
- REVIEWS
User Review: Haibike xDuro HardNine RC 2016 eBike
By Martin Brown |
Introduction
I have been watching and researching Ebikes for about 3 years. I have been following the Ebike shop for a similar amount of time. During this time I established that the crank drive motors are the way forward ā put simply they are the most efficient. With the recent addition of the larger capacity battery ā The Bosch / Haibike combination seemed the best option for me.Where to get one?
I could have purchased the xDuro HardNine only and/or Local (I live in South Wales) but after watching the market and the activities and achievements of Martin and his E-bike shop I felt it prudent to travel up to see for myself ā what they are like in the flesh.
First Impressions
It started out by everyone else getting a go with grins from ear to ear before meā¦ā¦..Like I said, my boys wanted first goā¦.. well I could get them off it, neither could I get the smiles off their faces!! Iāve spent most of the day showing and letting work colleagues have a go !!!Flippinā Nora ā What a Machine !! Iām flabbergasted! It's Phenomenal!
Setting the scene
I live on a hillā¦ā¦ so each person was going to the bottom and riding up effortlesslyā¦. Grinningā¦
A quick charge last night and it was ready for this morningās commute into Cardiffā¦ā¦. YaY All Hills are Flat ! PS. South Wales is not Flatā¦.. I am overweight and appreciate that the distance/capacity of the battery will be affectedā¦ā¦ i.e. total assisted miles will be reduced. HOWEVER, having said all that ā I did have a point clarified for me which when it was, the penny droppedā¦.. The battery is only used when assisting (sounds logical) So when I am travelling over 15.5mph ā the miles left in the battery will remain the same, until such time as I slow allowing the motor to kick in againā¦ā¦ so to say you only have XX miles left on the screen is toshā¦ā¦. Ride it and use the motor for the inclinesā¦.. you can go for milesssssss.Yup, I went up it effortlesslyā¦ā¦on tarmacā¦. Then there is a section of common land that takes you up to a Trigg pointā¦ā¦ I flew up the gravel/lose trackā¦ā¦ for a 22 stone blokeā¦ā¦
Where does the fun end?
This morning, day 2 of ownership, I chose to take the shorter route that takes me over the local mountain into Cardiffā¦ā¦.
Conclusion
I live part way up the mountainā¦.. so whichever way I go I always have to climb to get homeā¦.. but keep that for laterā¦.. My best time to go up the mountain so far is about 15 mins and thatās a mile (half mile of climbing, then it flattens a bitā¦.)
I was happy to have hit 42mph (Strava) on the way down the mountain ā as suggested by my speed coming down the mountain, itās a reasonably decently high mountain to climb. Canāt wait for the ride home nowā¦ā¦ and the local MTB club beginners ride is out tonightā¦.. so a good ride home and a few miles of single track to look forward to.Anyhow, itās a 400 odd foot climb over a mile and a bitā¦ā¦. It took me 7.5 mins to complete the 1.2 mile climb this morningā¦. YaY!
Iām Loving āE-Bike Ownership'
Into my Third week of ownership and Iāve commuted to work for nearly all the daysā¦. Plus Iāve managed to squeeze in a bit of fun on the way homeā¦. And managed to get out with the local MTB club last Wednesday for their āBeginner ridesā ā It was CLEARLY not for beginners!
Also, living in Wales, whichever way you ride, there are generally hilsā¦.. I can ride up the hills but it often turned into an Anaerobic session for my quadsā¦.. whereas now, It feels like Iām 10 stone lighter and Iām getting the Aerobic/cardio session that I so dearly missed!I have a 3-4 mile climb coming home which I find a breeze now.
