E-bikes?
Just thinking about purchasing a couple of electric bikes for the 2018 season in a bid to keep healthy in body, mind and wallet and further enjoy our tours here and abroad. We've not cycled since the kids left home and motorhoming prior to which four bikes were regularly strapped to the back of our motor-vans. Although I'm told you never forget how to ride a bike I have no idea about electric bikes, the makes, models, systems, accessories required etc. ect.. Any help in this minefield would be most welcomed.
Comments
-
We looked at them, Micky, but discounted them due to their weight. They’re probably fine in a MH garage but heavier than I’d want to carry on a bike rack. The lightest seem to be around 22kg and, even if you remove the batteries, they are still weighty due to the motors.
0 -
Cheers Tinny, I appreciate this, one reason for downsizing our van is to increase payload plus the extra exercise the bikes provided will hopefully mean Mrssf and I will actually loose weight. Probably not as much as 44kg collectively mind!
0 -
Micky, youre right, theres a lot to digest due to different drive systems, front hub, rear hub or centre crank drive...Panasonic, Bosch, Yamaha, Kalkhoff's Impulse etc....
there are so many variables and price is a key one (possibly as in choosing a MH
) as more options become available.rather than bang on about our bikes, I would just recommend two things...
one, have a read of a website like pedelec.com to get into the mode and two, visit somewhere like 50 Cycles (several stores around) as they only do electric bikes and get out and try a few different styles.
Ive done nearly 11,000km on mine in under 4 years and OH probably as many (or even more) on hers as she's had it for 6 years.
re: weight, there are low height towball mounted racks that make for very easy loading, our pals have one.....however, ours live in a garage.
0 -
"re: weight, there are low height towball mounted racks that make for very easy loading, our pals have one...."
The drawback there is needing a towbar which will further reduce the payload.
It's a difficult one for sure.
0 -
Saw this conversion on yahoo news .new rubbee x e bike conversion for your existing bikes
0 -
A couple of posters on here have converted their bikes. Maybe they’ll see this and post.
0 -
We are on our 3rd set of Ebikes.
First set was 12 years ago full size bikes and we carried them on a tow ball mounted bike rack on the back of the car while towing a caravan.
The second set was 20" wheel folding bikes carried on a fiamma bike rack on the rear of the MH (still have them)
The 3rd set of bikes we have recently bought are again full size 1 x 26" 1 x 28" pedelec bikes from 50 cycles, also carried on the rear rack of the MH.
The new bikes are the lightest ones we've had so far at 21 kg without batteries. We don't have a weight problem with our MH so its not an issue for us.
1 -
I had good folding none electric bike and looked into converting it to electric. A kit cost just as much as some of the cheaper electric bikes which I eventually decided to buy instead. I get on fine with the one I bought from >A S Bikes<
peedee
0 -
true, re payload, though i would hope a 6m van (PVC or coachbuilt) would have sufficient payload to carry this, but may depend on the model...
i was also thinking of weight with regard to lifting, obviously a low rack is easier that getting them up onto a higher mounted Fiamma rack.
if i wanted electric bikes as my 'other' mode of transport, i would ensure the van could cope, for us to have a van that couldnt do this would be a deal breaker.
depends on how M gets on with bike and van investigations....
just need to get that balance right...
0 -
It's priorities again. For us, the lekky bikes were little more than an idle thought but it sounds as if they could be more important to Micky.
I'm not sure that a high level rack could take the weight of two e-bikes quite apart from the lifting issue.
0 -
Were you that undecided on your reply that you had to like your own post
Not knowing the OP's personal circumstances, leccy bikes allow more freedom to wander if the legs are not up to it so yes give it a go, and improve your mind to what you see on the adventures. The wallet, well that will take a hit for sure, but with assisted help in pedaling it will definitely benefit health versus nothing at all.
I would not buy without trying the different ones out, such as front hub, crank or rear hub drive. It's a fair amount of spondoolics, so try before you buy.
1 -
Mind? Perhaps you should try exercising yours at times, LL.
0 -
I converted my MTB but it's not necessarily a cheap option. It meant my bike became usable though. It also adds a lot of weight and you definitely need a string framed bike to convert.
As I found that electrifying my MTB meant I could travel quite some distance I bought an electric folding bike for taking away in the van. It was the lightest in my price range at 19kg. (With the battery). However it's no longer available, which is a shame. I bought it from https://bicycles4u.com/ and have been really pleased with it.
Incidentally the link I posted appears to be live without me having to do the complicated link thing
0 -
I'm not sure that a high level rack could take the weight of two e-bikes quite apart from the lifting issue.
We have a Fiamma bike rack on the back of our MH we have been carrying 2 Ebikes on it for the last 5 years to no avail. Rack plated at 60kg bikes total 42kg so plenty spare. OH checks the back wall of the MH regular to make sure there are no stress marks, to date none. Many folk carry their bikes like this.
0 -
I guess you mean you have had no problems when you say "to no avail", TG, although that phrase suggests the contrary.
I'm sure our rack has a lower weight limit. It's certainly something people need to check.
Thats a fair old lump to hoist up onto the rack which was BB's concern.
0 -
My wife is looking for a leccy bike and the link you supplied Jayess has an interesting one. It's foldable but not bothered with that, and interestingly has bigger 20" wheels rather than the standard smaller ones so better stability. Also shaft driven so no maintenance or chain problems and at a very reasonable £600 and something.
OK its at the cheaper end of the market but with light'ish weight alluminium, it seems good for caravaning outings both here and over there.
0 -
I'm thinking of couple of budget electric folders so I shall watch this thread with interest.
0 -
Yes TW I do mean we have had no problems, wrong choice of words on my part that's what you get posting while in the middle of painting didn't proof read.
Lifting them onto the rack isn't a problem ours is below the back window and OH can lift them on there himself if required, although we normally do it as a 2 person lift.
The racks that are higher than ours are often the 'easy lift' type so again shouldn't be an issue as they lower to almost ground level then wind up and lock into place.
1 -
That’s more than I’d like to tackle, TG. It’s easier not to bother but each to their own.
I checked our weight limit and it’s 35kg on the rack. Note, this is not the max the rack itself will hold but, as it's mounted on one rear door of a PVC, it means the total weight has to be supported by the door hinges and 35kg is the limit. Something else for prospective buyers to be aware of.
0 -
Wouldn't like to be without the bikes we use them all the time when away, mostly for shopping and fun rides.
The MH we have came fitted with strengthening bars in the back wall so no worries there. We are still fit and able to lift the bikes to waist high, but I understand your reservations with a PVC, as you say it would be far to much weight all on one door.
That's where these types of threads are useful as everyone sees things differently and has knowledge of different types of vehicles. If we change the MH we would probably go for a garage type next but so far have not found one we like enough to change. One of the main draw backs up here is that there is just not the variety of dealers that the South has.
Edit: WTG your post is almost the same as what we have done, still getting to grips with the new bikes, it certainly makes me work harder than the folding ones did.
0 -
"....I understand your reservations with a PVC, as you say it would be far to much weight all on one door."
It’s not my reservations, TG, but the vehicle manufacturer's recommendation.
0 -
I have to agree with the other members lifting my electric mtb on to the bike rack was some effort on my own. wife's little tesco hopper was so much easier I went out and bought one for myself find they are brill for the money .wife is quite nervous on a bike but happier on cycle routes with no cars. so better to buy more reasonable price bikes as they wont be used that much only on holidays.
0 -
Agree re doing some reading up. My OH is a keen cyclist, all disciplines and I just cannot do the stuff he does, but on advice of someone else on here, he bought a natty conversion kit for my Cube, which is a quality and comfortable bike. It took some fitting, mainly because of the Cube configuration, but for around £350, I now have a superb electric assisted bike! In truth I don't use the motor much, but if I get tired, or he picks one of his "special" rides, I can at least survive! It has however, added considerably to the weight of my bike, even with the battery pack off and put into van. We carry my bike, plus one of OHs none electric bikes on Fiamma rack on back of our MH. Bit of a lift up, but all part of the workout! We also have a great Thule towball mounted tilting rack for on back of car.
There are a lot of legalities around electric bike speeds, so do consider the research!
0 -
yes, they are heavy, but, like TG, we had ours on a Fiamma on the Bolero before we had the garage....60kg limit, from memory.
some Fiamma racks are cantilevered and can 'wind down' via a handle to allow low loading.
0
