EBike (First Post)

[Perseus]

Hello,

As a regular 10 miles a day cyclist, I anticipate getting a new bike. I had an eye on a hub bike but nearing retirement I am struggling up steep short hills on the South Downs, an EBike might be within budget.

No idea what EBike to get? I expect still to use my old bike for short runs down the pub and the shops, but for runs in excess of six miles an EBike may be the biz. I might have to build a shed for it first. Or if I squeeze it in the hallway like my current bike? Then I will need a shed for that!

Preferences: a front carrier or front bag for a camera. Hub gears preferred to deraileur (but cost counts). Back rack for panniers essential. Suspension may be a bonus as the cyclepaths and roads are bumpy: (I can get repetitive strain injury). Also, I prefer a crossbar. Big wheels.

Insurance and locks must be budgeted. Needs a strong stand for parking where I want. Current bike will need replacing so I have veteod a conversion. I have given up the need to haul the bike over stiles because of the increased weight as it is getting awkward with my current bike.

No need for heavy carriage, but to 25 kg would be a bonus. Only expect 15 kg loads. Use of a trailer envisaged as an non-essential option (already have one but it is used only a few times a year).

I think top whack may be £1500 at the moment. As I will wait until spring, I may be able to go above that?

PS: Range may need to be 40 miles. 25 miles bare minimum. Distance soon mounts up.

Cheers

Andy

 

[Smart eBiker]

Hello,

As a regular 10 miles a day cyclist, I anticipate getting a new bike. I had an eye on a hub bike but nearing retirement I am struggling up steep short hills on the South Downs, an EBike might be within budget.

No idea what EBike to get? I expect still to use my old bike for short runs down the pub and the shops, but for runs in excess of six miles an EBike may be the biz. I might have to build a shed for it first. Or if I squeeze it in the hallway like my current bike? Then I will need a shed for that!

Preferences: a front carrier or front bag for a camera. Hub gears preferred to deraileur (but cost counts). Back rack for panniers essential. Suspension may be a bonus as the cyclepaths and roads are bumpy: (I can get repetitive strain injury). Also, I prefer a crossbar. Big wheels.

Insurance and locks must be budgeted. Needs a strong stand for parking where I want. Current bike will need replacing so I have veteod a conversion. I have given up the need to haul the bike over stiles because of the increased weight as it is getting awkward with my current bike.

No need for heavy carriage, but to 25 kg would be a bonus. Only expect 15 kg loads. Use of a trailer envisaged as an non-essential option (already have one but it is used only a few times a year).

I think top whack may be £1500 at the moment. As I will wait until spring, I may be able to go above that?

PS: Range may need to be 40 miles. 25 miles bare minimum. Distance soon mounts up.

Cheers

Andy

Hi Andy,

I just joined this forum today as I just bought a bike with a very similar spec to what you are looking for. I did a lot of research and ended up choosing the Mercedes / Smart eBike made for Smart by Grace cycles, they started off at £2,500 a few years ago and are now reduced to £1,800, I contacted Mercedes UK to see where I could get one, they were useless and I never got a response, I searched the internet and found a Smart dealer in Germany who would ship one over for me, during the process I found that the UK ones are the only ones in Europe with a 200w motor, all the rest have 250w and that is what I would get. I got a cost of £151 from TNT Express to ship it for me and gave them the collection address, when I came to pay for it last week the German dealer said they had a special offer on and the bikes were reduced to 1,449 Euros so around £1,065, so with the shipping it was a surprise bargain. You still have the 2yr Smart warranty, and the dealer is a large Mercedes dealer in Aachen Germany. The bike has arrived, it is the grey version and all the components are top quality, if you do some searches fro Smart ebike you will find out more, there is a video on you tube showing them being made and also one of them being tested in Majorca. The bike weighs 26kg and has a total load of 140kg inc bike, it is hub geared with a carbon fibre belt system, it has a range of 63 miles with its powerful battery, so seems to fit your requirements, hope this helps.

 

[Perseus]

Hi Andy,

I just joined this forum today as I just bought a bike with a very similar spec to what you are looking for. I did a lot of research and ended up choosing the Mercedes / Smart eBike made for Smart by Grace cycles, they started off at £2,500 a few years ago and are now reduced to £1,800, I contacted Mercedes UK to see where I could get one, they were useless and I never got a response, I searched the internet and found a Smart dealer in Germany who would ship one over for me, during the process I found that the UK ones are the only ones in Europe with a 200w motor, all the rest have 250w and that is what I would get. I got a cost of £151 from TNT Express to ship it for me and gave them the collection address, when I came to pay for it last week the German dealer said they had a special offer on and the bikes were reduced to 1,449 Euros so around £1,065, so with the shipping it was a surprise bargain. You still have the 2yr Smart warranty, and the dealer is a large Mercedes dealer in Aachen Germany. The bike has arrived, it is the grey version and all the components are top quality, if you do some searches fro Smart ebike you will find out more, there is a video on you tube showing them being made and also one of them being tested in Majorca. The bike weighs 26kg and has a total load of 140kg inc bike, it is hub geared with a carbon fibre belt system, it has a range of 63 miles with its powerful battery, so seems to fit your requirements, hope this helps.

It sounds OK. I am inclined to buy in a local shop. We have five in our small town so if anything goes wrong! Dealers: Halford, Giant, Raleigh, Independent (but connected) & a specialist EBike shop. Still, ten years ago, a friend bought a Ebike conversion from Germany that kept going to the battery run out.

 

[KirstinS]

It sounds OK. I am inclined to buy in a local shop. We have five in our small town so if anything goes wrong! Dealers: Halford, Giant, Raleigh, Independent (but connected) & a specialist EBike shop. Still, ten years ago, a friend bought a Ebike conversion from Germany that kept going to the battery run out.

Sounds like my home town of shoreham by sea ???

 

[colin79666]

Now is a great time to buy as there are 2015 models kicking around looking for a sale to make room for the 2016 stock.
The KTM Macina Fun 9 almost fits your bill, save for the gearing and it is a little over budget. http://www.ktm-bikes.at/en/bikes/e-bike.html?action=bike_details&bike_id=142&cHash=be3fdfc0161aa08162d53e707b3d091e
I'd strongly recommend visiting your local ebike specialist and trying out a few models. You might not be able to try the exact one you are after but at least to see how you feel about hub vs crank drive and if you prefer bosh over panasonic or others.

 

[supersneak]

Hi Andy,

I just joined this forum today as I just bought a bike with a very similar spec to what you are looking for. I did a lot of research and ended up choosing the Mercedes / Smart eBike made for Smart by Grace cycles, they started off at £2,500 a few years ago and are now reduced to £1,800, I contacted Mercedes UK to see where I could get one, they were useless and I never got a response, I searched the internet and found a Smart dealer in Germany who would ship one over for me, during the process I found that the UK ones are the only ones in Europe with a 200w motor, all the rest have 250w and that is what I would get. I got a cost of £151 from TNT Express to ship it for me and gave them the collection address, when I came to pay for it last week the German dealer said they had a special offer on and the bikes were reduced to 1,449 Euros so around £1,065, so with the shipping it was a surprise bargain. You still have the 2yr Smart warranty, and the dealer is a large Mercedes dealer in Aachen Germany. The bike has arrived, it is the grey version and all the components are top quality, if you do some searches fro Smart ebike you will find out more, there is a video on you tube showing them being made and also one of them being tested in Majorca. The bike weighs 26kg and has a total load of 140kg inc bike, it is hub geared with a carbon fibre belt system, it has a range of 63 miles with its powerful battery, so seems to fit your requirements, hope this helps.

Hi Smart eBiker

Looking into this myself, how much work was required in setting up the bike after delivery, especially the handlebars and brakes? Access to the headset looks as if it requires some dismantling. Were the brakes set up properly? Looking at the owners manual - it seems as if front and rear brakes are the opposite to the UK norm.

Thanks

 

[Smart eBiker]

Hi Smart eBiker

Looking into this myself, how much work was required in setting up the bike after delivery, especially the handlebars? Access to the headset looks as if it requires some dismantling.

Thanks

20 mins max, there is an Allen key you undo on the cover over the headset where the computer goes, lift it off then loosen the headset Allen nut, twist the handle bars straight, tighten it up, put the cover back on and thats that. The pedals are tightened from the inner part of the pedal by the frame, don't try and do it from the outer side, adjust the seat post and thats it. Make sure you give the battery a good 5 - 6 hr charge, plug in the charger and attach it to the battery, THEN turn it on as the charge system will then analyse and charge. Beware that the brakes will be front on the left and rear on the right, opposite to what we have in the UK, also the power control is on the left, here in the UK when they set them up they just switch the brake leavers and put the control on the right, again a vey quick job. There are not many left so be quick, the 2yr warranty is global through the Daimler Mercedes Smart network, the bikes are made by GRACE for Smart and warranty claims go via Mercedes to them. I have now done a fair few miles on the bike, it oozes quality, is so smooth and quiet unlike some of the cheaper imports you find around, and a lot of work has gone in to them, check out these links https://www.electricbike.com/smart-e-bike-factory/

What I didn't want was a bike that had no warranty once you had bought it, or you had to rely on the mood of the local shop you bought it from, and if you were away elsewhere in the country or abroad couldn't be helped. All personal choice but it was a big investment and I like to sleep at night. I am NOT an expert on ebikes but no other bike could offer the quality of workmanship, battery power (63 miles per charge) and warranty for the money.

Any more questions just ask, but don't be afraid to buy from a main dealer in Germany, you get the same warranty and support and also the bigger 250w motor compared to the 200w sold here, 250w is the legal limit here so no idea why the UK gets fobbed off with 200w.

Good luck,

 

[supersneak]

Thanks for the prompt reply, and the great info.

 

[Smart eBiker]

Thanks for the prompt reply, and the great info.

Here is a review that was a part of my decision, its from the US but same bike except the higher power of 350w http://electricbikereview.com/smart/ebike/

I was in Brighton yesterday and went to a bike shop near the marina, called cyclelife, they had a huge range of bikes and I was impressed at how Raleigh have come on, I thought they had gone, but electric wise they have some smart looking machines, also a company called Haibike who had a fun Fat 6 in the shop, http://www.electricbikessussex.co.uk

All I know is that electric bikes here are VERY expensive, the Fat 6 can be bought online from Germany for 2,999 Euros (£2,139) and in the shop it was reduced from £3,900 to £3,500, now that is a huge difference, you could have a great holiday in Germany and come home with a bike, we are all one happy european family aren't we, well it seems it until you see how we get ripped off here with extortionate prices for whatever reason, but its really money and the products are identical.

Again for me it was the warranty and network for repairs, so although some online prices look good you need to weigh up the pro's and cons, but when it comes to thousands of pounds difference it makes the decision slightly easier.

I must say the Haibikes looked very smart, but the prices were eye watering over here. I now want a bike for my wife so I am having a look around, it would be nice to have two different ones rather than two Smart eBikes just for fun to swap around, but the Smart bike with its spec seems the best buy at the moment so it may well be another of those.

 

[supersneak]

Hi Smart

Looks as if I've managed to get a Smart Black Edition from a dealer in Belgium. 1899 euros, but it comes complete with luggage rack and front suspension. There are still some dark grey bikes available for 1499 euros.

https://www.smart.com/be/nl/index/smart-electric-bike.html

 

[Smart eBiker]

Hi Smart

Looks as if I've managed to get a Smart Black Edition from a dealer in Belgium. 1899 euros, but it comes complete with luggage rack and front suspension. There are still some dark grey bikes available for 1499 euros.

https://www.smart.com/be/nl/index/smart-electric-bike.html

Wow! Well done, that is the one I was after as the shocks are around 340 Euros and the rack 160 Euros so you do save a bit plus they are already fitted. The Black is quite rare and I am sure will be worth more in the future, most dealers were lucky to get one if what I heard was right. Having been on mine again today I think I would have liked the option of the front suspension as I live on an unmade road and you do feel it, but then again in the old days people were tougher and didn't have this namby pamby poncy technology I may buy myself the forks though as I feel a bit of namby pamby may be needed Well done, one bit if advice I would say is to ask then to check it over and PDI it, just leaving the handle bars and pedals for you, they should check the belt, plug it in and check for any software updates on their system.

Well done again, and let me know how you get on with it, its very simple to use and a real pleasure, I am even now using less power so getting the knees working again

 

[Smart eBiker]

Hi Smart

Looks as if I've managed to get a Smart Black Edition from a dealer in Belgium. 1899 euros, but it comes complete with luggage rack and front suspension. There are still some dark grey bikes available for 1499 euros.

https://www.smart.com/be/nl/index/smart-electric-bike.html

Can you send me a message with the dealers name, I may buy another for the wife, I live in Kent so with the Eurotunnel day return offers at the moment could pop over, have a spot of lunch and bring it back

Cheers,

 

[supersneak]

Hi Smart

I sent you a conversation with the contact details for two dealers that have stock, including one Black edition.

I am using a different dealer, I sent an email to all dealers in Belgium and went for the first positive reply, the bike is being prepped before dispatch - including swapping brake levers etc.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

 

[Smart eBiker]

Hi Smart

I sent you a conversation with the contact details for two dealers that have stock, including one Black edition.

I am using a different dealer, I sent an email to all dealers in Belgium and went for the first positive reply, the bike is being prepped before dispatch - including swapping brake levers etc.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

Fantastic, can you just confirm about the black one available on the details sent, is this the one you were after if so I wouldn't go for it and just go for another grey. A spare battery is almost 500 euros so makes these bikes cheap as chips I will have a chat with my wife today, we were considering a BMW bike but they are a lot more expensive. If I go for another Smart I may see if the dealer can ship it internally to the Ostend Smart dealer then pop over to collect it, my shipping from Germany was £150, it's only 40mins from Calais so a nice day out and as I said the Eurotunnel has cheap fares at the moment, so a booze bike run may be in order

 

[Smart eBiker]

Hi Smart

I sent you a conversation with the contact details for two dealers that have stock, including one Black edition.

I am using a different dealer, I sent an email to all dealers in Belgium and went for the first positive reply, the bike is being prepped before dispatch - including swapping brake levers etc.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

I had the power level switch changed from left to right as they do in the UK, they use a special tool to wrap the excess cabling in. Type of mini inner tube so you may want them to do that as well, if you want pics let me know. So that is to move the power switch from left to right.

 

[supersneak]

Happy to keep the power on the left, as this balances out the functions, L power and rear brake, R gearshift and front brake. Can you clarify the inner tube issue?

The Black edition wasn't my one - but it appears to be the last one available, at least in Belgium.

 

[Smart eBiker]

Happy to keep the power on the left, as this balances out the functions, L power and rear brake, R gearshift and front brake. Can you clarify the inner tube issue?

The Black edition wasn't my one - but it appears to be the last one available, at least in Belgium.

I must say I contemplated on leaving the switch on the left as I did use it in the left and it felt natural and closer to your thumb as the right lever has the twist speed control and they put it left of the brake leaver clamp as well so more of a stretch, but in the end the dealer said that the UK bikes came that way and it also prevents a dangling skinny cable that just seems to be left to cross over to the left switch, if keeping the switch on the left I strongly suggest you see how you can tidy up that cable as it looks very vulnerable. Having the cable on the right creates an excess of cable, so they have what looks like a 1" section of inner tube with a special tool that opens it, the excess cable is tucked in then it is released so a bit like a shrink wrapped cable tube, that in itself looks a bit odd and ugly so no wins either way really. Hope that helps

 

[Perseus]

Hello,

As a regular 10 miles a day cyclist, I anticipate getting a new bike. I had an eye on a hub bike but nearing retirement I am struggling up steep short hills on the South Downs, an EBike might be within budget.

No idea what EBike to get? I expect still to use my old bike for short runs down the pub and the shops, but for runs in excess of six miles an EBike may be the biz. I might have to build a shed for it first. Or if I squeeze it in the hallway like my current bike? Then I will need a shed for that!

Preferences: a front carrier or front bag for a camera. Hub gears preferred to deraileur (but cost counts). Back rack for panniers essential. Suspension may be a bonus as the cyclepaths and roads are bumpy: (I can get repetitive strain injury). Also, I prefer a crossbar. Big wheels.

Insurance and locks must be budgeted. Needs a strong stand for parking where I want. Current bike will need replacing so I have veteod a conversion. I have given up the need to haul the bike over stiles because of the increased weight as it is getting awkward with my current bike.

No need for heavy carriage, but to 25 kg would be a bonus. Only expect 15 kg loads. Use of a trailer envisaged as an non-essential option (already have one but it is used only a few times a year).

I think top whack may be £1500 at the moment. As I will wait until spring, I may be able to go above that?

PS: Range may need to be 40 miles. 25 miles bare minimum. Distance soon mounts up.

Cheers

Andy

Since the first message, I've had a go on a Kalkhoff

I was less impressed than I was given to understand. It was not much use on the flat and on a 10% hill, there was too much traffic and I had to keep stopping and I wanted a throttle assist (wrong gear). I must cycle a bit faster than I originally thought as 15 mph did not seem very fast. 20 mph on a bumpy road downhill did.

 

[Perseus]

I expect a I could have set the derailleur at lower than 4 going up hill, but I think I would prefer throttle assist or hub gears. Derailleur chains wear in practice on a pedal bike and I am forever adjusting these flipping gears.