Now really confused

[melspea]

When I joined this forum, I thought I'd very quickly get a handle on which were the best ebikes out there. The more I read, the cloudier the picture becomes in my mind!

It seems there are expensive bikes with little power for hills; cheap bikes which do sail up hills; hub -drives, crank-drives and illegal ones in the UK. I'm not sure what the position is in Spain with regard to the 350W bikes but I'd be happy with the standard UK fare providing it gives me assistance on hills and can keep going for maybe 60-65 km.

Good quality manufacture, light weight and traditional bicycle style are important to me and I have identified several bikes I quite like at one time or another. It seems though that as soon as I see one I like, somebody pops up to condemn it as useless on hills or poor range or something.

At the moment, I like the look of the Gepida bikes with Bosch motors. I also like the BH Neos and some of the KTM and AVE models though some of them seem really expensive and I'm not sure why. I'm used to a full-sized bike so I'd prefer 700C wheels/tyres rather than those squat, dumpy Chinese bikes.

The other bike which has caught my eye is the Agattu which seems to do most things pretty well if I'm to believe reviews although I have noticed it too has its detractors. If I say I'd like to keep the price down to under €2000-2100, can anybody point me in the right direction? I can't see any great benefit in those bikes costing €3000-5000 over the sub-€2000 ones.

Mel

 

[jerrysimon]

As always the only sure way of knowing what will be best for you and your application is to go and try/ride a few.

Regards

Jerry

 

[Mike63]

As always the only sure way of knowing what will be best for you and your application is to go and try/ride a few.

...also as always....often easier said than done

....unless you live in Cambridge of course

 

[jerrysimon]

I am in the process of culling my herd

Jerry

 

[Electrifying Cycles]

Hi

We have a KTM Macina Cross which should meet your specification. Available with 300wh (£1699 or 400wh battery (£1899). However if you live in Spain you might be better buying there. As a general rule I half the range quoted when speaking to customers as this is more realistic.

KTM Electric Bikes electric bikes folding bikes

As far as I am aware Spain has implemented EU rules which means 250watt motor and throttle/easy start to 6km. We are happy to look at shipping to Spain though.

Genrally crank drives are better in very hill areas but hub drive bikes can normally cope well in most areas. Preference between the two is often personal choice so it is always best to try both. Also good to think about the terrain you will be riding the bikes.

Although we do not sell all the bikes you mention, I do not think most people would doubt they are good bikes. It is about finding the right bike for you.

We always have plenty of bikes to test.

Happy to answer any questions you have.

David

 

[Kudoscycles]

At the Manifold Trail I think most people liked the KTM 650P erace with the latest Panasonic Hub drive,the 650 size wheels may suit you. The bike is not cheap at £2600 but it has some good gear and should have a good life,I got the impression it was not fragile.
Will be loading the spec up on our website soon,I will keep a stock bike.
KudosDave

 

[AlMel]

melspea:
There will always be some contributors whose natural enthusiasm for their own choice leads them unwittingly to disparage that made by others.

Maybe it helps to describe how I arrived at mine:

Question What is the main usage envisaged?
Answer Leisure; shopping; over gently undulating country.
Solution Any up-to-date bike, but one light enough to lug up to apartment.

Question What exceptional usage might be required?
Answer Lengthy tours (up to 80km without charge) in very hilly country.
Solution
Range: Wait for 2013 models with better performing batteries.
Motor: choose one with reliable reputation and widespread backup.
Motor positioning: choose one that feels most like ‘dry’ cycling.
Components: aim for reliability and longevity. Have good brakes. Ensure sufficient gear range to climb hills and have some punch down hills.
Frame: comfortable and solid.

Other issues?
Prefer to have a retailer nearby.
Prefer a bike that looks good.

A detailed internet search and several try-outs led me to my present steed which itself led to the final question:

How on earth to pay for it?
Answer: sell motorbike.

The questions and answers will vary by person. In particular I didn’t want (nor had I access to) a model with a throttle. The basic approach was however to apply a logical problem solving process (although usually, the last question comes first!)

 

[dmcgoldrick]

When I joined this forum, I thought I'd very quickly get a handle on which were the best ebikes out there. The more I read, the cloudier the picture becomes in my mind!

It seems there are expensive bikes with little power for hills; cheap bikes which do sail up hills; hub -drives, crank-drives and illegal ones in the UK. I'm not sure what the position is in Spain with regard to the 350W bikes but I'd be happy with the standard UK fare providing it gives me assistance on hills and can keep going for maybe 60-65 km.

Good quality manufacture, light weight and traditional bicycle style are important to me and I have identified several bikes I quite like at one time or another. It seems though that as soon as I see one I like, somebody pops up to condemn it as useless on hills or poor range or something.

At the moment, I like the look of the Gepida bikes with Bosch motors. I also like the BH Neos and some of the KTM and AVE models though some of them seem really expensive and I'm not sure why. I'm used to a full-sized bike so I'd prefer 700C wheels/tyres rather than those squat, dumpy Chinese bikes.

The other bike which has caught my eye is the Agattu which seems to do most things pretty well if I'm to believe reviews although I have noticed it too has its detractors. If I say I'd like to keep the price down to under €2000-2100, can anybody point me in the right direction? I can't see any great benefit in those bikes costing €3000-5000 over the sub-€2000 ones.

Mel

there are so many good ebikes now available and so few, if any, people who have extensively tried out all the possible options that there is actually no good answer to your question.
there are no ebikes that can be described as lightweight and traditional in terms of 'normal' bikes, unless a 'normal' bike has had a kit fitted.......then its no longer 'lightweight'............

the best advice is to go and test ride some bikes....there are so many variables that only you will know what is the best for you. with your budget you will have no problem in getting a very good ebike.
regards

 

[oigoi]

You can get some good bikes for under £1000 now - take a look at the kudos and woosh ranges these include crank drive models. If you can get a bike for that kind of money that will do everything you want, then spending more is probably going to get you better quality and longevity, but depends how often you are going to use it as to whether its worth your while spending any more than £1000.
I think it does get to a point above around £2000 where what extra you get in return for you extra spend is not much more. Law of diminishing returns apparently.
No substitute for test rides tough, especially where hill climbing ability is concerned

 

[dmcgoldrick]

You can get some good bikes for under £1000 now - take a look at the kudos and woosh ranges these include crank drive models. If you can get a bike for that kind of money that will do everything you want, then spending more is probably going to get you better quality and longevity, but depends how often you are going to use it as to whether its worth your while spending any more than £1000.
I think it does get to a point above around £2000 where what extra you get in return for you extra spend is not much more. Law of diminishing returns apparently.
No substitute for test rides tough, especially where hill climbing ability is concerned

requirement from poster........"Good quality manufacture, light weight and traditional bicycle style are important to me"
"I'm used to a full-sized bike so I'd prefer 700C wheels/tyres rather than those squat, dumpy Chinese bikes."..................

 

[jackhandy]

requirement from poster........"Good quality manufacture, light weight and traditional bicycle style are important to me"
"I'm used to a full-sized bike so I'd prefer 700C wheels/tyres rather than those squat, dumpy Chinese bikes."..................

Ah yes - we all have Definite Preferences........ Until we try a few bikes, then they frequently go out the window.

Try Lots of different bikes, especially of the type you definitely don't want

 

[melspea]

Thank you to those who replied with advice. Unfortunately, I think some of you may have taken me too literally when I mentioned light. I only added that as I spotted that some bikes come in at under 20kgs while others are 27-30. About 20Kgs seems good to me if that includes the engine and battery and that should be easy for me to manhandle when necessary.

I'm sure some of those little bikes with the battery behind the seat post are fine but I don't think they look like proper bikes. Raleighs and Pashleys are more my idea of how bikes should look so maybe I should look more on German sites as a lot of the Germans and other europeans here in Spain ride old-fashioned bikes. I don't see too many ebikes on the roads but I have spotted one or two Sparta and a few Kalkhoff bikes. Never had a chance to speak to an owner yet though.

Getting to ride ebikes isn't easy here as I don't know of a dealer anywhere near me. There is a local bike shop but it sells kids' bikes and caters for the club guys who dress up on Sunday, all wearing white-framed sunshades and ride 4 abreast at stupid speeds holding up traffic.

I'll keep looking.

Mel

 

[oigoi]

If weight is a big consideration it might be worth looking at the cytronex bikes they are some of the lightest available

Electric Bike Range from Cytronex