Which Bike Or should I get a kit

[THEMINX]

I know this subject has been posted before but bikes are changing frequently. I have a 8 mile round trip commute to work, it is a gentle uphill going with one short stepp hill. Return is mainly downhill. I am overweight, not at all fit and not rode a bike for several years! I need a bike that will get me ther and back but dont which one or type to go for. Should i gp for peddle assisted, that will get me back in shape but will probably kill me for the first month or go for a bike that has the lazy option of "twist & go"? My budget is under £1500 but I like value for money and a step thro frame. Two bikes I have looked at are the Aguttu and the powabyke 6 but am open to any suggestions. The other alternative is a kit, but which one?

 

[eddieo]

I am 16+ stone with a bad knee and hip and my wisper is brilliant.

I prefer the large battery and throttle, but I hardly ever use the throttle.

I have not ridden a Panasonic bike so unsure of the difference although I will get around to it.....

 

[torrent99]

I know this subject has been posted before but bikes are changing frequently. I have a 8 mile round trip commute to work, it is a gentle uphill going with one short stepp hill. Return is mainly downhill. I am overweight, not at all fit and not rode a bike for several years! I need a bike that will get me ther and back but dont which one or type to go for. Should i gp for peddle assisted, that will get me back in shape but will probably kill me for the first month or go for a bike that has the lazy option of "twist & go"? My budget is under £1500 but I like value for money and a step thro frame. Two bikes I have looked at are the Aguttu and the powabyke 6 but am open to any suggestions. The other alternative is a kit, but which one?

With that sort of budget you have a wiiiide choice. Powabyke & the Agguttu are different animals, one being "twist & go" and the other being an advanced pedelec which adjusts its power according to how hard YOU pedal!

Your proposed commute is well within the bounds of most e-bikes on the market at the moment, so you should really try as many types out as possible and choose your favourite!

Other bikes to think about are Wisper 905SE, Synergie Mistral, The EZEE range, Cytronex, and many many more. The higher quality bikes tend to be >£1000, but there are exceptions (e.g. the Mistral and Powabykes & Powacycles). Generally it's best to avoid the cheap bikes you see on ebay and the like.

Unless you have specfic bike requirements or a favoured bike you'd like to convert, with the sort of money you have available you are probably better off getting a pre-built rather than a kit, at least for your first e-bike.

 

[THEMINX]

After reading numerous comments on this site I have pretty much decided to go for the wisper BUT its not available on the cycle2work scheme!! My local NHS is on the scheme with Halfords as there approved supplier, and the wisper isnt on their list Back to the drawing board

 

[Barnowl]

After reading numerous comments on this site I have pretty much decided to go for the wisper BUT its not available on the cycle2work scheme!! My local NHS is on the scheme with Halfords as there approved supplier, and the wisper isnt on their list Back to the drawing board

I thought the Wisper was available from The Electric Transport Shop. Halfords
told me last year that that was who they dealt with. My company is in the same scheme.

Electric Bike Sales - Shop Online for Electric Bikes, Electric Vehicles and Cycle Accessories

Have things changed or are you not talking to the right Halfords people?

08700 660511

 

[THEMINX]

Possibly the wrong person at Halfords. Is it possible to shop direct with you with the LOC voucer?. ?

 

[Barnowl]

The Halfords scheme works differently. If he hasn't already he should call or email the number of the people running the scheme at Halfords in Redditch. They told me that they could provide an electric bike through the Electric Transport Shop only. That was last summer though and things may have changed.

Quote from halfords web site:
"Still can't find what you are looking for? You will be provided with a dedicated call centre number on which to call the Halfords Cycle2Work team and we will see if we can source the bike for you. "

Cycle2work tax break schemes for businesses | Halfords B2B

Also FAQs:

Halfords Cycle2Work

 

[THEMINX]

When I spoke to Halfords Thursday, a very polite lady, after checking with her manager told me they could only get powabyke or powercycle, in my opinion a very poor selection considering the number of ebikes now available.

 

[THEMINX]

Getting no where with Halfords so if I want to use the c2w schemme lokks like its a powabyke. Is there really that much difference between the powabyke x6 ls and the wisper 705se. They seem to have similar specs, although the powabyke has a max of 900 watts peak compared to wisper 350 watts peak. So going back to my original post would the powa bike be a good buy or is the wisper a better bike?