Show me a stylish alternative to the BH NEO Race.

[EddiePJ]

After recently having a ride of a BH Neo Race, and loving every second of it, show me a stylish alternative to it.

Two main points. It must have rigid front forks, as I hate suspension forks on a road biased bike, and I'd also like to see 700C wheels.

The NEO Race.

 

[martin@onbike]

Neo Carbon

 

[EddiePJ]

That made me laugh.

 

[martin@onbike]

I also have ridden the Neo Race a fair bit, and agree it's a lovely ride.
I might have preferred drop handlebars though.....
p.s. I'll try and find a smaller picture of the Carbon next time, that one was a bit in your face

 

[Streethawk]

I dont understand why anyone would hate suspension forks on an ebike where the weight added is inconsequential. The comfort added is not inconsequential.

 

[EddiePJ]

I also wondered about drop bars.

One other change that I'd like to see on whole NEO range is bottle cage mounts.

As for the NEO Race, here are some of thoughts about it.

It's very different to ride compared to the NEO Xtrem. I'd expected the bike to feel roughly the same as Xtrem did when I put 1.5 slick tyres on it. Having said that the Xtrem was terrible on the back end with slicks on. The front was fine, but the moment that the rear slick went on the ride became awful, and severe pain where you don't want it in the saddle area, quickly ensued.
The NEO Race on the other hand is super smooth with it's larger 700c wheel set. Sitting on the bike I was really pleased with just how neutral that it felt, and there wasn't an overly biased weight on the wrists either. Oddly the Xtrem felt very sit up and beg after riding the Race, which wasn't something that I'd previously ever noticed. The Race also suited my 5'10" frame perfectly.
The first thing that I noticed when pulling away, was how different that the gearing was. The bike is certainly geared for speed compared with the Xtrem. Speed builds quickly and smoothly, it rolls incredibly well, and the handling is spot on. The carbon front forks also work very well. I wasn't sure how effective that the V brakes were going to be, but they seemed faultless, or would have been had the ones on the bike that I rode been set up correctly. The front was fine, but the rear needed adjustment. Whilst the bike obviously weighs considerably more than a pedal only hybrid bike, the weight isn't something that I gave second notice to, and I'm sure that the end user will never notice this.
As a package, it felt spot on.

I dont understand why anyone would hate suspension forks on an ebike where the weight added is inconsequential. The comfort added is not inconsequential.

To me it don't really have much to with either weight or comfort, although why create a sleek and relatively lightweight pedelec, then add further weight when it's not wanted. Suspension forks simply look crap and aren't needed on a road biased bike. Even on my Xtrem I lock them out when riding on the road. You only have to look at any video to see how much physical energy is wasted when pedalling on roads with suspension forks.


.

 

[Streethawk]

You only have to look at any video to see how much physical energy is wasted when pedalling on roads with suspension forks.
.

Almost none with short travel forks on a hybrid. If they were so inefficient the Pro Elite XC racers wouldn't be using them. The only reason you don't see them in the TdF is because the lightest suspension forks are still too heavy for pro road racers. You must have much smoother roads than we do around here...

 

[Deleted member 4366]

You only have to look at any video to see how much physical energy is wasted when pedalling on roads with suspension forks.

We had a big debate about this on Endless Sphere. When a bike with rigid forks hits a bump, the whole mass of the bike gets shifted vertically. The energy to move the bike vertically has to come from somewhere, i.e. the forward momentum, which slows the bike down. The bumpier the road, the more energy is absorbed. For a bike fitted with suspension, only the unsprung mass has to shift vertically, so much less of the forward energy is absorbed. Bouncing of the suspension synchronous with pedalling also wastes energy, but you only get it when you stand on the pedals, so, as long as you remain seated, your bike should be more efficient and, most importantly, more comfortable.

 

[Kudoscycles]

Eddie....I don't think that there is an alternative to the BH Neo Race bike,it is to my knowledge unique in offering a road-race type spec with electric assist.
KudosDave

 

[Kudoscycles]

They have 3 in stock at the London Electric Bike Company,Kingston Wick,Kingston,if that helps
Kudos Dave

 

[martin@onbike]

As ever, it comes down to personal choice....I really enjoyed the firm ride of Carbon forks.
I found the Race to be responsive and light on the steering, unlike many of the other ebikes i've ridden, making it really easy to control and avoid many of the potholes...but when one slipped through the net it didn't half knock the wind out of the sails!!
I test ride most new styles of bike we get in at the shop with the same commute to work and back to see how they compare on the same terrain etc.-Riding the Race, it was the quickest and most enjoyable Electric bike ride i've done yet.
Definitely the bike for a sporty purposeful ride -this and the Carbon almost made me want to give up Ebikes and go full Lycra....but not quite.
At the end of the day, I like the pace of a road bike, but feel i need a few more creature comforts if it's to be used as a daily commute, needing to carry my lunch amongst other things.
I'm starting to understand why people feel the need to buy several bikes for different occasions.....

 

[OxygenJames]

After recently having a ride of a BH Neo Race, and loving every second of it, show me a stylish alternative to it.

Two main points. It must have rigid front forks, as I hate suspension forks on a road biased bike, and I'd also like to see 700C wheels.

The NEO Race.

OK - how about this.

 

[martin@onbike]

That Haibike is Gorgeous!
....and it's got a stand!

 

[mountainsport]

After recently having a ride of a BH Neo Race, and loving every second of it, show me a stylish alternative to it.

Two main points. It must have rigid front forks, as I hate suspension forks on a road biased bike, and I'd also like to see 700C wheels.

The NEO Race.

EddiePJ , how could you live without the use of suspension? It is like eating fish & chips without adding salt & vinegar.

MS.

 

[Artstu]

I'd have this one if I had the money Haibike

 

[OxygenJames]

I'd have this one if I had the money Haibike

That is sweet!

 

[Deleted member 4366]

That Haibike doesn't make sense to me. Surely if you wanted a light-weight electric road bike, you'd want a light-weight motor system. They could shave at least 2kg by using a hub-motor instead of that lardy Bosch drive system. That's an 11% reduction, which is not insignificant.

 

[flecc]

That Haibike doesn't make sense to me. Surely if you wanted a light-weight electric road bike, you'd want a light-weight motor system. They could shave at least 2kg by using a hub-motor instead of that lardy Bosch drive system. That's an 11% reduction, which is not insignificant.

Oddly enough BH did the same with their just over 16 kilo e-bike, by using the Panasonic crank drive unit. That could have been just into the 14 kilo mark with a hub motor.

 

[Martin@e-bikeshop]

Hi Guys,

Just to throw it out there..
Both the following have the Bosch drive, lightweight, road style, carbon forks etc etc.

Haibike xDuro Urban 28 Race 2014

Full Specification here

Moustache Dimanche 28 Titanium 2014

Full Specification here

Haibike Urban due in stock in Jan 2014. The Moustache Dimanche 28 Titanium due in March 2014.

Regards
Martin

 

[flecc]

EddiePJ , how could you live without the use of suspension?

MS.

I much prefer a rigid for road use, much lighter and more responsive. The difference in use and enjoyment is like that between a finely honed sports car and a general purpose family car.

One's own weight comes into it though. I'm light at well under 70 kilos so suspension doesn't work for me until it's soggily soft acting, ruining the handling. And no sprung seatpost has ever sprung at all for me. In this connection I've noticed those arguing strongly for suspension are frequently somewhat generously proportioned.

It is like eating fish & chips without adding salt & vinegar.

MS.

Salt and vinegar are for people who don't like the taste of fish and potatoes.
.