Sneaky electric bikes

24

Comments

  • Manc33
    Manc33 Posts: 2,157
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYIJm7101pg
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    ugo.santalucia wrote:
    The Rookie wrote:
    Well you need to look at it from the viewpoint of the person you are trying to convert, if it's a car driver they can come up with a lot of actual and perceived negatives I'm sure!

    Last saturday I had to park the car north of Chiswick bridge (closed for maintenance) and walk home, as it was impossible to drive across the river. There was a queue of about 2 hours to get onto Kew bridge from any direction. I then went to collect the car on sunday morning at 7 AM. You will find a lot of drivers can be easily persuaded to avoid this kind of misery... especially those who do it routinely, but they don't want to go around in lycra shorts, understandably.
    Rather a London Centric view?

    I agree it is A solution (and a good one) but not 'THE' solution.

    Yes for congested cities it will be as practical and just about as fast as a scooter, much cleaner and cheaper to buy and run, it also has benefits for those that don't want to wear cycling clothing (I don't work Lycra out of respect for my work colleagues but baggies anyway) in extending the commutable distance before it gets to a point where wearing work clothes is less practical.
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • Manc33
    Manc33 Posts: 2,157
    Its alright until the battery runs out.

    Then you're struggling like hell to ride it home with a dead battery because you never get any exercise. :lol:
  • roger_merriman
    roger_merriman Posts: 6,165
    I see a few about time to time around here.

    They are heavy bikes, so maneuvering or handling though urban bike paths etc is less fun.

    They would end up being yet another thing to charge, if not every night. (bare in mind cold reduces range)

    certainly for commuting over a few miles would seem over kill, the folks I do see on them seem to be out for a ride rather than going shopping/commuting etc.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,325
    The Rookie wrote:
    Rather a London Centric view?

    They are an alternative to the city bike, so yes
    left the forum March 2023
  • holiver
    holiver Posts: 729
    Manc33 wrote:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYIJm7101pg
    By far and away the worst thing in this video is the guy wearing Crocs when doing up to ~50mph on a bike.
    2013 Kinesis Racelight T2
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    roger merriman wrote:
    They are heavy bikes,
    The lightest e-bike I've come across was 7.2Kg - owned by some German chap, but yes the cheaper they are, much like most bikes, the heavier they are!
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • bigmonka
    bigmonka Posts: 361
    I've got a friend who rides one. His commute is a rural 18miles each way and although he's quicker on his road bike (due to not being limited to 15mph and being much lighter) he uses the e-bike as it standardises the commute time even when there's a head wind or he's knackered. That makes a lot of sense when you've got three kids so need to be in places when you say you're going to be.
  • bendertherobot
    bendertherobot Posts: 11,684
    BigMonka wrote:
    I've got a friend who rides one. His commute is a rural 18miles each way and although he's quicker on his road bike (due to not being limited to 15mph and being much lighter) he uses the e-bike as it standardises the commute time even when there's a head wind or he's knackered. That makes a lot of sense when you've got three kids so need to be in places when you say you're going to be.

    Yep. Good reason. Have to say, I'd have one. Mine is 18 miles each way and, for the truly crap days, it would be good to have something where you can just worry about controlling it.
    My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
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    Facebook? No. Just say no.
  • Manc33
    Manc33 Posts: 2,157
    Its tough ordering these from some places because of shipping batteries. We are all terrorists now remember.
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    Sorry, but you're getting a bit boring now........

    3 Friends all have E-bikes for various reasons, no issue getting batteries from China, DX ship thousands of lights to this country with batteries.

    Remove that chip and you'll be able to walk straight again!
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • roger_merriman
    roger_merriman Posts: 6,165
    The Rookie wrote:
    roger merriman wrote:
    They are heavy bikes,
    The lightest e-bike I've come across was 7.2Kg - owned by some German chap, but yes the cheaper they are, much like most bikes, the heavier they are!

    at the £1000 mark where most MTB's/road bikes etc are not that heavy, and quite a degree lighter than e bikes at that price point. most of the time weight isn't really a big deal, until you need to either carry or thread though cycle paths/though gates/over ped bridges etc.

    I suspect most users would like the e bikes as e mopeds/motorbikes, at least thats the impression one gets when you see them.
  • secretsam
    secretsam Posts: 5,120
    Right, I'm going to be dim. What's the point of an E-bike - why not just get an electric scooter - do you have to use the pedals?? I just don't understand them. How far and fast can you go? Can you still use them to 'keep fit'????

    See? I really don't get it.
    It's just a hill. Get over it.
  • meanredspider
    meanredspider Posts: 12,337
    SecretSam wrote:
    Right, I'm going to be dim. What's the point of an E-bike - why not just get an electric scooter - do you have to use the pedals?? I just don't understand them. How far and fast can you go? Can you still use them to 'keep fit'????

    See? I really don't get it.

    I think they're generally just electric assisted - you can power them with just pedals if you want - extends the range. Scooters don't have this option.
    ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH
  • secretsam
    secretsam Posts: 5,120
    But do you 'have' to pedal? And is there any sort of recharging as you go (electric cars recharge by using regenerative braking, for example)
    It's just a hill. Get over it.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,325
    SecretSam wrote:
    Right, I'm going to be dim. What's the point of an E-bike - why not just get an electric scooter - do you have to use the pedals?? I just don't understand them. How far and fast can you go? Can you still use them to 'keep fit'????

    See? I really don't get it.

    In urban areas you can go places you cannot go with a scooter by law. You can park it everywhere... you don't have a number plate, you don't need an insurance... the advantages are many
    left the forum March 2023
  • DrLex
    DrLex Posts: 2,142
    ugo.santalucia wrote:
    SecretSam wrote:
    Right, I'm going to be dim. What's the point of an E-bike - why not just get an electric scooter - do you have to use the pedals?? I just don't understand them. How far and fast can you go? Can you still use them to 'keep fit'????

    See? I really don't get it.

    In urban areas you can go places you cannot go with a scooter by law. You can park it everywhere... you don't have a number plate, you don't need an insurance... the advantages are many

    and no legal requirement for a helmet (whisper it)
    Location: ciderspace
  • veronese68
    veronese68 Posts: 27,866
    There was a woman in her 50's that lived a few doors along from me that had one. She would ride into London every day on it, no way would she have done that on a normal bike. So in that respect it's definitely a good thing.
    One downside that I noticed are that it's quite a heavy lump of a thing that had V brakes on the back and a cable disc on the front. It chewed through brake linings at an alarming rate as they really weren't up to dealing with something of that weight. I suspect that it was rather cheap and thrown together with cheap components rather than thinking about what is appropriate.
    Kinesis Pro6
    Marin Nail Trail
    Cotic Solaris
  • Manc33
    Manc33 Posts: 2,157
    The Rookie wrote:
    3 Friends all have E-bikes for various reasons, no issue getting batteries from China, DX ship thousands of lights to this country with batteries.

    Yes and they have to be shipped via Switzerland. Lights can be shipped because they contain one or two batteries as opposed to fourteen or more like an eBike has.

    Regarding having to pedal - with 250W uphill you do, but on the flat it will whizz along at 15MPH. Using the motor uphill gets you up any hill with 250W. You can't have more than 250W of course lol, its "illegal" and provably in case after case after case, harms everyone.
  • orraloon
    orraloon Posts: 13,269
    Manc33 wrote:

    Yes and they have to be shipped via Switzerland.

    Ok, I bite. Why do they have to be shipped via Switzerland? Swiss got a mega container port with deep channel access or summat?
  • chris_bass
    chris_bass Posts: 4,913
    orraloon wrote:
    Manc33 wrote:

    Yes and they have to be shipped via Switzerland.

    Ok, I bite. Why do they have to be shipped via Switzerland? Swiss got a mega container port with deep channel access or summat?

    it is because Switzerland is very neutral, it balances out the charge in the batteries and makes them safer to ship.
    www.conjunctivitis.com - a site for sore eyes
  • elbowloh
    elbowloh Posts: 7,078
    A friend of mine has been importing them direct from China in bulk containers and selling them in the UK for at least 5 years. They don't go near Switzerland.
    Felt F1 2014
    Felt Z6 2012
    Red Arthur Caygill steel frame
    Tall....
    www.seewildlife.co.uk
  • Manc33
    Manc33 Posts: 2,157
    elbowloh wrote:
    A friend of mine has been importing them direct from China in bulk containers and selling them in the UK for at least 5 years. They don't go near Switzerland.

    He better hope he doesn't get caught then. :P

    Joking aside if he is importing thousands at a time then no, they wouldn't be going to Switzerland. That would just be a pain. People that own companies like he does don't apply, he will just be doing it under some business rule, where he is known to be a legit business already, its the average Joe that has to suffer, people sending one small bomb tsk, I meant package. :oops:
  • elbowloh
    elbowloh Posts: 7,078
    Manc33 wrote:
    elbowloh wrote:
    A friend of mine has been importing them direct from China in bulk containers and selling them in the UK for at least 5 years. They don't go near Switzerland.

    He better hope he doesn't get caught then. :P

    Joking aside if he is importing thousands at a time then no, they wouldn't be going to Switzerland. That would just be a pain. People that own companies like he does don't apply, he will just be doing it under some business rule, where he is known to be a legit business already, its the average Joe that has to suffer, people sending one small bomb tsk, I meant package. :oops:
    It's just him on his own doing it. He's a bit of wheeler/dealer, Del-boy style.
    Felt F1 2014
    Felt Z6 2012
    Red Arthur Caygill steel frame
    Tall....
    www.seewildlife.co.uk
  • surrey_commuter
    surrey_commuter Posts: 18,867
    Manc33 wrote:
    elbowloh wrote:
    A friend of mine has been importing them direct from China in bulk containers and selling them in the UK for at least 5 years. They don't go near Switzerland.

    He better hope he doesn't get caught then. :P

    Joking aside if he is importing thousands at a time then no, they wouldn't be going to Switzerland. That would just be a pain. People that own companies like he does don't apply, he will just be doing it under some business rule, where he is known to be a legit business already, its the average Joe that has to suffer, people sending one small bomb tsk, I meant package. :oops:

    I imagine he is exploiting a loophole in the difference between common law and statute law. I was reading on the internet that you just have to point out that as you signed no contract that particular law does not apply to you.
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    Manc33 wrote:
    elbowloh wrote:
    A friend of mine has been importing them direct from China in bulk containers and selling them in the UK for at least 5 years. They don't go near Switzerland.

    He better hope he doesn't get caught then. :P
    Doing what exactly, please tell me what offences you think are being committed?
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • veronese68
    veronese68 Posts: 27,866
    I despair.
    Back on topic. I must confess, even though it's not far, electric assist might make my wife more likely to ride to work.
    Kinesis Pro6
    Marin Nail Trail
    Cotic Solaris
  • roger_merriman
    roger_merriman Posts: 6,165
    Veronese68 wrote:
    I despair.
    Back on topic. I must confess, even though it's not far, electric assist might make my wife more likely to ride to work.

    I've mentioned it to my wife once or twice, though she isn't keen.

    I suspect it's due to the fact she likes the bike she has now, and the hassle of having charge it, and electric step though bikes with disk brakes, are thin on the ground.

    maybe in 5/10 years
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    roger merriman wrote:
    electric step though bikes with disk brakes, are thin on the ground.
    Scott E-SUB Tour range http://www.cyclesolutions.co.uk/p73203/ ... ctric-bike
    Giant E-Prime http://www.wheelies.co.uk/p73785/Giant- ... -Bike.aspx

    Or just convert her current bike from as little as £500 ish...
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • roger_merriman
    roger_merriman Posts: 6,165
    The Rookie wrote:
    roger merriman wrote:
    electric step though bikes with disk brakes, are thin on the ground.
    Scott E-SUB Tour range http://www.cyclesolutions.co.uk/p73203/ ... ctric-bike
    Giant E-Prime http://www.wheelies.co.uk/p73785/Giant- ... -Bike.aspx

    Or just convert her current bike from as little as £500 ish...

    i can't see £2000 for a new bike or a add on impressing to be honest, plus the having to charge it if not daily regularly, she uses her bike to commute to work, in all weather so its gets a hard life. even a nominal 40mile range would drop markedly in the colder months.

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