September 5, 200817 yr What do you think would be good names for E-bikes then DannyK? Now I'm going off topic
September 5, 200817 yr I've not been on any of them but here are my votes for what they are worth: Powabyke-11 (-1) too naff looking Giant-9 Ezee-11 Kalkhoff-8 Powacycle-8 Wisper-15 (+1) Awesome support, big battery, off-road switch, great motor Urban mover-9 Gazelle-10 Sparta-9
September 5, 200817 yr Did you know the Toyota Starlet was originally going to be called the Toyota Toylet?
September 5, 200817 yr I've not been on any of them but here are my votes for what they are worth: Powabyke-11 (-1) too naff looking QUOTE] "too naff looking" I hope this changes your opinion!! Regards FrankC Powabyke Ltd
September 5, 200817 yr I've not been on any of them but here are my votes for what they are worth: Powabyke-11 (-1) too naff looking QUOTE] "too naff looking" I hope this changes your opinion!! Regards FrankC Powabyke Ltd Hi Frank I didn't realise that one was a PowaByke I rode the old model for 3 years and could not fault it on it's reliability and distance per charge. However the weight was a big problem for me. I like the new style but does it go as far on one charge as the battery looks very twee, although very neat and does it have the motor only option still? Very nice looking bike though regardless Sorry gone off topic
September 5, 200817 yr I have copy pasted the list above with the prevous scores added/deducted by carpetbagger to simplify. Wisper is Winning! yay! lol Can I detect some bias in this thread, or is it jealousy?
September 5, 200817 yr Here's my (+/- one) pennoth... Powabyke-11 Giant-9 Ezee-11 Kalkhoff-7 (-1) attitude of the distribution company Powacycle-8 Wisper-16 (+1) reports of excellent customer support Urban mover-9 Gazelle-10 Sparta-9 John
September 5, 200817 yr I think this is drifting from "Best electric bike" into "Best electric bike to buy" with other factors being included in the voting. The Kalkhoff certainly isn't worth less than half the Wisper when judged as an electric bike, so I don't think the end result is going to be of much value. .
September 5, 200817 yr Hi Frank I didn't realise that one was a PowaByke I rode the old model for 3 years and could not fault it on it's reliability and distance per charge. However the weight was a big problem for me. I like the new style but does it go as far on one charge as the battery looks very twee, although very neat and does it have the motor only option still? Very nice looking bike though regardless Sorry gone off topic Hi Mandy, range is reduced, 10-12 miles pure power, 18 - 25 miles in pedal assist. However as the batteries are much smaller weighing in at 3kg a 2nd or 3rd battery can be purchased and carried in panniers or rucksack. Regards FrankC Powabyke Ltd fcurran@powabyke.com
September 5, 200817 yr I think this is drifting from "Best electric bike" into "Best electric bike to buy" with other factors being included in the voting. The Kalkhoff certainly isn't worth less than half the Wisper when judged as an electric bike, so I don't think the end result is going to be of much value. . Hi Flecc That's a good point. When peckerman started the thread he listed what I can think of as the most popular E-bikes. so I think he was actually thinking of "the best electric bike to buy". The best car on the road isn't the most popular.... John
September 5, 200817 yr Not too sure John, I was going by the thread title. If it was open to the public the most popular would probably be a cheap Chinese shopper e-bike, since they've sold in many thousands of each. .
September 5, 200817 yr I hadn't noticed the original title Flecc. I think this calls for the biblical "judgement of peckerman" John
September 5, 200817 yr Oh yes; don't forget to add the "Can-do 3.0" to the list. Whoops! The 50 Cycles promotional post seems to have disappeared, like so many of theirs seem to do. Edited September 5, 200817 yr by bode
September 5, 200817 yr This forum is unbelieveable sometimes. My wife can't understand why I spend any time here - calling it "pedeldicks". This current thread is a prime example of that. Initially it looked like a good fun thread, then the 50cycles bashers set it and trashed the Kalkhoff rating. And before anyone asks, no I don't agree with how 50cycles have conducted themselves recently but as usual everyone got their knickers in a twist about it. The current vote is now totally skewed and not worth voting on.
September 5, 200817 yr Flecc Sometime last week, I spotted what I think was a Kalkhoff in Tesco's bike rack. There may be a clue in the "Allrounder" decal on the downtube. It was also fitted with a rear seat where a juvenile could ride shotgun. I stopped for a quick look at the machine, and sure enough, that machine was not just built, it was engineered. The problem is, as you mentioned a short while back, most E-bikers don't like pedalling. ( I can't understand why..It's good for the joints!) Is it possible that this is influencing the scoring?. Obviously, members are voting for the machines they actually ride. Then deducting a point from any machine that they wouldn't want to. Perhaps for no other reason than the absence of an independant throttle.
September 5, 200817 yr This forum is unbelieveable sometimes. My wife can't understand why I spend any time here - calling it "pedeldicks". This current thread is a prime example of that. Initially it looked like a good fun thread, then the 50cycles bashers set it and trashed the Kalkhoff rating. And before anyone asks, no I don't agree with how 50cycles have conducted themselves recently but as usual everyone got their knickers in a twist about it. The current vote is now totally skewed and not worth voting on. Citrus 50cycles went well well over the top yesterday with their "Can-Do?" promotion and now they've got the huff when they hear what we think of them. Bless the little darlings...
September 5, 200817 yr Citrus 50cycles went well well over the top yesterday with their "Can-Do?" promotion and now they've got the huff when they hear what we think of them. Bless the little darlings... John I don't think I was trying to defend 50cycles, I even mentioned that in my initial message - more trying to defend the Kalkhoff bikes which 50cycles happen to sell. The vote is skewed when people vote against the bike due to the company selling it. Make no mistake, the Kalkhoff's are excellent bikes.
September 6, 200817 yr Is it possible that this is influencing the scoring?. Obviously, members are voting for the machines they actually ride. Then deducting a point from any machine that they wouldn't want to. Perhaps for no other reason than the absence of an independant throttle. These are the reasons given by others for deducting a mark from Kalkhoff to date, a very mixed bag: 1) Kalhkhoff, sounds like a relative of Boris Karloff. Made by ultra functional utilitarian robots (Germans), and far too popular for its own good..... 2) very expensive 3) Too much farting about with rear sprockets 4) kalkhoff for cost 5) only pedelec 6) attitude of the distribution company . Edited September 6, 200817 yr by flecc
September 6, 200817 yr The Toyota Prius is a state-of-the-art hybrid car, (half petrol, half battery power). Actually it isn't a hybrid car at all Danny, whatever Toyota might claim. A hybrid car would use two fuels, but the Prius only uses one, petrol. The electricity is generated by the petrol, either directly or indirectly through kinetic energy gained from the petrol in the first place. Our e-bikes really are true hybrids having two power sources, electric and human. .
September 6, 200817 yr Hi Mandy, range is reduced, 10-12 miles pure power, 18 - 25 miles in pedal assist. However as the batteries are much smaller weighing in at 3kg a 2nd or 3rd battery can be purchased and carried in panniers or rucksack. Regards FrankC Powabyke Ltd fcurran@powabyke.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------- can these 2nd and 3rd battery be all coupled up to form one thus increasing the range 3 fold ?.... i have read from beginning of this thread so hope later on no one else already asked this.
September 6, 200817 yr Powabyke-11 Giant-9 Ezee-11 Kalkhoff-8 Powacycle-8 Wisper-15 Urban mover-9 Gazelle-10 Sparta-9 Kalkhoff - not sure where to start - build quality, frame sizes, rides like a bicycle, good range, very well equipped, good dealer back-up. Wisper - not that keen on the looks, one frame size, 26 inch wheel (look too small), lacking engineering finesse.
September 6, 200817 yr can these 2nd and 3rd battery be all coupled up to form one thus increasing the range 3 fold ?.... i have read from beginning of this thread so hope later on no one else already asked this. No, just swappable by stopping. .
September 6, 200817 yr 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. Other previous quotes " It's only an opinion, you can't be wrong" Reasons "could include style or colour" C'mon guys, isn't this thread starting to take itself just a little too seriously.......
September 6, 200817 yr C'mon guys, isn't this thread starting to take itself just a little too seriously....... What! It's a life or death matter. .
September 6, 200817 yr I'll give my vote to what I consider to be a pleasant bike to ride, nice looking, well made and proven to be reliable, has good pedelec operation, decent range, choice of step-through or cross-bar frames. It's available from a wide range of dealers, costing £500. Obviously it's a Powacycle, which is the electric bike that I have ridden most. I'm not surprised Frank C, who is in the industry and knows a bit about these things, marked it down as a dangerous competitor. For me it is the best all-round value for money bike. If I had a second vote it would go either to Powabyke, for their reliability value and dealer network, the fact that they were decent to ride despite the weight, or to Synergie for their Mistral, which I've not ridden but seems to tick a lot of boxes at a competitive price. My negative point goes to UrbanMover - nice looking and well marketed but the product was poorly thought through, with widespread quality problems reported. Powabyke-11 Giant-9 Ezee-11 Kalkhoff-8 Powacycle-9 Wisper-15 Urban mover-8 Gazelle-10 Sparta-9
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