Looking for a good hill climber..?

[Egon]

Hi, I used to cycle every day, but due to disability had to pretty much give it up. I'm ok for short trips on flat ground but any hill climbs I can pretty much forget about it. I'd dearly love to get back into cycling and hoped an electric bike could be be my salvation.

So, I'm looking for an electric bike that's going to get me up pretty steep hills of its own accord. I live very much out in the sticks with plenty off road countryside to explore, so road legal isn't too much of a bother, it's more about getting back out into the fresh air and exploring. I'm not fussed about how fast a motor will take me, but I presume more power and torque = better hill climber.

I have about £2000 to spend. I'm open to kit or off the shelf recommendations.
I've been tempted by some of the racier US bikes available, but buying from abroad seems full of pitfalls.

 

[soundwave]

how many miles do you want it to go ?

 

[Wicky]

KTM eRace P is a mule up hills but you seem to want not to have to pedal - which'll be tricky as it doesn't have a throttle.

 

[Egon]

how many miles do you want it to go ?

It would only be for leisure use so I don't really have a mileage in mind. It's very hilly in the area I live in so I don't know how far I could expect to go.

 

[soundwave]

https://www.e-bikeshop.co.uk/Electric-Bikes-UK-Dealer/Hard-Tail-eBikes/Haibike-sDuro-Hard-Seven-SL-2016?sort=p.price&order=ASC

https://www.e-bikeshop.co.uk/Electric-Bikes-UK-Dealer/Lapierre-Overvolt-FS-400-2016?filter=24

dongle will remove the speed limit.

 

[Egon]

KTM eRace P is a mule up hills but you seem to want not to have to pedal - which'll be tricky as it doesn't have a throttle.

Yes, I'd rather have a throttle. For the simple reason of not having to rely solely on peddling to maintain momentum which would be difficult for me.

 

[Geebee]

BBS01 or 02 with the correct gearing on your bike there is nothing the BBS01 wont climb let alone the 02, the kit usually comes with throttle included.
My recumbent has an 01 and 46 tooth font and 11-32 rear with 20" wheel and will climb all the steep hills where I live without rider assistance.

How steep is "pretty steep"?

 

[Egon]

Around where I live they're probably 1 in 7, 1 in 8. But a short trip to the coast offers more easy going routes.

 

[soundwave]

http://www.hi-powercycles.com/

 

[Egon]

The HPC bikes do look like they offer a lot of power for a fairly low price.

 

[soundwave]

bit over budget tho

 

[Geebee]

Around where I live they're probably 1 in 7, 1 in 8. But a short trip to the coast offers more easy going routes.

My locals are up to 1 in 5 so yours should not be a problem.

A high powered hub like an Ezee should do the trick as well, they will climb faster but will require a some assistance on steeper inclines, the power of the Ezee was quite a surprise very moped like.
A crank drive will climb slower but geared correctly will climb steeper with zero assistance.

 

[Kinninvie]

If you say the area you live in there may be someone nearby who would let you have a go of their bike to see if its suitable.
I live up on the Teesdale moors with steep hills in all directions and use a BBS02 which will climb anything.

 

[Kudoscycles]

Any BPM motored bike is the best legal hill climber around....but its getting one with a full speed throttle...my Kudos Arriba,Tornado,Rapide,Sonata are all strong hillclimbers but only have set off throttles. Not sure about the Oxygen range do they have full speed throttles?
Dont forget with a hub drive/speed sensor bike you only have to turn the pedals to get maximum available power,the effort you exert does not affect the motor power-you control the amount of power using the PAS display. The BPM motor was developed to offer low speed-high torque,the max power starts to be available from 4 mph.
You definitely dont want a torque sensor if you need to input minimal leg effort.
KudosDave

 

[Egon]

If you say the area you live in there may be someone nearby who would let you have a go of their bike to see if its suitable.
I live up on the Teesdale moors with steep hills in all directions and use a BBS02 which will climb anything.

Thanks. I'm in South Cornwall

 

[Alan Quay]

You may be best off building something. That way you can have a throttle and whaterver motor/battery combo you need.

The Oxydrive CST kit would be my choice if I were in your position.

You can build a great bike for less than 1k.

 

[Egon]

Thanks. A kits does appeal, seems like a good future proofing option.

What are the advantages of the Oxydrive over the BBS02?

 

[trex]

The advantages of the Oxydrive are: lower weight, stealthy, no messing with gear change.
Otherwise, the BBS02 750W is about twice as powerful as the Oxydrive on hills.

 

[JuicyBike]

Are you willing to travel very far to try some bikes. Plymouth say?

 

[Egon]

Are you willing to travel very far too try some bikes. Plymouth say?

I'm actually pretty close to Plymouth.