26 Inch-wheeled Pedelec

[Templogin]

I am very new to this so just a basic question to get started.

I have a number of bikes with different tyre sizes: 16", 17", 20" and 26". It would be nice not to have to stock yet another spare tyre size in my boxes of spares.

Is there a good quality (budget about £2k) touring pedelec with diamond frame? Needs to be able to do a 35 mile trip with a fat bloke aboard (13 stones) in a windy environment.

 

[Kudoscycles]

Hi,your requirements are met by most of the Pedelecs,the diamond frame,26" wheels and 13 stone,350wh battery should be good for 30-35 miles provided you do some pedalling.
You really do need to visit a dealer who has a good stock of bikes,up to £2k you have a good choice.
Where are you located,perhaps we can recommend a local dealer .
At £2k I like the KTM bikes,they have a massive range,are well equipped and to my eyes look attractive.
KudosDave

 

[Templogin]

I am up in Shetland, so miles from "proper" e-bike shops.

I will look at the KTM range though.

Thanks a lot

Andy

 

[Templogin]

I should have said, must have hub gears. Deraileurs are the work of the devil!

 

[Kudoscycles]

The KTM Macina Bold with Nexus hub gears would appear to be perfect,the London Electric Bike Company had a couple for sale at £1850.00....it's a very attractive bike and has all the commuter accessories,try giving them a ring...07841 412199
Or perhaps the Kudos Eiger....Crank Drive,Nuvinci hub,Hydraulic brakes....can be fitted with lights and mudguards ,see the option pack. The Nuvinci hub is so nice to use and bombproof,if you don't like derailleurs...price £1495.00
Never shipped a bike to Shetland but our parent company,namely Rally Design ,has some very good courier rates.
KudosDave

 

[Martin@e-bikeshop]

OK, so I don't normally jump on posts like this, buuuut..
the criteria as follows -

26" Wheels (tick)
Diamond Frame (tick)
Range (tick)
Hub Gears (tick)
Budget (tick)
Shipped to Shetland (tick)

The bike in question here

Feel free to email me if you have any questions.

Regards
Martin

 

[Templogin]

Thanks guys.

That's KTM Macina Bold, Raleigh Leeds and Kalkhoff Pro Connect Impulse Alfine 8G so far that look good.

Not sure on the wheel size of the latter, but the other specs are impressive and make overlooking the wheel size easier.

I shall be happy to pedal along, I am just struggling with 17 miles each way on my steel framed, Rohloff hubbed Thorn. Fitness is the problem and an e-bike could help me out in the interim period. When I am on the mainland it is much easier due to the comparative lack of wind.

 

[RobF]

Much as I like Bosch bikes - I have two - I don't think one is right for you.

You mention 34 miles in windy conditions.

It them emerges you are on Sheltland, where I imagine the word 'windy' means something a bit different than it usually does to us softie Sassenachs.

The Bosch bikes only come with an 11ah battery - you could easily run out of juice trying to do 30+ miles into a stiff headwind.

One of the Kalkhoffs has a 17ah battery, which would be plenty big enough.

 

[D8ve]

When you are working out the battery it is volts times amps and decide by 10 to estimate range. So 26 v 12 amps gives 312/10 circa 31miles
36 v 12 gives 432/10 or 43 miles.
And 36v 17 amps gives 61 mile range. ( based on 10 watt hours per mile)
The best quality light weight bikes with flat road and good cyclist will do 7watts per mile. An old fat man in a hilly area with a cheap heavy bike might eat 20 watts per mile.

These figures are a rough rule of thumb. But expect half the range if old lazy and bad conditions. And if you are fit with a tale wind you might get the published ranges.

 

[Templogin]

Thanks guys. I have come to the conclusion that a Kalkhoff with the 612Wh battery will cover my needs at the moment and give me room to grow. I will just have to bit the bullet on the tyre size. Am still not sure on the model though. It has come down to either Pro Connect Impulse Alfine 8G or the or the Agattu Premium Impulse 11. It would have to be a diamond frame whichever the choice was and will now come down to specs versus price.

Thanks again for all of your help.

Andy

 

[Alchemist]

Go for broke and shell out on the Endeavour, the Impulse 2 10 speed is the boy, and can tackle the windy hills of Aberdeenshire without a murmur, so Shetland should not bother it, serious autonomy from the big battery too. You'll not regret it, but of course keep using it 'offroad', in case the bobby nabs ye!

 

[Templogin]

Tempting, but the ceiling was two grand and I will be exceeding that!

 

[Alchemist]

A Pro connect could be modded though!

 

[Templogin]

Are you the forum drug dealer!?!?

 

[Alchemist]

No, sorry, I think you're you'll be looking for 'Purplehaze1969', not, I think a reference to the speed of his maroon bike, either, ha ha ha!

Just a canny Aberdeenshire loon, wha'd like to remind you of Ruskin's words on value and price:

"When you pay too much, you lose a little money; that is all. When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything because the product you bought is incapable of doing what it was bought to do.
The common law of business prohibits paying a little and getting a lot. It can’t be done.
If you deal with the lowest bidder, it is well to add something for the risk you run. And if you do that, you would have enough to pay for something better.
There is hardly anything in this world that someone can’t make a little worse and sell a little cheaper-and people who consider price alone are this man’s lawful prey."

Maybe that lads selling the 'Woosh' bikes micht ken whaur ye could get a 'Wizz' bike too though?

 

[D8ve]

The whoosh bikes can be reconfigured for off road use. I think just on the digital screen. It might even have been D8veh who put up instructions as on how to do it. ( or Flecc).
And if most components are made in China are you sometimes paying for the name?
Says the man who loves the Panasonic crank drive bikes

 

[Alchemist]

I might be wrong but I think both the Bosch and Kalkhoff motors and controllers are made in Germany, (okay, I know, but really, the Greeks/ Irish/Portuguese/Spanish, etc., need their money more than the Chinese need ours), says the arch Eurosceptic!

 

[Templogin]

I can't imagine there would be much Chinese content in a German product without a lot of quality control checking.

16mph will be enough for me now. It' she distance that is more important that the speed. So it all comes down to length does matter.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

I can't imagine there would be much Chinese content in a German product without a lot of quality control checking.

You need to practice imagining then. Start with simple things, like imagining what you would do with the money if you won the lottery. If you practice a couple of hours a day, you should soon be able to work up to difficult things, like imagining that politicians care about your interests.

 

[Alchemist]

Unmodded Pro connect then?