Introduction and Question

[PennyFarthing88]

Hi,

I have been looking at this forum for a few days now and have finally decided to join to ask for some help with making a decision and for future advice.

The decision I make involves a cheap and heavy Ammaco bike, which isn't nice to ride. I am on a low budget (£600 at the very max. £200-300 would be ideal), but also have the option of using the Cycle to Work scheme, which would allow a budget of £1000.

I have been planning to buy a cheap (e.g from Amazon) electric bike kit to make my bike easier to ride and to help with a couple of steep slopes on the way to work. I am aiming to avoid being sweaty when I arrive to work!

The cycle to work is just over 3 miles. I don't cycle on the road, because I feel like my bike is too heavy, but we have lots of cycle paths where I live anyway.


The other idea is to use the Cycle to Work scheme to buy a better bike, which would be nice, but it would not resolve the problem with sweat.

I have also heard that an electric bike which costs less than £1000 would not be of very good quality.

Also, one last consideration: If a cheap conversion kit is a good idea, how much help should I expect with short but steep slopes?


Sorry for the long introduction thread! I was going to just post it in a more suitable section, but decided to include it here because I don't have anything interesting to write!

 

[Deleted member 4366]

I have also heard that an electric bike which costs less than £1000 would not be of very good quality.

That's absolute rubbish. Whoever told you that doesn't know what he/she's talking about. Your bike might be OK for conversion depending on which one it is. If it's got a steel frame and disc brakes, it'll be perfect. If you've got steel forks, you can fit a front motor.

Conversion kits start at about £400. Complete bikes can be had from about £600. I always think it's better to buy things that you can afford rather than take out loans.

Tell us how big you are, how much you weigh and what style of bike you want so that we can advise suitable bikes or kits.

 

[PennyFarthing88]

Thank you for your reply, D8veh.

If you can get a good electric bike for less than £1000, that would be great. The cycle to work scheme gives you a little discount from tax and you pay it back over 12 months, so I consider it a 'discount loan' lol.

But a conversion kit would clearly be more affordable. I am not sure about the frame. I can have a look when I get home from work, but I do know it hasn't got disc brakes.

As for my size, I am 5' 7", I am 11.5 stone and style-wise, I like bikes with low step frames- they look nice My current bike is low step- in case that's useful to know.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Have a look at Woosh bikes. Their prices are low; they're pretty reliable and they offer good after sales support. They have a few stepthroughs. At only 11 1/2 stone, they all have enough power for you.:

http://www.wooshbikes.co.uk/?sant-ana

 

[Jonah]

Also worth looking and Kudus https://www.kudoscycles.com
and Juicy Bikes (just under £1000) http://www.juicybike.co.uk/electric-bikes/electric-bikes/classic-click-our-latest-dutch-style-bicycle

It's always good to try a few first to see what works for you. Your location will determine what's the easiest to get access to. Where are you based?

 

[PennyFarthing88]

Thanks. I like the bikes on the three sites you both have shown me.

I am in Essex, so there are places to try the bikes out within driving distance.

How do you think they would compare to the bike I already have though? A £200 ammaco. I am wondering because if the only advantage is that if it is a ready made electric bike, it would be better to get a kit.

 

[Jonah]

Unless you can fit the kit yourself (and enjoy fiddling), I would have thought getting a Woosh bike and selling your Ammoco would probably end up costing no more and should give more peace of mind.

 

[PennyFarthing88]

Thank you, Johah. Well, I have a friend who is eager for me to get a kit because he is into working with those sort of things. My Das is also experienced with fixing and altering bikes, so the installation would not be a problem.

It is really down to which would give better value for money.


Oh, and FYI, I used a tool to calculate how much I would save on a £1000 bike using the cycle to work scheme, and I would end up paying £680 over 12 months.

 

[Jonah]

If you're up for a kit then that's different. I have less experience of kits so others will be better able to advise. The Woosh kits seem reasonably priced and specced.

 

[timidtom]

Thank you for your reply, D8veh.

If you can get a good electric bike for less than £1000, that would be great. The cycle to work scheme gives you a little discount from tax and you pay it back over 12 months, so I consider it a 'discount loan' lol.
useful to know.

We both have ebikes which cost well under £1000 each. We've had them for about 4 years now and the wheels still go round! Try as many as you can, there'll be an excellent bike for you in your price range.
Happy ebiking!
Tom

 

[Alan Quay]

With your low weight, I'd say half decent linear pull brakes (aka V Brakes) will be fine. One of my bikes has V brakes, and I've done 1000's of miles on, and I haven't been killed, not even once. I'm considerably heavier than you.

Steel frames are good for E bikes, so it sounds like you bike is a good candidate for conversion. Get some pics up and we can all give more advice.

The hardest part about building an electric bike is deciding what you want.

First you will need to decide on front or rear wheel drive. Then power, speed, range, battery position, legality (or not)

There are plenty of good peeps on here who will offer advice.

Welcome to forum.

 

[trex]

woosh is in Queens Road, Southend, can't be that far from you.
Always try as many bikes as you can before making a decision. They also have a few converted bikes that you can try.

 

[PennyFarthing88]

There is so much to consider! I know I won't need much distance. I doubt an electric bike would have a distance of less than 10 miles. I will do most of the cycling on the way home for light exercise, but on the way there, I plan to peddle very little- enough to keep warm in the winter, but not enough to sweat.

I have uploaded a picture of my bike.

 

[Alan Quay]

Looks like a good bike for conversion. My suggestion:

10ah shrink wrap battery on the rear rack, 250w BPM motor in the front. Throttle and/or pedal sensor.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Test the forks with a magnet to see if they're steel, in which case you can fit a front motor. The bike looks good for conversion.

 

[Alan Quay]

From the look of it (you need to confirm) its alloy frame with steel forks....

 

[JuicyBike]

Oh, and FYI, I used a tool to calculate how much I would save on a £1000 bike using the cycle to work scheme, and I would end up paying £680 over 12 months.

Yep.
Cycle to work scheme is still a very sensible way to buy. Kits aren't eligible though.
Not all retailers offer the scheme as there are costs to them.
We do though...

 

[PennyFarthing88]

I was going to try the magnet test this morning, but was late for work! I'll have a look tonight though.

Yep.
Cycle to work scheme is still a very sensible way to buy. Kits aren't eligible though.
Not all retailers offer the scheme as there are costs to them.
We do though...

Thank you, Juicy. I do like the Juicy bikes, but buying the kit would be a cheaper option for me. I'm wondering what sort or price range the bikes would be without the motor. I know that's a strange question, but it will give me a rough idea on whether I would be better off just getting one of the bikes, or getting a kit for the bike I have already.

 

[RobF]

I was going to try the magnet test this morning, but was late for work! I'll have a look tonight though.



Thank you, Juicy. I do like the Juicy bikes, but buying the kit would be a cheaper option for me. I'm wondering what sort or price range the bikes would be without the motor. I know that's a strange question, but it will give me a rough idea on whether I would be better off just getting one of the bikes, or getting a kit for the bike I have already.

Your bike looks like a cheap and cheerful one which would retail for around £200.

You would get a similar quality bicycle if you bought a woosh, maybe something a bit nicer if you bought a Juicy.

There's a lot to be said for converting your bike if you like it, it fits you, and it is reasonably well sorted.

As you may have read from other posts, there's often some fettling to be done on a new budget ebike.

 

[PennyFarthing88]

Your bike looks like a cheap and cheerful one which would retail for around £200.

You would get a similar quality bicycle if you bought a woosh, maybe something a bit nicer if you bought a Juicy.

There's a lot to be said for converting your bike if you like it, it fits you, and it is reasonably well sorted.

As you may have read from other posts, there's often some fettling to be done on a new budget ebike.

Thank you, RobF for that. It is a cheap bike and you're spot on with the price! . If, for this price range, the frame for an electric bike would not be much better than the one I already have, I think I will just go for a kit. That way, If I do decide to get a better bike, I can choose one which is suitable for the kit which I buy for my current one.

Does that seem feasible to you? I am sorry for all the questions, but really appreciate all the help!