e bikes on ebay

[Woosh]

What makes you think they are less likely to be involved in accidents?

e-bikes tend to have better brakes, also riders give less attention to pedaling, more to observation.

 

[KTM Bike Industries UK]

e-bikes tend to have better brakes, also riders give less attention to pedaling, more to observation.

That's just nonsense.... "better brakes"... there is no such thing as an eBike specific brake, so they have the same brakes. They are also a lot heavier so even if they have "better brakes" the stopping distance will be greater.

..and also, you're suggesting pedaling is a distraction? Seriously? Are you allowed to talk and drive? What about walking, does that distract you from living?

Don't try to make out eBikes are safer... they aren't. But equally, they aren't more dangerous.

They are just bikes, where the initial power is supported by a motor, this doesn't make then safer or more dangerous, which is why they are classified as bicycles.

 

[LeighPing]

That's just nonsense.... "better brakes"... there is no such thing as an eBike specific brake, so they have the same brakes. They are also a lot heavier so even if they have "better brakes" the stopping distance will be greater.

Don't try to make out eBikes are safer... they aren't. But equally, they aren't more dangerous.

They are just bikes, where the initial power is supported by a motor, this doesn't make then safer or more dangerous, which is why they are classified as bicycles.

I believe that they are comparatively safer due to the riding styles involved. Motor cut out itself provides a braking effect and more weight equals more drag. Spatial awareness is generally increased on an ebike. Acquiring a bit of speed on a regular bike requires a bit of head down, or up off the seat effort.

Those efforts require time consuming, tunnel visioning rider input and the need to always be looking for a more linear path isn't necessary on an ebike. The ability to change course with relative ease and not being worried about losing speed, or having to crank it up for an oncoming hill, cannot be anything but a safety bonus.

Yes, they're just bicycles. It's that motorised support that you described that makes them different and for the best part safer.

 

[KTM Bike Industries UK]

I believe that they are comparatively safer due to the riding styles involved. Motor cut out itself provides a braking effect and more weight equals more drag. Spatial awareness is generally increased on an ebike. Acquiring a bit of speed on a regular bike requires a bit of head down, or up off the seat effort.

Those efforts require time consuming, tunnel visioning rider input and the need to always be looking for a more linear path isn't necessary on an ebike. The ability to change course with relative ease and not being worried about losing speed, or having to crank it up for an oncoming hill, cannot be anything but a safety bonus.

Yes, they're just bicycles. It's that motorised support that you described that makes them different and for the best part safer.

They also encourage people to cycle who might not cycle normally... who aren't as aware of where they should be on the road.

What you've described is achieved by being fit, so its not just an eBike benefit.

So yes I take you're point, but I think saying they are safer is missing the point slightly, its like saying a faster car is safer because it spends less time doing dangerous over takes...

 

[Woosh]

That's just nonsense.... "better brakes"... there is no such thing as an eBike specific brake, so they have the same brakes.

the average e-bikes sell for a lot more money therefore tend to be better equipped.

 

[LeighPing]

They also encourage people to cycle who might not cycle normally... who aren't as aware of where they should be on the road.

What you've described is achieved by being fit, so its not just an eBike benefit.

So yes I take you're point, but I think saying they are safer is missing the point slightly, its like saying a faster car is safer because it spends less time doing dangerous over takes...

Exactly like overtaking in a fast car, yes. There's less risk because it takes less time to do the maneuver. They also don't wobble from side to side as much, especially when going up a gradient, like struggling bikers do. Fitness is not required on an ebike.

 

[chris_n]

the average e-bikes sell for a lot more money therefore tend to be better equipped.

Really! My overall perception of a lot of the bottom end ebikes is how terrible the brakes are. My MTB stops a lot quicker from 25-30 mph than my Haibike despite a 203mm brake upgrade. The MTB has 180 front and 160 rear but weighs nearly 15 kg less.

 

[Woosh]

The MTB has 180 front and 160 rear but weighs nearly 15 kg less.

you still have to factor in your own weight regarding stopping power. The difference in your case may be in favour of the normal bike but not a big difference.
When you evaluate the general risk say in riding along with other people, do you feel safer with a bunch of pedelecers or normal cyclists?
I know in London, the normal cyclists are more of a menace than a bunch of pensioners on their e-bikes.

 

[chris_n]

you still have to factor in your own weight regarding stopping power. The difference in your case may be in favour of the normal bike but not a big difference.
When you evaluate the general risk say in riding along with other people, do you feel safer with a bunch of pedelecers or normal cyclists?
I know in London, the normal cyclists are more of a menace than a bunch of pensioners on their e-bikes.

Agree with all of that, however London isn't the whole of the UK. I cringe when I see some of the ebikes and ebikers around me in the UK. So many people both here in Austria and in the UK can now get into situations that they can't handle because the powered bike gets them to the top of the hill.
There are far more serious accidents reported in the press here with ebikes than normal bikes.

 

[Woosh]

So many people both here in Austria and in the UK can now get into situations that they can't handle because the powered bike gets them to the top of the hill.

I thought we were dicussing the average risk. Riding as a sport has its own risk. Don't those ride as a sport activity have top notch e-bikes?
I am looking to change forks on my MTBs to QR15 system.

 

[chris_n]

I thought we were dicussing the average risk. Riding as a sport has its own risk. Don't those ride as a sport activity have top notch e-bikes?
I am looking to change forks on my MTBs to QR15 system.

I'm not necessarily on about sport, there are plenty of people having serious accidents on roads with relatively shallow gradients. Sadly a few weeks ago a German lady holidaymaker was killed when a car underestimated the speed a couple of ebikers were going and cut in to avoid an oncoming car.the driver didn't stop and as far as I know has not been found.
This is the downside of going faster, it takes a vehicle longer to overtake.
Good news on the forks.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

This is an interesting discussion. I was thinking about this recently when I was out on my road bike. I had done about 40 miles and started the 5 mile climb up to my home, and I was thinking that I was in a bit of a stupor, like when you're suffering from hypothermia. My body had taken over the mechanical function of getting me up that hill, but the concentration that I'd normally have for simple things, like steering weren't there to the degree it would normally be. I never had that on my electric bike, so it must be related to general fatigue.

 

[Woosh]

This is the downside of going faster, it takes a vehicle longer to overtake.

When going uphill, e-bikes don't go over 15mph, that's not fast.
Whereas on flat roads or downhill, is it not true that cyclists on normal bikes are faster?

 

[chris_n]

When going uphill, e-bikes don't go over 15mph, that's not fast.
Whereas on flat roads or downhill, is it not true that cyclists on normal bikes are faster?

15 mph is a lot faster than someone on a standard bike when going uphill. A driver sees a bike and thinks 7 mph max up here I can get past no problem before that car coming the other way and takes twice as long to get past!
When riding downhill most tend to sit further out into the road as they travel faster leaving no room for a car to squeeze past.

At the end of the day it makes no difference whether you are powered or not. If you and all around behave correctly things are fine, if anyone isn't giving their full attention to the task in hand accidents will happen regardless.

 

[tillson]

I think ebikes are safer than a sports bikes for a couple of reasons already stated on here. I ride a road bike in competitions such as triathlon and time trials and used an ebike daily for about seven years whilst commuting. I've crashed my road bike several times, most recently with such force that it broke the frame, but I've never had a significant crash on the ebike.

The road bike crashes have all been due to excessive / inappropriate speed. When you have no motor to assist, energy is a precious commodity and the last thing you want to do is convert your pedal effort into heat via the brakes. Much better to preserve the maximum amount of energy (speed) to carry you part way up the next hill, or to spare you the extra effort of building up speed again after a slow corner. You tend to slip into a habit of riding the bike at the limit, or occasionally beyond the limit of your ability. Hence the increased danger.

Second, fatigue does play a part. When the legs start to tire, the head goes down with the occasional glance ahead and spatial awareness declines. The world seems to close in around you and you become less aware of what is around you. Hazard perception also declines with fatigue for the same reasons.

I've been using my ebike again throughout the summer for local journeys and errand. By contrast to the road bike, I find myself slowing more for hazards and bends riding well inside my capabilities. The loss of speed / energy through braking doesn't matter, the motor does most of the work. I'm also looking at what is around me more, looking further ahead, behind and even into side roads.

Having experienced both types of bike, my opinion is that I am safer on an ebike and the crash statistics seem to back that up.

 

[LeighPing]

In light of the recent cycling tragedies and their ensuing discussions, this has been an informative topic revealing the more positive side of ebike ownership and usage. This bigger fact finding picture seems to have revealed, and highlighted beyond mere argument, the enhanced safety benefits over regular bikes in general use.

It does, however, confirm that we're all cheating.. death. Whilst enhancing and contributing to the safety of other road users. None of which will make a blind bit of difference to the first poor bugger that knocks someone over with their ebike! But it's still good to know.