e-Bike of the Year 2011

Two polls based on the nominations received over the past few days. The first poll is for the e-Bike of the year and you may vote for it based on any criteria you like. It is the factors which are most important to you which count.

On the second poll, you should vote for the bike from the list of nomination which you would be most likely to buy if money was not a consideration.

£2795......bloody hell!

A bit of a bargain! At nearly half the price of latest 36V Panasonics!

Edited December 14, 201114 yr by eddieo

 

£2795......bloody hell!

There's a market for them and we have owner members. It's around half the price of it's one direct competitor, the BikeTec Flyer X and there are a number of other brands dearer, so I don't think it unreasonable.

There's a market for them and we have owner members. It's around half the price of it's one direct competitor, the BikeTec Flyer X and there are a number of other brands dearer, so I don't think it unreasonable.

we have 2 members on here who own Optibikes and these are around 8k? Or possibily more I believe....

I just dont think that 2-3k is an out of this world sum in this day and age for a decent bike!

Edited December 14, 201114 yr by eddieo

 

I just dont think that 2-3k is an out of this world sum in this day and age for a decent bike!

Indeed, Kalkhoff is a mainstream brand that large numbers buy, but here's one at almost £4k.

You've bisased the results by asking the wrong question. It should've been headed "Vote for Ebike of the year", because it's natural that people would buy the ones with the best specification if money isn't a consideration. How can a Cyclamatic compare with a Haibike. It's only when you consider value that it can compete.

The question that I have asked is:

"Which of the following bikes, based on your own opinions, is the best one of 2011?"

I don't understand what point you are trying to make. I have re-read the question several times and I can't find any hint of a suggestion that the cost of the bike should be ignored.

A Haibike can compare with a Cyclamatic if it IS YOUR OPINION that the Haibike does not deliver £2000 worth of extra value over the cost of the the Cyclamatic. It's all very simple.

There's something odd here I think. The Storck is way ahead of the Haibike in the poll where money is no object. But the position is reversed here. This doesn't make sense as they both cost a very similar amount.

Or am I missing something?

Out of those bikes listed if you asked me what would I want to ride. Thats what I picked. I've forgot about value and just picked.

It's still more than I'd pay for a bike but I always try to get something for a 10th if the cost. It's what good buyers and merchandisers do :-)

Still there all very good bikes

There's something odd here I think. The Storck is way ahead of the Haibike in the poll where money is no object. But the position is reversed here. This doesn't make sense as they both cost a very similar amount.

 

Or am I missing something?

I've ridden both. The Haibike had better suspension, felt lighter, was miles more powerful, had smpother gearchange and climbed the hills a lot better. The Storck just felt like and rode like any of the other hub-motor ebikes that cost a lot less to me.

Darn it, I missed the nominations. Tillson is it too late to enter the Outrider Trek Hill-climbing Electric Recumbent?

I think it is. I've just looked and I can't see how to edit the list. Maybe one for 2012.

I've ridden both. The Haibike had better suspension, felt lighter, was miles more powerful, had smpother gearchange and climbed the hills a lot better. The Storck just felt like and rode like any of the other hub-motor ebikes that cost a lot less to me.

I think you may just have exploded something of a myth with your comparative comments there D8veh. Like OTH, I wondered why the Storck product was getting so many votes as it doesn't seem all that special on reading the spec. While it may be a very nice ebike when viewed subjectively, I feel the Haibike represents a greater departure from what we have known before and as an MTB, is beautifully executed.

Having said that, I'd guess most people would be happy with either compared to the heavy, cumbersome machines still on sale.

Indalo

Edited December 15, 201114 yr by indalo

I think you may just have exploded something of a myth with your comparative comments there D8veh. Like OTH, I wondered why the Storck product was getting so many votes as it doesn't seem all that special on reading the spec. While it may be a very nice ebike when viewed subjectively, I feel the Haibike represents a greater departure from what we have known before and as an MTB, is beautifully executed.

 

Having said that, I'd guess most people would be happy with either compared to the heavy, cumbersome machines still on sale.

 

Indalo

Have to agree with Indalo & D8veh this is all very odd........ I mean one member on here has voted for it and he only looked at the Stork in a shop!lol

The system of the year is indisputably Bosch, and like said the twin suspension Haibike a real breakthrough in ability at the price........

The Storck votes may be based on the good reception the motor it uses has had in mainland Europe where a few manufacturers are now using it. The claims for it may also have had an effect:

"The motors are built in Switzerland to very precise tolerances, are unique and very sophisticated with a patented torque sensor in the motor. The lithium polymer battery cells are all matched to provide an even charge and discharge rate before they are assembled in the battery pack in Germany."

There is a widely held preference for European manufacture over that from the Far East which will garner votes.

Mischievously, the Storck is definitely the e-bike of the year in some respects though, best hyped, most named-dropped e-bike publicity (Cosworth, Marcus Storck etc), best importer at staying calm and not reacting in the face of numerous taunts (Ian Hughes)!

It surprises me that no Cytronex machines have found their way into either list of nominations and I know we have a few owners amongst our members.

I'm surprised because they don't use bargain-basement bikes on which to fit their system; good quality frames from Cannondale or Trek seem to be the order of the day and the little motor with a fast-charge battery doesn't add much weight to those lightweight frames. The prices across the range seem to me to be very reasonable but to be fair, I suppose their style and the image it conjures up isn't perhaps that sought by the buss-pass generation. Drop handlebars and rigid forks, I suppose, are more suited to the hair-shirt folk who can wear lycra without looking like prats.

What makes their omission all the more surprising to me is, given my comments relating to age/image/rigid forks, we have a clear leader in the "money no object" poll which just happens to have sporty geometry and no concession whatsoever towards rider comfort! So......if I were pressed, nice bikes though both the Raddar and the twin-sus Haibike are, I'd have to go for the more comfortable ride of the Haibike.

Indalo

Mischievously, the Storck is definitely the e-bike of the year in some respects though, best hyped, most named-dropped e-bike publicity (Cosworth, Marcus Storck etc)

I thought I was the only one who had noticed the excessive hype surrounding these bikes Flecc. Because a motor is fabricated in Switzerland, it doesn't follow that it will be any better built than one from the far east and I question whether their batteries are any more reliable than those supplied by other big-name companies.

For what it's worth, I think their website is poor and uninformative, being less than intuitive to navigate. My immediate thought after leaving their webpage was, if people are buying these bikes in the light of what is already available and what is coming out over the next few months, then this is a classic case of hype triumphing over substance.

That old adage holds true today; "You can't believe everything you read on the internet." (Abraham Lincoln)

Indalo

I thought I was the only one who had noticed the excessive hype surrounding these bikes Flecc. Because a motor is fabricated in Switzerland, it doesn't follow that it will be any better built than one from the far east and I question whether their batteries are any more reliable than those supplied by other big-name companies.

 

For what it's worth, I think their website is poor and uninformative, being less than intuitive to navigate. My immediate thought after leaving their webpage was, if people are buying these bikes in the light of what is already available and what is coming out over the next few months, then this is a classic case of hype triumphing over substance.

 

That old adage holds true today; "You can't believe everything you read on the internet." (Abraham Lincoln)

 

Indalo

I think you are right there (!)

You are a great one for your sayings.....but 'internet'.....'abraham lincoln' ?? LOL

Theres an old spanish proverb you might have heard....

'' A pig bought on credit is forever grunting ''

Nothing to do with the current topic......but I just like it

Lynda

 

It surprises me that no Cytronex machines have found their way into either list of nominations and I know we have a few owners amongst our members.

The reason they and a few other brands aren't in is simply that the thread for nominations was only available for a very few days before the list was finalised. The great majority of our near 5000 menbers only pop in once in a while, sometimes their visits many months apart, so probably well under 100 members got a chance to vote.

I remember doing an exercise on this when we had around 3000 members, which showed at that time only about 50 members entered in any one week.