New ebike general advice

[daverave]

Hello, it's been 6 years since I bought my first e-bike - A Kudos Stealth. It has served me well, but is starting to look a bit tired, so I am in the market for an upgrade. One thing I did not like about the Stealth is that it does not handle bumps very well. I live on top of a hill and going downhill is the worst part - it's so bumpy it feels like my organs are rattling!

So, in a nutshell, I'm looking for a new e-bike (budget up to £3K, but preferably lower!), that will get me up that steep hill (I am 17 stone 6ft 2) and has a smooth ride downhill. There's so many choices on the market these days (unlike 6 years ago!), so I was hoping that someone could steer me in the right direction. Range isn't an issue, as my commute is 2 miles each way (but with 600 feet decline then 600 feet incline on the way back). I don't anticipate going on longer rides.

Any specific suggestions for an ebike which suits my needs? I'm thinking I'd need a high torque crank motor, low tooth chainring and suspension?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Dadam]

It sounds like you're wanting something with at least front suspension, is your hill route mainly offroad? I'm no expert on the market but I just picked up one of these recently and love it. https://www.theelectricbikeshop.co....tric-mountain-bike-in-lunar-grey-5667/option/

In your budget, just, and meets your criteria. They've actually knocked off another 96 quid since I got mine... despite me doing my best car buyer haggling they wouldn't knock off any more at the time though they did throw in £100 worth of accessories.

Air fork with lockout on the front.
Bosch gen 4 motor with 85nm torque and 1x12 gears with a 38T chainring and 51 tooth largest sprocket.
And a decent level of quality in the components.

It's a heavy beast but with that motor it doesn't feel it.

Cube's product and spec levels are truly bewildering but I understand the Reaction is designed as a hardtail MTB and, the Touring and Kathmandu are more hybrid and leisure oriented ("trekking, touring") so more upright geometry. In the Reaction the Performance is confusingly the basic spec level, then there's Pro, then Race, then SLT/SLX.

 

[wiggydiggy]

I looked up the Kudos Stealth and its hasn't got any front suspension, but does come with mudguards and a rack so I'd say a Trekking bike sounds about right.

These all have those and are in budget, the last 2 are brands I'm new to and might struggle to get in this country but just food for thought.

https://www.theelectricbikeshop.co....ad-electric-bike-white-in-large-11278/option/
https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Scott-Sub-Cross-eRIDE-20-EQ-2022-Electric-Mountain-Bike_243140.htm
https://moustachebikes.com/gb/en/electric-bikes/samedi-27-xroad/samedi-27-xroad-1-400wh/#content
https://www.haibike.com/gb/en/elect...kking-bikes/trekking-3-high-gb739?id=45500330

To save a bit of cash the bike I ride though not as well equipped as the ones I list there, is still a good bike and ticks all the boxes you want. I'm a similar weight/height to you and find it fine.
https://www.raleigh.co.uk/gb/en/motus-tour-derailleur-gear-electric-bike/crossbar/

 

[Dadam]

Several options there. I wanted the mudguards and rack offered by a lot of the "trekking" bikes but didn't want to compromise too much on the offroad capability, so I got the shop to fit the "Acid" (Cube's in house brand) mudguards and rack pretty much as on the Kathmandu and similar bikes. The rear mudguard has the integral, wired in rear light.

 

[daverave]

Thanks all, really appreciate the advice! No gravel on my commute, but just generally bumpy i.e. poor tarmac, which you can really feel going down hill at high speed.

Think I've narrowed it down to the Scott e-RIDE-20-EQ or the Cube Reaction Hybrid Race 625!

 

[Dadam]

The Scott looks a nice bike too. Not familiar with it but it does look like a slightly lower spec level. Suntour coil fork vs air fork on the Cube, Alivio 9 speed vs Deore 12 speed.

Also it's got 38T crankset and 11-36 cassette so its bottom gear isn't as good on the really steep hills as the 36T 10-51 of the Cube. Mind you still have the Bosch motor so it shouldn't give you trouble on any incline on a tarmac road.
500 watt-hour battery vs 625

Both have the Schwalbe Smart Sam tyres which have a chunky offroad tread. I find they roll quite well on tarmac and are quiet, unlike some knobbly tyres. If you're on tarmac the whole way you might consider lighter, more road oriented rubber.

 

[Pale Rider]

If you're on tarmac the whole way you might consider lighter, more road oriented rubber.

That's what I would do.

It's likely the Smart Sams will wear quite quickly if only used on tarmac.

As tyres wear, punctures become more likely.

One of the several shallow tread Schwalbe Marathons should do it.

Tyres are not really an integral spec of the bike, so unless you are looking at the actual bike you are buying, it may turn up with something else on it.

No need to bother with tyres for a few months - the Smart Sams will do the job well enough.

https://www.schwalbe.com/en/city-tour

 

[daverave]

The Scott looks a nice bike too. Not familiar with it but it does look like a slightly lower spec level. Suntour coil fork vs air fork on the Cube, Alivio 9 speed vs Deore 12 speed.

Also it's got 38T crankset and 11-36 cassette so its bottom gear isn't as good on the really steep hills as the 36T 10-51 of the Cube. Mind you still have the Bosch motor so it shouldn't give you trouble on any incline on a tarmac road.
500 watt-hour battery vs 625

Both have the Schwalbe Smart Sam tyres which have a chunky offroad tread. I find they roll quite well on tarmac and are quiet, unlike some knobbly tyres. If you're on tarmac the whole way you might consider lighter, more road oriented rubber.

I think (looking at the specs), the Cube is also 38T? Not sure it will make that much difference (like you say!) with the high torque motor!

 

[Dadam]

I think (looking at the specs), the Cube is also 38T? Not sure it will make that much difference (like you say!) with the high torque motor!

Yes you're right I just checked again. But you divide the 38 by the largest cog at the back to give the ratio, so that's 38/51 = 0.745 on the Cube or 38/36 = 1.05 on the Scott. I've not had to use that massive rear cog yet but good to know it's there.

 

[daverave]

This looks like a good deal... any thoughts?

https://www.theelectricbikeshop.co....0-electric-mountain-bike-in-grey-5655/option/

 

[Dadam]

Looks good. Slightly lower spec but still decent. 11 speed Deore groupset not 12 speed, which isn't a big issue. Still has air fork which is better than coil, i.e lighter and can be adjusted. Biggest difference I guess is the battery size which will be slightly lighter and quicker to charge up but will affect the max range a bit.

 

[Gwylan]

Bikes are female, lead you on with flirty smiles and so on.
Go to rack and ruin if you leave them ignored in the shed.

ebikes just have longer legs, shorter skirts and more expensive tastes. Also they are much more prescriptive in what they will do and how far they will go.

Comes to it they are all pretty useless the morning after. When they need a good clean and the chain adjusting.

Beware the pretty ones in the shop, they usually come with expensive tastes and require a lot of special spares and maintenance.

Promise the world and run out of enthusiasm when you are miles from home.

 

[Pale Rider]

This looks like a good deal... any thoughts?

https://www.theelectricbikeshop.co....0-electric-mountain-bike-in-grey-5655/option/

Are you looking for a 'deal' or an ebike?

Any half-decent ebike will deal easily with your two-mile commute.

You say you don't anticipate going on longer rides, so the likes of the Cube is rather over-specced for the job.

The cheaper Chinese ebikes have, in general, improved a great deal since you bought your Kudos.

Woosh is a reliable supplier.

Several of their bikes are already set up for commuting with mudguards and a carrier, the fitted lights will be a bit weedy, but they can be cheaply upgraded.

All this for around a grand.

If you do want a 'deal', buy a Whoosh and 'save' yourself best part of £2,000.

https://wooshbikes.co.uk/home.html?faro

 

[Dadam]

Fair points above but while you may not plan to go on longer rides now, having a nice bike makes you want to.

If you have the money and want something nice not just purely utilitarian, why not. I splashed out on the Cube because I wanted to do some more offroad type rides that my e-road bike isn't very suitable for and I'd sold some gear from another hobby I'm doing a lot less of, so had some spare cash.

 

[daverave]

Are you looking for a 'deal' or an ebike?

Any half-decent ebike will deal easily with your two-mile commute.

You say you don't anticipate going on longer rides, so the likes of the Cube is rather over-specced for the job.

The cheaper Chinese ebikes have, in general, improved a great deal since you bought your Kudos.

Woosh is a reliable supplier.

Several of their bikes are already set up for commuting with mudguards and a carrier, the fitted lights will be a bit weedy, but they can be cheaply upgraded.

All this for around a grand.

If you do want a 'deal', buy a Whoosh and 'save' yourself best part of £2,000.

https://wooshbikes.co.uk/home.html?faro

Food for thought! I want an improvement on my Kudos - mainly from a comfort aspect. How does the Camino stack up? https://wooshbikes.co.uk/?camino