What did I see?

[Jimod]

Driving through Falkirk yesterday and I saw a woman waiting to cross at a pedestrian crossing, she had a new looking e-bike with a step through frame. On the frame it said Vitesse. What make is this? I presumed vitesse was the model. The only reason I noticed was because I never see any other e-bikes up here.

 

[flecc]

The only Vitesse models I know of offhand are:

Vitus Vitesse, which are out-and-out sport road bikes, mainly in the USA.

Dahon Vitesse folder.

Viking Vitesse, which does also come as a step-through, but not electric. Perhaps a kit motor on one of these? Link to details

 

[Jimod]

It was that style but the battery was between the seat post and the rear wheel, which would suggest it was a manufactured e.bike. It was the battery which made me notice it as I passed.

 

[jhruk]

It was that style but the battery was between the seat post and the rear wheel, which would suggest it was a manufactured e.bike. It was the battery which made me notice it as I passed.

Could it be this one?

Vitesse s4000 Electric Town Bike

Spec. reads rather like a Cyclamatic. Doesn’t appear to be available at present.

 

[Jimod]

Looks something like it. I must cycle through the town sometimes and see. The only other cyclists I see on my runs are 'proper' bikes.

 

[Eaglerider]

After a long spell of not seeing any EBikes for ages, I have seen four in one week. Two Powercycles, a Wisper and a Dutch style front motored bike, did'nt get the make. I guess the short periods when its not raining brings them all out at once. I wonder how many there are in regular use in the whole UK?

 

[flecc]

After a long spell of not seeing any EBikes for ages, I have seen four in one week. - - - - - - - - I wonder how many there are in regular use in the whole UK?

It's a big question that we've often pondered. There are certainly a bit over 100,000 e-bikes that could be on the road and in running condition, but it's very likely that less than half of those are actually being brought out onto the roads any more.

It seems to be a bit like the position with normal bikes where two millions are sold each year in the UK but most are quickly abandoned into garages. Since cars also sell at around two millions a year in the UK, if the two million bikes were being added onto the roads each year there's be a bike being ridden for every car seen driven. Self evidently that is not the case!

 

[Synthman]

The only one I've seen in the last few weeks is an A2B Metro. First time I saw it going up a hill and there was no way I was going to keep up! The second time was in heavy rain and it was parked outside a shop with the battery and seat wrapped with plastic bags.

 

[neptune]

In my area , bikes using SLA batteries make up the majority of sightings. National Cycle Route One passes through town, and I met two E-bikes running in convoy, both SLAs. I stopped and talked to these guys, and both were on the way to Asda to do some shopping. Actually, I find supermarket car parks are a good place to see E-bikes. Shame that they always depart with 3 carrier bags on each handlebar. Also, no one seems to carry waterproofs.

 

[eddieo]

I'm still down in Benidorm and must see 101 of these cheap generic Chinese bikes every day, in every style imaginable. They have one thing in common they all look cheap....but probably fit for the intended purpose

 

[jasono]

I feel somewhat left out! I very rarely see another eBike on the road these days. Having said that I'll probably see one tomorrow now