183cm - Weight 110kgs - E-Bike for Commute and Weekend Leisure

[RB_96LDN]

Hey!

Currently looking at getting an e-bike, through the cycle2work scheme (evans administers ours, although heard you can use it elsewhere) I have a top budget of £3,000, but preferably would like to come in well below this.

It will be used for a commute (Not that far only around 5 miles), which is all paved, although on weekends would like to use the bike for greenways, and some hilly climbs around the peak district, but no serious off-roading, would like as long-range as possible, as I have recently got rid of my car due to living in a city centre.

Cheers!

 

[saneagle]

Hey!

Currently looking at getting an e-bike, through the cycle2work scheme (evans administers ours, although heard you can use it elsewhere) I have a top budget of £3,000, but preferably would like to come in well below this.

It will be used for a commute (Not that far only around 5 miles), which is all paved, although on weekends would like to use the bike for greenways, and some hilly climbs around the peak district, but no serious off-roading, would like as long-range as possible, as I have recently got rid of my car due to living in a city centre.

Cheers!

Just about any ebike should be able to do that. You shouldn't need to spend anything near £3000. It should be more like £1000. There are two things that really matter, and those are your weight and how many steep hills you have to deal with. You need to tell us those things if you want specific advice.

 

[RB_96LDN]

Just about any ebike should be able to do that. You shouldn't need to spend anything near £3000. It should be more like £1000. There are two things that really matter, and those are your weight and how many steep hills you have to deal with. You need to tell us those things if you want specific advice.

Apologise my weight is 110kgs, and hills for the commute it is generally flat, although I would say on weekends I would like it to manage well enough in the peaks/south downs etc, But do not need it to do all the work happy to put a little effort in!!

 

[saneagle]

Apologise my weight is 110kgs, and hills for the commute it is generally flat, although I would say on weekends I would like it to manage well enough in the peaks/south downs etc, But do not need it to do all the work happy to put a little effort in!!

110kg is quite heavy. I'd recommend a 48v bike to get the extra torque required. I quite like the Engwe L20 boost, which can manage any hill. It's not your typical MTB, but it does the job quite well. It has all standard parts, so is very future-proof, unlike many other bikes. Other ones that would do what you want are the Wisper Wayfarer hub-motor version and the Woosh Gran Camino. Both of them are well supported on this forum. Other than those, search Ebay and Amazon for 250w 48v ebikes. The listing must say 250w to be legal, so check carefully. Not all 250w bikes give the same power. There are extremely powerful 250w ones and some so weak that they start going backwards on any sort of hill if you're over 100kg. In other words the 250w doesn't really mean anything other than it's legal. Some 250w ones are more powerful than 500w ones.

Things to definitely avoid are: Anything with rim brakes; anything with a non-standard battery; and anything with a non-standard LCD control panel.

 

[Peter.Bridge]

The other option is to buy a second hand bikes off Facebook marketplace / Gumtree / eBay and fit (or get someone to fit ) a conversion kit

 

[AndyBike]

It should be more like £1000

I agree with you mostly, but it's not just about bike/motor costs, in that a decent drive train, capable forks, capable brakes, and lighter weight stem,bars, comfy saddle etc etc, even a suspension seatpost if looking to add some comfort.

Add the cost of mudguards, rack, pannier or 2 It all adds up, and a £1k budget is aiming low ball kit, which as we know isnt going to stand up to repeated use over the years. This is especially a factor if the rider is 17 stone.

At that weight, I'd want good four pot brakes for starters and 36h heavy gauge spoke wheels. Remember the whole package inc rider is going to be in the region of 300lbs. That is a lot of weight and momentum to be trying to stop, especially in an emergency.

On that note an 8 or even 9spd drive train will give a more robust chain.

 

[saneagle]

I agree with you mostly, but it's not just about bike/motor costs, in that a decent drive train, capable forks, capable brakes, and lighter weight stem,bars, comfy saddle etc etc, even a suspension seatpost if looking to add some comfort.

Add the cost of mudguards, rack, pannier or 2 It all adds up, and a £1k budget is aiming low ball kit, which as we know isnt going to stand up to repeated use over the years. This is especially a factor if the rider is 17 stone.

At that weight, I'd want good four pot brakes for starters and 36h heavy gauge spoke wheels. Remember the whole package inc rider is going to be in the region of 300lbs. That is a lot of weight and momentum to be trying to stop, especially in an emergency.

On that note an 8 or even 9spd drive train will give a more robust chain.

All three bikes I mentioned have all those things except 4 piston brakes, which aren't necessary, so an unnecessary expense.