For the very first time Lapierre Overvolt eBikes will be hitting the UK shores in an exclusive deal with e-bikeshop. Lapierre has been at the forefront of the cycling industry for some time now. They have been creating beautiful machines for over 60 years, succeeding in each genre of cycling. The French manufacturer prides itself in quality and design and the heart of their production is still where it all started â Dijon, France. The step into the eBike market was an obvious one for Lapierre who have always been known to be ahead of the game; they could use all their design and innovation skills already achieved in the biking world and add this to the latest technology from Bosch, this has to be a winner!After a considerable time in development the all new Lapierre Overvolt was born. With the design input from their very own Nico Vouilloz (10 times MTB world champion) the Overvolt is equipped with the latest MTB components. When you combine this with the new Bosch Performance crank drive motors a new breed of eMTBâs is here. Your everyday mountain biker can now rider harder, faster and for longer on this powered trail machine.e-bikeshop is the largest independent crank drive specialist in the UK. They specialise in Bosch powered eBikes in many variants of road, hybrid and trekking bikes & in particular the new eMTBâs. With the recent expansion into their new sales & distribution centre, e-bikeshop is now fully equipped with the space to offer a large selection of bikes and brand new specialist Bosch eBike workshop bays to ensure their electric bikes are supported for the long term, not just at the point of sale.Martin Brown, Director of e-bikeshop.co.uk said â âWe are very proud to announce that Lapierre eBikes will be coming to the UK for the very first time, this follows from an exclusive deal which has been months in the planning. We are already the largest dealer in the UK for the brands we stock so itâs nice to be able to add Lapierre to our ever expanding portfolio. I have actually been selling Lapierre non-electric bikes in my normal bike shops for years, so I really understand the brand and what it means. The quality is excellent and the design from Nico really shows when putting the bikes through their paces. I think the difference with Lapierre and Nico in particular is that he is an avid MTBâer and he actually âgetsâ the eBike craze. Rather than ignoring it he has embraced it and has set to work creating some outstanding new bikes. We only sell quality, European, crank drive eBikes. So the Lapierre Overvolt range really does tick all the boxes for us, these are very exciting times indeed.âThe new Overvolts are available to order from e-bikeshop.co.uk today, with the first models due to start landing in July.Expect to see updates, reviews, videos & more very shortly so watch this space.Lapierre Overvolt Full Specification & Pictures - Lapierre Overvolt 27.5 FS 2014
Part 1 of this story is here After the day of my Pilgrims Way trip, the next ride was The Ridgeway , across part of central England. The Ridgeway is an ancient road, the best know section of which starts at Overton Hill, in Wiltshire and ends at Streatley and Goring on the River Thames in Berkshire. This was to be a two day ride and I expected to cover about 90 miles in total. Catching the High Speed Train to London I cycled across London to Paddington Station, thinking how much nicer it would be riding along tractor ruts rather than trying to avoid cabbies and big red London buses attempting to squidge you into the kerb. The nice thing about the extra performance of the Haibike is that you can ride it a little like a motorcycle, well into the middle of the road with the traffic, until it speeds up to over 25 mph. Not that London traffic goes that fast for very long. The train to Pewsey took about an hour and a half and gave me a chance to top up the battery using one of the power sockets First Great Western now have next to some seats. The short ride up to the start of the Ridgeway was along a rutted bridleway which needed sport mode but the extra power of the motor took a lot of the pain out of a steep hill that would have otherwise had me pushing. I didn't need to be at the B&B until after 17:00 so I decided to ride along to Barbary Castle. Once on the Ridgeway the status is byway open to all traffic, whilst in Wiltshire. The going varies from a wide and heavily rutted and sometimes muddy surface to a semi made fine loosely packed stone surface. Up on the Ridgeway its easy to clip along at a good pace aided by the Haibikeâs Bosch motor. On the easy parts eco was sufficient but in more difficult going tour or occasionally sport were selected. On the worst parts I set the Rock Shock Revelation forks to the full 150 mm travel. This really helped and for the most part the bike handled everything the Ridgway threw at it. Having 300mm suspension travel on my Yamaha WR450, Iâm used to having a a bike with proper off road suspension. The Haibike didn't make me wish for my Yamahaâs greater travel and whilst I could still legally ride the WR on this part of the Ridgeway, that would change tomorrow.As I was riding at a goodly pace down a stony byway the rear end started to go wiggly. Curses! A puncture! Removing the rear wheel is as easy on the Haibike, with its crank motor, as it is with a conventional bike. On my previous electric hub bike, rear wheel removal is much more fiddly. The inner tube had been split by a small sharp flint pushing through the tyre. Bad luck, but then again I find MTB tyres too soft and I go for downhill tyres and heavy duty inner tubes full of that green âslimeâ puncture proof gunge. My WR has a mousse in the rear and similar things are available for bicycles. I do hate punctures.I rode up and through Barbury Castle thinking how the Saxons threw out the Romano British about 1500 years ago when this was an early fortress. I made a loop back the way I had come and rode through the ancient village of Avebury with its famous ring of standing stones. My B&B was in nearby Beckhampton. Iâd covered a little under 40 miles and had two battery blocks left. That went on charge and after a wash and change of clothes it was a across to the Wagon and Horses for dinner. When cycle touring its tricky carrying everything but using a combination of a rucksack and also a special triangular bag I use on another bike, I found I could adapt it to fit around the Haibikeâs frame and battery. That held the charger and part of the lock. With something as valuable as an electric bike you donât leave it unsecured.After a comfy night and an early breakfast, I made my way to Avebury and spent some time walking around the stone ring. These were once buried by the medieval Christians who feared the Pagan significance of the stones. They have since been put back upright in modern times by people sensible enough not to be subjected to superstition. I marvelled at the timelessness of this but was also conscious of my need to keep to my own schedule and a train later that afternoon.The Ridgeway was up another long byway Iâd whizzed down the previous day. Tour mode was enough except for a really steep part where I had to go to sport mode. As always the extra push was welcome. Unassisted pedalling is just so bad for morale. I met a group of motorcyclists from the Wiltshire group of my motorcycle club, the Trail Riders Fellowship. We exchanged pleasantries and chatted about the Haibike. Up to about 2004 it was possible to ride the whole of the Ridgway on a motorcycle. In fact there was a TV series called the Ridgeriders made from 1999 to 2001, presented by Nick Knowles, which followed down the Ridgeway some well know personalities like rock stars (Robert Plant) and actresses (Paula Hamilton) on vintage and classic motorcycles. It had a soundtrack and music by the Albion Band. The TRF were riding some of the other byways that criss cross the Ridgeway. Sadly for them (and my WR450) once you get to Oxfordshire, the Ridgway becomes (controversially) a Restricted Byway and is now closed to motor vehicles. The Ridgeriders are now history.But it was not closed to my Haibike and me!! Nevertheless, I think its important for all bike riders (motor/engined or not) to keep in mind the TRF Code of Conduct which in summary says, only ride where you are allowed, keep to below 25 mph, slow for walkers and if necessary stop for horses.I even had a clause added which says that we should âacknowledge other users with a wave or greetingâ. On a bike as stealthy as the Haibike a friendly âgood morning or âgood afternoonâ is all that is necessary. Even if some Ramblers blank you. I cracked on at a comfy pace of between 15 and 25 mph, but most importantly uphills could be maintained at nicely over 15 mph. The view was stunning and especially enjoyable from the saddle of a bike. Up on the Ridgeway you can see for miles about and there is a real sense of freedom. Riding down hill I was reassured by the powerful hold of the Magura MT2 brakes to keep progress in check.I stopped at Waylands Smithy for a banana and drink. This is an old burial mound and is one of the many locations on the Ridgeway that gives this ancient road a real feeling of timelessness.I occasionally came upon other cyclists. Again, no-one really noticed it was an electric bike. That was until you rode past them. There were one or two quickish riders, but I passed them (always saying âhiâ) with a short burst in turbo mode. It was only if I stopped that they caught up and rode past; generally ignoring you!The suspension and frame geometry seems to be spot on and Iâve not noticed any idiosyncrasies in that area. Nothing fell off (Iâd reengineered the broken pedelec sensor after my last ride) or broke and yet the terrain is quite demanding. The bike took it all in its stride.The mileage was now about 38 and I was down to the final battery block. Judicious use of eco and tour modes soon showed the computer telling me I had 2 miles of power left. Fortunately most of the ride off the Ridgeway to Streatley is downhill. I arrived in Streatley still with power available and pulled into a pub for a drink and sandwich. The total was 45 miles, mostly on unsurfaced green lanes. The bar staff let me charge the battery whilst I watched the River Thames flow past. After an hour the battery had three blocks which would get me to the station at Goring, across London and home. I arrived back home in Kent two hours later with well over 50 miles on the tripmeter. My legs ached but Iâd enjoyed this Ridgeway ride much more than the last time when I was on an unpowered bike. So where to next? Thanks to Steve Neville - From the e-bikeshop team for this update.(Powered off-road Two Wheeler enthusiast) on his Haibike FS AMT 26
I completed my first proper ride on my new Haibike xDuro AMT PRO on Sunday: possibly one of the best days of the year so far for weather and dry trails. As a regular cyclist of many years, I ride a 30m round trip most days to work, and MTB in the Surrey hills with a group of up to 25 local riders every Sunday morning; all year round. Occasionally we venture further afield to Swinley Forest, Afan, Coed Llandegla and Coed Y Brenin. Recently I have turned to e-bikes since discovering I am nearing kidney transplant, in order to make up for the deficit in energy levels I am experiencing as a result. Having been let down by another supplier, I spoke to e-bikeshop.co.uk whom Iâd been aware of and who had the added attraction of being local to me in their new custom built facility and showroom in Farnham. Check it out if you havenât already done so â itâs impressive. As luck would have it they had a demo-day cancellation and before I knew it, less than 3hrs later I was on a test ride in the Surrey hills with a selection bikes to try! Group photo after the ride @ e-bikeshop in May 2014 The knowledge of the products by the whole team at e-bikeshop.co.uk was second to none and by the end of the ride I knew an e-MTB was for me. It quickly became apparent that the Haibike xDuro was the right model for me as I use my MTBs quite aggressively and I needed something which could cope with the hits, under the âAll Mountainâ category. Itâs pure off-roader I was after, as I already have an e-hybrid which I use for daily road commuting. Given the increasingly national shortage of higher-end e-MTBs available, Martin at e-bikeshop.co.uk calmly helped me through the whole process smoothly and confidently and my customer experience was second to none. Even a minor initial technical glitch was resolved quickly and efficiently the same day. So back to the ride, I was justifiably nervous embarking on my first Sunday morning ride with e-power, would the bike be up to it? would I have enough battery power? how much respect would I lose with my ride-buddies, and the nagging feeling of âcheatingâ. Lovely shot taken along the way, Surrey Hills offers beautiful scenery! If you can keep your eyes of the eMTB! Despite the fact my fellow MTB-ers are of above average fitness levels, it quickly became clear that Eco setting was plenty to keep on the pace and near the front of the group. We covered the â3 peaksâ ride â one of my favourite in good conditions as the views are spectacular: along the canal to Guildford, up Pewley Downs, St Marthaâs and Newlands Corner on the North Downs. Across and down to Shere, back across Albury Heath, Blackheath and Chinthurst. On the climbs I used a touch of turbo to see how the bike climbed, and it was simply astonishing. My fellow riders were simply blown away â event the fittest of the group. I actually didnât need turbo, tour setting would have been plenty but of course I had to see what she could do, and what Strava would make of it all. One of my biggest fears was losing the fun factor of my previous ride, an Orange Gyro. Although a very different type of bike altogether, I was delighted to find it just as much fun in an alternative kind of way. The ride across the Surrey Hills on the Haibike FS AMT PRO mapped on Strava Coming down the back of St Marthaâs there are some wonderful pieces of single track with berms, jumps and drop-offs-a-plenty. With the additional weight and low centre of gravity, due to the crank drive motor and low mounted battery I found the Xduro to be incredibly well planted with the Schwalbe Hans Damf tyres providing seemingly endless grip - especially on the sidewalls. Although not as nimble as my previous bike, it was still more than possible to jump and get airborne and I found myself using most of the 150mm travel provided by the front and rear silky smooth Fox Kashima coated suspension. The Haibike Sprocket Equalizing System (SES) was perfectly balanced and provided increased confidence and predictability. The 27.5â wheels provide exactly the right balance of nimble turning but with the traction and bite of the bigger wheels. After 30 miles, 4 hours in the saddle, several sizeable climbs and a 10 minute âturboâ blast home after saying farewell to my ride buddies I was astonished to see I still had 2 bars of battery left! (Iâd unnecessarily taken my charger in my Camelbak with me on the ride as I was unsure what to expect..) As it turns out by the end of the ride my fellow MTB-ers had nothing but respect for my new Haibike, and to say it raised a lot of interest in the group would be an understatement. Itâs probably fair to say there will be a few more in the group as time progresses! My bike has been set up perfectly by the team at e-bikeshop.co.uk, with no adjustments required other than saddle position and height. After a good clean, polish and re-lube the Xduro was back to showroom condition once again and ready for action again. Next stop: a 5 day MTB adventure on the Isle of Man in June, and I canât wait! With thanks to Matt Dibb for this lovely write up - From the e-bikeshop team. Expect an update on Matt's trip to the Isle of Mann soon. To view the full specification of the model featured, please click here - Habike FS AMT PRO Electric Bike
I've always loved exploring green roads and trails on a bike since I was a young lad. Discovery of mopeds at 15 years old and motorcycles at 17 meant that push bikes were used much less. On an assortment of trail and enduro motorcycles I could cover a much larger number of lanes for less effort and it was much more fun as they had engines. I first purchased a mountain bike once they had front suspension developed in the mid 1980's. It was a way of checking out new routes in a stealthy manner. Access is restricted for motor vehicles and it has become more draconian within the last 15 years. Its always been a reason to keep cycling. Mud, hills and headwinds are a limiting factor for push bikes, so around 5 years ago I started looking at the electric hub motors and conversion kits. Until recently electric bikes were only designed for your grannie to go shopping and there were few e-mountain bikes of good quality. Mountain bikers are purists and seem to focus on human power and gravity. Electric assistance? Thats for the aforesaid grannies and the old and disabled. Pay more, pedal harder and reduce weight is their only vision. As a motorcyclist I think differently. POWER is what you need.I tried a Heinzmann kit bike which was ok, but not very torquey and the cost of a conversion kit was around ÂŁ1300. About 3 years ago I found a Bafang kit for ÂŁ700 which I fitted to a hard tail Claud Butler. This was followed up by a similar conversion in a TREK EX5 giving me full suspension, after a few engineering headaches. Great fun but range is under 15 miles for these hub motors in spite of claims of more. Something else was needed to go any good distance. Bigger batteries? Too much weight. Ok more efficiency? Crank motors seemed the way to go. However crank motors tend to dangle below the bottom bracket just waiting for a rock to smash it to bits. Then I saw the Haibike. The motor was rotated up inside the frame like a motorcycle. Also the various chassis alternatives looked like they were designed for serious off road use and not shopping. Some e-mountain bikes you see are really commuters with knobbly tyres. I tested out a Haibike in Bedgebury forest in Kent and was impressed. Good power even though rated at the European legal 250 watts. However the best overall package offering zero finance was from the e-Bike Shop aka Crank Cycles based in Farnham and Alton. Initially, I was looking at the Xduro FS SL 26". That model has the smaller 300 watt battery with a range of about 30 miles. Martin at the shop suggested I look at the next model up. This was the AMT 26" which offered a larger 400 watt battery capacity and improved suspension at each end, plus better cycle components all round. I must say I agonised about this. Three and a half grand is a lot of money for a bicycle. Then again a pedal only bike of that specification would have cost over ÂŁ2000. Add in a motor and battery; let's call it ÂŁ1500 and there you are. By the way the off road dongle is an expensive (ÂŁ150) but worthwhile option. I took it on holiday to the New Forest. That showed it to be a lot of fun and the performance and range was good. The first problem that arose was the front suspension lockout button kept jamming. To release it is a matter of tugging it; the warranty should sort that. Haibike FS AMT 26 On The Pilgrims Way The longer test was to ride the Pilgrims Way along the North Downs in Kent. The starting point was the car park at Wrotham and aim to finish at the Kent Gliding Club at Challock. This used to be entirely open to motorcycles but thanks to legislative duplicity and downright lies by anti vehicular groups parts of it are now closed being bridleway and restricted byway; but not to my Haibike Riding from Wrotham through Trottiscliffe to Halling is now possible. The Haibike rode even better than my electrified TREK EX5 through the ruts and bumps and I'd always been impressed with that and its overall motor performance. Problem two occurred as the system shut itself down reading 0 mph. A stone or stick had broken the pedelec sensor off its mounting. Investigation showed this to be of a really poor design made of thin flimsy plastic and not fit for purpose. Bosch really need to redesign this. Temporary repair with self amalgamating tape, but it's another warranty matter.The rest of the ride is a mixture of unclassified roads, over the River Medway and then over Bluebell Hill and along more byways to Detling. I overtook one guy on an unpowered MTB who was struggling up a hill and after a brief chat; as I accelerated away, I was not even sure he understood my comment that my MTB loves hills! A lot of cyclists don't realise what the Haibike is and a few that do, don't understand how good they are, or say it's cheating; most are in oblivious ignorance. All I know is I'm probably having more fun and enjoyment than they are on their unpowered bikes. After a recharge of the battery and coffee for myself watching the gliders, it was a ride down to Charing station and then the train back via Kemsing and the final western section of the Pilgrims Way, to the car. In summary, the Haibike AMT 26â works brilliantly. These are fully competent off road bicycles and are truly âall mountain terrainâ; not just cosmetic MTBs. The range with the bigger. 400 watt hour battery is over 40 miles. This was using mainly tour and sport modes, with the occasional burst to turbo. If you can afford another ÂŁ650 (ouch!) then carrying a spare battery ( 2.5 kg) would give a total of up to 100 miles of more gentle riding. So long distance touring is possible. If, assuming the glitches are sorted I'd recommend a Haibike for serious off road bikers who might just also be motorcyclists at heart; but you do need deep pockets.Now for the Ridgeway across Wiltshire and Oxfordshire. Thanks to our customer Steve Neville from Kent for this article.. (Ridgeway report to follow).To view this eBike please click here - Haibike FS AMT 26
ďťżThis is my first electric cycle, so this is more a review of electric cycling in general. The Moustache is every bit as good as the photographs on the e-bikeshop website and is an excellent bike in its own right. It has a lovely silver finish, elegant metal mudguards made by the company and quirky but stylish composite welded handle bars. The 9 gears work perfectly and provide all one needs for uphill (up to 1 in 8) and up to 30 mph downhill. The disc brakes were my first experience of this type of brakes. Having tried them I would never go back to rim brakes or hub drums again. The carrier is able to carry my three large camping panniers. The bike is still manageable with 30 Kg loaded in the bags but feels more like a small motor bike to walk with when fully loaded like this. Cycle makers put great store in getting the cycle weight down. In my case this seems a bit pointless after my 120 Kg of body and camping gear is added. Anyway, the empty Samedi is very light. Even with its large battery and motor, it is about the same weight as a Pashley. This bike has an old fashioned âsit up and begâ riding position. I was determined on a step through design, which this âopenâ model is. With my top bag extended upwards, it is impossible to dismount by swinging the leg over the saddle. I am 64, 'sit upright' and 'step through' is what I wanted. The Samedi Open is my perfect configuration. My mission is to tour the South Shropshire hills with camping gear. The Samedi would also make a great commuter cycle, but 'they' will not give me a job and I do not want one, so back to long distance touring we go. My Moustache is fitted with the new Bosch 400 Wh â 250 Watt electric pedal assist system. So technically this is a cycling review of that kit, it is not so much a review of the excellent Moustache bike itself. Having said that, Moustache has done a really neat job of designing the bike for the Bosch system. When I first moved to Church Stretton in the South Shropshire Hills, I gave my mid range 27 speed (hardly used) touring bike to my fourth son to use as a commuter. Even on the flat, my knees hurt too much after a 30 mile ride. I was 60 and decided that my cycling days were over. This area is lovely, but the roads that do not have 40 ton trucks passing through, are all straight up or straight down. Well straight in terms of gradient, in odd places the roads are straight themselves for up to 100 yards at a stretch. Every so often I missed cycling and wondered if an electric assist cycle might help to scratch the itch. The local bike shop offered a 230 Wh Raleigh. I did some sums and laughed. The scenic route to Shrewsbury and back is a 32 mile round trip with a 2800 foot total assent. That is typical; any lanes trip around here involves an average 90 foot of assent for each mile of route. The 230 Wh battery would hardly get me there, let alone back home. So when Bosch nearly doubled that to 400 Wh, I sat up and took note. Far from being a lot, 400 Wh sounded like it might be nearly enough. Completely forget the published range figures. Any over-weight and unfit twit like me can sit on a cycle while it rolls down hill and can probably manage a smooth level road in still air quite well too. The trouble is all about going up hill or into the wind. I only go out when winds are light, so in my case the trouble is about going up hills and nothing else. Now in the case of going up hill, one needs to think. Say a route presented 40 miles of great cycling except for a 2 mile 2000 foot climb. In that case the electric assist is going to make stuff all difference because one needs to walk up the short two mile one in five section anyway. However South Shropshire is not like that. That 90 foot average assent per mile that I mentioned all comes as a little bit here and a little bit there. To get any where round here one needs magic to get up all the little rises. Well either that or get fit, which I refuse to do on account of the old knees. I was a bit scarred of finding out that the electric bike was no good for me. I waited for very compelling weather to find out. Two days ago, in the afternoon sun I tried my Samedi downhill to Shrewsbury. The route is 16 miles and it took one hour (wow!!). There is a total assent on this 'downhill' route of 700 feet. I never had to get off once. At a pavement cafĂŠ in Butchers Row I had a glass of wine and sushi to celebrate and came home on the train. I had used only 30% of the capacity of the Bosch battery, I was not even tired. My knees did not even twinge. It all looked good to go. Some people just choose the right town, Shrewsbury. Martin Brown from e-bikeshop.co.uk had been very helpful and knowledgeable in guiding me to this choice. It was not an easy sell for him. He stuck the course and now I am a happy bunny. I was a bit uncertain about buying from a business the other side of the country. However had I gone nearer home I would have bought the wrong bike. This is because Martin knows so much about the subject and most other bike sellers know almost nothing and are busy selling the wrong thing (or the right thing by accident). This guy does not do random, he does not make mistakes. Every action has a purpose, a reason. Some people just choose the right e bike shop. Yesterday was also very calm and sunny. So I left off refitting the kitchen for a wet windy day another time and at 10 am I set off for Ludlow, 20 miles away. Now the route from Church Stretton to Ludlow via the A49 would be a good 16 mile route to test a new Ferrari on but would be hell on a cycle. I carefully picked a route on the lanes through the hills of Wenlock Edge. That way the route consists of 20 miles with a 1500 foot assent and a 2000 foot descent. You need Memory Map, then you can know what is coming your way. On a sunny day in mid May, this route is as close to paradise as this little iron ball is ever going to present. There is the smell of the flowers, the bird song and stunning views in every direction. There is time to chat up the pretty girl cutting her father's hedge. There is time to stop and talk to the horses. On foot this route would kill and be a foot throbbing pain in the backside. Driving an open car or motor cycle one would miss the smells, sounds and conversations. In a car one would also miss 90% of the views. The cycle is the only way for non horse riders to fully enjoy it. At 64 and very lacking in fitness, the electric assist cycle is the only way for me (as a non horse rider) to do it. I did it. It was deeply satisfying. I reached Ludlow with what I thought was 55% of battery remaining. I sat at another pavement cafe in the sun and treated myself to a three course lunch with wine and a huge carafe of Ludlow branch (water). I loaded the bike with 6 Kg of vegetables and second hand Lee Child books from the market and decided to try going back home on the bike. I tried the alternative route home. This goes over a forest track to the West of the A49. I reached Onibury in fine fettle at 26 miles out with what looked like 40% of battery remaining and 14 miles to go. Then using low gear and boost power I winched myself up the 500 foot straight back into the hills. Big mistake! As I reached the tops at 800 feet altitude, the Bosch system tritely informed me that I had 6 miles of battery left with 12 miles to go. The forest bridleway had recently been relayed with football sized rocks. I always wondered how to legally close a bridleway. Now I know. So I had to walk for two miles over these rocks and even that tested the Moustache to the limit. My water bottle bounced off and I had to walk back half a mile to recover it. The Onny Valley, how to avoid the A49. When I got back down to Craven Arms I still had 6 miles of battery left but 11 miles to go. I should have got the train home from Craven Arms. I decided to ride it, but walk the big hill up to Cwm Head at 900 feet. It worked, and perhaps the three mile walk up hill was good for my figure. So the range of the Bosch 400 Wh system is about 32 miles in typical South Shropshire hill country and no wind. I used the 'tour' 100% assist setting all the way except for long gradients above one in twelve. On these I used the 'hot pursuit' (turbo) 225% assist. I found an interesting undocumented feature. The Bosch system has a 'walk assist' mode. It pushes the cycle at about 3 mph when top gear is selected. When using walk assist I found that the gears change normally. So now if I am about to take off from the kerbside but top gear (too high) is selected, I can walk the gears into the correct setting using walk assist. Some people just choose the right county, Shropshire How could I have done better? Suppose one has used electric assist to reach a hill crest, the temptation is to use electric assist to accelerate down hill. This is pointless and wastes battery. If it is downhill, switch to zero assist and make the gradient do all the work, every little helps. I found it possible to winch myself up one in eight gradients at 5 mph, using lowest gear with 225% assist. This hardly saves any time compared to walking with 'walk assist' mode. Take for instance the rise out of Church Stretton up to Hazler Hill. This is 400 foot up in less than a mile. It takes 20 minutes and almost no battery walking and takes twelve minutes winching. So why use 15% of battery capacity to save eight minutes? Why spoil ones day out like that? Also if battery capacity is going to be a problem on a ride, get the obvious battery energy economies in early in the ride while one is still fresh. I could have charged the battery in Ludlow, but then I would have failed to fully challenge the Bosch hill country range limit. The range estimates that the Bosch system gives are hopelessly optimistic for the first 50% of battery capacity. I think that with careful use of 'walk assist' and the downhill economy measure mentioned, the range might extend to 40 miles of hill country in still air. Not bad! Plus there are cafĂŠs and pubs with a new technology called 13 amp sockets. So take the charger along. Plan two three hour riding sessions either side of a long leisurely lunch each day, and 75 miles between overnight camp sites is completely possible. The Cotswolds, here I come! With thanks to our customer Benedict Campbell for this fantastic write up - from the e-bikeshop team! To view the bike Benedict loves click here - Moustache Samedi Open Silver eBike Part 2 of this story is here
Customer Review: Whilst waiting for my AMT Pro 27.5 to come in I have been riding my wifeâs new xDuro RC 29 and thoroughly loving it. Mind you, I was always careful when returning with every square centimeter of blue paint covered in mud and clay to thoroughly Rhino Goo and hose down the bike before it was seen. Whilst waiting for my AMT Pro to come in I have been riding my wifeâs new xDuro RC 29 and thoroughly loving it. Mind you, I was always careful when returning with every square centimetre of blue paint covered in mud and clay to thoroughly Rhino Goo and hose down the bike before it was seen.The AMT Pro is a thing of beauty, not just in terms of pure aesthetics, but in the way its components have been chosen and the care of putting it together. I am sure that Martinâs careful eye when setting the bike up would catch anything not quite right. One of the key advantages to me though was the Sram XX1 with its 11 speed cassette. More specifically I wanted one tooth less on the smallest cog (10 instead of the hard tail's 11) and the 42 tooth biggest gear as opposed to the 36. This translates to about 2.5 mph more top speed on the flat and some extra torque for the extreme uphills in the mud. Donât get me wrong, the RC 29 was stopped by nothing but when you need to conserve energy being in the lowest cog up steep hills reduces the demands on the battery. The AMT Pro is the easiest bike to live with, even for someone of my modest MTB experience. This does not ride like a highly strung race horse or a temperamental Ferrari; this is docile, forgiving and very comfortable. The suspension soaks up all the big rocks, holes and roots. The only surface that is jarring is on protruding stones jutting out of the dried mud; this combination threatens to remove the fillings from my teeth. If I rode on that all day I would experiment with taking 5 or 10psi out of the tyres. The wonderful Crank Brothers rims donât just look great, by placing the spoke mount points on the outside of the rim rather than drilled through the rim means it is really easy to go tubeless. Haibike knows this and thus chose the non-porous version of the Hans Dampf tyres. Going tubeless is a great idea as it allows you to run at lower pressures (no pinch punctures) but also way fewer punctures. The Hans Dampf tyres have an aggressive tread pattern with widely spaced central blocking threatening lots of resistance on tarmac. Actually they roll just as well as the RC 29, but Martin delivered them pumped up rock hard. I really appreciate the rounded section of the tyres giving a seamless transition as one leans into the corners. The downside is that in some muddy conditions you will sink in more than with a more shouldered profile. Then again, with the mud in Buckinghamshire this is giving me a greater chance of hitting something hard under the mud so on balance a good choice. Riding to maximise range is much less of a compromise than one might imagine. The display shows the amount of assistance being provided by the motor. If you get to your cruising speed and shift up to 11th but keep good pressure on the pedals you will see that you are being given maximum assistance but with that gearing you will not be accelerating. You will just be converting your precious watt hours into heat. Changing down from Sport or Turbo into Tour or even Eco will cut the assistance way down and your speed will not really be changed. I went out 13 miles this morning in Sport mode (second only to Turbo) and came home in Eco. My split times were almost identical and the power usage was 70% lower. You can go a long way between charges if you keep an eye on your usage. 40 miles at high speed is easily possible and this represents about half the accepted standard consumption of 20 watt hours per mile. You can get 40 miles whilst other bikes with the same battery would get 20. In the US the power limits are 750W for e-bikes and I have a 750W mid-drive fat bike (Lectric Cycles) with no suspension but 4â tyres inflated to 5psi over the rough stuff. Firstly the torque sensing of the Bosch system is vastly superior to anything available in North America. The sense that your legs have been replaced with Lance Armstrongâs is so palpable, the smoothness of the feeding in of the power as your input increases. The rest of the world is using cadence detection that waits for you to move the pedals then it just throws all its torque at you. No subtlety, just a bunch of torque being sent down the chain. There is no doubt the AMT Pro is a vastly superior machine, and also more capable. With 42 teeth on the lowest gear, set power to turbo and start peddling your only thought will be how to keep enough weight on the front wheel as you climb to stop it going over the top. On the way down the dropper seat is such a revelation. This is not about fine tuning the seat height as you ride, it is about lowering it so that you can keep your weight on the back wheel on steep descents and not feel that you are about to face plant over the bars. With the feet on the pedals you can move right back over the rear wheel on the steepest off-road sections. The brakes are the wonderful Avid X0 Trails. This has four pistons on each calliper allowing just an index finger to provide all the stopping force that you could ever need. Moreover, it has the most extraordinary sensitivity or modulation. I have never had a wheel lock up on me due to the ability to control so precisely the clamping pressure. Mind you, I have clocked up just over 300 miles in two and a half weeks and I noticed today that all the brake pads need replacing. One of the biggest surprises that I have found is that after say 15 miles of thick rocky clay single track every part of the gears and brakes are crammed, literally crammed, with mud. The gears and changers are packed with slimy heavy gunk yet the bike changes up and down instantly and without skipping a gear. I have not had a chain drop and nothing changes the feel or performance of the brakes. Going through the woods I use OS Mapfinder on my iPhone 5 mounted on the handlebars. Like most mapping apps it sucks up the power but I power the phone from the USB output from the Bosch Intuvia display. Having the highest resolution 1:25000 OS maps in full brightness really adds to the joy of riding this fine machine. I do feel that Haibike need to sort out the bike manuals. They seem to have one manual for all the e and non-e bikes. They do not provide you with the service manual for the Avid brakes for example.I do not know if I am the target demographic for this bike but I do know that I have had more fun in the last three weeks on Haibikes than I have ever done cycling. People get on this bike for the first time and I can hear them still laughing uncontrollably a block away. Its just that kind of a bike.
A new electric bike review just in from one of our long term customers who purchased a Haibike xDuro RC29 2014 model a few months ago. Ian really puts his RC29 Haibike eBike through its paces so it was good to get some feedback from him as to how his new Bosch powered Haibike Electric Bike performs. We broke this down into a few simple questions.. Who am I? 50 year old male with a dodgy left foot. 6'4" 14 Stone. Bike in question? Haibike RC29 from Martin mid January 2014. Why I chose this model? The bike being a replacement for my stolen KTM. The RC being chosen because of the inverted motor coupled with a half decent specification. How long have I been using this eBike? The bike has covered 1800 miles in 10 weeks or so. What do I use the bike for? 5 day a week round trip commute of 25 mile, in all weathers. Have you made any tweaks to the Haibike RC29? Weekend usage, off road pulling my daughter along on her Tout Terrain Streamliner (similar but better than the usual tagalong). The only modification has been to change the saddle and swap the tyres from the supplied all-rounder to Bontrager XR Muds. What do you like about the Haibike RC29 in particular? The bike performs extremely well both on and off the road. Pulling my daughter is a doddle even on the steepest hills. I do enjoy a fair bit of non electric mountain biking but this RC adds another dimension, I certainly would not entertain a 20-30 mile off road trip with my daughter on a regular bike but its a pleasure on the Haibike. One word to sum it all up? Hard to explain how good this bike is, but I would say Brilliant! To view more reviews on the Haibike RC29 or for the full specification please click here.
Bosch announces their new Nyon eBike controller for 2015 / 2016. The new Head Unit will run on the current Performance eBike motor system but will be built with a larger screen and some all new features! Here we give you a brief overview of the new features and benefits in this latest eBike tech...The new Nyon system is the latest advancement the German manufacturers Bosch have been working hard on, it was announced at Eurobike last year to gauge interest from both suppliers and end users alike. The system went down well as the first all in one eBike computer that can perform navigation, fitness training/mapping & smartphone integration.The new head unit is to work on the Bosch Performance system, it mounts in a similar way to the current Intuvia display although this one features a much larger 4.3-inch colour screen and hosts a few new buttons; both on the display and the separate handlebar control unit to make operating the new features easy. Let's break down some of the new functions featured on the Bosch Nyon system... Bosch eBike Navigation - Nyon has a new built-in navigation system designed specifically for cyclists in mind. The maps are based on the Wiki Open Street Map platform. This is integrated into the new Bosch unit with GPS so it can perform live maps in both 2D & 3D styles creating a full user-friendly navigation device directly on your eBike powered from the Bosch battery.Interestingly the mapping doesn't just show directions but calculates the best route possible by eBike. This means that you can take more direct routes that might not be possible by car. Another adoption is the range indicator. This calculates not just range left but also factors in your route, topography & your personal riding style to indicate clearly indicate on the map how many miles you have left in the battery. Neat huh?Quick demo of the unit in action here - Smartphone Integration - The new Bosch Nyon system is designed with the latest integration for smartphone users. The idea is that you can leave your phone in your pocket and the Bosch system will connect to your smartphone via Bluetooth. This brings with it lots of new neat features that allow your phone to connect with your Bosch eBike. For example, you can control what music is being played on your phone directly from the Bosch Nyon head unit itself.If you are riding and get an incoming call, the Bosch system will present this to you on Nyons new super slick screen. It will show you who is calling so you can be in full control. If you get a text message it will even pop the message onto the large screen to say who has texted and the message itself. This means there are no excuses for not seeing that all important message!While we are talking smartphones, Bosch tells us that they are going to release a new mobile app so you can perform multiple tasks on your phone that affect Nyons user interface. For example, you can set up things like a 'Favourite Screen'. eBike Fitness Training - Alongside the new Bosch Nyon eBike system, Bosch will release their 'Online Portal'. This means users can pull up all their latest eBike data up on their home computer. This is a really neat feature, it will allow you to track the progress of your recent routes and share them with others online. By connecting a heart rate chest strap via Bluetooth to Nyon you can use the system as a fitness training tool. This will not only track your ride but combine them with signals such as your heart rate so you can progress with your fitness training all in one place.By combining data such as your heart rate & cadence the system can measure your eBiking performance and calculate your progress in the form of calorie consumption and training efficiency. The Bosch Online Portal will present all of this data to you in the form of nice graphics charts and maps of your ride.Check out this video for a short demo - User Interface Customisation - Above we have mentioned lots of new neat features of the Bosch Nyon system. There have also been certain advancements in the user interface with regards to user customisation.With each screen, you, the user, can customise the layout to your preference. This is really good as it means you can get all the data available in the format you prefer to see and read. We mentioned the mobile app above & this will allow you to alter things like a favourite screen, this is really important so you're not just stuck with one layout.On this new Bosch eBike system, for the first time, the motor assistance can be adjusted by the end user. This means you can add up to 5 riding modes which can each be set individually. So you can actually fine tune the motor assistance levels that support your riding, this has never been possible before. Conclusion - We @ e-bikeshop are very excited for the release of the Bosch Nyon system. Some of the features detailed above are a vast step forward in the eBiking world. This is the first system to integrate all of the features through an 'all in one' system.No longer do you have to run mapping and fitness apps on the side, everything can be operated in one place. To top it all off all of the functions can be operated on the 4.3 inch backlit display which is easy to read in all light conditions. We expect these features to be very useful on a eBike and we are sure that Bosch will make a tremendous job of making it all function well as is already proved on their current eBike system lines.We will be visiting Bosch later on in the year to test the new Nyon device and we will have some more feedback to report back once we have done this. When can we expect to see this tech on new eBikes?.. At current, there are only one of these systems in the world, built as a prototype to demonstrate the new functions. We expect it will be a while before Bosch produces this on a mainstream level and then filter down the chain to the eBikes on our shelves.The system may feature on some 2015 model year eBikes but more likely it will be the 2016 model year lines that take it on fully. Bosch tends to test their products extensively before taking them to market. Whereas some manufacturers bring out a product to test and refine on the market by the end user. The German manufacturer Bosch always make sure their products are 100% before the end user gets their hands on them.Please note: this new Nyon system is just a head unit change. It operates using the current Performance motor and Battery Pack. We can't be sure yet if it can be retrofitted. But the current Bosch Performance line Motor and battery will be powering this display.Expect a full review on here, so watch this space.To view all our latest Bosch powered eBikes please click here
Just a note to say how delighted I am with the bike, I have been out this morning on a glorious day covering 35 miles up hill and down dale. Everything has exceeded my expectations and the machine is a delight to ride both under power and with power off. Yesterday I travelled from my home near Rugby to meet up with Martin at Crank Cycles (e-bikeshop.co.uk) at Alton in Hampshire to see the 2014 Haibike xDuro Trekking SL. I have been dithering and delaying the purchase of a pedelec for some time so finding things a little tiring on my legs on my Longstaff road bike I decided to take the plunge.On arrival Martin described the whole machine demonstrating all the features and equipment and answering my many questions patiently and fully. Despite it being Saturday and the shop being busy I was not rushed and a few hours later my new e-bike was in the car heading back to the Midlands.Naturally I was keen to give my Haibike an outing as soon as possible so a round trip of 35 miles (all done with a huge smile on my face) was easily accomplished. So how was it on the road ?With the power off the bike rides beautifully and feels stable and sure in head and cross winds just like a normal machine. Under power the Bosch motor hums reassuringly whisking you up previously difficult climbs.The ease of riding without power means the range is extended to around 80/100 miles using a combination of power settings.Am I pleased and impressed with this machine ? Absolutely I am, from itâs unique 27 gear range, itâs iPhone output on the control panel, itâs hub dynamo: everything about this bike oozes quality so if you are dithering and delaying as I was stop now. Itâs the future. Many thanks to our customer for their review. Click here to view the full specification of the new 2015 model - Haibike xDuro Trekking RX 2015 Electric Bike
E-bikeshop are very excited to announce their expansion into a new electric bike sales & distribution center set to open in Farnham on the Hampshire / Surrey border in the summer of 2014. They have expanded at a huge rate over the past few years, E-bikeshop started and still are, operating as a normal cycle shop in Petersfield, Hampshire. They expanded to a second site in Alton, Hampshire which is double the size of their original one. Still operating out of 2 stores they have now outgrown both with their eBikes, they will be moving all of their electric bike sale and support to a new site set to open shortly in Farnham, Surrey. The new sales & distribution center will be just focussing on electric bikes. E-bikeshop have expanded its range to suit this and will be offering a good selection of Bosch & Panasonic crank driven eBikes from popular European suppliers such as Raleigh, Moustache & Haibike. Managing Director, Martin Brown said -"We are now opening up on a new site that allows us to be a central hub that can serve not just locals but the whole UK market. Customers are welcome to book an appointment to talk through the various models on offer (along with a coffee), they can then take it away after talking through every aspect of the eBike to make sure they are happy from our showroom. But we can also talk customers through on the phone and get electric bikes to customers anywhere in the UK on a next day basis - providing phone support to those further afield to ensure a good long term relationship. We are now the largest dealer in the UK for the brands that we stock and are continuing to grow at a rapid pace. The key for us is to keep our customers happy, both at point of purchase and in the long term. In fact a major of our sales is from previous customers coming back to buy a new model, or to bring their friends who have recommended to pay us a visit. A happy customer is the best form of advertising possible and with that we don't have to advertise so much and can focus more of our time onto our customers. Our customer testimonials speak for themselves, with back-up and support being the key. Our roots are also in a proper shop, not a warehouse. This is important - all our eBikes are properly built in our workshops to the highest standards by our professional technicians. A properly set-up eBike is an important part of making sure it remains a reliable long term machine and we can ensure this with our passionate Bosch & ATG trained technicians. The new site will allow us to show off a larger selection in a bigger showroom, it also allows us to hold more stock so that when that decision is made, the eBike is available to hand ready to go. Alongside the big move we have launched our new website, facebook pages, youtube channels and of course our popular blog information pages. We have demo days and lots of events planned for 2014 so keep an eye on the new events section of our blog which is set to go live shortly. On top of all of that we have been a official UK Bosch service center and parts supplier for many years and we have recently expanded our website to show all Bosch and Panasonic spares available and are holding good stock of these spare parts should they be required."  Alongside the new latest selection of 2014 electric bikes, e-bikeshop have a large range of parts and accessories available. The idea is to have it all under one roof so that customers can get everything sorted in one big destination store. 2014 is set to be another big year for e-bikeshop, we will update with another article soon once they are up and running at the new site to get a further insight into what they will be offering, along with some nice pictures. In the meantime should you wish to contact Martin or the team all of the details are available on their website - www.e-bikeshop.co.uk
A lot of people ask me - What exactly is the difference between the Bosch eBike 250w motor and the Bosch S 350w motor? So I have decided to make a little write up to provide more details and have all the differences explained, it should also save me a fair amount of time on the phone each day too! So to start off the Bosch 350w S motor on paper is more than the 250w.. Right?.. Yes. However, don't look at this as top trump cards and decide you need a 350w Bosch motor otherwise you won't be able to get up that huge hill you live on top of. Did you know that both the 250w and the 350w Bosch motor are exactly the same? They both share the same internals, they both use the same battery & head unit etc. Some rumours have spread that the 350w has 'metal internal gearing' and the 250w motors do not, again this is not true, both motors are produced using the same components. So exactly what is the difference you may ask? Well, they are programmed slightly different. The 350w speed pedelec has an assisted speed to 45 km/h and the 250w motor is assisted to 25 km/h. Everything else is exactly the same. The maximum and minimum assistance levels, the maximum torque & the motor RPM all stay the same between both types. Oh and the 350w motor has a Red Bosch logo on the side whereas the 250w has a grey logo, so they are easily distinguished.Also, it's worth noting the new CX line developed with more torque and assistance (not available in the 350w version. See the table below for factual differences:-  Bosch Performance 350w Bosch Performance CX 250w Assistance 275% 300% Torque 60Nm 75Nm Assisted Speed 45 km/h 25 km/h (50 km/h Tuned) So whats the point in 2 drive types? Its simple.. One can reach higher assisted speeds than the other. Who uses Speed pedelecs? Some European countries have guidelines and procedures in place for Speed Pedelecs (eBikes over 250w & 25 km/h). For example in Germany certain laws allow you to register your 350w eBike and pay a yearly rate to ride a Speed Pedelec on the road. There are certain rules that stipulate a cycle helmet must be worn, the eBike must have a side stand, lights and a licence plate holder. Over here it is classed as a motor vehicle so you would have to be licensed and hold appropriate insurance. There is currently no regulations in place to license a Speed pedelec.It's worth noting at this point that the German market is way ahead of us here in the UK. So if their market is so advanced and they have regulations in place is everyone on an 'S' pedelec? You would think so, however, you'll be surprised to hear that out of the 400,000 electric bikes sold annually in Germany, only around 5,000 of these are Speed pedelecs. Only a tiny percentage ey? Is it illegal to use a 350w Bosch motor here in the UK? On the road... Yes (Unless you take the appropriate actions to license the eBike). You may wish to use the eBike on private land with the permission of the land owner. If you do use a 350w motor here on the road, you are riding your eBike illegally. You do run the risk of having your eBike taken by the authorities. If you are involved in an accident, you are responsible for the damages/injury involved for both yourself and the 3rd party. So I want a 250w Motor but how can I go faster? We do provide a Bosch speed tuning dongle for all of our Bosch powered eBikes. This is a device that is 'plumbed' into the motor that can alter the speed cut off of the eBike. It allows you to travel as fast as you want to be assisted by the motor off road (private land) of course. This can easily be unplugged when you are on the road, then easily plugged back into derestrict as required. By using a 250w motor it means that you have a legal bike that can be easily derestricted when needed. Remember the 250w Bosch motors give exactly the same assistance and torque levels as the 350w motors. In fact, a 250w motor with a dongle installed will travel at faster-assisted speeds than a 350w motor on its own. Crazy huh!?A little more can be read about the speed tuning dongles here - How to derestrict a Bosch Electric Bike. Also, it's worth noting that we are only supplying dongles for our own eBikes with the latest Bosch eBike motor.
We have been working alongside the Raleigh eBike range for some years now and as one of the UK's premier Raleigh electric bike dealers we are very proud to release details of the new Raleigh Motus Low Step & Cross Bar electric bikes that will be landing on our shop floor in June 2014. Raleigh has teamed up with the latest Bosch eBike system to bring a new electric bike that will set a storm brewing in the UK for 2014. The new eBike features good quality, well thought out components and comes with the latest Bosch Active Line crank drive motor all for under ÂŁ2K! More about the latest generation of Bosch eBike motors can be read on my other blog posts.Back to the Raleigh Motus.. It has been a long time in the making, we first found out about this model over a year ago; however Raleigh did not want to rush the design process. They have waited until every aspect of this new eBike model has been thoroughly thought out before announcing it for sale. What a fantastic job they have done.. It was well worth the wait! Who is this new Raleigh eBike for? This new model is aimed at the largest sector of the UK electric bike market, created for those looking for an everyday commuting / trekking / touring / hybrid bike built for comfort and long distances in the saddle.It is designed as an all-round bike which means itâs great for use on the road / country lanes. You can also take this electric bike across light off road, made up bridleways and cycle paths etc. First Impressions.. The first prototype entered our workshop last week for us to review. On first impressions the finish is very, very nice. The pictures really don't do it justice. This sleek, elegant electric bike is matte black, all of the components match in together to really show off the overall quality of this eBike.The Raleigh Motus will be available in 2 options; both low step and cross bar. Both are sold as unisex bikes, the low step model is sure to be popular for easy positioning and getting on/off the eBike. Whilst the cross bar model is your typical geometry diamond frame shape and built slightly larger for taller riders. The welding is nice; the components fit well to create a solid bike for extended use. All of the cables are internally routed to prevent corrosion and snags; but most importantly really clean up the overall look of the bike. The decals on the eBike are subtle and fit the bike well from frame, forks to battery. Of course the traditional Raleigh heron is found up the front of the eBike and takes pride of place on the head tube. So what do you get?.. The eBikes components are well thought out for the everyday rider and I'm pretty surprised Raleigh have managed to pack it all in on a sub ÂŁ2K Bosch powered electric bike. As standard you get full length mudguards, a decent side stand, sturdy pannier rack, rear wheel security lock (with keys that match the Bosch battery), comfy gel saddle, adjustable stem, comfort grips, suspension seatpost, chain guard & even front and rear dynamo lights that are self-powered from the front Shimano hub and stay on for a few minutes when you stop at traffic lights etc. The specification features a Suntour suspension fork up front to keep things smooth with lock-out for when you are climbing or wanting to ride with minimal energy loss. The brakes are from German manufacturers Magura, these HS11's are hydraulic rim brakes which not only save weight, but also have a much greater stopping power than cable rim brakes. They are minimal fuss / maintenance and perform well in any condition.The gearing is provided by Sram with a 10 speed drivetrain giving you plenty of smooth reliable gear ratios to ride downhill as well as get back up the other side. The wheels are made up of Shimano hubs and alloy double wall rims, these save weight, will not rust but also give superior strength. Importantly Raleigh has opted to build these wheels onto Shimano hubs using 36 stainless steel spokes. This allows more strength for heavier riders and also can take the extra grunt of riding a modern electric bike in every day use. Gripping these wheels to the road; Raleigh has used Schwalbe Energizer Life tyres. These new German tyres have been specifically manufactured and tested for electric bike use, they offer a sturdier sidewall, and a smart puncture resistant guard is also placed in the lining of the tyre to prevent those annoying nastyâs from getting in. The tyres are also very fast rolling, so you can keep up a good pace without gaining any drag from the road surface. What's the verdict?.. All in all this is a very nice looking, but well performing eBike. The whole bike is responsive but smooth & the new Bosch Electric Bike System & bigger 400Wh power pack works well. You should see a good range from the new 400Wh Bosch battery and the fast rolling wheels. Built to not just be reliable for everyday use but as a long term mode of transport.  These models are available for pre-order now; we are expecting the see the first drop of these in June 2014. Please visit our shop on the links below. Here you can see the full specification, pictures, videos etc. Be sure to check out the other posts on our blog here to give more information on the new Bosch eBike system featured on these Raleigh Motus electric bikes. Shop Links - Raleigh Motus 2014 Cross Bar & Raleigh Motus 2014 Low Step Should you require any more information or to visit us in store please donât hesitate to get in touch - sales@e-bikeshop.co.uk
I previously blogged about the New 2014 Haibike Trekking SL electric bikes we have arriving shortly (Jan) 2014. But these eBikes were worthy of another blog post. The reason being they are not only the only Haibikes but also one of the only eBikes out there to feature the Sram Dual drive with 27spd. Now we all know that the Bosch eBike system is only capable of running one chainring on the front. This then only leaves the rear sprockets to play a part in the gearing, commonly 8, 9 or 10 speed. This is where the Sram Dual Drive comes into play, the basic concept is to use a 3 speed hub gear and then mount a 9 speed cassette onto the outside. This then allows the user the whole 27 gears, giving a much wider range. It's a unique system that combines the 2 types of gear system we know today. Both the hub and derailleur gearing are controlled off the same shifter, meaning you can change all 27 gears with just one hand and one set of controls. It's really simple. This gives a massive range and is ideal for trekking / commuting / touring / hybrid style electric bikes. The gear hub can be shifted at any time, even under load or standing still. The cassette provides a wide range of gears for maximum versatility. It's built for the rider who needs lots of gearing options for touring or hilly terrain. Haibike have incorporated this system onto their Trekking SL models, available as a low step or cross bar model - Crossbar Model - Haibike xDuro Treking RX Cross 2015Â , Low Step Model - Haibike xDuro Treking RX Low 2015
We at e-bikeshop have been supplying the Bosch tuning dongle for many UK customers over the past year or so. With the introduction of the new Gen2 style Bosch eBike motors, rumours have been spreading that the tuning dongles will not be compatible. Don't worry we are way ahead of the game and have been testing the speed derestriction to make sure it is working and performs just as before. With the Gen2 style Bosch eBike's arriving shortly we wanted to let people know that we have created a tuning system that works on these new style Bosch motors. The technology is similar to before but we use a different cable system to integrate it into the Bosch eBike. Once fitted the new dongles operate in exactly the same way as the previous Classic + Dongles did. You can read about our Classic+ Line Bosch Tuning Dongles by clicking here. The major difference is that we now only supply the Gen2 Bosch Motor Tuning Dongles on our own electric bikes. So therefore if you require a dongle and Gen2 eBike please let us know, these fit all of Bosch electric bikes, with the Active or Performance Bosch type motors & 250w or 350w. The new Bosch motor dongles will not be available to buy separately. If you have bought a Bosch eBike from a 3rd party there is no option for you to purchase one of our Gen2 dongles.. You may wish to contact us to place an order, or alternatively please add the Gen2 eBike into the basket, along with a dongle. We will then fit the dongle prior to the electric bike leaving our workshop. You pay for the dongle but the fitting labour is free of charge when placed with a new eBike order. The speed tuning dongles are for off road (private land) use only. Here is a independent customer review after having the dongle fitted - Bosch Tuning Dongle Customer Review Here is a direct link to our electric bike range from Raleigh, Moustache and Haibike - https://www.e-bikeshop.co.uk/Electric-Bikes-UK-Dealer Here is a link to our speed tuning dongles - https://www.e-bikeshop.co.uk/eBike-Spare-Parts/bosch-ebike-tuning-dongle