Opinions Please.....?

[Alan103]

This might be a silly question but can anyone tell me if the throttle is always on the left and in which direction a twist throttle works?

 

[Deleted member 4366]

You can get left or right throttles. Each can be fitted on either side, so you can have them operate in either direction. Whatever you have, you soon get used to it, so it's nothing to worry about. My only advice is to avoid full-width throttles., which are not really suitable for a vehicle that requires pedalling.

 

[Cyclezee]

The OP might want consider what Cyclezee have to offer, we have eZee and Ansmann bikes below £1000.
The eZee bikes have a left hand half width throttle for the UK, this is because we drive/ride on the left and means you can still keep your hand on the throttle when making a right hand turn across traffic, the most dangerous manoeuvre.
Left hand throttles can also be specified if required.

 

[Chris Wilkins]

I bought my first Ebike about a week ago now and it was the Cyclotricity Stealth 1000W.

Obviously as its my first bike I have no comparison to the others you have mentioned. However, I can say that the Stealth 1000w is a fantastic bike to ride and the customer support is second to none. I had a few questions so emailed Zak at Cyclotricity and he was happy to help.

I have used the bike in restricted and unrestricted mode (off road of course) and it's a really good climber in both modes.

The only bad points I can see are the cheap brakes which I have changed for hydraulic shimanos and it only has a 7 speed cassette which cannot be improved upon due to the design and position of the motor (I think), although this is only really a problem when unrestricted and you're just spinning out in 7th.

Unrestricted off road I can easily reach 25-30mph using the throttle on a flat and the acceleration is exceptional. I haven't used the throttle down hill yet, purely for my own safety and lack of huge testicles but I imagine it would be very quick indeed.

Anyway, if you can, take one for a test ride or if you're local to Farmborough I'd be happy for you to have a ride on mine

 

[Alan103]

I bought my first Ebike about a week ago now and it was the Cyclotricity Stealth 1000W.

Obviously as its my first bike I have no comparison to the others you have mentioned. However, I can say that the Stealth 1000w is a fantastic bike to ride and the customer support is second to none. I had a few questions so emailed Zak at Cyclotricity and he was happy to help.

I have used the bike in restricted and unrestricted mode (off road of course) and it's a really good climber in both modes.

The only bad points I can see are the cheap brakes which I have changed for hydraulic shimanos and it only has a 7 speed cassette which cannot be improved upon due to the design and position of the motor (I think), although this is only really a problem when unrestricted and you're just spinning out in 7th.

Unrestricted off road I can easily reach 25-30mph using the throttle on a flat and the acceleration is exceptional. I haven't used the throttle down hill yet, purely for my own safety and lack of huge testicles but I imagine it would be very quick indeed.

Anyway, if you can, take one for a test ride or if you're local to Farmborough I'd be happy for you to have a ride on mine

Thanks Chris, exactly the kind of informed input I'm looking for, keep me updated with any developments, good or bad. Hoping to make a decision in the next week or two. Do you believe you got value for money, with the stealth? I'm just not sure I can justify the cost for the spec, although the off-road unrestricted mode does intrigue me.

 

[Chris Wilkins]

Thanks Chris, exactly the kind of informed input I'm looking for, keep me updated with any developments, good or bad. Hoping to make a decision in the next week or two. Do you believe you got value for money, with the stealth? I'm just not sure I can justify the cost for the spec, although the off-road unrestricted mode does intrigue me.

The unrestricted mode was what made me go for it really. Also, the LCD control display is really handy as well as the 5 modes of power assist.

I went for a ride in the woods today with my friend and it really performed well. I found that even with the motor turned on its lowest setting it was a great performer.

Like I said, I've not got anything to compare it to but for the price I think it's got to be one of the best performing bikes.

Obviously there will be compromises made compared to bikes with smaller motors but I really think it's worth it for the extra power. There's a closed off bendy road in the woods near us and it was so much fun racing my friend. The look on his face when I zoomed past him without even peddling was priceless, definitely worth every penny!

 

[Alan103]

This has been a more difficult decision than I thought it would be, every time I rule out a bike, I find another to take its place or change my mind about ruling one out. My shortlist is now the Burisch, the Stealth, either the Woosh Sirocco Sport-TS or Sport CD and now the Kudos Eiger (with Alivio 9-Speed derailleur) so any thoughts or comments please share, more so if you have first hand knowledge of any of these bikes

 

[oldtom]

This thread seems to have moved quite a way from what I thought was the OP's original intention. Now, we are reading about recommendations of machines that, regardless of where they are used, are illegal.

All this guff about 'unrestricted' and 'off-road' has been done to death in previous threads and is manifestly unhelpful to those electric bike suppliers trying to grow their business selling legal EAPCs in the cottage industry of British e-biking.

I'm not going to get into the whys and wherefores of these illegal machines again but suffice to say, I really cannot understand the need with so many very capable 250 watt bikes around today at very decent prices.

There's a closed off bendy road in the woods near us and it was so much fun racing my friend. The look on his face when I zoomed past him without even peddling was priceless

Really! Closed off to whom?

Tom

 

[Chris Wilkins]

This thread seems to have moved quite a way from what I thought was the OP's original intention. Now, we are reading about recommendations of machines that, regardless of where they are used, are illegal.

All this guff about 'unrestricted' and 'off-road' has been done to death in previous threads and is manifestly unhelpful to those electric bike suppliers trying to grow their business selling legal EAPCs in the cottage industry of British e-biking.

I'm not going to get into the whys and wherefores of these illegal machines again but suffice to say, I really cannot understand the need with so many very capable 250 watt bikes around today at very decent prices.

Hi Tom,

OP had this bike in his list of options and I was merely giving my opinion on it. If anything, your comment has moved the thread further from it's original intention, hasn't it?

Where I live there are a lot of army barracks and as such there are a number of concrete roads in the woods which they occasionally use. Obviously, being in the woods, they are closed to public traffic, hence my previous statement.

I hope this answers your question.

 

[oldtom]

Where I live there are a lot of army barracks and as such there are a number of concrete roads in the woods which they occasionally use. Obviously, being in the woods, they are closed to public traffic, hence my previous statement.

Chris, if you mean my question, 'Closed to whom?', then I'm afraid you haven't answered that fully.

If you and a friend are able to access those traffic-free roads, then so may other members of the public. Your illegal ebike may not be used anywhere to which the public has access. Neither can your bike be used on the national cycle routes, nor tow paths nor public roads for the very same reason.

Recommending such machines to people starting out in the world of EAPCs isn't really helpful to those of us who wish to see the EAPC industry expand in this country. The threat of the hooligan element riding roughshod across the legislation which confers those limited rights on us to be regarded as perfectly legal cyclists increases as more people judge that it's ok to buy and ride illegal ebikes.

If you think it's perfectly ok to 'spread the word' about these machines which are neither EAPCs nor mopeds, then I can't stop you but of course, we can all choose to be law-abiding or otherwise in a free society.

Tom

 

[Emo Rider]

Chris, if you mean my question, 'Closed to whom?', then I'm afraid you haven't answered that fully.

If you and a friend are able to access those traffic-free roads, then so may other members of the public. Your illegal ebike may not be used anywhere to which the public has access. Neither can your bike be used on the national cycle routes, nor tow paths nor public roads for the very same reason.

Recommending such machines to people starting out in the world of EAPCs isn't really helpful to those of us who wish to see the EAPC industry expand in this country. The threat of the hooligan element riding roughshod across the legislation which confers those limited rights on us to be regarded as perfectly legal cyclists increases as more people judge that it's ok to buy and ride illegal ebikes.

If you think it's perfectly ok to 'spread the word' about these machines which are neither EAPCs nor mopeds, then I can't stop you but of course, we can all choose to be law-abiding or otherwise in a free society.

Tom

Well said.

 

[Chris Wilkins]

Chris, if you mean my question, 'Closed to whom?', then I'm afraid you haven't answered that fully.

If you and a friend are able to access those traffic-free roads, then so may other members of the public. Your illegal ebike may not be used anywhere to which the public has access. Neither can your bike be used on the national cycle routes, nor tow paths nor public roads for the very same reason.

Recommending such machines to people starting out in the world of EAPCs isn't really helpful to those of us who wish to see the EAPC industry expand in this country. The threat of the hooligan element riding roughshod across the legislation which confers those limited rights on us to be regarded as perfectly legal cyclists increases as more people judge that it's ok to buy and ride illegal ebikes.

If you think it's perfectly ok to 'spread the word' about these machines which are neither EAPCs nor mopeds, then I can't stop you but of course, we can all choose to be law-abiding or otherwise in a free society.

Tom

Fair points. If I'm honest, I didn't know it would still be illegal to use in public woodland. I shall bear that in mind for the future.

And I'm not a hooligan, just FYI.

 

[JohnCade]

Fair points. If I'm honest, I didn't know it would still be illegal to use in public woodland. I shall bear that in mind for the future.

And I'm not a hooligan, just FYI.

There is such general misunderstanding about these sort of bikes, and that’s why terms like ‘off road use’ are so misleading. They can only be legally used on private land where the rider has the permission of the landowner, and where there is no public right of way or access.

I suspect that dibble will be taking more interest in e bikes as they become more popular and visible, and now their position in law has been made clear.

 

[Chris Wilkins]

There is such general misunderstanding about these sort of bikes, and that’s why terms like ‘off road use’ are so misleading. They can only be legally used on private land where the rider has the permission of the landowner, and where there is no public right of way or access.

I suspect that dibble will be taking more interest in e bikes as they become more popular and visible, and now their position in law has been made clear.

Here is an extract taken from the description of the bike:

"If you ever wondered whether or not you can de-restrict your electric bike to go faster than the usual 25km/h speed limit and use it off-road, oh boy you’re in for a treat! The ever so popular Stealth now comes in a new power boosted version allowing you cruise at 50km/h given it’s 48V 1000W system."

Being new to ebikes, I'd say that's pretty misleading. They have used the term "off-road" very loosely if they are specifically referring to private land...

 

[JohnCade]

There are some dealers who sell fast S pedelecs which are legal in Germany and Holland but not here for use on the road. They are sold in a misleading way, sometimes to people who don’t realise they are not, and cannot be made legal. But selling them or selling the bike you mention is not illegal. Using them is...

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Dibble might become more interested, but what's he going to do? He would need reasonable suspicion that your bike is illegal. He won't be able to test the motor's power, neither will he be able to measure the unassisted speed. Obviously, if you're wheel-spinning and wheelying everywhere on a bike with a massive pancake motor and half a ton of lipos hanging off, he has a right to be be suspicious; however, a derestricted 250w bike doesn't have any extra power, and still requires substantial pedal power to get up even slight inclines off road. Also, it'll struggle to get over 15 mph. The idea that you can derestrict your Kudos Tornado and go terrorising old ladies walking their dogs in the forest is absolutely absurd. I would challege even the manufacturers to be able to say if their bike had been derestricted when observing it being used off-road, let alone a policeman.

 

[JohnCade]

Dibble might become more interested, but what's he going to do? He would need reasonable suspicion that your bike is illegal. He won't be able to test the motor's power, neither will he be able to measure the unassisted speed. Obviously, if you're wheel-spinning and wheelying everywhere on a bike with a massive pancake motor and half a ton of lipos hanging off, he has a right to be be suspicious; however, a derestricted 250w bike doesn't have any extra power, and still requires substantial pedal power to get up even slight inclines off road. Also, it'll struggle to get over 15 mph. The idea that you can derestrict your Kudos Tornado and go terrorising old ladies walking their dogs in the forest is absolutely absurd. I would challege even the manufacturers to be able to say if their bike had been derestricted when observing it being used off-road, let alone a policeman.

No I don’r suppose there is any realistic problem with using a derestricted bike like that. Unless you were unlucky enough to be involved in something major, and they really had a good look. I used to use my Chinese bike with the cut off set to 30 kph because it was so unpleasant cutting out at the standard 25 kph.

It was more the obvious over powered bikes I was thinking off.

 

[RobF]

In this scenario, I don't think it helps you that the person you may hit is trespassing on the 'private land'.

A well fenced field with a locked gate might be sufficient.

My legal Bosch bike with a dongle is a fudge, but I agree with Dave and John it's pancake motor bikes doing 30mph on the throttle which are the ones that will land you in bother.

 

[Alan103]

More to the point, I did specifically ask Chris about the bike he has just bought, which is incidentally included in the OP and he was extremely helpful too, by keeping to the actual question asked.
I have also sought out the permission of the owner of some private land near to me to use one of these so called illegal bikes and as far as I am aware these bikes would only be illegal if they were used un-restricted in a place where they are not allowed, is that not the case? If the legality of these bikes is being discussed in other threads, shouldn't that be where this discussion is kept?
Anyway this isn't helping me find a suitable bike, which I believe was the OP.
Thank you to all feedback so far, everything is appreciated , now back to the main topic please.

 

[Alan103]

This has been a more difficult decision than I first thought it would be, every time I rule out a bike, I find another to take its place or change my mind about ruling one out. My shortlist is now the Burisch, either the Woosh Sirocco Sport-TS or Sport CD and now the Kudos Eiger (with Alivio 9-Speed derailleur) so any thoughts or comments please share, more so if you have first hand knowledge of any of these bikes.
Can't decide which style of motor,what's going to be the most reliable, cost effective, do I need lots of gears or just a few, which type of brakes are better, or is it all irrelevant in this price range?