Very lightweight e-bikes

[Artstu]

Many of the smaller photos are laterally compressed, the wheels oval and much higher than wide. Clicking the final enlarge option corrects that and makes the road bikes look typical.

The picture lower down on this page with the cable hanging down like an afterthought still makes the bike look oddly proportioned to me.

http://annad.en.alibaba.com/product/857180345-218567348/700C_30_speed_gears_Electric_Road_Bike.html

I can't help thinking that a last years sale bike and a motor kit would still make a better bike and at a cheaper price, you just wouldn't have the battery hidden away.

 

[flecc]

I know what's possible on road bike weights, but that's not entirely relevant since e-bikes have additional stresses. Cytronex have been in this weight reduction field for some while now but mostly only get down to the 17 kilos region, though claim the world's lightest at 12.7 kilos on their all carbon Cannondale based Super Six. BH once achieved just over 16 kilos on their lightest road e-bike, but haven't had much luck in keeping their bikes in one piece judging by recent events. The rest of the road e-bike lightweight attempts have been heavier, and we haven't exactly been short of broken frame examples.

So as I acknowledged before, 11 kilos is feasible on a mainly alloy e-bike, but their materials quality control had better be diligent.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

You don't need to be so sceptical. The 15 kg that I picked up had suspension forks, triple chainwheel, MTB tyres and rims, etc. I'm sure those weights are right.

You can see that these bikes are not cheap lash-ups. They're proper high quality, high specification bikes, and they've been around a while. If they weren't what they're supposed to be, it would be all over the internet.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Not definitive, but gives some idea:

www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=zviQCTLkglk

If you read the comments, someone mentions a distributor in London?

 

[flecc]

Not definitive

. Certainly wasn't, I can pick up a 25 kilo eZee Torq with my little finger!

You'll have to try harder than that Dave.

 

[Cyclezee]

. Certainly wasn't, I can pick up a 25 kilo eZee Torq with my little finger!

Are you sure about that Tony, someone on here said recently said that the eZee Torq weighs 60Kg

 

[flecc]

. I've never tried with 60 kilos, but 25 kilos is easy and most can do so. There's an unwitting con in this as I'm sure you appreciate John, given your medical background.

The small finger muscles only deal with fine movement, the power to bend and keep bent any finger is from the large muscles in the forearm via long tendons. Those who've had carpal tunnel problems will be aware of this. It's arm strength lifting the bike.

 

[Cyclezee]

. I've never tried with 60 kilos, but 25 kilos is easy and most can do so. There's an unwitting con in this as I'm sure you appreciate John, given your medical background.

The small finger muscles only deal with fine movement, the power to bend and keep bent any finger is from the large muscles in the forearm via long tendons. Those who've had carpal tunnel problems will be aware of this.

I do have little knowledge of the subject as I used to make prosthetic fingers for patients following traumatic amputation. I can think of a couple of gratifying cases, one a police firearms officer, I suggest that everyone stay clear of Hertfordshire, the other a guitarist, apparently his playing is just as bad now as it was prior to his accident, so a total success.

 

[Arbol]

A comment about lightweight ebikes (no Annad though): I have opened a thread regarding a similar issue. I believe there are a few possibilities to transform a normal bike into a leightweight & stealthy ebike.

http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/a-minimalistic-kit-proposal.16927/#post-208520

For example, if one could hide a battery and controller inside a chain guard, one could have a stealthy ebike similar to this one:

http://bikesales4u.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/corvo_05.jpg

 

[Geebee]

Actually if you used that style gaurd and made a screw on cover for the center cutout (back and front) it would come close to holding enough batteries plus it would protect them from the chain, you may even fit Hobby LiPo's if they are of interest.
Run PAS and a rear hub all wiring could be hiden in the cover as well.
Damn I would love to find a cheap bike like that to try it on.

 

[Arbol]

Actually if you used that style gaurd and made a screw on cover for the center cutout (back and front) it would come close to holding enough batteries plus it would protect them from the chain, you may even fit Hobby LiPo's if they are of interest.
Run PAS and a rear hub all wiring could be hiden in the cover as well.
Damn I would love to find a cheap bike like that to try it on.

In the end, the only complexity to get a bikelike this one is to find the chain guard, or to build a new one fit for purpose. The rest are standard components, just combined with taste IMHO.

 

[jackhandy]

. Are we going to argue over 1kg?

Forego the cream teas & we're there

 

[Deleted member 4366]

In 4 weeks time, I'll have the definitive answer from my uncalibrated scales. I expect even then that people will try and pick faults in the measuring method.

 

[Geebee]

In 4 weeks time, I'll have the definitive answer from my uncalibrated scales. I expect even then that people will try and pick faults in the measuring method.

Most likely so

Im looking forward to a review.

 

[flecc]

In 4 weeks time, I'll have the definitive answer from my uncalibrated scales. I expect even then that people will try and pick faults in the measuring method.

I won't. I've done most of the questioning, but as much on if they are strong enough if those weights are correct.

 

[Kudoscycles]

D8veh..Dave..do I gather from the comment 'in 4 weeks time',that you are going to China,perhaps we could have a beer together,maybe meet up on the Annad stand. I am in Shanghai April 11-16,at show April 13-16.
This time I am staying on the Puxi side,near Xintiandi.
But that is some 6 weeks away?
Regards
KudosDave

 

[trex]

demand for very light weight e-bikes is bound to be very limited. The problem is not just pricing, it's the compromises that have to be taken in order to reduce the weight. You are not cutting out the fat, but the muscle.
The bike that d8veh tested at Shanghai last year may seem torquey in the hall, but will it stay torquey after 100m on a 10% hill when the small battery has time to sag and the motor to warm up? who will want to put up with lack of performance after forking out £2-3k? Another issue is small volume manufacturing and by the way, it's still look Chinese.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

D8veh..Dave..do I gather from the comment 'in 4 weeks time',that you are going to China,perhaps we could have a beer together,maybe meet up on the Annad stand. I am in Shanghai April 11-16,at show April 13-16.
This time I am staying on the Puxi side,near Xintiandi.
But that is some 6 weeks away?
Regards
KudosDave

You're right. I missed out March somehow.
Yes, it would be nice to meet up there. I'll be at the show on Sunday to Tuesday (13th to 15th). i don't know where I'm staying yet. Somebody is sorting that out for me.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

demand for very light weight e-bikes is bound to be very limited. The problem is not just pricing, it's the compromises that have to be taken in order to reduce the weight. You are not cutting out the fat, but the muscle.
The bike that d8veh tested at Shanghai last year may seem torquey in the hall, but will it stay torquey after 100m on a 10% hill when the small battery has time to sag and the motor to warm up? who will want to put up with lack of performance after forking out £2-3k? Another issue is small volume manufacturing and by the way, it's still look Chinese.

Instead of inventing negative points, try inventing a few positive ones, which are just as much a figment of our imaginations like: The motor might be so smooth that you won't know it's there; the battery might be so good that it'll last more than ten years; these bikes might have special appeal so that you'll become even more attractive to women (or men if that's your thing).

All I say is to keep an open mind until you have some hard facts. I can't personally see anything in them that makes them anything other than what they're supposed to be. I can't see anything that doesn't look strong enough, and the Keyde electrics have been round for a fair while now. Jerrysimon has a kit. Is he complaining? The only one that I have first hand experience of broke, but the guy that broke it has a World Championship trophy for his ability to pedal (I'm not joking), and it was used off-road. Even Bosch motors break occasionally. I tested the same motor kit in Birmingham and I can confirm that it has plenty of torque for 10% hills - about the same as a normal small (SWX size) hub-motor. I don't get the bit about it still looking Chinese. What feature/s is/are that?. I''m no expert, but it looks just like any other modern road bike to me, Please explain to me the differences.

Scott (or are they Chinese too)
http://www.comparestoreprices.co.uk/images/sc/scott-speedster-s60-triple-2006-road-bike.jpg

Annad (maybe Chinese frame, rest world source)
http://www.annad.net/productsinfo-id=6.php.htm

 

[trex]

All I am saying is that these bikes are not good designs.
good products lead to commercial success for the traders, I only try to put off KD - although I am sure he's got his own reasons to look into this category of e-bikes, like a shop in a very affluent part of London.
I imagine that customers who can afford £,£££ on a bike will want a nice logo.
I am usually less negative that you give me for.