Please help me choose an ebike?

[booosh]

Hi!

I started looking at the option of buying an electric bike a couple of days ago for my commute to work. I was planning on cycling to work but, quite frankly, didn't fancy getting there knackered and sweaty with the thought that after 8 hours I'd have to do it all again. Now, this website is great, but the pedelec world gets more and more complex the deeper you go. I do not know which bike to go for or what exactly make a good bike, that's where I hoped you guys would help.

Could you recommend a bike based on these criteria?

Distance to work: 10 - 15miles (therefore range of at least 30 miles)
Price range: £0 - £1500 (a loose range, would be able to go up for the right bike)
Speed: I like to go fast Ideally I would like a bike that could be de-restricted and perhaps have the capabilities to reach 20-25mph on my own land.
Terrain: Road and canal tow path. Some steep, long hills involved
Me: I am 22 with no heakth problems and a decent level of fitness. 5'9".

Any more info. you may need to help me out, please ask

Thanks

 

[banbury frank]

Hi Booosh where are you in the UK


I can recommend Our Commuter Plus with A 48 volt 15 Ah battery Eat your journey and the Hills

Recommend The 20 inch Frame

Commuter Plus

You are welcome to come to Banbury for a test ride we are open 7 days a week

Thanks Frank

 

[Alan B]

I'd suggest at 22 years old with reasonable fitness you should get a non-electric bike, something like a Boardman Hybrid Pro, or a Stevens Cyclo Cross bike. These will weigh less than 10kg, your fitness will improve, and if you take easy on the run to work you shouldn't get hot and sweaty

 

[Cyclezee]

Hi Booosh,

Welcome to the forum.

As you have already realised, the there is plenty of choice and having set a budget is a good starting point.

The normal advice is to try before you buy if at all possible, you might also want to consider fitting a conversion kit to a non powered bike that you really like, so you are not restricted to buying a complete electric bike.

I must confess that my suggestions are somewhat biased, but I can highly recommend either an eZee bike or conversion. Please have a look at this model from Onbike eZee Bikes Torq Electric Bike or one of our kits. You can find more information on them here Bikes & Conversion Kits - Cyclezee Ltd.

Regards,

 

[booosh]

Thanks for your advice, guys.

Alan B, I am and have considered a standard bike. I do have the fitness (or could soon develop the fitness) to cycle 10 miles to work. I'm one of those unlucky people that seem to sweat a lot. Give me 20oC 10 minute walk and I'll be wet. Luckily, I guess, I don't smell (so I'm, hopefully reliably, informed). Unfortunately my work doesn't have a shower.

Please feel free to make recommendations if you work for a seller. I am going to be researching any recommendations a lot further before making a purchase anyway

 

[Alan B]

OK, point understood.

I've a Kudos King. That's got the range, and is suitable for canal paths as well. I average over 15mph for my 10 mile commute, and on the level it's easy to pedal it at 17/18 mph. But it won't do 20/25 unless you have a tailwind or going downhill.

 

[Cakey]

I do agree with booosh, I have electric bikes and 4 non electric. If I want a work out, I do 50 miles on my roadie. But, it is a pure pleasure riding my electric bikes and enjoying the scenery.
Some companies have the facilities of showers/ changing rooms. Nothing worse than a bad smell in the office coming from me.

 

[Cyclezee]

Ideally I would like a bike that could be de-restricted and perhaps have the capabilities to reach 20-25mph on my own land.

An eZee conversion kit can be de-restricted to assist to 20+ MPH on private land.

 

[eddieo]

Try a Wisper, great range of reliable bikes with a network of dealers and service centres...

My favourite bike of theirs at the moment is the 905 SEL, powerful dapush motor, big battery and XT gearing...

Re perspiration try PIT ROK deodorant, can get it in some boots chemists.

 

[indalo]

Could you recommend a bike based on these criteria?

Distance to work: 10 - 15miles (therefore range of at least 30 miles)
Price range: £0 - £1500 (a loose range, would be able to go up for the right bike)
Speed: I like to go fast Ideally I would like a bike that could be de-restricted and perhaps have the capabilities to reach 20-25mph on my own land.
Terrain: Road and canal tow path. Some steep, long hills involved
Me: I am 22 with no heakth problems and a decent level of fitness. 5'9".

Any more info. you may need to help me out, please ask

Thanks

Hi Booosh.

Are you a farmer? You must have a large piece of land if you want to pedal around at 25mph!

Regardless, as you're young and fit, you can ride unpowered quite easily but if you want to just sit back and let the bike take the strain from time to time, why not get one of these?

zippe-electric-scooters

Well within your price range and perfectly legal for road use, I think....and a natty little machine to boot!

Indalo

 

[jasono]

I do agree with booosh, I have electric bikes and 4 non electric. If I want a work out, I do 50 miles on my roadie. But, it is a pure pleasure riding my electric bikes and enjoying the scenery.
Some companies have the facilities of showers/ changing rooms. Nothing worse than a bad smell in the office coming from me.

That's exactly why I got an ebike! Was fed up having to take a change of clothes with me too

With your budget there is plenty of choice, but as has been said try as many different bikes as possible, as the riding experience differs quite abit between models and crank/hub drives

Happy hunting!

 

[indalo]

Could you recommend a bike
Thanks

Hi Booosh

Posts like yours appear here frequently and I'm rather cynical I'm afraid as I'm sure they're not all genuine, judging by the number who disappear after receiving "advice" from the on-board dealers of the forum.

Presuming that you are a real person and really want advice on selecting an ebike to suit your needs, my advice would be to completely disregard anything said or suggested by the business community and pay attention to to the end-users, the enthusiasts who have actually parted with their own money to purchase an ebike. You will be getting it straight from the horse's mouth then as, by and large, the typical ebiker on here has no vested interests in selling the machines.

All the best with your research,
Indalo

 

[JuicyBike]

Booosh, you'd be mad to buy a bike without trying it. Go somewhere where there are lots of bikes and lots of hills and take with you lots of time too.

As for going faster than the legal limit, whether on or off-road, remember an e-bike isn't a motorbike or scooter or moped, and hasn't been designed with those speeds and stresses in mind. If you must seek such speeds ensure the bike you buy will cope with the extra forces involved (it'll probably need to be either heavy or made from more expensive materials).

Ah, the thrills of going faster than the legal limit - so very exciting? Not really my friend. Stick to an x-box or something...

 

[rustic]

There is a second hand Pro connect for sale in the classifieds here for £1250 ono. I've never owned one, but I know from my time here that they are pretty well regarded bikes and you could maybe end up with a relatively new and decent bike for a little over a grand which at first glance sounds ok to me. Good luck...

 

[Linfitter]

Hi Booosh where are you in the UK


I can recommend Our Commuter Plus with A 48 volt 15 Ah battery Eat your journey and the Hills

Recommend The 20 inch Frame

Commuter Plus

You are welcome to come to Banbury for a test ride we are open 7 days a week

Thanks Frank

Linfitter:

In lots of industrial electric motors an extra circuit is incorporated into their design that enables extra coils in the motor to be utilised so as to give extra power when the motor is starting cold or under load. The circuit is disabled when the motor is up and running.
What I would like to know is does Banbury Frank’s motors have this kind of setup and that the extra circuits can be bought into permanent use by the use of a ‘off road switch’ giving a permanent boost. If this is the case then Banbury Frank’s motor would be actually two motors in one, one legal and the other not and providing Mr Law would be happy that the rider could not easily switch between the two modes without having to be seen to be doing it, thus giving their officers opportunity to prove that a bike was being used legally or not, I cannot see a problem with a duel motor drive.

But

If the motor is wired so as to be permanently capable of reaching the higher rating and is electrically limited so it cannot by the use of a switch then I can see a problem. If this is the case and a precedent was allowed to be set under Law then this would at a stroke decimate the small 250cc motor bike trade because all a rider would have to do who aspired to ride a more powerful bike on passing their test would be to put on a throttle stop to limit a much larger powerful bike to only have the speed performance of its much smaller cousin. Pass the test,remove the stop or ride it on Private Land that is either yours,or you have written permission on which to do so, and Yo Ho away you go.

Interesting would you say.

 

[eddieo]

Errr...My bike is de restricted and does easily over 20mph, my choice. I may restrict again after holidays.

There are e bikes that will compete with a 250cc motorbike but they are predominately German, designed and built and approved for these speeds, and cost a small fortune

 

[blacktiger]

If this is the case and a precedent was allowed to be set under Law then this would at a stroke decimate the small 250cc motor bike trade because all a rider would have to do who aspired to ride a more powerful bike on passing their test would be to put on a throttle stop to limit a much larger powerful bike to only have the speed performance of its much smaller cousin. Pass the test,remove the stop or ride it on Private Land that is either yours,or you have written permission on which to do so, and Yo Ho away you go.

Interesting would you say.

I believe that this is the method used by Triumph on various models such as their Tiger800.

I own a Tiger955i and a Tiger800XC. No need for restriction though as I passed my test 37 years ago.

 

[Jimod]

Errr...My bike is de restricted and does easily over 20mph, my choice. I may restrict again after holidays.

There are e bikes that will compete with a 250cc motorbike but they are predominately German, designed and built and approved for these speeds, and cost a small fortune

A 250cc motorbike bike will do 90mph, which e-bike competes with it?

 

[booosh]

Hi Booosh

Posts like yours appear here frequently and I'm rather cynical I'm afraid as I'm sure they're not all genuine, judging by the number who disappear after receiving "advice" from the on-board dealers of the forum.

I can assure you I am a genuine person Advice noted. So it seems that I might just have to go and try some out before I know what I'll want.

 

[flecc]

I believe that this is the method used by Triumph on various models such as their Tiger800.

There's similar on the Honda CB500 twin for power limited riders, the engine is choked to a lower bhp from it's standard 68 bhp, a removable modification.