anyone bought an Electric Bike?

BillN_33

BillN_33

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Bill
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No
particularly a fold up one

grateful for comments
 
Haibike sduro sl hard 7, not a folding though, Yamaha motor which alongside Bosch seemed to be the best reviewed at the time.
Got mine from the Cambridge branch of
www.electricbikesales.co.uk
they have a few branches so hopefully one near enough for you.
Now has almost 1,800 miles on it with no problems beyond the usual service stuff.
Researched quite a lot and most roads seemed to lead back to Haibike.
Hth
 
Funnily enough i've been looking for an electric bike too, i've had had my eye on a few on Ebay at around the £500 mark.

This one and also this one.
 
Swissy said:
Funnily enough i've been looking for an electric bike too, i've had had my eye on a few on Ebay at around the £500 mark.

This one and also this one.
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The reason they are so cheap is the battery is too small to be of any use,36 volt is good but you really need ay least 13ah
 
Specialized are offering £600 off a Levo Turbo, if you take test ride at the moment
 
I thought about buying one around 18 months ago, popped in to local dealer to have a chat and book a test drive. He's going to call me when one is available...... Still waiting and spewing diesel fumes
 
My wife and I both have Coyote Connect folders, nice step-through types with 6 gears and 3 assistance levels. The batteries are lightweight 24 volt units good for around 20 miles of assisted use. They're more manoeuvrable than a full-size bike, but still better-balanced and more stable than you might expect a small-wheel bike to be. A decent one can often be got for around £350 on Ebay or new at Halfords for £500. As the batteries aren't unreasonably large or heavy I've acquired an extra one for each bike which will go in a rack-bag or pannier. That way you can go for a decent ride, until the fitted battery is showing just one bar of power and know you can still get back to your starting point on the other one, assuming you haven't been going mostly downhill all the time on the first one!
 
I did some work for a bike shop the other day. They told me they could convert *any* bike to electric. They actually had a trike int heir workshop that they were converting.

Looking at the wheels it's hard to tell they have been converted - it's usually just the battery that gives it away.

Worth considering if you're in the market.
 
@BillN_33 Did you find a bike pal?

I'm still looking, i don't really want to spend more than a grand, i've seen 3 on pedelecs.co.uk that are in my price bracket but i'm still unsure.

Help please :)
 
Swissy said:
@BillN_33 Did you find a bike pal?

I'm still looking, i don't really want to spend more than a grand, i've seen 3 on pedelecs.co.uk that are in my price bracket but i'm still unsure.

Help please :)
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not yet - the good ones seem very expensive

This maker, Haibike, seems very good, but again even the cheaper models are expensive

This seems "good value" as far as prices go

https://www.e-bikeshop.co.uk/Electric-Bikes-UK-Dealer/Haibike-sDuro-HardSeven-4.0-2017?filter=19

I also believe that there are "conversion" kits out there for about £350, to convert a normal Bike
 
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That looks like a nice bike but i can't really justify spending £2000 on it.

I don't have a bike to convert so that's a non starter for me.
 
CONVERT YOUR EXISTING BIKE

Been reading up further

This site explains the (3) conversion methods and has useful videos ....... prices also look good

https://www.pandaebikes.com/shop/con...or-led-screen/

anyone had a go at a conversion yet ........ I have a couple of really "strong" Bikes that I would like to convert, even if only to see how it's done and performs

front wheel - rear wheel - or crankshaft conversion?
 
Just remember to spec it under 250W and 15.5mph, otherwise you end up not being able to ride it where you want. Also the legal requirement changes.

Also check with the places you want to ride, some have specific restrictions on e-bikes.
 
This kit looks good

48V 750W 8Fun Bafang Mid-Drive Motor Conversion Kits with integrated Controller and LCD Display ......... from Amazon and the like

also good Utube vids on install
 
BillN_33 said:
This kit looks good

48V 750W 8Fun Bafang Mid-Drive Motor Conversion Kits with integrated Controller and LCD Display ......... from Amazon and the like

also good Utube vids on install
Click to expand...

If you want to use that in the UK and possibly ? other EU countries its not an electric bike, its an electric moped with added complications
 
mikew said:
If you want to use that in the UK and possibly ? other EU countries its not an electric bike, its an electric moped with added complications
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It comes limited to 15mph
 
I've had my beloved Raleigh Retro7 cruiser converted into an electric bike with a conversion kit, it cost £750 but I regret nothing, it's pretty straight forward where the motor drive sits in the replacement 26 ins front wheel and the battery is surreptitiously concealed in a rear rack caddy, thus at first sight it doesn't even look like an electric bike and I get to keep riding my favourite bike. Really does take the hard work out of the hilly bits what with Folkestone being on a large slope.
 
Ian D J said:
I've had my beloved Raleigh Retro7 cruiser converted into an electric bike with a conversion kit, it cost £750 but I regret nothing, it's pretty straight forward where the motor drive sits in the replacement 26 ins front wheel and the battery is surreptitiously concealed in a rear rack caddy, thus at first sight it doesn't even look like an electric bike and I get to keep riding my favourite bike. Really does take the hard work out of the hilly bits what with Folkestone being on a large slope.
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Ian - front wheel seems the easiest conversion

but the crankshaft conversion looks good if you have a good Bike and you want to keep the original wheels and I think that this gives the most torque

most who have converted seem (very) happy bunnies
 
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Could someone have a look at this bike please, looks good to me and the price is right, but not sure if it's a good one.
 
Swissy said:
Could someone have a look at this bike please, looks good to me and the price is right, but not sure if it's a good one.
Click to expand...

no idea really - spec looks OK, but as with anything it is down to the quality of the materials .... Battery and motor are on the small side, 8Ah and a 250W motor

did you notice the following

"with a 17" frame it is suitable for riders of a slighter stature"

will it be big enough for you?
 
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BillN_33 said:
no idea really - spec looks OK, but as with anything it is down to the quality of the materials .... Battery and motor are on the small side, 8Ah and a 250W motor

did you notice the following

"with a 17" frame it is suitable for riders of a slighter stature"

will it be big enough for you?
Click to expand...


Good point i'm 5'10" so will have to check that.
 
Going off a chart i found online 17" is fine for my height.
 
BillN_33 said:
It comes limited to 15mph
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Very grey area if they happen to pull you, remember if it was deemed to be a moped and you where treating it as a bike any punishments would affect you driving licence.

Its like an air rifle,it does not have fire arm restrictions on it but break the law and they are fire arms offences.

Just my opinion on the situation but i have never seen the need for more than 250w and ime a lazy cyclist.
 
mikew said:
Very grey area if they happen to pull you, remember if it was deemed to be a moped and you where treating it as a bike any punishments would affect you driving licence.

Its like an air rifle,it does not have fire arm restrictions on it but break the law and they are fire arms offences.

Just my opinion on the situation but i have never seen the need for more than 250w and ime a lazy cyclist.
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I think the motor/Battery pairing is what is important ......... i.e. if you have a 350W Motor you need a 36v 10Ah battery ......... so 1000W motor is just crazy as it would not be much use in practice .... obviously a bigger motor when paired with the correct battery will give you a high top speed .......... but say a 250W motor paired with a 36V 10Ah and restricted to 15mph, by the (power) controller, (which will limit the power going to the motor and therefore the top speed), will give you a very respectable mileage distance
 
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mikew said:
Very grey area if they happen to pull you, remember if it was deemed to be a moped and you where treating it as a bike any punishments would affect you driving licence.

Its like an air rifle,it does not have fire arm restrictions on it but break the law and they are fire arms offences.

Just my opinion on the situation but i have never seen the need for more than 250w and ime a lazy cyclist.
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You are being generous in saying it's a grey area, it isn't - to be classed as an EAPC the motor must stop providing assistance above 15.5mph AND "maximum continuous rated power which does not exceed 250 watts".

Note that AND is not the same as OR! But some people don’t want to be told anything.....
 
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Rapscallion said:
You are being generous in saying it's a grey area, it isn't - to be classed as an EAPC the motor must stop providing assistance above 15.5mph AND "maximum continuous rated power which does not exceed 250 watts".

Note that AND is not the same as OR! But some people don’t want to be told anything.....
Click to expand...

As you say in the UK it is quite clear - maximum top speed of 15.5mph AND a motor with a maximum (rated) output of 250 Watts .... is the Law

waiting to read about the first conviction
 
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OldCarlos said:
Crikey, you aint joking! :eek: Prices range from £2,595 to £2,755 depending on your final specification choice.
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Just shipped some demo samples out to China. (We ship the regular ones globally).
None of their stuff is anything close to a bargain. :lol:
 
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