Which electric bike shall I buy?

[soulstyledevon]

What a fascinating thread.

It has just become very pertinent for me. Between 1990 and 1995 I walked Lands-end to John O'Groats and twice more the other way round to raise money for a disabled kids charity. My companion on two of those occasions was Jo, the sister I now share house, dog, caravan and Cali with. She always wanted to complete it with the widest East to West in England and Wales, ... Lowestoft ness to St David's head.

Sadly Jo is now suffering with arthritis. Before it's too late I want to help her do it.. She will no longer be able to walk it but cycling it with an E bike sounds a perfect solution. So I am now looking for a Hybrid E bike, comfortable ride is paramount, good for a 400 mile trip, leisurely trip, using Cali and Caravan as a rolling base camp.

We tested out the Specialized Turbo Vado.
Again it was very impressive, comfortable to ride, plenty of power and had a step through which my wife found easier to get on and off the bike.
I would say in your case Jen, you definitely want a bike with step through.
Go to a decent bike shop and try and couple of different bikes and find which ever fits and suits your rider the best.

 

[kurienp]

Hi Granny Gen, I have utter belief that Moustache are the best e bikes you can put your money on. I was smashed off my Whyte 46 between 40-50 miles an hour. Major trauma 6 years ago, broken neck, ba k multiple breaks in leg nerve damage to rt side, tbi, etc you get the gist. Well I got back to cycling in ernest after 6years Jan this year . Moustache has played a significant part in my rehab, the geometry is second to none, powered by Bosch cx its formidable. Aestheticly it looks like a French resistance bike, indeed Moustache are made in France. Now to get your hands on one during lockdown is going to be tough as the factory was in shut down as was most of French non essential industry. So second hand look out for one possible, but beg steel or borrow a Moustache they leave others in there wake.

Moustache are indeed great bikes. Here's the one that my wife picked up two weeks ago. A moustache Lundi 26.2. Awesome bike and she lives it. The CVT transmission makes it very easy for her to change gears and ride and low maintenance of course.

I don't have one yet, but favouring the cube as the battery is easily removable. Important to reduce weight when carrying on a towbar rack with a max weight limit of 55 kg. The Whyte e150rs is also a great bike and my LBS has it in stock but the integrated battery may be the only thing going against it.

 

[soulstyledevon]

@kurienp love the finish on that bike. Looks really cool.

I see Specialized are releasing a new Vado SL which is only 15kg. Might be an interesting bike for those mounting them on the back of a rack...

 

[kurienp]

Agree @soulstyledevon , the fit and finish is excellent.

I am looking for an eMTB and none of them come below 23 kgs I was looking at that as an option ... But that will lead to too many in the garage.

With 4 two wheelers in the garage ( two motorcycles, a road bike and a touring bike) ... and now, if it works out - an MTB, I should leave some space there for my bed as well . It won't be long before I get thrown out of the house.

 

[GrannyJen]

We tested out the Specialized Turbo Vado.
Again it was very impressive, comfortable to ride, plenty of power and had a step through which my wife found easier to get on and off the bike.
I would say in your case Jen, you definitely want a bike with step through.
Go to a decent bike shop and try and couple of different bikes and find which ever fits and suits your rider the best.

Thank you.

I agree, I think the only decision that I have reached so far is it must be step-through. Both of us are heading for mid-70's and though fit not as flexible as we were! my own bicycle is step-through and can't imagine anything else.

 

[Azteccamper]

I read earlier your comments regarding Trek so I've had a look at the pwerfly

Yes. Got me looking at the Trek website. That Powerfly is a good looking and highly rated beast.

 

[Azteccamper]

Agree @soulstyledevon , the fit and finish is excellent.

I am looking for an eMTB and none of them come below 23 kgs I was looking at that as an option ... But that will lead to too many in the garage.

With 4 two wheelers in the garage ( two motorcycles, a road bike and a touring bike) ... and now, if it works out - an MTB, I should leave some space there for my bed as well . It won't be long before I get thrown out of the house.

I’ve got a 2yr old Giant Anthem 2 27.5 you can buy for a bargain to get a MTB in that collection

 

[WelshGas]

Thank you.

I agree, I think the only decision that I have reached so far is it must be step-through. Both of us are heading for mid-70's and though fit not as flexible as we were! my own bicycle is step-through and can't imagine anything else.

I think the biggest problem you will have is eBike range and charging.
Depending on the terrain and how much assistance your sister requires from the electrics you could be looking at only 20 mile range on some bikes. So a removable battery could be invaluable. You could then have 2 batteries for the bike thus extending the daily range. You would have to recharge them whilst on mains hookup although it is possible to set up a system to charge from the Leisure Batteries or Solar, but at additional cost.

 

[GrannyJen]

I think the biggest problem you will have is eBike range and charging.
Depending on the terrain and how much assistance your sister requires from the electrics you could be looking at only 20 mile range on some bikes. So a removable battery could be invaluable. You could then have 2 batteries for the bike thus extending the daily range. You would have to recharge them whilst on mains hookup although it is possible to set up a system to charge from the Leisure Batteries or Solar, but at additional cost.

A big consideration but if we were to do it by E-bike then we would be doing it very leisurely, probably looking at about 30-40 miles a day, circular progress, possibly a half way stop with time in the van allowing the batteries to get charge.

A bit like foot power really When I was planning lands-end. - J.O.G I worked on 35 miles per day relatively flat, half that on very hilly terrain!

 

[WelshGas]

@GrannyJen .Does your sister have a comfortable bicycle that she uses now? If so you could consider converting it to electric assist for about £600 or so. I very much doubt if she is into Mountain Biking or other cycling sports. More social cycling?

 

[WelshGas]

A big consideration but if we were to do it by E-bike then we would be doing it very leisurely, probably looking at about 30-40 miles a day, circular progress, possibly a half way stop with time in the van allowing the batteries to get charge.

A bit like foot power really When I was planning lands-end. - J.O.G I worked on 35 miles per day relatively flat, half that on very hilly terrain!

Time in the van would have to be on EHU unless you set up the van with Solar etc:

 

[GrannyJen]

@GrannyJen .Does your sister have a comfortable bicycle that she uses now? If so you could consider converting it to electric assist for about £600 or so. I very much doubt if she is into Mountain Biking or other cycling sports. More social cycling?

She has a bike but doesn't use it ... in fact I think I have sold it about an hour ago

Their is a bicycle hire shop in Brighton, about 15 miles away, we were going to hire first. I really am now narrowing down a bit to a step-through hybrid. Interesting point on recharging on the hoof. I had assumed that battery charging would be via 12V and not 13A.

 

[GrannyJen]

A random question:

Popular recommendations are Trek - American, Moustache - French, Vanmoof - Dutch ........

Without wanting to sound like an isolationist 1930's throwback, any recommendations using British labour and technology?

 

[WelshGas]

She has a bike but doesn't use it ... in fact I think I have sold it about an hour ago

Their is a bicycle hire shop in Brighton, about 15 miles away, we were going to hire first. I really am now narrowing down a bit to a step-through hybrid. Interesting point on recharging on the hoof. I had assumed that battery charging would be via 12V and not 13A.

It can be done. But it is not straight forward. Most ebike batteries are 36 or 48volts and I'm not aware of any 12v chargers for them so you need a beefy inverter, not the one in the California, so that you can use the supplied mains charger and that has significant power drain from the Leisure Batteries, hence Solar or run engine.

 

[WelshGas]

A random question:

Popular recommendations are Trek - American, Moustache - French, Vanmoof - Dutch ........

Without wanting to sound like an isolationist 1930's throwback, any recommendations using British labour and technology?

Raleigh, but probably made in China.

Electric Bikes | E-Bikes | Halfords UK

Shop our Electric Bikes with interest free finance. We stock an excellent range of e-bikes suitable for all budgets, have it built and delivered.

www.halfords.com

 

[GrannyJen]

It can be done. But it is not straight forward. Most ebike batteries are 36 or 48volts and I'm not aware of any 12v chargers for them so you need a beefy inverter, not the one in the California, so that you can use the supplied mains charger and that has significant power drain from the Leisure Batteries, hence Solar or run engine.

Thank you Paul.

That has given me a little bit more clarity to my planning. a 20 mile range in hilly terrain would still be manageable but it's going to be a consideration in rote planning.

Still at an early stage, concept planning as the moment, but with arthritis in her knees we may not have the luxury of many years to think about it and it's something I really want to do for her. She was there for me when I walked 3,200 miles miles in three years so I need to be there for her.

 

[GrannyJen]

Raleigh, but probably made in China.

Electric Bikes | E-Bikes | Halfords UK

Shop our Electric Bikes with interest free finance. We stock an excellent range of e-bikes suitable for all budgets, have it built and delivered.

www.halfords.com

Just looked at their website. Manufactured "somewhere in Europe" .....

Motus looks interesting but heavy.

 

[portofinopoll]

Hey Jen, check out Ribble Bikes if looking for British make, my S.in L has one, very popular round here, lovely bikes.

 

[RodCouncil]

If you want to stay Sussex then the boys who I used race for on Partridge Green have a nice Gravel option which meant the gearing will be well suited for hills.

Rayments in Brighton are really struggling with E Stock just now, my friend was looking at a Vado and a Turbo SL but everything was sold out,

RANGE

The Kinesis RANGE Fazua Gravel & Adventure E-Bike will help you push your limits. This Drop Bar Electric Bike features the excellent Fazua Evation Motor.<br/><br/> <div class="v12buttonbg"><img src="h

www.kinesisbikes.co.uk

 

[GrannyJen]

Hey Jen, check out Ribble Bikes if looking for British make, my S.in L has one, very popular round here, lovely bikes.

Thank you.

I have come across them but didn't stop long enough .... time for a revisit .... thank you.

 

[Amarillo]

A possible alternative?

 

[GrannyJen]

A possible alternative?

She'd kill me

 

[Broch Hunter]

Jen

With comfort as a priority it may be worth you looking at a Dutch style step through bike such as a Gazelle Orange. My wife has a non electric one and finds it really comfortable and easy to ride. For the plan you have in mind an electric variant like the C310 HMB this may be suitable.

Orange C310 HMB

Always in the right gear

www.gazellebikes.com

 

[GrannyJen]

Jen

With comfort as a priority it may be worth you looking at a Dutch style step through bike such as a Gazelle Orange. My wife has a non electric one and finds it really comfortable and easy to ride. For the plan you have in mind an electric variant like the C310 HMB this may be suitable.

Orange C310 HMB

Always in the right gear

www.gazellebikes.com

Thank you.

On my first pass through the myriad of options I glanced at Gazelle and was quite taken with them, helped that my local e-bike dealer in Chichester sells them!

That you for the recommendation.... definitely going to look further.

 

[GrannyJen]

So ....

Popped down to the Bike shop today to have a look and a ride on a Gazelle .... only to have a look....

and came home having ordered 2 * Specialised Turbo Como 4.0

The moment I sat on it it felt just so right and for Jo and her arthritic knee(s), well, she just fell in love!