Confusing array of e bikes

[RufusChucklebutty]

I'm looking for a step through e bike and it seems like there are multiple confusing brands but the bikes all look like the same one, from £700 to £1500 ?

Are they actually better or worse or is it just paying for a real brand name and warrenty back up rather than straight from a China ?

 

[All uphill]

I'd suggest buying one with a motor that can serviced and repaired, and with a battery from a reputable company. That way you avoid the risk of having a bike that is scrap in twelve months and possibly dangerous before then.

My ebike has a Shimano motor and battery, and my son's has Bosch. His has been used in all weathers for four years and is as good as new

 

[wafter]

I'd suggest buying one with a motor that can serviced and repaired, and with a battery from a reputable company. That way you avoid the risk of having a bike that is scrap in twelve months and possibly dangerous before then.

My ebike has a Shimano motor and battery, and my son's has Bosch. His has been used in all weathers for four years and is as good as new

This has been one of the few pieces of advice I've been giving to a mate... it seems that anything not running standardised components from large, reputable companies is at best scrap in waiting, inviting disaster at worst.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

I have had several bikes with motors

Current on is a Raleigh Motus with a Bosch motor
it went over 12,000 miles recently and is still going strong
battery range is starting to drop a bit but overall it has lasted far far better than the otehrs I have had

Problem with Bosch motors is that anything going wrong and you have problems
for example - I needed a new speed sensor
I asked the LBS to change it as they have the necessary software to connect to it and do it
because if the central system realises that you have disconnected something then you need the proper software to tell it that it is OK

even for a simple speed sensor that just counts the revs of the magnet on the wheel!


On the other hand - they seem to go wrong very very seldom

Previous ones had problems - mostly due to battery things
our folder is out of action because the battery no longer charges in spite of being careful to charge it and use it properly

First one (I started on them in 2011) went through 3 batteries over time
on the same point - if I get a new battery for the folder it will cost about £150
new one for the Bosch - more like £500


Overall the Raleigh has been good and the Bosch system has been great

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

Like many things these days, it's easy to get out of the loop of what's considered a bargain, if you don't keep your finger on the pulse.

I was incredibly lucky, when on the verge of ordering a ~£1900 Van Rysel road ebike https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/electrical-assistance-road-bike-e-edr-af-105-2x11s-red/335142/m8654837 , I came across Pauls Cycles and RM Cycles selling GT gravel ebikes for the cost of a typical GRX drivetrain gravel bike (£1250).

There's no way I'd chance an AliExpress special, I was always going to buy a "big brand" with support in the UK. Albeit I'm not quite sure what happens with my Paul Cycles bike if something went wrong within the G'tee period, if I'd bought the Van Rysel, I could have simply taken it to the store in Southampton city centre.