Motoroaming

Thanks guys for taking the time to reply. I didn't realise a £3K bike would depreciate to £600 so quickly!

Hello Pedelecs Community, Due to a change in our touring lifestyle I am reluctantly putting my Riese & Müller Blue Label Pony on the market, but am unsure what sort of second-hand value these bikes command? I originally posted on this forum back in May 2015 which led to the subsequent purchase of this bike...a decision I have not once regretted and would buy one again in a heartbeat if the need dictated. It has got me everywhere I have needed to go with ease and simplicity and its small 20" wheels are a bonus for commuting in and around city centres. For information purposes this bike was the very first frame of 2016 with the N380 NuVinci hub and Gates Carbon Drive in Matt Black and has done just 500 miles. Utilising the Bosch Intuvia system with the PowerPack 400, the bike is in excellent condition (stored continuously inside our motorhome when not in use) and the battery has always been kept in top condition. It comes with all the original literature, keys, mains battery charger, detachable pedals (also the original brand new R&M pedals), single key locking for the battery and Abus bike lock and integrated foot pump in the saddle stem. I'd greatly appreciate any feedback in terms of valuation and if anyone is considering a R&M purchase I can only advise go for it. The bikes are truly amazing and superbly built. Thanks in advance.

No problem.....happy hunting!!

Hi Elsie, Our motorhome door measures approx 70cm wide by 80cm high. Once inside through the opening the bikes stand up at a height of 90cm. The bike quest is quite something and took us several hundred miles and many months research to arrive at our choice! We did the NEC Motorhome show last October, the BlackForest in Germany, Bike Higher in Devon and lastly OnBike in Worcester. If you think you might be in the market for a top quality 20" electric bike, with the folding capabilities of the Pony, then I seriously recommend that you contact Mike or Martin at OnBike to arrange a test ride when one becomes available. Hope this helps and good luck in your search! Andy

Just thought I would add the final chapter to this post which began back in May in our quest for two bikes to take with us on our Motorhome travels. Yesterday, we picked up our two new ponies from OnBike in Worcester and gave them a run-out at the local racetrack.....where else! I've posted some images of the two bikes on their first run out. The NuVinci has been reviewed on this site and my other half opted for the striking orange colour. I opted for the black version and was pleased to get the very first frame of 2016 with the new N380 NuVinci hub and hope you agree it was well worth the 3 month wait! I've also posted a pic of our motorhome garage so hopefully you can appreciate the reasoning behind our choice of this model ebike. I can honestly say that they could not have worked out better for storage and transportation. I opted for removable pedals and with the seat post removed, handlebars dropped and twisted as designed they both slide into the rear of the van perfectly. Back home in Yorkshire today so not no exercise today....but I'll definitely be giving them a run out soon. I'd just like to finally say a big thank you to Mike and Martin at OnBike for their efforts, patience and service. If anyone is in the market for an ebike I can certainly recommend these guys as your starting point and hopefully your finishing point! Thanks also to everyone who contributed to this thread and aided in the decision making process.

Many thanks!

Would you be so kind as to add me too? WF10 Cheers!

Bill, I seriously recommend that you take Jonah up on his offer. Excellent service, knowledgeable and sound advice without a hard sell. If you don't do any business with him directly at least you'll be on the right path.

Hi KudosDave, Speaking purely from our own experience the reasoning for a 20" wheel was based upon the following requirements. We wanted 'proper' EU legal pedelecs that could be stowed safely and securely in our motorhome garage whilst touring. We did not want a folder (I don't trust them and don't like the look of them!); but the bike needed to fold in other areas ( i.e.handlebars) to meet the accommodation aspect. We wanted something that was relatively lightweight to handle (as far as ebikes go!) which would aid the storage criteria. We wanted something that looked like a bike, rode like a bike and was fun to be on.....believe me the Pony is fun to be on! Our main use of these bikes will be to commute from our motorhome base in to various local areas of interest (towns, cities, tourist attractions) where we can then explore at our leisure. Our experience over the years has led us to realise that getting around a busy city centre, or visitor attraction, accessing trains etc. is far easier when on a small wheeled bike as opposed to manoeuvring a big heavy 26" wheeled bike through the crowds, over footbridges, etc. I intended investing seriously in a good e-bike and wanted something I was sure would be reliable and service our needs for a good few years to come; I'm sure there is a saying "Buy cheap, Buy Twice"? I know a good few people who are testimony to that and are already regretting their initial foray into the concept of electric bikes. So in a nutshell that's us......but we're all different, and all have different needs and wants. That's Life!

Having test ridden Kalkhoff's in Germany we were immediately taken by their quality and performance, and as such hired the Sahel Compact version from Bike Higher in Devon for a weekend to try out on home soil. I have to admit that they are very good bikes but having compared them against the blueLabel Pony Nuvinci Belt Drive I can honestly say that in terms of build quality, design and performance I am convinced we have selected the better bike for us.

I thought it rather remiss of me if I did not update the situation regarding my opening enquiry and so would like to inform you all I have now placed my order for 2 blueLabel Pony's with the Nuvinci Belt drive. A comprehensive review has already been posted on the site here: blueLABEL Pony Nuvinci Thanks to OnBike and AMPS for their endeavours and I look forward to picking the bikes up in due course.

Thanks very much David for the detailed information. I have contacted Mike at On Bike and am awaiting their stock to arrive so I may take a test ride....hopefully!

Ok, thanks. Just out of interest I note you have a KTM Macina Compact on 24" wheels. I know this may throw another spanner in the works...but if we could get round the space issue how do you think the KTM compares against my initial shortlist (24" wheel size apart!)? I see it too has folding handlebars.

Thanks very much Martin. Just as a matter of interest will you be getting anymore stock in of the AVE MH-7 bikes, so we could possibly do a side-by-side test?

That's great many thanks DW. As a complete novice in these things can you advise me if there is anything particularly different in the model range that sets them apart? For example I note there is a MH11 but most dealers appear to ship the MH7. Thanks once again.

Thanks for the info Dave. Looking at the AVE website there seems to be several variants in the MH series; do any of the other model numbers make their way to the UK shores, or is it just the MH-7? Thanks again.

Thanks Tim that's vey tempting....especially as you seem to have stock available to buy!

Thanks very much for the input Croxden. We hired Kalkhoff bikes whilst on holiday in Germany and were very impressed with them. To date we have not yet had the opportunity to try out a close competitor, which I think we must now do to be sure. Two of these bikes will set us back a tidy sum so we'd like to try and get it right first time round!

Thanks very much for the reply Tim....very tempting indeed! I must admit that I was very much sold on the Kalkhoff; however, the recent bank-holiday online 'price-adjustments' annoyed me and I think you can read between the lines on that one!

Thanks for your insights...it's always nice to get good reports of companies and their products from people in the know.

Thanks Martin for your insights. Do you think that you might get a blueLabel Pony into stock in the future for test riding / viewing purposes....or due to the limited build factor it is really of take the plunge and order one? Also do you know if the handlebars twist round like on the Kalkoff, as this is an important factor for are space issue. Thanks again

Wow...thanks Rob for such a comprehensive reply. I've test ridden the Kalkoff and enjoyed the experience, but then there is my concerns over the supplier to consider. I've also identified possible supply issues with the Ave MH-7 with my local supplier...he has an old model for sale but there seems to be a long lead-time for new stock. I think it would probably make sense to at least look further at the Pony. So it looks like another trip out for test ride purposes! Thanks once again

Hello Pedelec Community, As a long standing 'lurker', I felt that it was about time I officially registered here in order to enjoy the full benefits of this excellent forum.....and also so I could 'pick your brains' to aid my impending bike purchase! As I have somewhat specific needs in terms of storage space I have focussed my search on the small wheel (20") category of bike and think I have managed to narrow the selection down to the aforementioned thread titled bikes: Ave MH-7; Kalkhoff Sahel Compact; and the blueLABEL PONY. Not fully conversant with all the technicalities of these e-bikes the only thing I appear to readily recognise is the difference in £'s. Our needs are relatively simple (other than the storage aspect) and include: moderate social bike riding to include continental cycle paths, town centre visiting, touristy sights, local supermarket trips, possibly a few hill climbs, and no more than say 40 miles per journey before re-charge. So, I'd be very grateful if anyone could vouch for - either in terms of direct experience, or their professional knowledge - any of the above bikes? They all appear to be very well made, suit our proposed uses and would easily match are storage space issue...but what really set's them apart? I see the Kalkhoff appears to have the better battery capacity, but then does the Bosch system in the other two bikes hold an advantage in other respects? A key factor for us may also be in the sales / after-sales aspect of the purchase and how the relative retailers are in dealing with their customers. I'm somewhat un-nerved by companies that appear to have a monopoly of the market. Anyway, thanks in advance for taking the time to (a) read and hopefully (b) respond. Cheers Motoroamer.