Please Help Me To Choose

[hoppy]

I bow to others' superior knowledge but what about the Powabyke Shopper? 24 inch wheel version good on hills, cheap batteries, only 520 pounds from Ebikes Direct. I've had one for years and it's great! Best wishes, Joan!

 

[Joan]

Many thanx for help Guy's, much appreciated. My home in "New Brighton" is on the Wirral in Merseyside Eddieo, hence the shortage of dealers. I know the folder would be a sensible choice guy's but I just dont like them. I really want a Dutch step through. I'll start sifting through all you're good advice and see if I can up the price. Still nobody mentioned the Juicybike. Am I barking up the wrong tree with that one? Thanks again all X

 

[BLACKPANTHER]

However i still think its an unsuitable bike for a woman, except perhaps an exceptionally tall woman.

The Aurora is only unsuitable with the standard set up of suspension seat post AND suspension seat. I tried a non-suspension seat post/non-suspension seat combo, and the Missus (5ft 6in) could easily get both feet on the floor. I'm 5 ft 9, and as the bike comes, I could only just get one tippie toe down....not very safe. I now run it with a non-suspension seat post and the suspension seat on and it's perfect.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Joan, the Juicy bike should be OK for you. It also has the Bafang motor (AFAIK) and is a similar spec to the Sunlova. It has the motor on the rear rather than the front, which can make tyre changing/puncture repair a little more tricky, but has the benefit of disk brakes.

 

[donnoirf]

Hi Joan try the manufacturer BATRIBIKE a friend has the Quartz folder and is more than happy with its performance at the price of about £750 . There are lots more in the range - if you like one particular model you could order it from ON-Bike advertised on this page and you can return it for just postage costs if you find it unsuitable

Happy hunting
Alan

I agree, I decided to lay my electric bike kit and bike to rest a few weeks ago.
A week ago I purchased a batribike Mercury, Dutch style stepthrough frame. The sPecs quoted up to 60miles on low pedel assist. Across a week I have done 32miles mainly on low assist and using level 3 to get up hills on each ride. The battery meter is still showing full. So far I'm really impressed.
There are somethings that are not quite up to spec, like tyre quality and the seAt, but I can easily change these.
One thing I really like is that it is still fairly easy to shift along with no power!

Happy testing and hunting. I hope you find what you are looking for soon.

 

[JuicyBike]

Hi Joan
You really do need to try a bike before parting with any money.
Juicy Bikes are stocked by FULWOOD CYCLES: Black Bull Lane, Fulwood, Preston, PR2 3PA 01772 713042, who should be happy to let you try.
Otherwise, it would be great to see you in Buxton where we have some decent hills for you to see just what our bikes will do.

 

[indalo]

I'm glad you posted that donnoirf as I find it quite refreshing to hear good things said about bikes usually ignored or dismissed on this forum.

For many people, money is the over-riding consideration in everything they do. Electric bikes, especially the ones regularly spoken of in this forum, are pretty expensive items. The "budget" models, probably all that many people can even contemplate, may well be excellent machines but unless people like you speak up and reveal how good, (or bad!) they really are, we'll never get to know.

If a bike that costs, give or take, the price of a battery for a premium brand machine, does 90% or more of what the expensive bike does, then that has to be worth a punt. Maybe it doesn't do 90% but only 70%; if it only costs 40% as much, it has to be worthy of consideration.

I wish there were more reports by budget bike owners as I'm sure many of those bikes have been improved out of all recognition over recent times. It would make a nice change from reading yet another testimonial about the usual suspects.

Indalo

 

[Joan]

Once again, thanks to everyone for their input. So much good advice to mull over. It's true that most of us don't have up to £2000 to splash out on a decent bike, I wish I did, but I only want the bike for recreation and to get fitter with a bit of luck. I am an O.A.P. now, so not a lot of cash to get carried away with. The more I go into this the more I could get carried away price wise. If I was getting the bike to get to work and ease up using the car, things would look a lot different I suppose. But, I may go out on it once & be too nervous in traffic, or not like hiking back up the hills to home, who knows, so I won't take the chance on something too expensive yet. Many thanks again too all. X

 

[indalo]

Joan, stick to your budget and don't be tempted to stretch it. It's been said many times before but there is no substitute for actually riding those machines which might suit.

I'd take a trip to somewhere for a couple or three days if it provided the means to ride 2 or 3 bikes on my shortlist. Don't discount the 2nd-hand market but follow flecc's guidance re values and be aware of replacement battery costs.

You really will enjoy it when you get suited!

Indalo

 

[timidtom]

Many thanx for help Guy's, much appreciated. My home in "New Brighton" is on the Wirral in Merseyside Eddieo, hence the shortage of dealers. I know the folder would be a sensible choice guy's but I just dont like them. I really want a Dutch step through. I'll start sifting through all you're good advice and see if I can up the price. Still nobody mentioned the Juicybike. Am I barking up the wrong tree with that one? Thanks again all X

We run a brace of Juicybikes (Dutch style) and have nothing but praise for them and their supplier. We're a bit short of high hills in Warrington but they have a fair range and are comfortable to ride. So far as I can see they do what it says on the tin ...
Have a nice day out in Buxton and see for yourself?
Tom.

 

[donnoirf]

I'm glad you posted that donnoirf as I find it quite refreshing to hear good things said about bikes usually ignored or dismissed on this forum.

For many people, money is the over-riding consideration in everything they do. Electric bikes, especially the ones regularly spoken of in this forum, are pretty expensive items. The "budget" models, probably all that many people can even contemplate, may well be excellent machines but unless people like you speak up and reveal how good, (or bad!) they really are, we'll never get to know.

If a bike that costs, give or take, the price of a battery for a premium brand machine, does 90% or more of what the expensive bike does, then that has to be worth a punt. Maybe it doesn't do 90% but only 70%; if it only costs 40% as much, it has to be worthy of consideration.

I wish there were more reports by budget bike owners as I'm sure many of those bikes have been improved out of all recognition over recent times. It would make a nice change from reading yet another testimonial about the usual suspects.

Indalo

to be honest I had already spent good money on a new bike & electric kit this year already. Having ridden my e-bike build for a few months around my on my local cycle paths & to & from work. I was clearly able to make a decision on what I wanted from an electric bike. The forum here has also really helped with techy tricks & tip re battery life & care.

So for local shopping, riding along the canal paths & cycle paths in brum & the possible twice a week ride to work (March to October only)
I really could not justify spending spending more than £800

If I could have done things differently I think I may have tried to hire 2-3 different electric bikes & ridden them in my local area over or on a day trip/ short break somewhere and then made a decision about what to buy.

when you go to regular bike shops & ask about electric bikes, they normally have 1 or 2 models in stock & sales people really seem to Down Sell electric bikes, without knowing much about them. & highstreet prices for electric bikes seem to be very high.

i went to a bike shop on Monday & noticed an unusual german elecrtric bike in the SALE section. How much is the bike I asked? £1700 said the sales assistant. Its a great bike it has pedal assist only, its a nice ride, we use it to take the parcels to the post office every day. LMAO!!

 

[indalo]

Because timidtom mentioned Juicybike and I had never considered their products before, I took a look at their website.

There are some good, clear photos on there which show the bikes to good advantage. I'm bound to say that from what I can see, they look pretty good. Perhaps they lack some top quality bits that the expensive bikes have; I don't know. What I do know is that, if they ride well and climb hills okay with decent mileage, they certainly represent remarkably good value.

I'm not aware of the firm's credentials or how long they have been in business therefore I have no idea whether they will be around to provide back-up in a couple of years if required.

That said, I'm asking myself, are these machines at such low prices really so much inferior to the stuff at twice the price? I won't look up A2B for their view as I find some of their test reports strange, to say the least.

Indalo

 

[Biged]

If i required a step through (Dutch style) and had a budget of around £750 it would defiantly be a Juicy Bike or Batribike. After looking at their web sites and reading reviews they both seem great.
Just checked route from New Brighton to Buxton (Juicy Bikes) and its 75 miles but only a 1hr 20min drive because its good roads. Buxton is nice for a day out anyway.
You will surprised what hills you and your bike are capable of. Happy Cycling

 

[RoadieRoger]

Joan`s Bike

Joan it looks like a choice between the Batribike Diamond at £899 or the Juicybike Classic at £695 web price or £799 full price. At that price the Juicybike seems to be the winner . If you find that the hills are so steep that it would be cruel on your machine to ride up , you can always walk alongside and drive it up using the throttle . We have two extremely steep hills where I live in Barry and I do this . It saves knocking out the battery and a bit of squealing from the motor . .

 

[Joan]

Good idea RoadieRoger! Well, it's looking like a trip to Buxton. I realy fancy the Juicy, I dont know why but I have to have a look. My local bike shop rang & offered a IZIP Skyline for £540 with full build, check, and 3 months service, seems like a fair deal?

 

[eddieo]

Good idea RoadieRoger! Well, it's looking like a trip to Buxton. I realy fancy the Juicy, I dont know why but I have to have a look. My local bike shop rang & offered a IZIP Skyline for £540 with full build, check, and 3 months service, seems like a fair deal?

Dont buy without making the effort to try the bike out first and include at least a bit of a hill

 

[Tex]

i agree with eddie. most systems have differing "feels". and some dont cope with hills at all. my brompton nano for example.

 

[Streethawk]

Joan, reading Rosie's similar thread, perhaps a trip to Valley Scooters in Bolton wouldnt be too far for you? They seem to do plenty of brands.

Disclaimer: Never been to Valley Scooters and didnt know they existed until yesterday, despite them being less than 7 miles away from my house!

 

[allen-uk]

Joan: I was fairly similar to you when I took up electric biking last year (in terms of fitness, weight, etc)., and like you, looked at the Juicybike but rejected it as being too far from home.

I went for a Wisper, which has been great (although substantially pricier than the Juicy), and thinking back, I over-rated the distance factor, because if my Wisper went badly wrong, although the gang at Wisper in Woking would prioritise it and get it back on the road as quickly as possible, I'd still have to organise a trip from NW London to Surrey - probably 3 or 4 hours in all, and quite possibly twice (there and back).

Buying an electric bike from a LOCAL shop is a different matter - but not many of us HAVE local electric bike shops!

New Brighton/Buxton ain't that far, so unless you've got a big electric stockist somewhere on Merseyside, I'd say definitely consider Juicys, and enjoy a day out.


Allen, NW London, on a Wisper 905se.

 

[Joan]

Yes Streethawk,. I read Rosie's thread about Valley Scooters.I didn't know they were there. It's not too far away. Might be worth the trip. Just found "Sunlova" ladies shopper bike, looks interesting at £595? I was hoping to get to Buxton Juicy bikes tomorrow but family member is ill and I'm visiting hospital twice a day so maybe next week. Keep you're thoughts coming guy's. X