Hi everyone, first post here, so please be kind!

 

I’ve owned a few e-bikes over the years, mainly leisure models that have been toted around on the back of our motorhome. Now, I’m looking for something different. I’d like a bike that I can enjoy riding for fun, ideally a gravelroad bike with some electric support—just enough to help out my aging legs!

 

I’m hoping to find a system that measures the pressure I apply to the pedals, rather than just responding to how fast they’re turning. In other words, I want the assistance to match my effort based on pedal pressure and the power level I’ve selected, rather than simply kicking in when the pedals are moving. I’ve had bikes that work on pedal rotation, but I find that experience less rewarding.

 

If anyone can recommend bikes or systems that offer this more responsive, natural-feeling assistance, I’d really appreciate it! Thanks in advance for your help.

 

BTW I’m currently looking at Ribble CGR el bikes. Which might help you understand where my budget falls.

You are describing a torque sensor bike, so yes, it does exist.

 

Three choices:

 

1. Off the shelf mid drive bike with motor from the well known big name manufacturers Bosch, Shimano, Yamaha. Lots of decent bikes with good battery sizes these days for considerably less money than a couple of years ago.

2. Rear hub motor with torque sensing bottom bracket, either off the shelf e,g. Wisper 806T or kit e.g. see Woosh offerings.

3. Mid drive conversion using Tong Sheng TSDZ2 or TSDZ8.

BTW I’m currently looking at Ribble CGR el bikes. Which might help you understand where my budget falls.

 

You have a very healthy budget (around £2K).

 

Are you looking for ready made bike or conversion is an option?

 

https://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/bargains.46309/page-12#post-726417

Edited October 7, 20241 yr by Az.

You are describing a torque sensor bike, so yes, it does exist.

 

Three choices:

 

1. Off the shelf mid drive bike with motor from the well known big name manufacturers Bosch, Shimano, Yamaha. Lots of decent bikes with good battery sizes these days for considerably less money than a couple of years ago.

2. Rear hub motor with torque sensing bottom bracket, either off the shelf e,g. Wisper 806T or kit e.g. see Woosh offerings.

3. Mid drive conversion using Tong Sheng TSDZ2 or TSDZ8.

Thanks for clarifying my needs. I guess the Mahle X35 used in the Ribble is not torque sensing?

You have a very healthy budget (around £2K).

 

Are you looking for ready made bike or conversion is an option?

 

https://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/bargains.46309/page-12#post-726417

In a nutshell I guess I’m cash rich and time poor. Off the shelf takes the guesswork out of what, where and how.

This one has been mentioned before. Torque sensor 360Wh battery, very light

 

https://www.merlincycles.com/metroneer-eg-10-comp-gravel-e-bike-282643.html

Thanks for clarifying my needs. I guess the Mahle X35 used in the Ribble is not torque sensing?

I don't think so. It is one of two solutions on the market aimed at a lighter form of ebike than the typical 22kg+ of a 'standard' mid-drive, torque sensing bike. The main feature is a smaller than typical battery, because the working assumption is that the rider will not use assistance all the time, so they won't need a big battery.

 

Do not go that way unless you are sure that fits your likely use. You'll just find yourself buying the optional range extender (aka extra battery) and wishing you had bought something different in the first place.

 

The other maker in that space is Fazua, which is mid-drive torque sensing with small battery, which only manages good range because its maximum assistance is very low.

 

Unless you have a very good reason, stick with a normal mid-drive, from the higher torque end of the range, paired with at least a 625Wh battery. It will do anything you want, all day long, and you can work as hard as you like by turning the assistance level down.

 

About the only 'really good reason' is wanting a bit of help keeping up with non electric group rides, where a fair time is spent above 25km/h riding without assistance. Either the Mahle or the Fazua might suit you there, but be really sure it is what you need first i.e. is it as easy to ride above 25km/h without assistance as you need it to be?

I don't see the Mahle X35 mentioned all that much on this site. It gets quite a few discussions on the Cycling UK site (https://forum.cyclinguk.org/viewforum.php?f=55) with its different audience. My impression from browsing these is that it sees more than its fair share of problems. That may be completely unfair, but I suggest you look for yourself before opting for one of these.

I don't think so. It is one of two solutions on the market aimed at a lighter form of ebike than the typical 22kg+ of a 'standard' mid-drive, torque sensing bike. The main feature is a smaller than typical battery, because the working assumption is that the rider will not use assistance all the time, so they won't need a big battery.

 

Do not go that way unless you are sure that fits your likely use. You'll just find yourself buying the optional range extender (aka extra battery) and wishing you had bought something different in the first place.

 

The other maker in that space is Fazua, which is mid-drive torque sensing with small battery, which only manages good range because its maximum assistance is very low.

 

Unless you have a very good reason, stick with a normal mid-drive, from the higher torque end of the range, paired with at least a 625Wh battery. It will do anything you want, all day long, and you can work as hard as you like by turning the assistance level down.

 

About the only 'really good reason' is wanting a bit of help keeping up with non electric group rides, where a fair time is spent above 25km/h riding without assistance. Either the Mahle or the Fazua might suit you there, but be really sure it is what you need first i.e. is it as easy to ride above 25km/h without assistance as you need it to be?

This is very helpful thank you

I don't see the Mahle X35 mentioned all that much on this site. It gets quite a few discussions on the Cycling UK site (https://forum.cyclinguk.org/viewforum.php?f=55) with its different audience. My impression from browsing these is that it sees more than its fair share of problems. That may be completely unfair, but I suggest you look for yourself before opting for one of these.

Thanks for your assistance and clarity

Hi everyone, first post here, so please be kind!

 

I’ve owned a few e-bikes over the years, mainly leisure models that have been toted around on the back of our motorhome. Now, I’m looking for something different. I’d like a bike that I can enjoy riding for fun, ideally a gravelroad bike with some electric support—just enough to help out my aging legs!

 

I’m hoping to find a system that measures the pressure I apply to the pedals, rather than just responding to how fast they’re turning. In other words, I want the assistance to match my effort based on pedal pressure and the power level I’ve selected, rather than simply kicking in when the pedals are moving. I’ve had bikes that work on pedal rotation, but I find that experience less rewarding.

 

If anyone can recommend bikes or systems that offer this more responsive, natural-feeling assistance, I’d really appreciate it! Thanks in advance for your help.

 

BTW I’m currently looking at Ribble CGR el bikes. Which might help you understand where my budget falls.

How heavy are you if you don't mind?

83-85kg depending on the weather, regular legs, long torso, topping out at 6’1”

 

Sagittarius, I like movies, foreign travel walks in the countryside

83-85kg depending on the weather, regular legs, long torso, topping out at 6’1”

 

Sagittarius, I like movies, foreign travel walks in the countryside

Weight is a significant characteristic needed to determine how much power you need, also, the type of hills you wish to climb. Without those two pieces of information, nobody can make a sensible recommendation for what would be suitable for you.

As for hills, I live in Rutland there are few hills of any size around here, some long inclines but nothing over 3%

83-85kg is good average, any e-bike will do more or less, depending on how far you want to go.

Take a look at the £999 Camino: https://wooshbikes.co.uk/?camino

As for hills, I live in Rutland there are few hills of any size around here, some long inclines but nothing over 3%

As Woosh says, at 85 kg and no significant hills, any ebike will be sufficient. I wouldn't get too hung up on the type of pedal sensor. What's more important is the way the controller controls the power. If you had a bike that truly gave power in proportion to how hard you pedalled, you'd hate it. Very few actually work like that because it's terrible.