Electric Bike Conversion Kit or Electric Bike?
- Thread starter zYx
- Start date
I'd rather not get arrested for operating a motor vehicle without mot or insurance.
Even the cycle track?
The ability to dismount (or legally questionably cycle) onto the pavements or go across pedestrian crossings is invaluable in getting past traffic and dodgy lights. Plus there is no way you could get past some of the traffic I've been past on a motorbike, they are just too big.
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Man of Honour
That is sig worthy, want to try that again
My first 1.5 miles is on a cycle lane where the cars and motor bikes are deadlock.
I then hit another main road where I can then go over on another cycle lane cutting out around 1.5 miles that cars and motorbikes have to do to get to the same place it took me 1/4 mile.
While cars are queuing to get onto the A500 I naughtily get on the pavement to bypass them all and even done it in front of coppers who won't say a thing.
And so on .......................
That was brilliant and made me chuckle, thanks.
Well I've owned a motorbike, it's simple, filter, filter, filter, oh look you're past all that traffic. The key is to have some balls, you can fit through that gap.
Then there's overtaking, piece of urine on a bike (assuming it's a proper bike and no wimpy little thing), no getting stuck behind lorries.
And the added bonus of car drivers not calling you names for slowing them down.
Cycle paths are pretty few and far between as well, I can't remember the last time I saw one.
Then there's overtaking, piece of urine on a bike (assuming it's a proper bike and no wimpy little thing), no getting stuck behind lorries.
And the added bonus of car drivers not calling you names for slowing them down.
Cycle paths are pretty few and far between as well, I can't remember the last time I saw one.
Man of Honour
You can only filter on a motorbike if you've got somewhere to go otherwise you are stuck in traffic and I'll guarantee that first 1.5 mile and second 1.5 mile of my journey you will be stuck however if you're out on the A roads or motorways then you have the advantage.
We won't even get into the insurance, MOT, VED and petrol you will have to buy plus in my case I would have to pay £70 a year parking if I was on a motorbike.
Deleted member 66701
D
Deleted member 66701
I don't even know why we're comparing ebiks and motorbikes - two different machines for two different purposes. The only thing they have in common if that they are a form of transport.
We may as well be comparing snow mobiles to helicopters!
Motorist in non-observant shocker!
We may as well be comparing snow mobiles to helicopters!
Motorist in non-observant shocker!
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Man of Honour
Exactly, mind you the poster has made a statement in another thread that he is healthier now he's started smoking again so I think we know what we're dealing with
Deleted member 66701
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Deleted member 66701
New kit arrived today:-
Bafang BBS02 48v500w crank drive.
Started a build thread here if anyones interested.
Bafang BBS02 48v500w crank drive.
Started a build thread here if anyones interested.
Awesome, bloody awesome
hi dimple, i joined overclockers just to talk to you about the cyclotricity lol
I was wondering, have you had a look at the woosh electric bikes? or did you go straight into the cyclotricity?
also, if derestricted, what is the max speed on the flat that you are able to get from it?
also, wesley, i heard and saw from earlier posts you have the cyclotricity also? any thoughts? im 25 years old, looking to get something to get to work without sweating then riding it back no motor. 5ft 8, 74kg in weight. would you recommend me the cyclotricity? considering the price, the woosh bikes have bigger batteries at the same price?
Man of Honour
I'm going to be very honest with you here because since I bought it I've had a nightmare but everything has been fixed and Cyclotricity support have been excellent.
It would be a long story to list in detail but I've made some major alterations to the bike and at the moment I'm very happy.
Tyres = Changed them for Schwalbe Silento's and I haven't had a problem since.
Brake discs = they were bloody awful and nearly got me killed but I bought some Avid BB7s and feel really safe with them. Avid BB5s would fit better though.
The front shock decided to jam and now I have a more expensive model on (not sure which one).
The only electrical problem I've had is that the motor kept turning off when I was going up a steep hill but I finally tracked down the problem. By the left pedal is a magnet that revolves and that was slipping so not going past a sensor, I fixed it by putting elastic bands in to tighten it up.
I personally like to put the effort in when commuting so leave the power off for at least 90% of the journey and it is quite a heavy bike to ride. It makes me laugh that other cyclists call it cheating but I had to ride my road bike for 2 weeks while it was repaired and the road bike is so light it felt like cheating compared to the electric.
To get my electric to feel like my road bike I have to have it on pedal assist 3 but I stay anywhere between zero and one for most of my journey so I get a much better workout.
The bike is however a Godsend when the weather was really bad and the wind was stopping me dead in my tracks so I just gave a bit of throttle and other cyclists walking their bikes must have thought I was awesome.
When I derestricted I could get it up to about 25mph on the flat with just throttle alone but that will eat into your battery so I put it back to 15 mph. You will find that once you get to 15 mph the motor cuts off but it is much easier to pedal because you're already going at speed. Other cyclists don't realise that once you hit 15 mph (ok 15.5) you have no motor helping and it is all you doing the work.
I would recommend the bike but be aware that at £799 you are paying peanuts and you need to upgrade parts to bring it to spec but also be aware that I think I'm the only Cyclotricity customer who has had problems and Zak from support keeps contacting me for updates.
I'm now considering fitting the Cyclotricity kit to my Carrera Subway or I am seriously considering this - http://smartebike.co.uk/products/bh-emotion-xenion-650
This is a serious bit of kit and it felt like I was riding a Ferrari compared to the Cyclotricity.
I will check out the Whoosh.
Woosh bikes are awful, avoid.
I've had one myself and have had no end of problems with the product, and the company is unprofessional, even the manuals have errors in them with statements that apply to different bikes they sell instead of the one you bought.
The Woosh Sirocco CD was advertised as being a mountain bike/hill climbing bike but lacked any mount for a disk brake on the rear.
Within less than a year: battery failed, front brake catastrophically failed, pedal sensor failed, computer screen was wrecked by condensation, cheap tat accessories like the front light fell off, derailleur started malfunctioning, chain and cassette had to be replaced.
I sent my bike in for repair and it came back still not working, and they actually charged £10 to return it to me! So they then sent a courier to collect the battery when I wasn't in as they assumed that because I worked from home I was in 24/7 and required no advanced notice of collection.
They even dropped the bike in the workshop which required me using a crowbar to gain access to the battery compartment again, and they tried to blame the damage on the courier which is impossible because not only did I unload it from the van myself, but the box was bomb proof, there is no way that a thick piece of metal could have been bent like that if it had been dropped while still in the box.And although I haven't tested it, from experience I would say the battery is no where near the stated 540Wh, it can barely manage 20miles on a full charge, there is a major loss in power output at that point too. The battery should be capable of running the motor at full unrestricted speed for nearly 2 hours, and it certainly does not!
In addition to that the electronics of it were awful, assistance levels aren't based on targeted torque or speed, so while you could cycle fine on low assistance on the flat, you would have to manually increase assistance to climb hills, and when you reached the 15mph limit power would just die all at once instead of a gradual reduction, so it was on-off on-off like a yo-yo.
The one year warranty on the frame is very short, and now I can see why it is such a short period.
£800 pre built electric bikes are something to be avoided if mine and Dimple's experiences are anything to go buy.
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interesting Dimple.....
in the mornings, id like to throttle it all the way to work, not really throttle only, but enough to make me NOT sweat when on my morning commute, on the way back from work, i wouldnt like to use the motor at all, thats my only concern, but I would however, sometimes like to ride throttle only, enjoy the scenery, you know, joy ride sometimes.
how long do you reckon the battery will last at 20-25mph? throttle + some peddle to not sweat?
in the mornings, id like to throttle it all the way to work, not really throttle only, but enough to make me NOT sweat when on my morning commute, on the way back from work, i wouldnt like to use the motor at all, thats my only concern, but I would however, sometimes like to ride throttle only, enjoy the scenery, you know, joy ride sometimes.
how long do you reckon the battery will last at 20-25mph? throttle + some peddle to not sweat?
Man of Honour
ebikenewb, I presume you are BikesBikesBikes?
If your commute is 13 miles just one way I would avoid the Stealth and other similar bikes that use that system.
My commute is 10 miles a day and just to be on the safe side I charge every 2 days but would never try and go over that.
Look for bikes with a much better battery life.
Just seen, you joined the thread after BikesBikesBikes.
I reckon you need to spend more money to get the bike you want.
If your commute is 13 miles just one way I would avoid the Stealth and other similar bikes that use that system.
My commute is 10 miles a day and just to be on the safe side I charge every 2 days but would never try and go over that.
Look for bikes with a much better battery life.
Just seen, you joined the thread after BikesBikesBikes.
I reckon you need to spend more money to get the bike you want.
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The 36v 15Ah battery they use on a lot of their bikes. The 9Ah Samsung one they use on their other bikes is probably more accurately stated.
No throttle is a bit hazardous, what if you need to start pedaling up a hill you're stationary on? Try switching from 5th to 1st gear and your chain will probably come off. The 8.4Ah battery is a little on the low side too.
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Man of Honour
No throttle is a downer, when you've got one you realise how great it is in certain areas.
Man of Honour
Being honest, no.
When you come to Christmas time and the weather is really bad you will come to depend on the assist even more and I personally think the battery will fail before you get home unless you are willing to charge at work.
You need to look at battery specs more and valid claims of what manufacturers bikes can do in different modes.
I have experience of riding a very heavy bike home with no power on a couple of times.
I don't mind riding without power when I decide I want to but I don't like to be dictated to if you know what I mean.