(I dedicate this novel to Mum and Dad.)
~~~~~~~~~~
What electric bike can go up steep hills on throttle alone?
Yes I know about the regulations and that non-pedelec bikes for sale are becoming rarer but they're still out there and I want one and need help finding a good climber.
At one point I considered an electrified Brompton because I know small wheels are good up steep hills but I decided 16" was too small for me and I don't fancy DIY. So I think 20" is probably the minimum. I'm not anti-big wheels. If a bike has enough power and the right parameters elsewhere to negate the bigger wheels then I'll consider it but 20" is looking favourite so far.
I don't care much about speed. Yes I'd still be miffed if I couldn't do 16mph on the flat but climbing up steep hills slowly and relentlessly is OK with me.
I don't want a motor above 250W tempting as it may be. I feel semi-comfortable breaking the throttle regulations but I wouldn't feel comfortable with a big, illegal beast of a motor. And from what I've read of the Cyclotricity Stealth it's not for me. I might consider a bike that was artificially restricted to 250W and then see how I can get the best out of it. But if some plod sidles up to me and peers at my bike I want the motor to say 250W on it as he'd expect.
Here's how I've been procrastinating so far:
I was looking at the Panda XL folder on eBay recently (yes I know Panda Leisure is not Panda Bikes) because it ran at 48V and I thought that combined with 20" wheels might make it a good climber. The item's been taken down now though...and I was a bit doubtful about the El Cheapo components anyway.
I was intrigued by the EasyMOTION Neo Prox because a site was selling one new for £1150 and it has a 350W motor restriced to 250W (though I haven't the foggiest idea of how or whether you could get the most out of that). It was also stated as running at 48V but other sites say 36V so that may have been an error. I was concerned that it had a frame integrated battery which one day I may not be able to replace. Is it affordable and easy enough to have a battery like that recelled by someone?
I wondered if the Rich Bit RT-730 folding bike on eBay was any good with its small wheels and 48V but I don't know the nitty-gritty of the motor and controller. They are posted from China as well which has me a bit leery...and 28.5kg seems heavy for a folder.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/48V-250W-BMX-Electric-Mini-Folding-Bike-20-Wheel-Spokes-Aluminum-Richbit-RT-730-/262976430355?hash=item3d3a9de113:g:deEAAOSwGJlZEXmI
I realised that ebikes running at 48V are very rare(why?) and bikes with hidden power that can be tweaked to give more aren't common either so decided to see if any mainstream bikes were especially torquey. Without knowing all the detailed specs The Wisper 806 Torque seemed to have potential. It sounded torquey and well made by people who attend to detail, and having fairly wide British distribution would be very handy, especially if something went wrong. But it's throttle is walking speed only...so I went off that one.
I read about the new Woosh Rio bikes with interest; 80nm sounds nice but I want a half-twist throttle...and perhaps smaller wheels. The Woosh people said they've a new folder coming but it sounds like they've deprecated the half-twist throttle now. Bugger!
The SmartMotion e20 sounded nice because it has a reputation for being strong and reliable having been designed for heavy use for the New Zealand postal service. Coming with a frame lock is a really nice plus too. But I'm not aware of it being any better than other bikes of its type at going up steep hills.
Why are there no reviews of the GTech ebike anywhere? I can't find any. You'd think something advertised nationally on telly would be well reviewed.
I'd love to get a bike that'd go up shall we say 14% inclines without pedaling but I suspect that's not realistic, especially as I've counted out the Bompton and other 16 inchers. So what's the next best thing? I think the Woosh Big Bear can go up 10% without pedalling but if a big bike can do that isn't there a small-wheeled lighter bike that can do a bit better? I've been having soft tissue problems recently, including my achilles, so I'm being super careful.
I'd rather spend around £600-£900 especially knowing it may get nicked one day, but I'd maybe edge towards £1500 for the right bike. I'm willing to buy second-hand and replace the battery a year down the line (spreading the cost and getting a better bike).
I'll consider any style except speed racer (that posture hurts my back) but am leaning towards a folder so I can put it in the car.
Must have mudguards. Rack preferred but could cope without. I like hub gears and belt drive but both those are way dow the list of priorities. I like the idea of a frame lock AND adding a really good heavy chain to slow thieves down. It's a shame about the weight of chains but what can you do? I'm gonna look into tracking devices eventually.
I don't want a measly battery. What use is 6.6AH? That's another reason why the Woosh Rios were tempting...
Some of the fat bikes I've seen for sale sound intriguing because they seem to be designed more for the low end rather than the top end, but they tend to have illegal motors from the U.S.
I'll use it mostly on the road. Some hybrid qualities is nice but for the right bike I'd be OK with no off-roading.
Plan to go out every day for a few miles, make it a habit.
I suppose I'll keep it in the big, heavy duty 20 feet shed we have but it's like Fort Knox...with multiple locks. That's good but also bad because it means you can't just jump on the bike for a quick ride or a quick shop run when you want to. Leaving it against the back wall of the house with a chain around the downpipe it tempting but probably silly. The big shed has thwarted a burglary attempt before so it's quite good.
I'm 6'1" and 14st8lbs. That's 92kg or 204lbs. Yeah, I know...
I won't get anywhere near everything I want but someone must know a good, low end, grunty climber.
~~~~~~~~~~
The End
~~~~~~~~~~
What electric bike can go up steep hills on throttle alone?
Yes I know about the regulations and that non-pedelec bikes for sale are becoming rarer but they're still out there and I want one and need help finding a good climber.
At one point I considered an electrified Brompton because I know small wheels are good up steep hills but I decided 16" was too small for me and I don't fancy DIY. So I think 20" is probably the minimum. I'm not anti-big wheels. If a bike has enough power and the right parameters elsewhere to negate the bigger wheels then I'll consider it but 20" is looking favourite so far.
I don't care much about speed. Yes I'd still be miffed if I couldn't do 16mph on the flat but climbing up steep hills slowly and relentlessly is OK with me.
I don't want a motor above 250W tempting as it may be. I feel semi-comfortable breaking the throttle regulations but I wouldn't feel comfortable with a big, illegal beast of a motor. And from what I've read of the Cyclotricity Stealth it's not for me. I might consider a bike that was artificially restricted to 250W and then see how I can get the best out of it. But if some plod sidles up to me and peers at my bike I want the motor to say 250W on it as he'd expect.
Here's how I've been procrastinating so far:
I was looking at the Panda XL folder on eBay recently (yes I know Panda Leisure is not Panda Bikes) because it ran at 48V and I thought that combined with 20" wheels might make it a good climber. The item's been taken down now though...and I was a bit doubtful about the El Cheapo components anyway.
I was intrigued by the EasyMOTION Neo Prox because a site was selling one new for £1150 and it has a 350W motor restriced to 250W (though I haven't the foggiest idea of how or whether you could get the most out of that). It was also stated as running at 48V but other sites say 36V so that may have been an error. I was concerned that it had a frame integrated battery which one day I may not be able to replace. Is it affordable and easy enough to have a battery like that recelled by someone?
I wondered if the Rich Bit RT-730 folding bike on eBay was any good with its small wheels and 48V but I don't know the nitty-gritty of the motor and controller. They are posted from China as well which has me a bit leery...and 28.5kg seems heavy for a folder.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/48V-250W-BMX-Electric-Mini-Folding-Bike-20-Wheel-Spokes-Aluminum-Richbit-RT-730-/262976430355?hash=item3d3a9de113:g:deEAAOSwGJlZEXmI
I realised that ebikes running at 48V are very rare(why?) and bikes with hidden power that can be tweaked to give more aren't common either so decided to see if any mainstream bikes were especially torquey. Without knowing all the detailed specs The Wisper 806 Torque seemed to have potential. It sounded torquey and well made by people who attend to detail, and having fairly wide British distribution would be very handy, especially if something went wrong. But it's throttle is walking speed only...so I went off that one.
I read about the new Woosh Rio bikes with interest; 80nm sounds nice but I want a half-twist throttle...and perhaps smaller wheels. The Woosh people said they've a new folder coming but it sounds like they've deprecated the half-twist throttle now. Bugger!
The SmartMotion e20 sounded nice because it has a reputation for being strong and reliable having been designed for heavy use for the New Zealand postal service. Coming with a frame lock is a really nice plus too. But I'm not aware of it being any better than other bikes of its type at going up steep hills.
Why are there no reviews of the GTech ebike anywhere? I can't find any. You'd think something advertised nationally on telly would be well reviewed.
I'd love to get a bike that'd go up shall we say 14% inclines without pedaling but I suspect that's not realistic, especially as I've counted out the Bompton and other 16 inchers. So what's the next best thing? I think the Woosh Big Bear can go up 10% without pedalling but if a big bike can do that isn't there a small-wheeled lighter bike that can do a bit better? I've been having soft tissue problems recently, including my achilles, so I'm being super careful.
I'd rather spend around £600-£900 especially knowing it may get nicked one day, but I'd maybe edge towards £1500 for the right bike. I'm willing to buy second-hand and replace the battery a year down the line (spreading the cost and getting a better bike).
I'll consider any style except speed racer (that posture hurts my back) but am leaning towards a folder so I can put it in the car.
Must have mudguards. Rack preferred but could cope without. I like hub gears and belt drive but both those are way dow the list of priorities. I like the idea of a frame lock AND adding a really good heavy chain to slow thieves down. It's a shame about the weight of chains but what can you do? I'm gonna look into tracking devices eventually.
I don't want a measly battery. What use is 6.6AH? That's another reason why the Woosh Rios were tempting...
Some of the fat bikes I've seen for sale sound intriguing because they seem to be designed more for the low end rather than the top end, but they tend to have illegal motors from the U.S.
I'll use it mostly on the road. Some hybrid qualities is nice but for the right bike I'd be OK with no off-roading.
Plan to go out every day for a few miles, make it a habit.
I suppose I'll keep it in the big, heavy duty 20 feet shed we have but it's like Fort Knox...with multiple locks. That's good but also bad because it means you can't just jump on the bike for a quick ride or a quick shop run when you want to. Leaving it against the back wall of the house with a chain around the downpipe it tempting but probably silly. The big shed has thwarted a burglary attempt before so it's quite good.
I'm 6'1" and 14st8lbs. That's 92kg or 204lbs. Yeah, I know...
I won't get anywhere near everything I want but someone must know a good, low end, grunty climber.
~~~~~~~~~~
The End
