Hi new to the forum! we are looking to purchase an e-bike to help with towing our 13 year old disabled daughter in a Wike Special Needs Trailer as it is getting too much like hard work for me now!

Any recommendations/advice on suitable bikes would be much appreciated, ideally we have not much more than a £1000 budget as this is money we are having to borrow!

 

We are considering the Halfords Carrera Crossfire-E! Do you recon it will be suitable & have the power to help in towing the trailer?

 

At the moment we have Carera Valours! I don't know if converting one of these would be a viable option?

 

Any help & advice would be much appreciated

I maybe should of mentioned that it is for mainly off road like woodland tracks & cycling around Center Parcs etc plus a bit of road use!

Looks like a good bike for a kit. May I recommend changing both the brakes for Magura hydraulic rim brakes, just the front one works well for me and my fully laden shopping trailer (40 kg). That will set you back just under £100 and add the price of a kit £500 with a 15 Ah battery.

Looks like a good bike for a kit. May I recommend changing both the brakes for Magura hydraulic rim brakes, just the front one works well for me and my fully laden shopping trailer (40 kg). That will set you back just under £100 and add the price of a kit £500 with a 15 Ah battery.

How do you suggest they fit a cut out switch?

A button on the handlebars? Modern kits don't need cut out switches.

Looking at the conversion kits, I think it will be a bit beyond me! so buying the full e-bike is going to have to be the route we go also just noticed that this Carrera Crossfire-E seems to be a road bike so don't think that is going to be the most suitable

Looking at the conversion kits, I think it will be a bit beyond me! so buying the full e-bike is going to have to be the route we go also just noticed that this Carrera Crossfire-E seems to be a road bike so don't think that is going to be the most suitable

You will need something with a lot of torque, but I'm guessing top speed is less of a concern?

You will need something with a lot of torque, but I'm guessing top speed is less of a concern?

I'm no expert Alan but that sounds about right!

a Bosch motor bike will do it but about £1500 for a cube hard tail.

 

or this ktm is on offer atm

 

http://www.flidistribution.co.uk/clearance---bikes/ex-demo-bikes/ex-demo-ktm-macina-action-29-plus---19

The £1000 budget isn't set in stone! It just means we will have to borrow more money

You will need something with a lot of torque, but I'm guessing top speed is less of a concern?

Any recommendations for any with a lot of torque Alan?

woosh Big Bear has lots more torque than the e-crossfire and is well under £1,000.

well suited to towing a trailer

 

http://wooshbikes.co.uk/?bigbear

 

http://wooshbikes.co.uk/2014/bigbear/bigbear-800.jpg

Any recommendations for any with a lot of torque Alan?

It does make me think that a crank drive would be suitable, assuming that you are happy with the way the gear changes work.

 

Something like the Woosh Sant-and CD .

 

Failing that, something with a BPM hub motor.

 

Edit: Crossed with Trex. He always recommends a Woosh. In this case he's got a point!

 

While the KTM's and Haibikes will do the job, somehow they just don't fit with my (perhaps inaccurate) view of what you are looking for.

Edited March 7, 201610 yr by Alan Quay

 

Edit: Crossed with Trex. He always recommends a Woosh. In this case he's got a point!

.

the OP's budget is £1,000.

 

For that sort of budget, woosh bikes are usually unbeatable.

A button on the handlebars? Modern kits don't need cut out switches.

If you are riding a bike on your own, with no throttle that's one thing. You can always screech to a halt, throw it the ground and run away.

 

If you are towing a vulnerable person behind, likely using a throttle, it's a different matter.

THANKS For all the info up to now guys it's getting a bit mind boggling now!

Just to clarify it is mainly for off road use like cycling round woodlands & countryside tracks usually with quite a few hills, our daughter who I would be towing is 13 so is a decent weight to tow now & is only going to get heavier, budget £1000 - £1500

id go with the ktm or cube bosch motor then forget hub motors for off road stuff as more for commuting on the flat roads and slight hills less massive amounts of power.

 

still be best to have a go on some b4 you buy tho to make sure its up to what you want to use it for.

 

http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/cube-reaction-hybrid-pro-bosch-cx-500wh.23332/

SW, granted that hub motors are not made for off-roading but I think the BPM torque will obliterate any Bosch motor, even the CX. Also, for towing a trailer, you can't beat the convenience of a full throttle.

It might be a daft idea, but I wonder if there is a way or even a system that has the trailer as the powered unit and not the bike, with the controls operated from the bike.

 

Dreaming here... A low geared dual drive system with a large battery.

SW, granted that hub motors are not made for off-roading but I think the BPM torque will obliterate any Bosch motor, even the CX. Also, for towing a trailer, you can't beat the convenience of a full throttle.

It's all starting to sound very confusing to me now, I didn't realise there where so many variables! But I don't think I am really wanting a full throttle (if I understand the meaning right lol) I'm just wanting a bit of help with the peddling especially up hill :-)

It might be a daft idea, but I wonder if there is a way or even a system that has the trailer as the powered unit and not the bike, with the controls operated from the bike.

 

Dreaming here... A dual drive system with a large battery.

 

It's all starting to sound very confusing to me now, I didn't realise there where so many variables! But I don't think I am really wanting a full throttle (if I understand the meaning right lol) I'm just wanting a bit of help with the peddling especially up hill

 

you are dead right that there are many variables.

Towing a trailer with a 13 year old up a hill is very hard work for any bike. Bosch CD system is a multiplier, you have to put in x, the bike will give you 2x, 3x or 4x depending on the mode you selected.

With a full power throttle, the bike will give you whatever amount of assist you need to climb the hill. You can be very tired, you can still get home. It's a plus.

The best system is a powerful CD bike with a full throttle.

http://wooshbikes.co.uk/?bali

a bosch performance or cx motor bike will do that no problem and be about in top end budget look nice and have warranty.

 

if wanting more power than that then a bafang mid drive will give more power but will have to self build it and also have to option of a throttle and be a bit cheaper depending on the size batt you use and how far that you want to go miles wise.

It's all starting to sound very confusing to me now, I didn't realise there where so many variables! But I don't think I am really wanting a full throttle (if I understand the meaning right lol) I'm just wanting a bit of help with the peddling especially up hill :-)

Don't worry. SW has a different kind of 'off road' in mind.

 

When you say 'off road' I take it you mean 'not actually on a road'. Possibly some gravel and the odd puddle.

 

SW is thinking about full suspension, rocks/roots/jumps/berms, adrenaline, broken bones and high fives all round dude!

 

In short, a throttle will assist you to move away from a standing start.