Which ebike?

[fridaypassion]

Just started looking at ebikes before any hardcore cyclists pile in my main motivation is trying to help a long standing knee injury I'm trying to get over. I have an indoor exercise bike thats been great making the first bit of progress along with physio for quite a while. It would be nice to get out and about in the fresh air to do the same thing but I'm not ready for pushing it with major weight bearing so an e-bike could be a great solution. I already have a half decent mountain bike that will hopefully be back in action in the summer.

Total minefield! Pedal assist only is ideal I don't want one with a throttle (are these illegal anyway?) I'm thinking of a used Cube at about a grand does that sound about right? I'm thinking used good make rather than Chinese rubbish new?

If anyone has one around the Yorkshire area they want rid of let me know (large frame)

[gangzoom]

See the eBike thread....There is so much choice and options now, they range from foldables, to sub 10kg road bikes all the way through to 30kg+ bikes with motors that are almost moped level bhp/ton power outputs and all day batteries.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Essentially decide what kind of bike you want first and than find the electric version. Pretty much every bike category now offer electric versions, I have ridden about half a dozen eBikes, despite they all having the same/similar motor/battery specs the difference between them are massive depending on the bike category they are based on.

I personally prefer mid drive motors, they are a bit more expensive but plenty of people get one fine with rear wheel hub drive ones with no issues.

I currently own two eBike, ones a Halfords special commuter bike the other a Specialized gravel bike. The Specialized only gets ridden a dozen times a year where as the commuter bike is used every week rain/shine/snow.

I went out today on the Specialized, near zero degrees so like all EVs battery range takes a hammering in winter, still it's an equivalent range of nearly 70 miles or 4hrs+ of riding. In summer the range is close to 100 miles.

I'm almost certainly getting any eBike in 2026, probably something just road focused so I can put mudguards and possibly a pannier on the Specialized so I can use it for commuting and retire the Halfords special for times when I need to lock the bike out on public streets.

Edited by gangzoom on Friday 26th December 20:13

Edited by gangzoom on Friday 26th December 20:15

[RizzoTheRat]

For starters there's generally 2 types. One type (usually hub motor) monitors that the crank is turning and applies power, meaning you can gently rotate the pedals with no effort and it will accelerate you up to 25kph. The other type (usually crank motor) monitors the torque you're applying with the pedals and adds an amount of power related to that (eg 25% of 50% of what you're putting in). is recommend the latter if you actually want it for sake exercise.

Then what kind of bike do you want, ie what kind of riding do you plan to do? Mountain, Road, City, etc. are all very different. Having had mountain bikes for years i now have an upright city bike that I use for commuting and general transport. Way more comfortable and can easily cope with 25kg of shopping in the panniers.

[fridaypassion]

Thanks for that mountain bike similar to my existing one would be ideal. If I commute on it I go through some woods and trails plus a bit of road. Other use would be similar

[yakka]

Specialized SL Turbo Levo, fantastic bike and probably pick one up on Pinkbike that has done very little work.

[fridaypassion]

Never heard of that site cheers there is a SL Turbo listed as well

[yakka]

I bought an Ally frame model in 2020, absolutely spot on, never any problems and it’s done some proper trails. Light enough to throw in a car and not so powerful that you don’t feel like a passenger.

[v8notbrave]

If buying used remember these are the same batteries as you get in an EV car, most are stored in garages at 100% charge in freezing winters, so judge on age and what prior owner says the usage was. They will degrade

I had a lovely road bike with the Mahle ebikemotion, got frustrated at the range of it so tried a DIY range extender and knackered it. New battery fitted was £900! So for less than that I went AliExpress crazy and totally diy'd 2 bikes, one hub, one mid-drive so I have a summer bike and a winter mudguard bike.

They're great whatever you get and treat them as assist as you say (I've had old ladies on mtbs fly past me uphill when I'm on my road bike but that doesn't seem the point!)

[Gnits]

yakka said:

Specialized SL Turbo Levo, fantastic bike and probably pick one up on Pinkbike that has done very little work.

I got a Levo Alloy and completely agree, amazing bits of kit.

[Steve_H80]

I bought my ebike last spring.
It's a Specialzed SL 4, flat bared hybrid style, lightweight for an ebike (17kg) and the mid mounted motor is low powered (35Nm), this means it rides like an analogue bike most of the time but I have enough power to get me up the really steep bits when I need it.
Yesterday's 28 mile ride and 3000ft climb. I used the motor for about 40% of the ride which depleted 60% of the charge, but it was cold & windy and I was feeling lazy

[GT4RS]

fridaypassion said:

Never heard of that site cheers there is a SL Turbo listed as well

I’ve have a 110km from new SL turbo Levi comp, size S5 which I would happily sell. The most extreme ride it’s been on is with my kids or to the pub.

I bought it new 2023, pretty sure it’s still under manufacturers warranty.

£3k and it’s yours!