Seeking Advice on Affordable Ebike for 20-Mile Daily Commute (£500-£600 = Budget)

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,262
30,649
A difference riders can’t see, but will experience on a long ride – especially on hills – is that a bike with a mid-drive motor works synergistically with the bike’s gears for higher efficiency, which translates into longer riding range per charge. Like a car’s engine, electric motors like to spin fast not slow.
The above copied and pasted from this Bosch web site. They would say that wouldn't they, Bosch only make mid drive units!

Just google "which is best hub drive or centre" the majority can not be wrong, you can't argue with FACT.
The majority are invariably wrong. That's why only the minority are wealthy. That's why only the minority are successful. That's why only one wins a race.

These are FACTS.
.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Woosh

chris667

Pedelecer
Apr 7, 2009
164
108
A difference riders can’t see, but will experience on a long ride – especially on hills – is that a bike with a mid-drive motor works synergistically with the bike’s gears for higher efficiency, which translates into longer riding range per charge. Like a car’s engine, electric motors like to spin fast not slow.
I see why you are saying that now.

What you are saying is correct when you are talking about hub motors with direct drive. Good hub motors for bike conversions are geared internally.

I have a cargo bike with a rear hub. 160KG for me, bike and usual luggage. I can get up any hill where I live in Derbyshire on it, albeit with pedaling in the granny gears. And this is one of the hills:
 

Attachments

  • Like
Reactions: flecc

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,262
30,649
Minority is wealthy mainly because they inherit money and there are rules in place to keep this status quo.
You're missing the point that the majority vote them and their ilk to rule and make the rules, thus once again proving the majority are always wrong.
.
 
  • :D
Reactions: Woosh

Az.

Esteemed Pedelecer
Apr 27, 2022
2,093
932
Plymouth
You're missing the point that the majority vote them and their ilk to rule and make the rules, thus once again proving the majority are always wrong.
.
Nope... I didn't miss that point at all. It makes me depressed for a really long time now.
What would be a solution in democratic society? All with IQ below 120 are not allowed to vote? ;)
 

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,262
30,649
What would be a solution in democratic society? All with IQ below 120 are not allowed to vote? ;)
Sadly that wouldn't work either, as you'd know if you'd ever been a member of Mensa, the High IQ society.

I did qualify and join long ago, meeting some of the worst idiots I've ever had the misfortune to meet. Because I'd already known I'd resign once accepted, since being a member of a society which, of necessity had no aims**, made no sense, I left.

** Societies and clubs exist to promote their nominal subject, whether that be cycling, golf or whatever. But Mensa cannot promote wider possession of a high IQ since we largely only have what we are born with, making Mensa's existence pointless. Saddest of all is that the membership of people possessing IQs over 150 seem unable to realise that simple fact.
.
 

Az.

Esteemed Pedelecer
Apr 27, 2022
2,093
932
Plymouth
Sadly people tend to corrupt each political system. It is only matter of time. It makes me sad and disillusioned.

I never tried to join Mensa. Idea of clubs is quite alien to me, so I am only guessing the main purpose of Mensa club is to make members feel better. At least they are not trying to take over the world... which is an achievement in itself.

I guess "Imagine" by J.Lennon would be my political statement. I am not sure if there is any political party which would agree with it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: flecc

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,262
30,649
I am only guessing the main purpose of Mensa club is to make members feel better.
That's roughly correct, except too many members just wanting to feel superior and constantly trying to demonstrate it to each other.

Sadly people tend to corrupt each political system. It is only matter of time. It makes me sad and disillusioned.
True, but it doesn't depress me since it's good that it has self destruction built in. Far from being the superior species that we think we are, we are actually about the dumbest due to our evolutionary advancement. Other species are largely satisfied with reproducing and getting enough to eat to live another day, each day as it comes. The most socially advanced like the Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps) are all, from queens to workers, just slaves in a perfectly working system with no dissent and 100% satisfaction, not something any human would want.

With our advanced brains we want more; much, much more, leading inevitably to permanent dissatisfaction when the more always falls short of expectation.

So that is our choice to aim for, social perfection in robotic slavery, 1984 Big Brother style; or the freedom and hope of dissatisfaction.

I think we've got the best one of those already.
.
 

StuartsProjects

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 9, 2021
1,798
1,014
He was asking for advice about an affordable bike for a 20 mile daily commute, not for an off-road mudfest. Horses for courses. Your two bikes look wholely inappropriate for commuting.
Indeed, a bike for a daily commute !

There are a lot of things to consider when choosing a motor type.

Just because a particular motor type might have an advantage in a particular area, efficiency say, it does not mean that particular motor type is the only possible choice for a particular application. And neither does it mean that those many many users who, considering all the factors, then choose a different motor type are wrong.

For a commuting bike, for me at least, speed and ease of repairs is very important. I have a front hub motor eBike, its absolutly fine for commuting. I have a spare motor wheel if I get a problem with the motor, I can replace the wheel in a couple of minutes.
 

saneagle

Esteemed Pedelecer
Oct 10, 2010
7,007
3,241
Telford
Indeed, a bike for a daily commute !

There are a lot of things to consider when choosing a motor type.

Just because a particular motor type might have an advantage in a particular area, efficiency say, it does not mean that particular motor type is the only possible choice for a particular application. And neither does it mean that those many many users who, considering all the factors, then choose a different motor type are wrong.

For a commuting bike, for me at least, speed and ease of repairs is very important. I have a front hub motor eBike, its absolutly fine for commuting. I have a spare motor wheel if I get a problem with the motor, I can replace the wheel in a couple of minutes.
Front hub works. A rear one will always be better if you have the choice. It's safer, has better traction, is quieter, doesn't affect the steering and doesn't affect the front suspension. You don't need to file the forks to get it in and you don't need a torque arm for a 250w motor. Not so important, but still a consideration: You don't have to figure out how to get the motor cable fixed so that it can move with the steering and not get pinched. Eventually, the motor cable will fail due to metal fatigue and probably take the controller with it.
 

portals

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jul 15, 2022
675
188

Wow, a lot bike for £600, my current battery cost £500....very tempted too to just buy one and take a punt for local rides and keep the 1500W beast rear hub for longer trips.

The battery pack is a turn off though, I imagine when it dies you could just fit a hailong.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Peter.Bridge

Az.

Esteemed Pedelecer
Apr 27, 2022
2,093
932
Plymouth
The battery pack is a turn off though, I imagine when it dies you could just fit a hailong.
They sell bikes with bigger and easy to replace batteries

 
  • Like
Reactions: portals

Brik

Pedelecer
May 11, 2023
86
36
West Midlands
Other species are largely satisfied with reproducing and getting enough to eat to live another day, each day as it comes.
.
That philosophy pretty much describes how I've lived my life up to yet, also gratitude that I'm physically able to get out of bed in the morning.


Anyway, back to these £600 e-bikes.
I paid £500 just for a battery.
 

portals

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jul 15, 2022
675
188
They sell bikes with bigger and easy to replace batteries

Thanks for the link, spend approx £600 - for the money these bikes seem look like phenomenal value for money, especially if it's your first ebike.
 

Peter.Bridge

Esteemed Pedelecer
Apr 19, 2023
1,330
610
Am I right in saying all those have separate controllers which would make DIY battery replacements to other battery models easier
 

Az.

Esteemed Pedelecer
Apr 27, 2022
2,093
932
Plymouth
Am I right in saying all those have separate controllers which would make DIY battery replacements to other battery models easier
Keep in mind those bikes have batteries worth maybe £100 - £150, so they offer good value for money for somebody who doesn't want to do some DIY, but you are not looking at deals of the century. You can still get better bike if you convert yourself.