Anywhere to hire an e-bike before buying?

[clintyboy12]

Hi folks
I'm interested in buying an electric bike. Will be used for commuting, some road but hopefully mostly tracks and cycle paths. So not looking for a full on MTB but a hybrid or cross-bar style bike with front suspension (lockable) and mid-drive (pref Bosch but open to trying Shimano or Yamaha crank drives).

Trouble is these are not cheap, brand new looking at £1500 minimum which is a fair chunk of change regardless of technology and capability! My last bike (ridgeback mx45) cost £300 (>10 years ago) and I thought was a lot!
So I am trying to find out if any cycle shops would hire a bike so I can get a feel for what I am looking for or perhaps provide an extended test-ride for the version I am potentially interested in. I've been looking at some of the KTM models (Macina Cross, Venturer) and really like the look of them.

Commute is ~17 miles each way, so the battery needs to cope with that. Mostly flat. Live in Addlestone and commuting to Slough so anywhere within 10-20 miles of those locations has potential, have roof bars so can pick up from further afield.
Thanks in advance for your help and any advice, great forum with loads of info, I'm sure someone will know something!
Chris

 

[trex]

A conversion would require a much lower outlay and possibly reduces the running cost too. A good crank drive kit like the 8-Fun BBS01 with 15AH battery would cost you about £600 and will have plenty of range and climbing power.
Alternatively, for a ready built crank drive, the woosh Bali would offer slightly more performance compared to a BBS01 conversion:
http://wooshbikes.co.uk/?bali

 

[anotherkiwi]

Trouble is these are not cheap, brand new looking at £1500 minimum which is a fair chunk of change regardless of technology and capability! My last bike (ridgeback mx45) cost £300 (>10 years ago) and I thought was a lot!

10 years ago that was a lot to pay for a bike. It didn't have a Li-ion battery. With quality cells these retail up to £475 on the European market. You can import for less (slightly less once you factor in VAT and freight etc.).

So with inflation and all the extra e-bike stuff £1500 isn't such a lot. You can build your own for quite a bit less, my current build should come to just over £1000 (with quality components).

 

[clintyboy12]

10 years ago that was a lot to pay for a bike. It didn't have a Li-ion battery. With quality cells these retail up to £475 on the European market. You can import for less (slightly less once you factor in VAT and freight etc.).

So with inflation and all the extra e-bike stuff £1500 isn't such a lot. You can build your own for quite a bit less, my current build should come to just over £1000 (with quality components).

Thanks, I appreciate technology has moved on however if I wanted a similar spec'd bike to my ridgeback now I could easily pick one up for the same or less and it would most likely be better and lighter. I suspect the cost of such Li-Ion batteries in their current incarnation is down to what is felt the market will bear. Golf trolleys use very similar batteries and the story is the same. Production costs are much lower and the size isn't as much of a factor but I can still pick up a good 36hole Li-ion batter for <£200.

 

[clintyboy12]

A conversion would require a much lower outlay and possibly reduces the running cost too. A good crank drive kit like the 8-Fun BBS01 with 15AH battery would cost you about £600 and will have plenty of range and climbing power.
Alternatively, for a ready built crank drive, the woosh Bali would offer slightly more performance compared to a BBS01 conversion:
http://wooshbikes.co.uk/?bali

Thanks. I prefer the look of the Krieger from your link. I've not really considered a conversion since it would mean taking an already heavy bike and making it heavier. If it was half that price I'd consider it since if it all went tits up in a year I wouldn't feel too aggrieved!

Again though, my main question is around trying for an extended period of time before buying, I assume you are based in Southend, do you do extended test rides or hire?

 

[trex]

if you come from a cycling background, I doubt that you'd find Chinese bikes satisfying. The BBS01 is a well trusted motor, many members have used it and many still do. I had one myself 3 years ago and can recommend it to anyone wanting a commuter bike. However, it's not the only solution, my current bike is a lightweight rear hub conversion based on the (£293) Giant Defy 5, it does the job very well, I get about 45-50 miles from a full charge.

I also have this lightweight BBS01 conversion on loan at the moment:

what I am saying is that converted bikes are usually more satisfying than ready builts unless you have a £2k budget.

 

[anotherkiwi]

Production costs are much lower and the size isn't as much of a factor but I can still pick up a good 36hole Li-ion batter for <£200.

36 V? I don't think so. 12 V 22 Ah yes.

 

[clintyboy12]

36 V? I don't think so. 12 V 22 Ah yes.

36 hole not volt. A 22Ah battery is better than most of the batteries seen for bikes in terms of capacity, no?

 

[anotherkiwi]

The batteries that you are talking about are 12 V. To make them work with a bike you would need 3 in series to make a 36 V battery. It would still be 22 Ah but about £ 567...

It isn't bad in capacity but a bit heavy for a bike.

 

[clintyboy12]

The batteries that you are talking about are 12 V. To make them work with a bike you would need 3 in series to make a 36 V battery. It would still be 22 Ah but about £ 567...

It isn't bad in capacity but a bit heavy for a bike.

Thanks, however this is drifting away from the point of my post and that was to find a place relatively locally from where I can hire an e bike from. I'd like to try my commute at least once with an e bike to make sure it's something I will keep up.

 

[Jonah]

Getting back to the point.

If you fancy a break in Devon, get in touch (www.bikehigher.co.uk). We often have people in your position wanting to try out bikes for an extended ride before making decisions on purchases. It makes for a great holiday activity.

In your position, I would have thought most specialist e-bike shops might let you have a bike for a test commute (or a Saturday ride). I'd give them a call and see what they say. I know there are a few shops not too far from you.

 

[clintyboy12]

Getting back to the point.

If you fancy a break in Devon, get in touch (www.bikehigher.co.uk). We often have people in your position wanting to try out bikes for an extended ride before making decisions on purchases. It makes for a great holiday activity.

In your position, I would have thought most specialist e-bike shops might let you have a bike for a test commute (or a Saturday ride). I'd give them a call and see what they say. I know there are a few shops not too far from you.

Thanks, great suggestion. I've seen this capability is available in places like the new forest as well so was considering a trip. Planning summer hols in Devon or Cornwall but I hope to have a bike before then though!