Wanted Cheap ebike wanted for my step-daughter

[Rich_uk]

Looking for something cheap and cheerful for my step-daughter so she can come on rides with me, something small to medium in size and cheap as possible please, she's not great even on a normal bike so don't want to spend money I can't afford on something she might only ride once.

 

[Woosh]

e-bikes need to be used often. Leave them in the garage for 6 months and you may lose the expensive battery.
Also, they are twice as heavy as ordinary bikes.
Wouldn't it be better to consider a normal push bike for a young person and the occasional use?

 

[vfr400]

https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/electric-bikes/apollo-transport-electric-folding-bike-20

You can get it a lot cheaper if you use the British Cycling discount and a cashback scheme, and if you buy it on a a bank holiday week, you can get as much as 20% extra off, so total -20% -10% -3% + £25 (BC membership).

 

[PC2017]

Buy a cheap kit - find a donor bike cheap or free from upcycle places/apps some people give them away for free, then fix it up with her if she's interested and add the kit, you might even inspire her to become an engineer or explore a field that's mechanical and even give the gift of the ebike buzz then she might look after the bike and ride it more often.

That said maybe, maybe not after all you could sell it cheap to recoup your losses!

 

[Rich_uk]

e-bikes need to be used often. Leave them in the garage for 6 months and you may lose the expensive battery.
Also, they are twice as heavy as ordinary bikes.
Wouldn't it be better to consider a normal push bike for a young person and the occasional use?

That’s a bit worrying I’ve barely used my Cube since last summer, partly due to injury and partly due to me being a fair weather rider, it is kept indoors in the warm though if that makes a difference.

 

[Rich_uk]

https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/electric-bikes/apollo-transport-electric-folding-bike-20

You can get it a lot cheaper if you use the British Cycling discount and a cashback scheme, and if you buy it on a a bank holiday week, you can get as much as 20% extra off, so total -20% -10% -3% + £25 (BC membership).

Thanks, but still more than I’d want (can afford) to spend.

 

[Rich_uk]

Buy a cheap kit - find a donor bike cheap or free from upcycle places/apps some people give them away for free, then fix it up with her if she's interested and add the kit, you might even inspire her to become an engineer or explore a field that's mechanical and even give the gift of the ebike buzz then she might look after the bike and ride it more often.

That said maybe, maybe not after all you could sell it cheap to recoup your losses!

This is something I’ve been thinking about but due to battery cost it’s almost as much as a decent 2nd hand ebike, if not more in some cases. She’s determined she’s going to be a vet, she’s proper clever but not mechanically minded at all.

 

[Woosh]

That’s a bit worrying I’ve barely used my Cube since last summer, partly due to injury and partly due to me being a fair weather rider, it is kept indoors in the warm though if that makes a difference.

you should try to use it as much as you can.
Batteries are chemical and physical devices. If they don't get use, the surface of the electrodes tend to get clogged up with formation of dendrites and a passivation layer reducing the capacity and increasing the risk of short circuit. Inside your battery, you may have 40 cells. If only one fails, the whole battery needs replacing.
Batteries are better made now and a few months don't cause much harm but still increase the risks. It's a case of use it or lose it like batteries on your cordless drills.
A kit makes sense if you are on a budget. You can get a pretty good kit like my XF08C or TSDZ2 for much less than the price of a factory built bike.

 

[vfr400]

you should try to use it as much as you can.
Batteries are chemical and physical devices. If they don't get use, the surface of the electrodes tend to get clogged up with formation of dendrites and a passivation layer reducing the capacity and increasing the risk of short circuit. Inside your battery, you may have 40 cells. If only one fails, the whole battery needs replacing.
Batteries are better made now and a few months don't cause much harm but still increase the risks. It's a case of use it or lose it like batteries on your cordless drills.
A kit makes sense if you are on a budget. You can get a pretty good kit like my XF08C or TSDZ2 for much less than the price of a factory built bike.

I don't think that's true anymore. Battery technology seems to have moved on. i've got loads of batteries and I don't charge any of them. when I get them out after years of storage, they always work OK.

 

[Woosh]

I don't think that's true anymore. Battery technology seems to have moved on. i've got loads of batteries and I don't charge any of them. when I get them out after years of storage, they always work OK.

they work because the BMS uses nowadays micro--Amps instead of mA. What has been reduced is the imbalance of the bock that feeds the BMS. However, the effect on the electrodes due to stagnation of the liquid electrolyte remains unchanged. Inactivity still increases the probability of short circuit and reduction of capacity. The comparison with battery powered drills still remain valid. They use the same technology.

 

[PC2017]

determined she’s going to be a vet

Good solid future plans - I feel she may be one who cares for the environment and good plug for biking to work! YOSE power has some cheap albeit unbranded batteries.