Ebike owners

[ShinySideUp]

Anyone know anything about ebikes?

I'm thinking of buying an ebike mountain bike but one question sticks out above all the others: when the battery finally dies, will I always be able to buy another?

I have a normal MTB, I have this one for 10 years, If I have it for another 20 years I will still be able to buy parts for it. If I buy an ebike, the battery is going to last maybe five to seven years, will I still be able to buy a replacement battery or will I just have a very expensive, very heavy mountain bike that is virtually useless? I'd ask a dealer but they are going to say 'of course we'll stock the batteries for ever'. Has anyone got experience of replacing ebike batteries?

Edit: Just after I originally posted this message, some 15 minutes ago, something came to mind that made me laugh out loud with the absurdity of the question. If I were 30 years old I might have to be concerned about the above but it suddenly occurred to me that in a couple of months I shall be 68 years old, if the battery lasts five years will I really give a s*** if I can't get an easy replacement when I'm aged 72?! I think my biggest worry will be 'where did I leave my bike?' or 'I wonder if I own a bike?'. Problem solved.

 

[the black fox]

You can say the same about any modern tech item really , as you so rightly say it’s your body wearing out that’s the problem .. myself I find that after heart failure a few years ago if I now want something I buy it ,there’s no pockets in a shroud

 

[Nod]

Most batteries are made from standard cells so, in theory, it should always be possible to get a battery recelled.

There are kits available to convert any bike to an e-bike.

 

[ShinySideUp]

Most batteries are made from standard cells so, in theory, it should always be possible to get a battery recelled.

There are kits available to convert any bike to an e-bike.

I got so fixated on ebikes that it never occurred to me that I could keep my own bike (which is a pretty good spec already) and convert it to electric. I have looked at several options since reading your message and have signed up for a Swytch conversion when the next iteration is released. It's not as highly powered as many conversions and certainly not as powerful as a dedicated ebike but I really don't need help all the time, just the really steep hills, although there a lot round here. Thanks for the enlightenment .

 

[Mick616]

I converted my mountain bike with a bafang mid drive motor and love it. Get me all over the place, up the hills and through the woods. Brilliant.

 

[ShinySideUp]

I converted my mountain bike with a bafang mid drive motor and love it. Get me all over the place, up the hills and through the woods. Brilliant.

Watched a video of a guy installing one of those it seemed fairly straightforward but I can see it could be fraught with pitfalls if one is light on equipment (or skill).

How much did you pay, including battery?

 

[u8myufo]

If it were me i`d perhaps weigh up the option of wanting a mobility scooter in the near foreseeable Martin and opt for an off -road version, just a thought

 

[ShinySideUp]

If it were me i`d perhaps weigh up the option of wanting a mobility scooter in the near foreseeable Martin and opt for an off -road version, just a thought

Hey, don't write me off, there's life in the old dog yet.

 

[Mick616]

Watched a video of a guy installing one of those it seemed fairly straightforward but I can see it could be fraught with pitfalls if one is light on equipment (or skill).

How much did you pay, including battery?

it was about £800 for the kit I got from Ali Express, I got the 750 watt motor and 52 volt battery, I can easliy do 30 od mile and still hve 65 - 70% life left and yes, it easy to install if yoy watch the tube vids.

 

[Mr Bump]

ive got a cheap chinese ebike over at the house on Crete and its really good i bought it when i managed to get over there for 3 months when lockdown eased in the first covid wave. i paid about 800 euros for it we now have a kymco 175 scooter as well but the ebike did me solid for the 3 months , they are great if you just flash the firmware and change the assist into just twist and go which is what mine is basically an electric scooter , it will do about 25km on a charge with a top speed of 22km/hour it will go faster by changing the firmware but the motor can get hot

 

[Deleted member 95736]

I just fitted a Swytch kit for a friend and have ordered another for my wife. The other one on the market which is in a similar vein to the Swytch kit is Cytronex. I think e-bikes are great and whilst I'm not there yet, been out for 20 miles this morning on the road bike, I won't have any hesitation adding some e-power in the future when I need it. Quite like the look of the current Ribbles, the Gravel AL e looks cool.

 

[ShinySideUp]

I decided that with the many, many hills around here, a modification to my own bike was just not going to cut it so I went off the ebike shop today and bought myself a commercially produced jobby. I'd never ridden an ebike before so was unsure what to expect; oh what joy. It's like your dad was behind you when you were a kid giving you a helping hand, then you switch it up to tour or even turbo mode and it feels like you are being towed behind a car. I have prevaricated and procrastinated for days over whether to buy this bike, whether or not it's a frivolity, unnecessary and a sop to my shopaholicness but 'the black fox' above did it for me when he wrote:

'You can say the same about any modern tech item really , as you so rightly say it’s your body wearing out that’s the problem .. myself I find that after heart failure a few years ago if I now want something I buy it ,there’s no pockets in a shroud'

and the die was cast and I am now the proud owner of a new eMTB. Unfortunately, the weather is closing in for a few days now, hey ho, I can wait.

 

[Nod]

they are great if you just flash the firmware and change the assist into just twist and go which is what mine is basically an electric scooter , it will do about 25km on a charge with a top speed of 22km/hour it will go faster by changing the firmware but the motor can get hot

All illegal in the UK.

 

[F1.2]

I have an Ebike , It uses Bosch drive and battery units, It's a pedal assist model
No throttle , 5 options on the assist , 1 being minimal and 5 being maximum , I normally use No2 , Very few hills in Lincolnshire , If the conditions are windy and I am cycling into the wind I crank it up to No 3 for a bit more assist , All in all great fun and a small amount of exercise for my old body .

 

[THIRTYFIVEMILL]

it was about £800 for the kit I got from Ali Express, I got the 750 watt motor and 52 volt battery, I can easliy do 30 od mile and still hve 65 - 70% life left and yes, it easy to install if yoy watch the tube vids.

Folks should be aware, tho, that 250w is the maximum power electric motor that can be installed on a bike that will be used on UK public roads.

 

[Mr Bump]

All illegal in the UK.

I don't think i know anyone of my UK ebike friends that has NOT derestricted there's, that is the whole point off ebikes?
that is the first think you do

 

[Deleted member 95736]

I decided that with the many, many hills around here, a modification to my own bike was just not going to cut it so I went off the ebike shop today and bought myself a commercially produced jobby. I'd never ridden an ebike before so was unsure what to expect; oh what joy. It's like your dad was behind you when you were a kid giving you a helping hand, then you switch it up to tour or even turbo mode and it feels like you are being towed behind a car. I have prevaricated and procrastinated for days over whether to buy this bike, whether or not it's a frivolity, unnecessary and a sop to my shopaholicness but 'the black fox' above did it for me when he wrote:

'You can say the same about any modern tech item really , as you so rightly say it’s your body wearing out that’s the problem .. myself I find that after heart failure a few years ago if I now want something I buy it ,there’s no pockets in a shroud'

and the die was cast and I am now the proud owner of a new eMTB. Unfortunately, the weather is closing in for a few days now, hey ho, I can wait.

I think if I lived where you live I'd already have a shiny e-bike!

 

[stumac]

I decided that with the many, many hills around here, a modification to my own bike was just not going to cut it so I went off the ebike shop today and bought myself a commercially produced jobby. I'd never ridden an ebike before so was unsure what to expect; oh what joy. It's like your dad was behind you when you were a kid giving you a helping hand, then you switch it up to tour or even turbo mode and it feels like you are being towed behind a car. I have prevaricated and procrastinated for days over whether to buy this bike, whether or not it's a frivolity, unnecessary and a sop to my shopaholicness but 'the black fox' above did it for me when he wrote:

'You can say the same about any modern tech item really , as you so rightly say it’s your body wearing out that’s the problem .. myself I find that after heart failure a few years ago if I now want something I buy it ,there’s no pockets in a shroud'

and the die was cast and I am now the proud owner of a new eMTB. Unfortunately, the weather is closing in for a few days now, hey ho, I can wait.

The weather's closing in??? There's nothing more fun than an ebike in the mud!!!

 

[Mr Bump]

I decided that with the many, many hills around here, a modification to my own bike was just not going to cut it so I went off the ebike shop today and bought myself a commercially produced jobby. I'd never ridden an ebike before so was unsure what to expect; oh what joy. It's like your dad was behind you when you were a kid giving you a helping hand, then you switch it up to tour or even turbo mode and it feels like you are being towed behind a car. I have prevaricated and procrastinated for days over whether to buy this bike, whether or not it's a frivolity, unnecessary and a sop to my shopaholicness but 'the black fox' above did it for me when he wrote:

'You can say the same about any modern tech item really , as you so rightly say it’s your body wearing out that’s the problem .. myself I find that after heart failure a few years ago if I now want something I buy it ,there’s no pockets in a shroud'

and the die was cast and I am now the proud owner of a new eMTB. Unfortunately, the weather is closing in for a few days now, hey ho, I can wait.

when i bought mine on Crete I used it to carry small amounts of building supplies up from the local town, i fitted a rack to the back and tie wrapped a small plastic crate to the rack i could get large tubs of exterior paint in it which were 15 litres my ebike is just a dirt cheap tax free local scooter

 

[mikew]

Anyone know anything about ebikes?

I'm thinking of buying an ebike mountain bike but one question sticks out above all the others: when the battery finally dies, will I always be able to buy another?

I have a normal MTB, I have this one for 10 years, If I have it for another 20 years I will still be able to buy parts for it. If I buy an ebike, the battery is going to last maybe five to seven years, will I still be able to buy a replacement battery or will I just have a very expensive, very heavy mountain bike that is virtually useless? I'd ask a dealer but they are going to say 'of course we'll stock the batteries for ever'. Has anyone got experience of replacing ebike batteries?

Edit: Just after I originally posted this message, some 15 minutes ago, something came to mind that made me laugh out loud with the absurdity of the question. If I were 30 years old I might have to be concerned about the above but it suddenly occurred to me that in a couple of months I shall be 68 years old, if the battery lasts five years will I really give a s*** if I can't get an easy replacement when I'm aged 72?! I think my biggest worry will be 'where did I leave my bike?' or 'I wonder if I own a bike?'. Problem solved.

I am now on a mobility scooters but this was my ebike and trailer

 

[ShinySideUp]

I don't think i know anyone of my UK ebike friends that has NOT derestricted there's, that is the whole point off ebikes?
that is the first think you do

I shan't be derestricting mine, I want it for the exercise but with easier hillclimbing, if I want to go fast under power I'll roll out my Triumph Sprint ST 1050 and get somewhere quickly with that.

 

[Tobers]

Good for you. I got bored going up hills and bought a Specialised Levo SL (lightweight half-power version of the Levo) and haven’t looked back. Absolutely fantastic bike. You can still put in the same effort as with a normal bike and get the same heart rate, but you get the hills done much faster and can cover more miles, and have an absolutely superb time. Recommended.

 

[ShinySideUp]

Good for you. I got bored going up hills and bought a Specialised Levo SL (lightweight half-power version of the Levo) and haven’t looked back. Absolutely fantastic bike. You can still put in the same effort as with a normal bike and get the same heart rate, but you get the hills done much faster and can cover more miles, and have an absolutely superb time. Recommended.

Absolutely.