Electric bicycles - who buys them?

[272BHP]

Herbs said:

None at all. I bought the EQ version so even with the mudguards and pannier added its still solid.

Where are you based? If anywhere near the south, you are more than welcome to take a look.

Kind of you.

The Cannondale bike I tried has a RRP of over 5k and rattled like hell which was why I asked.

My local bike shop has offered a cycle round the block trial of a Vado SL so I have that option. I also want to see if Canyon have any way of viewing their range as well.

It appears Cowboy come to your house for a test ride so I might book that in as well so at least I can try out 3 quite different options.

[GG89]

I'm in the market for an e-mtb something that can do a bit of everything including just leisurely cycle down the park as it will be my only bike. What deals are out there? Budget 3-4k

[PushedDover]

Will you be 'mountain biking' on it too ?

[Davie]

GG89 said:

I'm in the market for an e-mtb something that can do a bit of everything including just leisurely cycle down the park as it will be my only bike. What deals are out there? Budget 3-4k

That's a massively broad spectrum! Any bike will manage a trundle round the park, though some will be more suited than others... but not any bike will manage a double black at Bike Park Wales

[GG89]

Sorry shouldve clarified it will be used on trails glentress etc

[Davie]

GG89 said:

Sorry shouldve clarified it will be used on trails glentress etc

White a few options, more so if you'd consider a second hand bike... of which there are many for sale and some seriously good buys. Have you ridden an eBike before? If not maybe worth hiring one - eBike Hire Scotland and based at Riders Retreat at Glentress, they've currently got full power Cube FS bikes.

Coincidentally, I have one of their ex-hire bikes... a Ghost and
whilst it's a full power bike and very big, there's little it can't manage at Glentress. Myself on the other hand, I run out of ability way before the bike goes. But that said and done, my non bikey wife rode it to the village shop and back the other day. You just need to research, speak to people, have a ride on some stuff then get what best suits you and what you like.

[272BHP]

Narrowed my choice down to either a Vado SL 4.0 or a Vado SL 5.0 - just cannot work out if the extra components are worth what would be 700 pound extra.

Future Shock 1.5 carbon fork (Rigid aluminium fork on 4.0)
12 speed GX Eagle (SRAM NX on 4.0)
DT Swiss rims Tubeless Ready (generic Specialized wheels on the 4.0 that are not TR from what I can gather)
Tektro HD-R510 (HD-R290 on 4.0)
Integrated rear light as standard
Mastermind TCU

Given I am a notorious upgrader and would probably like to go tubeless quite early maybe it is better to go for the 5.0 rather than have fuss later.

[Hol]

272BHP said:

Narrowed my choice down to either a Vado SL 4.0 or a Vado SL 5.0 - just cannot work out if the extra components are worth what would be 700 pound extra.

Future Shock 1.5 carbon fork (Rigid aluminium fork on 4.0)
12 speed GX Eagle (SRAM NX on 4.0)
DT Swiss rims Tubeless Ready (generic Specialized wheels on the 4.0 that are not TR from what I can gather)
Tektro HD-R510 (HD-R290 on 4.0)
Integrated rear light as standard
Mastermind TCU

Given I am a notorious upgrader and would probably like to go tubeless quite early maybe it is better to go for the 5.0 rather than have fuss later.

To be fair, I think most people upgrade or resize parts to better fit them after the first few long rides.
I know I did.

[Herbs]

272BHP said:

Narrowed my choice down to either a Vado SL 4.0 or a Vado SL 5.0 - just cannot work out if the extra components are worth what would be 700 pound extra.

Future Shock 1.5 carbon fork (Rigid aluminium fork on 4.0)
12 speed GX Eagle (SRAM NX on 4.0)
DT Swiss rims Tubeless Ready (generic Specialized wheels on the 4.0 that are not TR from what I can gather)
Tektro HD-R510 (HD-R290 on 4.0)
Integrated rear light as standard
Mastermind TCU

Given I am a notorious upgrader and would probably like to go tubeless quite early maybe it is better to go for the 5.0 rather than have fuss later.

EQ or non EQ model?

[272BHP]

Herbs said:

EQ or non EQ model?

Non EQ

I will never need to carry anything over and above a rucksack of varying sizes.

[Herbs]

The reason I was asking, is depending on frame size, there is currently a sale on the 4.0 with very limited stock but knocks another £300 off making it a very big jump to the 5.0.

[272BHP]

Herbs said:

The reason I was asking, is depending on frame size, there is currently a sale on the 4.0 with very limited stock but knocks another £300 off making it a very big jump to the 5.0.

Damn I missed that one. Where was that deal?

[Herbs]

272BHP said:

Herbs said:

The reason I was asking, is depending on frame size, there is currently a sale on the 4.0 with very limited stock but knocks another £300 off making it a very big jump to the 5.0.

Damn I missed that one. Where was that deal?

Sigma Sports

https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Specialized/Turbo...

You'll need to act quick though as they go fast.

[272BHP]

Herbs said:

Sigma Sports

https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Specialized/Turbo...

You'll need to act quick though as they go fast.

Thanks I will check it out.

I wasn't seeing those prices at Sigma when I checked earlier - maybe I should have cleared cookies.

[Herbs]

272BHP said:

Herbs said:

Sigma Sports

https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Specialized/Turbo...

You'll need to act quick though as they go fast.

Thanks I will check it out.

I wasn't seeing those prices at Sigma when I checked earlier - maybe I should have cleared cookies.

They are updated all the time depending on availability, most of the time it will be out of stock but occasionally one or 2 become available

[272BHP]

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/article/2...

Well this article this morning put a dampener on things

[President Merkin]

272BHP said:

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/article/2...

Well this article this morning put a dampener on things

That guy! He's on an ebike forum having a big moan up about his motor. The reality is no ebike motor is fully sealed against water ingress. Bosch aren't necessarily any worse than others but ultimately, these things have crankshafts that bridge the inside to the outside & to fully seal them would be prohibitively expensive & excessively draggy. He refers to the ebike motor centre,the guy who owns it did a series of videos on EMBN recently, pointing out that the market demands ever smaller & lighter motors and a consequence of that is smaller bearings & weaker weather proofing.

i don't have a dog in the fight save to say my Bosch gen 4 has just ticked over 4000 miles but I routinely remove the cranks & renew the barrier grease around the outer crank seals. You can argue the toss over that but it's a twenty minute job every couple of months & is the best thing any owner can do to keep water out & protect the motor.

[Richtea1970]

272BHP said:

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/article/2...

Well this article this morning put a dampener on things

Reads more like an advert for the repair centre to me?
A 71 year old had a problem with his motor (which was never broken) and solved with a software update.
71 year old goes online to read several scare stories and decides to write to Bosch about it.
Then a statement about how much it costs to repair a broken motor at the 3rd party repairer.

TLDR - Man doesn’t have a motor problem, can’t find anyone with a motor problem, advertises motor problem repair shop.

[Hugo Stiglitz]

This is whats putting me off coming back to a emtb.

The hassle. The range anxiety, unexpected glitches on the trail. Motor failures and water ingress. This week I was in a specialized dealer and he said treat the motor as a consumable part that needs replacing every 2 years 'its like having to maintain a car'.
The issue is you don't replace the cars engine <2yrs.

Plus the motors aren't lasting 2 yrs. I read don't pressure or hose wash them but out wet climate/grit etc means how are you supposed to clean them? Wet wipes?!


An emtb is great if you change before the end of the warranty period to a new bike (I do I admit) but I tend to frame swap AND I don't want to be a third into a ride and the spindle or belt fails.

Plus after 2 yrs how much do you lose?

However the upsides are when they work ill get alot more descents and singletrack in.

I'm still thinking.. I was riding round the Surrey Hills this week and I was the only person on a analogue bike.

In the meantime 4k for 2 yrs use?


I'm still debating what to do. Argh.

[President Merkin]

Richtea1970 said:

Reads more like an advert for the repair centre to me?
A 71 year old had a problem with his motor (which was never broken) and solved with a software update.
71 year old goes online to read several scare stories and decides to write to Bosch about it.
Then a statement about how much it costs to repair a broken motor at the 3rd party repairer.

TLDR - Man doesn’t have a motor problem, can’t find anyone with a motor problem, advertises motor problem repair shop.

Sincerely doubt that. Pete doesn't need the advertising & the guy in the article is a knob who has banged on about class actions & crowd funding barristers. In short a retired old fart with an axe to grind & too much time on his hands who hasn't even suffered a motor failure. The classic barrack room lawyer.