Expensive mistake

[Artstu]

A Kudos City weighs in at close to 30 kilos...this's too much for the average out of condition old guy like myself who's looking to get into ebiking.

I recently bought a Woosh Sirroco CD which despite the heavy battery weighs only 25kilos and because it's small, feels even lighter...I've proved it'll do 50 miles on a charge, I suspect 70 can be expected.
....It's fast, comfortable and virtually silent running.

If I'm as happy with it in 12 months as I am now I will be well pleased.

Wow I didn't realise they were so heavy. I had to search Den's other thread, he's 5' 9 1/5" !!

I think perhaps the issue is nothing to do with the size of the bike but with Den and perhaps the way the power comes in when setting off, but having not ridden one I can't be certain.

I need to say this again, Den is 5' 9 1/2"

this is not a big bike for someone of that height

 

[103Alex1]

Got to be fair here, it depends a bit where denwyn wants to ride his bike. In town, where you are stopping on a regular basis, it is a lot easier getting a bike with a slightly lower crank (perhaps a 26" bike with the handlebars adjusted for comfort if needs be) and a more compact design. The shorter your legs are the more difference that same number of inches on the crank height feels like compared to a 5'10" rider. With a big heavy 700C bike, this is even more the case and I'll be surprised if trying a lower crank 26" bike of the same 'size' doesn't make enough difference to allow enough foot on ground when stopped without compromising riding position unduly.

The riding position thing is valid but if people are not agile enough to jump on and off their saddles every time they stop and are riding mainly in town / traffic light areas over shorter distances then a sub-optimal riding position might be an acceptable compromise over shorter distances without causing too many problems. It's a big jump back up for some people with a traffic stream harrassing them from behind. Unless you are still very agile. Which not every rider is.

EDIT :- just seen Artstu's post above. I seem to remember clocking that his inseam is about the same as mine though and I'm 5' 7".

 

[denwyn]

I'm sorry but for me the correct seat height is the one I feel safe on the bike with, your probably right with your statement on the correct seat height, but it wouldn't suit me, my partner who is 6' 2" and I must say a lot of her height is in very long legs has tried the bike, she's OK on it but has commented its to big for me, if I had longer legs it would be fine. It could be I'm not setting the bike up correctly,but for me its to big anyway its set. I did try out a non motorised mountain bike yesterday,and surprisingly it was nice to ride,so maybe this type may suit me better,although I do feel at 65 I'm a bit old for mountain bikes

 

[Waspy]

I'm sorry but for me the correct seat height is the one I feel safe on the bike with, your probably right with your statement on the correct seat height, but it wouldn't suit me, my partner who is 6' 2" and I must say a lot of her height is in very long legs has tried the bike, she's OK on it but has commented its to big for me, if I had longer legs it would be fine. It could be I'm not setting the bike up correctly,but for me its to big anyway its set. I did try out a non motorised mountain bike yesterday,and surprisingly it was nice to ride,so maybe this type may suit me better,although I do feel at 65 I'm a bit old for mountain bikes

How about a non-mountain bike with 26" mountain bike size wheels?

Cyclezee make some nice ones with low battery and low seat.

 

[Artstu]

You can't count on a mountain bike bottom bracket to be any lower than a bike with 700C wheels, in fact it could even be the case they're higher on the former given the nature of their intended use.

Edit, I believe the issue is the weight and lack of instant power. I've nearly fallen off my bike when I've forgotten the power is turned off when setting off. So a heavy bike with a delay in the power coming in is one to avoid in the choice of the new bike.

 

[103Alex1]

AM bikes often have even higher cranks. I'm not sure how much you want to spend denwyn but something like the Kalkhoff Sahel is pretty much spot on what I reckon would be ideal for you.

I tried one at the Eden show and set against my Agattu (Dutch bike) it was like a hatchback beside an Estate car. It's no mountain bike either, just a compact bike with everything you'd expect of a high quality machine. It doesn't have a throttle though - but it does have Nuvinci 360 automatic gears (if you like that sort of thing !). You'd likely be able to try one at NEC if you contacted them beforehand.

Kalkhoff : 2013: Sahel i360 Harmony

I'd try out some hub drive bikes with throttles though. Being able to use this when pulling away from standstill takes away so much of the effort of getting up and underway from standstill. Psychologically if you're not so confident on the roads and with balance when stopped might be a big help.

 

[Cyclezee]

One thing is for sure Denwyn, you are getting plenty of good advice and that's priceless.

 

[Artstu]

EDIT :- just seen Artstu's post above. I seem to remember clocking that his inseam is about the same as mine though and I'm 5' 7".

As you say Denwyn has slightly shorter legs in relation to his height, I'm 5'8" and have a similar inseam.

So which bikes have instant power, bosch, impluse, any others?

 

[Woosh]

Denwyn

Why not think about the Santana or Santana CD?
Both are easy to get on/off and have 26" Kevlar tyres and throttle.

I might be able to put you in touch with someone near you who has one.

» wooshbikes.co.uk | Electric Bikes | Woosh e-bikes | electric bicycles sales & hire
The Sant-Ana CD | Chain Drive Electric Bikes from Woosh | electric bike sales & hire


Hatti

 

[Artstu]

Denwyn

Why not think about the Santana or Santana CD?
Both are easy to get on/off and have 26" Kevlar tyres and throttle.

I don't think those would be any better if the CD I rode is representative of the hub version. The delayed way the power comes in may be exactly the same as the Kudos, assuming the Kudos has that bad feature.

Whilst you can get around that annoying aspect with a throttle, the throttle really just adds something else that you need to remember to do when setting off. But if all cheap bikes are like that then you have no choice unless you spend more on a decent bike that has instant power.

 

[Woosh]

Artstu

You are essentially correct. Both the hub and CD version of the Santana will take about half a revolution on the crank to start the motor.
The Sport TS on the other hand is instant with its torque sensor but sadly only available in MTB frame.

 

[denwyn]

Denwyn

Why not think about the Santana or Santana CD?
Both are easy to get on/off and have 26" Kevlar tyres and throttle.

I might be able to put you in touch with someone near you who has one.

» wooshbikes.co.uk | Electric Bikes | Woosh e-bikes | electric bicycles sales & hire
The Sant-Ana CD | Chain Drive Electric Bikes from Woosh | electric bike sales & hire


Hatti

I did look at Woosh, and sent off my post code for a possible trial ride,but heard nothing.

 

[Artstu]

Artstu

You are essentially correct. Both the hub and CD version of the Santana will take about half a revolution on the crank to start the motor.
The Sport TS on the other hand is instant with its torque sensor but sadly only available in MTB frame.

Thanks Hatti one to consider then The Sirocco Sport-TS | Electric Bikes from Woosh

after getting used to the way a Bosch bike rides, something with instant controlled power is essential to me.

 

[Cyclezee]

Thanks Hatti one to consider then The Sirocco Sport-TS | Electric Bikes from Woosh

after getting used to the way a Bosch bike rides, something with instant controlled power is essential to me.

Which is something you also get with a throttle.

 

[denwyn]

Thanks Hatti one to consider then The Sirocco Sport-TS | Electric Bikes from Woosh

after getting used to the way a Bosch bike rides, something with instant controlled power is essential to me.

Trouble with this is I'm going down the same road that got me into this mess on buying blind again, Woosh I agree have a good name etc,but no dealers here stock them,and it seems you can only buy from there store. Its to far to travel to view, so not an option. I must say though I am taking in all this advice and hope I will get it right next time.

 

[Woosh]

Denwyn,

When did you send this?
We get a lot of requests each day but quite a few people forget to include their post code or details of which model thay are interested in. I try to reply asking for this but quite often don't hear back. I have someone in Bridgwater - I might be able to ask them, don't know yet. Is this any good?
I am guessing Torquay is much too far away from you? We have a customer there wanting to sell his very nice, cared for Sirocco 2 second hand but it is a MTB style and really only suitable for 5 ft 8" and upwards - so probably no good? Details on the second hand page of our website

Hatti

 

[Artstu]

Which is something you also get with a throttle.

Sort of, I dislike having one on a bike myself, an unnecessary complication in my view.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Yes, that's what I was thinking. A throttle is faster reacting than a torque control system because, you can start it before you pedal. It saves getting caught between pedal strokes when starting off or going slow.

 

[Artstu]

Trouble with this is I'm going down the same road that got me into this mess on buying blind again, Woosh I agree have a good name etc,but no dealers here stock them,and it seems you can only buy from there store. Its to far to travel to view, so not an option. I must say though I am taking in all this advice and hope I will get it right next time.

Yes I'd certainly want to try before buying, I bought a bike online which worked out well, but I did try the Bosch system first on another bike to make sure I was happy with it.

 

[Artstu]

Yes, that's what I was thinking. A throttle is faster reacting than a torque control system because, you can start it before you pedal. It saves getting caught between pedal strokes when starting off or going slow.

Perhaps adding a throttle to the Kudos is the perfect solution, if one can be fitted?