Step through/low step bike £1500

[AliC]

It's new bike year for me Huband has suggested an e-bike (he has a wisper 705). I'm still yet to be convinced. Did put in an offer on a Juicy Nova yesterday but then saw it in real life and it's very chunky looking.
Local Juicy stockist also had the Roller, Ticket and some of the others in stock. Also liked the look of the Malva and Linaria Defintely looked the look of these more than the Nova. Not too concerned about weight but prefer one that look like a normal bike. Hydraulic disc brakes if possible but realise it may be tricky at this budget. Would prefer 28" wheels if possible.
Also like the look of the Giant Ease e+ but thats top of my buget and wouldn't want to go higher than that

 

[AliC]

Also this one? https://ecobikecompany.com/products/ampere-deluxe-step-through-electric-bike-250w?currency=GBP&variant=37787446771871&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google Shopping&gclid=CjwKCAiA24SPBhB0EiwAjBgkhuY36eVy3L_InP_4RBGAeTNH_CaonOhT37lrfWyevBh-06813lydnxoCevYQAvD_BwE
The Ampere Tourer also looks good.

 

[Barnsleyrob]

I can recommend the Pinnacle Mercury from Evans cycles which looks like its being discounted at the moment. It’s available as a step through (I have the traditional frame) and is good for hauling my 13st around 38 miles on mixed gravel tracks and towpaths. I’m 5’6” and the Medium frame size is just right for me but anyone shorter should go for the small. Standard Bafang components and in fairness to my local store, the staff have been able to sort a loose BB while I waited.

If you have a blue light card, there’s a further discount available at Sports Direct so I’ve attached that link. If possible, I’d collect the bike from store as their delivery service seems to be very poor.

Pinnacle | Mercury Step Through 2021 Electric Hybrid Bike | Electric Hybrid Bikes | SportsDirect.com

www.sportsdirect.com

 

[egroover]

I can recommend the Pinnacle Mercury from Evans cycles which looks like its being discounted at the moment. It’s available as a step through (I have the traditional frame) and is good for hauling my 13st around 38 miles on mixed gravel tracks and towpaths. I’m 5’6” and the Medium frame size is just right for me but anyone shorter should go for the small. Standard Bafang components and in fairness to my local store, the staff have been able to sort a loose BB while I waited.

If you have a blue light card, there’s a further discount available at Sports Direct so I’ve attached that link. If possible, I’d collect the bike from store as their delivery service seems to be very poor.

Pinnacle | Mercury Step Through 2021 Electric Hybrid Bike | Electric Hybrid Bikes | SportsDirect.com

www.sportsdirect.com

At £769 that's a pretty solid good value entry in the world of ebiking and would make a decent commuter bike for sub 20 mile round trip commutes. As you say standard Bafang china parts so easy and cheap to fix, and elsewhere a good level of componentry for the money. Add a rack/bag, lights and mudguards and you'll good to go

 

[Barnsleyrob]

At £769 that's a pretty solid good value entry in the world of ebiking and would make a decent commuter bike for sub 20 mile round trip commutes. As you say standard Bafang china parts so easy and cheap to fix, and elsewhere a good level of componentry for the money. Add a rack/bag, lights and mudguards and you'll good to go

Agreed, although I’d have no qualms pushing the bike to 30 miles round trip in winter - last week was 10 miles at 2°C and only used c20% charge. The downside is that you can either have a mudguard or rack but not both (according to Evans) so I just use a lightweight back pack.

Worth mentioning that the Kenda tyres are the puncture proof variety (Kenda Kwick Seven.5) which seem okay so far. Also I believe blue light discount is 10% at Sports Direct. My man maths is almost persuading me to buy one of these for the spare battery and motor alone. Plus I can hot swap summer and winter tyres.

If anyone has a suggestion for a front mudguard, I’m all ears.

 

[AliC]

I think I'd defintely need both mudguards and a rack but the bike is a bit of a bargain.
Came across the Forme Peak Trail 3 ELS this morning which we have have stockists of in town. So waiting to hear if they have it in stock.

 

[egroover]

Agreed, although I’d have no qualms pushing the bike to 30 miles round trip in winter - last week was 10 miles at 2°C and only used c20% charge. The downside is that you can either have a mudguard or rack but not both (according to Evans) so I just use a lightweight back pack.

Worth mentioning that the Kenda tyres are the puncture proof variety (Kenda Kwick Seven.5) which seem okay so far. Also I believe blue light discount is 10% at Sports Direct. My man maths is almost persuading me to buy one of these for the spare battery and motor alone. Plus I can hot swap summer and winter tyres.

If anyone has a suggestion for a front mudguard, I’m all ears.

Something like this might suit https://www.rutlandcycling.com/accessories/mudguards/universal-mudguards/sks-veloflexx-55mm-mudguard-set-26-27.5inch-wheel/SKMVFLEX65.html?gclid=Cj0KCQiAoY-PBhCNARIsABcz772LvjYk_PAEFQ6n-S87UygbdkleQNOwBBPeETB_sLEanyuIo0bDQwYaAma0EALw_wcB

 

[sjpt]

The Santana 3 | Electric Bikes from Woosh

The Santana3, a new lightweight and powerful step through electric bike with 36V 15AH/17AH battery from Woosh.

wooshbikes.co.uk

Excellent customer service. Quality standard parts for long term maintainability at a reasonable price.

 

[Barnsleyrob]

Something like this might suit https://www.rutlandcycling.com/accessories/mudguards/universal-mudguards/sks-veloflexx-55mm-mudguard-set-26-27.5inch-wheel/SKMVFLEX65.html?gclid=Cj0KCQiAoY-PBhCNARIsABcz772LvjYk_PAEFQ6n-S87UygbdkleQNOwBBPeETB_sLEanyuIo0bDQwYaAma0EALw_wcB

Good spot but I’m not really a fan of the traditional mudguards. I’ve got one of the MTB rear guards that clamps to the seat post but I recently saw a nice rear rack that does the same and seems to double up as a guard. I don’t have anything on the front but the wide downtube seems to stop a lot of the muck and what gets past isn’t much of an issue for leisure rides, although it wouldn’t do for a commuter. I might try an MTB style on the front as there’s a hole in the top of the forks that would hold it but the angle seems too tight for anything useful. Might have to resort to the cable tied plastic jobbies.

 

[AliC]

Like the look of the Santana but wondering if I'd miss my hydraulic brakes that I have on my current non electric bike.

 

[Woosh]

the front brakes on the Santana is disc. You can replace the cable operated Avid caliper with a hydraulic one. The cost is about £20-£30. As most of the braking (70%) is done at the front, it will give about the same braking power as if both front and rear were hydraulic.

 

[Nealh]

Kudo safari is dated but still cheap and comes fully equipped and has nexus hub gears.

 

[sjpt]

Kudos Sonata at £1195 is similar price to the Santana and comes with hydraulic disk brakes.

.: Kudos Cycles - e-bikes with style :.

Smaller battery; I think you might do better with the Santana and updating for front brake as Woosh suggested. A tad lighter than the Santana (hardly significant, might be down to slightly different equipment). The Safari is much cheaper but quite a bit heavier; over 29kg is quite a lump.

 

[matthewslack]

Good spot but I’m not really a fan of the traditional mudguards. I’ve got one of the MTB rear guards that clamps to the seat post but I recently saw a nice rear rack that does the same and seems to double up as a guard. I don’t have anything on the front but the wide downtube seems to stop a lot of the muck and what gets past isn’t much of an issue for leisure rides, although it wouldn’t do for a commuter. I might try an MTB style on the front as there’s a hole in the top of the forks that would hold it but the angle seems too tight for anything useful. Might have to resort to the cable tied plastic jobbies.

I have a rack which is used daily for panniers, and I made a rudimentary mudguard from a strip of thin bendy secondhand plywood which lies on the top of the rack and bends down to meet the back of the seat tube. Works pretty well, with the seat tube itself helping out. Secured with zip ties through holes in the plywood.

 

[Nealh]

The safari is heavy because is it fully loaded/kitted out for touring cycling and has the heavier safer chemistry lifepo4 battery and the nexus hub gears.
Once one starts with a 22/24kg bike and then starts adding a lock, lights, mudgaurds, rack and panniers it won't e far off the safari weight.

 

[egroover]

That Pinnacle bike comes in at 21kg which is not bad. Not having a 3kg cheap Suntour pogo stick suspension fork probably helps keep the weight down

 

[richtea99]

The downside is that you can either have a mudguard or rack but not both (according to Evans) so I just use a lightweight back pack.

I would think you could manage both. Squinting at the Mercury images there seem to be mounting points on the stays below the saddle and also down at the rear dropouts.
Those top mounting points are for a rack (a mudguard won't need them) and down the bottom at the rear dropouts the rack and mudguards can share the mounting point with a longer bolt. Just be sure to fit the rack on the bolt first (so it's tight against the frame for maximum strength), and then the mudguard.

If you don't like that arrangement, there may be room for a beam-like rack if you don't need to carry more than 9Kg. It attaches just below the seat:

Topeak MTX BeamRack Rear Bike Rack | Tredz Bikes

Save 16% - Topeak MTX BeamRack Rear Bike Rack £47.99 or available with 0% APR finance on baskets over £99. All Rear Bike Racks are delivered free to the UK mainland*, 365 day returns & Price Match. Buy Now.

www.tredz.co.uk

If anyone has a suggestion for a front mudguard, I’m all ears.

Blumels SKS have always served me well. I can't advise on size, sorry. It will depend on your tyre radiius and width. An example:

SKS Bluemels Mudguard Set | Tredz Bikes

Save up to 17% - SKS Bluemels Mudguard Set from £29.99 or available with 0% APR finance on baskets over £99. All Mudguard sets are delivered free to the UK mainland*, 365 day returns & Price Match. Buy Now.

www.tredz.co.uk

 

[egroover]

if anyone is thinking of getting the Pinnacle, there's only 2 small size left but about 160 of the medium in stock...so in order to shift them they might reduce further...

 

[Barnsleyrob]

I would think you could manage both. Squinting at the Mercury images there seem to be mounting points on the stays below the saddle and also down at the rear dropouts.
Those top mounting points are for a rack (a mudguard won't need them) and down the bottom at the rear dropouts the rack and mudguards can share the mounting point with a longer bolt. Just be sure to fit the rack on the bolt first (so it's tight against the frame for maximum strength), and then the mudguard.

If you don't like that arrangement, there may be room for a beam-like rack if you don't need to carry more than 9Kg. It attaches just below the seat:

Topeak MTX BeamRack Rear Bike Rack | Tredz Bikes

Save 16% - Topeak MTX BeamRack Rear Bike Rack £47.99 or available with 0% APR finance on baskets over £99. All Rear Bike Racks are delivered free to the UK mainland*, 365 day returns & Price Match. Buy Now.

www.tredz.co.uk

Blumels SKS have always served me well. I can't advise on size, sorry. It will depend on your tyre radiius and width. An example:

SKS Bluemels Mudguard Set | Tredz Bikes

Save up to 17% - SKS Bluemels Mudguard Set from £29.99 or available with 0% APR finance on baskets over £99. All Mudguard sets are delivered free to the UK mainland*, 365 day returns & Price Match. Buy Now.

www.tredz.co.uk

Thanks. I particularly like the rack, in fact it may have been the one I stumbled on.

 

[Barnsleyrob]

That Pinnacle bike comes in at 21kg which is not bad. Not having a 3kg cheap Suntour pogo stick suspension fork probably helps keep the weight down

It doesn’t feel like a heavy bike and also has an undocumented walk assist function. In fact the documentation supplied is a bit rubbish but I have obtained the user guides direct from Bafang. I’ve also got email confirmation of the battery charging regime from the Taiwanese manufacturer.

 

[AliC]

New bike ordered. Thanks for all the suggestions.