New bike - advice needed

[themutiny]

Hi - looking for advice for a friend.

I recently converted a friend of mine to the joys of e-biking. He was totally smitten by the more powerful hub motors (he loved my derestricted torq 1) and pretty much money is no object for him. I think I will recommend the forthcoming hi-spec wisper (906?) for him. His wife on the other hand is rather more demanding. She want's a step thru with small wheels (she wasn't specific about the size except that 26" was 'too big'), but doesn't want a folder, and she also wants to be able to keep up at 15mph. I'm not sure this is possible. Can anyone offer any suggestions?

Cheers

Nick

 

[flecc]

eZee make the powerful single speed Quando II which is a folder with 20" wheels, but virtually full size, not like most folders.

They also used to market the eZee Chopper in the UK, which was actually the Sprint step-through bike but with 20" wheels for the smaller person. They are still sold by US dealers, so if you ring eZee agents Cyclepoint, they may be able to get you one:

Cyclepoint contact page
.

 

[fishingpaul]

eZee make the powerful single speed Quando II which is a folder with 20" wheels, but virtually full size, not like most folders.

They also used to market the eZee Chopper in the UK, which was actually the Sprint step-through bike but with 20" wheels for the smaller person. They are still sold by US dealers, so if you ring eZee agents Cyclepoint, they may be able to get you one:

Cyclepoint contact page
.

Onbike list the ezee chopper at £1350,but in the specifications only 13mph is given as top speed.

 

[flecc]

That's quite right Paul, thanks for the timely reminder. I'd forgotten the lower speed that resulted from the small wheel. In practice it's more like 12.5 mph.

That only leaves my Quando suggestion as suitable, since that has no trouble with maintaining 15 mph on motor only, though to keep up with that on the pedals means spinning fast as it does on most small wheel bikes.

I'm surprised that Onbike are listing the Chopper since it was previously withdrawn from UK sale and UK agents Cyclepoint don't list it.
.

 

[fishingpaul]

Hi - looking for advice for a friend.

I recently converted a friend of mine to the joys of e-biking. He was totally smitten by the more powerful hub motors (he loved my derestricted torq 1) and pretty much money is no object for him. I think I will recommend the forthcoming hi-spec wisper (906?) for him. His wife on the other hand is rather more demanding. She want's a step thru with small wheels (she wasn't specific about the size except that 26" was 'too big'), but doesn't want a folder, and she also wants to be able to keep up at 15mph. I'm not sure this is possible. Can anyone offer any suggestions?

Cheers

Nick

Perhaps a 26" with a smaller frame would be ok,both kalkhoff and Emotion do a few different frame sizes,they are nice bikes as well.

 

[Andy Grayland]

OnBike do sell the Chopper and have them in stock at the moment. Though they sell out very quickly. It is a unique bike with 7 speed hub and amazing hill climbing ability. It is limited to a top speed of 12-13 mph. We also have the new Sprints both ladies and gents and Torq which have the new LCD display and Shimano disk brakes on the front wheel.
We also have some very exciting new Ezee "goodies" to be announced soon.

 

[flecc]

Apart from the Chopper, no-one makes a step-through with smaller than 26" wheels, apart from the cheap Chinese shopper bike types which only run to about 12/13 mph and wouldn't keep up with a normal e-bike.

The new GoCycle is a possibility, looking a bit like a folder but not one, and having 20" wheels. It's low powered though, the battery is small with a short range and it's a bit noisy, but it could be worth investigating.

I think the best thing Nick is to explain to the wife that the 26" wheel is the small option, may bikes using 28" and the 28" being virtually the norm in many parts of the world. As Paul says, some firms make small frame versions with 26" wheels

 

[UrbanPuma]

I tried the chopper ages ago and it was a great hill climber with a very comfortable upright riding position. From what i remember, the only thing i didnt like was the electric setup. You had to continuously use the throttle to get any assistance from the bike. If you didnt turn the throttle you would be riding a normal bike, so not really a pedelec.

But if Ezee were to change the setup and make it truely pedelec, it would be a great bike to purchase. It was very nippy too.

Hope this helps

 

[fishingpaul]

There is also the powabyke shopper with 24" wheels and top speed of 14mph,a bit heavy but i think they can be purchased with a lithium battery.

 

[themutiny]

Thanks for all the advice guys. You have pretty much confirmed what I suspected. I can now advise my mate with some authority, and if he chooses to ignore the advice I will have a clear conscience!

Cheers

Nick