E-bike ideas

[HowardH]

The wifey and I want to start riding bikes again with the concept of getting E-bikes.  There's a lot options and prices from $1300 to over $5000.  I'm thinking about something that would have fat tires for going on gravel.  Having a top speed beyond 20 mph isn't a concern for me at this life stage.  Has anyone acquired such a bike that would keep in the Festool tradition of quality and utility? 

 

[gwendal]

I offered my wife a Tern HSD S+. It is near your upper bracket, but it is a very well rounded bike. The 20'' wheels allow easy loading, keeping the center of gravity low at rest. The custom suspension fork works well on gravels, the brakes are great.
I could not resist adding accessories (pouches, stand, cargo tray and last but not least a unique front basket.

 

[sirhc]

Not really a pedal bike but a Cake electric bike fits Festool nice  8) [attachimg=1]

 

[mino]

Some general notes:

With an e-bike your primary drive is electric, this means you do *not* need to be concerned with rolling resistance or pedaling efficiency anymore

What this means:
- get a full-suspension bike, your backs will thank you for that 10 times over and the motors will take care of the inefficiencies that are the main disadvantage otherwise
- prioritise battery capacity over bike weight when given the choice
- do not go too high end, focus on a high-wuality electric power train more than the "bike" side of the bike
- do not be concerned too much about motor power, a weaker motor with a bigger battery is generally more practical than a stronger one with a smaller battery

If you want an e-bike as a car/transport replacement, you want a rear-wheel motor variety with a suspended seatpost (aftermarket thing) and some other upgrades like a high end fork etc. Main focus is the chain/belt system gets way less loaded so becomes almost maintenance-free and the whole thing is less complicated so more reliable.

If you want a recreational use e-bike, you want the opposite, a full-suspension one with a middle motor and a built-in battery per above. The middle motor provides for a much more nimble bike. I would also stick to 27.5" wheels if you did not drive for long. Easier to control.

ADD:
As for Tern bikes mentioned, these are absolutely bullet-proof but keep in mind their primary design focus is practicality *not* the comfort of the rider. Were I to suggest Tern, it would be their 26" models and that with a big baloon tires at low pressure. Either way, if one was looking at Tern, means they already know what they want to begin ...

 

[Packard]

Rimac, the electric car company, produces e-bikes that many consider to be the gold standard in the industry.  Depending where you live, it may be speed limited to comply with local laws.  But it is capable of considerably higher speeds than the 25mph allowed where I live.

The bike division is called “Greyp”.
https://www.greyp.com/en/
https://www.rimac-automobili.com/media/press-releases/rimac-automobili-launching-greyp-bikes/

Or upgrade to the car:
https://www.caranddriver.com/rimac/nevera

 

[Oldwood]

"With an e-bike your primary drive is electric, this means you do *not* need to be concerned with rolling resistance or pedaling efficiency anymore"

Unless you are twenty miles from home and your battery runs down

Some of them are almost impossible to ride too far with a dead battery. Of course, the solution would be, do not let the battery run down.

I do a bit of cycling and if I had and electric option I would like to be able to ride it with or without using the electric motor.

I have also been looking at some of the electric options but have come to no conclusions yet.

 

[Packard]

The original concept was to make all hill grades to feel like they are perfectly level.  The electric assistance to kick in only when the resistance increases on uphills.

The primary intent was to make fitness riding and recreational riding more pleasant in hilly areas.  That tech was borrowed from the wheelchair industry ((Yamaha being the primary mover).

The secondary advantage is that the maximum speed limit no longer applies, as you are permitted to manually pedal as fast as you like.  I have been clocked by a guy in a Corvette as exceeding 60 mph going down a long and steep hill in Vermont. I was exceeding the speed limit, so I could be ticketed for that.  But if the bike were electrified, I would not be liable for exceeding the speed limitations on electric bikes.

In any case, most of the pedal-equipped e-bikes have pedal assist levels.  Your travel distance can be quite long when you are only seeking assistance. It also does not eliminate the exercise benefits of traditional cycling.

 

[smorgasbord]

There's a large forum of ebike users at:https://forums.electricbikereview.com/

 

[Oldwood]

"The original concept was to make all hill grades to feel like they are perfectly level.  The electric assistance to kick in only when the resistance increases on uphills. The primary intent was to make fitness riding and recreational riding more pleasant in hilly areas. "

That is the same for me. I would like my wife to come along on more rides, but she finds it hard, and could use a little more assistance. I do not want to lose the exercise part of the experience. I have asbestosis and want to try to maintain lung capacity as much as possible.

I have a couple of nice bikes so a conversion would be acceptable if it makes sense.

 

[Packard]

Yamaha, I believe, was the originator of the in-the-hub electric motor.  They initially created it for their electric wheel chair, and when it was obvious that the FDA would not allow their wheel chair into the USA under the then current regulations, they made a conversion kit for the wheel chairs. 

I see that they are now making the same type of conversion kits for bikes.  You will have to do some research on the various models.
https://www.google.com/search?q=yam...on kit&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b-1-m

Addendum:  The FDA regulations for electric wheel chairs was written so that only the golf-cart-emulating, USA made versions would pass.  I know this because I helped a friend import one illegally.  Technically, it was illegal contraband.  But the agents of the Port Authority were too busy confiscating heroin to bother with our illegal wheel chair or I might be writing from prison right now.  [big grin]

 

[John T.]

For a Festool equivalent you might consider ones with the Bosch system, such as Tern mentioned above. Riese & Muller is probably the closest Festool equivalent but the price can easily reach $10k depending on the configuration.

Brose and Yamaha based bikes have decent reputations as well. Although I bought a low mileage Specialized with a Brose motor and at 1k miles it needed an overhaul at half the cost of a new motor. Maybe the newer generation Brose motors are better. My next ebike will be a Bosch though. Common advice is to avoid the online B2C brands with potential fire hazard batteries. Maybe stick to UL listed systems.

I commute to work on an ebike and even in 110F weather it's doable, and is still a decent workout. Think of it this way you can put the same effort in as you would with a regular bike, you just go further, and faster. Most people who talk trash from their regular bikes about ebikes don't seem to be using their bikes as transportation.