Please help me choose what to buy!!

[3angle]

Hi,
So many bikes around it's hard to choose!

I have a budget of up to £3.5k and want to buy a hard tail mountain electric bike.

My two main 'musts' are;
- It must have a throttle control (for many, many reasons)
- It must have a decent range - around 30 miles average everything

I woul dhave gone with the Haibike or KTM if they had a throttle control but sadly not.

It's going to be for relatively average off roading / trailing etc a couple of times a week.

The best (I think) I've found so far is Xipi but I'm not sure that the quality looks very good!

I would be very, very grateful for any other suggestions.

Thank you in advance.

 

[Cyclezee]

Hi 3angle,

You have a big budget, so the world of electric bikes is pretty much your oyster.

Cyclezee supply the eZee range of electric bikes and would suggest the Forza Mk2 eZee Forza MkII - electric bikes and conversion kits.

As an alternative you could choose a non powered bike that you really like and have an eZee electric conversion, see more here eZee Conversion Kits - electric bikes and conversion kits.

Obviously my views are biased, but this is what other people think Testimonials - electric bikes and conversion kits

Regards,

 

[eddieo]

None of the high end German bikes have throttles from what I have seen..

Have you tried a centre drive bike, you dont really need a throttle with them. was going to suggest a high end MTB for about 2-2.5K and a BioniX HT kit, as I think they can have a throttle as an extra. not sure you would get 30 miles though, and batterys expensive.....

personally I would go for a Bosch bike with spare battery (£350 on ebay.de)

drop a PM to forum member Cakey as he knows all about esoteric of road bikes...

how about this @ 8K !lol

Corratec e bow:

http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/electric-bicycles/9932-corratec-ebow-yet-another-new-crank-drive-system.html

 

[3angle]

Thanks. Yes. I have tried a centre drive system (have one as a road bike) but for what I want to do you need a throttle because fundamentally you won't always be pedalling and so the centre drive system won't be doing anything!

Thanks anyway - like the Corratec!!

None of the high end German bikes have throttles from what I have seen..

Have you tried a centre drive bike, you dont really need a throttle with them. was going to suggest a high end MTB for about 2-2.5K and a BioniX HT kit, as I think they can have a throttle as an extra. not sure you would get 30 miles though, and batterys expensive.....

personally I would go for a Bosch bike with spare battery (£350 on ebay.de)

drop a PM to forum member Cakey as he knows all about esoteric of road bikes...

how about this @ 8K !lol

Corratec e bow:

http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/electric-bicycles/9932-corratec-ebow-yet-another-new-crank-drive-system.html

 

[Cyclezee]

None of the high end German bikes have throttles from what I have seen..
was going to suggest a high end MTB for about 2-2.5K and a BioniX HT kit, as I think they can have a throttle as an extra. not sure you would get 30 miles though, and batterys expensive.....

Bionx batteries expensive Eddie, you're not kidding, they cost more than a complete Mk2 eZee kit with 14Ah battery.

The BionX is a good kit, I owned a 350w version, but you can only have a rear motor, thumb rather than twistgrip throttle, eZee kits are far more versatile and better value for money.

 

[gray198]

I am only a novice here, but I think the Tonaro range of bikes are crank driven and also have a throttle. Don't know about quality etc but I think some on here use them

gray

 

[eddieo]

I am only a novice here, but I think the Tonaro range of bikes are crank driven and also have a throttle. Don't know about quality etc but I think some on here use them

gray

Have you tried to pick one up...As I have, and would not want one on top of me if I came off

 

[Blew it]

....I have a budget of up to £3.5k and want to buy a hard tail mountain electric bike.

My two main 'musts' are;
- It must have a throttle control (for many, many reasons)
- It must have a decent range - around 30 miles average everything....

I would be a bit wary of setting a price target for the type of machine you're looking for. A long range machine with independant throttle control would cost nowhere near your £3.5k. The danger of setting the price as the primary factor is, a large proportion of your money will go towards the R&D of some esoteric machine of little mechanical substance.

Forgetting the price, your requirements are best met by hub-motored machine such as the Oxygen E-race ( 15ah battery), Wisper 905sel (16ah battery option). In the case of the latter, you could replace the mudguards with 'shorties' and beef up the tyres for trail riding.

Both machines are well equipped for roughin' it with disc brakes and front suspension. The only drawback may be the gear-range available, both machines restricted to a single chain-wheel due to the battery position.

I'll admit to subscribing to the current love-affair with high-end European built center-drives, but your requirements are best met with a good robust hub-motored machine of Chinese manufacture.

And you'll have a whole lot of money left over for personalising the machine to your precise requirements.

 

[the_killjoy]

I am sure someone, somewhere has managed to fit an extra chainwheel to the Wisper.

 

[Cyclezee]

Forgetting the price, your requirements are best met by hub-motored machine such as the Oxygen E-race ( 15ah battery), Wisper 905sel (16ah battery option). In the case of the latter, you could replace the mudguards with 'shorties' and beef up the tyres for trail riding.

Both machines are well equipped for roughin' it with disc brakes and front suspension. The only drawback may be the gear-range available, both machines restricted to a single chain-wheel due to the battery position.

Don't forget the Forza

I know it's tiny, just click the image to enlarge.
I'm away from my beloved Mac and can't seem to increase the size.​

 

[Blew it]

Oops, sorry John

 

[Cyclezee]

No worries Blew

 

[eddieo]

In this case I'm going to stick with a BioniX HT bike because of throttle requirement. either something like a KTM E Cross or like I said earlier a £2000 bike and the top BioniX £1500 HT kit. Some dealers have the software to tweak the bike to suit your style and needs...You will end up with a circa 20kg bike that will be a joy

not many bikes get a "very good" from extra energy

KTM: eCross - ExtraEnergy.org

e-Cross

KTM Bikes // Bikes vom Besten!

 

[Cyclezee]

Hi Eddie,

Is your preference based on personal experience of the bikes in question or what you have read.

 

[eddieo]

Hi Eddie,

Is your preference based on personal experience of the bikes in question or what you have read.

purely academic John....not ridden a Bionix. The problem with this request is the need for a throttle, so choice limited. if your happy to spend 3.5k on a bike, i dont see the wisper or ezee meeting expectations...I love the SEL one of my favorite bikes, but its not about me is it!

 

[flecc]

In this case I'm going to stick with a BioniX HT bike because of throttle requirement. either something like a KTM E Cross or like I said earlier a £2000 bike and the top BioniX £1500 HT kit. Some dealers have the software to tweak the bike to suit your style and needs...You will end up with a circa 20kg bike that will be a joy

Bear in mind that tweaking the BionX from standard settings can result in much worse reliability. One of our Australian members with lots of BionX experience, having owned at least three models, has suffered premature failures with his tweaked ones.

 

[Cyclezee]

purely academic John....not ridden a Bionix.

Kind of what I guessed Eddie, recommending something you haven't even tried

 

[eddieo]

Kind of what I guessed Eddie, recommending something you haven't even tried

I wasn't suggesting a blind purchase....I dont have to drive a BMW or Audi to know its better then my Fiesta..likewise recommending heavy Chinese e bikes to some one with a more then healthy budget is pretty daft

 

[funkylyn]

Hi,
So many bikes around it's hard to choose!

I have a budget of up to £3.5k and want to buy a hard tail mountain electric bike.

My two main 'musts' are;
- It must have a throttle control (for many, many reasons)
- It must have a decent range - around 30 miles average everything

I woul dhave gone with the Haibike or KTM if they had a throttle control but sadly not.

It's going to be for relatively average off roading / trailing etc a couple of times a week.

The best (I think) I've found so far is Xipi but I'm not sure that the quality looks very good!

I would be very, very grateful for any other suggestions.

Thank you in advance.

Hi,

I dont think you need to spend anywhere NEAR £3.5k to get what you are looking for.

I own a Tonaro and they are good sturdy bikes and not excessively overweight at 25kgs so I can recommend them.

But I really think in your case something strong and very powerful like the EZEE FORZA would be perfect and keep a lot of your hard earned cash in your pocket

Having tried both of these bikes ( the older model Forza ) and I understand the newer version is going to take some beating, so I can certainly recommend them.

Both Powerpedals and Cyclezee have excellent after sales service and I can also personally recommend them too.

As for the other makes recommended, I couldnt and wouldnt comment as I have never been on one.

As always though, try before you buy and see which suits YOU best.

Good luck

Lynda

 

[Powerplay]

Hi, seems quite sensible to me to indicate budget, doesn't mean your going to spend £3.5K. Personally I don't rate either bikes mentioned for off road use, neither the components or weight distribution are suitable. To be fair, if you think differently you've clearly never tried it (or at least on a well balance bike). I've owned an Oxygen for two years (for commuting), lets not over do the combination of Chinese manufacture & quality, the best I can say is it's OK for the price (Having rebuilt most of the bike several times).
Personally I've gone with a KTM Macina & it's great for both (commuting & off road), but sadly no throttle!

I would be a bit wary of setting a price target for the type of machine you're looking for. A long range machine with independant throttle control would cost nowhere near your £3.5k. The danger of setting the price as the primary factor is, a large proportion of your money will go towards the R&D of some esoteric machine of little mechanical substance.

Forgetting the price, your requirements are best met by hub-motored machine such as the Oxygen E-race ( 15ah battery), Wisper 905sel (16ah battery option). In the case of the latter, you could replace the mudguards with 'shorties' and beef up the tyres for trail riding.

Both machines are well equipped for roughin' it with disc brakes and front suspension. The only drawback may be the gear-range available, both machines restricted to a single chain-wheel due to the battery position.

I'll admit to subscribing to the current love-affair with high-end European built center-drives, but your requirements are best met with a good robust hub-motored machine of Chinese manufacture.

And you'll have a whole lot of money left over for personalising the machine to your precise requirements.