Dear Bike Industry, make this e-bike

Heatable down tube storage spot for pies or dry gloves?

At a price point that doesn’t make you feel ripped off? Mind you that applies to normal bikes and replacement component’s too – brake pads that cost more than for my motorhome, tyres that are two thirds of the price for a car tyre, the list could go on but it’s probably been covered before at some length!

I’d like an Ebike that weighed less than 20kg, had about 150-160mm travel, and had the ability to do 70 mile, 3000m days with 100kg on board, without having to put it in ultra-eco mode. Currently it would have Bosch electrics, and Shimano Link Glide eleven speed or an internal gear box.

In fantasy mode, it would do that, weigh 4kg less, and have decent in frame storage and space to fit an 800ml fidlock bottle too.

USB-C PD charging port (for charging the bike away from home, not for charging accessories).

Battery level displayed as a numerical percentage (‘blobs’ of power remaining are not acceptable).

It’s absurd that MTBs are still getting fitted with 5 segment displays – so I’ve got somewhere between 20 and 40%? or between 20 and nothing at all?

Shimano’s motors give out percentage info that shows up on Garmin devices in the Garmin e bike field but as a 5 segment block in their ‘shimano steps’ display on Garmin (and in their own iPhone app…)

Removable battery (like Trek exe) to reduce weight for transporting 3 bikes on bike rack.

Options in the bike range / models to buy one with preferred drivetrain / suspension rather than factoring a swap over.

Be otherwise indistinguishable from a normal bike (looks, sounds, weight) save for a 250w kick up the arse.

Interesting article, in as much as it doesn’t actually talk about the things you’d want for the ‘bike’ bit of an ‘E-bike’ and is all about the features associated with the ‘E’ bit…

Is that what eeebs do to people, turn them into “that person” who recites the spec sheet for the car they just bought and all the other comparable ones on the market, but couldn’t give you a qualitative description of how it corners or rides?

I suppose I wouldn’t understand I’m not an “e-Bike guy”…

Maybe they just attract ‘that person’.

heated grips.

a removable battery which can be straight swapped for 1 or more airline acceptable lower capacity batteries. Or just make 160 batteries, and stack them up in the downtube

Maybe they just attract ‘that person’.

Maybe this article attracts ‘that person’ who likes to comment negatively. Isn’t it implicit that we want the desired riding characteristics to mirror or better our leg powered bikes?

Lower speed limit, and power that tapers off as you reach the limit.

Scrolling through Strava and the average speed for an MTB ride for the people I follow (my friends, some pros, some other good riders) is 7-10mph depending on the weather, the amount of climbing/descending and how technical the trail is.

So limited need for 16mph on an MTB, set to 12mph with power tapering off from 9mph 100% to 12mph say 40-50%. Plus it’d save e-riders having to wait for so long when riding with regular bikes.

That said 16mph for e-commuting is probably a bit too slow, I’d bump that up to 18-20mph.

How about some degree of standardisation/ open standards for batteries, chargers and plugs etc to encourage after-market producers, repair and recycling? This would making the option of air travel more viable with it being easier to hire. No doubt manufacturers will provide some bollox about proprietary technology, performance optimisation etc. Given the cycle industries pleas about being ‘green’ E-bikes must be one of the worst products for environmental sustainability.

A smugness filter which automatically administers 500 volts to the nether regions of any e bike rider who cruises past you on a hill and suggets you get an e bike.

I don’t want a ebike while I can still pedal uphill.

 in as much as it doesn’t actually talk about the things you’d want for the ‘bike’ bit of an ‘E-bike’ and is all about the features associated with the ‘E’ bit…

Of course it does, The differential between a regular bike and an e-bike, is the E bit. That’s the bit that newer technology, that has fewer commonalities, and has manufacturers grasping around in the dark without really knowing what the public want or care about. I’ve ridden precisely 2 e-bikes for a combined time of about maybe 5 hours, but in that time, I didn’t think once about the bike bit, they were largely “just bikes” But even with my limited experience, I recognise a lot of those irritations.

My frustrations with my new haibike:

4 lights for battery level. 25% increments. Not good.

Lack of an app so no idea what health my motor or battery has. No display on controller which is fine but at least put an app with it.

Controller has a usb port but can’t charge anything off it.

agree with a lot of that list, but very much disagree with these ones:-

1. Display that sits next to the stem. Top tube displays are too far down in my line of sight. – nope, have had an ebike with a display like this, its clumsy, damage prone in a crash, looks ugly etc, much rather a display integrated into the top tube, or better still no display at all, except may a few lights to indicate battery level and assist mode, as long as it sends all the good data to a garmin (other watches/bike computers are available)

2. USB charging port for phone/Garmin/lights etc – nope, dont care about this either, just something else for water/mud to get into and cause issues.

3. DInky integrated ‘be seen’ LED lights front and rear – nope, just something else to go wrong/add complexity/cost etc

4. Some sort of alarm and/or tracking and/or remote disabling feature to help deter/find thieves. – nope, just something else to go wrong add complexity,cost etc. The motor manufacturers struggle enough with the basics, I can imagine some antitheft feature enabling by mistake mid ride.

Keep it simple – add a motor and the bare minimum required for a bike with a motor*

* This is my opinion for a mountain bike, I can see why this stuff might be useful for a commuter bike /bikepacking bike etc.

 except may a few lights to indicate battery level

If they can have a monitor to do this, then then can have a smaller one with a number on it. Illuminated bars (especially just the 4/5 that e-bikes use now) are woeful, if one goes out does that mean I have 75% left or just, less than 100%?

A smugness filter which automatically administers 500 volts to the nether regions of any e bike rider who cruises past you on a hill and suggets you get an e bike.

Can mine administer a friendly scrotal tickle? I always say “sorry, I’m cheating”

That long list yet still happy to have a mech hanging off the back instead of matching the motor up to a gearbox?

It’d be cheating if you went the same speed as a normal bike…

I think the gearbox motor (the other article on the main page) may be the next great thing for them.

I think the gearbox motor (the other article on the main page) may be the next great thing for them.

Gearbox e-bikes certainly make sense, but also at the expense of weight, complexity, and less user serviceability, but then I’ve never really understood the hate-on that some folks have for derailleurs.

Pinion reckon there’s only needs touched by the user after 10,000 miles. And that will just be an oil change. OTOH we’ve all (I’m sure) seen ebikes exploding mechs out on the trails, and Shimano have even had to come up with a new groupset to try and help them survive ebike use. Gearboxes make more sense than ever in this application

Maybe they just attract ‘that person’.

Bikes, or e-bikes? Both, right?

How about some degree of standardisation/ open standards for batteries, chargers and plugs etc to encourage after-market producers, repair and recycling?

Agreed. Should be mandatory in time, standardised (ha..) like AA and AAA sizes – pick the pack, 250-1000Wh dep on what fits and it should connect up, the BMS built into the bike reads battery size and adjusts settings accordingly.

There are city bikes that use power tools packs, that’s good thinking.

we’ve all (I’m sure) seen ebikes exploding mechs out on the trails,

Not really, no, and TBH, I’ve very rarely seen any mech on any bike “explode” out on the trail. In 25 years of riding in some pretty popular locations, I’ve maybe seen one or two, and they’re normally things like a jockey wheel bolt falling out, and it’s certainly never happened to me personally. I mean I’m sure it happens, but not nearly as frequently as some folks would have us believe.

OTOH we’ve all (I’m sure) seen ebikes exploding mechs out on the trails

Nope.
That said I’ve only seen a handful of rear mechs destroyed on the trail in the entire time I’ve been riding bikes.
I’ve seen them go baggy, pivots go sloppy, rendered useless because you can’t mount a suitable shifter to your non leaking brakes. I’ve seen them rusted to death, eaten to death following the jockey wheels no longer having teeth/bearings.
I’ve seen them destroyed by ham fistedness*, badly installed, b screws lost, limit screws stripped the list goes on but they’re almost all things picked up “at home” not on the trail.

I like the idea of a gearbox motor but that’s not because derailleurs aren’t a good solution it’s because it’s a nice idea (that’s as much potential to be a really bad solution as a really good one)

There are city bikes that use power tools packs, that’s good thinking.

It is but its a shame they picked something no more standardised than ebikes mind!

*oddly the same people who can’t be trusted with an allen key are the same ones who’ve smashed them mid ride.

Gearbox e-bikes certainly make sense, but also at the expense of weight, complexity, and less user serviceability, but then I’ve never really understood the hate-on that some folks have for derailleurs.

I’m probably feeling sore about my XT mech exploding at the weekend. It had an interaction with a stick that pushed the cage onto the wheel so nothing caused by the type of bike.

But then Gearboxes should need less maintenance and wont be so vulnerable. Motorbikes manage but they’re less fussed by weight

I’ve seen mechs break off, I’ve had to replace derailleur hangers a few times, and years ago I had a mech go through the rear wheel and ruin the mech, the wheel and the chain stays.

I’ve also noticed that the more I push my riding, the more bashed my mech gets.

So, yeah, I can see the problems with rear mechs. I don’t think that gearboxes are the answer for leg power, but for ebikes I think they’re much better.

I like the idea of a gearbox motor but that’s not because derailleurs aren’t a good solution it’s because it’s a nice idea (that’s as much potential to be a really bad solution as a really good one)

Some my thoughts up as well, I’ve never really understood the need by some folks for gearboxes to be an urgent replacement for something that works, is cheap, largely repairable, and easy to service at home – or on the trail.

Aye, either a gearbox or an AXS system that runs off the bike’s power with a supre drivetrain.

I’d like a motorised seatpost, I get tired of having to stand up every time I want to raise the seat.

Also, I’d like a reverse mode for when I have to turn around on the trail, preferably with a beeping noise.

Also, I’d like a reverse mode for when I have to turn around on the trail, preferably with a beeping noise.

Complete with reversing camera?

It is but its a shame they picked something no more standardised than ebikes mind!

True, it’s not a perfect solution. Just along the right lines since power tool batteries are more readily available and widespread.

An open API/communications protocol that allows any third party GPS/Phone App/Watch to speak to it and let on how lazy I’m being in real-time. Things like instantaneous current draw, torque and power would be actually useful. While they’re at it a USB port so I can download firmware and install it myself. Locking this to dealers is crazy. Looking at you Bosch! Your motors are great, your closed ecosystem is not.

They exist but are very hard to find….and this is for me only in so much as it would get my wife out to ride with me….

A mountain bike (not a hybrid), with mountain bike angles (esp head angle) and clearance for proper mountain bike tyres but with a step thru frame. Obviously this is not a gnarcore bike request – but a bike that could handle something a bit more than canal paths with the angles to inspire confidence off road but for a bit broken people who’d like the assistance of some E but (because they are a bit broken) are better off not swinging their leg over a bike and would rather step through and on to it.

A single standardised battery and battery interface. So the bikes aren’t obsolete when the battery is **** I 3 or 4 or 5 years time.

Options in the bike range / models to buy one with preferred drivetrain / suspension rather than factoring a swap over.

I was looking at Trek Fuel Exe a while back, there was so much stuff I’d want replaced at every spec level, that the most sensible option would have been to buy the base model.

Frame only please!

Frame/motor/battery only sales, i’ll decide what groupo to put on the bike to suit my needs. Almost always built from a frame up for the last 15years, i’d like to do the same for an eeb please.

 

Saying that, the Rise i’ve just got is pretty close to all i need an eeb to be, i’m not Gnarr enough to need a gearbox/170mmtravel/massive range. Some built in serviceability would be nice though please…

I’d also want to buy frame only… I don’t see it being offered much though, as the battery and motor manufacturers will really want to know that the build was 100% if they have to back up any warranty.