I'm not about to get one just yet, but I'm wondering what are some things to consider aside from the riding experience. Obviously some things will vary between full/half-fat bikes and depending on how strong you are.
Unless the battery is removable, you'll have to bring it to a power source (or take power to it) for charging. If you store in an unpowered shed at home, you need to wire it up, use extension lead, or bring it into the house for charging. Similarly when you're staying somewhere on a trip, can't just leave it in the car/van, and most places wouldn't let you bring it into your room - what do people do?
Even if your half-fat eMTB is just within the weight limit, and you're strong enough to get it up there, it's probably not a sound idea to carry it on a roof rack. So now you need a car with space inside, or a towbar rack and a towbar to put it on.
You can lift a half-fat eMTB over a gate, but I wouldn't fancy carrying one over a stile (especially a deer one).
Hike a bike, and push/drag a bike over difficult terrain will be more difficult, or impossible with a full-fat eMTB. Depends on your strength and fitness.
You might need a more stable workstand.
If it breaks down, it probably needs to go into the shop, and you're probably going to be without it for weeks or months.
What else ?
Wear and tear on consumables, especially drivetrain components for those who ride in turbo all the time and don't like changing gear very much. A couple of the lads I used to ride with quite a bit would go through 11/12spd cassettes in no time, never having used the bottom 4/5 gears, but would always take a spare battery with them on a ride as they didn't want to risk running out from using turbo all the time... 🤷🏻♂️ That said, another mate has had about 4000 miles out of a SRAM X01 Eagle cassette on his Levo SL, but he's a smooth rider and used eco almost all the time...
Hike a bike, and push/drag a bike over difficult terrain will be more difficult, or impossible with a full-fat eMTB. Depends on your strength and fitness.
They pretty much all have a walk mode for those times when its too steep to ride up,so pushing them is pretty much ok. Hike a bike is a massive pain in the arse though, although the lightweight bikes are not too bad for this. Plus youd be amazed at how easily you can get up really steep stuff on an ebike,so you will be pushing much much less than you might be on a normal bike
Gates and Stiles are not too bad,but does depend on the bike and the person.
Regarding charging, i havent stayed anywhere where i couldnt get power to the bike, a lot of places that are used by bikers now have installed powersupplies into the places where the bikes are stored, but it is better to have an ebike with a removable battery just in case.
Check it has walk mode.
Check the rebuildability of the engine/spares availability.
E.g. https://www.ebikemotorcentre.com/. Tip. Note comments about shimano.
In my case there was a localish highly recommended/praised dealer, that biased which bike I bought.
Try lifting it in the shop etc, some have good handholds (gripability, balance point etc etc) some don’t that makes (imho) a big difference to the liftability. You can also change your technique for some obstacles - e.g balance front wheel on obstacle, balance bike on obstacle(bottom of engine), then get rear on obstacle and let front drop to ground, then roll.
I agree with your point about the battery but it does limit you to a subset of bikes. However I won’t buy a bike without a removable battery.
Don’t jetwash/hose the engine and avoid deep puddles.
Edited, I think the stick on spoke magnets are dying out but the disc built in/bolted on ones are deffo better.
Ta for reminding me why it is I still choose not to buy one just yet ;0)
The stigma 😉
I had a vitus esommet, and now have a Spesh Turbo levo. Both of these are (relativley) light for a full fat ebike. Fences, walls, stiles etc, whilst not a pleasure, are quite easy to get over once you've worked out a good place to hold and lift from. Hike-a-bike where the bike can be pushed along the floor and walk mode used, is not that bad. Real hike-a-bike where you carry it on shoulders, thats just not happening, plain and simple! I mainly ride in the mid power setting, and it still suprises me what trails i can get up, so the need to hike-a-bike is vastly reduced.
Both my bikes have had removeable batteries, the only time i've needed to remove battery is to charge indoors when it's really cold. Speaking of cold, if it's into the minus °'s then battery life is greatly reduced, both from it not taking as good a charge when the battery is cold over night, to the battery not delivering as much power when you are doing a ride in the snow.
I definitely go through a lot more chains and brake pads than my real bike, but i do love a bit of mud bogging and thinking i'm on my motorbike!!
I had a few problems with the shimano motor on my first bike, so my second bike i made sure i bought it from a decent local bike shop knowing that it will break at some point, and i will be going back. Paying a premium over an online shop i figured was a price i was quite happy to pay. I've spoken extensivley to the shop mechanics, they all go wrong, it's just a matter of time.
I accidentally bought a kenevo sl yesterday. I was ebike sceptic didn't see the point or why I'd need one. By Jiminy they're fun
The SL is 19kg so yes gates and styles are doable but it's weighty.
Was riding up things that were a struggle the extra leg strength is great but with a lite you have to put a good amount of effort in. Finished the ride as fatigued as I'd be on an analogue bike but having done 3x the climbing.
Can see me using it for solo rides an winch and drop days.
My E-Trance is a real lump at about 25Kg, which by gym standards is nothing. Manoeuvring it over 5 foot walls and gates alone however, is a royal pain in the backside. So much so that if I now come to one I will ride around where ever possible.
The other points are a bit moot for me as it is always kept in the house, mainly due to value, and never in the car unattended.
When I carry it inside the car to go places, I have a flat load area and use a cushion glued to a tea tray in the boot. Drop the rear wheel, non drive side, on it and then easily push it into the car.
All in all a bit of a faff compared to a regular bike but they are so much fun it's worth it.
Proper hike a bike - Col de Moussiere. Done it twice. ThoughtI was going to die twice. Didn't actually die either time. Will probably do it again.
In the Ochils there are some massive amounts deer fences with ladder stiles. One is tricky, two in a row are unpleasant. Three is the absolute limit. 2018 Levo for context.
I've had one since 2018, I'd not really had issues you talk about but hey.. it obviously not all smile and sunny ride but, it's also not all doom and gloom your making it out to be.
Unless the battery is removable
90% or more of most ebike's have removable batteries, just pick the right one?
and most places wouldn’t let you bring it into your room – what do people do?
Why would they not*, premiere inn have never pulled a face at me.
Covered in mud is different thing, but you have the same with a dirty manual bike...and a cheap chinese 12v pump/spray gun and gallon of water would clean the majority off
not a sound idea to carry it on a roof rack
Yes, lifting one above head height is more than difficult.. you ain't using a roof rack in a hurry, but it's great excuse to buy a T5
You can lift a half-fat eMTB over a gate
I can lift my Full fat (Levo) over gate/(uk)styles, and am old/fat... admitted I've had a bad day, and slipped mid crossing of a style (wasn't fun).
Hike a bike
Walk mode.. as mentioned above.
If it breaks down
Much like a fork or your fancy electronic shifting? TBH unless you buy mail order, most fault are fixed within a week at a dealer, like any other bike.
Wear and tear on consumables
Mine a full fat, I only use Eco or Mid power, but I only get a small amount of miles less per cassette, ie: 1800 vs 2000 on my old manual bikes. So as with any consumable, depends on your use, but yes it probably will be less due to the extra power.
The stigma
Smiley or not.. Let me tell you a secret, when you get one, you really don't care what anyone else thinks.. 😉
I've got a full fat 25Kg bike and I don't wish I'd got one of the lighter ones. They are still 20kg (unless you spend a small fortune), so you don't want to be heaving one over stiles and gates. Just choose your route accordingly. I would agree with the other posters about detachable batteries. I love mine, it is fun with a capital F. Focus jam2 6.9, btw. I can't honestly see why you would want to spend more.
Hike a bike
Walk mode.. as mentioned above.
This demonstrates a lack of understanding of what HaB is. Its not walking along ( or up) pushing your bike, it's lifting your bike ( usually onto a shoulder) to carry it for significant sections. On actual HaB terrain, the wheels don't turn for long without lifting the bike.
Eg Rosset Gyll:
https://flic.kr/p/2mBENCs
Afaik there aren't any half-fat ones (Rise, SL range) with removable batteries, so a major compromise has to be made one way or the other.
Why would they not*, premiere inn have never pulled a face at me.
I'm thinking more rural B&Bs, inns, Airbnbs - near places I want to ride. Some might be ok but you'd need to be asking ahead so can't just book online straight away.
Got a 25kg one like a few others on here, there's pro's and con's, yes getting over some obstacles are a nightmare, but it can be the same with my normal bike in terms of getting up and down steep stuff with either bike, getting up stuff yes you have walk mode, but i always find my 5/10s the weakest link in that, with lack of grip in wet or slippy conditions, over fences isn't an issue, but tight sty's is another thing.
I can remove the battery to bring it down in weight, but reality is it'll weigh more if mud is slapped over it and in the tyre treads, putting it on my roof isn't that bad, one hand on the fork leg, one on the downtube and lift with the knees then on the roof, my bike carrier then traps one of the wheels and i just lift the other over and into position, it's not as simple as the normal bike, but doable even when knackered.
As for terrain with walk mode, if you do it right it can go over some rough stuff, you can wheelie it up and bounce it over stuff, can be fun to mess about doing! Unfortunately due to a damaged controller i also had to learn to ride it unpowered, 25kg with assegai DDs, on roads and bridleways, it wasn't that horrific to be fair, just live with going slower and gear it properly.
I struggled lifting mine over gates etc until I did a bit of searching on YouTube.
I now grab the lower fork and just above the BB and can lift it over onto my shoulders. Yes it's heavy but it's definitely doable.
Here's the video watch from 3 minutes in
“Unless the battery is removable, you’ll have to bring it to a power source (or take power to it) for charging. If you store in an unpowered shed at home, you need to wire it up, use extension lead, or bring it into the house for charging. Similarly when you’re staying somewhere on a trip, can’t just leave it in the car/van, and most places wouldn’t let you bring it into your room – what do people do?”
I charge mine in the garage where it’s locked up with a big chain and ground anchor. I’ve never gone anywhere with a bike where I haven’t been able to bring it into my room - I wouldn’t trust it to be there the next morning if I couldn’t (with any MTB).
“Even if your half-fat eMTB is just within the weight limit, and you’re strong enough to get it up there, it’s probably not a sound idea to carry it on a roof rack.”
Mine’s a full power alloy Levo. I mostly ride from home but when I take it places it goes on the roof of the car. It’s fairly heavy to get up there but it’s not that bad.
“You can lift a half-fat eMTB over a gate, but I wouldn’t fancy carrying one over a stile (especially a deer one).”
It’s fine lifting it over a stile. Unless you have a health problem then being able to lift an ebike over a gate or stile is probably a decent minumum benchmark for upper body and core strength.
“Hike a bike, and push/drag a bike over difficult terrain will be more difficult, or impossible with a full-fat eMTB. Depends on your strength and fitness.”
You can ride an eMTB up stuff that’s impossible on a normal bike. Extended hike a bike where it’s impossible to push would get quite annoying.
“You might need a more stable workstand.”
Yes.
“If it breaks down, it probably needs to go into the shop, and you’re probably going to be without it for weeks or months.”
I’ve had my Levo for just over four years, and it’s done just over 4000 miles. In all that time the longest it’s been out of action is 48 hours when the drive belt failed so my LBS did a motor swap (the old unit goes to be repaired, they’re not binned!)
I wouldn’t have it as my sole MTB - my other one is a 29” 160mm fork singlespeed hardtail - their abilities overlap a lot.
My only real problem with eMTBs is that chains and cassettes can’t handle the combined torque of a reasonably powerful rider and a motor on full power - it’s not that they snap chains but the teeth on the sprockets get worn away before the chain “stretches”.
Afaik there aren’t any half-fat ones (Rise, SL range) with removable batteries, so a major compromise has to be made one way or the other.
The trek fuel exe has a removable battery,as does the focus jam sl
Eg Rosset Gyll
I have done that with my ebike(~24kg),it wasn't much fun.
Let me tell you a secret, when you get one, you really don’t care what anyone else thinks.
I do, but then I'm a sensitive little flower.
Yesterday at Cannock, there were five of us on eebs knocking out runs and climbing up Upper cliff. A dude on a neeb pulled over and let us all pass, looking a bit peeved. I felt bad.
Probably just me though.
The Strava lines up that climb were there a bit before but now there's lines just basically straight up it, what with the amount of eebs. Way more eebs there than neebs.
I’ve got a rail and on the trails it’s an awesome bike, everywhere else a pita..
Don’t live in a particularly nice area, so bike has to be stored inside the house, normally wheels off, battery off just to get the bugger stashed away and she’s a long bike compared to my stumpjumper.
As I only have a small car had to get a newer more expensive towbar rack, that weighs as much as the bike! Now due to added weight have to check the rear car tyres more often.
Can’t go on the spot bike rides as have to remember to charge the thing up, caught out a few times, hence why I still have my stumpjumper.
Get criticism for not riding properly on the trails oh it’s an emtb cheating! When I ride eco-trail and often ride double my distance compared to the non-emtb and feel fitter than ever, somethings wrong somewhere. Also emtb’s on turbo don’t like me much as some think it’s all about the turbo!
Other than that I love my rail, so many more miles, so much more fun, it’s proper planted in trails, it just needs more thought than grabbing a bike and riding.
It’s fine lifting it over a stile. Unless you have a health problem then being able to lift an ebike over a gate or stile is probably a decent minumum benchmark for upper body and core strength.
I'm sure gates would be fine, but stiles are pretty risky as you need to climb up high, turn around, climb back down. One hand for the bike, the other to hold on to the stile.
This is the kind of stile that wears me out.
Day 2 of ownership and the three styles we're ok. Bike is heavy but doable.
I accidentally bought a kenevo sl yesterday. I was ebike sceptic didn’t see the point or why I’d need one. By Jiminy they’re fun
The SL is 19kg so yes gates and styles are doable but it’s weighty.
Was riding up things that were a struggle the extra leg strength is great but with a lite you have to put a good amount of effort in. Finished the ride as fatigued as I’d be on an analogue bike but having done 3x the climbing.
Can see me using it for solo rides an winch and drop days.
@onehundredthidiot how's the Kenevo SL descend? Once above motor assist is it a pig to pedal?
When you fall off your 50lb disability scooter it'll hurt 40% more when it lands on you than your 30lb bike will...
For those of you doing 3 times of many laps of your local loop/trail centre/whatever - are you doing 3 times as much volunteer trail work/maintenance to repair the extra wear and tear you're causing?
^^^
Ohhhh grumpy
Wow Mr Edwards is in a mood 😃
are you doing 3 times as much volunteer trail work/maintenance to repair the extra wear and tear you’re causing?
I'm doing well over three times more than 95% of the people that ride our local stuff weather i'm on my eeb or not.
Pointless point is pointless.
Obviously some things will vary between full/half-fat bikes and depending on how strong you are.
It's 25-30kg max... its mostly about getting it balanced.
Main thing is anything SL is only really good for 2/3 my use cases so unless carrying it often and frequently I wouldn't drop below a NM-1/body-bike weight...
So the thing is though I got given the bike and hadn't really thought about the third use case AND I would have been 100% certain I'd want a SL (and I was so wrong)... the two I had were
1) Exploring - go and do trails just to see if they are any good...
2) Self-shuttle
The thing was the 3rd use case was totally unexpected and that's riding the uphills like DH's...
As it happens I did an experiment on Saturday... My mate set his EP8 to a max 60nm-1 in software and we went and tested what that would be like. I'm 70kg and perfectly good for 1, shuttle depending how steep you get 1/2 the runs perhaps 60-70% but you are dropping in about as breathless as a non EEB just getting up quicker whereas full fat you can get up faster and not be out of breath if you're reasonably fit??
Smashing uphills though there is no comparison ... Olly Wilkins just summed it up on ridecompanion poscast.
Had an e bike for three years now, won't be changing back to manual at any time soon.
Problems 1 A bit more "in the shop" maintenance is required.
2 When you're working on your bike at home you need an axle stand to steady the load on your work stand. Some people use boxes or trials bike "cradles"
3 Cold spells like this you should bring your battery inside.
When you fall off your 50lb disability scooter it’ll hurt 40% more when it lands on you than your 30lb bike will…
For those of you doing 3 times of many laps of your local loop/trail centre/whatever – are you doing 3 times as much volunteer trail work/maintenance to repair the extra wear and tear you’re causing?
Are you all right? What's happened?
Ohhhh grumpy
Always! 🙂
’m doing well over three times more than 95% of the people that ride our local stuff weather i’m on my eeb or not.
Good work. Its a shame you have to deal with the damage the 95% cause rather than them all putting something back equally
Part of my grump is that a lot of mildly tech climbs local to me are getting turned into motorways because too many eebers just want to stick it in turbo and twiddle up, brain off. So rather than ride up the rocks which involves ratcheting and similar pauses in pedalling resulting in jerky power power delivery in the more assisted modes, they're just smashing lines through the heather instead.
Oikeith - I think you you need an SL testride. I bought a KSL from Ace Monmouth (shout out for them) for rehab from a disc herniation which largely cut the nerves one side. It gets me out which is lovely. Ee es are gradually ‘branching’.
The KSL is great DH. I’m not sure you’d even notice the power cutting off. SO different to a full power Turbo Levo which feels like a parachute has been deployed once the limit is reached unless it’s rather steep. On fast pedals singletrack with a touch of downslope it’s not hard to reach the cutoff speed and to me the full Turbo Levo really did feel awful as the assist ceased.
Amazingly I can’t say I‘ve noticed that on the KSL on the same trails . KSL has excellent geo as well - pleasingly very close to my Geometron G1.
SL system is so much more natural feeling too. I like to stand to pedal and for me it seems a bit of resistance is needed in that case. A full emtb just runs away with me even in trail mode.
Lots of adjustment on the Spesh controller means you could dial a full Turbo down, but as I only (occasionally) use 80% of the max output on the SL, I’d be carrying a lot of extra weight on a full Levo for nowt. Mind you that full Turbo “shuttle” mode is nice at times. The Alpine friend.
Its a shame you have to deal with the damage the 95% cause rather than them all putting something back equally
I do it because i want to, it doesn't really bother me that others choose to do.
resulting in jerky power power delivery
Which along with motor over run can be used for getting up some pretty tech features. 😀
I accidentally bought a kenevo sl yesterday. I was ebike sceptic didn’t see the point or why I’d need one. By Jiminy they’re fun
The SL is 19kg so yes gates and styles are doable but it’s weighty.
Was riding up things that were a struggle the extra leg strength is great but with a lite you have to put a good amount of effort in. Finished the ride as fatigued as I’d be on an analogue bike but having done 3x the climbing.
Can see me using it for solo rides an winch and drop days.
+1
I bought one a few weeks ago in the sales, really pleased with it - I can just ride more hills. While I was ok doing +4,000ft rides a couple of times a week on my normal bike, post having Covid in September I found now just doing one decent ride a week (plus a couple of short 1-2 hour 'lunch' rides) was really fatiguing me. Over the last 8 days I've covered 120 miles & 13,000ft - and come home with spare 'battery' after each ride.
I didn't find the cold temps impacted the range yesterday, easy 35 mile / 4,000ft in light snow, but cold (sub -3) - and according to my Garmin watch, still burnt through 2700 calories, so effort was been put in.
I went to charge it today, it wasn't happy in the workshop (-7 at the mo...), so I brought it indoors and within 15 mins it's fine.
they’re fun
Wow, I've never heard anyone say that before!
Turbo Levo here ridden mostly in 15% assist mode with a Brose motor.
Charging: in the garage on a simple timer for no more than 5hrs during the day. Two houses in our village have burnt down from battery charging issues at night.
Hotels where we ride have ski and boot rooms so a lock and power charges them in there.
Rear hubs. Freehubs with ratchets not pawls may last longer due to the extra loads/torque. E-Deemax wheels are performing well and tubeless simple. Bear in mind you'll probably enjoy riding up what was once impossible so extra drivetrain loads are a reality.
Sitting in Turbo, ticking over in the 10 cog up steep hills is just going to put max strain on everything and pull it all apart. Change to a lower power, easier gear and spin. You'll go further and still be a s quick as yer mates. Don't bother derestricting it, the battery wont last very long.
Components: Longevity over light bling. Keep the drive chain clean and good quality expensive chain. Steel chainrings.
Brakes, SRAM Guide RSC coping well. Choose your own flavour. e-bike pads are actually a thing for heavier overall weight.
Towball rack has been invaluable. Rated for 2 Full Fat eebs and used for long journeys, batteries out to give the rack an easier time and bikes / no batteries are easiely locked to the rack and hopefully less attractive. Otherwise bikes get washed with the dirt worker and put into the VW Caddy. Personally, prefer this to two bikes and batteries on the roof.
Made a simple zipped neoprene sleeve to cover the frame hole and motor for long drives (Basel - Lithuania for example).
Esommet owner here.
milarly when you’re staying somewhere on a trip, can’t just leave it in the car/van, and most places wouldn’t let you bring it into your room – what do people do
Can't see why that's an ebike specific problem?
You can lift a half-fat eMTB over a gate, but I wouldn’t fancy carrying one over a stile (especially a deer one).
If you can't lift a 25kg ebike over a gate or stile, then you really are a dweeb. Do you even lift bro?
Hike a bike, and push/drag a bike over difficult terrain will be more difficult, or impossible with a full-fat eMTB. Depends on your strength and fitness.
Walk mode makes pushing a doddle, even up stuff that's way too steep or rough to ride. I hate shouldering the bike on any ride so not an issue on the ebike as I'll never do it anyway.
You might need a more stable workstand.
My normal cheap workstand has been fine
If it breaks down, it probably needs to go into the shop, and you’re probably going to be without it for weeks or months.
I have my suspicions that those with constant breakdowns are the type who blast pressure washers all over bikes. 600 miles on mine so far. The bikes been washed once with a hose. No problems.
It stays in the house so charging is not a problem.
I have a van, as should all mountain bikers, so transporting it is not a problem.
I have never ever ridden places that I have to lift a bike over.
My 2+ year old ebike has never had a fault its needed to go to a shop for.
In summary, there is no problem with owning an emtb for me.
Can’t see why that’s an ebike specific problem?
Charging, as I mentioned in the earlier sentence of the quoted paragraph. You at least have the option with a normal bike of leaving it in your vehicle, by your own judgement of the security of the location.
If you can’t lift a 25kg ebike over a gate or stile, then you really are a dweeb. Do you even lift bro?
Gate would be fine. See the deer fence stile TroutWrestler posted. It'll be 1.8m high, steps aren't flat and don't have grippy metal on so could be slippery, no platform at the top. And it's on easy ground. Strength is probably ok, but navigating the bike through with only one hand is tricky, height doesn't make it hugely more difficult but increases consequences of failure.
I've had one about 6 weeks now and totally love It. I keep it inside as the bike thefts in and around Edinburgh are unbeilevable. It is a pain having to properly wash it after every ride even when it's minus temperatures outside. I'm very wary of the motor and display getting soaked but so far so good. I've ridden it mainly in the tweed valley , Glenlivet and locals trails near Elgin. It dosent take long to get the hang of the extra weight and in fact they are much more stable over slick roots and rocks. I also take care of the drivetrain a bit more with decent lube and try to be careful when shifting .
I've got a wee Peugot Teepee and it is a lump to lift in but I have removed the little seat in the back so I dont have to take the rear wheel off. I still have a good hardtail and a gravel bike so the Ebike is just purely for down the borders as Its not worth washing it for local trails and I want to keep some form of fitness. My Vitus has the 620 w Battery and I can get 25 miles and about 4500 ft If im selective and use mainly Eco/trail . One thing to watch with the shimano motors is that when It shows 5 bars this dosent equate to 100 % as you have to wait till the charger actually switches off. That sounds stupid I know but I was caught out one time when the battery died around 18 miles or so in. So just charge and leave it till the light goes out on the charger. I cant really think about any negatives and I've done my time trudging up the golfie climbs over the years so dont feel guilty passing people on normal bikes.
"It is a pain having to properly wash it after every ride even when it’s minus temperatures outside"
Can you not put it in some sort of bag? I think I've washed my Levo once in four years! I don't like washing bikes at the best of times, but voluntarily spraying water at something full of complicated electronics seems particularly unwise...
Depreciation significant. Uncertainty on long term useability. I will never go back though. Fun factor is enorme. Half fat definitely the way.
I very rarely wash mine - wait until the crap dries and then brush it off. I clean the chain, of course, with Gt85 and then leave some GT85 on it (don't use any other chain lube either and the chains seem to last very well). Wipe the dropper and shock shafts and the fork stanchions and then just a smear of EP80 gear oil. Sometimes give the whole bike a light spray with Scottoiler FS 365 (avoiding the brakes, obvs). Works for me. I await the criticism ....
Early hours this morning I had to drag 3 people out of a house fire as we had yet another ebike charging fire that's 4 iirc in a couple of months on my watch in my station area alone so God knows what they are like nationally, so make sure it's a quality one and only charge it when you are in and awake would be my advice if you have to charge it indoors
What sort of eBike?
Full fat eeb:
-Will destroy drivetrains
-Will kill wheels
-Eats rear tyres and brake pads
-The motor will die and all the electrics, make sure you buy a new one with a good warranty!
-Rides like you have big boots and ski gloves on
Half Fat Eeb
-Rides like a normal bike with a bit of assistance
-The motor will die and all the electrics, make sure you buy a new one with a good warranty!
-Doesn't kill components like full fat.
Early hours this morning I had to drag 3 people out of a house fire as we had yet another ebike charging fire that’s 4 iirc in a couple of months on my watch in my station area alone so God knows what they are like nationally
wow - that’s quite a lot! Any idea what sort of e-bike? Production ones or home conversions etc.
I wonder what the national statistics are…
I haven't owned an ebike (yet) but have heard from pretty much every owner of one I've met. That there will be a point where it'll break and can take a while to get parts to fix it, so don't sell all your bikes to buy one.
I still want one but am not quite ready for one yet.
I dont I'm afraid oceanskipper they've been too badly damaged in the subsequent fires, the one in the early hours this morning the frame was in two bits the top and down tube were both broken, and parts of the battery were ejected all over it was in the kitchen but hot bits of battery set the basement and the living room on fire as well as the kitchen
Wear and tear on consumables, especially drivetrain components for those who ride in turbo all the time and don’t like changing gear very much.
That'll be me. Everywhere on turbo, and we're now 14 months on and no sign yet of the chain/cassette needing changed.
That said, I'm swopping it to a 10spd drivetrain(currently 12) so I'm not doing the change chain regularly thing and just going to wear it to death.
Because Im in turbo all the time i am quite low down on the block, so even if it does begin to slip, i can drop down to something like tour and just utilize the larger cogs further up.
So at least a year on turbo, and i admit you forget to change the gears because for the most part you dont really need to.
Early hours this morning I had to drag 3 people out of a house fire as we had yet another ebike charging fire
I would suggest these are your bottom end bikes, bought online or from the cheapest sources.
I would think the majority here would purchase bikes at a level of Fox 36/38 forks and shocks and medium to high end spec parts. Top of the range Bosch and shimano motors and charging with chargers that retail at over 100 quid.
£5-7K, not £599 from the shopping channel.
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A word on cost outlay - motor/battery
Each time you charge it stick £2 in a tin. Once you've got to 500 charges theres money there to buy a new battery or motor.
I take it this is from personal experience ?.
Early hours this morning I had to drag 3 people out of a house fire as we had yet another ebike charging fire
Exactly why I have a timer, in the garage and daytime only. Too many of these here in Germany as the ebike population is massive.
only charge it when you are in and awake would be my advice if you have to charge it indoors
I'd say thats solid advice.
My wife used to be a Buidling Surveyor working for an insurance company. She's been to a few house fires.
We don't have anything running whilst wer're asleep, washing machine, dishwasher, bike lights charging etc.
What are peoples thoughts on charging in a cold garage? I like the idea of a timer in the garage for when we're at work in the day...but not even sure hat's a great idea.
So at least a year on turbo, and i admit you forget to change the gears because for the most part you dont really need to.
You must be riding some pretty shit trails* if that's the case.
*Or just on the road.
Only thing that wears at an accelerated rate for me is brake pads and tyres.
Then again I use the full range of gears on it instead of putting excess strain on everything.
One motor change in 2.5 years on my Kenevo.
Snapped the input shaft on it.
Have to say, i never run mine on turbo or really outside eco or eco+, it gets too twitchy in turbo for my liking as it always feels too light front end.
As for living with ebikes, it's a tool for doing stuff with, it's why i have a normal bike that i use more these days, the biggest thing is working the right balance, use the ebike too much, my legs struggle to do hills on the normal bike, use the normal bike too much, i start using the ebike well below it's ability.
So basically it's just planning what you do and when, same with charging, i never charge it overnight or out of sight, thermal runaway is a very low risk on well made appliances, which most mid to high end ebike are in the mountain bike world, the £1000 ebikes are that price for a reason, i'd be more wary of where and when i charged them if i had one!
Bought my ebike to aid my recovery for a knee problem.
As my knee has improved over the last few months I've used less assist and now ride in eco unless I'm out on my own which I'll use tour+ mode.
Never used turbo and I've even switched the power off for a couple of miles to see how my knee reacts.
Looking back I wish I'd gone for one of the lighter ebikes as the full fat cube is overpowered.
Still using my 'normal' Hardtail once a week as well.
Charge in the garage and unplug after a few hours but recently brought the battery inside due to cold weather.
I take it this is from personal experience ?.
Yep and the rest of our group as well. For me 50 to 60nm is more than enough.
this thread is not helping my resolve to wait until the new year to buy an eBike. Not one bit.
Off to see what xmas deals are about on emtbs.
Blimey, people really do seem to put a lot of thought/worry into charging things. In 3 years of eebing, I come home, I hose it off, I plug it in & forget about it until the next time I ride it.
I’ve done full power, then to an SL, now back to a full power & probably wouldn’t bother with an SL again, unless it was my only bike, which it wouldn’t be in reality.
My KSL was a good bike to ride down stuff, but in reality, it weighed 21.something KG with a shock that didn’t want to blow up every five minutes, with decent wheels/tyres. My full power bike weighs 23kg. The Kenevo was a bit better downhill, but Eco was like riding a normal bike & didn’t get much more elevation than I can on a normal bike, therefore pointless. Trail was ok, but not great range & Turbo you could flatten the battery in about 45 minutes trying to keep up with people in Tour/Trail on full power bikes.
Maybe the newer ~60nm / 450Wh bikes are the sweet spot at low 20kg’s with decent geometry, I’d need to ride one to be sure, but I’m not convinced when there are now full power Bosch equipped bikes at that weight (and controls that don’t look like a 5 year old designed them).
Maybe the newer ~60nm / 450Wh bikes are the sweet spot at low 20kg’s with decent geometry
my 2019 focus is nearly this - 22kg 70nm 375wh. funny how things progress. using a phone i can tune the assitance lower for more range / less bonkers assistance. i`ve got a second 375 battery for mega full fat capability!
the good think about full fat and a decent battery is the ebike uplift i can give the kids. that has been amazing for me and the kids.
If you can’t lift a 25kg ebike over a gate or stile, then you really are a dweeb. Do you even lift bro?
I don’t mind admitting that I can’t lift my RM Altitude over a 1.60 metre high gate - not and actually lower it down the other side too.
I’m officially a dweeb then, it seems.....
@hobnob I presume all the people who have had house fire due to lithium batteries had that same experience until they didnt
Edit.. it wouldn't put me off one but I'd charge it as I described, I also use my tumble dryer the same way and that is also due to going to countless dryer fires in the last 20 years
