So fat bikes have been around for yonks now. But why have they only just taken off? The electric bike world has a big part to play in this, let us explain whilst the brand new Haibike FatSix 2015 Fattie eBike is revealed! Β What are fat bikes for? Realistically the wide tyres and burly wheels are great for travelling over harsher terrain like, deep mud, snow and sand. But they are also widely used for bombing about on be it to the pub or round the local trails. Β Why have fat bikes become so popular in Britain? This is a good question, as we don't have many deserts, although we do have some good coastal beaches. We also don't get much snow here either. So why have they become so popular? This is easy.. Because Fat Bikes are awesome! Β Disadvantages to fat bikes? Well.. They can be heavy, clunky and generally quite hard to ride around. Yes they have amazing grip levels when it comes to softer terrain, but the high rolling resistance and added weight of the huge tyres often drags fat bikes down on the road or on hard pack surfaces. Β Why Fat eBike then? It just makes perfect sense! Build a bike with lightweight (but wide) drilled out rims, stick on some super wide but lightweight tyres and you have a bike that's not really that much heavier to ride. Add a Bosch eBike motor to the equation and you are laughing. For once we have a bike that is powered assisted, using a renowned reliable electric system from the German manufacturer Bosch. Β Say hello to the 2015 Haibike Fat Six! Β 2015 Haibike xDuro FatSix - The next generation of eFAT bikes! The Haibike FatSix is a brand new model in the 2015 xDuro line up. Its built with bullet proof components and comes in at a decent price. The new Haibike FatSix bike is built using the Bosch Performance Drive SystemΒ and the using the brand new Bosch Nyon LCD multifunctional display. Bosch Nyon connects directly to your smartphone using Bluetooth to navigate your music collection view incoming text messages and call. Nyon really gets advanced with its built in satellite navigation and full fitness suite which connects directly to your pc to download rides and measure your fitness. You can read more about Bosch Nyon on our other article - New Bosch Nyon Functions.Β Here's a short video showing some of the features.Β Haibike have fitted this bad boy out with RockShox new Bluto front suspension forks, these are specifically designed for fat bikes. The forks offer 100mm of travel and full air adjustability for each individual riders weight. They also feature a remote 'PushLoc' so the rider can lock the forks out when on the move to preserve energy. The Fat Six rolls around on a hydroformed alloy German built chassis, with internal cable routing to keep everything clean and snag free. The frame comes in this fantastically cool Camo style colour scheme! To keep thing easy Haibike have opted for the lightweight Shimano XT 10 speed drivetrain and a pair of hydraulic disc brakes front and rear to match. Easy, simple, maintenance free and with ample stopping power to keep this beast under control on the descents. The wheels are built using Alex AQ6 rims which are specifically built for fat bikes. These super wide rims are alloy and drilled out so very lightweight without compromising strength. These are laced onto Formula sealed bearing hubs on super stiff through axles front and rear and laced using DT Swiss double butted spokes. Creating a super lightweight but super strong wheelset for this amazing machine to roll on. To grip these lovely wheels to the terrain Haibike opted for the Schwalbe Jumbo Jim 4" wide tyres! Again specifically designed for fat bikes by the Germans, these tyres offer superior amounts of grip across varied terrain without adding unnecessary weight to the bike, in fact they come up just as light as a set of 2.4 Muddy Marys! A bullet proof bike deserves a matching set of bullet proof super grippy tyres! What do we think? We had the opportunity to ride one of the very first prototype FatSix's that Haibike made in Germany a few weeks back. This badboy is so much fun to ride around, even more fun as you power past other cyclists on their lightweight roads bikes and full lycra gear! Here's a ten second glance over the fantastic new Fat eBike (excuse the blue wheels, this ones a prototype)Β All in all we think the new Haibike FatSix will be a winner all round with posers and serious MTB'ers alike! You can view the full specification and pre order the bike here - Haibike xDuro FatSix Fat Bike 2015
E-bikeshop visit Eurobike 2014 in Friedrichshafen (Germany) to view the latest line up of prototype and production run electric bikes for 2015. The show was very interesting and we tried to cover most of it in the week that we were there. The show is made up of over 1300 exhibitors from 54 different countries. Its the best place to go to see all that is evolving in the eBike world. We were going to picture everything to show you from the comfort of your own home, although this was almost instantly deemed impossible due to the sheer size of the show! Below are just some of the pictures of the most interesting products that we saw at EuroBike 2014. Enjoy. Here it is: The worlds first full carbon mountain eBike! Sex on wheels? This ones the prototype. Every wanted to commute in the rain? Its Ok I suppose until that big gush of wind comes along! Panasonic have been working on some new eBike display, this is the first LCD display to feature within the Panasonic system. 2015 Nicolai here which we thought was a real integral way of mounting the Bosch eBike motor and battery, Look really smart, how practical it will be to have the battery in the firing line of the front wheel we don't know? The new craze! Fat bikes, but with a Bosch motor? Makes sense! This is new for the 2015 Haibike line up. Conway have stashed the Bosch battery inside a huge box, why you may ask? Well it appears you can have your battery covered and all your essentials stored inside neatly. An inside look at the new Continental Pinion gear box system, enough going on in there? Nice new paint job and a spec too for the new Moustache Samedi 27/9 eMTB for 2015. Ever get home and wonder what it would be like to not have to wash your bike? Here you go you can have your very own bike washing station! Our favourite - The new Haibike NDURO PRO 2015 model. Set up ready for full on enduro riding! Features Nyon for 2015. Plenty taking a closer look at the new Shimano Steps eBike system. We took it for a spin on the test track. Crazy way of adding power to your regular bike, we think it looks rather unattractive? Had to picture this, its rather old school now to bolt a motor onto your existing bike, but there are some manufacturers still trying to make bling equipment. A sneaky glimpse of the new 2015 Haibike AllMtn Pro due to us shortly! Here is how Flyer mount the Bosch eBIke motor onto their electric MTB. One of the neatest designs we have seen integrating the Bosch eBike motor seamlessly with their own case design. Crazy new colour schemes for the new 2015 Lundi eBikes from Moustache. Certainly see that coming! Ever wondered what the inside of a Bosch Performance motor looks like? Well here it is.. The Hard Seven SL from Haibikes new sDuro range for 2015. Quick look into Panasonic's latest eBike drive motor unit. This cut in half demonstrator shows the skilled engineering. The all new FS 500 & FS 900 from Lapierre's new Overvolt eMTB range. Yamaha powered Haibike AllMtn RC here in the flesh ready for the 2015 range. We took a peek into the inside of Panasonic's latest eBike battery pack. Interesting eh? This is new for the Moustache range, a speed pedelec. Built with the Bosch 350w motor, this presents an all round fast eMTB. The new Haibike Full Seven RC 2015 in a really neat colour scheme. Available today! The Bosch stand was buzzing the whole week with people grasping the new Nyon system in their hands! We saw a few eBikes at the show with Brose motors, although this one has to be the best for integration! BMC prototype road race bike, should stand up in a wind tunnel pretty good? The new Fat eBike from Moustache! Has a lovely battery cover designed by Mr Starck himself. This one for the snow.. Strange way of mounting a rear shock on a Bosch eBike? Wonder how it rides? The new Nuvinci 360 Harmony system fully integrated here using the new Gates belt drive system. Bulletproof drivetrain? Suspension wheels anyone? Yes thats right, they seem to work too! A british designer showing off these wacky creations. The new Bosch Nyon display looks very attractive and it has loads of neat features for those gadget fans! Another fat eBike from Moustache, this one designed for sand conditions. There you have it! A quick glimpse of what 2015 has in stall for us in the electric bike world, sorry we could not have posted every picture, the article would have gone on forever! You can view many of the up and coming 2015 electric bikes in our shop by clicking here.
On a daily basis I get calls asking what the differences between the Bosch & Yamaha electric bike systems are? What system is better you may ask? Well this is the full article that explains and compares each eBike system side by side. Bosch and Yamaha eBike systems work in a very similar way - They both operate using 250w crank drive electric bike motors. So let's see exactly what the differences are. We will start from the beginning. Β *** This article has been updated in spring 2016 to accommodate the new revised Bosch & Yamaha systems for 2016 model years onwards *** Who are Bosch? Bosch are a very large multinational company that bring a whole manner of products to market. They began researching and developing eBike systems many years ago, they brought their first electric bike system to market in 2010. The Bosch system has been constantly developed and improved as time has gone on. The latest eBike system is the Bosch Performance line so this is the one we will directly compare today. The Bosch system is now used in over 50 leading bike brands across Europe. Who are Yamaha? Yamaha was founded in 1955 and predominantly built motorcycles for the Japanese market. Today they make anything from eBike systems to Jet Skis with a wide product portfolio under their belt. It was back in 1993 when Yamaha released their first eBike system. This was a massive success. Yamaha now manufacturer over 300,000 electric bike systems a year and, to date, their system is implemented on over 2.7 million eBikes worldwide.In Europe the latest version of the Yamaha system is just used on both the Haibike sDuro range and the Lapierre Overvolt range of electric bikes. Let's compare the components across both systems Battery Comparison Bosch and Yamaha both use 36v Lithium Ion 400Wh batteries. Built using the latest technology to give the maximum range and longevity. Notice how similar they are in shape, also they both incorporate a carry handle at the top.Both batteries have LED lights on board to show the user the remaining capacity. Also the batteries are frame mounted on the down tube. The Yamaha & Bosch batteries lock into place using a key mechanism for security. The difference in mounting is that the Bosch battery slots in from the top down, whereas the Yamaha battery slots in at the bottom first then pushes in from the side. One benefit to this is that the battery can be mounted in smaller frames as there is no need for that extra room at the top when mounting.Also the Bosch battery sits in its own little cradle attached to the frame approx 1 inch up from the motor whereas the Yamaha battery is placed directly into the top of the motor. The Yamaha battery also features a small shock absorber so the battery does not rattle over bumpy terrain.Β Battery specifications, comparison side by side - Β Bosch Battery Yamaha Battery Capacity 400Wh / 11 Ah 400Wh / 11Ah Voltage 36 V 36 V Security Key Lock Key Lock LED Status 5 Lights (20%) 4 Lights (25%) Weight 2.6 kg 2.9 kg Type Lithium Ion Lithium Ion Warranty 2 yrs / 500 Full Cycles 2 yrs / 700 Full Cycles Op Temp -5 to 40 degrees -20 to 60 degrees So as you can see from the specs, the Yamaha & Bosch batteries are very similar, the Yamaha is slightly larger in size than the Bosch, the Yamaha battery is also approx 300 grams heavier. The Bosch has 5 LED lights to show capacity in 20% stages whereas the Yamaha battery shows it with 4 LEDs in 25% increments.Β Battery range in average conditions, comparison side by side - Β Β Bosch Battery Yamaha Battery Low 80 miles / 130 km 80 miles / 130 km Medium 50 miles / 80 km 53 miles / 85 km High 37 miles / 60 km 43 miles / 70 km Average 57 miles / 90 km 59 miles / 95 km As you can see the range predictions of each system are very close, the Yamaha system appears to offer a little more in the Medium / High area although this is marginal and they both average very similar. It's also worth pointing out that both Yamaha & Bosch batteries can be charged on or off the electric bike.Both Yamaha and Bosch offer a 2 year warranty on their electrics, Yamaha offer more 'Full' charge cycles than Bosch although remember that this is just the warranty, we expect the battery's overall lifespan to be a lot longer. Β User Interface Comparison The user interface and controls on each system are very similar in both size and operation. Both units have LCD backlit displays and use an additional button user control for the rider to navigate the settings without their hands leaving the handlebars. The Yamaha head unit is slightly taller than the Bosch display, it's also thinner in design, they both clamp on either side of the stem suitable for both 25.4mm & 31.8 handlebars. The control buttons are similar in size, and clamp on in similar ways. The actual LCD display area is slightly larger on the Yamaha system, each unit is easy to navigate and user friendly. The units are displayed in a clear, easy to read manner. Both head units can be removed from the bike, so when the bike is not in use or locked up somewhere the display can be removed and stored easily in your pocket, meaning no one can pinch it. Where the units do differ is that the Bosch system can be controlled on the head unit itself. You can navigate the settings, reset parameters, turn the lights on and of course power the system on/off.Β Control unit functions, comparison side by side - Β Β Bosch Controls Yamaha Controls LCD Yes Yes Backlit Yes Yes Display Buttons Yes No Control Buttons Yes Yes Clamp Size 25.4 / 31.8mm 25.4 / 31.8mm Removable Yes Yes Walk Function Yes Yes Light Function Yes Yes The remote buttons on the Bosch unit can navigate the information displayed, scroll up and down the assistance levels and also use the 'Walk Function'. The Bosch head unit can be turned on and scroll through the saved parameters when off the bike. The Yamaha display cannot be operated when off the bike, in fact it dims the screen and turns into a pocket watch when removed from the eBike. Obviously the display has no buttons on it so it can only be controlled via the remote buttons when it's connected to the bike. Both Yamaha and Bosch systems have a walk assist mode controlled by the remote buttons, so if the rider is walking beside the bike, the walk function can be used to push the bike along with little effort.Β Computer parameters, comparison side by side - Β Β Bosch Parameters Yamaha Parameters Assist Levels 4 4 Battery Bar 5 Scale 10 Scale Range in Miles Yes Yes Power Meter Yes Yes Cadence Meter No Yes Clock Yes Yes Thermometer No Yes Odometer Yes Yes Trip Distance Yes Yes Trip Time Yes Yes Maximum Speed Yes Yes Average Speed Yes Yes Gear Up Shift Yes No Language Adj Yes Yes Units MPH & KM/H MPH & KM/H Both Bosch and Yamaha displays offer similar parameters on their displays, the only differences are that Yamaha offer a more in depth battery capacity bar, a cadence meter and a thermometer. The latest Bosch Performance software update offers the use of a gear shift indicator for maximum efficiency. The LCD displays a small arrow to the user when it feels you could be making better use of a higher gear. This can be turned on or off in the settings menu.Both Bosch and Yamaha controls have a micro USB output for charging auxiliary items like a mobile phone or gps unit. You can use this cable to convert either Bosch or Yamaha to a Female USB output. Motor Comparison Both Bosch and Yamaha use 250w crank drive motors, they are integrated into the bottom bracket area and drive on the crank which gives full use of the gears and a natural efficient feel for the rider. Bosch and Yamaha use high performance crank drive systems that optimise the use of 3 sensors - Cadence, Torque & Speed. These sensors are measured 1000's of times a second to create a very responsive, efficient & natural rider experience. You will notice both the Yamaha and Bosch motors are similar shapes. They are also similar sizes. In fact the Yamaha motor is slightly smaller than the Bosch. The Yamaha motor is also approximately 500 grams lighter than the Bosch. The Bosch motor is internally geared, so it features a small drive sprocket. This sprocket turns 2.5 times to each crank rotation. This enables a higher ground clearance but still offers standard gear ratios. It's also near impossible for the chain to come off. You will notice the Yamaha motor uses a regular size sprocket and the drive is not internally geared. Yamaha have created this system to be compatible with a double ring set up on the front so you can have a larger gear ratio between the 2 sprockets. The Bosch uses a ISIS crank fitment whereas the Yamaha drive uses a square taper crank fitting.Β Motor specifications, comparison side by side - Β Β Bosch Motor Yamaha Motor Rating 250w 250w Torque 75Nm 70Nm Max Assistance 300% 280% Drive Sprockets 1 1 or 2 E.I Compatible No Yes Light Outputs Yes Yes Assisted Speed 15.5 mph / 25 kph 15.5 mph / 25 kph Weight 3.8 kg 3.5 kg Very similar specifications between both manufacturers. The Bosch Performance CX drive does have a little more torque and assistance in Turbo mode, we list a continuous torque figure but the Yamaha drive will actually peak at a whopping 80Nm!Yamaha advertise a quicker power delivery, so the user doesn't have to get a pedal in. Although the power curve is smoother on the Bosch system. Yamaha call this instant power 'zero cadence', it is there right from the off.Both Yamaha & Bosch systems allow the integration of lighting outputs. Something the Bosch does offer that is not mentioned in the table is a pedal back brake function, although this is not generally used in the UK. The Bosch motor also has gear shift detection so it reduces the power slightly when the user is changing gear to save wear on the drivetrain.On a side note you'll also notice the Yamaha system has been made E.I (Electronic Suspension) compatible. This is featured for the first time on some of the new sDuro Haibike's - the AllMtn RX & the AllMtn PRO. Battery Charger Comparison The battery chargers between Bosch and Yamaha are similar in that they have a low recharge time and are both mains operated 240v chargers. You will notice that the Yamaha charger is longer than the Bosch charger, Yamaha's overall size is a little bigger than Bosch's. The Yamaha charger is IPX4 water resistant.Both Bosch and Yamaha batteries can be charged when mounted in the bike or with the battery removed. When mounted on the bike the Bosch battery is charged through a charging port in the battery holder bracket. When the battery is removed it can also be charged directly by plugging the charger into the bottom of the battery.Whereas Yamaha's battery is charged through the same socket be it with the battery in or out of the frame.Battery charger specifications, comparison side by side - Β Β Bosch Charger Yamaha Charger Weight <800g 800g Charge Time 3.5 hrs 3.5 hrs Input Voltage 220-240v 220-240v Input Amps 1.5A 1.3A Output Voltage 32v 42v Output Amps 4A 3.6A Frequency 50/60Hz 50/60Hz Air Vents No No Dimensions L190 W86 H54mm L184 W86 H50mm Charge Temp 0 to 40 degrees 0 to 45 degrees Mains Plug Yes Yes The above recharge times are approx and based on the 400Wh batteries. This recharge time is from fully discharged to fully charged. Each charger can recharge the battery to approx 70-80% in 1.5 hours. Each charger can be used with a DC to AC inverter, for example if you wish to recharge the batteries in a motorhome or car using the cigarette lighter socket (inverter purchased separately). Battery and Motor Integration Compared As previously mentioned the Bosch and Yamaha systems are mounted in very similar ways, the headunit and control buttons are mounted in identical positions. The motors are of course crank drive; so they are integrated into the bottom of the bike's frame where the bottom bracket would normally be. As you can see the Yamaha motor is a little smaller when integrated into the frame, although the Yamaha battery is longer than the Bosch battery pack. As you can also see, the Yamaha motor sits directly into the top of the motor casing whereas Bosch's battery sits in its own holder mounted to the frame above the motor.Both have plastic protective skid plates on the Haibike in particular (not on all manufacturers' eBikes). Notice on the model pictured the Yamaha has the larger chainring and it's a double whereas the Bosch uses the smaller single drive sprocket. Each system gives a similar & good ground clearance. To sum up - What do we think? The specs across each system are very similar, we've explained the exact differences in this article. Having used and ridden both systems there are certain features that we like on both..Β Integration and look - We prefer the head unit integration on the Bosch system, it certainly feels firmer than the Yamaha head unit display bracket. The bracket and the cable routing are a lot tidier too. The Yamaha display is a little more flimsy in comparison and the side control buttons feel more 'plasticy'. Hard to explain but the Bosch kit just feels more 'German'. It appears and feels better quality; that said it is a slightly dearer system to purchase. Both systems look pretty good in the way they are integrated into the frames. The Yamaha system does seem a little smaller and more integral to the bike. It's nice that the battery inserts from the side too so that we can offer the system in smaller frames, something which hasn't always been possible with the Bosch system. Also we like the fact that the Yamaha has the small shock absorber at the bottom of the battery to soak up any bumps, although after extensively riding each system we don't feel this is an issue on either.Β Actual ride time - When it comes to riding the bikes, they are both very much on par with each other and definitely two of the best systems around. The Yamaha certainly feels a little more powerful in respect of torque, with the power coming in just a second or so earlier than the Bosch motor, although when both motors are up to a decent RPM they feel just as efficient as one another. We like the fact that the Yamaha system allows the use of 2 chainrings at the front. Although we don't feel it essential on a crank drive electric bike, some users do prefer to have a larger array of gears, particularly when using the bike off power. However we can see why Bosch have opted for the smaller single ring option to increase ground clearance and make it near impossible for the chain to come off. Both systems are very easy to use, ride and navigate through the various assistance levels & functions on board. We like the fact that Yamaha breaks down the remaining battery capacity into more increments, it gives the rider more of a sense of what is remaining. But both work well in comparison to other systems on the market. Although the Bosch display breaks down the assistance levels to 4 as opposed to 3 on the Yamaha, we didn't feel that this had too much effect in the actual riding. That said we were comparing the 2 systems off road, an extra level of adjustment on the Bosch display could possibly come in handy, for longer distance touring for example.Β Small factors worth mentioning - The ISIS crank axle is our preferred mounting method for the cranks to the motor axle. The Bosch motor uses the ISIS drive setup & the Yamaha the square taper type. We much prefer the size of the Bosch charger as it's smaller than the Yamaha and would be easier to carry around to extend any range. The Yamaha charger is just a fraction on the large size for our liking. Also the Bosch charger has little rubber feet on the bottom, which is such a small factor but it stops it sliding off the workbench as easily. Worth pointing out that the Bosch system can be updated by the dealer via the USB diagnostics socket. We like this because it means future updates are always possible and likely to bring new features. The Yamaha system is set out the factory and not updateable. Bosch or Yamaha - Which is better? Now that's a toughie, again there are certain features we like on each system, we would suggest, rather than buy a bike dependent on the drive system used, steer more towards thinking about the style and specification of the electric bike that you require. You may even end up with 2 very similar bikes one using Bosch & the other using Yamaha. At this point it's time to give us a call and book an appointment to physically ride both systems, also have a look for yourself at the quality and integration. You can then make the decision as to what suits your requirements better.Β You'll be impressed with both Yamaha & Bosch eBike systems, as are we! Click here to view our range of Bosch & Yamaha eBikes Riding the new Bosch & Yamaha eBike systems in Schweinfurt, Germany
We are proud to announce that e-bikeshop.co.uk have a working tuning dongle kit to derestrict the 15mph cut off speed on all Yamaha powered electric bikes. For the past few years we have been extremely successful with our exclusive Bosch tuning kits that derestrict the electric bike so that you can reach assisted speeds of over 15mph.We can now use similar technology on our new Yamaha eBikes arriving shortly. These kits work in a similar way but plumb in differently. Not something you have to worry about as we do the hard work for you for free! How does it work? Basically the Yamaha speed tuning dongles trick the system into thinking its going half as fast as it actually is. This allows you the rider to pedal past the 15mph barrier and reach speeds up to 30mph assisted. Although a simple format, the technology behind it is a little more complicated! But you need not worry. How do you use it? All you have to do is plug it in when you want the bike derestricted. We plumb the wiring kit into the Yamaha bike before it leaves the workshop. Can you revert it back to normal? Yes of course, just unplug it. The cable kit remains but the bike reverts back to normal. When you want it to go faster just plug it back in. Where can I use the Speed Tuning Kit? Obviously the UK law states that eBikes should only be assisted to 15mph. Therefore the speed tuning kit is strictly for off road (private land) use only. Are there any side effects to using the kit? Yes the speed is halved on the display, therefore you have to double it for a true reading. For example if the display reads 12mph, you are actually going 24mph.. Simple! When you unplug the dongle it reverts back to standard. Why would I want to go faster than 15mph? Really the question is why not?.. But in all seriousness, it can be frustrating hitting the 15mph barrier, particularly off road when you are really going for it and the assistance backs off. Also a lot of people can average faster than 15mph, therefore the majority of their ride the rider is just riding a slightly heavier bike around with no assistance. The Tuning kit is the answer to sit at a comfortable speed assisted. Can I retrofit this to my Yamaha eBike? No, the tuning kit is exclusively available to our own customers. Just add the Yamaha electric bike of your preference together with the tuning kit to the basket, your bike will be set up with the tuning kit installed prior to leaving our workshops. If you decide not to get one at first, this is a not a problem, as long as you have your original bike sales receipt from us we can fit one for you at a later date, maybe free service time? Can I order the Yamaha Tuning Kit on its own? Yes you can, however, it will not be dispatched. It has to be fitted by our workshop technicians exclusively on our own eBikes. Remember you can unplug it, so to save a journey you could have it fitted from new, but unplug it for your first few rides. Then plug it in when you are comfortable with how the eBike performs.Β The Yamaha Tuning Dongles can be found here.Or why not take a look at our full range of Yamaha powered eBikes here.
We at e-bikeshop are proud to announce we are supporting local eBiker with an Official Guinness World Record attempt to be the fastest around the Isle of Man TT Mountain Course. Rider Mat Dibb Says - Iβve always needed challenges and targets in life to aim for, as a means of motivation and fitness. As an avid supporter and user of electric bicycles, an e-bikeshop.co.uk customer and keen fundraiser I wondered how I could combine all three in my next big challenge. I am also a passionate Motorsport follower, and visit the TT on IOM by e-bike as a spectator most years. Following a long negotiation with Guinness World Records, they finally agreed to creating a new category for me 'Fastest Isle of Man TT Mountain Course - Electric bicycle'. I aim to complete a full lap of the TT mountain course over 38 miles, including climbing the notoriously challenging Snaefell Mountain. The current (unofficial) record has been set by local Manxman and TT motorcycle competitor Conor Cummins of 2hrs 41mins on a Smart electric bike. I am hoping to complete my lap in under 2hrs. Conor says that he stopped for a cup of tea at his Mum's house in Ramsey, something I aim to replicate to keep the challenge honest. Having had a chat with the ever helpful Martin Brown (Director, e-bikeshop.co.uk) he helped identify and source the most suitable e-bike from www.moustachebikes.com for the challenge and the plan was in place. Training-wise, not too much more is needed as I regularly clock up around 150 miles per week on my e-hybrid, and ride off-road for 3-4hrs every Sunday morning on my e-MTB, a Haibike X-Duro. Why are you undertaking this challenge? Well I am myself awaiting kidney transplant due to a long term kidney disease. I'm also a committee member of The Kidney Fund. Like many other deserving charities we are reliant solely upon charitable donations. This event will not only give me the opportunity to raise much needed funds, but also to promote kidney health awareness generally. The support of friends, family and of course the generosity of e-bikeshop.co.uk so far has been nothing short of incredible. So the pressure is now on, and now it's down to me! When is the event taking place? The challenge will take place in 1 month's time, on 14th September 2014. Get Involved Please help Mat by following his progress at https://www.facebook.com/MatsTTWR and help him reach his target of 1,000 likes. We wish Mat good luck and hope you will follow from the build up, training and live reports. Update: We did it!!
We visited Haibike last month to preview and test the new line up of Yamaha powered Haibike sDuro 2015 electric bikes. We are excited to unveil today the eBike range which are now available to pre-order for UK residents from e-bikeshop.co.uk today. Join us for this first look!Β What is the Haibike sDuro range? Haibike sDuro eBikes were announced as a new range for 2015. They will run alongside the 2015 xDuro eBikes to offer a range focussed on younger riders. We call these riders the next 'eGeneration', targeted at the 20-30 age range the new Haibike sDuro electric bikes will be offered with the Yamaha system. The new sDuro range consists of lower price points, the sDuro Haibikes will range from Β£1850 up to Β£3700 where the Haibike xDuro range will take over with higher specification and the Bosch motor system. Teaser Video - We offer a sDuro eBike for every style of riding, from light trail use, to more aggressive all mountain and even your hybrid / trekking / commuting eBikes. The 7 sDuro 2015 bikes are as follows - Haibike sDuro AllMtn RX 2015 Brief Overview: The Haibike sDuro AllMtn RX is built around a 150mm chassis to offer a decent all mountain rig capable of harsher terrain but adjustable enough to use as a trail bike. This model is the first electric bike in the world to feature the new EI (Electronic Suspension)! Clever stuff eh? Price: Β£3700 Wheel Size: 27.5β³ (650B) Sizes: 40, 44, 48 & 52cm Frames Haibike sDuro AllMtn RX 2015 Full Specification Haibike sDuro AllMtn RC 2015 Brief Overview: The new Haibike sDuro AllMtn RC is built on the same chassis as the AllMtn RX above. This is the younger brother with slightly lower specification and loses the EI (Electronic Suspension) system. It also offers a 2 x 10 gear 20 speed set up. Price: Β£3200 Wheel Size: 27.5β³ (650B) Sizes: 40, 44, 48 & 52cm Frames Haibike sDuro AllMtn RC 2015 Full Specification Haibike sDuro FullNine RC 2015 Brief Overview: The new sDuro FullNine is one of the first full suspension 29" wheel eBikes to be available. Built on a shorter 100mm chassis it becomes the lighter electric bike for the every day trail / cross country rider. This is finished with a 1 x 10 gear 10 speed set up. Price: Β£2700 Wheel Size: 29β³ Sizes: 40, 45, 50 & 55cm Frames Haibike sDuro FullNine RC 2015 Full Specification Haibike sDuro HardNine RC 2015 Brief Overview: The HardNine 2015 model is based on its full suspension bigger brother. Offering the equivalent in a hardtail variant. The HardNine features a 2 x 10 speed 20 gear set up over the 10 speed above. Price: Β£2300 Wheel Size: 29β³ Sizes: 40, 45, 50 & 55cm Frames Haibike sDuro HardNine RC 2015 Full Specification Haibike sDuro HardSeven SL 2015 Brief Overview: The new Haibike sDuro HardSeven is a 27.5" (650B) hardtail electric bike. Its the entry level eBike within the 2015 sDuro range. A German chassis and Yamaha motor for a more affordable price! This model features a 1 x 10 speed gear set up. Price: Β£1850 Wheel Size: 27.5β³ (650B) Sizes: 35, 40, 45, 50 & 55cm Frames Haibike sDuro HardSeven SL 2015 Full Specification Haibike sDuro Trekking RC Gents 2015 Brief Overview: Within the sDuro range we will be offering a Trekking eBike for 2015. The Trekking RC is fully equipped with all the essential for commuting, road, trekking & hybrid use. This is one of the first trekking electric bikes in the world to feature a 2 x 10 speed gear set up for an excellent range of gears. Price: Β£2400 Wheel Size: 28" (700c) Sizes: 48, 52 & 56cm Frames Haibike sDuro Trekking RC Gents 2015 Full Specification Haibike sDuro Trekking RC Low 2015 Brief Overview: We are offering the same sDuro Trekking RC as above but in a low frame style. This frame is ideal for gents and ladies alike for easy mounting of the bike. It features the same components as above but with a lower drop to the cross bar. Also available in a smaller frame size for shorter riders. Price: Β£2400 Wheel Size: 28" (700c) Sizes: 44, 48, & 52cm Frames Haibike sDuro Trekking RC Low 2015 Full Specification What do we think? We believe the new sDuro range fills a gap, not just within the 2015 Haibike range but in the whole eBike market. Now you can have a German built electric bike with the Yamaha crank drive system for a lower price point than previously available. The sDuro range is certainly focused on the younger generation of 'eCyclists', this range should fit in well. It also features many advancements in the electric bike world including the application of the EI (Electric Suspension) that should get some excitement. We also say hello to the 2 x 10 speed gearing that is available with the integration of the Yamaha motor system. These newΒ models are available to pre-order today from the UK's largest Haibike electric bike dealer. To secure yours, just order through the website. We will allocate a Β£199 deposit and secure your model, its that easy! Click for the full range - Haibike sDuro 2015 Yamaha eBike Range Why not read some of our related articles below?.. Enjoy!
E-bikeshop is proud to announce that we are now open. Our new site is part of the expansion from our two other bike shops and we have been working day & night since the start of the year to get the new sales and distribution centre open in time for the 2014 season. Full range of eMTB Moustache, Lapierre & Haibike Bosch powered eBikes Although a few weeks behind, we are now very excited to unveil our new centre in Farnham on the Surrey & Hampshire borders. This is a good central location for us with people visiting from all over the UK. Every aspect of the centre has been well thought out, from the location, parking, layout, design and the environment. Even our complete internal surround sound system provided by.. Guess who?.. Yep - BOSCH! We are located in the heart of the Surrey hills, making a weekend ride easily accessible. Farnham is centrally located in the UK with London & the major surrounding cities close by. Farnham train station is also on the mainline from Waterloo meaning you can easily reach us by train on the National Rail Network. For driving we are located just south of the M25 and minutes from junction 4 off the M3 with easy access from the A3 via the A31 as well. We have ample (free) parking on site for cars, motor homes & of course e-cyclists alike. Energy efficient electrical fittings through out We have created all of our spaces to be well insulated, reducing the energy needed to heat & cool them. Most of our electronic equipment is energy saving and timed to be only on when needed. Our packaging is recycled. The lighting throughout is LED or naturally lit where possible so it has minimal energy consumption. Electric bikes are a good step forward for both health and caring for the environment and we felt this should also be incorporated into our eBike store. Wide range of Trekking / Hybrid Haibike eBikes powered by Bosch & Panasonic E-bikeshop is set to be the UK's largest crank drive electric bike specialists. The new site offers a large showroom and all the facilities to accommodate both customer collections and home delivery via direct dispatch from our warehouse. We specialize in crank drive electric bikes from Europe and stock the whole range of Haibike, Moustache, Lapierre & Raleigh electric bikes. Full range of eMTB Haibike, Full Suspension & Hardtail eBikes Director Martin Brown says - βWe are very excited to have our new premises up and running after months and months of hard work. We have already been taking appointments and everyone who has visited us so far has been very impressed at the large showroom and good selection of parts and accessories available, in fact the main word we have been hearing down here is 'Wow!' Wide Range of Parts & Accessories, Components & Spares.. All here under one roof This expansion was essential to keep up with the demand of our ever widening customer base. We now sell all over the UK and also ship not just to mainland Europe, but the whole world. Our excellent customer service must be working and word has now quickly spread as we have more eBikes going out of the door than ever. Wide range of Trekking / Hybrid / Touring Raleigh, Moustache & Haibike eBikes The demand is definitely growing at a huge rate and our customer age range has now also widened to include people in their 20's with the main attraction for them being the new eMTB's. These eBikes have a spec that's second to none, often when we are at shows people have to take a second look at the bikes before they realize that they are actually electric bikes. The design and specification on these European models is tip top, using the latest in mountain bike components combined with the Bosch electric system. Range of Moustache Trekking / Touring eBIkes Made in France Our new site means that we can display a large selection of eBikes, from mountain, road, hybrid & trekking bikes. We have a fresh new range of parts and accessories to match, along with all the essential spares & components should they ever be required. We also have new workshop, dispatch & packing bays. New Picking & Packing Bays for Online eBike and Spares Sales This ensures we can get website orders out quickly, often arriving at the customerβs door fully set up ready to ride within 24 hours. With the extra space we can now hold more stock than ever with a good selection of European bikes ready to hand as the orders flow in - we found this an essential part of our service. Lots more space to hold European stock here in the UK in our new warehouse Our new workshop also allows us to quickly service and maintain our existing customersβ bikes and as a Bosch UK service centre we have all the Bosch diagnostics systems ready to hand. We can also make sure that all our eBikes have their suspension systems dialed in for optimal performance for you, the rider. Making sure every aspect of the eBike is set up to your specification is extremely important to how the bike handles over mixed terrain. We have all the facilities in place along with our ATG & Bosch trained technicians. New Workshop Bays Designed Specifically for Bosch eBikes Along with the new site we have tweaked our website to make it faster, easier to navigate and it now holds more content than ever. The same can be said for our information blog pages which have been optimized with a total overhaul of the front end in the last week, again the content should be easier to see & read and more interactive, with videos, pictures and articles. Brand New Head Offices Featuring the Latest Tech We are hosting a number of events throughout 2014. All these dates will go live on our blog pages as they become confirmed, so do keep checking back. Alongside this there's lots more going on, including action packed riding videos on our YouTube Channel. Also lots more tech articles, reviews, news & talk on our blog. New on the cards for this year, we will be hosting some organised 'e-bikeshop owners club rides'... So this season is a pretty manic time for us indeed! For news on all of this please make sure to like our new Facebook fan page. Sneak peak of the Haibike Promotional Video Coming Soon by e-bikeshop.co.uk The first event we can announce is our 2014 Haibike Demo Day on Saturday 10th May. If you are in the market to buy a new electric bike, but you would like to get a feel for the bike both on & off road across the Surrey hills, then please register now. Full details can be found here - 2014 Haibike Off Road Demo Day in Surrey. The day will consist of an introduction to electric bikes, a ride led by a qualified instructor, then a de brief & coffee on the return. This will get booked up fast with limited spaces available so please register your interest now β itβs set to be a great day!β Haibike Off Road Demo Day 2014 - Presented by e-bikeshop.co.uk We are now 99% there with our new site, we still have some areas to finish off, including the lobby & waiting area, as well as a new walk in shower room for staff & customers that take part in some of our events. But the main thing is that we are open for business. Oh and last but not least, the coffee machine has arrived! So we have a wide range of luxury coffees, teas and chocolate drinks available. Maybe even a biscuit or two (if the staff haven't got to them first). e-bikeshop now has the largest selection of Raleigh, Lapierre, Moustache & Haibike electric bikes in the UK. You can get in touch with e-bikeshop on our contact page here. Due to demand, viewing is by appointment only, all website orders will be dispatched next working day.
This is a first look and review after riding the new Yamaha eBike system on a 2015 Haibike sDURO HardNine prototype electric bike across off road terrain in Germany. What did we think at first look? Looking at the specs of the new Yamaha crank drive system we were very excited to ride it. It offers both more torque and assistance than any of its eBike drive competitors. On first look we loved the motor integration as it all seems to flow with the rest of the bike frame. Maybe thats just the angle it is mounted at, or the fact that the battery plugs straight in right above the motor. The bashplate was a really nice addition, it keeps it well protected and is in keeping with the overall look of the electric bike. One thing we did notice was that the bracket mount for the Yamaha LCD display did seem a little 'flimsy' and you could flex it pretty easily with your hands. We brought this up with the Haibike product manager and were ensured that this was a prototype bracket and that the final product will come with a more sturdy version from Yamaha (we have this pictured in our exclusive gallery on this blog post here). The battery capacity is on par with its competitors and offers enough range for serious riders. The Yamaha battery charger did seem a little on the large side. We did ask why and it was to do with keeping it cool and also more water resistant, maybe this is something that could be developed further? The LCD display is simple, clean and easy to navigate, it does the job and the settings are adjusted by holding a series of buttons in sequence. Now to the Riding! We had the chance to ride the new Yamaha eBike system across the fantastic singletrack in Schweinfurt. This course is also used as the testing ground by SRAM for their new components, so the terrain was brilliant! Line up of Haibike new xDURO Bosch & sDURO Yamaha Prototypes in Schweinfurt Immediately on setting off we felt the power delivery of the new Yamaha system to be smooth and literally applied the torque within the first crank rotation. This is due to the 'Zero Cadence' design from Yamaha. You didn't have to get a few pedals in before the bike assisted. It was there right from the off, the extra torque and assistance this system offers was immediately noticeable. Although we had reservations about the display bracket being a little 'flimsy', we rode this bike for around 3.5 hours and not once did we notice it wobbling about at all - maybe we were just having too much fun to notice! The bike rolled well with the power turned off, with no resistance felt through the drive, but we didn't turn it off much as this took the fun away from it all! About 20 mins into the ride, someone reminded us about the second ring at the front! Something we had completely forgot about due to not really using one on our 1 x 10 regular bikes or 1 x 11 Bosch eBike. Although we could have done the ride without it, once we remembered it was there, we did use it to make light work out of some of the climbs and it did come in handy. It's a nice addition from Yamaha and will certainly help if using the bike off power. Quick pit stop before back out again on the single track. To sum up the assistance modes - 'Eco' is good for conserving energy and the power delivery is enough for most to gently take the pressure off. The 'Standard' mode is easily enough for most, we feel this mode could be used for serious off roading and tough climbs. However the 'High' mode is just flat out fun! In fact on one very steep climb we came across; we stuck it in 'High' and blasted up just to see what the system was capable of. The bike went up with absolutely no problem, we were almost expecting it to give up, but it just carried on going to the point that we got to the top and looked back and thought, how did that just happen? During the ride of very mixed terrain the system did not skip a beat at all. We had plenty of descents and climbs. When we set out the capacity showed 52% on the head unit. After 3.5 hours of quite hilly terrain we arrived back with 21% still showing. So we only used about 20% of its usage. This was mainly in 'High' & 'Standard' assistance although we did try also try the 'Eco' setting too. To sum the new Yamaha eBike system up? Fantastic system and very pleased we were one of the first to test & review it! Really pleasurable to ride and although pushing the system hard it just kept performing. The reliability of the system will show in time, however we must remember that although new to us in Europe the system and Yamaha have been doing this a long time so any niggles should have already been refined out of it. One thing we did forget to test was the 'Walk Assist' function. We spent little time off the new prototype electric bikes so never had a chance to use it. We are sure it works just great as does the rest of the Yamaha system. Pros - Very powerful system, good battery range, gives support right from the off. Well know brand. Good integration from Haibike. Battery can be inserted from the side allowing better integration into smaller frames. In the event of a problem, no diagnostics tools are required. The LCD displays it all. The system comes in at a lower price than its competitors so will allow more affordable builds. Cons - The Yamaha head unit bracket could do with more support, although this was not a problem at all during our ride. Also we feel the charger could be a bit smaller, but other than that it's great. It's new to the UK market so will take time to evolve. One word to sum it up? - FUN FUN FUN!! Oops is that 3 words?.. You get the gist. Read the previous article here - First Look: Yamaha eBike System Overview 2015 Whats next? - Keep an eye out a video will be posted shortly, so watch this space! Β
Breaking News: We @e-bikshop visited Haibike in Schweinfurt to be one of the first to be introduced to and test the new Yamaha eBike system. This will be coming to the UK in the new 2015 sDURO electric bike line up. This new Yamaha system results from Haibike uniting with Yamaha to bring a whole new product range to the market. More can be read about this here - Haibike unite with Yamaha to bring new eBike system to European market. Scroll to the bottom of the page to view the exclusive prototype images e-bikeshop took whilst in Germany. Yamaha new to the Electric Bike scene? Yamaha have been in the eBike game for a long time, over 10 years in fact! They were one of the first manufacturers to introduce a crank drive electric bike system. But they never really left Japan. Yamaha actually has 53% of Japan's market share and had to date has produced over 2.7 million systems. So they really know what they are doing! Basically what we are getting at is although they seem fairly new to us, in Europe, they have been tried and tested and developed over many years to bring a whole new system to market. Yamaha eBike Series Overview Although already established in the market in Japan, the Yamaha eBike system has now united with the Winora Group (who own Haibike). Haibike have developed the new system alongside Yamaha to make several changes in terms of battery mounting and integration. Winora will also act as the service partners for Europe & will offer full service support, warranty and backup spares. The freshly developed system will be found in the new Haibike sDURO line up of eBikes for the 2015 season. Let's talk a little more in detail about the new Yamaha system and some of its features. We will break it down into the individual components. Yamaha Drive Unit The new Yamaha eBike motor is small and compact for a crank drive unit. It weighs in at just 3.5kg making it one of the lightest motors available on the market today. Yamaha have made the motor very unit slim and allowed the use of both single and double rings. This is handy for anyone looking for that extra gear on the climbs! The drive unit is a 250w motor, so it complies with European law. It offers support up to 25 km/h (15.5mph), obviously the rider can travel faster but with no further support from the motor beyond this speed. The new Yamaha drive unit offer an impressive 70Nm of torque which is claimed to actually peak at 80Nm! This is one of the most powerful units on the market and certainly packs a punch straight from the off. Also power is delivered in less stages than other systems to the crankshaft meaning there is no 'extra' gearing within the motor, so it can pull all this torque instantly. This also helps keep the actual overall size of the motor to a minimum. Yamaha market this as a '0 Cadence' system, meaning you do not have to get the motor up to speed with a few pedals, the power is there, instantly, every time. Yamaha Battery and Charger The charger is water resistant and operates at a frequency of 50/60Hz and allows an input voltage of 220-240v. It outputs at approximately 42 volts at a current of 3.6 amps. Although the prototype charger we handled had a European plug head, we are told by the product manager that by the time of release it will be available with a UK plug for the British market. The new Battery Pack from Yamaha has been totally redesigned. Haibike have been working with Yamaha for the past 2 years to develop the shape and integration of the battery. You can view how the battery is integrated in our exclusive gallery below. Interestingly Haibike have developed the Yamaha battery so that can be inserted from the side. This is a big improvement allowing the battery to be more integrated into smaller frames and does not have to allow a couple of inches of space above the battery to clip it in. The battery is available in one variant - 400Wh (11A). Interestingly when we probed the product manager about the true capacity of the battery pack, he said that most of the batteries were actually coming out at approx 420Wh, but they list them as 400Wh to be on the safe side! We learned that the battery had been tested for range on the 'Official Extra Energy Testing Route' in Germany. This route is made up of hills, mixed terrain and stopping and starting. The range figures are then published based on these findings, so they can be fairly accurate and not over exaggerated. So as you can see the estimated range is 130 Km (80 miles) in 'Eco', 85 Km (53 miles) in 'Standard' & 70 Km (44 miles) in 'High'. This range is really good and just shows how efficient the new system is. This Yamaha battery pack weighs in at just 2.9Kg, so like the motor it is one of the lightest units on the market. As expected the battery pack has 4 LEDs built into the pack to tell you the capacity. Another new feature of this battery is that it features a bump stop on the bottom mount, a small rubber suspension system that keeps the battery in place over even the roughest of terrain. The Yamaha battery carries a 2 year warranty and takes approx 3.5 hours to charge from flat. It can be charged both on and off the electric bike. Yamaha LCD Control Unit and Buttons Haibike have opted for the latest generation of the Yamaha head unit. It has a large removable LCD display screen that relates back all the necessary data & statistics. This new LCD display is backlit and ensures all the relevant data is relayed back to the rider in an easy to read and clear environment. It's very simple to use and the screen itself has no buttons on it at all. The rider controls this from the left hand control buttons. The buttons allow the assistance level to be selected with the up and down arrows. The assistance levels range from 'Off' (non assisted riding), 'Eco' (100% support), 'Standard' (190% support) & 'High' (280% support). The controls allow the use of a 'Walk Assist' mode, a power button to turn the system on and off, the 'S' button which scrolls through the LCD data & also a light activation button for trekking models equipped with lights. The Yamaha user displays the important data whilst out riding including - a power meter, range left, time, cadence, assistance mode, speed, temperature & battery capacity in a 10 scale bar and also percentage. In all the display is very easy to navigate and operate using the control buttons. It certainly makes things easier than taking your hands off the bars to navigate through the settings. The display mounts above the stem in the center of the cockpit so it is out the way of the rest of the controls and easy to see whilst riding. When removed from the bike it acts as a pocket watch. Exclusive Prototype Images We Took in Germany Check out the: First ride review on the Yamaha eBike system
E-bikeshop are very excited to announce the collaboration that will unite Haibike and Yamaha eBike systems. This was following our visit to Schweinfurt (Germany) this weekend that saw a brand new product range launched by Haibike - the sDURO. Haibike announces a brand new product range that will feature a newly developed Yamaha eBike system that will take the European market by storm. When, where, who? Haibike invited us over to take part in a fantastic weekend, with some big news expecting to be announced. We knew Haibike had a big secret that they were eager to tell us, so we joined them at the Mercure hotel in Schweinfurt on Saturday 19th July to see what all the fuss was about.With many new lines and features to talk about there was lots to take in and get excited about. Susanne Puello (Winora Group CEO) introduced us by telling the Haibike story from when it all began and where they are all now, Susanne went on to say - When we produced our first eMTB, all the other bicycle suppliers laughed at us and said that we were crazy! Now today all of these manufacturers are following in our foot steps trying to grab some of our market share. We will stay ahead of the game! But the main thing on the agenda was kept top secret right up until the point of being announced. Β Whats the big news? Felix Puello (Haibike Brand Manager) invited Minoru Morimoto (Yamaha's Executive Director) onto the stage to tell us about the new Yamaha electric bike system, Mr Morimoto went on to say - We are very proud to see our newly developed eBike system in Europe on Haibike sDuro's. We have actually already been developing Yamaha eBike systems since 1993. We were one of the first crank drive suppliers and own 53% of the market share in Japan. We produce over 300,000 eBike systems a year and to date have 2.7 million Yamaha electric bikes out on the road worldwide. Mr Morimoto even jokes when showing us the stats in comparison to other eBike system suppliers (Bosch), the Yamaha system is so advanced and ahead of our competitors, the system offers many benefits including 70Nm of torque which peaks at 80Nm, Mr Morimoto points at the board and says - 60Nm of torque, (smiles), who even is this other supplier? Mr Morimoto (Yamaha) at Haibike product launch 2015 This is followed by Felix Puello (Haibike Brand Manager) telling us how excited Haibike are to be working with Yamaha in this new venture into the sDURO line up, Mr Puello goes on to say - The sDURO is for the next 'eGeneration' of electric cyclists, it is aimed at the younger riders - the styling, price and function is all based around this. We are very excited to be presenting the new sDURO range which features the latest Yamaha eBIke technology. We have been working with Yamaha to develop this new system for the past 2 years & now it is finally here! Everything from motor integration to battery design has been re-developed between us and Yamaha to bring a whole new contender to the market. We will explain more about the new sDURO range in details in another article, expect to see this up shortly. We will also do a complete review and write up of the new Yamaha eBike system as we had the chance to ride one a prototype for approx 3.5hours through the local singletrack in Schweinfurt. Β What do we think? In all we think this is a bold move for Haibike, they are certainly dominating the market and with this new system on board the competition bar is set at a high level for other eBike system providers. We think that it will be healthy competition and should help progress the eBike market at an even faster rate. We will do a full write up on the comparison between Yamaha and Bosch to discuss, in detail, the pro's and con's of each system.Β Say hello to the next 'eGeneration'!Β Check out the: First ride review on the Yamaha eBike systemΒ Check out the: First Look: Yamaha eBike System Overview 2015
Thule Towball cycle racks explained: We get asked many questions about which Thule towball (tow bar) mounted car bike rack is best. We decided to do a brief review of the Thule range and explain what sets each car rack apart. Although this article is more focused on electric bikes it can be used to explain some of the key features of each Thule bike carrier. To set the record straight, who are Thule? Thule was founded in 1942 in Malmo, Sweden. It set out with a passion to 'make life easier' for outdoor enthusiasts to transport equipment in style, safely and easily. Thule don't just make bike racks, they actually produce for many different sports and applications, for skiers, fishermen, family luggage (roof boxes), surf boards and bikes alike. Plus much much more with an ever expanding product portfolio.Thule quickly established itself as the leading brand in the cycle industry for their car cycle transport options. They offer lots of applications from rear mounted racks to roof racks. Today we will be focussing on their range of tow bar (eBike) cycle carriers. Why choose a Thule eBike carrier? Thule are the market leaders in cycle transport, due to the 'ease ability' of their racks. They are well made, very well thought out & easy to use, with every aspect of the rack thoroughly thought out to make it a simple as possible. Often car racks have been fiddly to fit and can be a pain to use. This will only put you off using the rack and taking your eBikes further afield, so its worth spending a little on a decent rack you will actually not resent using. What's the difference between the racks? Thule offers 8 towbar mounted bike carriers in the range. We are going to focus on the top 4 latest racks, which also happen to be the best sellers. We will eliminate the Thule 'Hang On' & 'Xpress' as these look like traditional clip on racks that hang the bike from the frame (nothing for the wheels to rest on), but are towbar mounted to the car. We feel that if you have a towball fitted you might as well make use of a 'base rack' where the wheels are supported securely on a base and the weight is spread. This also means that minimal lifting is required as the bottom of the rack sits close to the ground so you don't have to lift eBikes (often heavier) too high off the ground. We will also eliminate the Thule 'RideOn' & EuroRide' as both these racks are very basic and have been improved on, although still available these racks have been developed and now have newer models taking their place. So that brings us down to the top 4 racks available today, the Thule 'EasyFold 931', the 'EuroClassic G6', the 'EuroWay G2' & last but not least the 'EuroPower 916'. What are the new features? All of the above racks have the latest features including new improved detachable frame grippers that offer limiter knobs so that not too much torque is applied when tightening to your precious new electric bike. These rack offers a large base so even slightly longer bikes wheels do not overhang the base too much. All of the featured racks also have a smart foot pedal release so that the rack can be tilted forward (with the bikes attached) for easy access to the boot, even with very wide doors the boot can be accessed without having to take the bikes and the rack off. The Thule car racks also feature a lockable tow bar mechanism so the rack itself requires a key to remove from the car and also the frame holders have a key lock for added security to the electric bikes themselves. All Thule racks come complete with easy click number plate mount, so you don't need to use tape or tap holes and screw the number plate on. They all feature built in lights with steady light, brake, reverse and fog light.Β Lets have a brief overview on each of these models.. Thule EasyFold 931 Towbar Rack This carrier is by far our most favourite rack of all. The Thule 'EasyFold' pretty much does what it says on the tin! Its unique design folds away easily to allow the rack to be transported with ease. In fact it fold so small that you can position it behind the drivers seat if the boot is full. We also offer a carry storage bag for this rack. Its the latest rack in the Thule range and set to be the most popular in the range due to its versatility. The 'EasyFold 931' weighs in at only 17.1 Kg's and is capable of carrying 60 Kg's. This means that it is perfect to carry 2 of our eBikes. The low weight of this rack coupled with small folded design means that it is easy to manoeuvre around gents and ladies alike. Here's a video of the EasyFold 931 rack in action to demonstrate its capabilities - The Thule EasyFold 931 is only available as a 2 bike rack. It offers a 13 pin power plug. It does not fit cars with spare tyres. You can view the full specification of this rack here - Thule EasyFold 931 Specification Thule EuroClassic G6 Towbar Rack The Thule EuroClassic G6 is the follow on from the G2 featured below. It has an improved sleeker design and ease of use and folds flat for easy storage. This rack is available in both 2 or 3 bike options as standard. We tend to stock it is the 2 bike version as the load capacity of this rack is 51 Kg's so will take two of our eBikes comfortably. This rack weighs in at 17 kg's. This rack is popular with both car and motor home users alike. It is the latest top of the range full size towball carrier rack on the market with great flexibility and loading capabilities. The Thule EuroClassic G6 is available as 2 or 3 bike options. Interestingly if you buy a 2 bike rack and wish to fit a 3rd at a later date, we can offer an extra bike adaptor that will fit. Here's a video of the EuroClassic G6 rack in action to demonstrate its capabilities - This rack features a 13 pin power plug and is compatible cars with a spare wheel with the purchase of a special adaptor. Thule EuroWay G2 Towbar Rack The Thule 'EuroWay G2' is the mid range towball bike carrier for everyday use. It is compact and lightweight. It folds flat for easy storage and is available in 2 or 3 bike options. It weights just 13.3 Kg's which makes it one of the lightest racks we offer. The G2 is the model beneath the G6, it is capable of holding 46 Kg's, so just about enough for 2 eBikes or 3 normal bikes. Unlike the G6, you can't add on another bike extender mount onto the 2 bike rack. So its best to weigh up how many cycles you may wish to transport ahead of buying one. We stock it as standard in the 3 bike version. But it is available to order in a 2 bike version as well. Here's a video of the EuroWay G2 rack in action to demonstrate its capabilities - This rack features a 7 pin power plug and canΒ fit ontoΒ cars with a spare wheel with the purchase of an adaptor. Thule EuroPower 916 Towbar Rack The 'EuroPower' Thule bike rack is designed specifically for eBikes or heavier bikes with a long wheel base. The rack features a sturdy profile to cater for the extra weight and has been extended width wise by 25cm catering for longer bikes. The EuroPower is only available as a 2 bike rack and cannot be extended at a later date. It has a load capacity of 30 Kg's per bike or obviously 60 Kg's overall. Surprisingly as an electric bike specialist, we don't actually stock this model. We can of course order it on a next day basis for you. Why you may ask?.. We feel that the newer racks already have a long enough base to accommodate longer eBikes, a lot of bikes nowadays are 29" wheels so the new Thule racks absorb this into their design anyway. Also this rack has the same load capacity as say the 'EasyFold' and its only 9 Kg's off the 'EuroWay G6' load capacity of 51 Kg's. Its ideal for some heavier eBikes on the market, but most of our (own) eBikes are around 22 Kg's so in fact most of the racks we offer are capable of carrying 2 with no problem. The overall weight of this heavy duty rack is almost 19 Kg's so it does come up a bit heavier than the other racks available. Here's a video of the EuroPower 916 rack in action to demonstrate its capabilities - This rack features a 7-pin plug and can operate on cars with a spare wheel with the purchase of a special adaptor. To sum up the range The 'EuroClassic G6' is one of our most popular racks due to its sleek design and the capability of adding a 3rd bike on at a later date. However those looking for the ultimate rack with good load capacity and handy fold down mechanism for storage should look no further than the 'EasyFold'. Weigh up if you want to carry 2 or 3 bikes. If its just 2 then any of the range will cater. If 3 bikes then the 'EasyFold' and 'EuroPower' are out of the question. Remember 'EuroClassic G6' can be purchased in 2 or 3 bike racks or be adopted at a later date with the use of the '3rd Bike Extender Mount'. If you have a particularly heavy eBike (more than say 25 Kg's) we would suggest that the 'EuroPower' is the one. It also works well for Impulse and Panasonic equipped eBikes that have the battery between the seat tube and frame, causing a slightly longer bike. Most Bosch powered eBikes do not need the extra length as they don't come up any longer than a regular bike. For those not worried about fold-ability and sleekness, but want an everyday sturdy rack available in 2 or 3 bike options then choose the 'EuroWay G2', Simple. What else do you need to know? After reading this article you should have a fairly good idea of which rack to choose. You can view the full range on our website, which most are in stock ready to go out the door. Remember Thule products come with a fantastic 5year warranty and are built to last. They are certainly our favourite car rack brand, that's why we sell them! As an official Thule stockist we will deal with any warranty query in store, making sure you have a trouble free car rack for all those purchased from us. We like Thule because they also offer a large range of accessories and fittings for their racks. Be it from wheel adaptors to load ramps, they have thought out every possibility to make sure you are covered for your needs. We try to hold as much stock as possible, however if there is something you cannot see on our website, then please get in touch as we can have it here ready very quickly. The same goes for any spares as Thule give us access to a wide range of spares from keys to clamps to ensure it lasts a lifetime. For any other queries please get in touch, we can offer advice on vehicle specific fitment. You can view our Thule products here - Official Thule Partner Stockist in Surrey UK Other Thule products include Thule 13-7 pin rear light harness adapter Thule 7 - 13 Pin Rear Light Harness Adapter Thule XXL Fatbike Wheel Straps Thule Pack'n Pedal Tour Pannier Rack Thule 9152 VeloCompact Tow Ball Carrier Loading Ramp Thule Velo Compact 924021 Towball Mount 2 Bike Rack Thule VeloSpace 938 Towball Mount 2 Bike Rack Thule 9172 VeloSpace Tow Ball Carrier Loading Ramp Β Β Β
E-bikeshop have been very excited to get our hands on the brand new Lapierre Overvolt 2014 electric bike! We had the first batch arrive yesterday and have been eager to get these eBikes built up for a closer review. So on first impression when un-packing the Lapierre Overvolt is you can tell Nico Voulliez has added his special touch to the eBikes. From the balanced geometry to the smooth cut lines, the hydro formed frame and the suspension pivots. The eBike immediately comes across as well built and is fitted with components that are competitive considering the sub Β£4k price point! Lapierre Overvolt 2014 Frame Design & Smooth Lines The Overvolt frame features a FSA Internal tapered headset for a super stiff and responsive front end. The alloy hydro formed frame is both light weight yet durable and the unique 'Gull' style rear swing arm has some great design features. It is shaped in a way that all energy pushed up through the back wheel can be sucked up perfectly by the rear shock. This swing arm design also means that their is no chance that the chain can hit the chain stay at all, no matter what gear you are in. The design eliminates chain suck / chain slap ensuring a smooth and quiet ride. Unique swing arm design & smooth lines The gearing on this model is provided by Shimanos 10 speed drive train, the 1 x 10 system ensure you have a wide range of gears available for both climbing and descents. Lapierre have opted for a Shimano XT shadow rear mech that also has the new built in clutch to ensure the chain is always under tension, it is quiet in operation and the gears are precise. These are controlled by the Shimano SLX rapid fire shifters so changing gear is a breeze on the Overvolt electric bike. To slow this incredible machine down are the Formula hydraulic disc brakes. Formula The One Brake Levers & Handlebar Controls Formula have been creating excellent stoppers for many years now and Lapierre has not held back on ensuring this eBike can come to a stop as fast as it accelerates! The Formula brakes are minimal fuss and highly rated across the MTB community. Lapierre has mounted these on larger rotors and routed all the cables internally within the frame to keep those super sleek looks and minimize the risk of any snags. The Overvolt fitted with Formula The One Brakes Lapierre have used the new Bosch Performance eBike drive system on the 2014 Overvolt. This system has been beautifully integrated into the frame on this eBike design. Its well protected and sits as snug as a feather in keeping with the look. You can read more in depth about the Bosch eBike Performance system on our other blog posts. Bosch eBike Motor mounted in the Overvolt The Overvolt uses the Bosch Intuvia display to show the rider, with ease, all those essential pieces of data. Acting not only as the eBike drive system controls but also as a cycle computer to measure all the important values, it includes trip time, average speed, trip distance, range, maximum speed etc. This is all integrated neatly on the handlebars to ensure a clean clutter free cockpit. It can also be controlled by the user buttons on the left so no need to remove your hand away from the brakes to scroll through the functions. Bosch Performance Intuvia Display Lapierre has finished the Overvolt with RockShox Revelation 140mm travel forks with air adjust-ability and lockout mechanism so no energy is lost during those climbs. The Overvolt Electric Bike is well kitted out with Easton stem and seat post. A Selle Italia MTB saddle and FUNN Riser Trail Bars. In fact there's little you would need to change.. Just get on and ride! The wheel set is built on through axles front and rear for super stiffness and reliability. The rims are Mavic 321 alloy double wall rims so you can be sure to put the wheels through their paces without them buckling at the first hurdle. The Overvolt utilizes the new 27.5" (650B) wheel set to optimize all the benefits of a 26" rims and a 29" rim to combine them together to make the true performing wheel size. Michelin 27.5" Wild Grip R Dual Compound Tyres To keep these wheels firmly planted to the ground, Lapierre have wrapped them in Michelins rubber in the form of the super grippy Wild Grip R's. These tyres are very good at handling even the stickiest of situations and seem to last ages due to their durable compound. Whats the Verdict? The Overvolt utilizes all the previous technology advanced by Lapierre in their normal bikes and combined this with the latest Bosch eBike Performance drive system. This in turn brings a whole new contender to the electric bike market. The Lapierre Overvolt is well specc'd for a sub Β£4K eBike and no expense has been spared in getting it right! This new generation of cycling could be the kick up the ar*e that the mountain bike world needs. The only draw back of this Bosch eBike is the 15mph speed cut off, but of course when its fitted with one of our exclusive speed tuning kits, this is overcome, totally unleashing the full potential in the bike. Now riders can ride longer, faster & harder across even the toughest of terrain / hills. Click here to view the full specification - Lapierre Overvolt 2014
So many people have been asking about the 2015 line up of Haibike electric bikes, so I have pride in giving you a glimmer of whats to come to the UK shores soon. Here are 4 of the new models set to arrive shortly.In the 2015 line up follows a brand new new full suspension Haibike Fullseven RC 27.5" eMTB, a Haibike Hardnine 29" wheel hardtail which is also offered in a (hardseven) 27.5" wheel version. We will also be offering the new Haibike Trekking RX 700c electric bike. A brief overview of the bikes are as follows - Haibike Hardseven RC 27.5" 2015 Brief Overview: The Haibike Hardseven RC 2015 eBike is a 100m travel XC hard tail electric mountain bike. It is offered with a RockShox XC32 fork, Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, Shimano 10 speed drive train and the latest Bosch Performance eBike motor. This is a 27.2" wheel for all round trail riding. Price: Β£2700Wheel Size: 27.5" (650B)Sizes: 40, 45, 50 & 55cm FramesΒ Haibike Hardseven RC 2015 Full Specification Haibike Hardnine RC 29" 2015 Brief Overview: The Haibike Hardnine RC 2015 model is built onto the same chassis / components as the Hardseven above. This model features a 29" wheel for faster rolling and easier ride on the road also. Again with the new Bosch Performance drive motor system. Price: Β£2700Wheel Size: 29" (29'er)Sizes: 40, 45, 50 & 55cm FramesΒ Haibike Hardnine RC 2015 Full Specification Haibike Fullseven RC 27.5" 2015 Brief Overview: The Haibike Fullseven 2015 electric bike is equipped with a 120mm travel RockShox Recon gold front fork coupled with a Fox CTD rear shock. Its built for the everyday trail rider with 10 Speed SLX gearing and Shimano brakes. This full suspension model features 650B wheel and the latest Bosch motor. This bike is available in 2 colour variants - Black/White/Cyan & Turquoise/Yellow/Black Price: Β£3400Wheel Size: 27.5" (650B)Sizes: 40, 45, 50 & 55cm FramesΒ Haibike Fullseven RC 2015 Full Specification Haibike Trekking RX 700c 2015 Brief Overview: The Haibike Trekking RX 2015 model is fully equipped for Road / Trekking / Hybrid styles of riding. It is fully equipped with all the essentials which come in handy. This model features the Sram Dual Drive for plenty of gearing, hydraulic Disc Brakes, super adjustable front forks and the latest Bosch Performance drive unit. This model is available in 2 variants - Gents and Ladies. Price: Β£2800Wheel Size: 700c (28")Sizes: 48, 52, 56cm (Gents) & 44, 48, 52cm (Ladies)Β Haibike Trekking RX 2015 Full Specification What we think?... Although all of the images above are artists impressions, they are super sleek looking with all new graphic designs. The geometry has been tweaked on each of the models for optimum riding and they now all feature the latest Bosch Performance system and the very latest up-to-date components.Β We have to say that we are very excited about the new models. They are very competitively priced and feature good quality components. All with that premium German build quality as expected!Β You can expect to see the full specification and features live on our website shortly. Along with reviews, guides and videos.Β These bikes will be available exclusively for pre order and we will be the first to receive these 2015 models into stock.Β All Haibike Electric Bikes can be viewed by clicking here.
We just received this review in from one of our eBike customers. This chap explains his journey into the electric bike world and how he concluded on the Moustache Samedi Gold Full Suspension Electric Bike. Full range of eMTB Moustache, Haibike & Lapierre eBikes It started, as these things so often do, without a plan. And that was my first mistake. If I had thought about it long enough I might not have been so eager to call in to see Martin at E-Bikeshop last Wednesday afternoon, or accept the offer of a coffee from his master mechanic, Jeremy. It was Jeremy who first suggested I take a close look at the new Moustache range. He proceeded with - Check out the Samedi 29/7, itβs the best-looking bike in the shop β but pictures donβt do it justice. Now, I do know my Haibikes from my Hai Karate but still, the Moustache range had passed me by up until this point. And if following the crowd is the way you roll too, they may not have pinged up on your radar either. I asked Martin why the biggest supplier of Haibikes in the UK had chosen to offer the Moustache range as an alternative. βThe Haibikes are well-engineered machines,β he offered, βbut cycling is not just about specs and dimensions and the Moustache bikes have a fascinating aesthetic which some people, me included, just βgetβ.β So, side-by-side, I pored over the Haibikes and the Moustache range and, to my surprise, the French brand looked fresher, cleaner, more cohesive, cooler. If youβre more MAC than PC, old Rolls than gold Rolls, or Jack Wills than Fat-Face you might feel the same. Although it is hard to explain why. What I can say is this: You have to see the bike in the flesh to appreciate it β even now when I look at pictures on the website they donβt appeal in the same way as some of the Haibikes. Moving on to the nitty-gritty, Martin asks questions. And more questions. He said - Itβs my job to make sure you get the right bike,β he explained, Iβll tell you what type of bike will suit you best β itβs then up to you to decide on what look you like the most. Iβve a feeling heβs done this a few times before. Anyway, it turned out a hard-tail Samedi 29/7 Silver would be just the ticket. Or a RC29 Haibike. Both, reassuringly, at the lower end of the price range. βYes, thatβs all I need, it would be mad to go to a full-suspension model, its capabilities would be far beyond mine,β I agreed. Oh how we laughed at the spec-bling fan-boys who over-spend on unnecessary kit, dazzled by the latest, fastest, lightest components. Which does make it rather difficult for me to explain how I ended up with the top-spec, full-bling, Samedi 29/7 Full-Suspension Gold. I blame Jeremy and that bloody coffee. Oh, and my lack of a plan. Now, if youβre buy-curious like me, then youβd do well to leave your wallet behind when you visit Martin β one quick demo ride and you may be punching your pin into the little machine he keeps right beside him on his desk. Just like I did. Doh! So, how to describe the sensation of riding an electrically-assisted cycle? Well, imagine you were driving a gingerbread train on biscuit wheels. Actually, thatβs not much help, is it? But in a way Iβm right. You see there is a definite feeling of euphoria as your forward motion exceeds your inputs β there is a visceral disconnect between what you do achieve and what you expect to achieve. This can be quite heady. Itβs a little addictive. And great fun. The Bosch power gives you four levels of assistance β with the top-rated βTurboβ delivering a 275% boost β almost enough to give you a Jeremy Clarkson face-wobble. I asked my wife what she thought as she powered by me up our drive. βA-maz-ing!β was all I heard, as I watched her head towards the gravel. βMight have been a good time to mention the hydraulic disc brakes,β mentions my son to me, eyebrows raised, arms spread wide, palms up. Nodding, I winced at the thought of his mum pulling on the front like an old block-and-cable. No drama though. All safe and sound. All under control. And she was riding a large frame bike, when sheβd be better suited to a small - That was one I dodged, then. Seriously though, I can see an unexpected benefit of these bikes is their ability to level-the-field in terms of enabling a group of disparate abilities (and fitness) to all have fun together. For us, thatβs a big deal because in the past mum has always been a bit of a laggard β not through lack of trying - and to now have our wheels turning closer together for more of the time adds chocolate sauce to the ice-cream experience. βKeeping up with you two is soo easy now,β she said while idly cycling past us up βtwo-topβ hill. While polishing her nails. (I made the βpolishing her nailsβ bit up, to be honest). You get the idea though. One last thing. You might be wondering how this high-spec full suspension mountain bike performs on gnarly trails, or technical descents - Who knows? Certainly not me. Iβve hardly had a turn riding it since I got it home β Iβll prise it from the fingers of the family soon though, and Iβll let you know. Thanks to David Jenkins for this letter. To view the full specification of the bike in review click here - Moustache Samedi Gold Full Suspension Electric Bike