Is this Pedal-Assist Electric Bike true?

[luluya111]

Hi guys,

I came across this bike on Indiegogo, and it looks nice, shall I trust it?
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/rbike-long-lasting-pedal-assist-electric-bike#/story

 

[JohnCade]

Looks a bit light on real information. A lot of puff and possibly some real wind behind it. Or maybe not. I like the “ I assembled a design team.” It’s in the US of course so if you are too…

The range figure is the usual nonsense and it’s clearly not aimed at people who have had e bikes before.

 

[luluya111]

Looks a bit light on real information. A lot of puff and possibly some real wind behind it. Or maybe not. I like the “ I assembled a design team.” It’s in the US of course so if you are too…

The range figure is the usual nonsense and it’s clearly not aimed at people who have had e bikes before.

Do you mean it is hard to reach 100 km (62 miles) on a single charge?

 

[Deleted member 4366]

What do you mean by "trust it"? They're standard 8Fun kits fitted to a standard Chinese MTBs. As always, the claim for its range iscmisleading. A 9ah battery will take you 30 to 40 miles on average. Expect to pay $250 for shipping and another £100 for duty.

 

[JohnCade]

I’m sure it is possible depending on how much the rider pedals. The more work the motor does the more battery power it will use, and it will use more it it goes fast or up hills. So the size of the battery and the amount used per mile will determine the range.

If the power is turned right down and you pedal a lot it will go a long way. It will also take a lot more effort than using it with higher power. But then it will take you as far as you want if you turn it off completely. An unpowered bike would be easier to ride like that than a heavy e bike though.

 

[thirteen]

I'm no expert but it doesn't seem that revolutionary despite al their claims.

If it were me I'd be tempted to spend £695 on a Vita Uno 26, rather than $599 plus whatever costs d8veh has uitlined on crowd-funding this, even without the risks involved.

I'm not against crowd funding per se. I've contributed to a few myself. In fact I have a rather nice hoodie on the chair behind me that cost me $7.50 including shipping from the USA, for making up the funds for a limited run.

http://londonelectricbike.com/electric-bike/vita-uno-26/

 

[Deleted member 4366]

I don't think it's a project that needs cowdfunding. I think it's just a business/marketing strategy. Any company can be more viable/profitable if the customers pay for the goods before they even order the materials. The photos show that thy already have a factory in production, so why else would they need crowdfunding for standard bikes with standard electrical stuff, which they're already producing. Falco tried that too, but the poject didn't achieve its funding target.

 

[anotherkiwi]

20 kmh in 1.5 seconds - um yeah. When I am riding flat out in town in assistance level 5 the bike does accelerate very quickly. But I don't have the nerve to look down and see how fast I am going at 1.5 seconds off the line, I'm watching out for traffic...

I got 100km from a full charge once, pottering around town on the flat and at low assistance level. Oh and from a 10.4 Ah battery.

My steel frame bike weighs 20.5 kg...

I vote with d8veh, a marketing ploy for naive Americans. They may be waking up - only $16 collected in 11 days...

 

[flecc]

I vote with d8veh, a marketing ploy for naive Americans.

And designed for their market, being designated "Cross Border". The wattage and assist speed limit conform to federal law so it can be ridden into most states, but not all due to other limitations including total bans.
.

 

[luluya111]

My steel frame bike weighs 20.5 kg...

Is aluminium alloy frame lighter than a steel one?

 

[JohnCade]

Depends on the steel and the aluminium. Mass produced steel frames were and are heavy. Reynolds 531 and later versions of it allowed the tubes to be thinned in the middle leaving the thicker heaver ends to take the load. A 531 frame is lighter than a mass produced thick walled aluminium frame. But a good quality lightweight aluminium frame is a bit lighter again.

Most mass produced aluminium frames are made thick walled to take load and aren’t really that light. But are a lot lighter than bog standard steel or cro-mo steel.

BTW 20.5 kg for an bike is light. The motor and battery are heavy.

 

[anotherkiwi]

It is a small (M?) frame and marked as high tensile steel. Mxus and battery are given as around 6kg. Missing are the front derailleur and gear shifter but I have added as well as the battery and motor a frame lock which is not light. The SKS mudguards weigh nothing, the Michelin City tyres are also quite light.

It surprised me too, I thought it would be over 22kg.

 

[luluya111]

BTW 20.5 kg for an bike is light. The motor and battery are heavy.

Are motor and battery the most important for a Pedal-Assist Electric Bike?

 

[JohnCade]

Are motor and battery the most important for a Pedal-Assist Electric Bike?

Well, it is an electrically assisted bicycle and they are the main things which give the assistance. So pretty important.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Any part of the bike will become important when it doesn't match your needs.

 

[JohnCade]

Any part of the bike will become important when it doesn't match your needs.

Trite but true….I didn’t bother to go into that.