Does anyone have any experience of these ? I am looking to buy on a limited budget. At £325 they sound reasonable, comments appreciated.
Bat Bikes on ebay
- Thread starter Bud
- Start date
Enter "ebay bat electric bike" in to google and it is the first result.
I'm pretty sure someone on this forum owns a very similar bike to that but it was under a different name. Unfortunately I can't for the life of me remember who.
I've no experience of this bike but I would point out that it is a sealed lead acid battery and the total weight at just under 40kg is very heavy. Most ebikes with NIMH/Lithium batteries weigh in at around 25kgs or less.
It is very cheap though!
I'm pretty sure someone on this forum owns a very similar bike to that but it was under a different name. Unfortunately I can't for the life of me remember who.
I've no experience of this bike but I would point out that it is a sealed lead acid battery and the total weight at just under 40kg is very heavy. Most ebikes with NIMH/Lithium batteries weigh in at around 25kgs or less.
It is very cheap though!
Found him with a bit of sleuthing.
I remembered that Powered Bicycles sell this bike. I think I've actually seen it in the shop before when I've been in. Anyway, on their website it's called the Cougar. I've done a quick search and Footie has a Cougar modified to take lithium batteries. I can't be sure but I think his Cougar is the same one that Powered Bicycles sell which is the same as the one you are considering.
Stop the clock!
Footie, did I get that right?
I remembered that Powered Bicycles sell this bike. I think I've actually seen it in the shop before when I've been in. Anyway, on their website it's called the Cougar. I've done a quick search and Footie has a Cougar modified to take lithium batteries. I can't be sure but I think his Cougar is the same one that Powered Bicycles sell which is the same as the one you are considering.
Stop the clock!
Footie, did I get that right?
As pointed out already its quite heavy.
Do you have an existing bike that you could convert with a lighter Li-Ion kit ?
Regards
Jerry
Do you have an existing bike that you could convert with a lighter Li-Ion kit ?
Regards
Jerry
yup...
i bought one of these bikes three years ago, it was badged as Eco Brand Whirlwind then, there are about a half dozen different variations of name but the spec is usually the same, It is heavy - with locks & rack it's 40kg with a lead battery, didn't find the weight a problem, but then again i didn't have to lift it & carry it anywhere.
the battery lasted about 18 months & a couple of thousand miles until the range dropped from 30 miles to about 10.
good, quiet, 8fun brushless hub motor, good gear range, very good pedelec, strong throttle, slightly over-sprung, but i liked this, disc brakes are effective but poor quality & take a bit of setting up.
for an out-of-the box solution, the price is difficult to beat, but this really is the in-expensive end of the market and the component quality reflects this.
i'm still using mine, although i mostly ride another e-bike i have, and its useful as a spare or for a companion, had i stopped using it when the original battery died, it would still have been good value for money.
it does the job and is a good intro to e-bikes, & if it lasts a couple of years you won't have much to complain about.
things to watch out for are, cheap chinese tyres - these tend to invite punctures, cheap disc brakes - tend to rub & are noisy, poor seal on the control box - prone to damp & water ingress, wheel spokes are loose on arrival, kick stand is rubbish, lastly this bike will rust fast if you leave it outside.
otherwise...a bargain and i'd go this route again, it gave me the opportunity to figure out what i'd really like whilst getting me on the road cheap & fast
let us know how you got on,
best of luck,
beeps
Hi Bud,
i bought one of these bikes three years ago, it was badged as Eco Brand Whirlwind then, there are about a half dozen different variations of name but the spec is usually the same, It is heavy - with locks & rack it's 40kg with a lead battery, didn't find the weight a problem, but then again i didn't have to lift it & carry it anywhere.
the battery lasted about 18 months & a couple of thousand miles until the range dropped from 30 miles to about 10.
good, quiet, 8fun brushless hub motor, good gear range, very good pedelec, strong throttle, slightly over-sprung, but i liked this, disc brakes are effective but poor quality & take a bit of setting up.
for an out-of-the box solution, the price is difficult to beat, but this really is the in-expensive end of the market and the component quality reflects this.
i'm still using mine, although i mostly ride another e-bike i have, and its useful as a spare or for a companion, had i stopped using it when the original battery died, it would still have been good value for money.
it does the job and is a good intro to e-bikes, & if it lasts a couple of years you won't have much to complain about.
things to watch out for are, cheap chinese tyres - these tend to invite punctures, cheap disc brakes - tend to rub & are noisy, poor seal on the control box - prone to damp & water ingress, wheel spokes are loose on arrival, kick stand is rubbish, lastly this bike will rust fast if you leave it outside.
otherwise...a bargain and i'd go this route again, it gave me the opportunity to figure out what i'd really like whilst getting me on the road cheap & fast
let us know how you got on,
best of luck,
beeps
I’ve had my Cougar for two years and yes it is heavy.
It was just under £400 from Powered Bicycles.
However, I like heavy bikes and when I now look at other ebikes I find them on the flimsy side.
It's a great bike, fun to ride and a "head-turner" as people and motorists notice it.
The hub motor has good power being a 36v and the change to a LiFePO4 battery when my original SLA battery died transformed it.
The sprung pins are prone to rusting and this design was dropped after it was realised it was a design fault.
I regularly spray mine with WD40 and they are fine.
Mine has regeneration in the hub, which is the one thing I have always disliked, I've got used to it now.
Funny but I've never had a puncture, so I can only say the cheap chinese tyres work for me.
The bike slips along on the hilly Cornish roads happily at 16mph, which is an excellent speed for such a monster of a bike.
I wanted a bike that would last and it seems I've found a winner.
The brakes are rubbish - but who wants to stop
-----------------------------------------------
Cougar Mountain Electric Bike 36v 200w rear wheel Hub motor (Jul07)
fitted with 10 Ah LiFePo4 battery (Apr08)
Maximum range (road/hills - Cornwall) 18 miles
Maximum range (on flat) 25 miles
.
It was just under £400 from Powered Bicycles.
However, I like heavy bikes and when I now look at other ebikes I find them on the flimsy side.
It's a great bike, fun to ride and a "head-turner" as people and motorists notice it.
The hub motor has good power being a 36v and the change to a LiFePO4 battery when my original SLA battery died transformed it.
The sprung pins are prone to rusting and this design was dropped after it was realised it was a design fault.
I regularly spray mine with WD40 and they are fine.
Mine has regeneration in the hub, which is the one thing I have always disliked, I've got used to it now.
Funny but I've never had a puncture, so I can only say the cheap chinese tyres work for me.
The bike slips along on the hilly Cornish roads happily at 16mph, which is an excellent speed for such a monster of a bike.
I wanted a bike that would last and it seems I've found a winner.
The brakes are rubbish - but who wants to stop
-----------------------------------------------
Cougar Mountain Electric Bike 36v 200w rear wheel Hub motor (Jul07)
fitted with 10 Ah LiFePo4 battery (Apr08)
Maximum range (road/hills - Cornwall) 18 miles
Maximum range (on flat) 25 miles
.
Last edited:
Beeps, Footie, have you tried swapping out the disk brakes for a better model or are they not a standard size?
yup... again
as footie says, it is a bit of a beast, but i like the feel, the steel frame is absolutely rigid and i prefer this sensation when i'm out on the 'burn' and really pulling the bike about, it is extremely comfortable to ride for long periods, i like the pedelec on this bike and you really do feel you could pedal happily all day & it has a good take-off speed, helpful in traffic.
beeps
Yes Caph, upgraded the brakes they are standard size, also upgraded the battery for the LiFePo4 36v 10ah (Ping) battery, this made quite a bit of difference, also de-restricted the controller and the bike now cruises at 18mph, then upgraded the front chain wheel to a 52 tooth which helped with pedalling speed,
as footie says, it is a bit of a beast, but i like the feel, the steel frame is absolutely rigid and i prefer this sensation when i'm out on the 'burn' and really pulling the bike about, it is extremely comfortable to ride for long periods, i like the pedelec on this bike and you really do feel you could pedal happily all day & it has a good take-off speed, helpful in traffic.
beeps
Last edited:
A big help.
Thanks everyone, I might just give it a go. As you say if it lasts a year or two it will get me back in the saddle. Will keep you posted.
Thanks everyone, I might just give it a go. As you say if it lasts a year or two it will get me back in the saddle. Will keep you posted.
Thanx guys
I tried posting a reply couple of days ago, don't know what went wrong.
Anyway I am expecting delivery tomorrow, Thursday.
Will keep you posted as to a review.
I tried posting a reply couple of days ago, don't know what went wrong.
Anyway I am expecting delivery tomorrow, Thursday.
Will keep you posted as to a review.
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