Newbee

[Bikemad2]

Hi everyone,

I'm a complete novice to this e-bike world, I used to do quite a lot of cycling into my thirties but as usual life/work pressure over took and here we are 30 years later and looking to invest in a couple of e-bikes for myself and my wife.

We are not only looking to both improve our level of fitness but also utilise these as a secondary transport method when away in our motorhome. (so they need to be quite lightweight!)

We aren't looking to go off road, or do anything extreme just a simple pedal assisted bicycle.

I will be asking some seamingly daft questions of you all and for this I must apologie in advance for my ignorance.

I few of our friends have e-bikes but the advice we are getting is a little contradictory, so where better to go than here to hopefully seek and receive definitive answers both before buying and afterwards, ie and potential modifications if any to our chosen rides

 

[Woosh]

We are not only looking to both improve our level of fitness but also utilise these as a secondary transport method when away in our motorhome. (so they need to be quite lightweight!)

Welcome to the forum.
For you, I suggest the Woosh Faro:

The Faro | Very Lightweight Electric Bikes from Woosh

The Faro: very lightweight road electric bike from Woosh with hydraulic brakes and in-frame 36V 8AH battery or 20AH external battery.

wooshbikes.co.uk

It's lightweight and the weight is pretty well balanced so you can lift it up by the top tube with one arm like you would with a normal bike to load it onto a bike rack.

 

[Bikemad2]

Welcome to the forum.
For you, I suggest the Woosh Faro:

The Faro | Very Lightweight Electric Bikes from Woosh

The Faro: very lightweight road electric bike from Woosh with hydraulic brakes and in-frame 36V 8AH battery or 20AH external battery.

wooshbikes.co.uk

It's lightweight and the weight is pretty well balanced so you can lift it up by the top tube with one arm like you would with a normal bike to load it onto a bike rack.

Looks great and the weight is also very good!

My only issue is seat height for the other half?

Although I'm used to the skinny tyres I think she'd like a little more comfort.

I was also looking at belt drive as opposed to the chain, with a cvt wheel hub motor configuration, as again the other half struggles with the gears so taking that distraction away will make her more comfortable/confident on the move and more inclined to use it.

We all ready have three normal pedal cycles in the garage that have just sat there not being used for years as she doesn't like the gears or the weighty feel of her bike‍

So as I don't want to be "Billy no Mates" and go out on my own they just sit there.

So to cover this off I thought it better to address as many of these negatives as possible.

So the bikes need to be light weigh maybe a step through design belt drive with a CVT hub motor although not essential as one gear might be enough if its matched correctly to the set up, small enough for her 5'2" frame and will be okay for me at 5'10".

They should be able to be riden with a flat battery (just incase I have to give her mine),
I'm really not fussed about suspension or fancy disc brakes, I'm trying to get as basic as possible, (to encourage the use) the CVT might be nice but again not an issue if I'm being really honest the range is my biggest issue and I know having owned an EV this is all subjective on how you drive or in this case ride and the terrain.

And also with pedal assist the level of assistance required, and she might need a lot to start with and this is why I'm on here trying to find the same make bikes that will either come with x2 batteries or I can swop out mine with her flat battery if I need to on longer trips and hopefully this will be the case as she get more confident hense the two battery option would be a nice addition of not at the time of purchase but maybe later on.

I know it's a big wish list and that's why again I'm on here hopefully to help select the right bikes first time, hopefully this will make sense

 

[StuartsProjects]

I know it's a big wish list and that's why again I'm on here hopefully to help select the right bikes first time, hopefully this will make sense

Long list and i would be surprised if anyone can select a 'perfect' bike from that list.

Since you have not ridden an eBike before, its going to be a good idea if you can find a friendly dealer who you can either hire or borrow an eBike from and take it on a typical type of ride.

I suspect your and your other half views on gears etc will change when you do.

like the gears or the weighty feel of her bike‍

And how heavy is this 'weighty' bike ? An ebike is unlikley to be lighter.

 

[StuartsProjects]

Although I'm used to the skinny tyres I think she'd like a little more comfort.

Thats a minor detail, given the cost of an eBike you might expect the seller would provide fatter tyres, that may well be the same cost, if asked.

 

[Bikemad2]

Long list and i would be surprised if anyone can select a 'perfect' bike from that list.

Since you have not ridden an eBike before, its going to be a good idea if you can find a friendly dealer who you can either hire or borrow an eBike from and take it on a typical type of ride.

I suspect your and your other half views on gears etc will change when you do.



And how heavy is this 'weighty' bike ? An ebike is unlikley to be lighter.

I know it's a long list but it's a wish list and we all have to start with a big list and then trim it down to suit the available options once we get to that point, I must admit I hadn't thought of testing one, and your absolutely right about the gear thing.
I figure of just put up with what ever the other half likes but with view to being able to modify at a later date if needed.
The weights, well thats the thing I have a very old Giant mountain bike that I used to commute to work and back a while ago and Pennies bike is and I'm being honest was my eldest daughter cast off and it is quite cheap and it is heavy maybe 12 to 15kg it's substantially heaver than mine, but until now as I said we weren't using them so no point in getting her a new one but now we have the motorhome, it's becoming a real opportunity to invest and get both of us out and about.

But there's the rub, unless it's really easy to use I'll simply be throwing away good money, the other option is to buy a small car to tow behind but we can't take this into Spain, but we could ride the pedal assist bikes

It all hinges on Penny, so as the old saying goes happy wife happy life, and this will definitely apply to this scenario, I know Gtech did a sports and step through a while ago, with belt drive, and I could try buying a used one but that does bring it's own issues, and Smart made a nice looking bike, my budget isn't vast but I do need to at least hit a few on the wish list the weight is as I said earlier, is fixed in stone as it were and the maximum weight my carrier can hold is 60kg, I obviously don't want to be anywhere near it's maximum and the bikes will have to be lifted up and put on the rack so the ability for them to be lifted quite high is also a limiting factor for consideration‍

 

[Bikemad2]

Thats a minor detail, given the cost of an eBike you might expect the seller would provide fatter tyres, that may well be the same cost, if asked.

That's a fare point, Im a bit reluctant to simply rock upto my local shop and ask as it would be really easy to be palmed off with something that they might have in stock and meets a few of the items on our wish list, when if I ask for advice and go in a little more knowledgeable I can make a more informed decision, I hope I'm not offending any one by saying this but being as I have said new to this product it would be really easy to be sold something that I either didn't want or need

 

[Woosh]

as again the other half struggles with the gears

if she struggles with the gears, she should go for a rear hub drive because the hub drive simply flattens the hills.
She would choose the gear that suits her pedalling/cadence best and leaves the rest to the motor. She would not have to change gear again.

 

[Woosh]

Although I'm used to the skinny tyres I think she'd like a little more comfort.

For your other half, I would suggest the Woosh Santana:

The Santana 3 | Electric Bikes from Woosh

The Santana3, a new lightweight and powerful step through electric bike with 36V 15AH/17AH battery from Woosh.

wooshbikes.co.uk

The Santana has suspension fork so road bumps are not a problem. If she has back problems, she can choose a suspension seat post.
The tyres are 26 x 2.0. The bike weighs 20kgs without battery, 24kgs with battery. You should remove the rear rack battery before loading it to a bike rack or use a tiltable Thule rack.

 

[Bikemad2]

if she struggles with the gears, she should go for a rear hub drive because the hub drive simply flattens the hills.
She would choose the gear that suits her pedalling/cadence best and leaves the rest to the motor. She would not have to change gear again.

My thoughts exactly and I now they don't sell them anymore but the g-tech step thgough looked just about right for her and I could either get the same or the sports bike, and if later on we need to add gears then look at swapping the hub motor for either a 2 speed CVT or a three speed unit manual unit

 

[StuartsProjects]

She would not have to change gear again.

I would completly agree, which is why I suggested a trial.

With my converted mountain Bike, on most cycle trips I do, which do have small hills in them, I change gear rarely, whilst my Brothers who may often be with me, but do not have eBikes, seem to change gear quite a bit .........

 

[Woosh]

My thoughts exactly and I now they don't sell them anymore but the g-tech step thgough looked just about right for her and I could either get the same or the sports bike, and if later on we need to add gears then look at swapping the hub motor for either a 2 speed CVT or a three speed unit manual unit

you can't unfortunately change the motor on the Gtech. It's a closed system.
If you want hub gear, you have to choose front motor or middle motor. Can you fit a kit for her?

 

[Nealh]

Although Mrs.BM2 doesn't like gears she will need some so rear hubs gears are an option with a twist shift.
I have mostly owned/used a rear or front hub ona bike and couldn't ride without gears.
As to bike weights generally 20-25kg is a generic ebike weight so one has to accept it .

 

[saneagle]

Looks great and the weight is also very good!

My only issue is seat height for the other half?

Although I'm used to the skinny tyres I think she'd like a little more comfort.

I was also looking at belt drive as opposed to the chain, with a cvt wheel hub motor configuration, as again the other half struggles with the gears so taking that distraction away will make her more comfortable/confident on the move and more inclined to use it.

We all ready have three normal pedal cycles in the garage that have just sat there not being used for years as she doesn't like the gears or the weighty feel of her bike‍

So as I don't want to be "Billy no Mates" and go out on my own they just sit there.

So to cover this off I thought it better to address as many of these negatives as possible.

So the bikes need to be light weigh maybe a step through design belt drive with a CVT hub motor although not essential as one gear might be enough if its matched correctly to the set up, small enough for her 5'2" frame and will be okay for me at 5'10".

They should be able to be riden with a flat battery (just incase I have to give her mine),
I'm really not fussed about suspension or fancy disc brakes, I'm trying to get as basic as possible, (to encourage the use) the CVT might be nice but again not an issue if I'm being really honest the range is my biggest issue and I know having owned an EV this is all subjective on how you drive or in this case ride and the terrain.

And also with pedal assist the level of assistance required, and she might need a lot to start with and this is why I'm on here trying to find the same make bikes that will either come with x2 batteries or I can swop out mine with her flat battery if I need to on longer trips and hopefully this will be the case as she get more confident hense the two battery option would be a nice addition of not at the time of purchase but maybe later on.

I know it's a big wish list and that's why again I'm on here hopefully to help select the right bikes first time, hopefully this will make sense

Here we go again. People get a good idea, then overthink it, then put all sorts of condtraints on it, then it never happens, especially because the constraints are conflicting.

CVT is heavy, and gives no tangible advantage - only disadvantages of weight drag and shifting.

Keep it simple. Get a standard bike with standard parts and get used to it like everybody else does, which takes about 30 minutes of riding and will never happen if you keep the bike in the shed.

 

[StuartsProjects]

If your going to go travelling with the bikes, the more standard parts they use the better.

If you are on your travels and a long way from home, you might not be able to find someone selling a non-standard part that fails.

Bikes that use fancy parts are OK, but you have space to keep critical spares at home.

 

[matthewslack]

You could try a couple of well looked after Wispers, plus a new battery for one of them, to get you started and then when you've done a few miles refine what you really need for next year....

Wisper 705 step through used price

We own a pair of Wisper 705 step through bikes, they are approx 6 years old, both in as new condition, one is on its original battery, the others had a new battery approx 18 months back after the original failed. We are going to sell them and buy a couple of fold up bikes. Have no real idea what...

www.pedelecs.co.uk

Or copy the French couple I met last year with their stepthrough Reisse and Mullers with Rohlhoff hub, Gates belt drive, Bosch Performance CX and two 600Wh batteries each... for about 10K more!

 

[Bikemad2]

I would completly agree, which is why I suggested a trial.

With my converted mountain Bike, on most cycle trips I do, which do have small hills in them, I change gear rarely, whilst my Brothers who may often be with me, but do not have eBikes, seem to change gear quite a bit .........

Exactly what I was thinking and as she gets all muddled up with the gears by the time she's sorted out the right gear she's at a near standstill‍
So a single gear but with the electrical assistance I think is absolutely the way to go, and once we are more comfortable with how they ride if needed I'd look at swapping out the hub motor for a CVT two speed set up just so it cruises at a better pedal rotation

 

[Bikemad2]

you can't unfortunately change the motor on the Gtech. It's a closed system.
If you want hub gear, you have to choose front motor or middle motor. Can you fit a kit for her?

So I can't unplug the motor?
The replacement CVT two speed uses the same voltage and is made by the same company but has a two sppeds that are selected by load, and the only difference is the outer diameter is very slightly bigger, the only thing I can see that's different is the wires come out of the opposite side so will need to re route the wires to the opposite side of the frame, the drive controller should see any difference but if it does I'll swap this out and use the one that comes in the kit with the motor I just won't need to order the batteries but to be honest as they fit in the seat post I could go the whole hog and ditch the Gtech set up but that would be a real shame, as it looks so easy to swap out the batteries and looks like a drinks bottle so can just add a bottle holder for a second battery to live in to extend the range

 

[Bikemad2]

Here we go again. People get a good idea, then overthink it, then put all sorts of condtraints on it, then it never happens, especially because the constraints are conflicting.

CVT is heavy, and gives no tangible advantage - only disadvantages of weight drag and shifting.

Keep it simple. Get a standard bike with standard parts and get used to it like everybody else does, which takes about 30 minutes of riding and will never happen if you keep the bike in the shed.

The CVT is only an extra couple of kgs and the benefits are not to be overlooked.
Isn't it a pitty we don't all just get along without the need to resort to be littling someone who is only asking for help and advice, the skinny tyres won't appeal to my wife and this is just personal choice which we all have.
I thank you for your comments but please don't reply again of your only going to ridicule me

 

[Woosh]

I don't think anyone is trying to ridicule anyone on this forum, and certainly not a new member, we want new members to feel welcome!
The 2-speed automatic hubgear is not fantastic. I had one of them before. It's novelty for 5 minutes then when you hit a hill, pretty useless*.
The thing is there are hundreds of ebike models to choose from, and each one is a trade off. A crank motor relies on gear while a hub motor does not care which gear you are on. Members on the forum have experience of hundreds if not thousands of models of bikes; saneagle probably more than almost any of us. You should tell us more what you like and what you don't like. The more variables are known in advance, the more we can make good recommendations. Range? Terrains? Your weight? Riding position? Budget?

BTW, Is there a particular reason you want to buy the Gtech? They don't make them anymore.

*it gets sticky