Best e-bike for a child seat (up to 25kg)

[Clara86]

Hello
We need to upgrade our e-bike so that our growing daughter can still ride on the back. She’s currently 19kg and is in a child seat on our Batri bike but it doesn’t cope well with the extra weight.
We’re looking to spend up to £2000. The bike is used daily to commute to work after drop off as well.
Looking for buy before September.
We’re based in Trowbridge Wilts near Bath and need to be close to a service centre for whatever brand we choose (it’s been annoying travelling to Swindon / Exeter to get the bike fixed!).
Thank you!

 

[matthewslack]

I suspect your requirements fall between at least three stools!

Your Batribike judging from their website is a typical hub motor bike, probably 36V and probably 7A continuous, 14A max controller. Fine for an average weight adult rider in relatively flat terrain, but cannot cope with the extra 19kg.

You need a more 'powerful' bike, but most off the peg suppliers don't sell such things. 48V and higher current controller are routes to what you need but in most cases that means a conversion, which if you need a dealer on hand for routine servicing, is not for you.

Alternatively the perfect fit is way beyond your budget, unless you find a hardly used secondhand one. That's the mid-drive 200kg payload longtail cargo bikes like the Tern GSD and Momentum PakYak. Ride one of those with your child or two onboard, and your eyes will light up with the realisation of 'perfect solution'.

In my view the Tern is much the better bike, but also the most costly - I've ridden both, and lived close to users for a few years. Last time I looked, from £3K secondhand. Don't buy a high mileage neglected one. A barely used one from someone who didn't take to it would be ideal, with a bit of warranty left.

 

[Clara86]

Thanks so much! This is very insightful. £3k is quite the outlay, what’s the typical lifespan of a bike like that? I’d quite like it to last a good few years!

 

[matthewslack]

Many years, if looked after, and in mileage terms, several tens of thousands. The ones I live close to are nearly 4 years (Tern) and 3 years (PakYak). The Tern does between 1,000 and 2,000 miles a year, no electrics issues so far (top spec Bosch CargoLine motor). The PakYak fewer miles, and had a battery go to sleep. (Yamaha).

The only real downside is just the jaw dropping cost. But noone seems to be competing on equal specification and capability, so competition is not really there.

There are longtail hub motor bikes, like the BTwin, but reviews are poor on service, support and quality. The massive discounts on them suggest a bike that is not selling.

 

[Peter.Bridge]

I suspect your requirements fall between at least three stools!

Your Batribike judging from their website is a typical hub motor bike, probably 36V and probably 7A continuous, 14A max controller. Fine for an average weight adult rider in relatively flat terrain, but cannot cope with the extra 19kg.

You need a more 'powerful' bike, but most off the peg suppliers don't sell such things. 48V and higher current controller are routes to what you need but in most cases that means a conversion, which if you need a dealer on hand for routine servicing, is not for you.

Alternatively the perfect fit is way beyond your budget, unless you find a hardly used secondhand one. That's the mid-drive 200kg payload longtail cargo bikes like the Tern GSD and Momentum PakYak. Ride one of those with your child or two onboard, and your eyes will light up with the realisation of 'perfect solution'.

In my view the Tern is much the better bike, but also the most costly - I've ridden both, and lived close to users for a few years. Last time I looked, from £3K secondhand. Don't buy a high mileage neglected one. A barely used one from someone who didn't take to it would be ideal, with a bit of warranty left.

Cheaper alternative ?

Fiido T2 Longtail Cargo E-bike

With 250W 60Nm motor and 220kg payload, it easily tackles hills. The aluminum front fork and integrated suspension provide smooth performance on all terrains.

uk.fiido.com

 

[saneagle]

The Engwe LE20 will be perfect for what you want. It has a very powerful 48v motor and is adaptable for carrying all sorts of loads including kids. It's also pretty cheap and very good value at only £1250.

ENGWE LE20 250W 20" Step-Through Cargo E-Bike 48V 19.2Ah/38.4Ah Dual B

Main Features 48V 250W Brushless Mid-drive Motor( Top speed: 25km/h ) 250W Brushless Motor with 100 Nm. torque combined with intelligent controller produces 25.5km/h maximum speed and 12°-15° climbing capability. 48v 19.2Ah*2 Dual Batteries LE20 comes with dual frame batteries that can be used...

ecoglideruk.com

Kid cage is extra if you need it:

Backrest Support + Guardrail For Cargo Bike LE20 LE20-BG ENGWE Child Transport | eBay UK

EBay Shop: Ridewill-Shop back support + parapet for cargo bikes LE20 LE20-BG EngWE Baby transport Brand/Brand: Engwe Code/queues: Le20-BG MPN: Le20-BG View all the products of our shop View All Products of Our Shop Data sheet Support for back and parapet for Cargo Engwe LE20 bikes. Support for...

www.ebay.co.uk

Look how happy they are:

 

[Waspy]

We’re based in Trowbridge Wilts near Bath and need to be close to a service centre for whatever brand we choose (it’s been annoying travelling to Swindon / Exeter to get the bike fixed!).

There is an eBike shop in Bradford on Avon. They list: "Electric bike services and repair "

https://watt-ebikes.uk/

 

[matthewslack]

There is an eBike shop in Bradford on Avon. They list: "Electric bike services and repair "

https://watt-ebikes.uk/

Let's hope their bikes embody a more appropriate approach to risk than taking pictures on a level crossing!

 

[Waspy]

Let's hope their bikes embody a more appropriate approach to risk than taking pictures on a level crossing!

Yeah, I edited that out. I didn't realise the bike had a 750w motor.

 

[matthewslack]

Cheaper alternative ?

Fiido T2 Longtail Cargo E-bike

With 250W 60Nm motor and 220kg payload, it easily tackles hills. The aluminum front fork and integrated suspension provide smooth performance on all terrains.

uk.fiido.com

In this case, fails the local dealer test.

More generally, the sticking point is until you ride it, after purchase, there is no way to know if it will do the job. Yes, 60Nm hub motor, but if the rider can't keep it above the 'bogging down' speed, it won't, and you run the risk of heavily laden bike with small child on a hill you can't get up. The tiny cassette limits the ability of the rider to help the motor.

It might be great! Perhaps one of our wealthier contributors could buy one and review it!

A few spec issues I don't like too: fat tyres waste energy, and fat tyres as well as suspension fork? Don't need both. And those bespoke wheels... why?

Edit: but on the upside.... massive battery, frame design looks sound, some of the options are included in the base price just now. It's a £1363 gamble, that might pay off.