Tuesday 29 March 2016

Easy Motion Evo City ebikes - (ebikes-store.com)

Easy Motion Evo City ebikes - Electric Bikes

Easy Motion Evo City ebikes

Summary

  • The largest and stiffest city style electric bike from Easy Motion in the EVO lineup, perfect for taller individuals
  • Excellent utility features including full length fenders, chain guard, sturdy rear rack with bungee cords and dynamo powered LED lights that work even if the main battery runs out
  • Comfortable and ergonomic with a more "upright" seating position, gel saddle and suspension fork offer smooth ride
  • Throttle and pedal assist are completely independent (would be nice if throttle could override), some delay in pedal assist stopping, no quick release on the front wheel

 Video Review


 Introduction

Make:

Easy Motion

Model:

Evo City

Price:

$ 2999.00

Body Position:

Upright

Suggested Use:

Neighborhood, Urban, Commuting

Electric Bike Class:

Throttle on Demand (Class 2)
Learn more about Ebike classes

Warranty:

2 Year Comprehensive, Optional 5 Year Frame with Registration

Availability:

United States

Model Year:

2015

 Electronic Details

Motor Type:

Rear-Mounted Geared Hub 
Learn more about Ebike motors

Motor Nominal Output:

350 watts

Motor Peak Output:

548 watts

Motor Brand:

Dapu

Motor Torque:

37 Newton meters

Battery Voltage:

36 volts

Battery Amp Hours:

11.6 ah

Battery Watt Hours:

417.6 wh

Battery Brand:

Samsung

Battery Chemistry:

Lithium-ion

Charge Time:

5 hours

Estimated Min Range:

20 miles ( 32 km )

Estimated Max Range:

45 miles ( 72 km )

Display Type:

Removable Backlit LCD

Readouts:

Speed, Odometer, Battery Capacity, Assist Level (Eco 1:0.7 Ratio 70% Assist, Standard 1:1.4 Ratio 140% Assist, Sport 1:2 Ratio 200% Assist, Boost 1:3 Ratio 300% Assist)

Drive Mode:

Torque Sensing Pedal Assist, Twist Throttle (TMM4 Torque Sensor)

Top Speed:

20 mph ( 32 kph ) (May Reach ~23 mph in Pedal Assist Mode)

 Bicycle Details

Total Weight:

59 lbs ( 26.76 kg )

Battery Weight:

5.5 lbs ( 2.49 kg )

Motor Weight:

8 lbs ( 3.62 kg )

Frame Types:

High-Step

Frame Sizes:

21.5 in ( 54.61 cm )

Frame Material:

Aluminum Alloy

Frame Colors:

Black with Blue Accents

Geometry Measurements:

(Top Tube Horizontal 619.1 mm, Head Tube Length 195 mm, Seat Tube Center to Top 550 mm, Chain Stay 445 mm, Wheelbase 1118.6 mm)

Frame Fork Details:

Suntour NEX HLO Suspension with Lockout

Attachment Points:

Fender Bosses, Rear Rack Bosses

Gearing Details:

24 Speed 3x8 Shimano Alivio 11-32T

Shifter Details:

Shimano Alivio Triggers on Left and Right

Pedals:

Aluminum Alloy with Rubber Tread

Headset:

Threadless 1.125

Stem:

Tool-Free Adjustable Angle

Handlebar:

Aluminum Alloy, Swept Back Riser

Brake Details:

Tektro E-Comp Hydraulic Disc with 180 mm Front Rotor and 160 mm Rear Rotor, Tektro Levers with Motor Inhibitor

Grips:

Rubber, Ergonomic

Saddle:

Selle Royal, Royal Gel

Seat Post:

Aluminum Alloy

Rims:

Aluminum Alloy Double Wall

Spokes:

Stainless Steel

Tire Brand:

Kenda, 700 x 38c

Wheel Sizes:

28 in ( 71.12 cm )

Tire Details:

Reflective Sidewall Stripe, Puncture Resistant

Tube Details:

Schrader Valve

Accessories:

Plastic Chain Guard, Front and Rear Fenders with Tool-Free Adjustment, Rear Carry Rack with Bungee Cords and Pannier Blockers (Max Weight 25 kg), Single Side Kickstand, Front and Rear LED Lights Powered by Shimano Dynamo and Capacitor, Reflectors, Flick Style Bell

Saturday 26 March 2016

Bike thief steals $4,000 electric bike, then calls owner to ask how to recharge it...

Promo image GoCycle
As we explained in 'Underworld Economics: Why are so many bikes stolen?', bike theft is usually a low-return but low-risk activity (sadly). But once in a while, a thief will bite more they can chew and karma catches up with them. This recently happened in London where Ben Jaconelli's high-end GoCycle electric bike worth £2,500 (about $4,200 at today's exchange rate) was stolen despite the fact that it was securely locked and was left unattended for only 20 minutes.
Usually the story would end there, but Mr. Jaconelli is the owner of  cheap-bicycles-shop.com and the authorized GoCycle dealer for East London.
You see where this is going, right?
Not too long after his electric bike was stolen, Jaconelli got a call from someone asking for a charger for a GoCycle. He found out as many details about the thief as possible and tracked him down.
When he arrived where he lives with 3 of his friends (you never know), the thief was out but his mother was there; she called him and asked him why he needed an electric bike charger?
"A minute later he called me," said Jaconelli. "He asked why I was at his house and I said 'you stole my bike'".
"He hung up and 20 minutes later the bike arrived at the warehouse in a taxi."
The details of the case have been sent to the police who are investigating this theft and possible links to other missing bikes in the east London area. I wish all stolen bike stories ended this well!

Gocycle G2 Portable Electric Bike


Stock Availability

The Gocycle G2 is in stock now. Ride away today, order today for delivery tomorrow. Simply pick your colour, plus the additional pack that suits your needs & we'll do the rest! You can also contact us to reserve one with a small deposit.




Who is this bike suitable for?

The brand new Gocycle G2 is perfect for getting from A to B. Be it through the city, down to the local town or even across the harbour to pick up those essentials. It pretty much ticks all the boxes in all those cases! This lightweight, agile and easy to handle electric bike is quick and easy to jump on, but also can be stowed away neatly in your office, car or boat for example to offer a neat, practical storage solution.



The Gocycle is for people with a leisurely lifestyle who appreciate beautiful design and clever engineering. This bicycle, designed in Britain by an ex-Formula One engineer, really is a beautiful object to behold. And it's terrific fun to ride! - The Telegraph
Read All Reviews »

G2 Special Offer

To celebrate the release of the Gocycle G3 and to offer a cost saving for anyone looking to purchase a G2 model. We are offering a FREE travel pack with every G2 purchased.
Not only is the G2 a £500 cost saving over the G3. But the Travel Pack is normally £150. So buy today and save now.
This includes the Gocycle Travel Case, PitStop Wheel Bag, Folding Pedals and a complementary Pedal Spanner.
Limited time only, while stocks last.

Simple, clever, fun

Just 3 words that sum up the Gocycle G2 eBike. This clever electric bike is designed by ex Formula One, McLaren Car designer Richard Thorpe in London, UK.
The idea was to create the perfect eBike, using his experience in lightweight components & design engineering. The lightweight chassis offers the perfect balance and agility through its special injection moulded magnesium framework & wheels.
This whole electric bike is just sheer perfection, from the integrated user dash on the handlebars to the wipe clean framework and components.
It doesn't just look the part. It comes apart too..!

Main Features

You can see that every aspect of the Gocycle has been developed to the highest standards, with the main focus on usability & rideability. The fact that it is so easy to use means it opens up a whole new era of cycling. Just pull the bike out, hop on and start pedalling. It really is as simple as that. This clever machine measures exactly what the rider is doing and applies power and gear changes accordingly. All you have to do is point it in the right direction.. Simple!

Two Wheel Drive

You power the rear wheel using the pedals, whilst the Gocycle works out exactly what effort you are putting into the bike via a torque sensor in the crank.
It then simultaneously powers the front wheel via a powerful micro motor hidden away offering a fast, no-effort, no-emission journey.
This approach also gives the perfect power-to-weight ratio ensuring a smooth ride.
It not only gives better weight distribution, but it means the power is always there instantly when you need it most.
You can either ride the bike as normal and the motor will opt in as required, or you can have on-demand power at the touch of a button in the cockpit.
The dashboard also gives a full display of the rider essentials including gear selection, speed & battery charge state, built into a clean, easy to use cockpit. This clutter free approach consists of just brake levers and a button each side to operate the levels.

Pitstop Wheels

The Gocycle Pitstop Wheels, pretty much do exactly as the name suggests! Without the use of any tools at all. Just use your hands to flip back 3 clips & pop the wheel off.
The design really shows off as you click open one clip it naturally starts to take the next one with it. Simplicity is key!
The wheels are made of a lightweight alloy and take regular city 20" tyres. You'll be surprised just how light they are when in your hands. Both wheels on the Gocycle are identical.
You will never get confused. It also makes refitting the wheels back on after removal simple. Not to mention hassle free puncture repairs! Or should we say Pitstop Wheel repairs!!..
This simple solution to a super easy electric bike design means there's no chain to get dirty or oil, no cables to stretch / adjust. In fact all you have to do is get on and enjoy the ride. This not only minimises hassle but means it's a complete wipe clean product. To keep the Gocycle clean, simply wipe over your eBike, there are no nooks or crannies to get involved with.

Ultimate Control

Take the Gocycle G2 to a whole new level of user control. Although not required to ride the bike, its nice to have full flexibility over what your electric bike can do.
Once paired to your Gocycle through the smartphone app, you can tailor the eBike to your specific needs. Quickly change assistance modes from City, Eco and full On Demand modes.
Want more flexibility? No problem, you can even preset custom maps! Simply use the slider graphs to control when you would like motor assistance vs pedal effort.  Click upload and the map is instantly flashed over onto your Gocycle ready to ride!
The smart phone app opens up a whole new level of features. You can also log certain cycle parameters like distance, calorie burn and even adjust the top assisted speed!
This new application for the G2 models also doubles up as a easy troubleshooting tool & security device. If your bike is stolen and someone tries to pair with it, we can remotely lock the bike down, Genius!.. Also if any future updates come out, you can easily update your Gocycle when connected to your smartphone. It's future proof.

Compactable Design

Need to stow away the bike? Be it at home, in the office, back of your car or even the smallest space on your boat, the Gocycle is the answer.
Its compact and lightweight design, and the fact that it is so easy to disassemble means storage is no longer an issue.
Watch the video below to see just how easy it is to do.
The Gocycle is stylish enough in itself to make nice addition to any home, but should you want to tuck it away, this is easy to do. Why not make use of the travel pack bag too? Ideal for storage or whilst travelling with its roller wheels and easy to carry handle.

Electronic Shifting

As previously mentioned the cockpit is completely clutter free. The neat built in display will tell you what gear you are in. It will automatically shift up and down as the riders pedal cadence increase and the terrain changes.
It will even sense when you have come to a stop and instantly down change down to a low gear, so you can be sure as soon as the lights go green you set off in a flash.
The Gocycle utilises a completely built in, bulletproof, Shimano Nexus 3 speed hub gear on the rear. The rider can also choose their own gear changes using the electronic button built into the handlebar grip.

What's included?

This bike comes fully set-up by our workshop technicians. You can be sure that every aspect of the eBike has been dialed in for optimum performance. Your Gocycle will arrive with a user manual, charger & free follow up service. The Gocycle comes with a complete 2 year warranty on the whole product.
We offer a number of optional packs for the Gocycle depending on your requirements. Just choose what suits you:

Base Pack
At ebikes-store.com the Base Pack is included FREE with every G2 Gocycle!
Contents:
  • Kickstand
  • Fold Leg
  • Shocklock

The kickstand is ideal for every cyclist as you now have a handy stand on board.
The Fold Leg supports the Gocycle during folding. The Handy Shocklock is perfect for locking the bike up when not in use.

Commuter Pack
A must have for anyone using their Gocycle for commuting.
Contents:
  • Integrated Light Kit
  • Front Mudguard
  • Rear Mudguard


The light kit is pre wired into the bike allowing the user to see exactly where they are going, the lights pull power from the Gocycle's battery.

The mudguards are useful for keeping both the rider and the bike itself clean during use.
Commuter+ Pack
Looking to carry those essentials and keep your Gocycle secure?
Contents:
  • Front Pannier Mount
  • Pannier Briefcase
  • ABUS Folding Lock
  • Anti-Theft wheel kit

This kit allows you to carry important items on the ride with you, by use of a lovely front pannier bag & Gocycle mount kit.
The ABUS folding lock adds security to the bike whilst the anti-theft bolt kit for the Pitstop Wheels adds means they can't be easily removed.
Travel Pack
Looking to store or transport your Gocycle? Then this pack is a must!
Contents:
  • Folding Pedals
  • Pedal Spanner
  • G2 Travel Case


The brilliant folding pedals fold away in seconds, no tools required.
Whilst the Travel Case not only keeps the cobwebs off when not in use it also is great for transporting your Gocycle, its handy roller wheels and straps mean transport is a breeze!

ebikes-store.com is a Gocycle authorised premium reseller. Our staff have been trained by Gocycle to the highest standard. Our workshop technicians are also qualified in Gocycle mechanics to offer a complete after sales package.

Are you ready?

Gocycle is the only eBike built so compact but with true rider's agility and handling yet it's light enough to throw over your shoulder, the weight is so balanced that if you pick it up in the middle it will not tilt at all.
It's the only electric bike of its kind to offer fully automated controls, built with simplicity and usability in mind. It's a joy to own and ride yet clean and easy to live with. It's versatile, light and compact enough to stow away when not in use, leaving even more room in your surroundings.
Perfect for storing where space is tight, ideal for an office, city living space, boat or motor home.
Just think how Gocycle could benefit you, be it darting across the city to leisurely rides at the weekend, Gocycle is designed to work with you.
Simply choose your colour from the lovely colour pallette on offer. Select which pack (if any) is suitable for you and away you go. Gocycle is tailored to every occasion.


Specification

General Bike Specifications

Gears
Patented Cleandrive® Shimano Nexus 3-speed
Frame
Gocycle Generation 2 updated design, wipe clean frame
Forks
Gocycle proprietary, single-sided, 6061 T6, fixed
Rear Shock
Gocycle Lockshock™ 25mm (1 in) travel
Brakes
Hydraulic disk, front and rear
Shifters
Gocycle electronic Predictive Shifting™
Wheelset
Gocycle PitstopWheel®, Detachable, side-mounted
Tyres
Gocycle Performance Tyre (406-50, 20 x 1.75 in)
Handlebars
Quick-folding with reach and height adjustment
Saddle
Velo D2 Comfort
Weight
16 kg

Electric Bike Specifications

Battery
Gocycle In Frame Lithium, 10.75Ah, 22V
Display
Integrated Gocycle dashboard display with fuel gauge, speed, gear, efficiency
Motor
Gocycle proprietary motor gear drive 250 watt continuous
Range
Up to 64km (40 miles), depending on pedal input


Should I buy an electric bicycle? Here's everything you need to know to get started!

1-haibike-xduro-nduro-pro.jpg.662x0_q70_crop-scale.jpg

Should I buy an electric bicycle? Here's everything you need to know to get started!

A few months ago, Graham Hill (the founder of the site you're reading this on) asked me for some help in choosing an electric bike. I wanted to help, but I knew that my knowledge was limited - there are so many models, with progress being made all the time in battery tech and power electronics - so I pointed him to someone who I knew was a real expert: Court Rye, the e-bike demigod behind ebikes-store.com. But Graham's question also made me realize that he certainly wasn't the only one trying to figure out if an electric bicycle was right for him, what were the pros and cons, and if it did make sense, where to begin and which models to have a look at first.
This led to the interview below, where Court generously shares the e-bike wisdom that comes from having reviewed 300+ models since he started covering the space in 2012 (prolific guy!). My questions are in bold:
Why would anyone want an electric bike?
Well, electric bicycles offer the same great benefits as traditional bicycles including cost savings (no licensing or insurance required), improved health and connection with community.
The real advantage to ebikes in my view is efficiency in climbing hills or fighting the wind combined with better range. If you experience knee pain or exercise induced asthma for example, electric bikes can breath new life into the sport of cycling. They might convince your friend or significant other to join you on the trails more often or they might enable you to commute to work in extreme heat without perspiring so much. I've owned cars and mopeds before and neither felt as safe or refreshing as cycling along community paths, away from traffic.
Electric bikes remove many of the roadblocks and challenges that people face with traditional pedal-powered cycles but they aren't perfect. They can be expensive, complex and heavy which is a real pain if the battery runs out half way.
What types of riding are e-bikes best for? What are they bad for?
Since the early days of electric bikes in the United States (starting in 1999 with the EV Global Motors Ebike from Lee Iacocca) frame styles and drive characteristics have really proliferated.
2-ev-global-motors-ebike-sx.jpg.650x0_q70_crop-smart.jpg
In addition to simple DIY kits there are also systems like the Ridekick Power Trailer now which add ebike performance in addition to storage utility! This system in particular is even easier than installing a kit and can be easily shared between family members and friends using regular bikes or recumbents as a platform.
3-ridekick-power-trailer.jpg.650x0_q70_crop-smart.jpg
Today it is possible to dive head first into electric bikes or dip your toe in for a little taste. In some towns you can even rent electric bike to get a better feel for them… Rocket Electrics in Austin Texas for example, offers foodie tours and also has a multi-day SXSW and F1 race week package for people who want to dodge traffic and get an up close view of the city. For the purest experience, purpose built ebikes are the way to go (bikes that were designed and sold as being electric, not converted later). They are lighter, tougher and more capable than ever. Whether you need a folding bike to stow in your loft or take on a plane, a tandem to rent and ride with your friend on vacation or a downhill bomber for free riding on mountain trails (no need for a chairlift!) there is definitely an ebike out there that's fully capable.
4-pedego-tandem-cruiser.jpg.650x0_q70_crop-smart.jpg© Court Rye
Obviously I'm a huge fan of the technology and it's true that the breadth of products has grown thanks in large part to widespread acceptance in Asia and Europe but there are some things ebikes still struggle with.
If you're a purist mountain biker who is barely accepted on hiking paths to begin with, ebikes may seem like a threat. In much the same way that snowboards used to be outlawed at ski resorts like Vail Colorado in the 80's ebikes are still in their early days. Eventually snowboarding became mainstream and Burton helped to gain mass acceptance by launching a viral initiative challenging holdout resorts. These days, Deer Valley Utah remains a "ski-only" resort but you can snowboard pretty much everywhere else and I feel like that will become the case with ebikes as well. Once the technology becomes better understood and appreciated it won't feel so threatening to some. I think traditional bikes are awesome frankly and I still own one for silent, light weight cruising.
To be honest, I mostly use it on wet and snowy days or when parking overnight in high-crime areas where theft or vandalism could be a risk. That said, I recently picked up bicycle insurance (2015-Sports-Ebikes offer it in almost every state and it covers electric bikes) and am feeling a lot more comfortable from a theft and liability standpoint. To sum up the cons of electric bikes: they tend to be heavier, louder and almost always more expensive than traditional bicycles.
5-nearly-stolen-bicycle.jpg.650x0_q70_crop-smart.jpg© Court Rye
What are the different kinds of electric bikes and their price ranges?
Having reviewed over 300 electric bikes to date, taking photos and shooting video for each and posting back at my site ebikes-store.com.these are the primary "use cases" I've identified to help people navigate the space: Cargo Hauling, Relaxed Cruising, Trail Riding, Mountain Biking, Downhill, Neighborhood Use, Kid Hauling and Grocery Getting, Road Bike, Sand and Snow (Fat Tire), Tandem, Touring or Trekking, Traveling (Folding) and Urban Commuting.
It feels like theres a bike out there for any occasion, some have very small wheels and are designed to be easy to pick up and carry onto trains and busses (or even airplanes if the battery is under 300 watt hours) while other models are almost like mopeds or motorcycles with 100+ mile range capability and regenerative braking.
6-organic-transit-elf-v1-5.jpg.650x0_q70_crop-smart.jpg© Court Rye
There are so many types of light electric vehicles now that I actually started a second website called ebikes-store.com to cover electric motorcycles, skateboards and kick scooters. As far as traditional ebikes, prices really vary and can be shocking at first… so brace for impact! The low end starts around $1,000 but a recent crowd funding campaign generated a lot of attention by offering a bare bones $700 model (it was sold as $500 + ~$200 shipping).
My feeling is that $1,500 is the lowest level worth exploring right now. I've seen too many unhappy customers who purchased online and are now struggling to fix a throttle mechanism or find a replacement battery pack because the cells they got were of very low quality. There have even been some fires when cheap batteries were damaged and didn't have an electronic management system in place to prevent overload. At the upper echelons of the ebike world there are products selling for $50k+ but those are almost like art.
For ~$4,000 you can get a high quality, Euro-proven, German engineered product with two years of comprehensive warranty support. Bikes like this offer intuitive controls, integrated dynamo lights, fenders and racks and an overall beautiful aesthetic.
7-kalkhoff-sahel-compact-impulse-8.jpg.650x0_q70_crop-smart.jpg© Court Rye
Bikes in this premium class range up to $7,000 for pro-level components and while that may shock some people, it's actually not far off from pro-level pedal-powered bicycles.
8-haibike-xduro-race.jpg.650x0_q70_crop-smart.jpg© Court Rye
Now let's go back to the middle-range and dig a bit deeper into costs. The first electric bike I purchased was $2,500 and it saved me $2,000 in parking alone over the first year (I was working downtown Austin, TX where parking is very expensive).
In YouTube comments I regularly see people upset by the perceived high price of electric bikes, claiming that a used car would be cheaper… I think they often fail to recognize the high price of car repairs, preventative maintenance like oil changes, insurance, licensing and parking. Cars and ebikes are not investments, they are tools or toys that depreciate with use, their true value is highly dependent on the environment and task at hand or entertainment preferences of the owner.
So for example, if you live on a highway and commute 20 miles to work each day an ebike might not be a great tool. To that I say, consider renting an apartment near your job and buying an ebike!
Life changes aside, let's do a quick hypothetical costing example, if you took all of the car maintenance stuff away for a moment and just looked at a $3k brand new car vs. a $3k brand new ebike and left gas at $2 per gallon… an average electric bike gets ~20 miles per charge and cost less than $0.15 to fill (even using Hawaii's scale-tipping $0.37 per kilowatt-hour rates). So let's say that your car gets 30 miles per gallon and a gallon is $2 and your bike gets 20 miles per charge and a charge is $0.15, the bike is way cheaper right? But that's not the whole story. A premium electric bike battery costs anywhere from $500 to $800 to replace and lasts 1,000+ charges so let's treat this like a fuel cost and divide $500/1,000 charges… we get $0.50. So we add the $0.15 charge cost to the $0.50 battery use cost and get $0.65.
Basically, electric bikes are about three times less expensive to operate than cars from a current fuel cost perspective. Beyond user operating expense they also cost less in terms of negative externalities because they don't create localized pollution which contributes to health issues and spoiled views of the mountains. Ebikes are awesome but so are cars and even when self driving electric cars replace the costs of ownership and reduce pollution, there will still be enormous health and social value to cycling… and why not have an assisted cycle?
It's like comparing a mechanical typewriter where you forcefully push the keys down to modern laptop that can be operated much easier, faster, in more environments and it will save your work digitally! Maybe some people would claim that the sheer muscular joy of old fashioned typewriting and the ever present danger of a misspelling will always hold a place in their hearts… and good for them, it's not really an issue and with ebikes or traditional bikes we can still ride together and have fun!
How far can you typically go on a charge?
A good rule of thumb here is to divide watt hours by 20. So electric bike batteries have voltage and amp hours and a typical pack right now in the US is 36 volts of power with 10 amp hours of capacity for 360 watt hours total. If we divide 360 by 20 we get 18 miles. Given variation between throttle only electric bikes and pedal assist that 18 is really a floor that can go up as riders contribute pedal-power to the system or different drive systems are leveraged.
For example, mid-drive electric bikes can benefit from driving the rear cassette and gears to empower the motor for improved efficiency. In the same way that you would want to shift down when climbing (instead of standing up and working extra hard), so too does the motor and these mid-drive systems offer that flexibility because they pull the bicycle chain along with you. I've seen some electric bikes with that same "360 watt hour" battery capacity reach 50+ miles per charge on a low level of assistance (equivalent to half of the rider's pedal power output). That's pretty amazing to me.
9-bmebikes-bm-shadow-removable-battery-panasonic-cells.jpg.650x0_q70_crop-smart.jpg© Court Rye
Are e-bikes much faster than regular bikes?
Not really, most low-speed electric bikes won't go over 20 miles per hour under motor power alone. You can always pedal faster than that or drop a steep hill but federal regulation limits this top speed in exchange for classification as a "bicycle". Some recent compromises have been made whereby pedal-assist electric bikes may reach ~28 miles per hour assisted but only if the rider is pedaling rigorously. A similar class of electric bikes called "speed pedelecs" exists in Europe and have become popular for commuters.
Take note however that efficiency drops off significantly as riders gain speed as a result of drag. That is "forces acting opposite to the relative motion of any object moving with respect to a surrounding fluid" or in this case air. The power needed to push an object through a fluid increases as the cube of its velocity while "air drag" is approximately proportional to the square of velocity.
In short, as you go beyond 15 mph on an ebike, drag really starts to cut into the range you can achieve so speed comes at a high price!
Can I still do DIY maintenance on my bike even if it's electric, or do I need to see an expert?
This is a great question! When it comes to electric bikes I usually recommend that people buy locally if possible. This is because the bike will be assembled properly, following specific torque ratings on screws and such, and will be fit to the rider for improved comfort.
In the bike industry, many shops that sell both traditional and electric will tell me that ebikes see 10 times the use. This is based on customer feedback and tuneups that they provide. People just ride electric bicycles more, and further, and faster! Some of that wear can be serviced by the end user but when it comes to throttles, batteries and computer systems things can get tricky.
Electric bikes marry mechanical systems with software and electrical complexities. There is a reason that Apple calls their tech support "Geniuses", right? Advanced knowledge and a specific toolset are required to truly maintain electric bikes as well, in my opinion. The most basic bikes that do not offer torque sensing pedal assist, LCD display readouts or frame-routed cables may be self-serviceable or simply disposable given their lower price point but the more purpose-built offerings really benefit from that professional touch and often times have locked computers with special diagnostic tools much like automobiles.
Do you have any favorite models of e-bikes that you would recommend e-bike newbies check out first?
I spend a lot of time answering one-off questions back in the "Compare" section of the Electric Bike Review Community Forums where people share their budget, height, weight, intended use and style preference. Feel free to jump on over and ask for yourself! Alternatively, I've put together a "Top 10" list here that has actually grown to 26 models for 2014-2015 as I now recommend a value and performance model in 13 categories ranging from Cruisers to Kits. Bikes that I've actually purchased for myself over the years include the Pedego City Commuter, Easy Motion Neo Jumper (now replaced by the Evo Jumper) and the Haibike XDURO FS RX 27.5 but I've been eyeing the new Specialized Turbo X and Felt Outfitter which are remarkable because both companies are long standing purists that focus on performance and racing specs. Seeing them put out electric bikes is a real vote of confidence for the space.
10-specialized-turbo.jpg.650x0_q70_crop-smart.jpg© Court Rye
Any closing thoughts?
I think electric bikes are remarkable because they compliment the human body and mind while connecting us with others.
If you'd like to learn more on the topic feel free to download my ebook called "A Practical Guide to Electric Bikes" on Amazon Kindle. I'm making it FREE for the next five days [starting tomorrow, April 8th, 2015] as a part of this article/interview with Treehugger… because Treehugger is awesome [Thanks Court! You're awesome! -MGR]. The book includes photos, videos and a deeper look into topics like motor design so you can better understand the trade offs between hub motors like I had on my Pedego or mid drives like I had on my Haibike. Feel free to drop me a line anytime and ride safe out there! Oh, and if you or a friend never learned how to ride a bicycle then check out this extra video, I shot it with my 30-something friend who had never learned and felt like he was missing out.
Thanks so much, Court! Everyone, make sure you check out
https://docs.google.com/document/d/133QiayrHEAzg8plFoEzEPVzwUjvL3zUvjWTkPc0sp0s/edit?usp=sharing