£2000 Hybrid (or under)

[ljh217]

Hello all,

So I'm currently looking to buy an e-bike as we have recently moved house to the outskirts of town and want something to get me around town, or a little further if needed (about 12 miles one way to the nearest city, 24 mile round trip). I live in Devon, and the hills can be steep. I've got a max budget of £2000 and ideally need to buy it on finance (12 months 0% APR would be brilliant). I'm 6'2 and about 16 1/2 stone (so quite big).

Any recommendations on bikes I could test drive or look at would be fantastic.

Cheers!

 

[soundwave]

 

[Stumac62]

Omg! What is that?

 

[soundwave]

you just need 1 more zero on the end

 

[ljh217]

That looks awesome! Buying my first house has been expensive though so going to need to take a rain check on that extra 0...

 

[soundwave]

https://www.e-bikeshop.co.uk/Electric-Bikes-UK-Dealer/Cube-Reaction-Hybrid-Pro-500-2019?filter=12

 

[ljh217]

Is cube considered a reliable brand then? They seem to have quite a large range.

 

[Stumac62]

Hi. Welcome on board...

Two bikes that have been reviewed and recommended by their owners on here may be of interest and are around your budget (may have to select a 2018 model to keep under 2k). . .

CUBE KATHMANDU HYBRID PRO 500
https://www.freeborn.co.uk/cube-kathmandu-hybrid-pro-500-2018-electric-bike

And

CUBE TOURING HYBRID PRO 500
https://www.freeborn.co.uk/cube-touring-hybrid-pro-500-2018-navy-blue-touring-electric-bike

I've just brought the latter and love it!

Hope that helps, or gets you going anyway. There's a lot of choice out there and a lots to read on here!

Best thing is a test ride, as many have advised to all who ask the question "what to buy?".

Cheers and good luck,
Stu.

 

[Stumac62]

https://www.e-bikeshop.co.uk/Electric-Bikes-UK-Dealer/Cube-Reaction-Hybrid-Pro-500-2019?filter=12

View attachment 29820

My brother just brought one of these last week. Another good choice. The more powerful Bosch CX motor on this one (noiser too).

 

[Stumac62]

Is cube considered a reliable brand then? They seem to have quite a large range.

Yep they are. German manufacturer. Again, I'm in agreement with other Cube owners who have commented on here regarding the high standard of build quality and decent spec for the money. Lots of choice out there though and many other owner recommendations for other brands will follow I'm sure.

 

[ljh217]

So sounds like people like cube. OK at least I know of at least one brand to look out for, I'll try to find a dealer nearby and see if I can test-ride some of them (or at least see they are the right size). The reaction hybrid might be overkill, but it looks awesome.

 

[soundwave]

size will be more of a problem tbh as not many xl frame sizes for ebikes and limited stock as well.

 

[Crossroads]

I'm 6'2" and a 50CM Cube Hybrid is my best fit - you might need a 52 at most.

 

[Chris M]

I'm very happy with my Cube Acid Allroad 500. 480 miles so far. Seems fine both on and off road. Love the 29" wheels, ALP motor gives me all the help I need and the mudguards are effective. It really is a go anywhere bike.

 

[sjpt]

We've got a Raleigh Motus (2016). A couple of neighbours have got Cube's (2018). Both well built and reliable. The more recent Cubes have better Active Line Plus motors, better than the previous generation Active Line we have; that would only be relevant if you were buying 2nd hand as we did.

I don't think I've seen significant bad comments about either Raleigh or Cube, lots of positive ones especially on all the Cubes.

The Bosch CX will help on hills, but probably at a significantly reduced mileage on the same battery. (see https://www.bosch-ebike.com/en/service/range-assistant/ ) As well as noise mentioned above.

I personally prefer a smaller frame than is generally suggested, and always have. Quite helpful now as my wife (5'5") and I (5'10") share the 18" Motus (we have a tandem for when we are riding together).

 

[ljh217]

Yea I think I'm sold on a cube. I just need to decide which one in the next couple of weeks now.

Reaction - If I want to take up off-road biking and willing to spend a bit more (there is lots of countryside in this part of the country, and I could do with taking up an outside hobby). https://www.e-bikeshop.co.uk/Electric-Bikes-UK-Dealer/Cube-Reaction-Hybrid-Pro-500-2019?filter=85

Acid - Seems like a cheaper version of the reaction with a less powerful motor? More in my budget. Without comparing them I'm not sure what the overall difference would be and if I would notice it? Lighter than the other bikes as well? I can get an Allroad edition for a similar price? https://www.e-bikeshop.co.uk/Electric-Bikes-UK-Dealer/Cube-Acid-Hybrid-One-500-2019?filter=85

Touring - Fits more my brief of a 'commuting' bike but seems like it would be less fun. Thttps://www.e-bikeshop.co.uk/Electric-Bikes-UK-Dealer/Cube-Touring-Hybrid-One-500-2019?filter=85

Is the only difference between 'all road' and 'one' is that the all road comes fitted with mudguards and lights? Are these hard to manually fit?

 

[sjpt]

We bought our second hand Motus from that shop. We are pleased with the bike, but were not that impressed with the shop. They only permitted a very short test ride round the car park. There were a few details about the setup of the bike that were not as they should have been; understandable from an individual, not good from a shop. They did not give us the proper paperwork and details such as battery charge information (diagnostic report?) they had promised. They just seemed to want us through a.s.a.p. Quite a bit of that was our fault not theirs, but ... There was nothing major; we haven't chased them as they are far enough away it isn't worth it. Maybe when we will be nearby again I'll arrange the free Diagnostic Report and if they are helpful revise my opinion.

It seems we are not alone: https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/e-bikeshop.co.uk

 

[ljh217]

Thanks, I'll avoid them then. There's a few cube dealers nearby I'll go into instead.

 

[Andy McNish]

I also own a Cube and if you search my name on youtube you can see a couple of recent videos I've put up about it.

I do weekend tours with it and currently commute 40km to work and back on it each day. They are very solid bikes and probably the best value of the 'brands' up to £2k if you are loooking for a mid-hub motor.

Recently Halfords were doing an online sale of their Crossfuse bike (not to be confused with their Crossfire one) and with discounts you could get the price down to around £1200. That has the Bosch Activeline Plus motor (ALP) on it and was exceptional value at that price.

The Bosch CX engine (which you often find on mountain bikes) has more power but is noisier and isn't zero resist like the ALP is (so harder to pedal with the motor off or over the 25kph limit). It also tends to be a bit pricier.

That said there are a multitude of other options that are well-regarded in the sub-£2k price bracket - just not with Bosch mid-range engines. Woosh are active on this forum and seem to be highly recommended for example.

 

[Gaz]

I'm 6'4" and the same weight as you. Have done over 4,000 miles in the last three years on my Whyte Coniston, and would thoroughly recommend one. It's no mountain bike, but is excellent as a commuter and on compacted surface paths. A very comfortable and easy bike to live with. Haven't found a hill that's stopped me yet and I see they're now in your budget:
https://www.discountcyclesdirect.co.uk/catalog/product.php?CI_ID=22470&O_ID=3&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1LKc_oHD4QIVLrftCh0-8gl3EAQYAiABEgI-j_D_BwE

https://www.mtbmonster.com/whyte-coniston-e-bike-2018/?setCurrencyId=2&setCurrencyId=2&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1LKc_oHD4QIVLrftCh0-8gl3EAQYBSABEgJsTPD_BwE#fo_c=302&fo_k=7cfe1ac27aed65f0254c7af70e6ccab1&fo_s=gplauk&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_keyword=


Gaz