40 / 16 tooth should be fine - its higher than the tandem ratio IIRC but yes I would check
tj, as a recent ebike person myself, I'll just back up the point that given the limited top speed, commutes to trails are not really any faster or more fun. Yes, they can be more chill as even in eco you get all the assistance you need to pootle along at the max limited speed, but it doesn't bring them any closer (and in fact over Christmas I've struggled with longer commutes to trails as I just don't generate the same internal heat - bloody freezing!).
However, once you get to the trails, absolute game changer. See that 4th hill that you are not sure you have the beans to ride up? Go to do it! See that rubbish uphill trail that you've not even looked at before? Go do it!
Hilarious fun. but the commutes are still long and slow (unless you de-restrict the motor, as my riding buddy did, which resulted in the motor shitting itself after a month and the warranty being refused. oops!)
Any reason not to just build one up yourself using a Tongsheng motor and a suitable frame? (I believe you've done this before on another bike.)
Both my main bikes (a Cube hardtail and a full-sus) are now "electrified" and I still ride them everywhere that I used to before. The only drawback that I've found is that the motor hangs a bit low but, apart from that, for me the advantages of a DIY built outweigh a ready-built eBike in every way, not least of all the price.
I even bought a spare motor just in case I need it (or parts from it) in the future. I built another Cube hardtail up for my riding buddy and between us we have three bikes, four motors and three batteries, all for well under the cost of a cheap ready-built eMTB.
Oh, and they all have 135mm rear spacing.
buig scots nanny - its as much the effort to get out to the hills as the time.
steve - the tongsheng does not always fit well on a 29er that takes fat tyres but its an option for sure
I understand. Frame choice is indeed a big limitation. We've been searching for ages for a Tongsheng-able full-sus frame in XS for my riding buddy, but we've yet to find one.
@dyna-ti the longevity comment was based on what we see in the shop I work in. We deal with Spesh & Boach equipped bikes and, whilst we sell many time more Specialized's, we see more in for issues. That being said they're fairly easy to "repair".
My reference to Bosch potentially refusing a warranty was merely acknowledging the possibility. I felt my comments on warranty would prove helpful to the OP as they mentioned warranty and repairibility.
Given how well water & electricity play together, e-bike systems are impressively sealed but eventually water causes a problem. My experience is based on MTBing. Most commonly water ingress is via bearing seals but does take a while and pressure washing definitely quickens their demise.
In the context of shifting performance, by the time a cable needs changing the housing general does too. Any decent shop would change both to restore the shifting and some e-bikes are definitely easier/quicker to work on than others.
I wouldn't normally recommend this, but given limited budget would you be better off trying to get a second hand good spec FS eeb with Bosch cx motor?
The arse falls out of used eeb values due to the lack of warranty, but that could be an advantage to you.
You would have to accept the fact that it is going to break out of warranty and you will have a bill at some point, just as you'd accept that with a used car.
That could well work out better value and a LOT more capable than buying something that is *always* going to be basic and limited l.
Would echo the points about FS being more warranted on an eeb on proper offroad. HT will give a lot of limitations for what is possible (e.g. bonkers technical climbing).
Would also echo comments about restricted ebike not being any quicker (actually slower) commuting to trails.
that's odd!
The UK sites TJ linked to say "Bosch Generation 3 Performance Cruise motor which produces 65Nm torque"!
DrP
EDIt - the pro has the better motor, the performance one has teh lower motor....
Link to performance model
Dr P
the bike SSS linked to is the posh version - the "race"
El boufador - maybe a good call. Buy a better secondhand one and budget for a motor?
@tjagain I would try and demo a Bosch powered e-bike if you can as the motors feel very torquey when they kick in - some people like it, some don't.
I have ridden a bosch motor bike.
<<Edited to remove erroneous info>>
Mrs SSS Ebike has a Gen 3 like the Evans cycles link and it’s over a year old
Ta
Sorry. After getting lost in the website. DrP and Evans is indeed correct
https://www.cube.eu/uk-en/cube-reaction-hybrid-performance-625-polarsilver-n-blue/533112
The Reaction Hybrid Performance is a Gen 3 non performance line motor. At least 2 year old technology.
I can't comment on ebikes but I'm a seven minute ride to the boundary of the regional park.
There is a range of riding both there are around Midlothian.
Moving is my suggestion (that's been mentioned though)
If it’s anything off-road mountain biking on loose rough ground don’t get an hard tail.
My mate got one to save some money and it’s hard work, on my full sus i have to continually stop and wait for him, on road or canal etc it’s fine, anything else including hill climbing off road he just can’t keep up with the pace.
Moving is my suggestion (that’s been mentioned though)
Not for a couple of years and if I do it will not be to those ghastly edinburgh suburbs / commuter towns 🙂
@onehundredthidiot
I bought a Kenevo SL 5 weeks ago after hiring one from Gordo in Inners, done 400 miles on it so far, all in the valley.
Not cheap but got it for a very good price in the BlackFridaySales, and certainly not comparable to what TJ is after, but I am finding it fun and basically I'm just covering ground a bit quicker than my old Cotic. Use it mostly in Eco, but drop into Trail for a bit more pace and then I've always Turbo for one more climb. Did nearly 4500ft at the Golfie today on only half the battery (including extender) capacity.
TJ
I'm almost your age, get a FS - I'd imagine that the extra weight of an ebike HT makes for a 'painful' ride on anything other than smooth gravel.
My current favourite bike runs plus wheels and one of these...
https://www.pnwcomponents.co.uk/products/coast-suspension-dropper-post-external
Must say that in the Surrey mud I'm not missing rear suspension at all.
Of course oop north might be different.
not be to those ghastly edinburgh suburbs / commuter towns 🙂
One man's ghastly commuter town is another man's historic mining village. We can't all be property tycoons living it up in the big city.
If I was you I'd be looking at an Islabike, you don't go fast enough for suspension and you'll appreciate the dropped top tube and dropper post when getting yer leg ower.
It’s always worth restating that this is not accident or incompetence, this is deliberate, planned Tory policy.
They’ve always hated the nhs, hated that a hugely successful and popular public service exists. It proves that the ‘only private industry works’ mantra is a lie. The Tories want peoples health expenses to go to private companies, as in USA, not because it’s a good system but because they and their friends will get fat on it.
From experience do not buy anything with a Shimano motor. Shimano will not sell spares for their motors so very few shops will repair then.
Have you looked at Haibike?
They have a massive e-bike range although I have no experience of them personally.
A good mate who works in the bike industry has previously ridden Haibike e-bikes and really rated them.
Might be worth a look.
Well I still haven't bought one. Old tight fisted me is having trouble spending that much money 🙂 I am reluctant to go second hand because of relibaility concerns
Seems that stock is actually fairly low in Edinburgh. Not a huge amount of choice
I have looked at a few bikes - there is a cube available with a gen 3 motor 650 battery at a reasonable cost, and a Whyte with the gen 4 motor but only a 500 battery. Both can be had in lower or higher spec IIRC
Im thinking the gen 3 motor will be fine and the bigger battery better. Is that daft thinking? I know from previous ebikes I have ridden I find it hard not to max it out allthe time so the lower power motor with the bigger battery will give significantly more range?
The Cube bikes do look like very good value overall.
Edit - the posher spec cube seems to have the gen4 motor. Anything wrong with cube bikes?
fyi tj, below is a recentish quote from an e engine rebuilder
Buy an old Bosch Gen2, Brose or Yamaha (not Giant). At least these motors are currently between 90% and 100% repairable.
———-
ps I think later Bosch motors have the circuit board at the bottom of the engine
I use an On One Codeine 29er with a Tongsheng 750w motor & a Haibike XDuro with a Bosch CX.
Personally I prefer the On One.
If I was in your shoes I'd either buy something with a Bosch motor (you can service them yourself) or I'd get a Dengfu HT carbon frame such as the M01 with a Bafang motor. Then you can chose anything between 250w to 1500w depending on the motor and have any speed limit you like. Plus they're easy to fix or get fixed and cheap to replace.
This is the chap that owns the EMTB forum. He rides the bikes, has the background, which is unlike many of the you tube Ebike reviewers who it seems are either new to cycling and just jumping on the bandwagon or are unfamiliar with emtb's and so don't understand the kit,bits and bobs etc.
https://www.youtube.com/@RobRidesEMTB/playlists
I'm not sure it's the case on the newer Whytes, but certainly changing the battery was reportedly a real pita at one point, disturbing wiring etc.
I suppose this is more of an issue if you're using it as an uplift bike and going through more than one battery on a ride, or if you need to remove the battery overnight for security.
Not an issue if only on the one battery and leaving it in the bike.
When i was looking, the Cubes seemed to have the best spec for the money.
Ta chaps – I bought a cube today.
Pics please 😊
Its on order. I haven't got my paws on it yet
Pushing it up stairs make you big and strong, like ox 🙂
Joking aside, I think it might be quite hard work. I found humping a Turbo Levo up our short flight of outdoor steps fairly intense, but I guess it'll also depend on the steepness and spacing of the steps. Going down could be fun though.
I used to carry the tandem up and its a similar weight. I'm hoping the walk assist might work on the stairs. Its only 104 steps
Which Cube did you go for in the end?
Mrs SSS has the Reaction Hybrid Performance - Gen3, 500 battery. 2 year old now. Got 3000 miles on the clock atm.
Ive ridden it, very impressive!
I think the pro 625 - gen 4 motor, thru axles - cheap air fork
It will have a model name TJ. Reaction Pro maybe ? Is it a hardtail or suss ?
hardtail. I have forgotton the actual name - second to top of the range hardtail MTB IIRC - maybe top of the range
> deleted <
Had missed you'd bought one.
New bike day for TJ?
I would be worried if I were a traffic cone near his house...
😉
Hardtail at your time of life tj!Not sure your body will appreciate it.
I'm a real man! Only softies have full sus 😉
