Compromise! It all seemed so simple until......

[mikep]

The requirement was simple get a bike to get fit, get a 26/28 inch wheel because I want to cycle in the New Forest and on cycle tracks, get a folding bike which will fit in the back of the car, get power assisted bike so I don't suffer irreparable physical harm on the first hill. This is not a standard "off the shelf" product, therefore, choose a bike and a conversion kit, either get local dealer to convert or DIY.

The compromise was to go for a front hub motor in either a Dahon Jack (preference) or a Montague folder. The compromise was acceptable because the conversion kit would be the Daahub, everything about its operation was just what I perceive I want!

Until........ Daahub deliveries now put back till possibly Spring 2012!

Back to the drawing board. Find an alternative to the Daahub. Simple??? NO!!!!!!

Revisit front / rear hub decision - rear is the logical choice, but not set in stone.
BionX - great kit but replacement battery price is ridiculous.
Heinzmann - great product but becomes very pricey with the hi-torq option.
Xipi - have to use twist throttle to control motor, therefore might just as well buy a moped.
Currie motor - not for me.
Import from China - not for me.

That leaves amongst others - Juicy / Ezee / Fun8 / Alien / Sunlova / Cytronix (when launched) / Oxygen (when launched). Whichever kit it is I want:

pedelec control preferably with rider option on assist level,
throttle control is not vital (thumb control preferable if I must have it),
low inherent drag when switched off is important which also ties in with mass/weight of kit,
li-on circa 10amp battery should be fine,

At the end of the day I don't want an electric bike, I want a bicycle with the benefit of power assistance.

Based on the forums experience, which is the next best kit for me besides the Daahub?

Thank you in anticipation.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Instead off worrying which one is best, just get one. It doesn't matter which one. Try it, and if you don't like it, take it off and sell it on Ebay. You'll only lose about £100, but at least you'd have learnt from your experience and had some enjoyment from it. I've tried loads. and there isn't really that much difference between them, so in that respect, the cheapest ones make sense. Plus, spares for the cheap ones are also cheap and available.

I don't know why you don't want to buy from China. I've bought loads of stuff from there and, as long as you pay by Paypal, you're protected. Buying kits from China gives you a lot of chance to mix and match components as long as you have an idea of what's what.

 

[mike_j]

I converted my Giant hybrid bike with an 8fun kit. I could have bought the same thing from China a bit cheaper even after duty etc but I got it in 48 hours and no problems. Installation took a bit of tinkering but went well enough. Result is great, road and cycle tracks (I live near Rutland Water so that is a favourite) no problem. The only time that I have had problems (fell off) with front wheel motor was on our own gravel drive which is a bit like a shingle beach in places.

I am beginning to see how basic the 8fun kit is in terms of control but for general usability it's fine and the great thing is that my original bike is almost as pleasant to ride unassisted as it always was.

I have ridden more miles in the last month than in the whole of last year.

Just go for it.

 

[eddieo]

just buy a simple, cheap bike rack for rear of car, and get any e bike you want!

"Until........ Daahub deliveries now put back till possibly Spring 2012!"

where did this info come from. I have one parked in my hall and it is my daily ride!

 

[amigafan2003]

Don't look at the Cytronex kit if you want to venture off smooth tarmac.

 

[banbury frank]

Hi

Juicybike now sell kits With full dealer SUPPORT £495 + delivery

Juicy Bike Accessories: add more electric cycle style

Dahon Jack £399


Dahon Jack D24 2011 Folding Bike | Evans Cycles



Hope this helps


Frank

 

[Cyclezee]

Hi Mikep,

I think we spoke briefly on Friday. You seem to have your criteria worked out and know what you want and don't want, but do you have a particular reason to carry a bike inside your car rather than on a rack? This would seem to limit your choice of bike to a folder which is a compromise and the price differential between a decent folder and non folder would pay for a decent rack leaving the inside of your car free to carry other things.

Only yesterday, I sold a bike to a gentleman and helped him load it into a medium sized estate car. It was a job for two people and I was concerned about damaging the car, bike or both in the process.

I always say to people considering a conversion kit that it is important to chose a bike that you really like first, then consider which kit to fit to it before spending money on either.

Regards,

 

[mikep]

Thank you all for your responses:

d8veh and mike_j - funnily enough my mind was working along the lines of a cheap suck it and see solution and will revisit another thread which looks at the BMS products

eddieo - you have one of the pre production Daahub kits which were imported by Wisper for testing, from Wispers own words they are working on one or two things before commencing formal import and distribution

amigafan2003 - agree Cytronex kit not suitable (by their own admission over the phone) for rough stuff but I reckon the tarmac around here is possibly worse than some of the tracks!

Frank - we spoke over the phone last week as well, thanks for the links, the full dealer support on the Juicybikes kit is very valuable if things go wrong and the online price is not unreasonable

John - yes, we did speak over the phone. The reason for a folder is simply that the cost to fit a bike rack on the back of my car (as a BMW retrofit) is very silly money (Bionx kit level) and having checked out various high level racks that fit on the tailgate there seems to be a question of whether a secure fitting can be achieved without damage to the tailgate. Hence go for a folder if I need to move it by car. Unfortunately with bikes (and life), you end up with a compromise.

which is where we came in...........

Again, thank you all.

Best regards

Mike

 

[Cyclezee]

John - yes, we did speak over the phone. The reason for a folder is simply that the cost to fit a bike rack on the back of my car (as a BMW retrofit) is very silly money (Bionx kit level) and having checked out various high level racks that fit on the tailgate there seems to be a question of whether a secure fitting can be achieved without damage to the tailgate. Hence go for a folder if I need to move it by car. Unfortunately with bikes (and life), you end up with a compromise.

which is where we came in...........

Again, thank you all.

Best regards

Mike

Hi Mike,

Regarding racks, towbar mounted ones are the best. However, if you havent already got a towbar it would be expensive. The Westfalia detachable one for my Merc was around £300 fitted by a towbar specialist, not Mercedes. I also use it to tow a trailer. I imagine a BMW towbar would be around the same price. A suitable Thule rack like this Thule RideOn 2 Bike Towball Mounted Bike Carrier would cost just over £100.

Regards,

 

[barrycoll]

Hi Mike...

I can thoroughly recommend Juicy Bike as a freely available, relatively low cost kit.

My wife's 26" MTB has been a 100% success, with Juicy themselves fitting the kit.

The motor is quiet in pedelec mode, and the thumb throttle is available when the going gets tough, but the 'tough' are not quite willing to get going.

AS far as I can tell, there seems to be almost zero drag, as the bike freewheels as fast as my non powered Rockhopper, with no pedal input from either of us.

d8v is totally right in his advice to just go for it, as the Law of Diminishing Returns seems alive and well in the e-kit world...

all the best...whatever

barrycoll

ps .........really nice to read d8v's input again!

 

[barrycoll]

apropos of bike racks, Auto Manor of Upminster, charged me £199 to fit a Witter tow bar and electrics to my new Golf Estate, and I am still using my old Witter 2 bike rack with the Juicy ebike, and my Rockhopper....stable and hassle free down to Spain, and no back troubles lifting the bikes on to the cow horn carrier.

Well recommended.

All the Best Barry C.

 

[mikep]

John and Barry, thanks for your replies.

Well removable tow bar and dedicated electrics, plus suitable carrier for 2 electric bikes, comes in at a pint or two over £900; just shy of the small BionX conversion kit!! Oh and thats not an official BMW fitment, so it probably voids the car warranty!

I'll stick with the folding bike route for my own (in)sanity.

Best regards

Mike