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Brand new e-bikes using ebikemotion system

Since my visit to the London Bike Show earlier this month two bikes called my attention, Orbea Gain and Ribble, both using ebikemotion to help power up the ride. Since then I am reading everything I find on the internet related to this subject. The proposal is very good and the bicycles are looking amazing.

I am near to the decision to but one of those! But I would like to listen from you guys if this new technology came to stay as the other more powerful like Bosh and Shimano.

 

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

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7 comments

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Kapelmuur | 4 years ago
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I'm wondering whether the rear wheel can be removed and replaced by a motorless wheel in situations where assistance is not required?

This is in reference to bikes like the Ribble.

 

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Phil Agur replied to Kapelmuur | 4 years ago
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One of the important features of the newer drives like the eBikemotion system is a complete disconnect when off. I can feel a hint of drag when it's in zero assist but still on. When it's off there no perceptible drag and coasting down a minor grade it's right there with a traditional road bike rider that logs 18,000+ miles a year.

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Kapelmuur replied to Phil Agur | 4 years ago
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My comment was based on the fact that I live in a flat area and have to ride about 15 miles to reach any appreciable climbs, so most of the time I can ride comfortably without assistance.

However, advancing age has made ascents difficult and assistance to enable me enjoy those longer summertime rides into the hills would be appreciated.

The problem I see with a motor in the rear wheel is that most of the time I'd be dragging an extra 4kgs around that I don't need for my rides in flatter terrain.   I've been advised that removing an eBikemotion wheel and replacing it with a conventional wheel would not be practical

Therefore the Fazua system with a removable battery and motor seems a better option for me.

I was discussing this with an Orbea dealer who helpfully suggested that all I really needed was a lightweight road bike!

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LuisRamos | 4 years ago
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Thanks for your comments guys!!!

So, I am 55 years old  and weighting 86kg. I live in London and commute daily to work 6 miles each way (all flat) and once a year a I bicycle travel around 10 days covering around 600 / 800 km carring panniers with my stuff inside.

So, after a long day work shift (commuting) and when traveling  (once a year  with many hills  at this time) A little help seems to be Welcome.

On your opinion, are those bicycles the correct choice?

LR

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jollygoodvelo | 4 years ago
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I've been looking at these too.  I'm a fairly competent rider but gravity is not my friend so a little assistance up the hills wouldn't go amiss and might mean I ride more.  What worries me isn't so much the weight - my existing bike is 10kg anyway and I have many other spare kgs to drag around - as the drag when 'not helping'.  I can skim along at 30-32kph on the flat without assistance, but say the motor is in the lowest assistance mode but not helping, is it harder to pedal than if it's turned off?

How do the modes work?  Is it a proportional amount of help, i.e. if I'm doing a gentle 100W, are the settings +25%, +50%, +100% so total 125W, 150W, 200W, or a stepped setting i.e. it'll add 50W, 150W, 250W irrespective of how much I'm trying?

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dave atkinson | 4 years ago
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certainly i think the ebikemotion system will be around for a while, there are some big players using it, or planning to. 

as devil's advocate to alansmurphy above, i'd say that it only feels like the brake has been applied because suddenly you're doing all the work yourself, not because there's any meaningful drag from the motor. the same applies to all e-bikes, especially with more powerful motors. it's not the most powerful system. anyway, i've ridden with my normal group on a number of e-road bikes and not had any problems keeping up. sometimes on a false flat with a group that's pushing on you notice that you're working harder than normal but that's mostly down to weight, not drag. and some of the ebikemotion bikes are *really* light for e-bikes. we have a ribble sle in a large in the office and it's well under 12kg.

in my experience, if you're mostly riding with a group then the lighter your e-bike the better: you'll be going faster than the assistance limit on the flat so you just need it for the hills. if you mostly ride on your own then a powerful bike works a lot better: you don't have to push on when it's flat and the hills are a piece of cake. overall, for the same effort, on your own, a heavier more powerful bike is faster.

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alansmurphy | 4 years ago
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I've ridden the Gain and the Ribble is based on the same rear wheel motor. They're goot, they're fun and they look like great road bikes, was very close to buying one for my commuter...

 

BUT

 

Despite being a low overall weight (comparitively speaking) the weight is on the back wheel. The boost you get uphill is awesome, like riding after a breakfast with Lance, but on the flat you're in trouble. As soon as you hit 15.5mph the motor cuts out and it feels like the back brake has been applied. A friend of mine has one, very strong rider but dodgy heart, and really has to consider the route before committing. Anything less than 2,000 feet of climbing on a 40-50 mile loop and he isn't really getting any help as he's effectively dragging the heavy bike around most of the ride.

 

As I was looking for a commuter with some steep climbs and flatter roads (only 12 or so miles each way), going for a hybrid or off-road bike with a Bosch seemed the better option. I can load it up with saddle bags, hit some off road sections and treat it a bit more roughly as well as fitting huge tyres for the winter.

 

Before parting with the cash, have an extended test ride.

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