Electric motorbikes

Author
Discussion

Ken_Code

Original Poster:

1,566 posts

9 months

Wednesday 15th May
quotequote all
The thread about banning petrol bikes got me thinking about small electric bikes.

I may soon have a ten mile commute across London, I e that’s a bit hilly, has seven million traffic lights and pedestrian crossings and that I’ll often not want to do on a bicycle.

My midi-scooter will do that well, but I was then wondering if there are any electric bikes that would do it even better, and be a bit more fun. Sort of a step up from electric bicycles, but not all the way to a “full size” electric bike or scooter.

Is anyone able to recommend anything worth a try?

TurboHatchback

4,199 posts

160 months

Wednesday 15th May
quotequote all
There isn't much road legal in between an ebike (25kph pedal assist) and an electric scooter. There's lots of Chinese Ebay machines but they're not legal to ride as a bicycle and not type approved to register as a motorcycle.

Your commute sounds like an ideal use case for a BMW CE 04 to me, if you can avoid getting it stolen.

ChrisSMorris

204 posts

242 months

Wednesday 15th May
quotequote all
Maeving might be worth a look

Ken_Code

Original Poster:

1,566 posts

9 months

Wednesday 15th May
quotequote all
TurboHatchback said:
There isn't much road legal in between an ebike (25kph pedal assist) and an electric scooter. There's lots of Chinese Ebay machines but they're not legal to ride as a bicycle and not type approved to register as a motorcycle.

Your commute sounds like an ideal use case for a BMW CE 04 to me, if you can avoid getting it stolen.
I had one on order, but cancelled it after the test ride. It was quite big and bulky, and sort of fun the tiny range and large price didn’t really work for me.

I had a BMW e-bike too, but of course that was stolen.

lancslad58

1,107 posts

15 months

Wednesday 15th May
quotequote all

Ken_Code

Original Poster:

1,566 posts

9 months

Wednesday 15th May
quotequote all
lancslad58 said:
It does, I’ll get one ordered.

ChocolateFrog

28,659 posts

180 months

Wednesday 15th May
quotequote all
Seat just sold all their rebranded Silence 125 equivalent electric bikes for something like 2/3rds off.

Must be a tough sell.

I do like the look of the BMW one but it's £13k, which is a bit mental.

My commute is about to drop from 20 miles each way to 3 and I'm think of going from VFR800 to GoCycle.

Edited by ChocolateFrog on Wednesday 15th May 18:13

Sunday Drive

222 posts

27 months

Wednesday 15th May
quotequote all
CheesecakeRunner said:
There is a Sur-Ron variety that can be road registered…

https://sur-ron.co.uk/light-bee/

But you’ll need a hoodie and black bandana over your face to ride it properly in complete ignorance of any road traffic law or common decency.

And it’ll probably get nicked.
That would be a giggle.

lancslad58

1,107 posts

15 months

Wednesday 15th May
quotequote all
ChocolateFrog said:
Seat just sold all their rebranded Silence 125 equivalent electric bikes for something like 2/3rds off.

Must be a tough sell.

I do like the look of the BMW one but it's £13k, which is a bit mental.

My commute is about to drop from 20 miles each way to 3 and I'm think of going from VFR800 to GoCycle.

Edited by ChocolateFrog on Wednesday 15th May 18:13
I think you're referring to the CE04, the CE-02 is £8k

Ken_Code

Original Poster:

1,566 posts

9 months

Wednesday 15th May
quotequote all
ChocolateFrog said:
Seat just sold all their rebranded Silence 125 equivalent electric bikes for something like 2/3rds off.

Must be a tough sell.

I do like the look of the BMW one but it's £13k, which is a bit mental.

My commute is about to drop from 20 miles each way to 3 and I'm think of going from VFR800 to GoCycle.

Edited by ChocolateFrog on Wednesday 15th May 18:13
I really enjoyed commuting on an e-bike. I could cycle hard if I wanted to, or out in very little effort at all when I didn’t.

It was a BNW, but it was of course stolen.

Ken_Code

Original Poster:

1,566 posts

9 months

Wednesday 15th May
quotequote all
Very low mileage CE-04s are down below £7k now from dealers. The initial price was ludicrous.

I ordered mine on the very first day of orders and am glad I cancelled.

lancslad58

1,107 posts

15 months

Thursday 16th May
quotequote all
If you don't smaller wheels there's the new Swifty Go GT500 e-scooter that's road legal , top speed of 24mph and a range of 25 miles.

https://ebiketips.road.cc/content/news/you-can-leg...


https://swiftyscooters.com/collections/shop/produc...










moanthebairns

18,184 posts

205 months

Thursday 16th May
quotequote all
Ken_Code said:
lancslad58 said:
It does, I’ll get one ordered.
Reminds me of the 'hog' from Dumb & Dumber

RazerSauber

2,548 posts

67 months

Thursday 16th May
quotequote all
Would an Keeway E-Zi Mini not fit the bill for a damn site less than the BMW? 40 mile charge, probably £1500 bought, charged and insured.


Ken_Code

Original Poster:

1,566 posts

9 months

Thursday 16th May
quotequote all
RazerSauber said:
Would an Keeway E-Zi Mini not fit the bill for a damn site less than the BMW? 40 mile charge, probably £1500 bought, charged and insured.

1.3bhp makes it a bit of a liability in traffic compared to the BMW’s 15.

The ability to ride with the traffic rather than in the gutter is a massive benefit.

SteveKTMer

1,061 posts

38 months

Thursday 16th May
quotequote all
https://www.youtube.com/@MarcTravels

This chap is travelling around the world on an electric bike. It's almost there. The range is too low, especially if it's cold, and the charging rate is too slow, but it's almost there. I think an electric bike would be fantastic to ride, instant torque at any speed, quiet and no longer embarrassing entering a little French alpine village at lunchtime and disturbing everybody.

Available in the UK from here: https://www.englishelectricmotorco.com/zero-motorc...


Krikkit

26,997 posts

188 months

Thursday 16th May
quotequote all
ChrisSMorris said:
Maeving might be worth a look
That's very cool

lancslad58 said:
This looks great, I love the Cyberpunk styling theme of the CE02 and CE04

gareth_r

5,971 posts

244 months

Thursday 16th May
quotequote all
Kawasaki Z E-1

A 125 (almost) for a mere £7,199. Cunningly styled, though.

Why are electric motorcycles (othere than Chinese scooters) so expensive?

https://www.kawasaki.co.uk/en/products/Supernaked/...


ChocolateFrog

28,659 posts

180 months

Thursday 16th May
quotequote all
lancslad58 said:
ChocolateFrog said:
Seat just sold all their rebranded Silence 125 equivalent electric bikes for something like 2/3rds off.

Must be a tough sell.

I do like the look of the BMW one but it's £13k, which is a bit mental.

My commute is about to drop from 20 miles each way to 3 and I'm think of going from VFR800 to GoCycle.

Edited by ChocolateFrog on Wednesday 15th May 18:13
I think you're referring to the CE04, the CE-02 is £8k
I was. I hadn't read the thread and seen someone had already mentioned BMW before I commented about the CE04.

Which is worse £8k for a 50cc equivalent moped or £13k for a 650cc equivalent?

ChocolateFrog

28,659 posts

180 months

Thursday 16th May
quotequote all
Personally if I was going to the hassle of getting something that needs taxing, insuring and MOTing, I.e. more than a regular ebike I'd want something more than a 50cc equivalent.

BMW's older eScooter (think it's called C-Evolution) is down to around £4k now.

Think that would tempt me.