Powacycle Salisbury at Makro on offer
- Thread starter Fordulike
- Start date
Yes it is the same bike,I think its always on offer.IMHO Makro isnt the way forward to promote ebikes.Too cheap and cheerful and isnt a dedicated single market place
I meant Makro is aimed to be cheap and cheerful not the bike.Also as previously mentioned else where the staff will not be knowlegable about the bike which is isnt going to inspire a newby ebiker.A few yeasr a go a company I knew were over the moon to get their brand of quads in Makro.I thought is was a wrong move.Imagine," Im just popping into to get some bulk dog food,oh,I'll take that £999.oo quad whilst Im here too"
Needless to say,they failed miserably
I meant Makro is aimed to be cheap and cheerful not the bike.Also as previously mentioned else where the staff will not be knowlegable about the bike which is isnt going to inspire a newby ebiker.A few yeasr a go a company I knew were over the moon to get their brand of quads in Makro.I thought is was a wrong move.Imagine," Im just popping into to get some bulk dog food,oh,I'll take that £999.oo quad whilst Im here too"
Needless to say,they failed miserably
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I fully agree that the Powacycle Salisbury probably isn't in the top 10 of best ebikes.
To promote ebiking means to get people interested in the first place.
I should imagine that most riders buying their first bike wont want to spend more than the £500-£600 mark.
I for one was highly interested but still very sceptical whether an electric bike was right for me.
After buying a Cyclamatic (fanatical ebikers reel in horror
), i am truly hooked and will definitely upgrade sometime in the future.
I just thought that the price looked very reasonable and wanted to pass the information on. I am in no way promoting Makro, it just happens to be on offer there.
As for dedicated spares for the Powacycle bikes, they are still available from their website.
To promote ebiking means to get people interested in the first place.
I should imagine that most riders buying their first bike wont want to spend more than the £500-£600 mark.
I for one was highly interested but still very sceptical whether an electric bike was right for me.
After buying a Cyclamatic (fanatical ebikers reel in horror
), i am truly hooked and will definitely upgrade sometime in the future.I just thought that the price looked very reasonable and wanted to pass the information on. I am in no way promoting Makro, it just happens to be on offer there.
As for dedicated spares for the Powacycle bikes, they are still available from their website.
I'm in agreement with both views in a way. Makro and the like aren't the best places to buy an e-bike from with regard to support, especially given that Powacycle's own support has left much to be desired.
On the other hand, having e-bikes in a general arena like this is good for public awareness, and cheap e-bikes are a way in for newcomers who would be reluctant to experiment with a £1000 plus expenditure.
The only downside I see to the cheap bikes is that when they do let people down prematurely and support is inadequate, they mistakenly think they're all like that. If they haven't paid much, it's fairly easy for them to write it off to experience and never try e-biking again, potential users lost for ever.
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On the other hand, having e-bikes in a general arena like this is good for public awareness, and cheap e-bikes are a way in for newcomers who would be reluctant to experiment with a £1000 plus expenditure.
The only downside I see to the cheap bikes is that when they do let people down prematurely and support is inadequate, they mistakenly think they're all like that. If they haven't paid much, it's fairly easy for them to write it off to experience and never try e-biking again, potential users lost for ever.
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I'll chuck my insignificant 2p's worth in. I'm new to ebiking and went for a cheap folder to see if it suited me. Personally if it lets me down next week and support or fixability makes it a dead duck I won't be walking away from ebiking I'm already ogling others and checking out the information I understand for future purchase. Maybe I'm in the minority in feeling this way but for the brief time I've used her Wilma has made a great impression on my enjoyment of life so a bit of a let down wouldn't put me off getting another one.
I think having cheaper ebikes in places like Makro bring ebiking to the fore for people who might never have considered it before.
I think having cheaper ebikes in places like Makro bring ebiking to the fore for people who might never have considered it before.
I think that the cheap and cheerful meaning unreliability doesn't always ring true.
Slightly off on a tangent, but still relevant, is when i bought a brand new Alfa Romeo 3.0 GTV many years ago. Cost me £24k, but as i was single then, cost wasn't a problem.
For the price i expected reliability, supreme build quality etc. etc. etc.
Unfortunately, as we all know, Alfas aren't exactly known for their all the standard attributes you'd find in say an Audi or BMW.
It was forever in the garage getting this and that sorted out
Fast forward a few years and i've now owned a Nissan Almera (£14k new) for the past 7 years. It hasn't missed a heartbeat.
There's probably loads of cheap bikes out there that have a good solid core of components and loads that are cheap and cheerful.
Then again how many bikes are posing on the market at Alfa Romeo prices but with Alfa build quality and reliability.
Research is probably the key and i did plenty of that before i bought the Cyclamatic. Yes i had to go out and buy Marathon Plus tyres, but i would have had to do that on just about any bike at any price.
I did read through one thread that went on about bike snobbery and hope it's not cropping up again. At the end of the day this is a pedelec club and should welcome with open arms owners at all ends of the spectrum
Slightly off on a tangent, but still relevant, is when i bought a brand new Alfa Romeo 3.0 GTV many years ago. Cost me £24k, but as i was single then, cost wasn't a problem.
For the price i expected reliability, supreme build quality etc. etc. etc.
Unfortunately, as we all know, Alfas aren't exactly known for their all the standard attributes you'd find in say an Audi or BMW.
It was forever in the garage getting this and that sorted out
Fast forward a few years and i've now owned a Nissan Almera (£14k new) for the past 7 years. It hasn't missed a heartbeat.
There's probably loads of cheap bikes out there that have a good solid core of components and loads that are cheap and cheerful.
Then again how many bikes are posing on the market at Alfa Romeo prices but with Alfa build quality and reliability.
Research is probably the key and i did plenty of that before i bought the Cyclamatic. Yes i had to go out and buy Marathon Plus tyres, but i would have had to do that on just about any bike at any price.
I did read through one thread that went on about bike snobbery and hope it's not cropping up again. At the end of the day this is a pedelec club and should welcome with open arms owners at all ends of the spectrum
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This is the key Morag. Those who are keen enough on the concept to join a forum like this will be unlikely to just give up on the strength of one bad experience.
However, only about 3000 are members here after three years of the forum and nowhere near all of them are active either. "Out there" around 20,000 e-bikes are sold each year and at least 100,000 in Britain have tried or still own e-bikes, many previously buying cheap e-bikes for as little as £300 and giving up on them.
They are the ones I don't like losing.
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Of course all are welcome and I've posted nothing snobbish here or before. I'm just posting from experience and knowledge about the outcomes of many of the cheap e-bikes and the people who give up on them.I did read through one thread that went on about bike snobbery and hope it's not cropping up again. At the end of the day this is a pedelec club and should welcome with open arms owners at all ends of the spectrum
The high priced brands that experience problems sort them out to stay on business. The low price brands that experience problems often just disappear, leaving no battery and spares availability.
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Sorry flecc, the snobbery comment was not aimed at you
I've been a member of different club forums, mostly car, for many years now.
Even though they are not run as model specfic clubs, usually under the broader manufacturer's name, i have noticed a common trait.
There are always a minority of members who poo poo anyone who doesn't own a specific model of car i.e. M3 in a generic BMW forum.
Usual comments of 'get rid of it and buy an M3', ruin the experience for users and ultimately turn them cold and they leave.
By the way i don't own any BMW, just an example. Wish i did
Unfortunately i may never afford a top of the range bike. At the very least move to a mid range or just keep mine on the road.
Therefore every member that stays, by passing on good information, is worth it's weight in gold. It wouldn't matter if my bike blew up tomorrow, it's comforting to know that i can pop on here and get honest, reliable information.
So for now the Cyclamatic is my weapon of choice and Pedelecs my bible
I've been a member of different club forums, mostly car, for many years now.
Even though they are not run as model specfic clubs, usually under the broader manufacturer's name, i have noticed a common trait.
There are always a minority of members who poo poo anyone who doesn't own a specific model of car i.e. M3 in a generic BMW forum.
Usual comments of 'get rid of it and buy an M3', ruin the experience for users and ultimately turn them cold and they leave.
By the way i don't own any BMW, just an example. Wish i did
Unfortunately i may never afford a top of the range bike. At the very least move to a mid range or just keep mine on the road.
Therefore every member that stays, by passing on good information, is worth it's weight in gold. It wouldn't matter if my bike blew up tomorrow, it's comforting to know that i can pop on here and get honest, reliable information.
So for now the Cyclamatic is my weapon of choice and Pedelecs my bible
Fully agree with you on that sort of snobbishness Fordulike, also on the record of Alfa in particular and Fiat in general
I run a Chevrolet (formerly Daewoo) Matiz town car so no car snobbishness here.
I'd really like to see the Cyclamatic brand and support by SportsHQ last the course and the bikes prove reliable, but I'm just cautious after the experiences of the last decade. Powered bikes have been around for almost ninety years, and ebikes and their marketing as we recognise them will enter their third decade next year. It's a history that sadly doesn't bear close examination.
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I run a Chevrolet (formerly Daewoo) Matiz town car so no car snobbishness here.
I'd really like to see the Cyclamatic brand and support by SportsHQ last the course and the bikes prove reliable, but I'm just cautious after the experiences of the last decade. Powered bikes have been around for almost ninety years, and ebikes and their marketing as we recognise them will enter their third decade next year. It's a history that sadly doesn't bear close examination.
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This is a good debate. I was about to buy an Alien Gents Special II but they had sold out. That gave me some more thinking time and more insight into comments and advice on this forum. I have no technical expertise. If my car fails in some way then I rely on the local garage. If my prospective electric bike should fail then it seems I have the option of contacting a distant supplier by phone or email for help. If it is a new part required then I'm hamfisted enough not to fit it correctly. I'm led to the conclusion that, for the mechanically and electronically inadequate, the best peace of mind is to consider bikes from the nearest retailer who can service and repair the electrics. Also the local bike shop who can fix the general mechanical side. Definitely not being pessimistic or negative. I want an electric bike! Regards to all.
Although many in this forum are happy to "walk" someone through repairs, diagnosis of faults can be difficult at a distance so your choice can be wise for someone not sure Verntern.
As little as three years ago few e-bikes were available via dealers, but that has improved now and quite a few brands have at least a degree of dealer coverage in many areas. At one time that included Synergie bikes, a company associated with Alien, but dealers don't seem to be carrying them any longer. That's probably because they had to mark up the very low basic prices to make it pay, making them uncompetitive with the ebay sales.
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As little as three years ago few e-bikes were available via dealers, but that has improved now and quite a few brands have at least a degree of dealer coverage in many areas. At one time that included Synergie bikes, a company associated with Alien, but dealers don't seem to be carrying them any longer. That's probably because they had to mark up the very low basic prices to make it pay, making them uncompetitive with the ebay sales.
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Ah, real common sense. As in all things to do with engineering, the worst thing the professional repairer usually has to face is the additional complication caused by the well-meaning but ill-informed tinkerer.
A wise prospective buyer has to ask himself one pertinent questions: if he/she does not have the facilities or the knowledge to deal with problems, is there a knowledgeable dealer within reach? Very often there isn't, as the local LBS usually knows better than to allow an e-bike through the shop door - in either direction. Even things which look to be standard like wheel repairs very often are not. There have been many tales of woe on this forum of LBS repairs which have gone wrong and have never been properly fixed.
Either you take your chance and be prepared to drop the bike into the nearest skip because a fault can't be fixed or a basic part is not available, or you spend a little more on a make with a track record for availability of spares and, probably most importantly, availability of that great imponderable - service. Both of those don't come cheaply.
Rog.
Powacycle Salisbury from Makro
I agree with Morag. We, ( me and wor lass) have been kind of interested in having electric bikes for a couple of years now but if one had not been available very locally at a very competitive price we probably would not have bothered. As regards technical support and repairs I have always been a tinkerer, not tremendously informed perhaps but I feel I have a mechanical bent that has served me well over the years.I am a bit non-plussed at the large number of people who own motorcyles, cars and even bicycles who are neither competent to repair them or even interested in finding out how. I used to be a motorcyclist and to me it was just what you did - understood your machine and maintained it and fixed it when it went wrong ( which it would be less likely to do if maintained fastidiously). Recently while on my way to Maplins I passed a lad pushing a large Honda (bike). I would have stopped to offer help but could not because of the traffic. I drove on to Maplins, went in,browsed for a while and made a purchase. when I came out there was the chap with his bike stood next to where I had parked. He was pressing the starter button but there was little life left in the battery so I offered to give him a jump start. He seemed unconvinced that you could jump a bike from a car but he let me go ahead anyway.The bike turned over fine but would not fire, he explained it had been going OK but just conked out on the bypass.I asked if there was fuel in, he opened the filler cap, looked in and said yes there was ( you know where this is going dont you!) I asked if he had turned the fuel tap to reserve and he did not know what I meant. I found the tap, turned it to reserve, pressed the starter and it burst in to life. Yes I did feel a bit smug but still dont understand why he would have gone to the trouble of getting a full bike licence and spending lots of wedge on a very nice bike without learning something about the machine, ah well, maybe it`s just me.
Regarding the Alfa Romeo analogy I will watch this space with my Powacycle,Alfas have always been pretty strong mechanically but weak on electrics, hope it wont be the same with my Makro special offer!!!
I agree with Morag. We, ( me and wor lass) have been kind of interested in having electric bikes for a couple of years now but if one had not been available very locally at a very competitive price we probably would not have bothered. As regards technical support and repairs I have always been a tinkerer, not tremendously informed perhaps but I feel I have a mechanical bent that has served me well over the years.I am a bit non-plussed at the large number of people who own motorcyles, cars and even bicycles who are neither competent to repair them or even interested in finding out how. I used to be a motorcyclist and to me it was just what you did - understood your machine and maintained it and fixed it when it went wrong ( which it would be less likely to do if maintained fastidiously). Recently while on my way to Maplins I passed a lad pushing a large Honda (bike). I would have stopped to offer help but could not because of the traffic. I drove on to Maplins, went in,browsed for a while and made a purchase. when I came out there was the chap with his bike stood next to where I had parked. He was pressing the starter button but there was little life left in the battery so I offered to give him a jump start. He seemed unconvinced that you could jump a bike from a car but he let me go ahead anyway.The bike turned over fine but would not fire, he explained it had been going OK but just conked out on the bypass.I asked if there was fuel in, he opened the filler cap, looked in
and said yes there was ( you know where this is going dont you!) I asked if he had turned the fuel tap to reserve and he did not know what I meant. I found the tap, turned it to reserve, pressed the starter and it burst in to life. Yes I did feel a bit smug but still dont understand why he would have gone to the trouble of getting a full bike licence and spending lots of wedge on a very nice bike without learning something about the machine, ah well, maybe it`s just me.Regarding the Alfa Romeo analogy I will watch this space with my Powacycle,Alfas have always been pretty strong mechanically but weak on electrics, hope it wont be the same with my Makro special offer!!!
my first ebike was a Powacycle (still got it) and they aren't bad. not the most powerful and they can have a few quirks but when you get a decent one they seem OK.
Sadly I think Powacycle have ironically been victims of their own success whilst also suffering a drop in quality control/ a rise in returns, and so tech support from the company itself can be slow (they do respond eventually). It is however disappointing they have not yet appointed an official spokesperson for this forum like they once had - there was a tech from them but he refused (or was not permitted) to act in an official capacity, and subsequently disappeared from the forum. that said, if they are working, there's not a lot that goes wrong with them.
Sadly I think Powacycle have ironically been victims of their own success whilst also suffering a drop in quality control/ a rise in returns, and so tech support from the company itself can be slow (they do respond eventually). It is however disappointing they have not yet appointed an official spokesperson for this forum like they once had - there was a tech from them but he refused (or was not permitted) to act in an official capacity, and subsequently disappeared from the forum. that said, if they are working, there's not a lot that goes wrong with them.
I think garagedood has made some very good points on why owning an electric bike is exciting for some.
Yes you can buy a bike that makes your bank manager cry, has excellent customer support and the local bike shop will be happy to fix.
But where's the fun in that!
I knew when buying my Cyclamatic Power Plus that it would probably not be great quality and that i was unlikely to be able to purchase a replacement battery.
I was wrong on the first account and correct on the second.
It's taken a battering over the last few weeks on some nasty trails and it's still holding together and hasn't let me down once.
I have no doubt that it is well built and will last a long long time.
Have i just jinxed my bike
As for the battery, no problem, i'm going to replace it with a Ping battery.
There will be a small amount of modding required, but the planning and preparation just fuels my passion for electric bikes.
I don't think there will be anything on this bike which may break, that i couldn't replace with something available on the market.
It will probably end up looking like Frankenstein's monster, but at least i will gain satisfaction that it has been created and maintained by myself
Yes you can buy a bike that makes your bank manager cry, has excellent customer support and the local bike shop will be happy to fix.
But where's the fun in that!
I knew when buying my Cyclamatic Power Plus that it would probably not be great quality and that i was unlikely to be able to purchase a replacement battery.
I was wrong on the first account and correct on the second.
It's taken a battering over the last few weeks on some nasty trails and it's still holding together and hasn't let me down once.
I have no doubt that it is well built and will last a long long time.
Have i just jinxed my bike
As for the battery, no problem, i'm going to replace it with a Ping battery.
There will be a small amount of modding required, but the planning and preparation just fuels my passion for electric bikes.
I don't think there will be anything on this bike which may break, that i couldn't replace with something available on the market.
It will probably end up looking like Frankenstein's monster, but at least i will gain satisfaction that it has been created and maintained by myself
garagedood I couldnt' agree more, I can service my car and used to with my motorbike and the amount of folks that don't understand the basics of their vehicles maintenance is quite disheartening. I don't know anything about electrics however I'm quite happy to try to figure it out if something goes wrong with Wilma .
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