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N+1 is kicking in this end, particularly with an imminent house move that will put me within riding to work distance about three days per week. The commute isn't long (five miles each way, with a decent climb both ways) but our two small children mean that we are quite time-poor, so any cycle commute will need to be a compatible time to driving.
I've mentally justified an eBike (commuter hybrid style) which will give the added bonus of being able to carry both nippers in their carriers to the playground and to grandparents etc. My (non-cycling) wife can also ride it for family rides with me on the gravel bike, giving her some chance of riding for more than a few miles.
So, to bike selection. I have negotiated about 15% off retail in the local Specialized store, and have loved a recent demo of a Vado. However, it is more than twice the price of an older hack bike with some new parts and a Bafang motor and battery. Clearly the Vado will look (and ride) much better, but will it be £1k better than a Bafang that I can shift between bikes?
Anyone ridden or lived with both / either system and able to offer an opinion?
A bafang equipped bike will make a better commuter, you can "tailor" the top speed to what you want rather than be restricted to 15mph and you can use the throttle if you want to put your feet up and relax, although the vado will have a smoother power delivery and being a new bike it'll feel nicer.
(got a scott genius with bosch cx performance motor and a cove hummer with bafang motor)
Either a throttle or a top speed over 15.5mph make it an emoped, not an ebike and unless you are a fan of Charlie alliston style lawsuits, are best avoided.
Charlie alliston style lawsuits
I think you'll find that's avoid running people over, rather than illegal ebike usage.
I’ll live with that possibility, however I don’t ride like a dick, take personal responsibility for how I ride and live in a very rural area of Galloway so I think I’ll be ok, cheers for the concern though 👍
Oh....and i ride it on the pavement using the throttle when i walk "toby" (dog) , albeit at a very slow walking pace, takes up less room on the pavement than a mobility scooter so i consider that a win.
The judge pretty much decided that the accident wasn't his fault, and he probably couldn't have prevented it - but he went down because his bike was not road legal.
Lesson to be learned: If something happens, even if it's not your fault, you'll go down if your bike is not what it's supposed to be.
I have not ridden a bafeng but I did look into them a lot when looking to buy a add on kit.
A bafeng fitted bike will not ride as nicely and intuitively as a bosch one ( I assume you mean) however they do work and have a good reputation on reliability. the main issue is the lack of torque sensing on the pedals. clever software and cadence sensors etc make up for this.
the installations can look a bit untidy. Trailrat has one on his cargo bike and loves it
So - a full bike bosch equipped is a very nice thing to ride ( I have ridden a few) however the advatages over a bafeng are small in relation to the price differnce.
Please don't build an illegal one tho.
The judge pretty much decided that the accident wasn’t his fault, and he probably couldn’t have prevented it – but he went down because his bike was not road legal.
Such an incredibly inaccurate characterisation of the judge's sentencing remarks, which can be found here.
Eg:
" You, Mr. Alliston, assert that
you – despite being an experienced cyclist and regular user of an internet forum
specifically for fixed-wheel cycle enthusiasts – were unaware that what you were
doing was illegal. It is not necessary for me to make a finding of fact on this point
since a) ignorance of the law is irrelevant and b) I am sure that whether or not you
knew the law, you knew the danger of riding without a front brake. It could not be
otherwise since, relying only on the rear-wheel system, it takes 4 times the distance to
stop. That your bike was safer with a front-wheel brake was as obvious to you as to
anyone else. I am satisfied of this because you told the court that when conditions e.g.
the weather, were what you deemed to be adverse to your safety, you chose to put a
brake onto your front wheel; otherwise, you rode without one from 2014 onwards. "
Or:
"It was you, in that posting of the 5th February, who drew the parallel between Brunelle’s movies and your riding. I am satisfied that in some part it was this so-called thrill that motivated you to ride without a front brake, shouting and swearing at pedestrians to get out of your way."
And:
"Mrs.
Briggs decided to cross Old St. Whether she saw you and judged she had time to
cross, or whether she simply didn’t notice you, I do not know; but I am satisfied on
the evidence that you saw her as she stepped off the kerb. It was clear to you that she
was in danger. It was your responsibility as a road-user to ensure you did not run into
her. This must have been obvious to you, and you did indeed swerve and slow to
between 10-14 mph as you went through the yellow-box at the junction of Old St and
Charlotte Road. You shouted at her twice to (in your own words) ‘get out of the
****ing way’. She reached almost the centre of the road but could not go further
because of on-coming traffic. On your own account you did not try to slow any more
but, having shouted at her twice, you took the view she should get out of your way.
You said in evidence ‘I was entitled to go on’. "
But in particular, which goes directly against your point: "On your own evidence by this stage you weren’t even trying to slow or stop. You expected her to get out of your way. Thus I make it clear that it was not merely the absence of a front brake but your whole manner of riding that caused this accident. "
Alliston was an arrogant prick who caused the death of a pedestrian simply because he thought he was too cool to ride properly. He's not a 'folk hero' to be applauded, he's an idiot.