Search found 706 matches

by stodd
26 Mar 2024, 1:54pm
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: Not pedalling
Replies: 48
Views: 2891

Re: Not pedalling

Psamathe wrote: 26 Mar 2024, 12:37pm I'm confused by this thread.
If I get my 250cc ICE motorbike 0-60 in 3 secs and put pedals/chain on it should I be able to use it on shared use cycle paths and not need insurance? If my high performance 2-wheel machine does 0-60 in 10 secs but is battery rather than hydrocarbon powered (and has pedals that do nothing) again, shared paths also used by push-chairs filled with babies and me not needing insurance?
The special exemptions to allow some e-bikes (Often called pedelecs) to count as regular bikes only apply to electric powered bikes, so that rules out the 250cc bike. The nominal 250w and max 15.5mpg assisted rules exclude the 0-60 ebike.

A line has to be drawn. I agree with your comment there has to be a line somewhere; I personally think it is in about the right place.

So what do those suggesting changes want things changed to?. The commonest requests for change are (1) a higher nominal motor power, (2) a higher max assisted speed, (3) throttle assistance without pedalling up to the max assisted speed.
by stodd
20 Mar 2024, 1:20pm
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: Lightweight stepthrough (actually dropped top tube) bike?
Replies: 11
Views: 435

Re: Lightweight stepthrough (actually dropped top tube) bike?

If you do decide on a conversion I suggest looking at Woosh (https://wooshbikes.co.uk/?hubkits).
Excellent customer service, and generic kits where you can be confident of spares/replacement bits for years to come even if Woosh themselves close down.

Also reading/asking at https://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/forums ... ussion.42/
You'll find plenty of comments about Woosh and Swytch, and quite a few about Cytronex.
by stodd
19 Mar 2024, 11:22am
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: Lightweight stepthrough (actually dropped top tube) bike?
Replies: 11
Views: 435

Re: Lightweight stepthrough bike?

Do you mean real step-through, or would ladies style do? Real step-through tend to have heavier frame to make up for the less than optimal shape. It's going to be difficult

https://www.onbike.co.uk/electric-bikes ... uring.html claims light weight but still comes in at 19.5kg, and says 'At around 6kg LESS than the competition'. Also £4500
Islabikes eJoni https://www.islabikes.co.uk/pages/technical-support comes in around 15kg, but battery not removable (and low capacity). And I thought Islabikes had closed down, but ???

Would you consider doing a conversion? There are several quite light frames, again see Islabikes.
by stodd
17 Mar 2024, 3:40pm
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: RockRider ST 540 Conversion Mid Drive
Replies: 3
Views: 277

Re: RockRider ST 540 Conversion Mid Drive

There are different conversion kits; Bafang have both mid drive kits (motor at the crank) and hub kits (motor at the rear). Some companies do front hub kits, I don't think Bafang do, and you probably wouldn't want one on that bike anyway. The bike looks fine for a crank or rear hub conversion.

With the rear hub kit you should be able to keep the gearing unchanged.
With the crank kit it will probably come as single speed on the front, but you can often manage double front change depending on chainline details.

Hub kits are generally simpler and cheaper than crank kits, and have less wear on the transmission. They are generally best for commuting, pleasure riding and basic off-road riding. Crank kits are better where there a very steep hills, and for more technical mountain biking. Reliability is about equal for both, but fixing any issues that do arise tends to be simpler for hub kits.

If you haven't already, look at https://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/forums ... ussion.42/ and the other forums on that platform.

The Bafang kits are good but so are lots of the alternatives. I'd recommend Woosh as a supplier because of their excellent customer service. https://wooshbikes.co.uk/ Especially for a first time conversion; they'll check out details of the bike and how you expect to use it before selling you something to make sure it's suitable, and give you lots of advice on fitting or with subsequent issues.
by stodd
29 Feb 2024, 9:49am
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: Is 250w enough power for modest speed up steep hills
Replies: 331
Views: 29373

Re: Is 250w enough power for modest speed up steep hills

Vorpal wrote: 29 Feb 2024, 8:51am I theory, riders of fast e-bikes can only use bike paths & pedestrian areas where mopeds are not allowed if they turn the assistance off. I don't think that this is well enforced.
I think that a fast e-bike (s-peldelec, electric moped) can't be driven on bike paths even if the assistance is turned off. It would be an extreme example of a switch; usually to switch between 250w and higher, in this case 0w to higher. Such a switch is explicitly ruled out; if you can switch to >250w (or 25kph) it counts as the higher even with the switch in the lower position. There is no precise definition of a switch however. Flashing firmware which can only be done while not riding is probably OK, a simple switch/setting you can easily change while riding is not OK, with a grey area in between. I guess taking the battery out would be OK, not count as a switch.

I certainly agree it is not well enforced. The no switch rule makes enforcement a tiny bit easier; the rider can say 'ah, but I was only riding on a 250w setting', but it won't mean there hasn't been an offence.
by stodd
24 Feb 2024, 8:01pm
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: Reliability of Mahle batteries
Replies: 16
Views: 6565

Re: Reliability of Mahle batteries

Worth asking at https://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/forums ... cussion.2/

I'm afraid you may just get lots of posts saying that's the problem with buying bikes with proprietary electrical systems; but you may get one or two that really help. I suspect they aren't any less reliable than many other batteries; but awkward/impossible to mend, and expensive to replace if something does go wrong.
by stodd
24 Feb 2024, 12:53pm
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: Trek Domane+ SLR 7 AXS
Replies: 2
Views: 287

Re: Trek Domane+ SLR 7 AXS

I don't have one (or anything like it), but some comments based on the specs.

Range is always very variable depending on conditions and how hard you work. That style of bike is designed assuming you will do much (if not most) of the work, but want some assist on hills. The motor on that one has the standard 250w rate continuous power; the 300w max power is pretty low; many go well above double that. That probably means it will encourage you to work, and be quite economical on the battery.

The battery has a bit more capacity (360Wh) than often found on lightweight e-bikes of this kind; for example the Cytronex battery is just 180Wh.

Taken together, I think you should get 50-60 miles if you are reasonably young and fit and willing to do your bit. I see they mention 100km, and also a (relatively low capacity) range extender.
by stodd
19 Feb 2024, 12:48pm
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: Mahle X35 malfunction
Replies: 5
Views: 622

Re: Mahle X35 malfunction

Worth asking at on the pedelecs forum:
https://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/forums ... cussion.2/
by stodd
12 Feb 2024, 9:22pm
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: Should electric bikes go faster
Replies: 96
Views: 5840

Re: Should electric bikes go faster

swscotland bentrider wrote: 12 Feb 2024, 8:12pm In my view if you are ghost pedalling at 20 mph you are effectively a motorcyclist.
Absolutely. And so are you with the law as it currently stands; you are on an s-pedelec which follows moped registration/insurance/etc rules.

There is no issue with electric bikes going faster.
Most of us have issue allowing with pedelecs (electric bikes that are given the privilege of running under standard bicycle regulations) being allowed to go faster.

I think that's just repeating what you were saying (or implying) in a different way. All laws are a compromise, but the law as it stands is a remarkably good one.
by stodd
11 Feb 2024, 11:38am
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: Should electric bikes go faster
Replies: 96
Views: 5840

Re: Should electric bikes go faster

Pebble wrote: 11 Feb 2024, 10:06am Then Land Rover will invent the the 'Sports Utility Bike' with twin motors and retina burning headlights
The Pedelecs site (https://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/) is largely populated with sensible, law abiding people.
There are some notable exceptions, you will find twin motors and retina burning headlights already shown there.
(I dread to think what we'd find on some other more extreme sites.)
by stodd
10 Feb 2024, 9:03am
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: Should electric bikes go faster
Replies: 96
Views: 5840

Re: Should electric bikes go faster

Pebble wrote: 9 Feb 2024, 11:13pm HGB's may be they could be covered by stricter legislation, some sort of operators licence.

But some of these eBikes are becoming ridiculous, enormous heavy things with threatening looking tyres, too often ridden at unsociable speeds on narrow shared paths.
I don't think stricter legislation is what is needed, just stricter enforcement of existing legislation.

Maybe if that happened, then after things settled down it might become clear that additional legislation could be beneficial as well, and what such legislation should include.
by stodd
9 Feb 2024, 4:21pm
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: Should electric bikes go faster
Replies: 96
Views: 5840

Re: Should electric bikes go faster

Another 'no' from me. All the reasons have been well argued above.
by stodd
6 Feb 2024, 11:46am
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: Boost Conversions
Replies: 3
Views: 502

Re: Boost Conversions

I don't have any experience of it.

It looks a little expensive for what it is. The battery is low capacity; with the style of riding it's intended for that might not matter too much, but it is VERY low. (helps keep the kit price down, also the replacement battery cost)

It is worth asking at
https://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/forums ... ussion.42/
by stodd
8 Jan 2024, 9:41am
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: Swytch - apparent tiny battery capacity?
Replies: 23
Views: 4827

Re: Swytch - apparent tiny battery capacity?

cliffords wrote: 7 Jan 2024, 12:47pm However when talking about run time it is a very simple and unambiguous equation:
That's true (to a first level of approximation) for speed controllers, or for each level of current controllers, but not really for torque sensor controllers.
by stodd
18 Dec 2023, 1:07pm
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: Gaadi cycle inner tube
Replies: 5
Views: 1464

Re: Gaadi cycle inner tube

One size fits all seems remarkably optimistic (though I agree they do say it).
I suspect
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/inner-tubes ... 0-5054559/
would fit fine, though the page actually suggests 2.10" as the widest tyre.
The other 26" one SJS has is narrower.

I bought a Gaadi some time ago and it was much fatter than suggested in its description; it clearly wouldn't have fitted sensibly.