Help! low step hill climber wanted. . . . . .

[yallapilko]

HI,
I've been lurking on the forum for a while and need some help!
I'm wondering if anyone can recommend
1. A bike for up to about £600 that is
a. low step (prefereable, but others considered) for a female
b. Powerful enough to go up hills with not too much effort (very unfit!!!)

Any other hints and tips most welcome!

 

[kitchenman]

Welcome to the forum ... Do you want the bike for commuting? If so, how far do you need to go? What will your route be like? Good road or track? ...

 

[yallapilko]

Hi,
Thanks for your reply. The bike would be for social use, Sunday rides etc, on road only, no rough track.

 

[yallapilko]

OH, I meant to add it would be for around 10 miles roughly, more as i get fitter!

 

[eddieo]

welcome! Have a look on the classified section on here.......That is how I started

 

[kitchenman]

Do you want an electric bike like this:

Juicy Bike Classic: Dutch style electric bike

or/

Do you want to find a bike and then go about having an electric kit added?

 

[yallapilko]

Hi,
Thanks edieo, I'll take a look at the classifieds.

Kitchenman, That bike looks OK, I've also had my eye on this one: Quartz Bike, UK
but from chat on the forum the mileage etc is over rated. But that is the basic style I'd like.

I also don't want to buy a kit, just an electric bike. I'm not practical enough to install everything.

 

[oigoi]

Tonaro do this one:

Princess

Not sure how good this model is, one of the others on this forum (funkylyn I think) has one on the way to her at the moment so she could be a good person to ask about it when she's got it and tried it out

 

[yallapilko]

Thanks oigoi.... I always like a sale too!!!!!

 

[Deleted member 4366]

In that price range you're more or less limited the hub-drive bikes that will only get you up steep hills if you're not too heavy. Obviously they're a million times better than a non-electric bike when you're unfit. They're all much the same, so any that you find in your price range should do the job, but definitely do not get a 24v one. They're cheaper, but don't give as much power as a 36v one. This will make a big difference on the hills.

 

[Cyclezee]

Hi Yallapilko,

Interesting name? I do believe Funkylyn did try the Princess model, but really wants the Tonaro Esprit.
The Princess certainly looks good value for money, but the best advice is to try before you buy.

Regards,

 

[RoadieRoger]

Yalla I have one of those Batribike models , the Quartz SE . Mine was £650 because it had the 8Ah battery and at that time the hub motor was 26V and in the front wheel . I`ve had 33 miles out of it and the later models would have more range . Your £600 wouldn`t buy one now as they are £900 . I`ve had no problems at all and can recommend the model .

 

[yallapilko]

d8veh - thanks for that. Excuse my ignorance, but what is a hub-drive bike and what is the alternative to that.
Also, I've seen a lot of 24v ones and not so many 36v ones in that price range and yep, I'm heavier, (but not vastly so) but would like as much help as possible getting up those hills until I build up fitness. Around us the hills are not huge, so I'm hoping that a 36v should manage OK.

Cyclezee - will also look at the Tonaro Esprit model too.... thanks for the info ... is the price difference much?

Rodie Roger - Glad you got on with it. I've come across a second hand one.... not sure about the batter though.

 

[NRG]

Hub drive is where the motor is set into the centre of the wheel replacing the normal wheel hub. The other type is crank drive where the motor is set into the frame in the area of the pedal crank.

The crank motor either drives the bike chain directly or can be linked by a secondary chain to the main chain wheel.

The main difference is that crank drive makes use of the bikes gearing where as hub drive has to drive the wheel directly. It means that ultimately crank drive is the better option if you are in an excessively hilly area, if not then hub drive are perfectly capable.

The majority of bikes are hub drive and as d8veh says go for the 36v one, avoid the 24v one as it will lack power in comparison and could struggle on hills.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

d8veh - thanks for that. Excuse my ignorance, but what is a hub-drive bike and what is the alternative to that.
Also, I've seen a lot of 24v ones and not so many 36v ones in that price range and yep, I'm heavier, (but not vastly so) but would like as much help as possible getting up those hills until I build up fitness. Around us the hills are not huge, so I'm hoping that a 36v should manage OK.

Cyclezee - will also look at the Tonaro Esprit model too.... thanks for the info ... is the price difference much?

Rodie Roger - Glad you got on with it. I've come across a second hand one.... not sure about the batter though.

Hub motor is a motor in the wheel, as opposed to a motor driving the pedals or chain. The ones that drive the pedals can use the gears, so in first gear they can pull you up the hills slowly. The hub-motors can only produce useful power down to about 6mph, so you have to pedal to keep them above that speed, otherwise they loose power and stall out like you would if you were pedalling in too high a gear. However, if your hills aren't too steep then you should be ok.

 

[NRG]

....snap!

 

[Cyclezee]

Cyclezee - will also look at the Tonaro Esprit model too.... thanks for the info ... is the price difference much?

Hi Yalla,

The Tonaro Esprit is double the sale price of the Princess. Please note that I have no connection with the Tonaro brand.

Regards,

 

[mike_j]

This is one my wife is looking at. Only a basic Chinese folder but the battery and hub motor are the same as I have fitted to my electric bike conversion and, for the price, it seems pretty good.

E20F03BL | 20" Aluminium Folding Electric Bike | 250W 8Fun motor, 36V Li-ion Battery with Panasonic cells,6 SP SHIMANO,Gel Seat

 

[yallapilko]

d8veh and NRG - glad you both agree anyway! Thanks for the explanation. I guess I'm stuck with the cheaper option but it's always good to have the explanation up your sleeve.

Mike_j - I like the look of that bike and the price seems OK ish... seems it comes 85% assembled.

Cyclezee - well out of my price range then. Never mind!!!

I think what I'm after may not exist!! i.e. a bike with great spec and a cheap price.... but It's great to hear of the alternatives I'm being shown here as I was sick of looking at the same stuff and not understanding enough.

 

[funkylyn]

Tonaro do this one:

Princess

Not sure how good this model is, one of the others on this forum (funkylyn I think) has one on the way to her at the moment so she could be a good person to ask about it when she's got it and tried it out

The princess is a really good starter bike,hub motor and good throttle..... I tried it out a few months ago, it has plenty of power and can certainly climb what I would call every day hills, I would certainly recommend them.Well built and sort of instills confidence......I did over 30 miles on it and still had 3 lights left on the battery.....but I was saving it a bit. the throttle was very powerful.....I loved it actually.....but preferred to wait for the model that was closest to what I was looking for.

The Tonaro bike I am waiting for is the Tonaro Esprit, which is crank drive and hub gears ....its due in at Phils in a week, cant wait to try it.

Will post as soon as I have more info......

Lynda