Electric bike under£1000

letchste

Finding my (electric) wheels
Mar 23, 2017
16
2
Published by letchste in the blog letchste's blog. Views: 8

could anyone recommend an electric bike that costs under £1000 I can use for my commute. I weigh about 15 stone and need a bike powerful enough to get me up a 1 in 4 / 1 in 5 hill for half a mile. The journey is around 3 miles in total to the station, the same back. Bike is left around 12 hours during the day so needs to last. Many Thank you

Thursday at 10:16 PM Edit
 

Nealh

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 7, 2014
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No e-bike will last for what you want !!!

Well not for 12hrs left at a train station.
 

Danidl

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 29, 2016
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Published by letchste in the blog letchste's blog. Views: 8

could anyone recommend an electric bike that costs under £1000 I can use for my commute. I weigh about 15 stone and need a bike powerful enough to get me up a 1 in 4 / 1 in 5 hill for half a mile. The journey is around 3 miles in total to the station, the same back. Bike is left around 12 hours during the day so needs to last. Many Thank you

Thursday at 10:16 PM Edit
.. six mile round trip , one very steep hill. The very best bikes for steep hills will be central crank drives and a low gear. However for your distance , which is small any geared hub motored bike will do. The battery size can be small even 8 amp hrs at 36 volts would be adaquate. The concern expressed is that if a bike is left exposed at say a railway station daily it will in time attract the wrong attention. Common sense might suggest a folder so that it could be brought into the workplace but that will depend on your circumstances.

If you have a steep hill one way then you have a fast slope on the return, so good brakes are a necessary requirement. Most contributors here would recommend hydraulic brakes as providing more secure braking.
 
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Deleted member 4366

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No electric bikes like being left out in the rain all day. Security is also a problem. Have you investigated where you'll leave the bike yet?
 

John_S

Pedelecer
Jul 27, 2013
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I recommend the Woosh Big Bear: http://wooshbikes.co.uk/?bigbear.
The Big Bear has excellent hill climbing ability. It is as good as you'll find in terms of climbing ability as a legal hub drive bike. A crank drive bike would have better climbing ability still, but they tend to be more expensive and there aren't many that you'll find under £1000.
 

Mac_user82

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jul 16, 2014
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Surely getting a folding bike which you could take with you would be the answer here instead of it been left somewhere because i should of thought it would be stolen very soon for the length of time it is been left there

These folding bikes can pack up very small and some of them come with a travel bag to

i shouldn't of thought it wouldn't be a problem taken one on the train with you just tuck it in
make sure that it is not in no one way
 
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2Lazy

Pedelecer
Jul 17, 2013
211
145
Milton Keynes
There are quite a few bikes in your budget that will do the job. For commuting a luggage rack, integrated lights (that run off the main bike battery) and full legnth mudgaurds would be useful. Other folks on here are better placed to recommend specific brands or models. What I would say is that it's important to test ride any bike before you buy. Ideally try a few different brands / models and if possible buy locally from an ebike specialist as it makes servicing and repairs a whole lot easier.

If you're leaving your e-bike at a train station security is a worry. I would ask your local council and local train station if they offer secure cycle storage and if not whether they might consider investment in such facilities. If you're leaving your bike at the station locked to a bike rack then ideally it should be covered to protect the bike from the elements and you should be looking to spend at least 10% of bikes value on high quality locks and other security equipment. You'd really need at a minimum two gold rated D locks and a cable lock and a good insurance policy. Also consider bike identification marking e.g., https://www.bikeregister.com/ and a covert gps security device http://www.spybike.com/ . It would also be worth considering a folding bike that you can take with you. Woosh do a full size MTB style folder, the Zephyr-B if you're not keen on the small wheeled commuter style folders.

My commute is similar to yours but I have secure cycle storage at my destination. FWIW I have an Ezee Forza which I'm very happy with http://ezeebike.com/bikes-and-options/forza/
 
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Deleted member 4366

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Folding bikes are OK to take on a train once, but you wouldn't want to do it twice a day. They're Just to heavy and cumbersome.
 

Mac_user82

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jul 16, 2014
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A folding bike is better then leaving your back for 12 hours on it own which might not be their when you get back because people would be watching and monitoring to what time you come back to your bike and they will be thinking in the end oh he doesn't come back to it till 12 hours later we could nick that and not have to worry about it at all


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D

Deleted member 4366

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A folding bike is better then leaving your back for 12 hours on it own which might not be their when you get back because people would be watching and monitoring to what time you come back to your bike and they will be thinking in the end oh he doesn't come back to it till 12 hours later we could nick that and not have to worry about it at all


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Have you tried folding one and taking it on the train or bus? I guess not. They're bad enough to get in the boot of a car.
 
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Woosh

Trade Member
May 19, 2012
19,407
16,387
Southend on Sea
wooshbikes.co.uk
Have you tried folding one and taking it on the train or bus?
the Woosh Gallego can do that.

You can half fold and push it around like a luggage case.
(tilted on its rack wheels).



or you can fold it completely and carry it in the supplied carry bag.



At work, it folds small enough to go under a desk.

Range is about 20 miles (36V 7.5AH battery), it is torquey enough to climb 10% hills.
Controller: 15A, motor: Bafang.
Pedal assist and throttle.
Price including delivery: £769.
 

Mac_user82

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jul 16, 2014
317
122
41
the Woosh Gallego can do that.

You can half fold and push it around like a luggage case.
(tilted on its rack wheels).



or you can fold it completely and carry it in the supplied carry bag.



At work, it folds small enough to go under a desk.

Range is about 20 miles (36V 7.5AH battery), it is torquey enough to climb 10% hills.
Controller: 15A, motor: Bafang.
Pedal assist and throttle.
Price including delivery: £769.

Good share that was the electric bike i was talking about some of them are a nightmare to fold but some of them a lot more easier
 
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letchste

Finding my (electric) wheels
Mar 23, 2017
16
2
Th
.. six mile round trip , one very steep hill. The very best bikes for steep hills will be central crank drives and a low gear. However for your distance , which is small any geared hub motored bike will do. The battery size can be small even 8 amp hrs at 36 volts would be adaquate. The concern expressed is that if a bike is left exposed at say a railway station daily it will in time attract the wrong attention. Common sense might suggest a folder so that it could be brought into the workplace but that will depend on your circumstances.

If you have a steep hill one way then you have a fast slope on the return, so good brakes are a necessary requirement. Most contributors here would recommend hydraulic brakes as providing more secure braking.
ats
No e-bike will last for what you want !!!

Well not for 12hrs left at a train station.
I recommend the Woosh Big Bear: http://wooshbikes.co.uk/?bigbear.
The Big Bear has excellent hill climbing ability. It is as good as you'll find in terms of climbing ability as a legal hub drive bike. A crank drive bike would have better climbing ability still, but they tend to be more expensive and there aren't many that you'll find under £1000.
That's very helpful many thanks will look into that model. I suppose it's the battery life and whether there's enough juice to get me home at the end of the day which is going to be the issue. Unfortunately the hill is on the way home!
 

letchste

Finding my (electric) wheels
Mar 23, 2017
16
2
Man
Surely getting a folding bike which you could take with you would be the answer here instead of it been left somewhere because i should of thought it would be stolen very soon for the length of time it is been left there

These folding bikes can pack up very small and some of them come with a travel bag to

i shouldn't of thought it wouldn't be a problem taken one on the train with you just tuck it in
make sure that it is not in no one way
Many
y thanks I will look into this
 

letchste

Finding my (electric) wheels
Mar 23, 2017
16
2
There are quite a few bikes in your budget that will do the job. For commuting a luggage rack, integrated lights (that run off the main bike battery) and full legnth mudgaurds would be useful. Other folks on here are better placed to recommend specific brands or models. What I would say is that it's important to test ride any bike before you buy. Ideally try a few different brands / models and if possible buy locally from an ebike specialist as it makes servicing and repairs a whole lot easier.

If you're leaving your e-bike at a train station security is a worry. I would ask your local council and local train station if they offer secure cycle storage and if not whether they might consider investment in such facilities. If you're leaving your bike at the station locked to a bike rack then ideally it should be covered to protect the bike from the elements and you should be looking to spend at least 10% of bikes value on high quality locks and other security equipment. You'd really need at a minimum two gold rated D locks and a cable lock and a good insurance policy. Also consider bike identification marking e.g., https://www.bikeregister.com/ and a covert gps security device http://www.spybike.com/ . It would also be worth considering a folding bike that you can take with you. Woosh do a full size MTB style folder, the Zephyr-B if you're not keen on the small wheeled commuter style folders.

My commute is similar to yours but I have secure cycle storage at my destination. FWIW I have an Ezee Forza which I'm very happy with http://ezeebike.com/bikes-and-options/forza/
That's very helpful thank you 2lazy
 

letchste

Finding my (electric) wheels
Mar 23, 2017
16
2
Folding bikes are OK to take on a train once, but you wouldn't want to do it twice a day. They're Just to heavy and cumbersome.
Point taken, I don't have anywhere in the office to store either
 

letchste

Finding my (electric) wheels
Mar 23, 2017
16
2
Will loo
the Woosh Gallego can do that.

You can half fold and push it around like a luggage case.
(tilted on its rack wheels).



or you can fold it completely and carry it in the supplied carry bag.



At work, it folds small enough to go under a desk.

Range is about 20 miles (36V 7.5AH battery), it is torquey enough to climb 10% hills.
Controller: 15A, motor: Bafang.
Pedal assist and throttle.
Price including delivery: £769.
Will look into that many thanks
 

letchste

Finding my (electric) wheels
Mar 23, 2017
16
2
A folding bike is better then leaving your back for 12 hours on it own which might not be their when you get back because people would be watching and monitoring to what time you come back to your bike and they will be thinking in the end oh he doesn't come back to it till 12 hours later we could nick that and not have to worry about it at all


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Yes I Know it's a worry
 

letchste

Finding my (electric) wheels
Mar 23, 2017
16
2
Thanks so much for all the replies what I would really like to know is if any bikes in my price range will have enough power left after 12hrs at the station to get me home and up the 1 in 4 hill many tks which models
 

2Lazy

Pedelecer
Jul 17, 2013
211
145
Milton Keynes
Thanks so much for all the replies what I would really like to know is if any bikes in my price range will have enough power left after 12hrs at the station to get me home and up the 1 in 4 hill many tks which models
Yes all ebikes are capable of a 7 mile round trip. A 3 mile trip to the station will leave plenty of juice left in the tank. Power delivery will be relatively uniform until the battery is almost empty. You should get 20 to 25 miles from a 10ah battery, 13ah 25 to 35 miles and 15ah 40+ miles. This is a VERY rough guide as there are many variables but a 7 mile round trip will be a peice of cake for any modern ebike.

As for brands / models perhaps pick a few out that you like the look of and we can give feedback. It really depends what style of bike you want. Freego, Oxygen, Volt, Ezee, Juicy and Woosh are all well established brands but there are many others.