Electric Bikes

tdvit

Hi guys,

I am thinking of getting an electric bike. Now I would be cycling from lucan to clonskeagh and back everyday. what are peoples opinons on the batteries you get with these bikes. would it do that kind of distance easily enough? anyone any good/bad experiences with them??

tk u

blorg

I don't have any experience whatsoever with electric bikes, but there is a place in Dundrum selling them off for €499 (so says the sign in their window) - sounds like a good deal if you want one.

Raam

I saw quite a few older people (over 60s by my reckoning) using them in Amsterdam. Dunno how helpful that is to you though!

KR

marty mannering

If you want to cantact me I can try and answer your questions, we as a family business specialise in electric bicycles & nothing else. we are base in Limerick & deliver all over Ireland for free, I could maybe put you in touch with people that have our bikes near you. Try our web site www.goeco.ie or give me a call If you think I can help....Good luck Marty

Drapper

great site marty!

good to have good irish bike websites :-)

Wez

http://electricbikes.ie/

I've test ridden one or two of these guys bikes and found them very comfortable. Would defo reccomend them! They deliver too!

P.S. Post count's 1234!

An Ri rua

You could also consider an electric moped.

In Ireland, we have www.mopeds.ie who sell the new emax and we also have Green Machines www.greenmachines.ie who sell EVTs.

Happy riding!

rubadub

An Ri rua wrote: »

You could also consider an electric moped.

In Ireland, we have www.mopeds.ie !

I got a virus warning clicking on that.

kona

Id buy a really good racer tbh, any electric bike ive see is over a grand.
what you get for a grand is basically a e300 bike with a electric motor in the rear hub, powered by a 16v battery, as far as i know you get 45mins-90mins depending on the setting you have it on.
another thing to consider is servicing cost, you'll be pushed to find a experienced electric bike mechanic in this country tbh. id say most would have a go(i would but wouldnt be totally sure), even replacing a tube on the back would cost a fortune....unhooking all the connectors, etc........then how much is a new wheel if you smash it up?? id say e300 for the one with hub:eek:
e1000 would get you a sweet racer to commute on and all the accessories to go.
Lucan to Clonskeagh as a round trip is a fair pedal....especially every day...fair play:D

as for the eco point of view...are they not a false economy??....taking the op as a example round trip from lucan to clonskeagh must be about 20miles. the battery would need to be charged every nite for a distance like that. whats the cost to charge these things?? what about the pollution caused to build em and dispose when broke...???
The best eco solution is a decent bike...they are almost the only machines to be nearly 100% efficient.

An Ri rua

rubadub wrote: »

I got a virus warning clicking on that.

I know the guys at Mopeds.ie. That's an old error by Google. They've already made changes to their site (got hacked way back) and Google still have to change that. Nothing to worry about but ....More details on the emax mopeds are on www.e-max-ltd.com. They're the irish distributor. Not sure if Green Machines are doing EVT anymore as they're the old brush motor and its all moved on to brushless now. Practically no maintenance etc compared to brush motors. They also sell the Vectrix but at 10,700 its citycar territory

BULLER

I wonder what the prices of those new E-Max Mopeds are like... they look very fast with a good range.

jimmy tobin

tdvit wrote: »

Hi guys,

I am thinking of getting an electric bike. Now I would be cycling from lucan to clonskeagh and back everyday. what are peoples opinons on the batteries you get with these bikes. would it do that kind of distance easily enough? anyone any good/bad experiences with them??

tk u

dont know how far that is. but i go 8 miles a day have to charge it every 3rd day. go for it mate there **** hot....:cool:

oobydooby

jimmy tobin wrote: »

dont know how far that is. but i go 8 miles a day have to charge it every 3rd day. go for it mate there **** hot....:cool:

Hi, what bike so you have and where did you get it and how much? Do you pedal hard on it? Can you charge it from any socket? Somebody was asking me about these recently. They seem like a great idea for commuting.

BostonB

kona wrote: »

Id buy a really good racer tbh, any electric bike ive see is over a grand.
what you get for a grand is basically a e300 bike with a electric motor in the rear hub, powered by a 16v battery, as far as i know you get 45mins-90mins depending on the setting you have it on.
another thing to consider is servicing cost, you'll be pushed to find a experienced electric bike mechanic in this country tbh. id say most would have a go(i would but wouldnt be totally sure), even replacing a tube on the back would cost a fortune....unhooking all the connectors, etc........then how much is a new wheel if you smash it up?? id say e300 for the one with hub:eek:
e1000 would get you a sweet racer to commute on and all the accessories to go.
Lucan to Clonskeagh as a round trip is a fair pedal....especially every day...fair play:D

as for the eco point of view...are they not a false economy??....taking the op as a example round trip from lucan to clonskeagh must be about 20miles. the battery would need to be charged every nite for a distance like that. whats the cost to charge these things?? what about the pollution caused to build em and dispose when broke...???
The best eco solution is a decent bike...they are almost the only machines to be nearly 100% efficient.

Much as I'd like to, I can only manage my cycle to work 2 -3 times a week. I'm thinking of an alternative to the car for the "off" days. But I think something like a regular petrol scooter would be more practical than an electric bike.

Gavin

Hadn't seen this thread before. An impressive amount of advertising in it, particularly from people with extremely low post counts. Lots of chums told to post I guess, or perhaps not even chums ! Shock, Horror.

Where ever did Kona go off to? Our angry mechanic is missed.

BostonB

I have seen a few electric bikes lately on my commute. I could understand why people might use them. But they seem expensive for what you get from them.

Raam

Verb wrote: »

Hadn't seen this thread before. An impressive amount of advertising in it, particularly from people with extremely low post counts. Lots of chums told to post I guess, or perhaps not even chums ! Shock, Horror.

Where ever did Kona go off to? Our angry mechanic is missed.

Didn't he just do his leaving cert or something? I reckon he's legged it to some sunnier clime.

DurtyMurty

Surely you couldn't be seen on one of those scootery looking things:D. Now, if you've got the dosh, this looks like an ordinary bike

If you want an even more normal looking bike....... some of the guys here recently posted a link to a slimline motor that hid in the seat tube and drove via the BB. Battery went in a small saddle bag - totally discrete- German site I think - may have been in development so you're talkin' fantasy here - Sorry can't find the link but someone may remember it Edit: Found it - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055376384

Also, look up Kalkhoff - German "Mercedes" like bike


Now, Get back to reality......:(

KTRIC

I've never seen so much shilling in one thread. Where are the mods ?

Lumen

I don't see the appeal of electric bikes. I work with technology, my house is full of gadgets.

The point of a bike is that it's basically a simple mechanical thing powered by human muscle. You get on the bike and leave all that battery-powered crud behind you (maybe except for a bike computer, a watch and phone!).

As soon as you start adding batteries and motors, you may as well just buy a petrol scooter/motorbike and have some proper fun.

I'm sure I could be persuaded of the merit of a battery-powered vehicle....if I first lost the use of my legs.

BostonB

Lumen wrote: »

...

As soon as you start adding batteries and motors, you may as well just buy a petrol scooter/motorbike and have some proper fun.

I'm sure I could be persuaded of the merit of a battery-powered vehicle....if I first lost the use of my legs.

In fairness. Not everyone is fit or able enough to cycle the full distance to work. So its a compromise.

PepePareja

kona wrote: »

Id buy a really good racer tbh, any electric bike ive see is over a grand.
what you get for a grand is basically a e300 bike with a electric motor in the rear hub, powered by a 16v battery, as far as i know you get 45mins-90mins depending on the setting you have it on.
another thing to consider is servicing cost, you'll be pushed to find a experienced electric bike mechanic in this country tbh. id say most would have a go(i would but wouldnt be totally sure), even replacing a tube on the back would cost a fortune....unhooking all the connectors, etc........then how much is a new wheel if you smash it up?? id say e300 for the one with hub:eek:
e1000 would get you a sweet racer to commute on and all the accessories to go.
Lucan to Clonskeagh as a round trip is a fair pedal....especially every day...fair play:D

as for the eco point of view...are they not a false economy??....taking the op as a example round trip from lucan to clonskeagh must be about 20miles. the battery would need to be charged every nite for a distance like that. whats the cost to charge these things?? what about the pollution caused to build em and dispose when broke...???
The best eco solution is a decent bike...they are almost the only machines to be nearly 100% efficient.

Alot of the points made in the post above are excellent and are very worthy of consideration. When I read this thread I had to sign up to boards.ie, to post this reply as a word of warning to perspective electric bike purchasers. I notice that there are some suppliers mentioned here. I want to point out that I didn't buy my bike from any of them, so I can't tell you about their after sales service, but I can tell you about my experience and what you should ask any supplier in Ireland before buying an electric bike.

I bought a folding electric power assisted bike last summer from an Irish based website. It seemed fantastic - Until I had a problem. The front brake mechanism broke. It ends up the supplier in Ireland has no idea how to fix bikes and has nobody trained to repair them. I was posted a replacement mechanism, which I had to fit myself, despite the bike being under guarantee. I managed to do this, but I don't believe I should have had to. Also, the metre on the battery doesn't work, so I can't tell how much power is left. I have run out of power a number of times as a result. The answer from the supplier was to charge it everyday. That is not an answer in my opinion. I paid enough for the bike. I have been promised the sun moon and stars, but it looked like I would never get a new battery. The Olympics in Bejing were even used as the excuse for the five month delay. Eventually, after five months of broken promises a new battery arrived. Later that same day I got a phone call, asking me not to use the battery as it was the 'incorrect voltage' for my bike. Amazingly, despite the incredible delay, they wanted to send someone out to collect the 'new' battery from me the very next day. Prompt service in reverse! I felt very annoyed and that I was being fobbed off, as both batteries were identical, even in part no.

Back to square one. Then I was told that a new meter for the old battery was being shipped to me - but I had to dismantle the battery and rewire it myself! When the part arrived it was the wrong one. It is now almost month six. Clearly, should there be a problem with the motor for instance, there is nobody to fix it. This messing, going back and forth could potentially continue until my guarantee runs out.

I am furious by now and have asked for a refund about two weeks ago by email and on teh voicemail. I'm still awaiting teh courtesy of a reply.
So - the moral of the story is this. Before anyone buys an electric bike please make sure that the supplier has ready access to spare parts and to a trained person who is qualified to fix the bike.

SectionF

Will the prices go up as a result of the cycle to work scheme?

NeilMcEoigheann

BostonB wrote: »

In fairness. Not everyone is fit or able enough to cycle the full distance to work. So its a compromise.

or you could just get fit, its really easy,...

BostonB

NeilMcEoigheann wrote: »

or you could just get fit, its really easy,...

So you just go instantly from unfit, or old, or maybe a leg or back injury to fit as soon you hop on a bike for a 10km trek to work? I don't think thats very practical. Took me a few weeks to get up to the distance to work. Even then I need a rest day after or I have problems with my knees.

fenris

It is possible to get to fit enough to cycle 10km in a relatively short period of time, even with an injury. The hardest bit is getting going and actually doing it!

My commute is approx. 23-25km each way 2-3 times a week. I originally thought about an electric bike and had even setted on which one I was going to get, but in the end (thanks for that "are you 65?" comment Morgan) I just went for a good road bike and am now averaging a higher speed than the electric bike could provide.

As for the injury, I have a lot of metal holding my hip and pelvis together, the only restriction is that I spin lightly rather than grind gears, which is aparently what we are supposed to do anyway!

Trojan

I was in the office of GreenAer.ie in Blackrock - they sell electric cars, but have 2 types of bikes in stock. Had a go on one of them - damn good tbh, I can really see why they appeal to commuters, especially suits - serious lack of perspiration going on there. On the other hand, it doesn't get you fit, it's not quick, and there are the service issues.

Might be worthwhile dropping in if you're near Blackrock. They have a shop you can always bring it back to if there are issues. Location: coming from the village it's on the corner on the right after (whatever they call the Missing Swan now).

Hope my postcount is sufficient

Gavin

fenris wrote: »

Jesus ! There's a bleedin caterpillar crawling around in you !!

fenris

Yep, as long as it doesn't turn into a butterfly I am happy!

it does make airport security and Hodges Figgis at christmas fun!

SectionF

Trojan wrote: »

I was in the office of GreenAer.ie in Blackrock - they sell electric cars, but have 2 types of bikes in stock. Had a go on one of them - damn good tbh, I can really see why they appeal to commuters, especially suits - serious lack of perspiration going on there. On the other hand, it doesn't get you fit, it's not quick, and there are the service issues.

Might be worthwhile dropping in if you're near Blackrock. They have a shop you can always bring it back to if there are issues. Location: coming from the village it's on the corner on the right after (whatever they call the Missing Swan now).

Hope my postcount is sufficient

I see the price of the electric bike advertised is €950. Is it purely coincidence that almost all of the bikes advertised in this thread come in at just under the bike scheme limit?

Trojan

SectionF wrote: »

I see the price of the electric bike advertised is €950. Is it purely coincidence that almost all of the bikes advertised in this thread come in at just under the bike scheme limit?

If I owned a bike shop, it certainly wouldn't be coincidence

In fact, I'd have the bike scheme info plastered all over the place.

SectionF

Trojan wrote: »

If I owned a bike shop, it certainly wouldn't be coincidence

In fact, I'd have the bike scheme info plastered all over the place.

What? You'd put up the price to reflect the grant limit?

Carlow52

http://www.bikescheme.ie/cycle-shops-ireland

if your local shop is not there you can email retailers [at]bikescheme.ie

footing

Anyone know if the Solex has come to Ireland yet?

footing

Have followed this thread with interest. Here's my story: have a bockety knee (war wound), so find peddling a regular bike difficult; plus it gives me tendonitis in the other knee if I go over about 10k. So decided to try an electric for longer trips and bought a first generation one, which allegedly did 20km, on a charge. Not for me it didn't; plus the meter didn't function (as another poster found). I lost my faith in it after a few trips when I had to cycle the dead bike home into a headwind (the joys of Irish cycling).
Rather than bring it right back (yes, I'm an idiot), I returned to my regular hybrid for short trips to the shop, etc. When I got back to the electric, the battery was stone dead and wouldn't take a charge. I had it changed, but still the meter didn't work. By now all I wanted was rid of it, but in all conscience, I couldn't pass on a heap of crap to some other unfortunate. Plan B was to trade in the bike, which I did. The new one is a true commuter's bike with a much-improved battery and a range of 40km on a charge. I have put Eu1,600 into this bike - biggest waste ever to be honest. If I commuted I would get the money back, but I walk most places. I truly don't think the technology is there yet on any electric vehicles (think early generation digital cameras). Let the buyer beware as they say.

BostonB

The names and models of the bikes would be useful...

footing

...only in private!

BostonB

Useless post so...

footing

Excuse me???
I am attempting to warn people that buying ANY electric bike is a big risk for a lot of money - and in my case, I deeply regret making that investment. I have nothing against the people who sold me the bike (s) - just like I have nothing against the shops that sold me my first digital cameras; the technology isn't there yet. Not their fault, so I am NOT going to name them.
I wouldn't buy ANY form of transport powered by a battery for the next few years. Experienced cyclists are unlikely to be as impressed by electric bikes than those coming new to them. As a previous poster put it, electric bikes are Eu300 bikes with a small motor; they are very heavy and awkward and only have five gears. BUT if you've never cycled, are fed up of being stuck in commuter hell, and aren't very fit, I can see how you'd be impressed.

Nietzschean

While being a bit abrupt BostonB has a point, you seem to suggest you've only experenced one manufacturers bikes, so generalising to all electric bikes seems a stretch. And you even liked the second one, just the whole experence(which was new bike + second new bike with trade in) was quite expensive...

footing

Nietzschean wrote: »

While being a bit abrupt BostonB has a point, you seem to suggest you've only experenced one manufacturers bikes, so generalising to all electric bikes seems a stretch. And you even liked the second one, just the whole experence(which was new bike + second new bike with trade in) was quite expensive...

Yes I quite like it - but I am worried that the battery will act up because I don't use it much. I prefer the lightness of my ordinary bike for short journeys (ie 2-3 miles). These bikes are for people who commute every day and so keep the battery charged. I am lucky enough not to have a regular commute (I did have one when I bought the first bike). I suppose what I am saying is if you are thinking of buying an electric bike, consider very carefully how much you will use it and make sure you get a decent warranty. Even better, get it on the trial which at least two Dublin-based companies are offering.

BostonB

A sweeping generalisation with no specifics (and based on a sample of 1) is of no use. The specifics here are all important, and you've given us none. You can buy a regular bike that the only difference is the front wheel and the extra weight of the battery. You don't have to buy a bike that is effectively an electric scooter.
http://www.moderntimesltd.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=19&P_ID=165

I've only met one guy on my bike commute with electric bike, and he was very happy with his. I was thinking of one for a while until I realised if I cycled slower, instead of racing to work. I didn't need an electric bike. The ones I was interested in were the Cytronex Electric Bikes. Now I'm just looking for a better regular bike, probably a road bike, or high end hyrid.

footing

So we've come to the same conclusion.
All I am doing is relaying my own experience and hoping it will be a warning to others not to splash out money until they are absolutely sure they need an electric bike and that the one they buy will function as it should.

BostonB

Not really I think they are just comming good.

Lumen

Every experience I have personally had, and read about, of battery powered motorised devices leads me to believe that a battery powered bicycle is likely to be a massive disappointment.

If you want efficiency, buy a bicycle.

If you want effectiveness, buy a motorbike.

I don't know why anyone would reject a fossil fuel powered motorbike except on religious/political grounds. They're brilliant fun, have infinite range (for practical purposes) and are very reliable.

Nietzschean

Lumen wrote: »

I don't know why anyone would reject a fossil fuel powered motorbike except on religious/political grounds.

personally because i'd be disowned....


then there is the fact everyone i know with any form of a decent one has broken at least one bone on it.....though they do look like aweful fun

footing

This has been a good thread. Can you recommend a motobike/scooter for a bit of a scaredy-cat?

Raam

footing wrote: »

This has been a good thread. Can you recommend a motobike/scooter for a bit of a scaredy-cat?

come on, get a pedal bike! FYI: knee problems can be linked to trying to push too hard a gear. May not be the problem you had though.

footing

I HAVE a pedal bike Raam - I've had about 15 (about 7 of them stolen). Had knee surgery twice and that's why pedalling longer distances is a problem. Knee doesn't bend too well.

Raam

footing wrote: »

I HAVE a pedal bike Raam - I've had about 15 (about 7 of them stolen). Had knee surgery twice and that's why pedalling longer distances is a problem. Knee doesn't bend too well.

bummer

lukester

footing wrote: »

This has been a good thread. Can you recommend a motobike/scooter for a bit of a scaredy-cat?

The Piaggio MP3 scooter, has two front wheels, so it provides more grip than a standard scooter.



http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2006/05/11/piaggio-3-wheel-mp3-scooter/

Nietzschean wrote: »

then there is the fact everyone i know with any form of a decent one has broken at least one bone on it.....though they do look like aweful fun

No broken bones here (touching lots of wood).