How ridiculous are electric scooters?

[RoRo]

Hello people

I hope this is not 'off topic' - my understanding is that it relates to a form of pedelec....( I think!)

Has anyone ever seen anyone on one of the new moded/scooter type things, such as the iped *in action*? They look fine on photographs and videos that show them stood on a nice drive or whatever, but I'm beginning to suspect that pedalling like mad on something that looks like a fully motorised thing could be the cause of much hilarity.
I have been pondering e-bikes for days on end, trying to work out what I can bear to spend vs. what I would enjoy. I was nearly ready to bite the bullet with a discounted Kalkhoff Groove F7, but it was a 50cm one, and I'm 5' 3" and fear that with the weight of the battery and the large-for-me frame I may not have had the best control.
Then I saw the iped, (specifically this one http://www.eped.co.uk/shop/iped-c/ ) and have since checked out some other makes, and thought it would be better than a bike in some respects, as I need something for covering a 10 or 12 mile round trip that will be mostly on country roads in a fairly busy part of the country - so that's country roads with regular traffic. I don't think I would have wanted to risk cycling on them in the dark, so the scooters looked like a great solution because I am assuming their lights are much brighter, plus I like the wing mirrors, indicators, comfy seat and especially the protection for the knees from icy winds. I'm a youthful but knackered 60 y.o. and my knees aren't great any more.
As I'm about to move to a little village that only has 4 buses a week, I need something soonish. Although a petrol-driven thing would have obvious advantages, I like the idea of staying electric, and also of not having to be trained, take tests, and wotnot.

Any input appreciated. Thoughts, recommedations, etc.

Cheers!

 

[RoRo]

Maybe I just need really good lights on a regular e-bike and knee pads when it's really cold....!

 

[flecc]

The Chinese and other Orientals don't ride our style of pedelecs, just make and export them. They all ride e-bikes like the E-ped, very often with two or more people on board, but theirs are mostly around 700 watts rating and use lead acid batteries.

Bikes like the E-ped are not really for pedalling, the pedals mainly used to assist taking off, the bike then just ridden like a scooter. They are ok on moderate territory, but not really best if you have steep hills. Then a proper e-bike is best for efficient pedalling.

As always, it's best to try anything before buying, so if you can get to ride an E-ped, you'll know if it's for you or not.
.

 

[RoRo]

Thanks, Flecc. Unlikely that I'll be able to try one. Appreciate your allaying my concerns about looking daft pedalling a motor scooter! I think my main concern is probably maintenance and how long they last, which of course nobody is likely to be able to answer. Tables of comparisons may be a thing of the future, on the other hand they may go the way of 8-track cassettes. Given the Chinese approach though, hopefully they are here to stay and will catch on, though of course a normal e-bike with good lights will always be cooler and healthier.

 

[flecc]

One other issue with the moped style is that the police might very occasionally pull you over, thinking it an unregistered moped.

One or two members have had one of these moped style machines, in particular member "Synthman" had a Ninja, made by Suzhou Rununion Motivity Co , photo below, which he bought second hand and used for a year or so. From memory, in his area he only had two encounters and only one of those to check it was a legal e-bike.

 

[RoRo]

Ah that's extremely helpful, thank you! Good to know a 2nd hand one still worked well. I guess they are pretty simple things, really. You're a gem flecc, despite the utterly terrifying profile pic!

 

[Simon Rafferty]

I bought a couple of these (broken) a couple of years ago to use the hub motors in a Segway style thing.

I was a bit surprised how poor quality the construction was under all the plastic! The two were identical with consecutive serial numbers - but turned out they had different size rear wheels - which put pay to the Segway idea!

The fault with both was fizzed speed controllers - so not a big deal.

I used them to build a 2 wheel drive bike to get around the farm - but they had almost no torque! I was using a Roboteq 60V 60A controller (which is about as good as it gets) and was expecting breathtaking performance - but it was still severely lacking!

That's why they need pedals I suspect.

I would definitely try before you buy!

Si

 

[flecc]

despite the utterly terrifying profile pic!

Looks scary, but only a young Pisaura mirabilis Nursery Web Spider. Completely harmless, but clever little blighters. They play dead, crumpled up, to tempt any insect to get close to the "body" to investigate, or couple their front legs together to hide the fact they are eight legged spiders. Photos one and two below:

 

[RoRo]

" only a young Pisaura mirabilis Nursery Web Spider. "
It not about harmful or harmless to an arachnophobe.... I am actually more scared of a Brit house spider than a nice groggy full grown tarantula. But yeah, your little guy here is nice and outdoorsy and the mating habits are highly amusing! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisaura_mirabilis

 

[Kudoscycles]

Roro....I have looked at importing these with some of my Pedelecs.
They weigh 60 kilos plus so to go along at any respectable pace you need minimum 800 watts of power and preferably 1500 watts minimum.
Many of the Chinese scooters are very fast with 4kw power.
It intrigues me how a legal 250 watt machine can even move itself along,never mind with a rider and sometimes pillion. The Chinese will put whatever sticker you ask on the motor!!!!
The moped style move the population of China,there are 100 million plus on the roads in China,you can buy in Tesco China for 200 USD,the build quality is often very poor,as you would expect at that price. Chinese people are often small and light,2 girls may weigh only 80 kilos and Chinese cities are mostly flat built on flood plains,with 500 watts direct drive motors they are quite quick once they get going,the girl pedals like mad to get up to speed,brakes are a luxury,hehe!!!!!
Dave

 

[Kudoscycles]

I bought a couple of these (broken) a couple of years ago to use the hub motors in a Segway style thing.

I was a bit surprised how poor quality the construction was under all the plastic! The two were identical with consecutive serial numbers - but turned out they had different size rear wheels - which put pay to the Segway idea!

The fault with both was fizzed speed controllers - so not a big deal.

I used them to build a 2 wheel drive bike to get around the farm - but they had almost no torque! I was using a Roboteq 60V 60A controller (which is about as good as it gets) and was expecting breathtaking performance - but it was still severely lacking!

That's why they need pedals I suspect.

I would definitely try before you buy!

Si

Simon,they are low on Torque even with 1000 watt motors because the motors are direct drive,read that as big,heavy and no torque....a 250 watt geared motor can have 5:1 or 11:1 gearing which gives them low down torque to pull away under load,
Dave

 

[RoRo]

They weigh 60 kilos plus so to go along at any respectable pace you need minimum 800 watts of power and preferably 1500 watts minimum.
Dave

Thanks Dave. I had already concluded that, much as I would like some shelter from the wind, the extra resistance would make these machines very inefficient. Am firmly back in the electric bike camp and currently debating between the Woosh Sant Ana 2 or Petite! If your Safari had been in stock, that would also have been a contender... or more probably a done deal by now.

 

[Kudoscycles]

Thanks Dave. I had already concluded that, much as I would like some shelter from the wind, the extra resistance would make these machines very inefficient. Am firmly back in the electric bike camp and currently debating between the Woosh Sant Ana 2 or Petite! If your Safari had been in stock, that would also have been a contender... or more probably a done deal by now.

The last 2 Kudos Tempo are at the agents London Electric Bike Company,we will make again but waiting for the finish of another bike to ship together,it is a competitor to the Woosh Petite.
Dave

 

[RoRo]

The last 2 Kudos Tempo are at the agents London Electric Bike Company,
Dave

Thanks. (I like the Safari better tho! )