6'7" and 23 stone, which bike?

Tallfatnewbie

Just Joined
Mar 26, 2019
3
0
Hi, first post on here.
I'm particularly big and heavy and I live on the Isle of Wight which is fairly hilly. I'd like to buy a new mountain bike but I wonder what would fit me and if the standard 250w motors would handle my considerable bulk. And advise on oversized bikes would be very welcome.
 

grldtnr

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 22, 2012
627
288
south east Essex
Hi, first post on here.
I'm particularly big and heavy and I live on the Isle of Wight which is fairly hilly. I'd like to buy a new mountain bike but I wonder what would fit me and if the standard 250w motors would handle my considerable bulk. And advise on oversized bikes would be very welcome.
I think that you will have a hard time finding a off the peg bike ,speaking as a relatively short arse at 6ft 2, you will find whatever will be big compromise, I think you would need a bike that has thickest/ widest seat post you can find, as most MTB's /road bikes don't come much bigger than 23".
You will probably need to look at full suspension bikes too.
I think you would need to look at centre drive motors with Torque sensors rather than speed sensors, with gearing to cope with your majestic statue.
It ain't easy being big on a bike, I know!
 

Crossroads

Pedelecer
Apr 22, 2017
89
49
Whatever you buy, it is important, if you are big , to get a bike with a motor with lots of torque to assist you up hills. A Bosch Performance CX has 75NM torque and will do the job. Match that with a big battery - 500WH as you will lose a little range with your weight. This motor is fitted to big cargo bikes and will shift you up hills, no problem.
 

Eagle

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 31, 2012
381
134

grldtnr

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 22, 2012
627
288
south east Essex
Tallfatnewbie,

This link might help:
https://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=13075762

Elephant bike (ex-Royal Mail Pashley):
https://www.cycleofgood.com/elephant-bike/

Whether a suitable crank drive kit (Woosh) could be fitted to this, along with other mods (rear hub/gears?), other members can advise.

Woosh CD kits:
http://wooshbikes.co.uk/?cdkit

Does anybody else have suggestions for a very strong donor bike capable of carrying 150kgs?
The only other options is to have a bespoke purpose built bike, then fit a kit motor, indeed if you have s custom built bike, the motor should be considered as well
 

Eagle

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 31, 2012
381
134
Tallfatnewbie,

As grldtnr and Crossroads have mentioned, a high-torque crank drive motor is the way to go, especially carrying a heavy rider up a hill. Then add a powerful battery.

Have a look at the following links. I hope they are of use to you.

Richmond Cycle Centre are agents for Surly bikes:
https://richmondcyclecentre.co.uk/

Various Surlys and frames:
https://richmondcyclecentre.co.uk/product-category/surly/

Sale price of £1689 on this Surly Big Dummy cargo bike:
https://richmondcyclecentre.co.uk/shop/surly-big-dummy/
The Surly cargo bikes have a weight limit of 400 pounds (181 kgs or 28.5 stones).
Hopefully it would be possible to fit a crank drive kit to this steel-framed Surly.

Surly:
https://surlybikes.com/
https://surlybikes.com/bikes/big_dummy
 

TobyAnscombe

Pedelecer
Jun 7, 2012
124
24
Epping Forest, Essex
I was over 22 stone when I started 6 years or so ago and at 6"4' not too much shorter.. I've gone through a couple of bikes and my current one is a Cube Acid Hybrid.

Frame is the XL sized and I tend to have a high seat when on the commute but the Bosch motor seems to get me up and down hills ok. On the upside, I'm now hovering around the 20 stone mark and occasionally below 20 stone... It all depends on what you think you will need - a bike that attempts to mimic a "twist and go" or something that will assist you in getting out and about and being out and about will see the weight drop off you..thus making the bike choice about the bike you want to have (eventually) rather than the bike you *need* for the initial couple of months....

As always, YMMV ;-)
 
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Eagle

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 31, 2012
381
134
TobyAnscombe,

That is really useful information.
How did your earlier bikes behave when you were heavier?
 

Eagle

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 31, 2012
381
134
Woosh,
Would one of your crank drive kits, such as the Tongsheng 48v 250w TSDZ2, do the job on a suitably strong donor bike?
 

TobyAnscombe

Pedelecer
Jun 7, 2012
124
24
Epping Forest, Essex
@Eagle - First bike was a Cytronex GT Transeo; frame was already pretty beefy and with a simple bottle battery and front hub dragged me up hills. It also dragged me and a two-kid trailer up and down through Epping Forest. Battery life wasn't great but as the idea was to help with my (6km each way) commute and to give me enough "assist" that I didn't die every time I got on a bike.. In terms of how it worked? really well, thoroughly enjoyed it, allowed me to go out with my wife and keep up, tow the kids - we spent a lot of time out and about.. It lived up to the hype of "no-hills" as I had to put effort in but I got more out than I put in, if that makes sense..

Fast forward to about 6-7 months ago and it died. The motor was all graunchy, the battery didn't last anywhere near as long as I wanted and TBH the frame was a bit too small in terms of geometry (the things you only find out after a long time...). So I thought about the Cytronex kit and almost pulled the trigger but was taken by the hub/pedal argument and bought blind in an Evans sale my current bike. In turbo mode its pretty damm quick off the mark but suffers every ebike issue of it tapers off at 15mph. Its solid, great for hacking around and secure enough that I leave it at the station (with a couple of locks).

If your goal is to get something to ride like a motorbike then I would seriously look elsewhere! If you want to not be 23 stone then getting a bike that can help you get there is a great plan and really easy to do.. Depending on your level of disposable income you could buy a cheap ebike and know that you will knacker it out over a 6-12 month period (heavy battery drain, constant recharges etc) and then get a better one when you have lost a bit of weight.. but thats if you want to loose weight (my inference, not your post!).
 
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Woosh

Trade Member
May 19, 2012
20,213
16,815
Southend on Sea
wooshbikes.co.uk
Woosh,
Would one of your crank drive kits, such as the Tongsheng 48v 250w TSDZ2, do the job on a suitably strong donor bike?
the TSDZ2 can be a solution. If @Tallfatnewbie is interest, tell me which bike you've got.
There are a few Woosh Big Bears on the IOW that would suit. If you are interested, I could also put you in touch.
 

Tallfatnewbie

Just Joined
Mar 26, 2019
3
0
Wow, lots of great info. I think I'm leaning towards cube for the sizing then but still stuck on anything else. I've often thought about a hub kit as I've a cube hybrid I don't use much any more and it due a rebuild but I'm worried I'll end up with a load of expensive parts and never have the skill to finish it.
 

Eagle

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 31, 2012
381
134
Tallfatnewbie,
You already have a decent donor bike, so why not get a suitable crank drive kit to ease you up those hills?
Your local bike shop could do the installation of, say, a Woosh CD kit and do the general updating of your bike's components.
Alternatively go for a new Cube XL.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
 

Jon Matthews

Pedelecer
Aug 22, 2018
122
40
Hi Tallfatnewbie,

I was advised by my bike dealer to get the biggest frame size when I bought my Cube Hybrid Cross Pro and they were wrong. I'm about 6'1" and was about 115 Kg, sorry for mixing the metric and imperial. I told them I was long in the body and short in the leg (32") but they still recommended that frame size. I have a 62cm frame and its too big for me. My huge knackers touch the cross bar when my feet are flat on the ground o_O. It's a big strong bike with the Bosch CX motor, so plenty of torque. As for the 250 watt motor, don't worry about it as it has bags of poke. Probably the first thing you'll need to change on your new Ebike is the saddle and then I'd recommend some ergonomic handle bar grips. My favourite are these, they are brilliant. https://www.wiggle.co.uk/ergon-gp2-handlebar-grips/ Thats not an advert, you can get them at all the big cycle dealers. My Ebike has changed my life and I absolutlely love it. I've also had lots of advice and help on here and remember there's no such thing as a stupid question.
 

Crossroads

Pedelecer
Apr 22, 2017
89
49
Tallfatnewbie,

Jon is right, I'm 6' 2" and a 50 cm Cube Hybrid is the best fit for me, with the seat put back about a cm.
Go to a Cube dealer and get a bike to fit. Your weight will be fine for a Cube bike frame but things like tyres/spokes & drivetrain will be prone to more wear, but these are all replaceable.