Anyone else have an electric bike? - Page 4

kennyc · 03-15-2010, 03:04 PM

Having grown up on a chicken farm I can vouch for that assessment, but it was nothing like the feed-lots I've been around or the Purina Dog Food Plant or a Rendering plant.

Whew!!!!!

Best to just cut your own nose off...

joobies · 03-15-2010, 03:10 PM

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Seatback is very adjustable. Everything is, really. It is a hoot to ride.

kindlekitten · 03-15-2010, 03:55 PM

I imagine it's really only good for street type use?

joobies · 03-15-2010, 04:19 PM

Actually, I have since upgraded the tires and inner tubes to BMX competition quality and it does off road better than I can. With the shorter wheelbase, it is highly responsive and I have actually flipped it over once.... once was enough. The young fellas in the bike shop take them off road for the most part. I need to be more sedate.

catsittingstill · 03-17-2010, 08:03 PM

Congratulations on your new bike, Harry!

I have a recumbent bike--a Bike E. They were very popular for a while but the company went out of business a few years ago :-(

I would love to put an electric motor on it, but the last time I looked into the good ones they were way too expensive for me. My dream is to eventually own a recumbent with a fairing (aerodynamic cover, like a car's shell), an electric motor, and maybe even solar cells on the fairing to charge the motor :-)

Steven Lyle Jordan · 03-18-2010, 01:37 PM

Enjoy that bike, Harry. If it gets you out of a car, you (and the planet) are better off for it.

I've got an old Trek that's in good shape, which keeps me from buying a newer ride (sticker-shock, don't ya know... new bikes are nastee-expensive!) But if I can someday adapt it to an electric assist, I may do that.

scveteran · 03-18-2010, 07:50 PM

I use an electric powered wheelchair. Does that count?

Seriously, when I lived in South Korea, there were lots of electric powered bikes. There were even more small gas engine powered ones. The engine on those were about the size of a weed-eater. They could handle all the hills there and were still dirt cheap.

HarryT · 03-19-2010, 04:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scveteran

Seriously, when I lived in South Korea, there were lots of electric powered bikes. There were even more small gas engine powered ones. The engine on those were about the size of a weed-eater. They could handle all the hills there and were still dirt cheap.

The advantage of an electric motor here in the UK is that, provided it meets certain legal requirements, it doesn't count as a "motor vehicle" and is not subject to tax and insurance. If it had a petrol engine, it would be classified as a moped, and you'd need insurance, road tax, a driving licence, and so on.

mtravellerh · 03-19-2010, 04:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

The advantage of an electric motor here in the UK is that, provided it meets certain legal requirements, it doesn't count as a "motor vehicle" and is not subject to tax and insurance. If it had a petrol engine, it would be classified as a moped, and you'd need insurance, road tax, a driving licence, and so on.

Driving license? Seriously? We're allowed to even drive low-powered mopeds without any driving license. For normal mopeds, you only have to make a theoretical exam (roadsigns, priority and the like)

HarryT · 03-19-2010, 04:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtravellerh

Driving license? Seriously? We're allowed to even drive low-powered mopeds without any driving license. For normal mopeds, you only have to make a theoretical exam (roadsigns, priority and the like)

Yes, you need a driving licence to ride a moped in the UK.

Sweetpea · 03-19-2010, 04:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Yes, you need a driving licence to ride a moped in the UK.

What's the definition of a moped?

Until recently, you didn't need a driver's license if you wanted to drive a powered vehicle that had a maximum speed of 45km/h (50CC max petrol engine). You only need a permit (only theoretical exam). But they changed that and now you have to get a driver's license. It's not a full-fledged license, but you need to do a theoretical and practical exam...

HarryT · 03-19-2010, 04:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

What's the definition of a moped?

Engine under 50cc, top speed restricted to 30mph.

I should clarify that all you need is what's called a "provisional licence", which is just a form to fill in and, I think now, a theory test about road signs, safety, etc. The reason you need a licence is that you can commit traffic offences on a moped, and there needs to be a licence to apply the penalty points to. In other words, riding a moped can get you a driving ban which would also apply to driving a car.

Sweetpea · 03-19-2010, 06:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Engine under 50cc, top speed restricted to 30mph.

I should clarify that all you need is what's called a "provisional licence", which is just a form to fill in and, I think now, a theory test about road signs, safety, etc. The reason you need a licence is that you can commit traffic offences on a moped, and there needs to be a licence to apply the penalty points to. In other words, riding a moped can get you a driving ban which would also apply to driving a car.

Yes, that's the same here. Except they added a practical examination to it (I believe from January 1st of this year).

sony_fox · 03-19-2010, 06:11 AM

my OtherHalf's got one. And finds it useful.

I'm not convinced - but then my cruising speed on a road bike is somewhat faster than the electric bike's max motor assist speed, the motor is limited to 12mph IIRC. However for people who haven't spent years cycling or just can't put in that amount of effort they are good. They are notably heavier than a proper bike, but not impossibly so. And expensive. but then so's a proper bike! Anything which makes cycling more available to wider segment of the population is a good thing IMHO.

regarding charging - obviously it's less "green" than a non-electric bike. But a choice between electric bike and car is quite clear. And depending on your electricity tarif, can be very nearly as green as an ordinary bike.

kennyc · 03-19-2010, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sony_fox

...

regarding charging - obviously it's less "green" than a non-electric bike. But a choice between electric bike and car is quite clear. And depending on your electricity tarif, can be very nearly as green as an ordinary bike.

Is it? I have to see a direct comparison of the carbon footprint of the average human and their resource needs and sources (electricity, food, water, etc) to produce the muscle power to travel the distance compared to the carbon footprint of generating the electricity needed by the electric bike to cover the same distance.

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03-15-2010, 03:04 PM	#46
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,930 Karma: 119747553 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2 & PW, Onyx Boox Go6	Having grown up on a chicken farm I can vouch for that assessment, but it was nothing like the feed-lots I've been around or the Purina Dog Food Plant or a Rendering plant. Whew!!!!! Best to just cut your own nose off...

03-15-2010, 03:10 PM	#47
joobies Addict Posts: 234 Karma: 1856 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Midwest USA Device: Kindle 1, Sony PRS-505	Seatback is very adjustable. Everything is, really. It is a hoot to ride.

03-15-2010, 03:55 PM	#48
kindlekitten Professional Adventuress Posts: 13,368 Karma: 50260224 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: The Olympic Peninsula on the OTHER Washington! (the big green clean one on the west coast!) Device: Kindle, the original! Times Two! and gifting an International Kindle	I imagine it's really only good for street type use?

03-15-2010, 04:19 PM	#49
joobies Addict Posts: 234 Karma: 1856 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Midwest USA Device: Kindle 1, Sony PRS-505	Actually, I have since upgraded the tires and inner tubes to BMX competition quality and it does off road better than I can. With the shorter wheelbase, it is highly responsive and I have actually flipped it over once.... once was enough. The young fellas in the bike shop take them off road for the most part. I need to be more sedate.

03-17-2010, 08:03 PM	#50
catsittingstill Guru Posts: 643 Karma: 551634 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Kindle 1.0.8, iPod Touch, Kindle Keyboard	Congratulations on your new bike, Harry! I have a recumbent bike--a Bike E. They were very popular for a while but the company went out of business a few years ago :-( I would love to put an electric motor on it, but the last time I looked into the good ones they were way too expensive for me. My dream is to eventually own a recumbent with a fairing (aerodynamic cover, like a car's shell), an electric motor, and maybe even solar cells on the fairing to charge the motor :-)

03-18-2010, 01:37 PM	#51
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	Enjoy that bike, Harry. If it gets you out of a car, you (and the planet) are better off for it. I've got an old Trek that's in good shape, which keeps me from buying a newer ride (sticker-shock, don't ya know... new bikes are nastee-expensive!) But if I can someday adapt it to an electric assist, I may do that.

03-18-2010, 07:50 PM	#52
scveteran Groupie Posts: 162 Karma: 1230 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: none	I use an electric powered wheelchair. Does that count? Seriously, when I lived in South Korea, there were lots of electric powered bikes. There were even more small gas engine powered ones. The engine on those were about the size of a weed-eater. They could handle all the hills there and were still dirt cheap.

03-19-2010, 06:11 AM	#59
sony_fox Zealot Posts: 109 Karma: 84 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Manchester Device: Kobo Auroa H2O	my OtherHalf's got one. And finds it useful. I'm not convinced - but then my cruising speed on a road bike is somewhat faster than the electric bike's max motor assist speed, the motor is limited to 12mph IIRC. However for people who haven't spent years cycling or just can't put in that amount of effort they are good. They are notably heavier than a proper bike, but not impossibly so. And expensive. but then so's a proper bike! Anything which makes cycling more available to wider segment of the population is a good thing IMHO. regarding charging - obviously it's less "green" than a non-electric bike. But a choice between electric bike and car is quite clear. And depending on your electricity tarif, can be very nearly as green as an ordinary bike.