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That's why you buy a bike with a sensible spec. Or not, as the case may be.

I cannot agree about chain wear, in any event, how long is a chain supposed to last? More than 4,500 miles on my Charger and counting. Even if the chain needed replacing now, so what? About £20 for a reasonable one, less if you trawl about for an offer. Consumable item, not worth worrying about.

I did advise the OP to 'leave some meat on the bone'. Exact dealer margin is the unknown quantity, it could be 35 or 40%. Nor does the dealer require pity, he will be perfectly capable of looking after himself. It's only buying a bike, ask for £200 off, get offered £100 off - or whatever -...

Can't recall, but all the chains were successfully rejoined so the failure cannot have been catastrophic.

Asking for £200 off and being prepared to settle for £150 is a reasonable strategy.

I've known of a chain snapping three times. When I was resting at the top of Ditchling Beacon, a roadie pushed up the last few yards after snapping his chain. He was able to rejoin it using my chain breaker. A lady rider in my cycling group snapped her chain riding across a car park. The...

Motor replacement cost is a fair point. I've not worn out a Bosch motor yet, although I've only done 5,000 miles on one before I sold it. The Charger has done about the same. Croxden's Delite has done nearly three times that. Third party service of Bosch motors in now available at a...

As regards how much discount you can reasonably expect, margins on ebikes tend to be smaller than on pushbikes. The bike shop may have about £300 in a £1,100 bike. You sound like a reasonable buyer, so will accept you need, to use an American phrase, to leave a little meat on the bone for the...

I can't see there being a lot of difference between hub and crank as regards motor maintenance. Both require very little. I submerged the Bosch motor on my Rose bike in a ford that turned out to be bit deeper than it looked. I was expecting to be riding unpowered to the bed and breakfast we...

You need to use the phrase 'I will give' and stick to it. Trying to bargain without placing an order is waste of time for both parties. In other words, pick a deal/discount and make it clear to shop you will buy the bike if they agree. Waving the cash in front of the salesman's nose at this...

What is this 'extra power' through the drive chain on a crank bike? A fit road cyclist can put out far more power than me plus my Bosch motor. And roadie bikes use a skinny 11 or 12 speed chain. As said, chain breaks are very rare - most cyclists never have one. Chinese kit crank drives...

I can't say too much, but I believe an offer has been made and is being considered. Certainly looks like this matter may be concluded faster - and a lot more cordially - than Brexit.

For extra protection on Marathon Plus you could add Tannus Armour inserts. Unlike the cheap and nasty liners on ebay, the Tannus ones are properly designed and will not cause friction punctures. Or go the whole hog and fit Tannus solid tyres. I have a couple of mates who have them and both...

All ebikes are heavy, unwieldy lumps. Do you think you can realistically lift one in and out of the motorhome on a regular basis? A bike with a compact frame and 20" wheels would assist that endeavour. Avoid the cheap, Chinese folders - they won't last five minutes. There is a small number...

I've ridden Croxden's bike a couple of times and it certainly meets your requirements. Obviously the price is nothing to do with me, but I can tell you Croxden is honest and straightforward so you can negotiate knowing you will get what he says you will get. As regards the bike, I agree with...

The Orbea does have the same motor as the Ribble. Wide choice of flat bar fully equipped trekking bikes. Cube are usually good value, and there are several different Raleigh Motuses. A hub gear is a good choice for a commuter unless you have very steep hills because first may not be quite as...

I formed the impression it was possible, or at least easier, to ship a bike with a battery compared to a battery on its own. Bike Discount in Germany used to ship batteries to the UK - I bought a Bosch one. However, the link on the site now comes up as 'not available in your country'. Looks...

You need to decide if you want a flat bar bike or a roadie style drop bar one. The Orbea Gain is a little different from the others in that it has a light assist motor and a smaller battery. That may be sufficient for your needs, but it won't be as good on steep hills as the others. Most...

There are a couple of marks on the carrier of my Charger, but I do manhandle it through a doorway for storage so will have scraped it. I can't be bothered to get into a discussion about the level of scraping and how much it should reasonably withstand. The rest of the frame is still pretty...

I had a Nano for a couple of years which is why I suggested the OP could just about lump it on and off a train regularly. On the Tyne and Wear Metro they don't like you wheeling any bike onto the platform, which means you have to fold your Brommie outside the station and carry it to the train...