Lightweight urban e-bikes such as Ampler Curt, Orbea Gain F40 etc.

[DroidOne]

Instead of buying a bulkier 500Wh bike, I'm looking for something light and easy to carry, and I'd rather not spend more than €2 499 / £2 200.

There's not that much to chose from as far as I can find though - any suggestions I might add to the list? Aiming for 17 kg or less!

Ampler Curt €2 990, 14,3 kg (340 Wh): https://amplerbikes.com/en/e-bikes/curt
Ampler Stout €2 490 17 kg (340 Wh): https://amplerbikes.com/en/e-bikes/stout

Orbea Gain F40 €1 990 15 kg (250 Wh + aux battery support): https://www.orbea.com/ie-en/ebikes/urban/gain-urban/cat/gain-f40-19


I'm not sure about Ampler since it's a startup offering a single product. Will probably be hard to find any spare parts if they go the way of the dodo? About 3 years old now though, so it's looking good.


I guess the Gain F40 probably offers best value for the money? Especially if the aux battery they've been promising ever shows up.

 

[soundwave]

tbh there all well over priced for what you are getting spec wise other than a few kg lighter and well down on power and batt.

a cube hard tail like this would be a better option and more value for money but @21.5 kg.
https://www.tweekscycles.com/uk/cube-acid-hybrid-one-500-hardtail-e-bike-2019-2004165/?sku=CUB23310117&istCompanyId=56f52ebf-49f3-492a-9cbb-cb6ab0fc1bf0&istFeedId=33b89177-5114-4491-9c2a-09a3a7cb23b2&istItemId=wrmawxlqq&istBid=t&gclid=CjwKCAjwqfDlBRBDEiwAigXUaKXUvFeB7Nuvdz0fa71NEx2f7PH2_jJYnfw3OVQwP4Zq-nqpEjr0NhoCjQsQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[DroidOne]

tbh there all well over priced for what you are getting spec wise other than a few kg lighter and well down on power and batt.

a cube hard tail like this would be a better option and more value for money but @21.5 kg.
https://www.tweekscycles.com/uk/cube-acid-hybrid-one-500-hardtail-e-bike-2019-2004165/?sku=CUB23310117&istCompanyId=56f52ebf-49f3-492a-9cbb-cb6ab0fc1bf0&istFeedId=33b89177-5114-4491-9c2a-09a3a7cb23b2&istItemId=wrmawxlqq&istBid=t&gclid=CjwKCAjwqfDlBRBDEiwAigXUaKXUvFeB7Nuvdz0fa71NEx2f7PH2_jJYnfw3OVQwP4Zq-nqpEjr0NhoCjQsQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Yes, the issue is the weight. In comparison with the Gain F40 that's almost a 7kg/45% difference.

I plan on bringing it on the train, and I have the carry it to get it on board (won't fit their tiny elevator, so have to take the stairs down/up).

 

[soundwave]

Yes, the issue is the weight. In comparison with the Gain F40 that's almost a 7kg/45% difference.

I plan on bringing it on the train, and I have the carry it to get it on board (old station with stairs everywhere).

the bosch system does have a walk assist so will help get it up steps you just have to hold the walk button if u cant do the above.

 

[DroidOne]

Haha, fair enough. Maybe if there weren't that many people around, hehe.

 

[soundwave]

https://www.vivax-assist.com/de/produkte/e-rennrad/fahrrad.php?id=551

 

[DroidOne]

https://www.vivax-assist.com/de/produkte/e-rennrad/fahrrad.php?id=551

Amazing that they've managed to get it down to only 10kg. It's a bit expensive though @ €6 000 - looking for something closer to ~€2 500.

 

[JuicyBike]

We have two that might be suitable, Ticket and Furtivoo.

https://www.juicybike.co.uk/electric-bikes/ticket

https://www.juicybike.co.uk/electric-bikes/furtivoo

 

[georgehenry]

A good old fashioned de restricted throttle used with care can really help when negotiating railway stations and trains with a heavy ebike. A whiff of throttle will allow the bike to keep pace alongside you on those steep underpass ramps to access the platform. Before they put lifts in that could accommodate bikes at most of my local stations I have even climbed over bridge stairs using the throttle to help push the bike up, a bit ungainly but effective. My haibike with walk assist is much less effective. When accessing the actual train I lift the front wheel through the door and roll the bike forward to rest the back wheel against lip of the doorway and then pull forwards from the back of the saddle and the bike will roll into the carriage quite easily.

The Curt does look nice but as soundwave points out is expensive.

You might want to consider a folder, the new Brompton folder.

Much cheaper and but well regarded is this https://www.piratescave.co.uk/seago-folding-electric-bike.html

 

[Nev]

This could be what your looking for?
https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-hybrid-al-e/

 

[DroidOne]

This could be what your looking for?
https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-hybrid-al-e/

That looks great, 13,5 kg is very light. I can't seem to find any information about the battery capacity though. I'll have to ask them. It's about €600 cheaper than the Ampler Curt.

Edit: It does have the same system as the Orbea Gain (ebikemotion X35). It seems to be coupled with a 250Wh capacity battery by default.

A cool thing about X35 is that there's a range extender in development, so it should be easy to extend the range for longer rides if need be, bringing the capacity to a total of 450Wh: https://www.ebikemotion.com/web/x35-range-extender/

 

[Nev]

Yes its the same system as used on the Orbea Gain and many others. Don't hold your breath waiting for the range extending battery though. It has been promised for well over a year and still no sign of it.

 

[DroidOne]

Mustache has some new bikes that are interesting (although expensive, but not insanely expensive): https://granfondo-cycling.com/first-ride-review-moustache-dimanche-28-eroad-bike/

https://www.cyclable.com/15990-velo-de-route-electrique-moustache-dimanche-281.html?search_query=Mustache+Sunday&results=36

Weight: 17 kg with 500 Wh and Bosch ACL.

Ride #1
Battery status at the beginning 96%
Distance 75.37 km
Elevation gain 1,268 m
Average speed 23.7 km/h
Riding time 3:10:28
Rider weight 77.6 kg
Support modes about 95% Eco and 5% Turbo
Temperature 26° C
Battery status at the end 58%

Ride #2
Battery status at the beginning 98%
Distance 88.25 km
Elevation gain 1,441 m
Average speed 28.0 km/h
Riding time 3:08:49
Rider weight 77.5 kg
Support modes about 60% Eco and 40% Turbo (on all steep climbs)
Temperature 26° C
Battery status at the end 48%

 

[vfr400]

You can always make your own, It's not difficult. You can get a lightweight bike from somewhere, then get a Xiongda YTW-06 kit or Q100 motor and KT controller plus a bottle battery from Aliexpress. The electrical stuff will add 3 to 4 kg to the bike, so you could have a 12kg electric bike for about £500. The Xiongda is 1/2 kg lighter than the Q100, but the Q100 is bullet proof.

Doing it yourself means that you can buy a spare battery for £150 and you don't need to worry about the complications of warranty and restrictions on power or speed. You could have your whole bike finished for less than the cost of a spare battery for an Orbea gain.

 

[DroidOne]

Does anyone know how much the Cannondale Quick NEO EQ 2019 weighs? https://www.cannondale.com/en/Europe/Products/ProductCategory.aspx?nid=aeeaf2af-a245-4e00-9301-34bb8918b4e1


Edit: It does say 17kg here: https://propelbikes.com/product/cannondale-quick-neo-eq/


Edit #2: No, it's 20 kg according to Cannondale, for a medium sized one.

 

[DroidOne]

I simply couldn't resist after giving the Cannondale Quick Neo a spin, even though it weighs more than what I had in mind.

I'll post a review on here once it's delivered. Should take about two weeks.

 

[Nev]

I weighed my Cannondale Synapse Neo the other day and it came out to 18.46 kg. Although its a fair bit heavier than the Orbea Gain, its fair bit lighter than my e-mtb which weighs 25 kg. I think the motors on the Neos are a bit more powerful than on the Gain or Ribble, so if you struggle on steep hills like I do then I think you will be very happy with your purchase.

 

[Inveral]

Yes its the same system as used on the Orbea Gain and many others. Don't hold your breath waiting for the range extending battery though. It has been promised for well over a year and still no sign of it.

There is no firm release date for the auxiliary battery. It was promised for early 2019 but on contacting both e bike motion and Orbea they have vaguely mentioned sometime over the summer. They must be having development problems. I have been holding off buying the Gain until I’m certain they can design the auxiliary battery.

 

[tfioreze]

I have been following this thread with quite some interest, given that I’m also interested in acquiring a lightweight electric bike. The Ampler bikes are indeed eye catchers, but the price tag is a bit of an issue (for me, at least). I went a bit further with my research and I found 3 lightweight electric bikes that I would like to share with you:

• Rabeneick e-series: https://www.rabeneick.de/de/e-series.php (18kg and a price tag of €2000)
• Kalkhoff Berleen 5.G Move: https://www.kalkhoff-bikes.com/en_gb/kh0040007v2019-berleen-5-g-move (18kg and a price tag of €2000)

Both of these bikes have good reviews: https://www.elektrobike-online.com/ (if you don’t understand German, like me, then Google Translator is your friend)

• WATT: https://www.wattfietsen.nl/nl/e-bikes/ (17Kg and a very generous price tag of €1350)

All of these bike have similar specs regarding their electric motors and battery capacity:

• Rabeneick e-series: motor 250W, battery: 252Wh
• Kalkhoff Berleen 5.G Move: motor 250W, battery: 252Wh
• WATT: motor 250W, battery: 314Wh

 

[badlywornroy]

That looks great, 13,5 kg is very light. I can't seem to find any information about the battery capacity though. I'll have to ask them. It's about €600 cheaper than the Ampler Curt.

Edit: It does have the same system as the Orbea Gain (ebikemotion X35). It seems to be coupled with a 250Wh capacity battery by default.

A cool thing about X35 is that there's a range extender in development, so it should be easy to extend the range for longer rides if need be, bringing the capacity to a total of 450Wh: https://www.ebikemotion.com/web/x35-range-extender/

That Ribble-hybrid-al-e looks a nice bike. I doubt it will be 13.5kg when you put it on the road ?
All manufacturers present their bikes in the best possible light, they will weigh the smallest frame without pedals/bell/reflectors. Blimey those 38mm Schwalbe marathon tyres are heavy !

I have the Orbea Gain D30, as you say exactly the same X35 drive system. I think it is a brilliant bike
but will not suit many potential e-bike purchases.
I have recently written about my Gain experience here:- https://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/orbea-gain-e-road-bike.33598/page-3#post-501601