Lost on where to start

[Electrickicks]

Hi.

I’m interested in getting an e-bike to cut the short-distance trips I take in the car and maybe to do the odd recreational ride with the family. I cannot tell where to start as there are so many on the market and I’m well outside the cycling world!

Ideal for me is low maintenance but I know little about bikes, I think I’m looking for:

• Comfy and easy to ride
• Battery not in frame (easy to replace)
• Will cope with the significant hills around where I live, slowing is ok - stopping not! Maybe not a hub motor then?
• Won’t break (!) - is a belt better than a chain here?
• Good value - I want to use a cycle to work scheme but even £1000 feels a lot for a bike (I know….

I’m not the lightest, don’t have a current bike and live in a more rural area. Frankly I have idealised dreams of European style commuting to the shops etc rather than Lycra-clad recreational cycling.

Any bike suggestions really appreciated, thanks.

 

[soundwave]

the one thing that would bother me is speed wobble on the front as if i got much more than 60mph down hill then it starts to wobble and if i keep going i will crash it as the bike feels so light going that fast.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steering_damper

they use them on hi power scooters so if going for over 100mph i get something like that on the front cos if that wheel goes sideways it will cartwheel end over end.

 

[Electrickicks]

the problem with the big brands are that there motors are not serviceable and can bus locked batts that are a rip off.

bafang motor parts are easy to get and any batt will work it just wont look as good m8 uses one to get to work on in any weather for the last 2 years and not even snapped a chain.

Wow. Lots going on - totally torn now. What are your opinions on a foldable (eg the woosh one) for my use case? I am wondering if it would make things easier if I took it places but maybe less useful on a ‘leisure ride’ with the kids?

 

[soundwave]

i have never ridden a hub motor bike but whoosh should be able to tell you if it could get up the hills or not but even tho it folds in half it is still 20kgs

8-Fun BBS01 CD kit | Chain Drive Electric Bike Kits from Woosh

The 8-Fun BBS01 CD kit: we have two models (36V 15A BBS01and 48V 14A BBS01), chain drive electric bike conversion kit available from Woosh.

wooshbikes.co.uk

you just need a bike with the right bb im sure thy could get you one and not go to much over budget and build it for you as that will get you up the hills.

hub motors are for more flat city riding and not so good of road with all that waight in the back wheel.