Recommend Electric Bicycle for commute

...Ghost... · 14-11-2022 8:18pm #1

My BIL has asked me to recommend an electric bike for him. I helped sort out an electric scooter for him last year and he's ready to graduate up to a bike with what I think is a decent max budget. His commute is 14km each way on mostly R roads. He can store his bike indoors while at work and size is not an issue. I think he has a preference for the ones with the fat tyres. He could probably get the bike to work scheme, but my thinking here is that there wouldn't be any saving with Irish retailers just hiking prices due to the grant.

First bike that popped up in my search is https://pogocycles.com/products/engwe-x26-all-terrain-e-bike?variant=43862737256680&currency=EUR&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gclid=CjwKCAiA68ebBhB-EiwALVC-NtcyJ0hHeMCTxlH1n8pBnVIvAylj6d-n62dD93QToYtkOwujl73njhoCza4QAvD_BwE

This is the sort of thing he probably has in mind (i'm getting second hand info via his Wife...my SIL). If you have recommendations/advice, I would appreciate it from those in the know when it comes to e-bikes. I'm a bit out of the loop since the high point of the M365 scooter a few years ago 😋

Max budget is 2k, but he would prefer to spend less.

DaveyDave · 14-11-2022 9:19pm

Fat tyres are a waste. They're heavy, have increased rolling resistance and your local bike shop probably won't have a good selection of tyres for them. They're made for sand and snow. If you want comfort on a bike you can just run wider tyres such as 32c and up.

Halfords and Decathlon have reasonable ebikes for that money along with the Rad Power RadCity 5.

homer911 · 15-11-2022 10:49am

DaveyDave is correct, I do an 11Km commute on an ebike with 38c tyres and I'd say thats about right, but I pump them up hard as it makes a huge impact on rolling resistance even if it makes the ride a little uncomfortable.

Make sure to buy from a B&M shop to ensure you can get it maintained and have a chance of getting any unique spare parts.

Suspension is also unnecessary - he would only end up locking it off.

When I was buying my own bike the LBS had two in my frame size - one commuter, one ATB. The ATB looked fantastic but it was head over heart and I definitely made the right decision going for the commuter

At that budget, you will be limited to Decathlon and Halfords. Anywhere else would be 3k+

slegs · 15-11-2022 11:06am

What about an eBike conversion kit...Swytch looks good - the new version with Max battery covers 35k

https://www.swytchbike.com/

...Ghost... · 15-11-2022 8:31pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119874638#Comment_119874638

The fat tyres are for greater traction. I know this increases rolling resistance and uses up more battery as well as adds to the cost. There's a trade off either way I think. I had a look at the Rad Power. Looking at 500w motor rather than 250 for greater torque and hill ascent. Thanks for the suggestion though.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119876314#Comment_119876314

B&M is the preference, or atleast a registered Irish business like POGO. The BIL is availing of the Bike to Work Scheme, so this is a must. Considering the Coswheel T20 which seems to have good reviews and has been around a while.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119876375#Comment_119876375

He doesn't have a bike, so that would be an extra expense to begin with. 60km range is the aim, as this will get him to work and home comfortably even if it's freezing outside. Also it would ultimately be me doing the conversion as the BIL is not at all technical and I'd rather not get into that.

DaveyDave · 15-11-2022 9:14pm

When you say traction, in what sense? Wheelspin from acceleration? My ebike has 60Nm torque which is on the higher end for a road bike and I haven't had a tyre skid on me from acceleration. In terms of handling, I had a back tyre slip on me once when going through a large two lane roundabout at 35kph in the wet using budget Continental tyres that came with the bike. They were promptly replaced with the higher end GP4000 II. When I first got my road bike I was running 23c tyres. That's narrower than my thumb, never had issues with grip.

As long as you avoid budget €20-25 tyres (or anything that generally comes on a bike) it shouldn't be an issue.

The tyre above is a knobbly mountain bike style tyre, it's going to have very little contact patch with the road compared to a normal tyre as you're sitting on those little squares, the skinniest road tyre will have more grip than that fat tyre. Those blocks help a tyre dig through mud and loose surfaces but will do nothing on roads. Even a gravel tyre will be better, some of them have a slick tread with knobbly bits on the sides.

If he insists on a fat bike at the very least he'll need better tyres.

Also that bike from Pogo is just some Ali Express looking yoke that he's dropshipping to you. Likely he orders from Ali Express to your house, he doesn't even have a shop.

...Ghost... · 15-11-2022 9:23pm

By traction, I mean anti-slip and more stable on the road surface in general. I agree the tyres on the bike pictured in the OP would be cr@p as the road contact would not be sufficient. The standard rubber on the coswheel T20 seems decent for the road. Might be the ticket, as it has the power, range and is within budget. I don't see any B&M shops selling them.

Recommend Electric Bicycle for commute

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