Looking to upgrade current e-bikes

[OldPedaller]

Hi All,

New member here. My wife and I currently have a Powabyke each. We take them with us when we go caravanning.

They're fine for normal road work, but we live on the edge of a hilly, Forestry Commission area in South Scotland and these bikes aren't really built for the stony, pot-holed, forestry tracks that we also like to ride on.

So I'm looking to replace them with something that will take the rougher treatment of the tracks, but still would be OK for road work. We don't go completely off-road - at 60+, we're past the age where we're going to be zig-zagging down rocky slopes!

Because we have to lift the bikes on to the bike rack, weight is a big issue for us. Our current Powabykes come in at around 21Kg without the battery, and that's pretty much our weight limit.

The budget is in the region of a maximum of £1500 per bike (obviously paying less is always a bonus!). Ideally I'd like them to have:

• Disc brakes on at least the rear wheels, because the tracks get very muddy and greasy and standard brakes sometime struggle on the downhills.
• Suspension forks for when we don't manage to miss the potholes.
• Max weight of bike only to be 22Kg or preferably less. The battery weight isn't that important because it's carried in the vehicle.
• Claimed mileage to be in the 25+ miles range. Powabyke claim 10-15 miles and we do get around that because we never use power only, we always pedal and use the power just to assist on hills or in headwinds.

If anyone has suggestions based on their own bikes, (or sellers who have bikes that meet the spec), any advice will be much appreciated.

I've got a question about tyres, but I'll post that separately.

Thanks

 

[banbury frank]

Hi At XIPI we make just what you want

Please call me after you look at our Commuter bike For A Deal on 2 Bikes

Frank

 

[OldPedaller]

That was quick! Thanks. Do you have the weight of your electric version of the Peak HD (and the Peak Ladies version) handy?

And although you mentioned the possibility of a two bike deal, it's only fair to tell you that the £1500 each was pretty much my absolute maximum including the back rack (if it's not part of the standard build), and carriage. Looking at your base price on your site, if you don't think you're going to be able to meet that maximum, I wouldn't want to waste your time following up.

 

[banbury frank]

Hi

Raleigh don't make a Ladies version of the Peak HD The Bike is Called Unisex

As it Is for some off roading the step through type bike will not be ridged enough

I have many ladies riding this Bike They are indestructible ( the Bikes not the ladies )

weight complete without battery 22 .5 kilos including rack controller wiring and bike stand

Battery 15 AH 5.5 kilos

Ther is also a choice off colors black or white we have 18 inch frames in black and 18 / 20 in white

Please call there is a deal to be made but not on the forum

Frank

 

[Kudoscycles]

Hello OldPedaller-not sure about that name I am only a couple of years behind you and I'm not old,unless I look in a mirror!
Kudos have the perfect bike for you-
Our King Carbon bike has Rock Shox front forks,Shimano Alivio 24 speed gearing with quick fire controlsTektro disc brakes all round with hydraulic operation. The conservative range with the latest LifePo4 battery is 30/35 miles but many of our customers have achieved 60 miles plus (see other threads on this site). The carbon frame reveals an all up weight of 19.65kgs. We have kept the graphics to a minimum to enhance the natural beauty of the carbon,most viewers describe it as a sophisticated looking bike. Price £1395.00 incl vat,free delivery.
Good stocks of both bikes for speedy delivery.
If you can accept a liile heavier our King bike with 6061-T6 ally frame is almost the same spec,weight 23.20 kgs and priced at £945.00 incl vat,free delivery.
hope that helps
Dave
Kudos Cycles

 

[Willin']

Hi there,

Like you I live in a hilly area. I am in North East England and I am surrounded by Forestry Commission Woodlands (it's a very popular mountain biking venue) so I do get out and about in similar countryside to you and I am a similar age at 62. I ride a Tonaro Bighit which will tick all the boxes for you apart from weight - it is very heavy - though you can buy a Tonaro Compy or Enduro which weigh a bit less.

I haven't taken my Bighit when I go caravanning so I can't advise there but I intend to put the bike in the back of the car having removed wheels and battery when I do. I normally carry the bike on the bike rack which fits on the towball - it's heavy but manageable for one bike but two bikes would be too much weight.

The great thing I find about the Bighit is that with it having a crank drive it powers up really steep hills with no trouble at all and is good over rougher country as well because it has a bomb proof construction. Also it is easy to remove the rear wheel if you have a puncture because there is no motor in the hub complicating matters so it is just like a normal road bike.

It retails at £1095 from Powerpedals and the Enduro and Compy are a bit less I think.

 

[Cyclezee]

Hi OldPedaller,

Welcome to the forum, I'm not going to give you all the sales patter..........unless you want it

All I am going to say if you would be interested in a conversion kit or a ready converted bike of your choice, have look at my website

 

[tillson]

With your budget, it opens up many options and you should try a few different bikes. Certainly try a crank driven machine. The Panasonic system is very well developed, reliable and refined and definitely worthy of consideration. Although I have no experience of them, the Tonaro bikes are getting some very favourable feedback both in terms of how the bike performs and the all important after sales customer service.

I have to say that I am a crank drive fan, so maybe a little biased, but you really should try both the Panasonic driven bike and one of the Tonaros.

ps I am not a dealer or have any commercial interest in any bike whatsoever.

 

[OldPedaller]

Thanks Willin' and Tillson for your thoughts. I really like the idea of the crank drive and its potential for better power on hills (although to be fair to Powabyke, my road bike has managed 1 in 4 hills in Germany on occasion, although it was getting pretty near to giving up by the top!)

They're well within my target budget, but sadly even their lightest model is 25Kg, which is over my max.

 

[flecc]

They're well within my target budget, but sadly even their lightest model is 25Kg, which is over my max.

Have a look at the BH e-motion range of e-bikes at importers Onbike, which use the Panasonic crank drive unit. The weights of the range extends down to a model of just 16 kg.

 

[hoppy]

My Tonaro Compy weighs 26kg INCLUDING battery. The battery weighs 3.5 kg. I've got a Powabyke as well and that's much heavier. The Tonaros are much better all round and especially on hills. Best wishes!