Electric Mountain Bikes

[Learjet]

Had an electric bike for a year now and I love it, although I do most of my shopping on a regular pushy.

[Dishtrackted]

I was looking at getting 2 for the wife and I to go to the beach.
I was looking at the motor attached to the hub to give me more torque to get up a very steep hill.
They are about $2 g each on ebay.
but
Friends have 2 they breakdown on average every year.
No one local can fix them no one even close can fix them
So you have to drop them off down in Brizzy or Sunshine/Gold Coast and then go pick them up.
The petrol, time and money spent doing that doesnt add up.
The point was to give me an alternative when the rules of supply and demand eventually took hold of the oil industry.
$4000, plus repairs and a new battery every few years, is more expensive than the petrol I would save, not to mention my dead battery from not driving enough.
Its a no from me, unless I moved somewhere busier and near an electric bike mechanic.

[porkop]

what the point?

isn't a bike ride meant to be exercise, mountain biking more so????

[Dishtrackted]

My ones were to get me up a very steep hill that is virtually impossible to walk up.(Ive done it about 3 times in 15 years and it still hurts)
My triathlete neighbor can do it,not me and my wife.
Also to save petrol.

Mountain biking is supposed to be masochism getting up and fun rolling down probably just extends the fun

[Learjet]

what the point?

isn't a bike ride meant to be exercise, mountain biking more so????

I get asked this a lot. With mine I can do any amount of peddling I want - all motor, all pedal or anything in between. Plus my health is not always good so it gets me out and about if I'm not up to a full pedal. I take along my heart rate monitor and definitely still getting into the aerobic zone. Basically with a motor you can either go faster or further than peddling alone. Headwinds are a breeze (pun) as are hills. Personally I find the ride more pleasant. Get tired and motor home. Love it.

[ol' boy]

what the point?

isn't a bike ride meant to be exercise, mountain biking more so????

Negative

[Uncle Fester]

Great for old people and mine is now well over 10 years old... damn how the time flies.
I replaced the old Nicads with LiPOs +25% voltage, added cooling fan over motor, pulled the wire off the rpm sensor, installed a big fat comfortable saddle and some electronic nonsense. It came standard with 7 speed hub gear.
It has a metal label on it that says it is 180W, yay.

I like my exercise

[Learjet]

This is mine. It's a LiPO powered ebay conversion kit on a cheap Kmart bike.

[ol' boy]

Do you live in a relatively flat area Learjet?
I'd love one here, but i think it is just too hilly.

[Dishtrackted]

Friends have one with a hub motor in the front wheel and it wont make it up my steep hill,another friend has one with the motor on the pedals and it easily gets up my hill.
My hill is bloody steep your nose nearly touches the road as you try and walk up it.

[Learjet]

Yeah what Dishtrackted said. Motor on the pedals seems to have more torque for hills, from what I've read. Though mine easily goes up Lambert's Lookout and the rare hill that we have. One day I will try Mount Oscar. It's the steepest bump we have close at hand.

[ol' boy]

Things sure are improving in the E-Bike world

ESTIMATED MIN RANGE:
45 miles (72 km)
ESTIMATED MAX RANGE:
130 miles (209 km)

[lsemmens]

Top speed 20mph, I wonder, what a little jigger pokery could achieve.

[mtv]

At $5,299.00...... I'd rather a decent motorcycle (or two) for that price!

[ol' boy]

Top speed 20mph, I wonder, what a little jigger pokery could achieve.

I believe in AU, they have a KW max rating or they need to be registered and considered a E-Motorbike i guess.
Now, that would be a very hard thing to prove for ya average plod.

Nothing a "mapping" switch wouldn't fix

[ol' boy]

At $5,299.00...... I'd rather a decent motorcycle (or two) for that price!

At $600+ a year Rego in Vic for a motorcycle (above 601cc), i can sure see the advantage of an E-Bike
Doesn't cost a small fortune to stay in the garage for 6 years!