The eBike thread

Psychlops

Anybody bought a Speedbox?

Psychlops

Is this a dead thread?

TomOnBoard

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118482270#Comment_118482270

Probably just ran out of juice... Needs a jump-start...😁

Psychlops

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118482300#Comment_118482300

Well said.

DaveyDave

I think people just aren't interested in speed boxes. You either have a legal factory ebike and leave it as is or a DIY bike that likely exceeds 250w/25kph.

I have definitely considered a Bad Ass Box purely just to shave off time on my commute as it still takes 50-55 minutes on the way in but I don't want to wear down the battery and drivetrain as it isn't cheap. Also the motor running continuous on low power wouldn't even last my full commute.

hardybuck

I've seen a few fat tyre bikes going around that have caught my eye, and I've heard that they can be more comfortable and safer when crossing Luas tracks etc. around town.

However I don't know anyone who owns one, and not a huge amount of chat about them here (or that I could find).

Therefore grateful for any feedback if there's any lurking owners on this thread!

unkel

Look again on this thread (from the start), I had one 😁

Great for comfort and they can literally do any kind of terrain, no matter how mucky. Even loose sand on a beach or in dunes. The bikes tend to be heavy though as not only the wheels are heavy, the frame is also usually bigger and heavier than standard. So not ideal if you have to go through those typical Irish gates regularly, that separate parks and public road, etc. where you have to lift the bike partly up to get through them. Something to bear in mind. Also you will need a stronger motor / bigger battery than with a more nimble bike.

DaveyDave

I've never had an issue crossing Luas tracks with skinny 25c tyres. Just don't cross them at a bad angle. A 32c tyre is probably safe enough on normal wheels. I have 35c tyres on my ebike, no need for a fat bike if you want to run larger tyres for comfort.

madzer7

Hi all, has anyone bought a RAD bike using the bike to work scheme?

griffdaddy

Anyone any experience with the Super 73 ebikes or getting them on the cycle to work scheme?

Mousewar

I see these things everywhere now. And they seem to be capable of full moped mode (no pedaling required). I thought that was illegal or did it change?

Fiido D4s Folding Sport Electric Bike | Swords, Dublin-Ireland

unkel

Nothing has changed yet. Anything electric is illegal on the public road unless it is a pedelec, which means no throttle allowed, motor max 250W, only powered when you are actually pushing the pedals yourself and the motor stops assisting once you go over 25km/h

Mousewar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118945787#Comment_118945787

Well, obviously zero enforcement as these things are everywhere now. Not sure I'd actually want one - i'd say the full assist mode eats battery.

unkel

That depends on how much battery you have and how much range you need 😂

For plenty of eBikes, you could do your full commute on full throttle (without pedaling at all) and you'd have plenty left over when you get home. And charging up at night costs less than €0.10. It's no surprise you see them everywhere. They pay for themselves in months compared to having to pay for a bus. Huge savings and probably quicker too, and door to door.

getoutadodge

They re life savers especially for someone my age. I have a conversion kit. 70 km range with 36V ....tried and tested to reassure myself. No speed limit but 30 Kpm is plenty for my needs. 700 quid all in including old push bike. Renewed my love of cycling. I cycle nearly everyday.

unkel

This is it. Most people on electric bikes were rarely or never on their bikes before but they are now. Fair play to you @getoutadodge

Mousewar

Well, my own is pedelec. I've managed to get the motor to assist up to 30km but I was a little jealous to see these people zooming about without pedalling.

unkel

Even the cheapest DIY conversion kits usually can do 30km/h or more without pedaling. The only reason pedelecs can't is that they need to be road legal. It literally is holding them back. Like you say yourself, this is pretty pointless when the laws are not enforced, never were. And the laws on electric scooters / bikes are quite likely to be changed in the short term.

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118727700#Comment_118727700

Did you have any success with getting a Rad bike on the scheme?

I'm tempted to get a Radwagon to bring the kids to school/crèche and travel into Dublin. They look great for hauling lots of stuff but I'd say they're heavy beasts, close to 30kg I think

I'm guessing since Radwagon sell online and don't seem to have any shops in Ireland that they can't be bought on the scheme

Schorpio

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118976279#Comment_118976279

I enquired directly with Rad a few months ago - and they told me that they did support Irish Cycle to work. They even stated that they would provide an invoice for €1500 and you would then pay the balance, so it seemed like they did know what they were talking about.

I didn't end up ordering from Rad in the end (I wanted a mid-motor), but drop their customer service a message and they should sort you out.

the_amazing_raisin

Anyone got any opinions on the Tern GSD versus the Radwagon?

Term definitely looks the better bike having a mid motor and hydraulic brakes.

But it's also 3 times the price, so I'm wondering if it's 3 times the bike

Tbh budget would probably dictate that it's the Radwagon, but I'm still going to dream 😁

unkel

That electric bike costs more than twice what I paid for my electric car 😯

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119006136#Comment_119006136

I know right, it's definitely a car replacement, you wouldn't be able to afford one after getting it 😱

Electric cargo bikes seem a bit crazy prices. I get that they'd be more expensive, more material costs and they need sturdier frames, requiring more design.

But 2-3 times the cost of a regular ebike is just crazy. They're all using the same battery and motor, so they can't claim that as an expense

I guess I'll get the Radwagon if I buy one

3d4life

Ukrainian forces recently received some Eleek atom bikes...seem to be almost silent scramblers....

https://t.me/horevica/2789

https://t.me/horevica/3076

podgey1992

I got a VanMoof S3 about 6 months ago, paid around 2200 with cycle to work scheme paying ~750 of that, also bought the 300 euro theft protection for 3 years. Bike is great but it started making some scary clicking noises and juddering a couple of weeks back, I went through the app and booked a repair in Harold's Cross bike shop, they replaced the back wheel as it's still under warranty it cost me nothing. Great service but a bit worried it broke after very little use... anyone else have this issue?

waylander2002

Bought a ebike kit from Aliexpress, really good seller I sent on pics and he advised what to order, he even put a new gear cartridge on the new wheel. Got my friend to put it on for me and it is really nice , a throttle with pedal assist. Just over 200 euros. I mistake I made I ordered battery through AliExpress from a different seller, the battery took twice as long to come and wouldn't charge. When I requested refund was told I needed send back battery and as a post don't accept batteries I'd have use courier which is nearly cost of battery. It's just batteries soooo cheap on Ali. Anyone know where I could get someone to look at the battery?

waylander2002

One another note my colleauge bought a bike from rad bikes, and it's really amazing

unkel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119120969#Comment_119120969

Forget about it. Give the battery away for free on adverts and just buy a new battery. Preferably from the shop where you bought your conversion kit, they seem good and reasonably priced and the battery will work with their kit (without you having to buy or make cables to marry them together). Who was the kit supplier, Yose power?

getoutadodge

i got the batteries from mybike.ie and have no complaints. yose was the brand.

mailforkev

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119106029#Comment_119106029

I've had my S3 for 1.5 years. Also needed a replacement rear wheel after about 4/500kms. The rear hub has a known issue where the gears can start slipping, so they just seem to send out a whole new wheel assembly without question. I think they've beefed up some cogs on the more recent bikes.

I just swapped it myself, was fairly painless and no problems in the 1,500 kms done since. Wife has a fault free X3.