Ok so here's a little game to play, if you're not all too busy arguing about helmets, lights,what to wear, bike names, zip ties and what car each other drives....

 

I've listed what I can think of as the most popular E-bikes. Now some aren't on here, I know, but these are (as far as I can think) the big players over here. Each person gets 2 points. One to give to your favourite, one to take from your least favourite. Each brand starts off with ten points. Each person can only post and give/take points once. At the end, theoretically you will be left with the most popular? To give/take your points simply copy paste the list below, and alter your 2 points. NO CHEATING! And it would be nice if everyone gives a SHORT reason for there selection. It is an opinion so you can't be wrong, it could be function, price, performance or simply how pretty it looks.

 

Powerbyke-10

Giant-10

Ezee-10

Kalkhoff-10

Powacycle-10

Wisper-10

Urban mover-10

Gazelle-10

Sparta-10

I'll start off with my opinion

 

Powerbyke-10

Giant-10

Ezee-10

Kalkhoff-11 * for being German built and pretty

Powacycle-10

Wisper-9 * for looking a bit ugly in my opinion

Urban mover-10

Gazelle-10

Sparta-10

Powerbyke-10

Giant-10

Ezee-10

Kalkhoff-12

Powacycle-10

Wisper-9

Urban mover-10

Gazelle-10

Sparta-9

 

One on the Kalkhoff since it's well built allrounder premium bike suited to British conditions.

 

One off the Sparta since it has to go back to an often distant fully equipped agent just to take the back wheel out, and it can't climb hills due to it's weak direct drive motor. It's wonderful quality and styling cannot make up for those crippling failures.

P.S. I've altered my points cumulatively from the preceding post. Do you want that or each person to start from the 10 base?

.

Edited September 3, 200817 yr by flecc

The best

 

The best electric bike does not exist as this is only down to personal choice,based on looks performance needed on their local terrain, price and suitabillity to an individual,although i feel happy to advise possible electric bike options to suit peoples budgets,i do not think anybody is quallified to state which is the best electric bike.

No Heinzmann? they look a nice bike but expensive.....

Yep you got it Flecc, then eventually we will be left with the most popular. And it's just a bit of fun guys before anyone gets upset.

Powerbyke-10

Giant-10

Ezee-10

Kalkhoff-13

Powacycle-10

Wisper-9

Urban mover-9

Gazelle-10

Sparta-9

 

I agree on the Kalkhoffs, but think the poor UM customer service (with over the top PR) deserves a deduction.

 

John

Powerbyke-10

Giant-10

Ezee-10

Kalkhoff-12

Powacycle-10

Wisper-10

Urban mover-9

Gazelle-10

Sparta-9

 

Ok, I.ve got a Wisper & I like it so it does it for me.

Kalhkhoff, sounds like a relative of Boris Karloff. Made by ultra functional utilitarian robots (Germans), and far too popular for its own good.....

Phil

 

PS. I Know it's a naff reason, but I'm not being eintirely serious here........

Edited September 4, 200817 yr by Phil the drill

Powerbyke-10

Giant-10

Ezee-10

Kalkhoff-12

Powacycle-10

Wisper-11

Urban mover-9

Gazelle-10

Sparta-9

 

I chose the Wisper based on design, practicality, fun and durability, it has met my requirements, with the exception of the brakes which do need improving.

 

John

Powerbyke-9

Giant-10

Ezee-10

Kalkhoff-12

Powacycle-10

Wisper-11

Urban mover-9

Gazelle-10

Sparta-9

 

Sorry guys and girls had to post again as I did not remove a point from my negative choice. The Powerbyke sounds a bit too heavy hence lost a point. This completes the voting from the North Swindon Jury.

 

John

Powerbyke-9

Giant-9

Ezee-10

Kalkhoff-13

Powacycle-10

Wisper-11

Urban mover-9

Gazelle-10

Sparta-9

 

I have given a point to Kalkhoff as the bike has exceeded my expectations and it isn’t very often that you buy something and find that it is actually better than advertised.

 

I have taken a point off Giant for producing their latest hub motored bike. I have ridden one and although well made, it seemed slow and heavy. A definite step backwards from their Panasonic powered earlier efforts.

Ezee upgradable can take extra power (36 volt motor can take 48 volt) controllers can be upgraded.

Kalkhoff for all the reasons above plus very expensive.

 

Powerbyke-10

Giant-10

Ezee-11

Kalkhoff-9

Powacycle-10

Wisper-10

Urban mover-10

Gazelle-10

Sparta-10

Edited September 4, 200817 yr by aaannndddyyy

Powerbyke-9

Giant-9

Ezee-11 (from aaannndddyyy)

Kalkhoff-12 (from aaannndddyyy)

Powacycle-9 (from me)

Wisper-12 (from me)

Urban mover-9

Gazelle-10

Sparta-9

 

How did the Kalkhoff go from 13 to 9 in one posting?!?

 

aaannndddyyy, you must have copied the scores from the original posting. I've added my scores to the latest scores, and incorporated aaannndddyyy's scores too.

 

Right.

+1 To Wisper, goes without saying really!!

-1 To Powacycle because no-one else has, and they seem a bit under-powered.

 

Regards,

 

Elephants

Thanks Elephantsgerald for correcting my mistake:o .

Powerbyke-9

Giant-9

Ezee-11

Kalkhoff-11

Powacycle-9

Wisper-13

Urban mover-9

Gazelle-10

Sparta-9

 

Kalkhoff minus: Too much farting about with rear sprockets

 

Wisper Plus: Huge range

Edited September 4, 200817 yr by Blew it

This is a laugh isn't it

 

How did Powacycle get from 9 to 12 then???

 

Regards,

 

Elephants

Powabyke-10 (+ 1)

Giant-9

Ezee-11

Kalkhoff-11

Powacycle-8 (- 1)

Wisper-13

Urban mover-9

Gazelle-10

Sparta-9

 

 

Reasons...Powabyke cos I work for them and they are work horses. "It does what it says on the tin!"

 

Powacycle as they are the only realistic competitor in the Powabykes price category from the list and their name looks/sounds suspiciously familiar!

 

PS I have changed the spelling of Powabyke from Powerbyke!

PPS I have corrected Powacycles scores!

 

Regards

 

FrankC

Powabyke Ltd

Thanks for the corrections Frank.

 

Reminder to all, scores are cumulative, please copy and paste the list from the last post.

.

+1 to Izip as it's the only pedelec I've ever ridden.

 

-1 from Izip as it's obviously not good enough to get on the list.

 

As you were then...

 

(I just wanted to be involved...)

Powabyke-11 (+ 1)

Giant-9

Ezee-11

Kalkhoff-10 (-1)

Powacycle-8

Wisper-13

Urban mover-9

Gazelle-10

Sparta-9

 

 

Powabyke for cost/reliability +

kalkhoff for cost -

When this thread first started I grinned at a possibility I could see, and it's developing that way.

 

We could end up with all of them having 10.

.

...Kalhkhoff, sounds like a relative of Boris Karloff. Made by ultra functional utilitarian robots (Germans), ...

 

PS. I Know it's a naff reason, but I'm not being eintirely serious here........

 

LOLoud! I think Phil's on to something. I like his reasoning for deducting points - lame names! (Hee hee).

 

It's something that I've been pondering too - How come electric bikes models have the lamest names ever devised in the entire history of marketing?

 

I mean what gives with Pro Connect - what's that all about? When I first heard it I thought: Oh they're making a comeback are they, that once out-of-town electrical discount retailer?

 

Enter Pro Connect in eBay and Pro Connect computer hardware comes up. And if not that, video editing software called, Pro Connect.

 

- That's what the name Pro Connect suggests - electrical household appliances!

 

I think the rot well and truly set in when Toys-R-Us became a a success.

 

Ordinary bicycles don't seem to suffer this affliction: The Raleigh Randonneur is a well respected bicycle admired by those cyclists in-the-know. So is the name Dawes Galaxy, and the Thorn Audax. The names have a cachet. UrbanMover? Tee hee! My shoes are urban movers.

 

Why do we have to lose all creativity when electrical power is introduced into the equation? The majority of names given to the current crop of electrical bicycle company's are reminiscent of a newbie's website start-up. You know: You sell bikes powered by a battery? Hmmm let's see, battery power and bicycles - I know, Powabike! That'll knock 'em dead. Yeah, Powabike it is then.

 

Wonder if people laughed when Mr Rolls, and his mate Mr Royce set up business and failed to call their company the Powered Horseless Carriage Co.? How people must have laughed even harder when they came up with the name the Silver Cloud for one of their cars, and fancy calling an engine the Merlin. Left to electrical bicycle manufacturers we'd now know the Spitfire's engine by the name of Flyfast. And the Spitfire they'd have called that the Flyin-fighta.

 

Come on electric bicycle manufacturers, don't go into 'shock' over a bit of electricity when it comes to name-calling.

Not wholly true though Danny, you see the Pro Connect was one of Derby Cycles ordinary bike range long before they made electric bikes, and for that matter, so was the Agattu. The electrics shared the same names due to their intended purpose and frame patterns.

 

I'd also excuse Powabyke (note it's spelt with a y), since they were very early into electric bikes years ago when few even knew e-bikes existed, so the name was a way of making it's presence and purpose obvious.

 

Since huge numbers of Joe Public still don't know e-bikes exist, there's a lot to be said for the names reflecting what they are or do, as in Powacycle, eZee and Easy Rider.

 

If they all named like others such as Sparta, Koga, Estelle, Rixe etc, there'd be no advance in the awareness that e-bikes even existed, and most of us have had numerous occasions of people expressing unawareness of them before seeing our ones.

 

Lack of naming imagination shows in many other fields when initials are used:

 

BMW is Bayerisch Moteren Werke = Bavarian Motor Works

 

BSA was Birmingham Small Arms

 

FIAT (cars) is Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino = Italian Cars Made in Turin

 

so not too much imagination there!

.

What's In a Name?

 

...Since huge numbers of Joe Public still don't know e-bikes exist, there's a lot to be said for the names reflecting what they are or do, as in Powacycle, eZee and Easy Rider...

 

 

I see your point, however, I maintain: are those weird names absolutely necessary?

 

The Toyota Prius is a state-of-the-art hybrid car, (half petrol, half battery power). But for those unaware that the Prius is a hybrid, there's not much in the shape or name that alerts them to the difference. Prospective buyers have to be told. Which is all to the good, as it doesn't label the buyer as some sort of climate-change evangelist or a 'tree-hugging, Greenpeace dinghy-interception-activist'. Just an ordinary family in an ordinary car to all intents and purposes. Which helps sales amongst those who fear the stigma of being labelled as radically different to others.

 

As we all know, almost every member of the non-cycling public regard electrical bicycles as wholly designed, specifically for only those who are either disabled, infirm, or not in full health. That's the perception of a large proportion who remain unconvinced by e-bikes. Maintaining a separate 'brand' image of e-bikes may foster that belief for longer than is desirable in the UK, when in fact e-bikes are for everyone. I'm pleased that the two latest offerings from Kalkhoff look like straightforward bicycles at first glance. (And are capable of being pedaled home as such, should the battery run flat). I think there would be far more rapid acceptance of the e-bike if more were offered for sale, side by side of ordinary bicycles instead of via mailorder/online only. (Easier said than done, I know).

 

The labelling of those who ride a bike that is perceived as intended for the less physically able would soon evaporate. I've been surprised more than once to see the latest offerings of cars with interior conversions that accommodate the more seriously disabled. Gone are the light blue, three-wheeled fibre glass, toy-town-like Noddy cars of yesteryear. Now more and more ordinary cars are being converted. You won't know, (nor indeed need to know), the driver is disabled until they get out of the car. On the highway the disabled driver is nowadays label-free. Total integration.

 

The e-bike is closer to a bicycle than a motorcycle, so I don't see the need to segregate the e-bike, although I know most members on this forum, are proud of their e-bikes to such an extent that they WANT them to stand out as distinct and different from ordinary bicycles. Come the day when you approach the bicycle sales assistant and they first ask, which type of bicycle: non-powered, or with some form of power-assistance? as a first question because the names on the bikes offer no clues.

Ya going off topic boys

 

I dunno if these are the right scores on the doors because at the beginning it was all over the place! Anyways, I have copied the last one of Carpetbaggers and added subtracted etc

 

Powabyke-11 (+ 1)

Giant-9

Ezee-11

Kalkhoff-10 (-1) (-1) only pedelec

Powacycle-8

Wisper-13 (+1) of course, lol I have one

Urban mover-9

Gazelle-10

Sparta-9

 

I have copy pasted the list above with the prevous scores added/deducted by carpetbagger to simplify. Wisper is Winning! yay! lol

 

Powabyke-12

Giant-9

Ezee-11

Kalkhoff-8

Powacycle-8

Wisper-14

Urban mover-9

Gazelle-10

Sparta-9

 

Happy scoring