Unlimited Budget?

[Cyclezee]

If you were fortunate enough to have an unlimited budget and started with a blank piece of paper, what features and components would you choose for an electric bike?

Here are few things to consider:

• Frame material e.g. steel, alumininium, carbon fibre, titanium, etc.
• Style of frame
• Type of motor drive, hub, crank, other
• Throttle only, pedelec only or both
• Battery type and chemistry
• Location of battery
• Battery capacity
• Motor power output
• Handlebar display and features, LED, LCD, Cycle Analyst
• Size of wheels
• Type of tyres
• Transmission, derailleur, hub gears, belt drive, shaft drive, automatic
• Number of gears
• Brakes, disc, rim, hydraulic, cable
• Lighting

This list is not exhaustive, so please add any other features or components you would want, the only criteria is that they should be currently available.

I look forward to reading what you have to say.

 

[jerrysimon]

Not an ebike but a car or very nice motorcycle

Regards

Jerry

 

[Cyclezee]

I take your point exactly Jerry

 

[danfoto]

A well thought-out aluminium step-through frame with sit-up riding position in a good range of sizes and with a conservative finish, pedelec, crank motor, 250w (or whatever the legal max is), display combining battery state and power setting with a basic cycle computer, nurse's lock, "ergo" grips, 26" wheels with city/touring tyres, sprung seatpost, fairly basic suspension forks, 8-speed hub, disc brakes, dynamo lighting, decent rack, good full-length guards and all s/s nuts and bolts.

Ref battery, whatever type is currently (!) thought most sensible, with maybe 20Ah capacity. Oh, a two-year guarantee and a rapid charger too, please.

The budget for that is £2500. We have no interest whatsoever in illegal bikes, hub motors, derailleur gears, garish paintwork, big logos or a sporty riding position.

 

[funkylyn]

I am more than happy with the Tonaro I have, BUT......would love it to be 4 kilos lighter and with a bigger capacity battery...........and maybe some funky tyres.......oh......and purple............for the same price of course

Lynda

 

[Cyclezee]

I am more than happy with the Tonaro I have, BUT......would love it to be 4 kilos lighter and with a bigger capacity battery...........and maybe some funky tyres.......oh......and purple............for the same price of course

Lynda

Thank you for your invaluable comments Lynda, I am sure the manufacturer will those suggestions onboard.

So, the medication isn't working then, I'm so sorry

 

[funkylyn]

Oh I know, I know......you can tell then ?
Should I up the dosage.........or maybe just keep pedalling and dreaming.....and improving my muscles lifting it around .....

Lynda

 

[indalo]

A well thought-out aluminium step-through frame with sit-up riding position in a good range of sizes and with a conservative finish, pedelec, crank motor, 250w (or whatever the legal max is), display combining battery state and power setting with a basic cycle computer, nurse's lock, "ergo" grips, 26" wheels with city/touring tyres, sprung seatpost, fairly basic suspension forks, 8-speed hub, disc brakes, dynamo lighting, decent rack, good full-length guards and all s/s nuts and bolts.

Ref battery, whatever type is currently (!) thought most sensible, with maybe 20Ah capacity. Oh, a two-year guarantee and a rapid charger too, please.

The budget for that is £2500. We have no interest whatsoever in illegal bikes, hub motors, derailleur gears, garish paintwork, big logos or a sporty riding position.

Blimey Dan! For a moment, I thought I was reading a description of my bike but you specified 26" rather than my 28" wheels and you nominated discs instead of the internal hub brakes aboard mine. A 20Ah battery would be wonderful if indeed it actually provided that power but the jury's out on the Kalkhoff 18Ah model at the moment so I'd happily carry a spare 7.2Ah in my pannier bag, doubling(ish) my distance.

Unfortunately, I think all the major Dutch bike makers now utilise hub motors but although I'm a big fan of crank-driven machines, I could live happily with one of the latest Koga Miyatas or Spartas now that the motor power has been increased.

There may be more big name makers who will adopt the Bosch crank-drive system but I'll hang fire on one of those till I read a few more reports of the system in bikes other than the MTB Haibike model.

Like your style though!

Indalo

 

[Scottyf]

A road build probaly something like...
Aluminium Frame - Full Suspension with 3inchs travel - Air suspension
Steel Drop outs fitted though onto the swing arm
Comfy wider Road tires maybe 2inch wide
28 inch wheels
Hydro 180mm Disk brakes - Front / 160mm rear - With dual control braking
Hub gears

Bottom Bracket motor driven through gears
Batteries located in the frame triangle. Or even housed in the frame. 15amp size at 36v cells lipoly to keep weight down.
Throttle and Pedelec driven
Cycle analyst display but embedded into the stem / headset or bars so it looks a bit more jazzy and slick...
The display font and style is boring to. Maybe Led's like the car displays are like at the moment.

Think I'd be happy with that. It would be comfy and weight not to much of a concern.

Maybe onboad charger so you can just plug it in where ever or remove the battery and charger and just find a socket if you can't bring the bike in to an electric point.

 

[cwah]

Air suspension Brompton sized bike that can reach 30 mph with MEGA TORQUE weighting less than 20 kg and that rolls once folded.

Battery: DOW KOKAM with very high capacity. They seems to be the lightest for the power available
Suspension: Air
Wheel: 16"
Lightning: Front and rear light with signal light.
Gear: 3 speed max.
Motor: Any motor as long as it has good torque, is efficient and reach 30 mph
Cycle analyst or speedict
With Torque sensor and throttle.

And as stealthy as hell!


That's the bike I'd love to pay for

 

[flecc]

Same as danfoto in this thread except battery no more than 15 Ah, and plus an override throttle for independent control of the motor at times in heavy confined traffic conditions.

 

[Blew it]

Frame material e.g. steel, alumininium sic, carbon fibre, titanium, etc: Aluminium
Style of frame: Traditional double triangle
Type of motor drive, hub, crank, other: Crank
Throttle only, pedelec only or both: Pedelec with pedal shaft torque sensing
Battery type and chemistry: Ping LiFePO4
Location of battery: Low down in front triangle
Battery capacity: 15 ah @ 36 volt
Motor power output: 300 watts nominal
Handlebar display and features, LED, LCD, Cycle Analyst: LED, minimal for 'at-a-glance' reading
Size of wheels: 26"
Type of tyres: Rubber ones, puncture resistant, town & country
Transmission, derailleur, hub gears, belt drive, shaft drive, automatic: Roller chain, manual geared hub
Number of gears: 8
Brakes, disc, rim, hydraulic, cable: Disc, hydraulic
Lighting: Dynohub, powering daylight-running strobe lights

Which, apart from battery chemistry and size, is almost a stock bike.

 

[eddieo]

Easy! Swiss Flyer X series. nicest bike I have ever tried. but my Specialized Crosstrail Ltd disc with Wisper DaaHub is not really that far of. Plus its lighter and a hell of a lot cheaper


Suicide jockeys please note: the likle bracket at end of rack is for a number plate...Yep, thats right a number plate, and insurance is also required for this class of e bike. plus an SVA type test as we have no legislation in the UK for high speed e bikes on our roads.........

 

[Geebee]

This please

 

[mike killay]

Frame:aluminium, sit up and beg style, but definitely traditional triangle.
Motor:250 or bigger if allowed, crank driver.
Pedelec:switcheable on and off besides assist level.
Throttle: a must! Half type preferred
Suspension: full, but not particularly expensive, just enough for ordinary roads.
Saddle: Wide, well sprung and padded.
Battery;10-15 amp hours, centrally located in the diamond.
Handlebars: North road or similar.
Lights; Two bright rear lights able to be set flashing as well as still. Two front lights, one for ordinary use, the other a blinder to frighten cars etc.
Wheels: 26 inch
Tyres: Easy rolling, minimum tread., puncture resistant and slimed
Brakes: really good disc brakes.
Electronics: Speedometer and set of leds to show battery state.
Rear rack; Capable of carrying good sized panniers. Preferably a Dutch type strong enough for someone to sit on.
Electrics:totally waterproof. Bike must be able to withstand a pressure washer.
Weight: prefer under 25 kilo
Gears:8 in hub design.
Mudguards:generous and effective.
Mirror: good bar end type

 

[danfoto]

Blimey Dan! For a moment, I thought I was reading a description of my bike but you specified 26" rather than my 28" wheels and you nominated discs instead of the internal hub brakes aboard mine.

26" 'cos we loved the fairly fat Vredestein Moirée tyres we had on our Workcycles FR8, and disc brakes 'cos we didn't like the lack of feel with the Shimano hub brakes on the same bike!

Having said that, I'm well impressed with the Magura hydraulic brakes on our Agattus (except for the fact that on mine, the front brake's on the wrong side of the forks) ...

 

[danfoto]

Frame:aluminium, sit up and beg style, but definitely traditional triangle.

I would have said exactly the same thing a year ago, purely from the engineering point of view. I'd never ridden any other type of frame.

Then we got a Workcycles FR8, and I rode it home one day downhill at a fair old rate on a potholed road, with 24Kg in the front carrier, over 10Kg in one of the rear panniers and about 3Kg in the other. Not the slightest hint of any frame flexing, wobble, whatever. It ran like a train round the bends.

That's why I took a chance on a step-through frame for my Agattu after having lived with a "gents" framed one for a couple of weeks. If this step-through frame flexes, in my experience so far it's not enough to be detectable in normal circumstances.

And as for a step-through being thought a bit ghey or indeed a girl's frame, anybody who thinks that should get over themselves

 

[Eaglerider]

Money no object, simples!

I would have two bikes. I don't think any one bike can fit the bill. For road use I'd be very happy with my Eagle but with a 30 Ah battery for 100 mile range so I can ride all day on max assist.

For off road I would have either the Haibike, or perhaps a BH Emotion Xenion 700 with de-restricted Bosch crank drive.

The rest would be blown on my other hobbies.

 

[daudi]

This one. It has a 40,000 watt motor: http://mobile.theverge.com/2011/11/13/2558718/evolve-motorcycles-xenon-lithium-electric-lightcycle-55000-price

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

 

[Scottyf]

Eddio I find it interesting you'd choose the Swiss flyer X with a higher powered motor?

Whats your reason for it?

I understand the build quality is second to none for the bikes but i thought you was more into the off road style of bikes. This seems quite different from your usual choice.