Discussion
As someone who has always thought the electric bikes were cheating, and that only those with more money than muscle would buy one, I have to admit that a two hour off-road session on a Fantic Integra 160 has completely changed my mind!
I was lucky enough to be give one to try out on some of my favourite trails and I had an absolute blast. The most fun I've had on a bike in ages.
The electric assistance means that although the bike is heavy you can go up hills with ease. On level three power you feel like you could ride up a cliff! Downhill it was as much fun as you'd expect a full-susser on fat tyres to be.
I'll be gutted when I have to hand it back, but the £5k price is well out of my league
I was lucky enough to be give one to try out on some of my favourite trails and I had an absolute blast. The most fun I've had on a bike in ages.
The electric assistance means that although the bike is heavy you can go up hills with ease. On level three power you feel like you could ride up a cliff! Downhill it was as much fun as you'd expect a full-susser on fat tyres to be.
I'll be gutted when I have to hand it back, but the £5k price is well out of my league
Edited by boyse7en on Monday 11th June 11:49
covmutley said:
A guy who lives in my village was pleasantly suprised. He is the tupe of guy who pushes himself at sports, sails, rides sports motorbikes etc.
He wanted to dislike it, but found he still pushed himself, but just went a lot faster, so more fun and went further/saw more.
That was my finding. I was actively looking for hills to go up (and come down again) even on the end of my ride. I knew that I wouldn't "blow-up" on a hill and then have to crawl home so it removed the psychological barrier of always keeping a bit in reserve. He wanted to dislike it, but found he still pushed himself, but just went a lot faster, so more fun and went further/saw more.
The assistance is very subtle, you just fell like you are a lot fitter/faster than you really are. I would still be sweating at the top of a climb, but could still breathe!
mike74 said:
What power is it? 500w?
I'm seriously thinking about getting one but it's the 3000w -5000w bikes that more hold my interest!
It's legally limited to 250W, but can be "derestricted" quite easily apparently. I'm not sure that I'd want much more power than it provided TBH, it went up everything I threw at it but still felt like i was cycling rather than riding a motorbikeI'm seriously thinking about getting one but it's the 3000w -5000w bikes that more hold my interest!
I bought a pair last month (Cube Acid Hybrid One - so more a sort of trekking bike than an MTB) for myself and the OH and a few of my mates have gone for the nuts full-sus £5k mtbs. There's loads of people (Luke wotsitsname on here is positively comedic!) get all upset about them but I defy anyone to actually have a go on one and not like them.
For me they're about going for a long ride out on trails and seeing the scenery etc, you don't necessarily need to be huffing and puffing up bloody great hills to do that. Best things I've bought in years!
I've still got my full suspension normal MTB for when I want to go bombing down some hill.
For me they're about going for a long ride out on trails and seeing the scenery etc, you don't necessarily need to be huffing and puffing up bloody great hills to do that. Best things I've bought in years!
I've still got my full suspension normal MTB for when I want to go bombing down some hill.
mike74 said:
So are all uk bikes legally limited to 250w?
I suppose I really need to test ride some, but that sounds pretty puny tbh
Yes they are (or should be).I suppose I really need to test ride some, but that sounds pretty puny tbh
The rule is 250W max power and assistance has to stop at about 15-16mph (obviously you can go faster than this but its you putting the power in then)
That 250W plus me pedalling got me up several rough climbs that I've not managed unassisted, plus I went up a ludicrously steep road climb on the way back just because I could. When i ride up that on my MTB it is a 6-8mph grind whereas this got me up there at 13mph and i was barely out of breath.
I didn't feel it was short of power at any time off road. On road the 15mph limit meant it got to be hard work to go faster than that on the flat or slight hill.
boyse7en said:
I didn't feel it was short of power at any time off road. On road the 15mph limit meant it got to be hard work to go faster than that on the flat or slight hill.
That's about the only criticism of mid-drive on E bikes, apart from more strain on the chain/casette. I have rear-wheel drive and find it quite easy to cycle above the 15.5 MPH limit (on the level, that is.) 
RizzoTheRat said:
mike74 said:
So are all uk bikes legally limited to 250w?
I suppose I really need to test ride some, but that sounds pretty puny tbh
Chris Froome maxes out at about 400W for 40 minutes, so 250W on top the power you're putting in via the peddles is a pretty big boost. I suppose I really need to test ride some, but that sounds pretty puny tbh
Barchettaman said:
Mid drive e-bikes are easy to chip, plugging in a module (cost approx. €130) disables the assist cut-out.
A mate of mine has done this as his commute is 30km each way, he leaves it on lowish assistance and sits at about 35km/h. Works well for him.
Ive been looking at e-bikes but more along the hybid type / trekking - and at the better end as I can put it through C2W to make the cost more affordable.A mate of mine has done this as his commute is 30km each way, he leaves it on lowish assistance and sits at about 35km/h. Works well for him.
Just found out about these dongles - a shop I have bought from before would sell the bike and I meet the mechanic at the back door - Polini is the dongle currently believed to be best - £140 fitted.The lad has had a 50mph on his bike
but gone back to 30mph as he tows a child trailer !What is the effect on battery though - assuming you mostly run it in Eco mode. The rationale is that the Bosch crank is fully through the motor (dont think Steps is ?) so once you hit 15mph you get a lot of drag to cycle through - the dongle making it easier to hit the 20mph you might see on the road anyway. And the mechanic quotes the motors are up to it as its the same motor in the unrestricted bikes - see some lovely Reise and Muller high speed versions which have the option of twin batteries.
The question is - has anyone bought an official high speed bike - and not registered it (are there any registered ?) The R&M Supercharged - lovely.
To show how easy it is (for some) the local fast mob did a time trial on road last week - the fastest three did 25 miles in 56 minutes - the same as a tweaked e-bike which would still need a fit person in the saddle !!
I have a Cube Reaction Race eMTB and I love it. Cost me £2,100 in Oct 2017 and I have been commuting on it every day up very steep hills. I love it. I fitted a Badass dongle to overcome the 15mph cut off limit. Despite its awesome power I still get home knackered as I put maximum effort in but ride so much faster. Cheating doesn't even come into it as you can still get the same workout as on a normal bike, but get there quicker and have more fun.
Does anyone know who came up with this 15mph limit and why?
I'm sure most people on road bikes would ride at that or slightly above on the flat, and I'll happily hit 30+ with no external assistance going downhill, so it can't presumably be because cyclists aren't believed to be capable of going any faster than that?
I'm sure most people on road bikes would ride at that or slightly above on the flat, and I'll happily hit 30+ with no external assistance going downhill, so it can't presumably be because cyclists aren't believed to be capable of going any faster than that?
Yep, it's electric assist (250w, while you're pedalling, assist topping out at 15mph) that keeps it within the same legal classification as a pedal cycle.
You can of course exceed those, but then legally it's a motorbike powered by electricity and you need to comply with the laws for motorbikes - using them on the public road means compulsory approved helmet, third-party insurance, road registration, MOTs, etc. And no use of bridleways, green lanes (BOATs, RUPPs, etc) just like the off-road motorcyclists.
Can you get away with it? Probably if you're sensible. But if you're cruising along at 30mph with your feet up expect the police to take a dim view.
You can of course exceed those, but then legally it's a motorbike powered by electricity and you need to comply with the laws for motorbikes - using them on the public road means compulsory approved helmet, third-party insurance, road registration, MOTs, etc. And no use of bridleways, green lanes (BOATs, RUPPs, etc) just like the off-road motorcyclists.
Can you get away with it? Probably if you're sensible. But if you're cruising along at 30mph with your feet up expect the police to take a dim view.
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