Electric bike

[Sproket]

Has anybody got one ?
If so do you like it ?
What sort is it ?
Is it a folder ?
I know they are expensive, but are they worth it.?
I have had a go on one at the caravan show & was well impressed,

The reason I am asking, is that in the near future i have to have a new half knee fitted, as one is wearing out & the other is on it's way.....
So i have to start getting some more exercise, but walking a long distance is out of the question......

There are so many about it's hard to decide.

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

I'm in the same boat as you Sproket. Knees buggered and walking a long way isn't possible and even a short way if it's up hill. An electric bike is something I've always fancied just to help me up the hills/inclines.

 

[RogerL]

Got the T-shirt, two in fact!
If you're having a new knee, I'd recommend getting an exercise bike to help you get fitness into the legs both before and after after the operation - movement is everything and then you can very gradually increase the resistance as it improves.
Swimming and cycling are good forms of exercise for osteo-arthritis as it gets the joints moving without carrying weight on the legs. Walking on level ground is next best - I used disused railway walking trails a lot as they're almost level.
Jogging and golf are the worst forms of exercise - jogging puts huge loads on the knees and golf twists the knee joint un-naturally.

 

[Sproket]

I used to ride motorcycle trials for a lot of year's & jumping up & down on the kick start, i would say has a lot to blame on my wear-n-tear on the right knee & hip in fact Im sure at one time i was sponsored by Ibuprofen & the local chiropractor,

All of the bumps & jumps were taken full load on the knees, but it didn't matter cos there was always some pain killers in the car.
No pain no gain when it's something that you enjoy

It's only when you are on the operating table & they open the knee up depending on the damage by the osteoarthritis, they will fit a half knee if it turns out to be unsuitable they fit a whole knee.....

I'm still fit (ish) & work full time, the flipping problem is when it moves onto were there is very little cartilage left & drops into the hole, then i struggle to walk.
Even just walking the dogs on there leads can give me grief if they start to pull

I want a bike to build the muscle up around the knee & this type i think would get me home if i got into too much pain

with the power assist mode or even battery power only

Trouble is we live at the top of a hill, every where is down so that would be easy

It's getting back up thats the problem

 

[DeliDave_]

I'm having exercise bike for the same reason ,are the magnetic resistance ones better as I had one years ago that had a fierce breeze when you got going.There is one on offer from Argos at the moment that doubles as a cross trainer for £250 ish that I'm thinking of getting.

 

[Steve L]

A word of caution on electric bikes.
There was a debate a couple of years ago which was lumping electric bikes into the same catagory as the mini moto's.
What was being said was, as the bike had a powered propulsion means, it should be classed as a moped and be registered for the roads. But the majority of bikes I've seen have standard cycle brakes which are not up to moped standard.

The problem with these Hybrid cycles is that they don't fully comply with either pedal cycle or small motor cycle construction and use regs. Therefore, you do run the risk of a copper applying one or the other regulations and issuing tickets for infringements.

It's very simlar to the debates over disabled buggies. They're not regulated as such but if a buggy is capable of 8mph or more it is kitted out with road type lights, although it is not registerable as an electrically propelled vehicle. (milk float catagory).

So there are some key points that you would have to clear up to be sure you're riding legally.
First off is it road legal?
Second, do you wear cycle or motorcycle helmets.
Third, do you get insured for third party / public liability.

Being quite honest, I found it easier to register a battery powered forklift truck to legally travel on the roads.

The other thing is that you could find sites not allowing battery cycles in the same way they didn't allow the battery powered micro scooters.
I used to cycle 2 miles to work until I got knocked off ( well batted 30ft over the hedge into a field) by a hit and run driver. It was 5-30am I was wearing hi viz trousers and hi viz construction jacket, had my helmet on, had lights on the bike, but that didn't stop a car overtaking a slower vehicle and hitting me head on. I had their drivers side door mirror stuck in my coat. It was a pale blue Peugeot 205 on a main road 13 miles north of Hereford. But the police didn't want to know apart from giving me an incident number. We now think that was probably the cause of my back trouble.

 

[Surfer]

Mobility scooters that can do 8mph and have all the necessary road legal stuff have to be registered and will be issued with a V5 if they are to be used on the road. The tax disc has to be renewed every year however it is free.

 

[Sproket]

Mobility scooters that can do 8mph and have all the necessary road legal stuff have to be registered and will be issued with a V5 if they are to be used on the road. The tax disc has to be renewed every year however it is free.

Earlier on in the year i had a arthroscopy of my right knee done, & whilst i was recovering i borrowed my late MIL 8mph scooter & became a pavment warrier

for a week or so, I was well supprised as to well it went.
I fitted a motor bike back box on behind the seat for her to go shopping, that came in handy when i had a ride round Asda ....

 

[Sproket]

A word of caution on electric bikes.
The problem with these Hybrid cycles is that they don't fully comply with either pedal cycle or small motor cycle construction and use regs. Therefore, you do run the risk of a copper applying one or the other regulations and issuing tickets for infringements.

Thanks for the advice, have a read of this & Electrically-Assisted-Pedal-Cycles-May-2010 about what is & isn't legal

 

[Damian]

Quote "Thanks for the advice, have a read of this & Electrically-Assisted-Pedal-Cycles-May-2010 about what is & isn't legal "

Dont you just LOVE the internet to be able to get the correct facts...........

 

[Gagakev]

Has anybody got one ?
If so do you like it ?
What sort is it ?
Is it a folder ?
I know they are expensive, but are they worth it.?
I have had a go on one at the caravan show & was well impressed,

The reason I am asking, is that in the near future i have to have a new half knee fitted, as one is wearing out & the other is on it's way.....
So i have to start getting some more exercise, but walking a long distance is out of the question......

There are so many about it's hard to decide.

Dont forget the million watt flashing light for the front

 

[Sproket]

Quote "Thanks for the advice, have a read of this & Electrically-Assisted-Pedal-Cycles-May-2010 about what is & isn't legal "

Dont you just LOVE the internet to be able to get the correct facts...........

If only .......
.

 

[Damian]

LMAO

 

[Martin24]

hey kev, just remembered my helmet flashes!!! So does swimbo's!!!!!! teehee

 

[ElectricBikeExpert]

This might help....What should I look for in an electric bike? From an article written by Bike Radar
We've put together an electric bike specification wish-list below. At the present time, there are no machines that win in every category, but the closer yours gets the better. If the salesman is unable to provide all the answers, or starts blustering or attempting to blind you with science, we'd recommend looking elsewhere. A good retailer should be able to provide most of the figures in a straightforward and honest manner, but some are quite incompetent:

Weight: Less than 30kg (66lb)
Price: Realistically, for a good quality bike with branded components expect to pay £1,000+
Maximum assisted speed: Not less than 15mph (legal maximum)
Peak power: More than 300 watts (or 36V x 10Ah) And if your retailer doesn’t quote the power output of the battery – then go somewhere else!
Power consumption: not less than 10 watt/hours per mile Range**: More than 25-30 miles
Battery type: Li-ion or Li-pol (lithium-ion or lithium-ion Polymer)
Motor: 250 Watts brushless Replacement battery price: As little as possible, but realistically, you'll have to pay £300-£400 for a decent one. Whatever the price, INSIST on a two year battery guarantee!

PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF I CAN HELP
** You'll need to verify this for yourself – manufacturers’ figures are universally quoted using an average sized person, on a flat rolling road, indoors with no wind.

 

[Surfer]

Quote "Thanks for the advice, have a read of this & Electrically-Assisted-Pedal-Cycles-May-2010 about what is & isn't legal "

Dont you just LOVE the internet to be able to get the correct facts...........

Totally agree. However a Class 3 Mobility scooter needs to be registered with the DVLA and display a tax disc. See http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/HealthAndSupport/Equipment/DG_179937

 

[littlebasher]

I bought one of these 2nd hand (basically unused) for a couple of hundred quid on the basis that it didn't look stupid (as most do)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-CYCLAMATIC-POWER-PLUS-EBIKE-ELECTRIC-MOUNTAIN-BIKE-LITHIUM-ION-BATTERY-/380385466898?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item5890bd9a12
Did everything it said on the tin, on the flat you could twist the handle and not have to pedal at all. On hills the power assist made easy work of them. Decent Lithium battery, rode 10 miles on it using power the whole time and never flattened the battery (claims to do 25 miles, who knows!)

Heavy though, so putting it on the roof of a 4x4 for caravan holidays is not easy. No doubt exceeded the 15kg limit of my roof carrier by a considerable amount, but hey, it never came off!

 

[littlebasher]

Duplicate Post

 

[Surfer]

Our neighbour purchased amobility scooter from Quingo and it cost him a whopping £6000! There are loads on Gumtree apparently. My own scooter is a Class 2, but has all the necessary stuff if I had to take it on the road.

BTW if you are moving a caravan from a road to your driveway and it is not attached to a car in the event of an accident, i.e. hitting a 3rd party I assume that they would claim off your caravan insurance. Also are you commiting an offence as the caravan is not registered with the DVLA or taxed but you are using it on a roadway? Lastly does your driving licence even the ones issued after 1997 automatically cover you for being in charge of an electric vehicle?

 

[RogerL]

Maximum assisted speed: Not less than 15mph (legal maximum)

I'm baffled - is that a typo - surely "not less than 15mph" and "legal maximum" are incompatible?

 

[RogerL]

Also are you commiting an offence as the caravan is not registered with the DVLA or taxed but you are using it on a roadway? Lastly does your driving licence even the ones issued after 1997 automatically cover you for being in charge of an electric vehicle?

A caravan isn't a MOTOR vehicle so DVLA aren't involved.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/WhatCanYouDriveAndYourObligations/DG_180320 a brief guide to electric bikes.

 

[RogerL]

Motor: 250 Watts brushless

Doesn't that mean it's an electric vehicle as it's over 200 watts - needing a driving licence, registration, tax and insurance.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/WhatCanYouDriveAndYourObligations/DG_180320

 

[Damian]

Quote "Maximum assisted speed: Not less than 15mph (legal maximum)"

I dont see what is baffling about that comment.

A good electric bike should be able to do a max of 15MPH, if it cannot raech that speed then it is not a good bike.

What is so hard to understand about that?

 

[RogerL]

What is so hard to understand about that?

In your terms a bike is poor if it can't reach 15mph - but a good bike that can exceed 15mph is illegal.

 

[Damian]

There is no law stopping a bike going more than 15MPH with the riders input through the pedals,in addition to the motor, in fact I can ride at 30MPH on good roads.
What is limited is just using the electric motor, it should be capable 15MP max, with no rider input