How did you find out about electric bikes?

flecc · Feb 7, 2009

For me it was fairly obvious since I used to fit petrol add on motors in the 1950s so retained an interest in the subject. When the first e-bikes started appearing at the beginning of the 1990s, they were featured in national newspaper items due to their novelty value, so a few will have learnt of the possibility then,

I expect some will have found out through bike shops, since from 1999 Powabyke sold through cycle dealers and not long afterwards from around 2001 others like Giant and Yamaha did the same.

The retailer Thompsons imported a range of shopper bikes from around 2003 onwards and featured them in their chain of five large shops, selling more than 7000 a year at times, and they still do that plus online as well now.

And bringing us more up to date there's ebay of course, with e-bikes being sold for the last three years or so, plus Tesco with the Meercat Metro (rebadged Currie Izip). Most recently e-bikes have featured at least three times on the Gadget show on TV channel Five.

I'm going to be interested in how many other sources there have been to find out.

Although I'd ridden a number before, my first one was a Panasonic powered Lafree from my local Giant dealer for my hilly area, and my reason for buying initially was for help in towing heavily loaded trailers, too much on hills with my unpowered bikes.
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Danny-K · Feb 7, 2009

Bigbee said:
and where and why did you chose your current ride?

I just wondered because no manufacturer seems to advertise out side of the bike world and never in "normal" media. . .I wonder how manufacturers actually get to sell anything. I feel theres a lot of marketing than could be done to promote the industry by each make.Lastly,ok,you want an ebike,so how did you come across your chosen bike as theyre so hidden and why did you chose it?

Hi Bigbee, you self-answer part of your own question when you mention marketing. Would you expect say, a bowling alley shoe retailer to gather much business from placing an advert in the Daily Mail for instance? And If not, why would an e-bike retailer fare any better?

Electric bicycles are advertised regularily in those magazines that target their core base - at the back of cycling magazines. (And now and then the odd 'novelty-article' in motorcycling magazines). Back in the 80's I once bought an Italian manufactured bolt-on petrol driven two-stroke 25cc engine that easily fitted to any bicycle. Eventually it 'blew up' on me; threw it to the back of the garage unrepaired where it lies to this day, besides it made the whole bike vibrate to kingdom come! (Even though I've moved houses several time, it goes at the rear of every garage, for just-in-case).

So by accident I found myself browsing through the same thing on eBay and was checking out how these little petrol engines had developed, when I noticed a couple of e-bikes listed alongside, (or more correctly underneath), curious, I followed links on the Internet; read some owner accounts/reviews and my interest in motor-propelled bicycles was reignited, eventually leading me to the number one e-bike site on the Internet - right here! And from here, after reading this'n'that, posting the odd query I ended up choosing the model for me - it was back to e-Bay for a bargain and hey presto: my current e-bike.

Besides, once anyone's interested in cycling it's only a matter of time before they happen upon AtoB magazine and there they'll find the definitive lists of e-bikes available on the market, whether that person is looking for e-bikes or not - they'd then know of their existence.

I've mentioned my e-biking interests to work colleagues and friends, and at first they laugh and smirk, looking upon me as someone with eccentric interests. After I tell them a little more they become curious and several weeks later it's not unusual for them to approach me with "I've been talking to the wife about these electric bikes and we're both thinking we would like to . . . etc., etc.,"
- and they're in.

Remember their initial reactions towards me? Well that's how they'd treat a poorly marketed, misplaced advertising campaign - as something for eccentrics, to be smirked at. How do you talk-them-round? How do you allay their fears? How do you remove their prejudices? A poorly marketed ad campaign would fall badly at those hurdles. Far better to target areas where customers are already thinking of two wheeled transport.

I think what you're suggesting is a marketing campaign that targets non-cyclists, possibly with a physical ailment, who've ruled themselves out of ever being able to cycle at all. That's a huge obstacle to overcome, although I'm pretty certain e-bike retailers do advertise in some specific disability magazines. In the meantime with their tiny advertising budgets, you can't blame them for placing their ads where they get the most bangs for their bucks - to the converted.

Vikki · Feb 7, 2009

When I scrapped my car and decided against getting another I decided that electric bikes must exist (I had seen a couple here and there belting along the road). I scoured the Internet and found a handful (almost 3 years ago now). I settled on the Powabyke Euro 6 as it was in my price range and looked like it covered my needs (which it did).

I had seen cheaper ones but I had read an article in A to B online that gave prices you should expect to pay for a good bike. It included electrics. They said (back then) that for a good quality bike you need to pay a given amount, for electrics they considered the lower end of good would be £600, the mid-range of good would be £1000 and top end could be as high as you liked. I figured that the Euro 6 came into the lower end quallity bike and I wasn't disappointed.

I paid £600 (£50 off the proper £650) and get it from Powerscoots on interest free credit (that's why Powerscoots got my business as I didn't have £600 at the time, I'd just spent a fortune on getting my car sorted before the auto transmission failed). Powerscoots no longer seems to exist anymore. What happened to them?

When it came time for a change (Old Faithful is still working after 7000+ miles, I just fancied a change) I, once again, scoured the 'net and found Kalkhoff, Wisper and a couple of others. I decided that the Wisper would best suit my needs as I like power-on-demand and I've not been disappointed.

Vikki.

Vikki · Feb 7, 2009

Reading the bits about marketing and the like I wonder if ebike companies are yet in a position for increased demand. At this time I suspect that most ebike companies could be easily swamped if demand outstripped supply by a large margin suddenly. I bet that's what they would like, though, but they will have their own pace for growth planned out so they don't get caught short. Most people want to buy their item and get it now (or next day). They don't want to be told that there's no stock and you can have it in 4 weeks time (or longer).

Vikki.

flecc · Feb 7, 2009

Vikki said:
Powerscoots no longer seems to exist anymore. What happened to them?

Vikki.

I'm not surprised, their service had some unforgivable failings. In particular taking customers money online, not acknowledging and being absent from their business premises for a month or so at a time, obviously creating alarm and distress.
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dazzie · Feb 7, 2009

I found out via my interest in motorcycles - Aprilia used to sell an ebike and so I thought that if Aprilia make one then so must other companies. A quick scour of the internet (god bless the internet) and I found this site, atob and flecc's website - after that it was a given I was going to get an ebike!

bode · Feb 7, 2009

When we first started going to Bath regularly, I used to see one or two people around on (not surprisingly) Powabykes, and thought "what a good idea in a hilly city". Later, I had a spell of several months with my leg in plaster after a foot operation and used one of those disability scooters on a few occasions and thought "what fun" as I whizzed around the shops.
Then the cogs began to turn, and one thing led to another...
A lot of research on the internet (and discovering this forum, of course), a few test rides, and bingo. The information is out there, but you do have to first realise that such things as ebikes exist.

lectureral · Feb 7, 2009

Electric bikes first came to my notice when I was on honeymoon in China - there was a bike shop next to the hotel in Xian and I had a little test ride on the pavement there and was hooked. I started out by buying a cheap Chinese bike on eBay (which only lasted a few months) then a Currie kit which I attached to the MTB (again from eBay) - it did brilliantly for a year but then started breaking spokes. By then I had found this site and decided on the Kahlkoff after reading many threads.

swinnerton · Feb 7, 2009

Got talking to a fellow Morgan owner in pub car park at Hay on Wye who was very enthusiastic about the Whisper he had just bought. So went to the Tour de Presteigne and tried several models out .Decided that Pro Connects suited our requirements so wife and I bought one for each other as retirement presents.They are wonderful and make cycling a real pleasure especially when we take them on holiday on the back of our camper.Leave camper on camp site a tootle round the lanes.They enabled us to cycle up the steep climbs to hill top villages in Provence without breaking into a sweat.Had some problems with both bikes ...new chargers and batteries on both and new rear wheel on mine .Have found 50 cycles very good on their after sales and warranty.

Brian-Lopes · Feb 7, 2009

I saw some of the powerbike range in a shop, and they had a demonstrator model which I borrowed for a few hours. Then when I got home I went online, and google opened up a whole new world to me......

Danny-K · Feb 7, 2009

Vikki said:
. . . I wonder if ebike companies are yet in a position for increased demand. At this time I suspect that most ebike companies could be easily swamped if demand outstripped supply by a large margin suddenly. . .

Interesting point Vikki, to advertise in the UK's national newspapers requires registration with MOPS first, the fee for that membership alone can reach high into four figures dependant on your annual sales - not profit - sales. Part of the requirement is that there is no 'test-selling' advertising, (endemic in the e-bike world), ie., placing an advert, finding there is a demand after all, (at no risk), and then ordering stock from factories to fulfill those orders. Which is why they only allow 28 days max to get the item to the customer. But most importantly, MOPS states that the advertiser must hold SUBSTANTIAL stocks of the item advertised, so that no customer is disappointed and thus the periodical's reputation not brought into disrepute as one that supports dodgy Delboy types.

So if MOPS stated that 1,000 items must held as stock-on-hand before advertising, (just guessing now), and say it's an expensive model which costs the e-bike retailer/distributor £1,000 at cost then that means . . . too many noughts hang on a mo' . . . that means potentially the advertiser would need stocks, or instant access to ONE MILLION POUNDS worth of stock - for just that model!

I'm sure MOPS would allow a much lower figure than 1,000 given the high retail price but you can see one of the issues to consider before advertising in the national press. The system favours the big players - not the niche player.

Rod Tibbs · Feb 7, 2009

In my capacity as a motoring correspondent I was offered a Powabyke Commuter for a road test. I remember collecting it from their local dealer and being completely prepared to hate every minute of it. Years ago during the Suez crisis I had ridden an electric scooter only to be overtaken by a woman pushing a pram and leading a Dachshund dog.

And then there was the time when an Enfield electric car had run out of juice on a level crossing.......

So I was very surprised when I found I really liked the Powabyke. It grew on me and eventually I did a deal with Powabyke and kept it.

But it proved rather heavy - although well made - and by then I had found this Forum. I needed something lighter, with power on demand, not pure pedelec and with 36 volt electrics. That left the Wisper and the Synergie and as the Wisper was at that time considerably more expensive I went for the Syngerie Mistral.

I think it is a great all rounder although it has spent some weeks off the road whilst ETS at Cambridge and a rather plodding Synergie chased down an elusive fault that was finally found in the throttle circuit. I suffer real withdrawal symptoms without the bike and find it a great way of getting exercise and seeing the countryside.

I got to do one ten mile test run when it came back and then came the snow and ice. I am just itching to get out but at the moment the country roads round me are simply treacherous. Anyone who has been out on an electric bike on a beautiful summers evening, surprising rabbits and pheasants round every turn in the road knows what it is that makes e-biking so beguiling.

The problem is conveying that to a complete newcomer who thinks it is a joke.

Rod

carpetbagger · Feb 9, 2009

I first discovered electric bikes whilst checking prices for hiring bikes prior to a holiday to Guernsey. After that i searched the web to see what was available and decided that a Powabyke was the best option,priorities being hill climbing ability,achievable distanace between charges and cost. I decided to go for a Powabyke 6sp Euro which is great for leisure cycling in my area.
With the introduction of a range of electric bikes since then i have a new wish list....but not enough funds to put it into practice !

WALKERMAN · Feb 9, 2009

I was in my local bike shop about 3 years ago and noticed he had a Giant ebike on display.

Later when I went back to the shop it was gone and he said he wasn't having anything to do with ebikes anymore.

It had got my interest though and it made good sense to have a bit of help pedalling, especially up hills.

I searched around the internet and eventually got my first ebike - a Giant Lafree Twist ST, one of the last on sale in the UK. It was the answer to my commute - no more traffic queues

River Ecologist · Feb 9, 2009

The first time i saw an ebike was a few weeks ago. My boss had arranged for an electric bike shop in Southampton to come to our office and let people have a go on several bikes including a wisper. We're now getting one as a pool bike for everyone at work to get to meetings and also down to a local shop at lunch time. (we're based in the middle of nowhere!) Good times ahead!

fcurran · Feb 9, 2009

Marketing has always been a problem for electric bikes, adverts are either too expensive, do not reach the right audience or are overlooked (I never read adverts). Our main aim in early days was to get bums on seats at shows and let people ride them. This works well but does not reach a mass market. Where Powabyke have done so well over the years are by having dealers holding stock where people can try them. We have also really pushed getting bikes into non cycle shops as many people that need/want an electric bike may not know they exist so by having them on display in motor cycle/mobility/garden centres/camping and caravan/marine type outlets has raised the awareness of Powabyke and electric bikes hugely. In the last 12 months we have appeared in the Argos Catalogue which (although not ideal being delivered in 3 boxes) has a circulation of 20 million catalogues annually which is fantastic exposure for electric bikes generally. Similarly we hope to appear in another similar sized catalogue within the next month which will again raise our profile.

Many of Powabyke sales now come from recommendations, previously having owned one and wanting to upgrade, seeing bikes in shops and from doing research on the internet for electric bikes.

While having some great exposure at the moment we still realise we need to do more, but due to the size of Powabyke we still can't advertise nationally on a regular basis - whether TV or in the national papers, due to costs that go with them. For the time being it is still a case of loaning bikes to Journalists then offering the bike as a prize in a competition (as how Rod Tibbs got to hear of electric bikes). Occasionally our PR company can get press releases into newspapers and magazines if there is a topical subject in the news that Powabyke can take advantage of (soaring petrol prices for example) but this can never be guaranteed as we can't predict the news I afraid!

I hope this gives you all an insight into how we promote our products and any further suggestions are always welcome!

Regards

FrankC
Powabyke Ltd
fcurran@powabyke.com

flecc · Feb 9, 2009

Frank, I think the whole modern e-bike trade is indebted to Powabyke for what it has done over the last decade to make the public aware of the existence of electric assist bikes.

The only viable avenue for further publicity that I can think of at present is the combining of marketing forces to advertise electric bikes in the more expensive media. One example would be for national advertising of the Presteigne fun event, paid for by a combine of the companies appearing there. That could attract a crowd in holiday mood.
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Vikki · Feb 9, 2009

Hi, Frank.

My first ebike was a Euro 6 and it's still going strong after 7000+ miles. He's on his fourth set of batteries and as you know (unless you've not seen the photo) he had all his electric bits and bobs transferred over to a Halfords Appollo fully suspended frame. He did sterling work and is enjpying his retirement. He gets charged when he needs it and the occasional run out to keep his bits in order. Powabyke should be rightly proud of their little beauties.

http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/electric-bicycles/3445-old-bikey-how-powabyke-morphed-fully-suspended.html

I did go with Wisper when I upgraded because of the range and looks. The new X range look cool but the range was quite a bit down on my old Euro 6 (if I recall correctly). I was looking for 12Ah+ and 36V. Wisper covered that.

I do think that Powabyke deserve a lot of credit for their machines and their impact on the market. Other than self-inflected problems the Powabyke was faultless.

There's quite a range of choice now compared to 2.5 years ago when I got Ol' faithful. Hehehe, I work at a place where I can get 12V, 12Ah SLAs for a tenner each

So feeding Ol' Faithful was never a problem. My only problem was the batteries would barely last 150 charges. The fifteen mile run on 12Ah batteries led to a moderately deep discharge. Your 14Ah panasonics lasted 15 months which was brilliant. About 400 charges. But I couldn't fit them in that space I had so settled on 12Ah. Took me ages to do that mod.

Enough of my waffle. To all manufacturers of ebikes: May I wish you many prosperous years in the business.

Best regards.

Vikki.

How did you find out about electric bikes?

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