JohnnyB

Hi All, I have been a member of the Pedelecs group for many years and have been more than interested in E-bikes ever since my visit to the Tour of Presteigne when it was a thing! They have come on leap and bounds since those days! To cut a long story short I am awaiting knee surgery to reattach a tendon and think that, for my recuperation, I will finally buy that elusive e-bike. In terms of bike I am thinking of the following: Step through frame Crank motor - preferably Bosch 65NM+ (?) Gates drive but not desperate Hand throttle - I know - but legal up to 6mph ? Brand I have heard of!! Don't mind ex demo or lightly used. I am 66yo was reasonably fit and 6'1" tall - I know what size road bike frame I would need but not so sure with a step through? As ever I would welcome your advice. Many thanks John

Thanks for the knowledgeable response, it's a bit of a minefield and I am grateful for the steers. One question I have - I have just seen a Specialized Levo in a local dealership - is whether this does have the Brose motor, thinly disguised at Specialized's own? If so does anyone have an opinion on support and backup offered by what is a huge brand? He also ha some Cubes, but they seemed to have Bosch motors with a very small chainwheel/cog. Sorry to harp on but the 'drag' issue niggles me!

A consideration I had not made...I don't think I am brave enough to buy second hand!

Excellent and detailed review, I will certainly add to my list!

Well I introduced myself about 10 years ago, then I couldn't make my mind up what I wanted, had lots of good advice, tried several bikes and even went to Presteigne - a great day out! I did however get seriously into road bikes and still am - many thousands of miles later. However, I am still keen to acquire an e-bike! This time I am fairly certain ( a decade on!) I want a hardtail e-mtb. I have got back into research and find that things have moved on - however I turn to you once again to offer me suggestions. I'd use it for trails, towpaths and the odd trip to the pub. I am looking with a budget of £2k and want a mid mounted motor. I have heard great things of the Brose drive? I've read they offer 'least' resistance when pushed past their maximum assistance....I'm a reasonably fit 62 and feel that I may exceed 15.5 mph on occasion. As ever your advice is most welcome. Many thanks, John.

Me too - well last night anyway.

In pursuit of the 'perfect' bike I had a great day in Presteigne yesterday; like a kid in a sweet shop! As a result I am more confused than ever! I really liked the 'claud butler' framed Cytronix. (I didn't want to hand it back!), it looked like I could still pedal even when the battery died! The Wisper 905 sport was equally good, but in a different way; I like the choice of throttle/pedalec. The nano brompton was good, attacking hills with relish - but ultimately not for me, well not as a 'main' bike. A couple of others which blurred into the background were enjoyable, then my final ride was on a Pro Connect. Have to say that it really is a superbly finished article and puts some of the others in the shade! As you can see they are all different types of bike! Ultimately I want to commute on a canal tow path, not sure I want / need mountain bike tyres and still want exercise - I reckon I am leaning towards the cytronix but wait, the wisper was great too! Great event, great day, many thanks to the organisers.

Hi Andy, Thanks for showing us around yesterday, we really enjoyed trying out the different types! I think that I am now more inclined to the pedelec system - although, I could get very used to a throttle only e-bike! I was much taken with your new e-motion city, once I had mastered the hill climbing technique! I have been out on my 'non-assisted' machine this morning (only a 6 mile round trip, but carrying a very heavy backpack) and I realise how much easier it would have been on one of yesterdays offerings! Thanks once again - my daughter really had a good time too. Hopefully we will get along to Presteigne in a couple of weeks. John

Synergie or Alien Hi Sammy06forever, Have you made a decision yet? I have been looking at both too. I am not sure whether a rear hub motor or a front hub is best. I suspect that the Alien Gents Special would be more suitable for me - being quite tall. Looking at their advert styles I would think they are one and the same company - although I could be wrong!

Thank you JamesC / Barnowl / Django, I will definately make a point of visiting OnBike and maybe get down to Presteigne on 'the' weekend. The more I read the more confused I get, I think it will only be resolved if I actually see the metal. I've been out tonight on my ordinary bike and it really has taken a toll. What I can't appreciate at the moment is that many pedelecs share the same components and yet their costs are so different. I have been looking at the 'Alien' offerings and see that they use the same hub motor as the 'Wispers' but can be had for about half the price! I'm wondering, as a newbie, whether I would be able to tell the difference! Once again, many thanks. John

Hi everyone, I have just joined the forum (said 'hello' in the introduce yourself bit!). I have been looking around for the last 12 months. I'm trying to 'wean' myself out of my car, I have a 'human-powered' push bike at the moment but unfortunately am struggling with a pair of dodgy kneecaps (seems quite a popular ailment!) and I do like the idea of some assistance. I suspect the new bike will be used for local errands and the like. I didn't think that I lived in a particularly 'hilly' part of the world until I started accompanying my daughter on her training runs (only on the pushbike I hasten to add!). It turns out that I live on the top of a 'mild' incline, so setting off on a journey is great - coming back, well that's a different story! Anyway the point of this post - I would like to try a number of bikes, I've read lots here - I have a vague idea of what I want - which seems to be what everyone else does too (long range,low weight, hill climber with an everlasting battery all for a pittance!) I am realistic enough to know that I will have to compromise, however there doesn't seem to be anywhere in the west mids that stocks anything (wolverhampton is my home) for me to try! Can anyone advise of any localish retailers with demonstration facilities? Many thanks. John