Andrew K

I went on holiday in France with cycling for softies a year or so after I first posted. It was a good holiday with decent bosch e-bikes but fairly pricey. Since then I've mostly done Scottish holidays, staying in a cottage and riding local trails/roads which is a lot more cost effective and just as enjoyable. Despite being in Scotland the weather in Summer is mostly OK apart from the odd rainy day and the midges only get you when you stop. Now that I'm 70+ the lure of foreign parts has lessened but I'm still riding and enjoying both my commuter bike and hardtail e-bike doing some easy gravel.

The electric cycle company, Granton road has a good selection of bikes, many available to test ride. I have bought several e-bikes there, over the last 4 years, and the advice and after sales service are very good.

I manage 50 miles (80km) with a 500Wh battery with an old KTM hybrid equipped with a bosch performance line motor and marathon plus tyres with no problem using a mixture of mainly eco and a little tour. With my newer bike with the CX motor (and MTB tyres) 50 miles would be a stretch. I'm heavy (18 stone) and probably only averagely fit. So probably any bosch ALP or performance line motor equipped trekking/hybrid bike would do.

It's no problem attaching the bikes using seat tube or down tube.

At the moment I have done 200 miles on a cube race with no problems on stock 2.6 smart sams, both off road on moderately technical trails and on the road. I'm quite happy with them. But like you have been worrying about durability and puncture protection as well as thinking about something slightly more road friendly. From looking at loads of advice on the web I reckon that for 30mm rims you probably need tyres at least 2.3 inches wide (2.2 might be ok but not sure). I've not been able to find anything that's ideal but considered schwalbe nobby nics or possibly maxxis ardents but both of these are much more off-road oriented and probably wouldn't be great on tarmac. I hope some more suggestions come up in this thread. The very expensive alternative would of course be to get a new set of wheels with narrower rims for touring or commuting.

Article in bikebiz suggests that 3rd party insurance will be compulsory for pedelecs, although not entirely clear to me exactly what level of cover will be needed and indeed whether this will be introduced in the UK. https://www.bikebiz.com/news/bikes-need-3rd-part-insurance-in-eu

I have a Bosch performance line with 10 speed XT derailleur and SLX cassette. These lasted 2500 miles before I needed a new chain, cassette and front chain ring although I probably should have changed the chain a bit sooner. Riding a mixture of road and trails (although no serious MTB stuff) I find that I use all the gears. Occasionally on very steep slopes on trails I wonder whether a larger rear sprocket than the 36 I have might be useful (although losing a stone or two in weight would probably be even better).

You could look at the Riese-Muller packster. https://www.r-m.de/en-gb/e-cargo/packster-40/ Or Mk1 E from butchers and bicycles https://www.butchersandbicycles.com/ Both above look nice but not cheap!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A5Z0JCI/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=I1O7HRURUDMETE&colid=38N1157HF9P4W&psc=1 On Amazon Price: £604.42 + £17.90 UK delivery

I bought 2 e-bikes from Edinburgh Cycle Company (KTM macina and motus) around 2 years ago. I've been very happy with the purchase and after sales service for both. Neill, the owner, is very friendly and helpful. The website is not particularly good but the shop itself has a wide selection of bikes to look at and try out. In my opinion it is definitely worth a visit. (Neill is also a keen mountainbiker if that helps.) In Edinburgh, Evans and Edinburgh bike coop are also selling e-bikes now but I don't know what their after sales service for these is like. I've previously bought non e-bikes from edinburgh bike coop and used them for servicing and had no complaints.

Has anyone tried one of the e-bike touring holidays in europe that are now widely available from loads of bike touring companies (such as Inntravel, Headwater, saddle-skeddadle etc.)? Some of these look pretty good and fairly easy for an only moderately fit old bloke plus partner but I'm a bit worried about what sort of bikes/batteries are provided. I feel that I would rather do one on a decent conventional hybrid/trekking bike rather than a rubbish e-bike. If anyone has any experience of these holidays I would be glad to hear any opinions.

500Wh available from elektrofahrrad site for 799 euro (delivery mid october) http://www.elektrofahrrad24.de/2016-akku-batterie-bosch-gepaecktraeger-power-pack-500-performance-line-cx#.VcjfVSZVhBc

I use a Thule euroclassic G6 2 bike version rated for 25Kg per bike. It works well. It's easy to put on the car and take off and it's fairly easy and quick getting the bikes on and off.

Thanks for he suggestion but the batteries on alibaba all seem to be classic line rather than active/performance line so no use to me I'm afraid.

Has anyone bought a new Bosch battery recently? The best price I could find was on this site http://www.elektrofahrrad24.de/. It's about £520 (€664) for a frame mount 400Ah battery. £649.00!!! at www.e-bikeshop.co.uk.

Done

Col thanks. That's fantastic. I'm looking forward to getting the new KTM and much reassured about future support.

Col Thanks a lot for helping to clear up the confusion. I paid the bike shop at the end of the first week in May just after he received your invoice so I guess between the two of us we just missed the window. I've spoken again to Neill at the Edinburgh cycle company and we're both now anticipating delivery in July (fingers crossed). A loan bike would be great if that’s possible. I'm not sure if the pedelecs forum is the best or most appropriate place for discussing this sort of problem but it certainly has been useful.

I was told last week that bike was due for delivery yesterday. Way back in march was told around 6 weeks. I'm currently waiting for Edinburgh cycles to get back to me after I phoned this morning for an update. I probably should have taken d8veh's advice and chosen a bike in stock but having tried KTMs with active line (in stock) and performance line (out of stock) much preferred the latter and so was prepared to wait a few weeks. When I went for a test ride Neill at the shop was really helpful but I must admit it has been very difficult getting a definite delivery date from him. I've no idea really whether this is KTM's, FLI's or the bike shop's fault.

Col., thanks for the offer to check for me. My order was for a KTM Macina Cross Plus 10, in gents 56cm.

I ordered a KTM macina cross plus on the 13th March (about 10 weeks ago) through Edinburgh Cycle Company and am still waiting for delivery. Neill who owns the bike shop tells me I'm not alone in waiting for delivery and that FLI who distribute the bikes don't seem able to give any definite dates. It's highly frustrating especially with the nice weather at the moment. Ho, hum wait another week or so and then start looking for an alternative if no bike arrives.