eBikes

[Tony]

So, I got a Haibike trekking 6.0 at the start of Sept and love it, got a very good deal on it and it's open up the welsh countryside for me, before i'd get to the top of a hill (it's all hills where I live) and be knackered and not want to carry on thinking there was another big hill, then another, etc Now I go out on a 15-20 mile ride and enjoy the hills and especially the views. It's also getting used for errands and visiting friends etc (the closest of which is 4 miles away)
So, all in all it was a great decision, i've found it liberating and I'm going to take my pickup off the road and use the bike more, I could do with another battery but I can't see that happening at £700 , although I have to say that it's a bit chilly at the moments I can't say there's any urgency!!

Anyone that's thinking about it I say go and have a ride, since I've got mine a couple of my friends have got one and love it.

I've got a couple of friends that say it's cheating, i just ask how many miles they've ridden this week and point out that I've done far more....

 

[GuestD]

I've got a couple of friends that say it's cheating

I get that a lot. I tell the sceptic's that it's not cheating; A, because I still use my road bike, and B, the E-bike was bought to replace a car. The battery thing is interesting. My bike has one that is integral with the frame, so it will require the same when it requires replacing. My mate bought a second hand bike cheap off Gumtree because the battery was done, and the owner wouldn't pay the replacement cost. So he built his own using Lithium drill batteries coupled up from Lidl's bargain bin. There's plenty on the web about building your own batteries.
http://www.ebikeschool.com/how-to-build-a-diy-electric-bicycle-lithium-battery-from-18650-cells/

 

[Nice65]

Those Haibikes look cool. Pricy, but cool.

I saw a Bultaco trail ebike a while ago that was pretty impressive.

 

[GuestD]

I saw a Bultaco trail ebike a while ago that was pretty impressive.

I have a friend in the states that has one of these, and loves it. Down side is 35 miles if you ride it fast, although they have a fast charge (1 hour).

 

[Woody girl]

I have a lovely e bike. It needs a new battery. The price has meant that I can no longer use it as it costs nearly as much as the bike cost itself..realy stupid in my book as I may as well go buy another bike. I can't use a cheaper battery as it won't fit. I don't have the ability or knowledge to build my own battery so I'm stuck with ano expensive bike I can't use. Untill I needed a new battery I was all for them. I had the ability to visit places I could not otherwise get to. Now I'm just really really teed off!

 

[Janne]

Imagine buying a second hand electric car.......

 

[Woody girl]

Imagine buying a second hand electric car.......

Cheaper to buy a donkey and cart. .... greener too, plus you get manure for the garden.... I'm very tempted! !!

 

[Snufkin]

I have a lovely e bike. It needs a new battery. The price has meant that I can no longer use it as it costs nearly as much as the bike cost itself..realy stupid in my book as I may as well go buy another bike. I can't use a cheaper battery as it won't fit. I don't have the ability or knowledge to build my own battery so I'm stuck with ano expensive bike I can't use. Untill I needed a new battery I was all for them. I had the ability to visit places I could not otherwise get to. Now I'm just really really teed off!

There are a few companies out there who can re-cell batteries, usually cheaper than replacing them with the manufacturers options. You'll void your warranty but if it's done well it'll be just as good.

 

[Janne]

You can not find replacement batteries, non branded, for your e-bike?

Sounds insanely wasteful not to be able to use a such useful machine!

 

[pieinthesky]

I don't have any direct experience but a friend of mine added a front wheel drive e bike kit to one of his bikes and says it is dangerous - avoid

He has come off several times from loosing the front wheel when cornering. I assume the lightly loaded front wheel has insufficient traction to do both steering and driving duties.

Or maybe he just rides like an idiot!

 

[Janne]

In the old days, you could buy a tiny 2 stroke engine to attach to either the front or rear wheel on your existing bicycle.

You can buy an electric motor kit today. Use your old bike.

I think that is super cool!

 

[Woody girl]

In the old days, you could buy a tiny 2 stroke engine to attach to either the front or rear wheel on your existing bicycle.

You can buy an electric motor kit today. Use your old bike.

I think that is super cool!

Yes it was a cheap option many years ago. But the whole point of an ebike is to get away from fossil fuels road tax motorcycle helmets and insurance!

 

[Janne]

Of course! I do not even think you can buy them.
They were hugely popular back in the days!

A helmet is not a bad idea though. My best friend got almost killed when he fainted during a race. His helmet saved him. Hit a sign pole.

2 stroke engines are fun though. Great to learn to work on!

 

[Tony]

Those Haibikes look cool. Pricy, but cool.

I saw a Bultaco trail ebike a while ago that was pretty impressive.

It's the low end of the mid range if that makes sense. It was a big investment, although I raised a good portion of the money selling stuff, but i have to say that it is well worth it, I don't know if it would be if I was living somewhere flat rather than here in Wales where it's uphill just getting out the drive let alone out the valley

 

[srod]

I converted an old mountain bike using a kit off the internet.

It was a crank drive motor made by Bafang. Was about £300 for the motor, £300 for the battery and another £100ish for all the other bits.

It was a really good quality kit, took about an hour or two to fit. Very good range, lots of power. I had a full scottish winter of commuting everyday 15-20miles and had no problems with it at all.

Have since sold it and gone back to standard leg power as I prefer the simplicity, and the excercise.

I'm all for eBikes, so many car journeys could be done instead on an eBike and such a better solution than an electric car. The trouble is people who can't handle working up a sweat also can't handle cold and rain!

 

[slowworm]

We're seriously thinking about getting an eBike or two. A couple of questions:

How much extra would people say can you carry on an eBike compared to normal pedal power? I'm wondering if I could actually pull a bike trailer and carry something like a small chainsaw in one?

Can anyone recommend a unisex (low step / step through) eBike? I think it would be wise to buy one bike for my OH and myself to use before we get two. Any downside to using a unisex bike?

Also, do they fair any different to a normal bike on potholey roads?

 

[Robson Valley]

Long time friend of mine has worked in a winery for many years. At least 5 miles or more.
In the beginning, he believed that an e-Bike would be the way to travel to/from work.
But, the eBike had no hill-climbing poop at all. Still had to pedal some big hills.
Hip joints failing, the long walk to work was out.

Maybe 6-7 years ago, he lucked out in a fabulous deal and bought a near new Aprilia scooter (petrol 50 CC? 90 CC?).
Were I in the same situation = hill country and still needing a daily driver, I would go Aprilia in a minute.

There's no way that I'd go for an eBike unless it could do even the modest hills on the highway.
I marked a few: The Goat hill and the Ptarmigan hill are gentle grades but 5+km long.

 

[Woody girl]

definitely will pull a bike trailer with ease. A friend used a simular bike to mine to pull a trailer with his aged dog in. So a chainsaw would be no problem.
I think a unisex or step through bike would be a great idea to start off with as you will both be able to use it.
Can't say about potholes but get one with gas suspension in the forks and a sprung saddle and you should have no problem.
I have a bad lower back so I just stopped out to a good sprung saddle for about £20 and cope fine. Mine is a whisper 750 so it's a pricey machine but ithe doesn't have ridged forks so the suspension is good.

 

[Janne]

The heavier load and more uphill - the shorter range.
I have seen many suffering people on very heavily laden e-bikes ( saddlebags, trailer with stuff plus a child) , struggling, pedaling the last 10 - 15 kilometers or so to our village in Norway.
About 70 km from airport - battery is drained.

 

[slowworm]

I would only be using an eBike for journeys I've cycled with a normal bike and even walked, so range isn't much of an issue.

It's the ability to carry stuff or to ensure I cycle far more than use a car I'm interested in.

Thanks for the reply Woody girl, I also have an aged dog, not sure how she'd cope in a bike trailer though!