Looking for affordable commute hybride ebike

[Ceci]

Good afternoon,

I'm commuting to my new work place (4miles) and can benefit from the cycle-to-work scheme.
I am looking for an ebike, no more than £1500.

So far, i have been checking Riverside 500E from Decathlon, but annoyingly i have to add a lot of accessories (rear track, mudguards to transport my work laptop and lunch box).
I went to Decathlon twice already and spoke to two salesperson, and I did not find them convincing.
Today i was looking at a Whyte Clifton bike from Evan Cycle but cannot find any reviews.

Any advice on the bikes i found above or any other bikes that would fit my criteria?

I ABSOLUTELY Love riding bikes, i have never tried an e-bike, but I am choosing this option because I don't want to arrive sweaty

Thanks

 

[Nealh]

Saracen you are still misleading folks with your biased and unknowledgable experience of the mid drive vs hub being better myth.
Both on the front wheel drive being problematic and the use of a hub drive for off road , both are very capable of doing so and can contest to this having done many 1000's of miles in the Surrey Hills/North downs & on the South downs.

I can tell you from experience and from many rides that a front Bpm hub at 44v /20a is a very capable option in the most muddiest off road conditions.

 

[Nealh]

For a commute bike a mid drive would be the least favourable due to extra maintenance and wear costs, a hub will be far more reliable and relaxing unless one enjoys turning up sweaty.

By all means use a mid driven bike for properv off road or leisure use but otherwise a hub will be ideal.

I have both drive types (actually in all) five drive types and they all work / do the job they are designed for.
Predominantly I use a hub drive for commute & errands/ shopping, Ts mid drive for heavy hauling/ towing (though my tiny G370 hub ) is equall for the job.
For ultra lightweight my friction drive is damn good and only adds 2.5kg to my 10.3kg bike.

 

[Peter.Bridge]

https://wooshbikes.co.uk/?santana3
or
https://wooshbikes.co.uk/?camino
Or

Gran Camino MTB electric bicycle from Woosh

The Woosh Gran Camino, a 27.5 electric mountain bike with hydraulic brakes 36V 15AH/17AH battery from Woosh. Price range: £1379-£1459. Great bike for trails.

wooshbikes.co.uk

Tony @Woosh is on the forums and the customer service has a very good reputation

Wisper 705 24" Step-Through E-Bike

Finest The 705 is the industry-leading step-through ebike from Wisper, the UK's #1 ebike brand. Free Next Day Delivery & Cyclescheme available. Buy Now!

wisperbikes.com

Or

Wisper 705 26” Step-Through E-Bike

The Wisper 705 Step-Through Electric Bike is the perfect eBike for touring. Comfortable, reliable and packed with great features! Shop Now

wisperbikes.com

Or

Wisper 905 Crossbar Touring E-Bike

Discover the Wisper 905 e-Bike - a blend of performance, comfort, and style. Checkout the features, battery life, and suitability for daily commutes.

wisperbikes.com

Again David @Wisper Bikes is on the forums and goes above and beyond in terms of customer service

 

[saneagle]

Good afternoon,

I'm commuting to my new work place (4miles) and can benefit from the cycle-to-work scheme.
I am looking for an ebike, no more than £1500.

So far, i have been checking Riverside 500E from Decathlon, but annoyingly i have to add a lot of accessories (rear track, mudguards to transport my work laptop and lunch box).
I went to Decathlon twice already and spoke to two salesperson, and I did not find them convincing.
Today i was looking at a Whyte Clifton bike from Evan Cycle but cannot find any reviews.

Any advice on the bikes i found above or any other bikes that would fit my criteria?

I ABSOLUTELY Love riding bikes, i have never tried an e-bike, but I am choosing this option because I don't want to arrive sweaty

Thanks

Those bikes are great while they're working. We get no end of people coming on this forum asking about how to deal with some electrical problem; however, all we can do is tell them to go back to where they bought the bike from, which seems to be not a pleasant experience for them.

In that price range, you're much better to stick with ebikes that use standard Chinese parts that you can get from anywhere, which makes repairs and upgrades much easier. Your problem is how to recognise these bikes. There have been some recommended above, or there are loads on Amazon and Ebay.

If you're incapable of servicing or fixing anything, my advice would be to buy whatever you like that's in your local bike shops.

All ebikes need something fixed sooner or later. The battery will last a few years, and you need to be sure that you can get a not too expensive replacement when the time comes, so avoid anything that has a niche or bespoke battery.

 

[Peter.Bridge]

There are cheaper bikes than the ones I linked to, but I'm not sure if you can buy them on the cycle to work scheme eg https://www.electricscooterslondon.com/products/eleglide-m2-electric-mountain-bike

 

[Oldie]

Many newbies end up tied in knots when all they're looking for is a decent and affordable ebike.

My recommendation, as above, is just to get a bike from someone like Woosh or Wisper and rest easy that you'll have great back-up should the need arise, which it probably won't. There are other trusted dealers too if you want to spend some time searching the forum.

Whilst I have converted 3 bikes (because I like tinkering) I still hanker after another tailor made one (I actually had a couple 10 years ago with no issues).

If your aim is to become an enthusiast then certainly spend a few months on here learning the ropes as members like @saneagle offer amazing advice. It's an addictive hobby.

But, if you just want to get to work reliably, buy from a known ebike retailer.

 

[peterjd]

My experience with the Decathlon 500E from the Milton Keynes store (reduced price of £999 last January) was very good eg knowledgeable bike mechanics there. Also I already had all the necessary bits other than mudguards to fit it out as a touring/commuter bike. I am very happy with the outcome (see my previous posts). Good luck with your quest.

 

[Nealh]

I would echo what has been mostly said and woul duse the services of either Woosh or Wisper both have been in business for many years and are experts in the field of selling EPAC's, both having exempalry CS.

 

[DiggyGun]

Mrs DG had a Wisper 705, which developed a fault after the warranty had expired.

All fixed FOC by Rutland Cycles and Wisper. Excellent customer services.

However, her first e-bike was a Cyclotricity Sahara, which I believe uses Chinese parts as mentioned earlier. This was a complete contrast as it kept falling to bits. Terrible bike.

DG…

 

[Az.]

https://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/brand/whyte/clifton-electric-hybrid-bike-930620?utm_source=rakuten&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=digidip x deal sites&utm_content=10&utm_term=3274037&ranMID=43869&ranEAID=svunC25memk&ranSiteID=svunC25memk-8E.ez.0tO.59KugK0BjTbA#colcode=93062002


£1159 with "OUTLET20" code

Review:

Whyte Clifton Review

Read our Whyte Clifton Review to decide if it's the right e-bike for you. Then you can take the bike for a demo to try it for yourself. 0% APR available.

www.edinburghbicycle.com

 

[saneagle]

The Riverside 500E is known for its affordability and good value for money. However, as you mentioned, you may need to add accessories like a rear rack and mudguards. While these additions are common for many commuters, it's understandable that you may be looking for a more complete package. It's also worth noting that the Decathlon sales experience may not have been satisfactory.

Non-standard electrical parts makes cheap DIY repairs and fault diagnosis tricky. Decathlon don't even list the battery as a spare part for that bike. I always recommend to get a bike with standard Chinese parts if you're buying at the cheap end of the spectrum.

 

[chris667]

I would second the Woosh bike.

 

[saneagle]

In this case, I recommend viewing this brand E-Bike Coop they help you choose one. With the growing popularity of electric bikes (e-bikes), this shop offers an exciting range of electric bicycles to cater to various preferences and needs. One of the standout features of Electric Bikes Edinburgh is its contribution to sustainable and eco-friendly transportation. E-bikes are known for their ability to reduce carbon emissions and offer a greener alternative to traditional gas-powered vehicles. The shop's commitment to promoting environmentally conscious commuting is commendable.

I looked through their range of bikes. apart from Bromptons with little wheels, all their bikes seem to have crank motors. Why don't they sell any proper e-bikes?

 

[chris667]

The shop's commitment to promoting environmentally conscious commuting is commendable.

Don't take this the wrong way @nalsonchar but are you a bot? Your posts look a bit like chatGPT.

 

[chris667]

which I believe uses Chinese parts as mentioned earlier

To be fair, that is all of them.

I agree - Whoosh for me. Great service.

 

[DiggyGun]

To be fair, that is all of them.

I agree - Whoosh for me. Great service.

We now both have Riese and Muller bikes that are made in Germany.

More expensive than our previous bikes, but the build quality is excellent.

DG…

 

[chris667]

We now both have Riese and Muller bikes that are made in Germany

.. from Chinese parts.

It is the way of the world - globalisation, innit?

 

[DiggyGun]

.. from Chinese parts.

It is the way of the world - globalisation, innit?

But like anything, there are good quality parts and their are poor quality parts.

You pay the price you can afford accordingly.


DG…

 

[chris667]

But like anything, there are good quality parts and their are poor quality parts.

I feel my hub kit from Woosh is excellent quality. Certainly good enough for what I need - daily transport I don't have to think about too much.

I think that it's closer to an old-school moped as opposed to a recreational product like most of the proprietary eBikes seem to be.

Reading many of the horror stories on parts availability for proprietary bikes I am very much reassured I went with something that I can replace. If Whoosh went out of business I would be able to fix my bike. That's reassuring.

 

[Saracen]

Good afternoon,

I'm commuting to my new work place (4miles) and can benefit from the cycle-to-work scheme.
I am looking for an ebike, no more than £1500.

So far, i have been checking Riverside 500E from Decathlon, but annoyingly i have to add a lot of accessories (rear track, mudguards to transport my work laptop and lunch box).
I went to Decathlon twice already and spoke to two salesperson, and I did not find them convincing.
Today i was looking at a Whyte Clifton bike from Evan Cycle but cannot find any reviews.

Any advice on the bikes i found above or any other bikes that would fit my criteria?

I ABSOLUTELY Love riding bikes, i have never tried an e-bike, but I am choosing this option because I don't want to arrive sweaty

Thanks

Before you consider ANY "E" bikes remember to google MID drive v HUB drive and every time MID drive is best, don't take my word, hills, gears, stability, front hub cal "lose it" on slippery roads, drain covers, bends if not careful.