October 30, 20232 yr I am new to ebike, and to be frank, I didn't cycle much after my childhood. Having moved to a new town full of steep hills, I am thinking of buying an ebike but in budget as I may not use it for a longer time. Does Apollo metis work better on hills? Halfords says it does, but what is everyone's opinion here? Or is there any other better one you would suggest in <800£? Thanks in advance.
October 30, 20232 yr Apollo is associated with very low budget and poor quality bikes. Check Eleglide, maybe you can find something interesting https://eleglide.com/collections/electric-bike
October 30, 20232 yr What town ? can you give an example of a hill that you want to be able to cycle up ? How heavy are you ? (Determines how powerful the bike needs to be )
October 30, 20232 yr With your budget your limited to the bottom end of the new ebike market or perhaps 2nd hand or even conversion kits buying a bargain 2nd hand bike for the upgrade. the best vfm and probably result would be from converting a suitable donor bike imho as your able to select a kit with the best motor/battery combo for your needs. and fit to a bike also fitted to your needs. 2 key features to look for in a possible donor for ebike conversion are Disk brakes and some form of suspension, as with the capacity to ride at a constant 15mph many roads are a bumpy ride at this speed and at 15mph you still want to stop rapidly when needed.. dont dismiss the bottom end of the new market ebay/amazon special offers can sometimes offer real bargains.. if one takes your fancy post a link here for comment.. the problem is when you pay less and the seller still makes a profit that profit generally comes from 2nd rate components and with ebikes this means a less than optimal battery all too often.. Be mindful of replacement battery costs too, especially for bikes that have built in batteries that are 1 off designs that may not be available when you need it. Someone posted a link from halfords suggesting a dead ebike battery means its time for a new ebike.. Another advantage of a conversion is the use of modular and fairly standard unit components while a Branded ebike may have specific brand only parts and spares and closed system control again requiring a replacement bike if the handlebar display goes phutz Buying an ebike and getting good vfm can be a project in itself, best provide as many details of where and when you want to ebike for best advice, and perhaps specific recommendations. Not your postcode but the length and height of hills to conquer etc.. If really hilly (swansea uplands) then a mid drive motor that uses the bikes gears could be the best bet but if like me you just have one semi big hill on your way home to beat that may not be necessary..
October 30, 20232 yr The eleglide M2 seems out of stock (was selling for £699 on geekbuying) Maybe this one but in the title it describes itself as 750w therefore illegal to ride in the UK, but in the description it says 250w / max assist speed 25 km/h But decent size battery and 48v
October 30, 20232 yr Apollo Metis is only 24v, so won't be nearly as good as a 36v ebike for hills. You get about 50% extra climbing power with a 36v bike compared with a 24v one. This one looks good as is a lot better value: https://www.amazon.co.uk/DYU-Electric-Shifting-Removable-Adjustable/dp/B09VPCK9SM/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=step%2Bthrough%2Belectric%2Bbike&qid=1698697681&refinements=p_36%3A-70000&rnid=389114011&sr=8-5&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.cc223b57-2b86-485c-a85e-6431c1f06c86&th=1
October 30, 20232 yr Author I live in Torquay and some hills are really steep. The road I live in, I would describe it as about 60degrees slope. I am very little, weigh about 50-53kgs, so i dont fancy taking a heavier bike of half my weight in itself. Thanks for all the suggestions, really appreciate it. They are really helpful. I think i should probably increase my budget to get a better bike, but I wont be using it for long time (definitely not more than 3months).
October 30, 20232 yr Reading your last post, it seems to me that a 20" folding bike may be better for you because cheap larger bikes will be heavy to push up a hill leave alone riding them up a hill unpowered. Climbing steep hills with smaller wheels is easier with the same power. I suggest you look at the Woosh Rambletta: http://Https://wooshbikes.co.uk/?rambletta
October 30, 20232 yr My sister is 74 years old and 5ft 2". She loves her Woosh Rambletta. It'll certainly do what you want. I didn't mention it before because it was above your budget, but that's the price you pay for a bike from a proper dealer with proper support. Unfortunately, I can't count Halfords in the category because forum members seem to have too many problems with them.
October 31, 20232 yr [mention=15306]boyabouttown[/mention] was comparing the rambletta against his comparatively expensive Ribble cgr al e up hills. https://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/woosh-rambletta-and-ribble-cgr-al-e.37529/post-563973 At 50 kg I think you will fly up hills If you couldn't afford that I noticed there are a lot of second hand electric bikes around Torquay on Facebook marketplace and eBay, obviously more of a risk, but if you find one you like post it here for comments Eg Wisper 705 but be careful battery ok (would cost £255 to replace battery) Edited October 31, 20232 yr by Peter.Bridge
November 2, 20232 yr Author How about electra townie 7d step thru?? I couldn't find the battery specifications anywhere. Did anyone try this bike?? I might get it at 900£ with cyclescheme.
November 2, 20232 yr I suggest you use google GOOGLE (make of bike) reviews eg Halfords apollo metis review https://mountainbikereview.org.uk/apollo-metis-electric-hybrid-bike/ https://e4tp.com/apollo-bikes-review-every-electric-bike-ranked/ and so on READ THIS, and google (Hub or mid drive bike, mid drive beat hub) https://www.cyclevolta.com/story/ebike-basics/hub-drive-vs-mid-drive-e-bike-motor-comparison-analysis/ While it’s generally less sophisticated, a hub drive system offers simplicity, lower cost, and enough pedal-assist power for commuting, and even off-road applications.… But if you’re after more performance and better handling, look for a mid-drive system. "ESPECIALLY HILLS"
November 6, 20232 yr Author MI rider vs Basics osprey electric folding bikes?? Which one would you suggest?? I tried googling for reviews and didnt find any. Probably looking at a wrong a place, I dont know.
November 6, 20232 yr Both are suitable for your height and weight. However, the Basis Osprey is relatively heavy with the front zoom suspension fork and lack of front disc brakes where most of the braking is done, the Mi rider One has a single speed so a bit short on what we call 'gear inches' when you want to ride a bit faster on a flat road. Both have smallish battery capacity so when you climb a long and steep hill, they may run out of puff. If I had to pick one, then it will be the Mi rider.
November 11, 20232 yr I like ebike, on the weekend, I like to ride the ebike to the park with my friends, the price is among $1500-$2500. I feel that this price is still a little expensive, like the bicycle is much cheaper, but there is still many people like riding ebike. My boyfriend likes to take me out on it, ebike is better to use than bicycle.
November 11, 20232 yr I like ebike, on the weekend, I like to ride the ebike to the park with my friends, the price is among $1500-$2500. I feel that this price is still a little expensive, like the bicycle is much cheaper, but there is still many people like riding ebike. My boyfriend likes to take me out on it, ebike is better to use than bicycle. All bikes they sell are illegal in UK.
November 11, 20232 yr All bikes they sell are illegal in UK. I think you are likely replying to a BOT , looking at the way the post is constructed.
November 11, 20232 yr I think you are likely replying to a BOT , looking at the way the post is constructed. Maybe... I assumed It is a person with English as additional language.
November 11, 20232 yr I am new to ebike, and to be frank, I didn't cycle much after my childhood. Having moved to a new town full of steep hills, I am thinking of buying an ebike but in budget as I may not use it for a longer time. Does Apollo metis work better on hills? Halfords says it does, but what is everyone's opinion here? Or is there any other better one you would suggest in <800£? Thanks in advance. If you GOOGLE mid drive or hub drive 100% of all sites inclusing magazine sites will say MID drive is best for hills and off road despite any other comments "With a hub-drive eBike, the motor drives the wheel, which can spin very slow on a steep hill. When a motor is spinning slow and the rider is requesting lots of help from the hub motor, it can sometimes overheat, leading to a temporary shut-off (best-case), or permanent damage to the magnets inside (worst-case). " https://www.bosch-ebike.com/ca/everything-about-the-ebike/stories/hub-drive-vs-mid-drive-ebikes Mid-Drive Pros Generally speaking, mid-drives climb steep hills more efficiently than hub-driven e-bikes because they can use the bike’s existing geared drivetrain to take advantage of higher gear reduction for low-speed https://www.bicycling.com/bikes-gear/a25836248/electric-bike-motor/#Mid-DriveMotorsvsHubMotors KEEP googling for reviews Front-hub motors tend to be the preserve of electric bikes designed for commuting, such as electric hybrids and electric folding bikes. They’re also a common feature on cheap electric bikes. Mid-mounted motors are found across all different types of electric bikes. They work particularly well for electric mountain bikes because the weight is central and low down https://www.bikeradar.com/advice/buyers-guides/electric-bike-motors/ It is fact that MID drives are better, I have yet to see an expensive bike, or off road mountain where strength and reliability are needed where the use a cheap hubn drive, don't take my word as I say google mid v hub drives Also but the biggest battery you can Both my bikes are 750 watt, and if you can get external batteries not built in, when they redesign the frame next year AND the battery in the new bikes won't fit your old bike where will you get a replacement, external batteries fit millions the world over Finally thanks to the AMAZING help here I am going to do a 4-5 day ride away next year and will carry my spare battery on a back frame mount, think of a spare and as said the LARGEST battery, 350watt may sound good at 20 miles that is JUST 10 miles in fact out, then back, no distance at all PLEASE avoid cheap halfords Apollo and other bikes save for a decent make Edited November 11, 20232 yr by Saracen
November 11, 20232 yr With your budget your limited to the bottom end of the new ebike market or perhaps 2nd hand or even conversion kits buying a bargain 2nd hand bike for the upgrade. the best vfm and probably result would be from converting a suitable donor bike imho as your able to select a kit with the best motor/battery combo for your needs. and fit to a bike also fitted to your needs. I would have been ridiculed on another site for recommending this BUT I 100% AGREE, (can't offer alternative suggestions on the other site) I had 2 bikes, Saracen and my Sanderson Life framed cruiser, not cheap with MY upgrades over the years, so blow a NEW electric bike, I went to Cogs Y Gogs in Wales and had mine E biked, never looked back
November 11, 20232 yr If you GOOGLE mid drive or hub drive 100% of all sites inclusing magazine sites will say MID drive is best for hills and off road despite any other comments Actually in this link you posted: https://www.bicycling.com/bikes-gear/a25836248/electric-bike-motor/#Mid-DriveMotorsvsHubMotors ...they recommend 4 best e-bikes you can buy right now. ... 4 of them have hub motors.
November 11, 20232 yr If you GOOGLE mid drive or hub drive 100% of all sites inclusing magazine sites will say MID drive is best for hills and off road despite any other comments They don't. One German magazine tested crank-drive bikes against hub-drive ones up a mountain. The hubdrives won. Panasonic hub-motot first, then Bionx. Did you try either of those motors? https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.730098453682963.1073741853.200160223343458&type=1 Also, bikes with hub-motors won every category every year in the Ebike World Championshi hill climb in Bristol, despite some of the crank-drive bikes using professional riders against amateurs. Apart from that, magazines get their money from advertisers. Logically, those that make the most profit have more money to spend on advertising. I learnt a long time ago never to trust what you read in any magazine or sponsored websites. It's best to try as many different ones as you can, then choose on the basis of your own experience. Unfortunately, you experience is very narrow, so you probably made the wrong choice, but at least you can enjoy your blissful ignorance. Edited November 11, 20232 yr by saneagle
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