Help! Advice on a commuter bike

[varakir]

Shortly changing jobs and my commute will be manageable by bike (4 miles each way) - however it's mostly downhill on the way there and i'm looking at an ebike for aiding the climb home. I can slowly but surely manage the return trip on a regular bike, but don't think i'm up to it everyday. Route i'll be taking is a mix of road and bridleway.

Budget is up to £3k and I've been looking at the Cowboy 3, Ribble Hybrid AL-e, Ampler Stout, Haibike Trekking 4, Cube reaction 500, Wisper Wayfarer, Volt connect and the Canyon Roadliten so far.

I like the idea of something light, but also like the idea of having more torque. I have ridden and maintained trail/dirtjump bikes for a long time, so having something I can service myself (mechanically) would be nice. I'd prefer to get a ready to go bike, but not completely closed to the idea of converting something.

There's a shop locally so i will try a few out next week, but can't try them all. There's so much info out there and the more i read the more conflicted i get - so would appreciate your opinions!

 

[Wisper Bikes]

Looks good - can the rims accommodate 2.125" Big Ben tyres? Also, I'm curious as to how you have tested frame strength - some folding bikes snap in half. Fiido recently had that issue with one of their (magnesium framed) folding bikes. Was frame strength calculated in software, or was it destruction tested?

Thanks for your interest! So far it’s on paper, tooling is going ahead in the next couple of weeks. So calculations are currently all on “paper”, however we would never put a bike into the market until the frame had been properly stress tested on the bench, we put all or frames through rigorous test procedures before we go into production.

We will be offering the bike with 2” tyres but the frame will accept up to 2.2”

All the best, David

 

[guerney]

The Leftfield link is an old one, new 8 freights aren't available and haven't been for some years.

Here's a sold 8 freight on ebay, another will turn up sometime:

8 Freight Cargo bike • £1,500.00

8 FREIGHT CARGO bike - £1,500.00. FOR SALE! We are a not-for-profit community interest company specializing in cycles for all needs. We have used this 8 freight for occasional demos, and it has probably done no more than 50 miles in total. It is in excellent condition, and has always been kept...

picclick.co.uk

 

[guerney]

Thanks for your interest! So far it’s on paper, tooling is going ahead in the next couple of weeks. So calculations are currently all on “paper”, however we would never put a bike into the market until the frame had been properly stress tested on the bench, we put all or frames through rigorous test procedures before we go into production.

We will be offering the bike with 2” tyres but the frame will accept up to 2.2”

All the best, David

Very interesting, thank you - even Giant messed up with the Giant Halfway, which reportedly snapped in half. Presumably they had tested to destruction too, as might have Fiido's recent overfolding to destruction model. Reports of snapping Terns are many.

Wide tyres seem to be a must these days, with the state of our roads. I very often now see bicycles with comfy looking balloon tyres.

Do you have any plans to enter the exciting, expanding and highly lucrative cargo bike market? You'd sell at least two to me and Nealh, if your new cargo bike was very similar to the 8 freight

 

[AndyBike]

Not sure you need to buy a £3,000 ebike for a four mile commute

lol. this is indeed a funny comment.
Mines £5200 and i guess most of my journey's are under 4 miles. Nothing wrong with having a capable quality set of Ewheels under you. No matter what you intend to do with it

 

[lightning]

Yes of course, if you can afford it then why not. For commuting though, bikes get a hard time and often have to be left in public places, plus there's rarely any serious off road, so l wouldn't want a top of the range ebike if a cheaper one would do.

 

[varakir]

Any opinions on the bikes i listed or other recommendations within the price range? I noticed there's a boardman that uses the Fazua system which is quite a bit cheaper than the canyon.

 

[lightning]

Are you planning to use the bike for anything other than your commute.
And if so, what kind of riding would you be doing.....road, road and trail, off road?

As it will affect what is the best bike for you to get.

 

[I893469365902345609348566]

Very interesting, thank you - even Giant messed up with the Giant Halfway, which reportedly snapped in half. Presumably they had tested to destruction too, as might have Fiido's recent overfolding to destruction model. Reports of snapping Terns are many.

Wide tyres seem to be a must these days, with the state of our roads. I very often now see bicycles with comfy looking balloon tyres.

Do you have any plans to enter the exciting, expanding and highly lucrative cargo bike market? You'd sell at least two to me and Nealh, if your new cargo bike was very similar to the 8 freight

If available I'd buy a new 8freight style cargo bike

 

[varakir]

Are you planning to use the bike for anything other than your commute.
And if so, what kind of riding would you be doing.....road, road and trail, off road?

As it will affect what is the best bike for you to get.

Road & some light trail riding if anything. I have a kona shred that i mainly use for singletrack, it's lovely to ride dowhnill but a bit of a tank for just taking out for a ride sometimes.