Component Placement

[Andy88]

Guys, in your opinion where is best placement for.
1. Battery, back carrier or behind seat?
2. Hub Motor, front or back wheel?

Opinions valued

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[oldtom]

Opinions valued

For normal cycling purposes Andy, it isn't particularly important but for mudplugging or the kind of high-speed downhilling that some like to indulge in, there may be different requirements to do with grip and balance that don't apply in leisure/utility usage.

For fairly heavy machines that are limited to c15mph power assistance, on-the-limit handling characteristics are hardly applicable so I wouldn't select an EAPC on the basis of battery position or weight distribution over comfort and price, for example.

Personally, the downtube- mounted battery is my preference - I have two models so equipped but there is nothing wrong with those behind the seat arrangements and I have one of those. Many of those make for a slightly longer wheelbase but that is rarely an issue.

Self-builders quite often have bespoke arrangements with backpack batteries, front bag or basket, crossbar bags and so on but that's a very personal choice and unless you are going down the road of self-build, you can discount that kind of thing.

Tom

 

[Andy88]

Thanks Tom, how about ease of getting them in and out of the bike? Some look like the seat would need to be removed?

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[Crockers]

Mine is behind the seat....a real pain to remove as it necitates seat removal. Also looks very dated so my preference going forward would be as subtle as possible. If you're carrying panniers etc a rear rack should be ok.
I like the steps and Brose motors with very well down tube integration.
But they're pricey.
If I was looking at £1500 max is look at Wisper Torque.
If over that I'd be leaning towards Steps, Bosch, Brose Yamaha with good down tube integration.

Cube have some nice Bosch, Focus a nice Shimano Steps, Bulls Specialized and Scott some nice Brose and Giant some nice Yamahas.

But saying that I really lived riding the Riese and Muller but the battery isn't intergrated and the price is stratastrophic

 

[oldtom]

Some look like the seat would need to be removed?

Yes Andy, that is the case with some but others have a flip-up seat arrangement to facilitate battery removal. Crockers described the view of many with the models which require seat removal and I too would find that rather tiresome.

To be fair, I think some allow in-situ charging but not everyone wants to do that.

There are some really neat, well-integrated, pannier rack arrangements with fairly low-profile batteries but I like the fully-integrated downtube types that seem to be getting slimmer and increasingly subtle as technology improves.

Tom

 

[Andy88]

Great posts

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[Tabs]

Andy everyone is different, what suits you(sir) might not suit me or him over there, I bought a bike from Gumtree for £30 and fitted a kit to it (£400) and I think it's the best thing since sliced bread. I've got a decent hybrid bike that I was using up until a few years ago and I didn't want to fit a kit to it cause I thought that I would get back on it at some point but now am thinking ebikes are the way forward, especially for us old folk. I intended going to try some ebikes before I done the conversion but work/beer got in the way and before I knew it I bought the cheap bike from Gumtree and stripped it down and rebuilt it, ordered the kit (after some research on here)and fitted it not really knowing what to expect but I haven't been disappointed, it's as good as everyone said it would be,it gives you bionic legs!!!!

 

[Andy88]

I like the idea but I was hopeless with meccano and logo…

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[Tabs]

If that's the case I'd stick to something about 1k and see how you like it,you can always upgrade what you've got or buy something better later on.

 

[Andy88]

Yes, you are right, originally I was looking at £1500 but after careful thought and minimal use I will give the bike I think somewhere between £850 to £1200 gives me a lot of scope and a few quid for upgrades and insurance. Thanks 4 sharing

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[Andy88]

Tabs, where are you in Scotland? Im 61, moving to ayrshire or inverclyde in the new year, any good local cycle shops up there?

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[Tabs]

Am in Glasgow, plenty of bike shops and some good ones in amongst them, I don't use them to much cause I do most things myself.

 

[Andy88]

Ok not far away then, thanks for the heads up.

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[Tabs]

If you need a hand give me a shout when you get back.

 

[Andy88]

Will do and thanks so much, the first two drams will be on me.

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[D8ve]

Tabs, where are you in Scotland? Im 61, moving to ayrshire or inverclyde in the new year, any good local cycle shops up there?

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Billy Bilslands is obligatory. To see Robert millars polka-dot jersey alone.