melspea

Swordfish, I applaud you for choosing a quality machine with the benefit of power assistance rather than a budget bike with low-grade components and zero panache. It really doesn't matter if the Koga isn't the fastest hill climber out there so long as it gets you up the hills comfortably. Anyone who has never owned a top quality bicycle really cannot begin to imagine the pleasure bikes like the Koga provide but for those who can afford top-end bikes, they don't come much better than Koga. It's nice to read about a forum member buying something other than the 'usual suspects' routinely reported on here. I sincerely hope you enjoy the bike in the long-term. Melissa

Because I have Spanish and English bank accounts, I use Santander for most of my banking. They supply free the Trusteer Rapport system which is used massively by all sorts of banks (and other companies) worldwide. Now that they have put right all the early teething problems, having hit the scene running and taking on the major players on the High St, they are really good to do business with now. A Mac provides a fine balance between usability, security, ease of use and great build integrity without going for the left-field choice of Linux which really does nothing better than Apple machines. I have been using Macs since the 90s and never had any problems nor damage from viruses. Currently, I use the latest 13" Air model for most things and find it to be the best Mac of the six I have owned, five of which I still have and they all work. This latest Air model easily lasts a full day and then some on battery alone, net-surfing, emailing, reading news and listening to a bit of music. Things have really moved on! Here's some free consumer advice: Don't buy a MacBook Pro Retina model at the present time as the upgraded chipsets as used in the latest Air models are still several months away on the Pro models. The screen is to die for but it's pricey and the 13" Pro is actually slower right now than the equivalent Air model in most applications. Just as an aside almost, all major banks protect customers from online fraud and robbery losses provided customers have taken reasonable precautions to protect login data. Melissa

Living, as I do, for most of each year in Spain and cycling most days, anybody who believes that Spanish drivers are courteous and have great regard for cyclists is deluded. I have driven over and cycled in much of europe and can say categorically that the Iberian peninsula is the area I fear most. Forget the French and Italians who just always drive too fast, the mindset of motorists in Spain and Portugal means you are far more likely to be involved in an RTA there than elsewhere. On Sundays, motorcyclists seem to imagine that they have special priority, especially around mountainous terrain with chicanes and switchbacks. As for cyclists, they are simply viewed as nuisance obstructions and both local and national police have little sympathy, seeming to hold the view that anyone who cycles on busy roads is 'loco' and deserves anything they get as a result. Until those attitudes are changed, Iberia will continue to be a very dangerous place to cycle. European legislators need to adopt some EC-wide regulations based on the Danish/Dutch/German attitude to cycling and enshrine it in law so that cyclists are ENTITLED to certain priorities and protection. Motorists would need to learn and understand they are OBLIGED under the law to respect the rights of cyclists to the extent that ANY accident involving a bicycle and a motor vehicle will AUTOMATICALLY be assumed to be the fault of the motorist unless extraordinary, extenuating circumstances can prove otherwise. Our children and grandchildren should be able to cycle on roads as soon as they are proficient without fear and until attitudes are changed, cyclists will continue to die because driver-killers treat cyclists with disdain and impunity. Melissa

All credit to the gentleman for his development work but anyone over in the UK can purchase something along the same principles from that firm down in Winchester. Ok, their bikes are double the weight of the one seen in the link but the small battery, used sparingly, can allow some fairly lengthy trips. I wonder how many ebikers have never considered/never heard of the Cytronex system and bought one of those 30kg clunkers then used (had to use!) power all the time when they ride. If I were in England, I'd certainly consider that type of bike as they have power when needed but are light enough to ride easily over most terrain. I think those bottle batteries are good for up to maybe 20 miles but in all honesty, how many ebikers actually ride that far in one go? Melissa

Many readers of these pages choose not to break laws and become criminals without morals, ethics or common decency and respect. You should be prosecuted! Melissa

That's a really fantastic review. A company sales person couldn't have done a better job. I must check out where I might buy one of these machines if it's affordable for me. Melissa

Yes, it's a difficult decision but only so because we still operate the stupid, unfathomable honours system in this country, an anachronism, like the monarchy, which serves no useful purpose, particularly when the gongs are frequently awarded to some of the most unsavoury and unscrupulous characters in upper-crust society. Sports people are perfectly happy to win medals, see their prowess recorded in statistical form for posterity without the need for recognition in the honours lists. Is not SPOTY enough? Melissa ps Flecc beat me to it!

Yes, it was actually the step-thru I looked at then saw the same seller offering the gents' bike and I didn't like the sound of it all. Of course, it might be entirely kosher but these are not very old bikes and I always think 'STOLEN' any time I see an ebike on ebay without a battery. Anybody lost one in recent times? Melissa ps Your post just beat mine to press, Kirstin......good sleuthing Sir! pps Those bikes were stolen in 2011!

Kalkhoff Agattu Mens electric bike GOOD CONDITION | eBay Mmm.....! Melissa

I note on the German site one, EDDIEO, has posted a question. Good to see he's still interested in the ebike scene. 60Nm? Really!

Lidl do changeable lens kits from time to time and the frame has a removable sponge seal which keeps out draughts and pollen. Although the lenses are some kind of plastic, they are excellent quality, better than some of my rather expensive sunglasses. They also provide a choice inside the case of an elasticated strap or normal wraparound arms. Melissa

Seems like Trem's choice, according to responses received so far, is the KTM Macina Cross or BH bikes. I'm really surprised by that. I would have thought some might have suggested their own choice of bike X but having bought one and since had the opportunity to ride bikes A, B and C, the one to go for is this or that, so much better than bike X. The Fireblade sounds good to me! Melissa

That's a really good question Trem and I'd also like to hear what members think today about the best climbing but stealthy ebikes we can purchase and use legally. Similar questions have been asked in the past but bikes, motors and batteries have moved on somewhat. Melissa

Superb! Now we have a geography-improving website for free without having to leave these pages. Lifelong learning through just having an interest in bikes offering a little help pedalling.....how good is that! Melissa

Well done Johnno and an interesting choice of machine. Was it your first choice of what was available to you or are you such a strong rider that you'd probably have won the race on any of several other machines? Was the bike in standard production trim or "improved" using a dongle or other software tweaks? Melissa

Sheer poetry Tom...luvit! Melissa

Me too but the way I see it, selling a piece of kit which has no purpose other than to change an ebike from within legal parameters to something manifestly different and distinctly illegal is, at the very least, distasteful if not actually criminal. Melissa

Good to know that eddieo is still around and still interested in the electric bike scene Flecc. He could get on his high horse at times but the forum seems a poorer place since he and the Indy guy got the push. I can't ever remember reading anything so bad from either of those guys but they have been gone a while now and I'd like to see them back even on a sort of probationary period. Whatever happened to the sticks and stones story? Melissa

Thanks for that D8veh although I'm no wiser! Perhaps, given the similarity between the differing types, I should look for lightness. Mel

Countryman, you mention a bike I like the look of but I would prefer Gepida's other one with suspension fork as the roads are less than smooth around my home. I can't remember the name of it but it's a full-sized bike on big wheels. I have noticed a lot of bikes with Bosch drives all look pretty much the same, especially the trekking type of frame. Mel

Thanks for that once again Artstu. I like that bike though perhaps it's just the picture but ground clearance seems a little short? I have seen other Bosch motors inverted but maybe that's just for those bikes that people use for mountain tracks and over rocks and stuff? Mel

Now that was an interesting read in more ways than one! Thanks for that Artstu. It was interesting to read the thoughts of a guy who already owned a hub-drive bike although I have never heard of the model. He didn't seem overly impressed by the KTM crank-drive in comparison, indeed he was almost grudging in his praise of it, although he professes to be a fan of the Bosch system. Also interesting was the fact that I noticed some other guy on that thread who had "banned" next to his name. What a strange place this is! I'd like to read more opinions like that though providing comparison between hub and crank drive. There's a magazine online that I have looked at but they don't seem to do any group test or make any direct comparisons between different bikes which would be useful. Road-testing a bike in isolation without any reference points isn't really very helpful, especially to those like myself who would need to travel a long way to test-ride ebikes. What I don't understand is the bit about the eddie guy praising the hub-drive bike yet I don't think I have ever heard anyone else mention it. I haven't read about it either so is it something that is no longer produced? Was it in fact any good? Mel

Just as I found a thread that interests me with a guy contemplating the pros and cons of purchasing in or from Germany, I'm stymied because I read that there was a guy who did just that but he's been banned! That's exactly the kind of information that would be useful to me in Spain and I can't access it. This is very intriguing I think because this is a biking forum, in fact it's an ebiking forum which suggests grown-up people, probably older than the average cyclist out there. I can't for a moment even begin to understand how someone gets banned from a forum where people discuss ebikes. I can imagine somebody who repeatedly uses crude and foul language to others perhaps being suspended or thrown out if there's no improvement but for speaking his mind....?? Anybody else got experience of purchasing from mainland europe in order to save money or perhaps have more choice? Mel ps just seen Hugh's post. What prompted you to buy from Germany Hugh, if you don't mind me asking? I hope you made a good saving as that's motivation enough for me!

Thank you to those who replied with advice. Unfortunately, I think some of you may have taken me too literally when I mentioned light. I only added that as I spotted that some bikes come in at under 20kgs while others are 27-30. About 20Kgs seems good to me if that includes the engine and battery and that should be easy for me to manhandle when necessary. I'm sure some of those little bikes with the battery behind the seat post are fine but I don't think they look like proper bikes. Raleighs and Pashleys are more my idea of how bikes should look so maybe I should look more on German sites as a lot of the Germans and other europeans here in Spain ride old-fashioned bikes. I don't see too many ebikes on the roads but I have spotted one or two Sparta and a few Kalkhoff bikes. Never had a chance to speak to an owner yet though. Getting to ride ebikes isn't easy here as I don't know of a dealer anywhere near me. There is a local bike shop but it sells kids' bikes and caters for the club guys who dress up on Sunday, all wearing white-framed sunshades and ride 4 abreast at stupid speeds holding up traffic. I'll keep looking. Mel

When I joined this forum, I thought I'd very quickly get a handle on which were the best ebikes out there. The more I read, the cloudier the picture becomes in my mind! It seems there are expensive bikes with little power for hills; cheap bikes which do sail up hills; hub -drives, crank-drives and illegal ones in the UK. I'm not sure what the position is in Spain with regard to the 350W bikes but I'd be happy with the standard UK fare providing it gives me assistance on hills and can keep going for maybe 60-65 km. Good quality manufacture, light weight and traditional bicycle style are important to me and I have identified several bikes I quite like at one time or another. It seems though that as soon as I see one I like, somebody pops up to condemn it as useless on hills or poor range or something. At the moment, I like the look of the Gepida bikes with Bosch motors. I also like the BH Neos and some of the KTM and AVE models though some of them seem really expensive and I'm not sure why. I'm used to a full-sized bike so I'd prefer 700C wheels/tyres rather than those squat, dumpy Chinese bikes. The other bike which has caught my eye is the Agattu which seems to do most things pretty well if I'm to believe reviews although I have noticed it too has its detractors. If I say I'd like to keep the price down to under €2000-2100, can anybody point me in the right direction? I can't see any great benefit in those bikes costing €3000-5000 over the sub-€2000 ones. Mel