How useful is an ebike really? (1 Viewer)

Kannon Fodda

LIFE MEMBER
Feb 26, 2019
2,533
7,837
Seek and Ye May Find
Funster No
58,768
MH
Autotrail V-line 540
Exp
I Make Schoolboy Errors!
I tip the scales at 18 stone. I reckon on a little over 40 miles in eco from a 500Wh Bosch battery on a mix of gravelled forest tracks and some tarmac on a plus width tyred mountain bike. For my longer days out I'll carry a spare battery strapped to the bike's crossbar to swap over.
 

Steve N Tracy

LIFE MEMBER
Jun 1, 2015
1,222
3,705
Southampton
Funster No
36,661
MH
A Class
Exp
4 Years
I am 94 kgs used to get about 35 miles out of a 13amp battery on the low to medium assistance setting, we changed to a couple of Cube Kathmandu Bosch crank drive bikes with the 625 amp battery the longest ride so far is 38 miles and still had another 35 miles estimated range on the tour setting.
 
Jan 22, 2013
146
196
Dorchester
Funster No
24,382
MH
C class
Exp
since 2010
We get a reliable 55 miles out of our 500wh bosch systems. Up hill and on alot of by ways. Me 84kg (was 94kg) her not so heavy.
We arent cyclists, but we enjoy going for a 20 mile ride on bridleways. Ebikes for us are enablers, they help us get a bit fitter, help us see life at a slower pace and getting off the sofa is a pleasure.

Yes I can pedal faster than 15mph, indeed for the first few weeks of ownership I used to pedal in smug mode most of the time. I have got over that now and use min assist generally.
They have enabled us to do 1000miles of cycling, much of it on bridleways around Dorchester that we havent explored in the 30 years we have lived here.
I am not well hard or even highly motivated, but we are both fitter, and our steam bikes have gone to an appreciative home.
Jon

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Jun 22, 2012
3,717
40,469
Sherborne Dorset
Funster No
21,586
MH
Van Conversion
Exp
Since 2012
We have gepida reptila ebikes from nationwide in Taunton as they are step through and upright position. We are pleased with them. I am a real wimp about cycling and am happiest on cycle paths. I am fit but don’t particularly enjoy cycling, Nicks knees are worn from years of football and he enjoys the cycling so it’s a good compromise for us. If it’s really hilly now I won’t be put off and whinge! It’s all very well people saying they are unnecessary and you can get fit enough to ride a normal bike but I really can’t be arsed, I will save that for my spin class where no muppet in a car is trying to kill me. Ebikes are for relaxing.
 
Apr 22, 2018
6,779
12,489
Herts.
Funster No
53,503
MH
Adria Coral lowline
Was buying some used ebikes but got let down by seller, so popped along to the bike shop yesterday to have a go. Soon left when I was told “you need to be spending £2300 (per bike), to get something decent to start on”. Ehhh £5000 for a pair of bikes. I don’t think so. I’m out.
 

Chez Stevens

Free Member
Jun 30, 2020
3
20
Funster No
72,452
MH
Bürstner Lyseo 690 G
Exp
Since 2018
We have a 7m that tows a Yoremorque wind down CC4 trailer, wind down rail for the scooter and comes with room for 2 bikes at the front( since modified, see below). I had a spinal cord tumour removed 6 years ago that has greatly reduced my leg strength. Being a keen cyclist I carried on, but my wife was getting bored behind me. We bought 2 x eBikes (mine is a Rosebike Watt Evo with Rohloff), I rarely take it out of tour but it allows me not to worry about routing (we normally cover 200km per week). We also have a Vespa Primavera 125 that gets winched onto the trailer.
I have recently modified the trailer to carry 2 eBikes on the back (either side of scooter), put a large aluminium box where the normal bikes lived at the front. Just in the process of fitting a Fiat Ducato wind down carrier under the scooter rail for the camping car. Reducing the camping car weight by 36kg (price of kit €159 delivered).

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

John Barrett

Free Member
Jan 19, 2020
1,963
15,246
Hamble, Southampton.
Funster No
68,164
MH
One Eyed in Hamble!
Exp
Since 2012
Was buying some used ebikes but got let down by seller, so popped along to the bike shop yesterday to have a go. Soon left when I was told “you need to be spending £2300 (per bike), to get something decent to start on”. Ehhh £5000 for a pair of bikes. I don’t think so. I’m out.

Facebook marketplace, two separate adverts. Folding eco_bikes as new £250 each. £800 new. Not as clever as the wonders described above, but good enough for shopping!
 

Kiwijubie

Free Member
Jun 29, 2020
1
3
Funster No
72,424
MH
HymerB534
Exp
since 2019
I bought mine last year for our trip around Norway, Sweden and Denmark, a lot of the area was flat but with the ebike I didnt spend each bike ride staring at my husbands back end... I was able to keep up and even pass him on the longer uphills ( he is on a normal bike) . I bought the evobike off the tv channel (on sale) and it has been excellent. Without the ebike we wouldn't go biking because the the gap in our cycling abilities.
 
Aug 9, 2018
45
44
Funster No
55,499
E-bikes YES. We are happy to go anywhere now and not worry about the steep hill round the next bend (happens a lot where we love) and peddle unless we need the power to get up hills. We have cycled 50 miles only using about 20% of the battery and, even on a very hilly ride, we have covered 30 miles and used no more than 60% of the battery. We have always enjoyed cycling but I am no longer fit enough, or prepared to put the effort in to get that fit, for steep hills so getting the e-bikes has transformed things so we are happy to cycle anywhere.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Lenny HB

LIFE MEMBER
Oct 18, 2007
52,685
147,598
On the coast in West Sussex
Funster No
658
MH
Hymer B678 DL
Exp
Since 2008 & many years tugging
Was buying some used ebikes but got let down by seller, so popped along to the bike shop yesterday to have a go. Soon left when I was told “you need to be spending £2300 (per bike), to get something decent to start on”. Ehhh £5000 for a pair of bikes. I don’t think so. I’m out.
Ours were £2,200 in the UK I bought them from Germany for £1,700.
 

Bustup15

LIFE MEMBER
Jun 25, 2018
1,477
3,694
Durham
Funster No
54,597
MH
Dethleffs I 7820-2
Exp
New to motorhomes 2019
Just bought an ebike from a Funster for Mrs B. Thinking I will have to get one as well for longer trips so ordered a mid drive motor and kit from China (with good reviews for a long time and excellent support reviews!) to convert my old and trusty pedal bike. Under £1000 complete and will be able to move to a new frame in the future if required.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Padders

Free Member
Jul 4, 2019
28
23
Devon
Funster No
62,145
MH
Adria Twin SGX
Exp
Newbie
Another thing about ebikes, they are very desirable by thieves. My bike is peddle power only but it's quite a nice one and I don't leave that anywhere so certainly wouldn't leave an electric one anywhere. They even get nicked of the back of vans 🤔
Best way to deter ebike thieves is take the battery off it when leaving it chained up somewhere, and if you can remove the controller from the handlebars do that too - the bike won’t work without them and the cost of replacing them would make a stolen bike unsellable.
 

Padders

Free Member
Jul 4, 2019
28
23
Devon
Funster No
62,145
MH
Adria Twin SGX
Exp
Newbie
The best way to answer the question “how useful is a ebike anyway?” Is to go and hire / test ride a decent one, you will come back with a smile on your face having thought of a long list of uses to justify buying one 😁
 

Compactliner

Free Member
May 30, 2020
204
184
Funster No
71,224
MH
Carthago Compact 138
Exp
11 yrs
We have gepida reptila ebikes from nationwide in Taunton as they are step through and upright position. We are pleased with them. I am a real wimp about cycling and am happiest on cycle paths. I am fit but don’t particularly enjoy cycling, Nicks knees are worn from years of football and he enjoys the cycling so it’s a good compromise for us. If it’s really hilly now I won’t be put off and whinge! It’s all very well people saying they are unnecessary and you can get fit enough to ride a normal bike but I really can’t be arsed, I will save that for my spin class where no muppet in a car is trying to kill me. Ebikes are for relaxing.
i got my Gepida Alboin there 8 years ago....its been terrific, 16,000 km and still going like a good 'un...
i guess the time to change is a balance between having some decent residual left in the bike before it starts to need more attention....i may have a close look at the market later this year as things have moved a bit since i got mine.
it was just over £2k back then but ive had tremendous value put of it and its still worth good money if i change.
a good investment i reckon.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Georgyn

Free Member
Mar 16, 2020
7
11
Sir Fon
Funster No
69,442
MH
Hymer Exsis I 504
Exp
2006 first MH.
We have tried towing a Ford ka for a couple of years until I got fed up of uncoupling it to turn around after the satnav gave us a wrong one. Then got a Honda lead scooter for another few years, my wife didn't really like that so we bought a couple of e/bikes in France at a feuvert store. They will do approx 50 km round trip and are pedal assist with three nexus gears, we have found these bikes to be really good and will keep them until they need to be replaced. E/bikes for us are definitely the best choice we made.
 

Abacist

LIFE MEMBER
Oct 15, 2013
3,649
10,041
Devon
Funster No
28,581
MH
N & B Tag Axle
Exp
since 2013
Slightly off topic my son has a mate in the Royal Navy based at Culdrose. He has to commute to work. He has a small motorised platform scooter (looks like a kiddies scooter but with a 2 stroke engine) to get from home to his garage. He is the source of great amusement to the neighbours in full race leathers with his helmet on his little scooter on the way to the garage where he keeps his latest super bike!

He has the last laugh though as he is one of the few remaining Navy divers and was on air sea rescue helicopters for some years. He left the helicopter in raging seas to swim to the lifeboat of the MSC Napoli and rescued all the crew for which he was awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal.
 
Jul 26, 2019
361
3,687
Fife, UK
Funster No
62,712
MH
McLoius Fusion
Exp
Since 2019
I’ve noticed a number of people on ebikes on the site we are staying at and in the local vacinity. Looks like they are becoming more popular. 😃

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

The Coops

LIFE MEMBER
Sep 8, 2019
1,766
33,610
The Fylde
Funster No
63,926
MH
Adria Compact DL
Exp
Yes, thank you
We bought Dc;'s electric bike a dutch style from Decathlon in Dieppe 5 years ago in their sale at E650 ( about £400 at the time) I subsequently bought a chinese 250 Watt kit of e bay for £250 and converted a hybrid town bike I had( dead easy if you have the tools) and have done over 11,000 miles on it since! Its a no brainer as you get older, we all do, you lose the ability to *perform* ahem as well as you did 25 years previously, we get a range of 40 miles on the bikes just make sure on down hill or flat bits to switch off, save the battery for headwinds and uphills Best thing we did . if we need to go further use public transport or a cheap hire car, sorry no credit card cash only oh £9 a day thank you very much!
 

Tony V

Free Member
Jun 5, 2020
105
366
Llyn Peninsula, N Wales
Funster No
71,469
MH
A/S Amethyst
Exp
newish
Was buying some used ebikes but got let down by seller, so popped along to the bike shop yesterday to have a go. Soon left when I was told “you need to be spending £2300 (per bike), to get something decent to start on”. Ehhh £5000 for a pair of bikes. I don’t think so. I’m out.

bought a s/h Ancheer 'mtb'. 250w 13AH battery. A cheapo chinese jobbie - a mountain bike it's not. but for £400 [around £800 new] I'm not complaining. Done 100's of miles on it locally during lockdown and it has'nt let me down once- as long as you look after it you don't need to spen £2K and upwards - especially if just starting out.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Apr 22, 2018
6,779
12,489
Herts.
Funster No
53,503
MH
Adria Coral lowline
bought a s/h Ancheer 'mtb'. 250w 13AH battery. A cheapo chinese jobbie - a mountain bike it's not. but for £400 [around £800 new] I'm not complaining. Done 100's of miles on it locally during lockdown and it has'nt let me down once- as long as you look after it you don't need to spen £2K and upwards - especially if just starting out.
Anniversary just happened, and I’m now much much poorer, and apparently it’s my fault as I’ve mentioned Ebikes 😵😵😵😵😵
 
OP
OP
I
Aug 13, 2017
470
526
Funster No
49,969
Just bought an ebike from a Funster for Mrs B. Thinking I will have to get one as well for longer trips so ordered a mid drive motor and kit from China (with good reviews for a long time and excellent support reviews!) to convert my old and trusty pedal bike. Under £1000 complete and will be able to move to a new frame in the future if required.
Bustup15
Do you have the details of the conversion please?
 

Boris7

Banned
Jan 27, 2020
1,043
12,413
Funster No
68,363
MH
Auto Sleeper Burford
Exp
1 year
Love mine

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Latest journal entries

Funsters who are viewing this thread

Back
Top