E bike for 6 mile (each way) commute and exploring

413x

413x

413x

Caporegime
Joined
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Llaneirwg
Looking for a bike suitable for above

I was looking at the 1k carrera Cross bike with drop handle bars.

I'm used to a racing bike but haven't ridden in a few years. I want an ebike for

Not being sweaty in office
I have a few knee issues and not sure if a non electric is suitable
Id like to explore the coastal path and other parts of Wales and my road bike is too fragile

Any suggestions?

Seems very limited under 2k..amd that bike is 1k!

For reference I have had a cheap carrera virtuoso road bike from when I was 14! Now 34

Note, I think an e bike will save me needing a car!
 
Cube Acid Hybrid probably worth a look, retail about £1700

or

Haibike Sduro Hardseven retails for a similar price.

Both are electric and depending on your weight should be good for 30-60 miles range in Eco or 15-25 in High/Turbo mode.

Cube has 500wh, Haibike 400wh batteries so range is varied.
 
I've just done the same thing, dodgy knees but love riding my MTB.

I had a voodoo bizango hardtail, just bought the e-bike version last week. It's £2k - really impressed with it so far and already done 80 miles since I've had it. I looked at the Haibike and Cube also.
 
Walkerie said:
I've just done the same thing, dodgy knees but love riding my MTB.

I had a voodoo bizango hardtail, just bought the e-bike version last week. It's £2k - really impressed with it so far and already done 80 miles since I've had it. I looked at the Haibike and Cube also.
Click to expand...

How do you get on with it?
I'm 34 and obviously didn't expect dodgy knees. No fun.


Both you guys are suggesting the upper price bikes
At 2k is it better to get a normal bike and a conversion kit?
 
MadMossy said:
Cube Acid Hybrid probably worth a look, retail about £1700

or

Haibike Sduro Hardseven retails for a similar price.

Both are electric and depending on your weight should be good for 30-60 miles range in Eco or 15-25 in High/Turbo mode.

Cube has 500wh, Haibike 400wh batteries so range is varied.
Click to expand...

Cube looks good actually. Bit pricy but the one I was looking at doesn't look up to exploring.
 
Get what you pay for really, you can go halfrauds and buy some random ebike for under £1000 and it'll function just about, but if your planning on longer rides or ride a lot, paying a bit more for something that is likely to be more durable and have better components is worth it in the longterm.

It's also worth learning how to do any maintenance yourself otherwise you'll be spending a fortune on even basic repairs.
 
MadMossy said:
Get what you pay for really, you can go halfrauds and buy some random ebike for under £1000 and it'll function just about, but if your planning on longer rides or ride a lot, paying a bit more for something that is likely to be more durable and have better components is worth it in the longterm.

It's also worth learning how to do any maintenance yourself otherwise you'll be spending a fortune on even basic repairs.
Click to expand...
To be fair my carrera Road bike is still going after having it 20 years.

Is that one thing About these electric bikes.. How can you self repair them if all electronics are hidden away?
 
Self repair basically means buying new components and connecting them up.

It can be an expensive learning cycle !

eg: I upgraded my 200 watt el cheapo ebike to a 1500w at 48v. <--- it was ancient and would've been binned so I decided to try and self upgrade it.

Then after a while I decided to upgrade it it to 72v (84v fully charged) to try and hit the magic 40mph ! (It does over 50mph now)

This is an expensive thing to do

Building my own battery meant buying a spot welder.. Pure nickel strips.. yada yada yada (cheaper to buy a prebuilt battery)
And a Sabvoton Controller & a kick ass BMS

Now the screen has died (750c) and I moronically assumed LCD displays would be 5v compatible so I burnt out 3 48v screens I had spare (BRAND NEW- Unused) discovering this !
It turns out to be a Sabvoton bug where re-gen kicks more than the display can handle.
When the battery is full and re-gen kicks in all that extra juice has to go somewhere so it ends up in the display and blows it !

Good job this is my hobby <--- Gotta waste yer money on something, right ?

I've just ordered this display as a replacement... Gotta turn re-gen off now which is a bummer because I use it for braking.
 
Feels like it's safer to get one of the standard e bikes.

I kind of liked I could pick my bike and then attach a battery and motor but sounds like to much hassle
 
413x said:
Feels like it's safer to get one of the standard e bikes.

I kind of liked I could pick my bike and then attach a battery and motor but sounds like to much hassle
Click to expand...

The 48v I've dropped back to was no hassle.
Just bolt on.. connect & go

My hassle is because I wanted the extra oooomph.

48v felt like the Dogz when I first upgraded to it but when you feel the acceleration of 72v.. Well.. 48v now feels like driving a Trabant.

It should be noted that I only do about 20mph generally but when I'm coming home at 03:00 -------------------------> Whoosh

It's the acceleration that's the rush
 
Outcast said:
The 48v I've dropped back to was no hassle.
Just bolt on.. connect & go

My hassle is because I wanted the extra oooomph.

48v felt like the Dogz when I first upgraded to it but when you feel the acceleration of 72v.. Well.. 48v now feels like driving a Trabant.

It should be noted that I only do about 20mph generally but when I'm coming home at 03:00 -------------------------> Whoosh

It's the acceleration that's the rush
Click to expand...


The appeal of the DIY is that freedom

The negative is that its a lot messier.
I'm not sure. But is it also true that the off the shelf ebike has a better 'assist' rather than just power settings? But I may be wrong.
 
Outcast said:
The 48v I've dropped back to was no hassle.
Just bolt on.. connect & go

My hassle is because I wanted the extra oooomph.

48v felt like the Dogz when I first upgraded to it but when you feel the acceleration of 72v.. Well.. 48v now feels like driving a Trabant.

It should be noted that I only do about 20mph generally but when I'm coming home at 03:00 -------------------------> Whoosh

It's the acceleration that's the rush
Click to expand...

Going to assume that your bike is dvla registered and has insurance if your riding on public roads with appropriate safety equipment like a motor cycle helmet. If not, I hope the Police don't catch you.

Remember if your "ebike" has throttle control and goes more than 8mph without pedaling it's a Moped/Motorbike and requires registration and insurance like one.
 
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413x said:
The appeal of the DIY is that freedom

The negative is that its a lot messier.
I'm not sure. But is it also true that the off the shelf ebike has a better 'assist' rather than just power settings? But I may be wrong.
Click to expand...


Not really.
Just choose a kit that has a pedelec ring. They nearly all do anyway.
The ring goes on your crank. As you pedal, like an ABS ring it "senses" what effort you're putting in & matches it... Or increases if you select more assist.
 
My bike came.
Love it. Its like pedalling on flat ground all the time. I like how you still have to pedal but the resistance doesn't really change.

Did 16 miles on it, but of road, bit of rough path (Welsh coastal path) on Monday evening. No knee pain as of yet at all.

It feels a massive bike compared to my road bike. (but I've had that since 14)

It is heavy! Having to lift it over gates! Think it's 20-25kg!

lGnuY5cl.jpg
 
They are indeed heavy, mines 24kg so a bit of a beast to lift over gates but like you said its the ultimate hill flattener. Even with the assistance it's still a good workout, you'll often find yourself riding further than you would normally, just because if you do get tired, you know you have the assistance to help get you back.
 
MadMossy said:
They are indeed heavy, mines 24kg so a bit of a beast to lift over gates but like you said its the ultimate hill flattener. Even with the assistance it's still a good workout, you'll often find yourself riding further than you would normally, just because if you do get tired, you know you have the assistance to help get you back.
Click to expand...

Yeah that's exactly it. I was going to take it out for a little ride. Ended up 16 miles as basically doing 15mph plus whole time.
It's second time I've been on a bike in over a year.
Took my road bike out few weeks ago. Did 10 miles, hurt knees a bit on hard hills.

Got a sore crotch as I stupidly wore my normal shorts as just didn't plan on that ride length! :o
 
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