mid-low range e-bike: carrera crossfuse? or alternative?

mikelata wrote: »

This bike looks deadly: https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/fuji-e-traverse-1-3-intl-e-bike-2019/rp-prod179618

Bosch 400Wh Battery
25% discounted
integrated lighting and removable battery
very light 21.70kg (relatively speaking)

I don't know anything about Fuji bikes though

Are you planning on using the cycle to work scheme?

Fuji/Cube etc. are all much of a muchness imo. I would rather focus on a drive type (bosch/shimano/yamaha/hub motor - Bafang) and then buy which is most comfortable, has best spec and at the best price

For instance here is a cube for 100quid less with a similar spec but with the 500wh battery https://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/cube-acid-hybrid-one-500-allroad-29-grey-n-white-770806

Basically the same spec as the Fuji for ~1700
https://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/cube-cross-hybrid-one-400-allroad-iridium-n-blue-768403

Its a good time to buy, retailers are letting go of their 2019 models hence all the deals.
I

Utter Consternation wrote: »

According the the RSA it's not legal. I've seen one or two Radrhinos around Dublin however.

https://www.rsa.ie/Documents/VS_Information_Notes/Two_Three_Wheeled_Vehicles/FAQs%20on%20E%20Bikes%20and%20Pedelecs%20and%20battery%20Scooters.pdf

Their new radrunner looks ebike legal (250W, max 25kph) but it has a low-speed throttle for walking speed (max 6kph) which could muddy the waters. I suppose you could remove the throttle.

Walking throttles are legal, every Bosch powered bike has one.

I got this one last October and am delighted with it, cracking bike, very comfy and it doesn't look like an E-Bike straight out as the battery is integrated into the frame. I upgraded the tyres to Schwalbe Marathon Plus, got a Kryptonite lock for €80 and have it insured for €14.50 a month.

I've done a couple of thousand Km's touring on the continent, have done the Grand Canal here on it and use it as a daily commuter (when Ryanair have not lost it!), it's one of the best bikes I've ever owned.

Got it off Fitzcycles who don't exist anymore.

mikelata wrote: »

A couple of extra questions:

- lights: fixed in the bike and use internal battery looks like a great idea. the only issue is to attract thieves when the bike is locked?
- battery: removable makes sense for easy charging, but you will need to take it out each time you lock the bike too?

thanks a lot to everybody for your help and advice!

Cube has integrated lights and a front suspension fork which is great on Irish roads, or rough tracks.

Battery is locked, you need a key to take it out, so far I've been careful about where I lock it and its been fine, battery can be removed in less than 10 seconds with the key if you do want to take it with you.

Utter Consternation wrote: »

This one superceeds the assist when cycling uphill to give you an extra push.

If you stay below 6kph the Bosch will do the same, just that its hard to do - easier to cycle. However I had a look on the Radrunner specs there and it doesnt mention the EN 15194 standard so it may not comply, worth asking.

Ray Palmer wrote: »

There is mention of the 25kph restriction on ebikes which I find strange. The mid motors don't have that problem at all. The motor switches off at 25kph but you can still cycle faster and will. The wheel motors are the ones that won't let you cycle faster and that is the cheap ones only.

I said that there was no assistance above 25kph, which is correct. My Bosch CX motor features a lot of transmittion drag above this speed but you can, as you say, pedal faster - its just not easy. The newer gen 3 Active Line Plus motor has little or no drag above 25kph and would be more like a regular bike, albeit heavier.

Ferris wrote: »

Walking throttles are legal, every Bosch powered bike has one.

Not in Ireland. No pedalling no power, otherwise it's not a pedelec.


It's a nuance that's above the RPU but an insurance assessor might catch.

ED E wrote: »

Not in Ireland. No pedalling no power, otherwise it's not a pedelec.


It's a nuance that's above the RPU but an insurance assessor might catch.

It is not a pedelec by definition of the law in regards to the finance act which covers bikes on the bike to work scheme. They appear to have done a copy and paste job from EU regs.

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2008/act/25/section/7/enacted/en/html

The poster said they were legal, not that they qualified for the definition for bike to work scheme. I believe they could well be legal as the limit as I think it is the same as mobility scooters and similar. I was looking into this about escooters, can't remember the figures but I have not heard of people in electric wheelchairs being done for doing 6km/h, and many on footpaths... Electric wheelchairs are allowed on roads before some smartarse brings it up, in some countries they have higher speed limits on roads

But I did see a video saying the walk assist was not available on the US models, even though they have a more sensible 32.2km/h limit. I have said in other threads that if that was the limit here I reckon many would not go to the expense/risk/bother of derestricting theirs.

mikelata wrote: »

this might sound like a very silly question, but is the difference between

Cube cross hybrid

and

Cube touring hybrid

that the Cross has MB wheels, and that the touring has a pannier rack ?
The cross one appears to be 200 EUR cheaper in all places I checked. So, I could just buy a pannier rack for it and that is it

thanks

Doesn’t seem to be much in it but hold on for a sec. both seem to have the ‘performance line cruise’ motor, I think the ‘active line plus’ has more torque (50nm vs. 63nm). Might be worth considering, I’d want the plus as a minimum myself.

Ferris wrote: »

The motor is the 'active line plus' sometimes referred to as the ALP. Its a Gen 3 motor - the latest reasonable Bosch motor architecture. Its major advantage is little or no drag above the 25kph cutoff.

I have the plus and there’s still quite a bit of drag. It’s also fairly noisy, especially in sport and turbo mode. That said, There’s considerably less drag then other bikes I tried and I couldn’t fault it any other way. It’s smooth, quick and extremely responsive. It’s an excellent motor and I wouldn’t look any further if buying again.

Ferris wrote: »

Really, I tried one and it was much better above the cutoff compared to my CX, night and day really.

I agree with you that it’s a whole lot better then the CX but the cutoff still feels like someone’s jammed on the brakes.

Mind you that’s only when I forget to switch it off.

Honestly, I did a lot of research and trying before spending that kind of money on a bike and the active line plus was the only option I considered in the end. I chose the bike based on that motor but it’s not drag free and it’s pretty noisy when it gets going.

I’m just sharing my experience with OP before they buy but of course our experiences will vary. For example you may be a lot fitter or more used to cycling standard bikes and therefore notice it less.

And yeah it’s the latest gen. I only bought it last year.

Ferris wrote: »

I remember forgetting to charge my battery and having to cycle 26k to work unassisted, nearly killed me

26km unassisted on the plus would be a nightmare too. A lot of that is down to the weight of the bike of course but the drag will definitely be a killer as well especially at that distance.

I read somewhere on here that eco mode on the Bosch is basically the same as a standard pedal bike which would make sense. It counteracts the drag of the motor and weight of the bike and still leaves plenty of work for you to do.

Never had an EV but I do understand range anxiety when you push a spin just a little bit further then planned and end up on the last bar getting home.

cdaly_ wrote: »

Their new radrunner looks ebike legal (250W, max 25kph) but it has a low-speed throttle for walking speed (max 6kph) which could muddy the waters. I suppose you could remove the throttle.

Interestingly, I was looking at the original EU directive in the context of another thread earlier, and one of the exemptions is:

(a) vehicles with a maximum design speed not exceeding 6 km/h;

It'd be splitting hairs, but could it be argued that it's a vehicle of two halves, one corresponding to the above as the design of that particular system is compliant, and the other to the 25km/h pedelec standard