitting at a desk.

So year Carrera could be an option, I've also been looking at the Raleigh Centros or one of the Specialised line-up.

I definitely want something low-maintenance but still not sure if hub or derailleur gears are better suited for my needs?

 

[Jez_Armstrong]

Mid Drive is definitely better for prolonged use over hub drive in my opinion 

Have a look at the Haibike line up 

 

[Rogerborg]

Mid Drive is definitely better for prolonged use over hub drive in my opinion

I've not tried a mid-drive. Do they ride significantly differently?  Things might have changed, but a bloke I spoke to a few years back who does conversions swore off mid-drives after too many unhappy owners coming back to him.  Mind you, he was probably putting in naughty-Watt motors and snapping chains.  

I did see the Halfords ones, but they seem suspiciously cheap.

The SunTour electrics aren't top notch, and I needed to have my display unit replaced under warranty after a few weeks, but it's been fine for 3 years since, and I'm not a fair weather rider. No techno-displays or bells and whistles, but the basics are all fine.  The stock tyres are usable for road or light trails. I've done some mild trail riding on my solid forks, and they do a front-suspension model which I skipped as it adds a few kg to what's already a robust beast.

I'm not saying that they're the best bikes out there, but they've practical, at a decent price. CYMA bikes.  

 

[Cr0-Magnon]

https://www.halfords.com/bikes/electric-bikes/carrera-vengeance-e-mens-electric-mountain-bike-shimano-2.1---m-l-frames-161499.html

That one is so cheap! I was also looking at their Voodoo Mambo:

https://www.halfords.com/bikes/electric-bikes/voodoo-mambo-e-electric-trekking-bike---s-m-l-frames-846038.html

Well not looked properly yet but will swing by Halfords on the way home.

 

[Cr0-Magnon]

I will add, my colleague who is an avid proper mountain biker and just spent £4.5K on an e-Bike, has recommended this one but it's certainly right at the top end of what I'd want to pay:

https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/electric-bikes/electric-mountain-bikes/grand-canyon-on/grand-canyon-on-8/3397.html?dwvar_3397_pv_rahmenfarbe=M149_P03&dwvar_3397_pv_rahmengroesse=M&srsltid=AfmBOooIM9F2urDT7SWV6EiyVFM4FRiZ8Qc1JiY8eSZwoLFmq4xsstqCZ3I

 

[Rogerborg]

I will add, my colleague who is an avid proper mountain biker and just spent £4.5K on an e-Bike, has recommended this one but it's certainly right at the top end of what I'd want to pay:

https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/electric-bikes/electric-mountain-bikes/grand-canyon-on/grand-canyon-on-8/3397.html?dwvar_3397_pv_rahmenfarbe=M149_P03&dwvar_3397_pv_rahmengroesse=M&srsltid=AfmBOooIM9F2urDT7SWV6EiyVFM4FRiZ8Qc1JiY8eSZwoLFmq4xsstqCZ3I

That is a whopping battery capacity, and the motor is likely to be more efficient.  I do like the idea of mid-drive, it certainly looks much neater.

It comes down to how much use you'll actually make of it, in terms of range and features.  I did have one oopsie when I forget to recharge during the day and had to make it home (the uphill part!) on 40% battery - not something that I want to repeat.  You'll never be sorry to have too much capacity.

 

[Madhouse]

My bike's still powered by cake, but I've a couple of mates who have e-bikes and they find them great fun, both are on Specialized Turbo Levo's of one variant or another which are way over budget and far more bike than it sounds you want anyway. That said, my parents have the hybrid style ones and they got plenty of happy miles in them without any major issues. TBH if I used a bike to commute I'd probably have one just so I didn't turn up a sweaty mess every morning.