The Ultimate Road E-Bike

[Tubamanandy]

Ok, just a bit of fun: If you were designing an Ultimate E-Bike (legal), what components would you use if money was no object ?

Wheel size, motor (crank/front or rear hub), which motor, what system, front or rear suspension, gears..how many, what set, seat, post, frame material and design

I guess there maybe a Haibike already out there with many of the best components but I bet it could be improved.

 

[trex]

ultimate and legal at the same time? it can't be done.

 

[Geebee]

Pick your prefered 8kg road bike drop a Vivax in and sorted, a sub 10 kg assisted bike.
Low powered but on a light road bike it would be magic on steeper hills, the current version is apparently very quiet.

http://www.vivax-assist.com/en/unternehmen/index.php

 

[D8ve]

A nocom is about the fastest commercial recumbent.
The VK3 is a nice blend of performance and practicality (bit of hight and suspension).
Oh I suppose a rohloff hub would add to the weight but improve reliability and usability too.
If fitted with a crank drive. On the flat it would cruse at +20 and assist would only cut in uphill or starting out. It would have an incredible range and a high average speed for all day crusing.

My current best on an unassisted touring bent is +15mph for over 100 miles to have Sunday dinner with mother Inlaw.
Is that close to ultimate? What performance comfort mix do you expect?

 

[Twangman]

Things I would like now as standard on road bikes and could happen now if the will was there, Most bikes come with lights why not indicators as well?
E bikes are heavy a double kickstand fitted as the norm, wireing and battery hidden away as much as possible.
As a city commuter my ultimate a lightweight bike style wise similar to a Goped with a higher voltage battery more range and a throttle and with 24 inch wheels and puncture proof tyres. I suppose what I am after is a bike/scooter hybrid that that allows me to pedal when I want exercise but has the convience of a scooter when I dont.

 

[Martin@e-bikeshop]

Haibike Carbon Ultimate.
Not exactly a Road bike, but couldn't resist, considering its name!

Martin

 

[grldtnr]

Haibike Carbon Ultimate.
Not exactly a Road bike, but couldn't resist, considering its name!

Martin

But no mudguards!

 

[Martin@e-bikeshop]

But no mudguards!

These can be organised

 

[RobF]

Haibike Carbon Ultimate.
Not exactly a Road bike, but couldn't resist, considering its name!

Martin

Certainly the ultimate price.

Haibike really are taking the wotsit when you realise you can buy a full sus carbon frame for £700.

A £750 crank drive kit and battery will blow the Bosch system out of the water.

Another grand or so for good quality wheels, tyres, and finishing kit, £500 for forks, and a few hundred for contingency, gives a budget of about £3,250, against the Haibike at £12,000.

The £3,250 bike would wipe the floor with the Habike, not least because it would have more power and a decent size battery, or there's plenty of money in the budget for a spare.

You could buy a van to take the bike to the trail centre with the £8K+ saving and still have money left over.

 

[Martin@e-bikeshop]

Haibike really are taking the wotsit

Really, why am I selling them then?
In fairness you could only just buy the wheels alone (ones fitted to the Haibike) within that budget. You are comparing a Micra to a Mercedes in respect of the quality of components / build.

 

[RobF]

In fairness you could only just buy the wheels alone (ones fitted to the Haibike) within that budget. You are comparing a Micra to a Mercedes in respect of the quality of components / build.

Not really.

A modern Micra is nicely built, and in any event that would depend on the builder.

You and I both know there are people on here who can build to factory quality.

As regards the components, many could be identical/superior - fork, tyres, groupset.

The wheels is an interesting one, and I like the idea of five spokes if they could be made to ride OK.

But a few hundred will get you a top notch wheelset, particularly if it's built by a proper wheel builder.

 

[RobF]

In the interests of accuracy.

Looks like those trick wheels are about £2,500 to buy retail, and the electronic groupset is another £1K.

Adding those to my notional ultimate kit bike would up the parts budget to nearer £5K.

 

[trex]

give d8veh £5k to play with, he'll produce a better e-bike than the Haibike Carbon Ultimate.

 

[Kudoscycles]

Tubamanandy.....you specified a road e-bike,I always think of Haibike as being primarily off road e-bikes,with off road requirements you can spend a fortune on suspension but with road e-bikes I find it difficult to spend more than £2k and the KTM bikes at slightly less than that figure seem difficult to improve on,whatever budget you reach up to.
I was tempted to stock the new Haibike XDuro Trekking RX,I think it is a very good looking bike,priced £2800.00
Spec
Bosch performance line motor
400 Wh Bosch battery
Suntour forks
Tektro hydraulic brakes
Price,£2800.00
But if you compare it with the KTM Macina Fun 9,almost identical spec.
Price £1899.00
I hope someone at KTM has got their sums right,it is not surprising that many of the KTM dealers are low on stock even at the 'quiet' time of the year.
KudosDave

 

[grldtnr]

Tubamanandy.....you specified a road e-bike,I always think of Haibike as being primarily off road e-bikes,with off road requirements you can spend a fortune on suspension but with road e-bikes I find it difficult to spend more than £2k and the KTM bikes at slightly less than that figure seem difficult to improve on,whatever budget you reach up to.
I was tempted to stock the new Haibike XDuro Trekking RX,I think it is a very good looking bike,priced £2800.00
Spec
Bosch performance line motor
400 Wh Bosch battery
Suntour forks
Tektro hydraulic brakes
Price,£2800.00
But if you compare it with the KTM Macina Fun 9,almost identical spec.
Price £1899.00
I hope someone at KTM has got their sums right,it is not surprising that many of the KTM dealers are low on stock even at the 'quiet' time of the year.
KudosDave

Nobody has mentioned mudguards still,I for one hate that streak of incontinence up me jacksie!

 

[Deleted member 4366]

give d8veh £5k to play with, he'll produce a better e-bike than the Haibike Carbon Ultimate.

If somebody gave me that much money, I'd be on the first plane to Cuba or wherever all the gangsters retire to.

 

[bmc]

.A £750 crank drive kit and battery will blow the Bosch system out of the water.
.

If your referring to the Bafang bbs02 kit, then I'm not sure it will fit a carbon frame, as the BB shell is likely to be to thick.

I'm hoping somebody on here with more knowledge than me can clarify this point for me.

 

[EddiePJ]

But no mudguards!

And still the 'minor' on going detail of no confirmed bike weight either.

The Haibike looks lovely, but my choice would be a high end, low weight sportive style drop bar bike, with an indestructible light weight seat tube mounted motor and battery unit. Range wouldn't particularly matter, as the motor would be used as a last resort mode.

 

[Jimod]

My design for an ebike would be: Crank drive, bottle battery, front suspension, lights, proper mudguards, rear rack, 700 wheels, pedal sensor, suspension seat post and a rack bag.

 

[jwm]

If somebody gave me that much money, I'd be on the first plane to Cuba or wherever all the gangsters retire to.

...Scunthorpe?