Electric motorbikes

Author
Discussion

Ken_Code

Original Poster:

1,566 posts

16 months

Wednesday 15th May 2024
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

4,208 posts

167 months

Wednesday 15th May 2024
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

206 posts

249 months

Wednesday 15th May 2024
quotequote all
Maeving might be worth a look

Ken_Code

Original Poster:

1,566 posts

16 months

Wednesday 15th May 2024
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

1,250 posts

22 months

Wednesday 15th May 2024
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Ken_Code

Original Poster:

1,566 posts

16 months

Wednesday 15th May 2024
quotequote all
lancslad58 said:
It does, I’ll get one ordered.

ChocolateFrog

31,640 posts

187 months

Wednesday 15th May 2024
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

267 posts

34 months

Wednesday 15th May 2024
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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

1,250 posts

22 months

Wednesday 15th May 2024
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

16 months

Wednesday 15th May 2024
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

16 months

Wednesday 15th May 2024
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

1,250 posts

22 months

Thursday 16th May 2024
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

18,425 posts

212 months

Thursday 16th May 2024
quotequote all
Ken_Code said:
lancslad58 said:
It does, I’ll get one ordered.
Reminds me of the 'hog' from Dumb & Dumber

RazerSauber

2,733 posts

74 months

Thursday 16th May 2024
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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

16 months

Thursday 16th May 2024
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

1,197 posts

45 months

Thursday 16th May 2024
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

27,402 posts

195 months

Thursday 16th May 2024
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

6,217 posts

251 months

Thursday 16th May 2024
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

31,640 posts

187 months

Thursday 16th May 2024
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

31,640 posts

187 months

Thursday 16th May 2024
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.