Advice on Commuter ebike

[Leonzos]

Hi there,

New to the forum and new to e-bikes. I want to commute to work on an bike but obviously I need a bit of advice as it's such a huge purchase. I've been using a normal push bike to go the 12 miles to work and back. Doubtlessly due to my love of beer and kebabs I'm not as fit as I could be at 41. I can do the cycle no problem but I'm covered in sweat at the end of it. My solution has been to cycle to a leisure centre, shower, and then come into work smelling off roses but that puts an extra 20 minutes on my morning commute and I am NOT a morning person.

The bus is expensive and takes an age and of course they often don't come.

So I figured a bike of some sort. The ones I really like the look of don't look like e-bikes. The stromer and the emotion neo cross. But they are very expensive. Anything between £800 and £1600 that could fit the bill. I like the idea of having disc breaks too as I always seem to have a problem with normal ones. And tyres that are puncture resistant as standard.

Any help?

 

[Alan Quay]

Have you looked at the Kudos range? The newer ones are pretty stealthy looking.

An other option is build from a kit. A good option if you already have a decent bike that you like.

You will get more sound advice from others if you add some info about your weight, range (e.g whether you can charge up at work or not), Terrain, and desired speed.

Oh, and welcome BTW.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

The Mosso is the best value by far in that price range, but not a UK supplier, so effectively no warranty. We need a guinea-pig to try one.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2013-36V-350W-27-speed-MOSSO-A-Ebike-with-36V-12AH-Lithium-Battery-Electric-Bike-/171205737534?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item27dca83c3e

If you want low cost, there's this one, or have a look at the Woosh bikes:
http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/best-value-entry-level-bike-new-vita-uno-26.16510/

If you want a bit more torque for hill-climbing, the Kudos Tornado.

If you want fast comfortable commuting with good torque for hill-climbing, the Ezee bikes. Only the more expensive ones have high torque.

 

[Leonzos]

Thanks for the replies. That's a load of bikes to think about. Anyone know about these two.

Roodog avatar

Burisch Synergy GT250

Reliability is fairly important as it's for work.

 

[Leonzos]

I weigh about 90 kgs, maybe more since Chrimbo. It's mostly up hill 10 miles to work and mostly (of course) downhill back. I suppose I'd want a real world range of 20 miles without a charge.

 

[Cyclezee]

If you want fast comfortable commuting with good torque for hill-climbing, the Ezee bikes. Only the more expensive ones have high torque.

and all of them are within the budget of Leonzos.

 

[Jonah]

You might just get a Kalkhoff Pro Connect X24 within that budget if you're lucky and the offer is still open. Check out the 50cycles website.

 

[Emo Rider]

If you are not planning on many muddy fields, I would suggest going with a 700c wheeled ebike. They generally have a greater range that their 26" counter parts simply because of the thinner, higher pressure tyres offering lower rolling resistance. For under £1600 the best one I have seen and test rode was the Raleigh Cite 700c at £1450. It had a 12 amp battery and a claimed range of 40 miles.

 

[jackhandy]

If you are not planning on many muddy fields, I would suggest going with a 700c wheeled ebike. They generally have a greater range that their 26" counter parts simply because of the thinner, higher pressure tyres offering lower rolling resistance. For under £1600 the best one I have seen and test rode was the Raleigh Cite 700c at £1450. It had a 12 amp battery and a claimed range of 40 miles.

But, if you like a somewhat softer ride along with easy rolling, try a 29er with fat tyres..

 

[Emo Rider]

But, if you like a somewhat softer ride along with easy rolling, try a 29er with fat tyres..

Yes indeed, 29ers are great. My Marin push bike has them. Getting a 29er ebike under the £1600 budget may be a challenge.

 

[Paws]

I opted for this one:

http://www.cube.eu/en/bikes/hybrid/suv-hybrid/suv-hybrid-29/

With some discount included maybe it could fit your budget.

I still wait for mine to arrive so can't share any real life experience.

 

[D C]

I opted for this one:

http://www.cube.eu/en/bikes/hybrid/suv-hybrid/suv-hybrid-29/

With some discount included maybe it could fit your budget.

I still wait for mine to arrive so can't share any real life experience.

That looks a superb and a well thought out design, if it goes as good as it looks you should be well pleased.

 

[trex]

leonzos,
if you are cost conscious, forget the German bikes. Their running cost exceeds 50p a mile.
Also, a big 500WH battery is very useful for the range and to reduce the number of charging cycles.

 

[SRS]

leonzos,
if you are cost conscious, forget the German bikes. Their running cost exceeds 50p a mile.
Also, a big 500WH battery is very useful for the range and to reduce the number of charging cycles.

50p per mile. Are you paying someone to ride it for you?

I've done the maths on mine over a 3 year period and selling the bike at the end. Less than 5p per mile.
Based on a realistic 18000 miles over the period.

 

[JuicyBike]

Hi there,

New to the forum and new to e-bikes. I want to commute to work on an bike but obviously I need a bit of advice as it's such a huge purchase. I've been using a normal push bike to go the 12 miles to work and back. Doubtlessly due to my love of beer and kebabs I'm not as fit as I could be at 41. I can do the cycle no problem but I'm covered in sweat at the end of it. My solution has been to cycle to a leisure centre, shower, and then come into work smelling off roses but that puts an extra 20 minutes on my morning commute and I am NOT a morning person.

The bus is expensive and takes an age and of course they often don't come.

So I figured a bike of some sort. The ones I really like the look of don't look like e-bikes. The stromer and the emotion neo cross. But they are very expensive. Anything between £800 and £1600 that could fit the bill. I like the idea of having disc breaks too as I always seem to have a problem with normal ones. And tyres that are puncture resistant as standard.

Any help?

Our new Click range is now fully available, would do what you require and benefits from 10% discount during January (use "Pedelecs" code at the checkout).

 

[trex]

50p per mile. Are you paying someone to ride it for you?

I've done the maths on mine over a 3 year period and selling the bike at the end. Less than 5p per mile.
Based on a realistic 18000 miles over the period.

if you don't mind me asking, which bike did you ride in those 3 years?
A recent post tells the story of ebay.steve121uk:
http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/2nd-hand-pro-connect.11926/
and his advert on ebay:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Electric-Bike-Kalkhoff-Pro-Connect-55cm-9G-e-series-/251083044751?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item3a75b7378f#ht_500wt_1364

RRP £2,500 1 year old, starting bid: £250
No bid.

Briefly, he bought the Kalkhoff Proconnect for 20 miles commute, used it for one year then put the bike on ebay. Second hand high milers do not do well, German or Chinese, no difference.
You have to be prepared to write off your investment when you stop using your bike for commuting.
It saves you a lot of money to stick to the essential requirements.

 

[Alan Quay]

leonzos,
if you are cost conscious, forget the German bikes. Their running cost exceeds 50p a mile.
Also, a big 500WH battery is very useful for the range and to reduce the number of charging cycles.

50p/mile? I could run a Jag for that sort of money.

Seroiuosly, I run a 1.8 petrol Focus for about 32p/mile all in. It has roof bars, air con and I drive it like I'm late for my appointment at Dignitas.

 

[SRS]

if you don't mind me asking, which bike did you ride in those 3 years?
A recent post tells the story of ebay.steve121uk:
http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/2nd-hand-pro-connect.11926/
and his advert on ebay:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Electric-Bike-Kalkhoff-Pro-Connect-55cm-9G-e-series-/251083044751?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item3a75b7378f#ht_500wt_1364

RRP £2,500 1 year old, starting bid: £250
No bid.

Briefly, he bought the Kalkhoff Proconnect for 20 miles commute, used it for one year then put the bike on ebay. Second hand high milers do not do well, German or Chinese, no difference.
You have to be prepared to write off your investment when you stop using your bike for commuting.
It saves you a lot of money to stick to the essential requirements.

The bike has yet to complete the 3 years but it is a KTM macina 29.
Even if I gave it away after 3 years I could not get to 50ppm.

Like anything, you have to use it fully to get your money's worth.
Mine, £2200 over 18000 miles or 3 years. 3 sets of tyres, minimal elec bill for daily charging. Take into account the 600 gallons of diesel saved.

Sell the bike for £1.00 after 3 years and start again.

 

[Alan Quay]

The bike has yet to complete the 3 years but it is a KTM macina 29.
Even if I gave it away after 3 years I could not get to 50ppm.

Like anything, you have to use it fully to get your money's worth.
Mine, £2200 over 18000 miles or 3 years. 3 sets of tyres, minimal elec bill for daily charging. Take into account the 600 gallons of diesel saved.

Sell the bike for £1.00 after 3 years and start again.

You can't take the cost of Diesel into account when calculating cost/mile of an electric bike.

 

[SRS]

You can't take the cost of Diesel into account when calculating cost/mile of an electric bike.

I can if I wish to know the real cost to my wallet.

Having said that, one can take out the diesel but it would still be impossible to get to 50ppm. My car doesn't cost that much.