E-bike prices

[OldBob1]

Why is it that bike manufactures can not put proper mudguards on a bike these days?
I think they where invented some 50+ years ago

 

[jonathan75]

The narrow forks could be an issue. One can find mudguards to fit but when you've no suspension, the balloon effect of 38mm tyres at 20lb/ft is really useful for comfort.

Otherwise it looks very good.

 

[trex]

... when you've no suspension, the balloon effect of 38mm tyres at 20lb/ft is really useful for comfort.

Otherwise it looks very good.

I rode the test bike fitted with the NCX seat post. No need to slow down at road humps. Naughty but nice.

 

[One_Box]

Why is it that bike manufactures can not put proper mudguards on a bike these days?
I think they where invented some 50+ years ago

Most of Woosh's bikes have mudguards, I think with this offering they are really trying to get the weight down and offer something for the more dynamic cyclist.

 

[oldtom]

Why is it that bike manufactures can not put proper mudguards on a bike these days?

It's not that they cannot Bob but it has probably much to do with the purpose of bike ownership over the last half century. Two or three generations now have had no need of a bike except as children and then only as a play thing.

All those small-wheeled, small-framed bikes that kids and teenagers ride around the streets and pavements on, performing bunny-hops and such like, rarely had mudguards and few were ever used for any useful purpose other than as a conveyance perhaps to the newsagent and then back home in time for breakfast and school at the end of the delivery round.

Those bikes were cheap to make and cheap to buy, (usually!), for cash-strapped, heavily mortgaged parents so that's why thousands of youngsters had them and that continues today.

For those who moved on to more serious cycling, road bikes and closely-related hybrids were the thing to have and again, those bikes are frequently pared down and shorn of any unnecessary weight. For many though, they simply stick with what they know and Halfrauds, for example, has always had a great selection of MTBs primarily, unadorned by furniture or fittings but in many cases, unfit for purpose.

The picture in northern mainland Europe, however, is quite different and the cycling fraternity is much larger than here in the UK. Many people commute to work by bike and do lots of local errands on bike, only using car or public transport occasionally. Anyone who has visited Holland or Denmark, two prime examples of a more universal type of bike usage, cannot help but have noticed the large number of machines replete with pannier bags, mudguards, built-in locks, comfortable saddles and handlebars. Those continentals know a thing or two about all-weather cycling!

Three of my five current bikes have mudguards and the two without are FS MTBs which I simply won't ride in mucky weather anyway.

Tom

 

[EddiePJ]

I think that some have missed the point of this bike., which would be fast road or fast commute.

It's not about utilitarian comfort, so if you require larger tyres, suspension forks, suspension seat post and factory fit mudguards, I'd suggest that this bike probably isn't for you.

Raceblade mudguards would work on it, and surely that is enough.

In relation to mudguards, the factory fitted ones that are on the superb KTM Macina Fun that I have here, are brilliant. http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/2014-ktm-macina-fun-10-400.21227/ The fit is superb, as is the available adjustment for when required. The bike isn't exactly a slouch either, and has a very good spec for those that have the afore mentioned requirements.

 

[Kenny]

I take your point Eddie, but for many a bigger tyre is all the extra comfort needed and a bit more fork clearance would keep both camps happy.

Even us oldies enjoy lightweight bikes.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

What's all the fuss about bikes with or without mudguards? They don't cost a lot and they're not exactly difficult to fit. I bet if you ask Woosh nicely, they'd fit some for you anyway.

 

[trex]

..
I bet if you ask Woosh nicely, they'd fit some for you anyway.

Woosh have ordered the lights, bell, rack and mudguards separately, so they can be fitted on demand while they can quote a lower headline weight for the Karoo.

 

[rippedupno1]

Plus 1 @ Eddie,
I think that woosh should be warmly congratulated for giving us the option of a fast training/road/commuter bike. It's not as if the bigger tyre / suspension /comfy seat customers haven't already got a large selection of bikes to choose from.
Well done woosh.

 

[Kenny]

What's all the fuss about bikes with or without mudguards? They don't cost a lot and they're not exactly difficult to fit. I bet if you ask Woosh nicely, they'd fit some for you anyway.

The point I'm making is if you fit bigger tyres, there wont be enough clearance to fit mudguards.

 

[jonathan75]

Plus 1 @ Eddie,
I think that woosh should be warmly congratulated for giving us the option of a fast training/road/commuter bike. It's not as if the bigger tyre / suspension /comfy seat customers haven't already got a large selection of bikes to choose from.
Well done woosh.

Haha yeah right -so long as one's happy that they weigh 25kg with battery [emoji32]

 

[rippedupno1]

That seems to be the price you pay for the comfort unless you pay loads of money for lightweight materials .

 

[KTM Bike Industries UK]

a famous man at the heart of mountain biking once said:

"Strong. Light. Cheap. Pick Two."

(you can at in many chances change the word "strong" for "reliable" - but the same is the case for most products in the cycling and eBike industry.)

 

[Deleted member 4366]

The point I'm making is if you fit bigger tyres, there wont be enough clearance to fit mudguards.

Why would you want to fit bigger tyres? Why try and convert it into another type of bike when you can buy one already like that?

 

[Deleted member 4366]

a famous man at the heart of mountain biking once said:

"Strong. Light. Cheap. Pick Two."

(you can at in many chances change the word "strong" for "reliable" - but the same is the case for most products in the cycling and eBike industry.)

He was therefore wrong and constrained by the paradigms of his past experience. The evidence that you can get strong, cheap and light is now at the top of this thread. Time to find a new mentor!

BTW, are you looking into that 48v certification from the other thread?

 

[jonathan75]

a famous man at the heart of mountain biking once said:

"Strong. Light. Cheap. Pick Two."

(you can at in many chances change the word "strong" for "reliable" - but the same is the case for most products in the cycling and eBike industry.)

I don't think the Karoo looks unreliable or weak and yet it is also cheap and lightweight. I was just pointing out that there is no reason other than looks to have those forks.

 

[jonathan75]

Why would you want to fit bigger tyres? Why try and convert it into another type of bike when you can buy one already like that?

Because you can't buy such a bike. Woosh occupy a unique price niche and don't have competitors making similarly lightweight bikes at that price point. Currently if you want an 18.5kg ebike with good parts for £850 -or anywhere near - you're forced to convert.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

18.5 kg and wide tyres don't quite go together though. If you want te wide tyres for comfort or grip, surely a touring bike or MTB could be had for the same price. Woosh already do the Big Bear that can take wide tyres if you want them.

I can't think of any 18.5kg electric bikes, even self converted, that have wide tyres, except the Annad MTB at 17kg, but that's expensive.

 

[anotherkiwi]

I can't think of any 18.5kg electric bikes, even self converted, that have wide tyres, except the Annad MTB at 17kg, but that's expensive.

Now I have a goal for my next build!

When I weighed my current bike at 20.5kg it had mudguards on, and a frame lock, and a mirror, and a rack, and lights (not the same ones as now) and 26x1.75" tyres, are they considered wide? Next time I will buy 2" Big Bens.