Any advice on the correct ebike to buy?

[jenny]

Hi
I am a new member and am looking for an ebike that has got lots of umph . I understand that something that is powered not through the gears is better, or independant of. Not sure if I am correct on this point. I would like to use it off road. Would prefer not to have a crossbar, or if so a low one and not too heavy as I have arms like Popeyes olive oil! ie. pathetic.
I would be very grateful for some non biased advice. Thanks
Jenny

 

[Cakey]

For off road you need some type of suspension. The haibike has a crossbar and I believe has a bit of power. Not sure of any off road bikes without a cross bar.
They also do a low cross bar eq trekking bike.

 

[funkylyn]

Hi Jenny,

Welcome to the forum

There are so many possibilities, what do you mean by 'off-road' ?
Traffic free Cycle tracks or mountainsides ??
Do you have a lot of hills around you ?
Most importantly though, do you have any electric bike suppliers anywhere near you ?

Because it really is a case of try, try, try, before you buy.....which brings us to price range ?

I ''kissed a few frogs'' before I found my ideal bike.....for now.....who knows what might come along in the future to tempt me.......great fun trying them though

Lynda

 

[tillson]

I'm sure that the sellers will be along any minute to inform you that you need look no further because their bike(s) are exactly the thing that you have been looking for.

However, the well worn advice of trying different types of bike is really all that you need to know. I'm not sure what you mean by, "I understand that something that is powered not through the gears is better, or independant of. " I think you are saying that a system which drives independently of the the bike's gears is better? If so, this would be a bike with the motor built into the wheel (hub motor) as opposed to a bike which drives the chain (crank drive) and hence through the gears.

Which type is best depends on many factors, but the concensus of opinion for the majority of applications is :

1) For generally level ground with slight to moderate gradients, hub motor bikes work well and can be the most cost effective. (Crank drives generally tend to be more expensive)

2) For hilly areas a crank drive bike tends to be best.

You would certainly have to get off and push a hub motored bike up a hill before you would with a crank drive.

You should try to test ride both types over terrain similar to that where you will do most of your riding.

 

[piotrmacheta]

For real off-road I think the Haibike full suspension bike (Bosch crank drive) would take a lot of beating but it isn't cheap (PS I haven't tried one). I use an ezee front hub kit on my mountain bike and that works fine off-raod and up steep hills but it uses a lot of power when going slowly up hills so is not the most efficient way of doing it but it works ok.

 

[Kudoscycles]

Jenny....real off road use is hard on the majority of these electric bikes,they are really not built for heavily rutted forest tracks,the weight of the battery just creates loads that the bike cannot cope with...however there are bikes that have been designed specifically to stand the shock loadings...I tried the Haibike at Presteigne and it felt strong and tough.
We have tested the BH Emotion Neo X/treme (Samsung hub drive)and BH Xenion 650 (Bosch crank drive),the Neo felt very powerful and tuned to give the instant acceleration needed for proper off road use,the Xenion 650 had a similar feel to the Haibike but a lot cheaper-we have test bikes available at our warehouse and will take these bikes to the shows throughout the summer-please look on our website.
However if by 'off-road' you mean relatively smooth but muddy bridlepaths and cycle tracks then our Kudos King bike would do the job for much less cost.
Unfortunately at our London e-bike test day,May 27,Redbridge Cycling Centre we will not be using the off road track but the circuit will still give you a good idea of relative performance.
Dave
KudosCycles

 

[Cyclezee]

Hi Jenny,

You asked for non biased advice, so that excludes me

 

[JuicyBike]

Hi Jenny
Simply try as many as you can, up and over steep hills, like the ones we have in Buxton.

 

[BrianP]

I am looking for a similar bike for my wife to use locally on gravel forest tracks and sea wall riding. At 5'2" many on offer are too large for her. This Raleigh Velo Trail in the smaller size looks promising. What do the experts think?

Raleigh - Velo Trail - Lowstep

Brian

 

[JuicyBike]

Brian
The front wheel drive could be unwise on gravel, rear wheel drive would be more suitable.
Also, with the battery mounted so high up on the bike you may find it a little akward compared to having a battery behind the seat tube.

Otherwise, a fine brand which we are thinking of stocking in our new shop.

 

[Tim]

Sounds like you need a Kalkhoff Agattu - we have a range, from the 3-speed Agattu with Panasonic motor, an 8-speed version and the new Agattu Impulse range which have added oomph and gusto, as reviewed elsewhere in this forum. They're tough and able to take on tracks and trails. These are among the most popular e-bikes in the UK and across Europe for good reason, and local test rides are available.

 

[BrianP]

Brian
The front wheel drive could be unwise on gravel, rear wheel drive would be more suitable.
Also, with the battery mounted so high up on the bike you may find it a little akward compared to having a battery behind the seat tube.

Otherwise, a fine brand which we are thinking of stocking in our new shop.

Not sure about front wheel drive being a problem. After all 4 x 4 are just for off road and 2 x 2 motorcycles give the equivalent drive to both wheels.

I find my front wheel powered Kona Ute fine on gravel paths and roads. In fact I actually like the feeling of 2 wheel drive. Shares the drive between two contact patches rather than two lots of power going through one contact patch.

Brian

 

[BrianP]

Sounds like you need a Kalkhoff Agattu - we have a range, from the 3-speed Agattu with Panasonic motor, an 8-speed version and the new Agattu Impulse range which have added oomph and gusto, as reviewed elsewhere in this forum. They're tough and able to take on tracks and trails. These are among the most popular e-bikes in the UK and across Europe for good reason, and local test rides are available.

Tim, isn't it the case that the Raleigh is made by the same group that makes Kalkhoff bikes, so the quality should be very good and perhaps the price of the Raleigh might be preferable at half the Kalkhoff when buying a first electric bike and being unsure of how it will work out. Once sure of using and enjoying electric bikes then move up to the higher spec Kalkhoffs.

Brian

 

[bode]

The difference between front wheel drive on cars and bikes is that on cars most of the weight (engine etc.) is at the front, on bikes at the back.

 

[jenny]

Hallo everybody and thanks very much for all your advice. Sorry I havn't responded before couldn't find my question on forum!... Yes I know!!
Anyway i am going to take the advice of most people which is try. It was the Buxton area I was thinking of Bob when I said hills and off road mainly woodland tracks I think.
Thank you also for explaining the crank drive thing.
If I can sell the Tonaro I shall have a good budget, so I shall keep an eye open for the shows and go there first I think.
Thanks everyone.

jenny

 

[JuicyBike]

Hi again Jenny
Please do come over to Buxton (01298 214040) or New Mills (01663 308409) and we'll let you try any of our bikes and let you loose on the hills to see what you think.

Kind regards