Where to buy pedelec in Galway?

ChipChop732

Hi all,

I'm looking to buy a pedelec (not an ebike as I don't want to pay insurance, road tax etc and would just need that bit of support cycling my commute). Any idea where in Galway or even where in Ireland I could buy one, preferably on the bike2work scheme?

Thanks,
Jenny

zilog_jones

You might be better off asking in the Cycling forum: https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=410

Also, I'd watch out for terminology - people may say "electric bike" when they mean the legal pedal-assisting type. I don't think "pedelec" is a common term around here.

I'd say with full electrically-propelled bikes you will never actually be able to insure or tax/register them - they're essentially motorcycles without any of the required type approval, etc.

A pedelec is actually bikes that travel 50 odd Kph which you need license and insurance.Pedelec, ebike, electric bike is the same thing.

Be warned that they will take the mick out of you on the cycling forums if you mention pedelec or ebike so I wouldn't do it. [snip]

Please post here before you buy anything and I'll give you the goods and bad.

Basically expect to pay no less than 1500 Euro's or else don't bother and it's as simple as this. Bikes with motors such as the Bosh and Panasoonic motors are extremely good. Get it insured in case it gets stolen and don't pay less than 100 euros in locks, get 2 and I mean that.

This company sells good quality bikes and this one looks pretty good http://www.greenaer.ie/product/kalkhoff-white-second-hand/

Basically there are two types of drive systems, Hub motor which is a motor in the wheel hub and then there is one that drives the crank which uses the bikes gearing and these are the ones to go for like in the link above.

Hub motors are generally good for more level ground but most of them are very under powered but there are some good ones too.

But for the power available legally to ebikes the chain drive motors are the way to go, they can climb much steeper hills using the bikes gearing where a hub motor is a single fixed gear and can struggle on hills and the chain drives are much more efficient.

[MOD Note] Please refrain from insulting mods of other forums here. --cros13

zilog_jones

zilog_jones wrote: »

I'd say with full electrically-propelled bikes you will never actually be able to insure or tax/register them - they're essentially motorcycles without any of the required type approval, etc.

Not legally no but no one really cares. Sometimes you need an extra bit of power, heavier riders, hills and luggage etc and having a throttle is really convenient for when you just don't want to pedal.

To be honest most decent legal ebikes actually are 3 times the legal power limit but get around it by limiting speed and acceleration but they're still perfectly legal. So the power limit is really rather silly to still have at 250 watts because a ebike limited to 250 watts would be useless.

You can install diy kits too but again, these are not cheap but can offer far more power.

By the way most of these ebike systems , the good ones will make you sweat, they're designed to provide full power only when you need it, climbing hills. You still get plenty of exercise if you want to. But they're great at getting people out doors and on a bike who otherwise wouldn't or climb really steep terrain you'd otherwise avoid.

ted1

zilog_jones wrote: »

You might be better off asking in the Cycling forum: https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=410

Also, I'd watch out for terminology - people may say "electric bike" when they mean the legal pedal-assisting type. I don't think "pedelec" is a common term around here.

I'd say with full electrically-propelled bikes you will never actually be able to insure or tax/register them - they're essentially motorcycles without any of the required type approval, etc.

Deleted User wrote: »

A pedelec is actually bikes that travel 50 odd Kph which you need license and insurance.Pedelec, ebike, electric bike is the same thing.

Be warned that they will take the mick out of you on the cycling forums if you mention pedelec or ebike so I wouldn't do it. [retconned]

Please post here before you buy anything and I'll give you the goods and bad.

Basically expect to pay no less than 1500 Euro's or else don't bother and it's as simple as this. Bikes with motors such as the Bosh and Panasoonic motors are extremely good. Get it insured in case it gets stolen and don't pay less than 100 euros in locks, get 2 and I mean that.

This company sells good quality bikes and this one looks pretty good http://www.greenaer.ie/product/kalkhoff-white-second-hand/


Basically there are two types of drive systems, Hub motor which is a motor in the wheel hub and then there is one that drives the crank which uses the bikes gearing and these are the ones to go for like in the link above.

Hub motors are generally good for more level ground but most of them are very under powered but there are some good ones too.

But for the power available legally to ebikes the chain drive motors are the way to go, they can climb much steeper hills using the bikes gearing where a hub motor is a single fixed gear and can struggle on hills and the chain drives are much more efficient.

Ignore him, there’s plenty of good people on the cycle forum who can give you good advice. They are quite welcoming too

Some people maybe but it would be nice to keep the discussion going here. I wouldn't be going back to the cycling forum in a hurry not with anything to do with electric bikes.

I've had plenty of experience building ebikes , amazing fun too !

Another example of a quality bike with a fantastic ebike system http://www.greenaer.ie/product/bt20-400wh-second-hand/

Not a ladies bike but just shows anyone else interested in such a bike that they can be got at a decent price 2nd hand, ok they're still expensive but for good reason, they're quality bikes with quality electrics and with care something you could have for years, these are not ordinary bikes and you simply can't expect to pay 500 Euro's for a good ebike, the battery alone could cost you that !

You have to know that there is some rubbish out there for the same money and one Irish retailer who have ceased trading and hopefully not shown up again under a different name used to sell 500 Euro bikes for 1500-2000 Euros !!!

cros13

I like the guys in Greenaer. Bought a Momentum Upstart off them a few years ago and it's still going strong.

Olivier is a long time EV driver and was one of the first Zoe drivers in the country ( his third/fourth EV after his Fluence and Reva).

Going back to them at some point this year to source a Stromer ST2 for me.

nu_90

Not 100% sure but I think I saw electric bikes in Velocity Bikes in oranmore business park. In by cinema and next to a coffee shop.

ChipChop732

Thanks everyone for all the posts! So from whst I understand, there's no way around paying tax & insurance? I'd definitely like to cycle most myself, but the commute is a bit more than I can handle at the moment so help on hills etc is exactly what I'm after!

Jennychops

Jennychops wrote: »

Thanks everyone for all the posts! So from whst I understand, there's no way around paying tax & insurance? I'd definitely like to cycle most myself, but the commute is a bit more than I can handle at the moment so help on hills etc is exactly what I'm after!

No not at all, you don't need tax and insurance.

I only mentioned insurance due to the fact the bikes are expensive. And you need good quality locks. I got mine insured on the house insurance.

You really can't go wrong with any ebike that uses the Bosch , Panasonic or Impulse motors that drive the crank which use the bikes gearing, they're a lot more efficient than Hub motors particularly on hills and they'll pull you up pretty much anything and you'll get further on the battery.

The Bosch system makes you work hard but I like that , it still makes getting up the steep stuff a lot easier.

If anyone is familiar with Mount Leinster, I got up there on the Bosch 2013 model, it was very tough , some parts of that are incredibly steep on the way to the RTE transmitter.

I took 3 different hub motors up and they all almost burned out.

I took a high torque Hub motor running 3 Kw and the Bosch took me up at 750 Watts using the bikes gearing , the Hub motor can not use the gearing and this is the key difference on steep hills. Meaning I saved substantial power using the chain drive motor.

Some of the newer Bosch motors have more torque not sure about their normal motors their higher torque versions might only be found on mountain bikes.

Most of the ebike motors cut out at 24 Km/h , after that you're on your own. But on steep hills you won't be going that fast so they will assist you.

ChipChop732

Thanks so much for all the advice! I've decided to get a Lapierre ebike. I'm collrctong it tomorrow, exciting! I had a year run on one and it went great!

Cool, send us a link to the one you got. Be interested to know.

ChipChop732

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Cool, send us a link to the one you got. Be interested to know.

Here it is: https://www.mycycle.ie/Lapierre-Overvolt-Urban-100-2018-p/lapierreovervolt100.htm

homer911

Jennychops wrote: »

Here it is: https://www.mycycle.ie/Lapierre-Overvolt-Urban-100-2018-p/lapierreovervolt100.htm

Great choice, I have the Overvolt Shaper and I'm very happy with it


Better picture here for anyone interested
http://www.lapierre-bikes.co.uk/gamme/2018/e-bikes/lifestyle-e-bike/overvolt-urban-100-1


I have seen a couple of the Carerra ebikes appearing outside my office in the last few weeks - think these are Halfords, not the mid-drive system but adequate

ChipChop732

Oh the overvolt shaper looked great! It was way out of my price range so I didn't want to tease myself with a test drive of it! Hopefully the urban will do the trick for me Do you know what the main difference would be? The power of it and how much you get out of the battery I presume?

Is it hub motor or Bosch chain drive I read it can be powered by either ?

ChipChop732

I'm actually not sure. I'll check when I collect it this evening so I'll let you know!

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Is it hub motor or Bosch chain drive I read it can be powered by either ?