We take a first look at the new Scott range of Shimano Steps E-Spark 2017 eBikes. Built on a whole new chassis and equipped with the very latest electric bike components. What's new? Scott worked closely with Shimano to completely and radically re-design the E-Spark range for 2017. The new Shimano Steps E8000 system, to summarise the Shimano system benefits: + Higher assist torque in low cadences for improved support when climbing steep sections + Faster cut off when the rider stops pedalling, ensuring better control in technical sections + Smoother power-assist that allows for more natural riding + Increased assist at specific cadences The new Shimano eMTB 2017 system has been designed specifically for electric mountain bikes, you can learn more about the system in our complete article here: Shimano Steps eMTB Scott has cleverly integrated the bigger 500Wh battery into the 2017 E-Spark downtube. New Range Scott focussed on the E-Spark range of electric mountain bikes and refined it to just 3 key models for 2017 depending on what level of specification the rider prefers. All built on trail friendly 130mm of travel to make the all round mountain bike. Scott also gave all the new E-Spark 2017 eBikes the new 27.5+ setup. PLUS. What's this all about? The new revelation hitting the cycling industry by storm is the 27.5+ tyres for ultimate traction and grip, without compromising on rolling resistance. All the plus's are there! Scott E-Spark 720 Plus The entry-level model in the new E-Spark range for 2017. A great way into the new Shimano Steps system and sharing the same frame as it's bigger brothers. A good mix of Fox & Shimano! Price: ÂŁ3999 | Read the full specification here â Scott E-Spark 720 Plus 2017 Scott E-Spark 710 Plus The E-Spark 710 is the mid-range model with a great spec including full Shimano XT drivetrain & brakes. Fox 34 Elite's up front, custom tuned shock on the rear & a decent finishing kit. Price: ÂŁ4999 | Read the full specification here â Scott E-Spark 710 Plus 2017 Scott E-Spark 700 Plus TUNED The top spec model in the new 2017 E-Spark range. The 700 Plus TUNED offers a riders dream of components whilst fully integrating Shimano Di2 gear system with the Shimano Steps system. Price: ÂŁ6099 | Read the full specification here â Scott E-Spark 700 Plus TUNED 2017 What do we think? We think a big bonus of the Shimano eMTB Steps system is the fully integrated Di2 system, so we expect the limited edition E-Spark 700 Plus to be very popular! The other 2 models offer a good spec grade depending on what you are after, the E-Spark 720 is a nice price point without breaking the bank and is great for your eMTB beginner. Scott have already told us that the demand has been huge for these 3 bikes, the 700 TUNED in particular. Â We love the way Scott have integrated the Battery into the E-Spark downtube, it makes for a nice overall look and of course bring the centre of gravity low too, so the bike handles well. When can you get one? The new Scott E-Spark bikes will be available in Spring 2017. You can already pre-order your eBike model on our website here - Scott 2017 eBikes. Expect some models to sell out before arrival. Â
We are excited to take a look at the new 2017 Moustache electric mountain bike range. Now with redesigned alloy and carbon eBike frames fully integrating the Bosch CX eMTB system. Moustache pride themselves in producing quality Bosch powered electric bikes, now for 2017 we introduce the world's first fully integrated Bosch CX powered electric mountain bikes. A big step forward in the eMTB game and certainly a game changer for Moustache bikes.  What's new? Moustache has been secretly working on the eMTBs 'Hidden Power' project for two years now. Testing and developing revised frame geometries that integrate the Bosch 500Wh battery into the downtube whilst keeping the centre of gravity low and improving overall visuals. The challenge was not only to integrate the battery, but also to minimise volumes for 2017. They had to optimise every angle, every radius, every millimetre. They also had to overcome the limitations of hydroforming technology by increasing the pressure beyond what was previously possible in order to control each cm2 of tube! Greg Sand, Director of Moustache Bikes said: We worked hard at integration & aesthetics, aesthetics that we wanted both neat & dynamic as well as a great ride feeling. An impossible project, hard work for 2 years. How to fit a Bosch battery in a tube? Difficult, almost impossible. But we did it! Since Moustache started developing Bosch electric mountain bikes they have always paid special attention to the bikes centre of gravity. Already low on previous models, they have been able to lower it further still for 2017 and also to move the centre of gravity backwards, thanks to the new battery integration and rear shock linkage.  On top of all of this Moustache went one step further by introducing the new 27.5+ wheel size into all of the Trail and Race series eBikes. Moustache also designed their own new 35mm wide PLUS wheel rim for 2017 allowing further refined levels of grip and comfort meaning for a smoother and more fun overall ride. Couple this with new gear setup's where Moustache use a 14t front sprocket and chain guide to optimise both climbing and descending ratios and a revised crank set for a stiffer ride, the overall machine is really fun to ride! Oh, one last thing. They made 2 full carbon models too! Enough chat, let's take a look: Trail Series The new Trail series for 2017 consists of 3 models built for everyday mountain biking, with 140mm travel and tight frame geometry. Built for efficiency for both climbs and descents! Moustache Samedi 27 Trail 6 2017 The Trail 6 is the entry-level model within the new Samedi Trail range. Built on base spec with 140mm travel, hidden power technology integrating the Bosch CX and 500Wh battery pack. Price: £3749 | Read the full specification here - Samedi Trail 6 2017 eBike Moustache Samedi 27 Trail 8 2017 The next model up in the Samedi series is the Trail 8. Built on the same chassis but with an updated Sram GX 11 speed drivetrain and Fox Float 34 140mm travel front forks. Price: £4249 | Read the full specification here - Samedi Trail 8 2017 eBike Moustache Samedi 27 Trail 9 2017 The Carbon model in the Moustache Samedi Trail range. Built on similar components as the model above, but now on a new lighter weight full carbon chassis and uprated groupset. Price: £5499 | Read the full specification here - Samedi Trail 9 2017 eBike Moustache Samedi Trail Limited 2017 The Trail limited is exactly what it says on the tin! The top spec limited edition model comes kitted up with a Carbon frame, RockShox Carbon RS1 forks & Sram Eagle 12 speed drive train. Price: £7599 | Read the full specification here - Samedi Trail Limited 2017 eBike Race Series The new Race series also consists of 3 models, 2 alloy frame and of course a top spec model in the newly formed carbon chassis, built on 160mm travel for all-mountain, trail & enduro. Moustache Samedi 27 Race 6 2017 The entry level Race bike in the Samedi series. The Race 6 is built on a 160mm alloy frame with the Bosch Performance CX motor and 500Wh integrated Bosch battery. All for sub £4k! Price: £3999 | Read the full specification here - Samedi Race 6 2017 eBike Moustache Samedi 27 Race 8 2017 The new Samedi Race 8 is built on the same system and frame as the Race 6 model, but now with upgraded front Fox 36 160mm travel suspension forks and improved 11-speed gearing. Price: £4599 | Read the full specification here - Samedi Race 8 2017 eBike Moustache Samedi 27 Race 9 2017 The top spec model in the Moustache Samedi Race range. Built on similar components as the model above, but now on a new lighter weight full carbon chassis and uprated group set. Price: £5749 | Read the full specification here - Samedi Race 9 2017 eBike  What do we think? We had the exclusive chance to ride these bikes 10 days ago on the continent and we can honestly say that out of all the bikes we rode that day the Moustache felt the most balanced and manoeuvrable. The Plus size tyres certainly makes for a really fun and comfortable ride. The bikes handled well, considering we are used to riding eBikes, the Moustache range come up on top when it came to riding feel. In fact, they look great too... It's perfect! We expect the carbon frame models to be most popular with the reduced weight and considering the component build the pricing is a lot less than we thought it'd be.  When can you get one? Pre-orders are open now on our site, you can click the links on each model above to learn more. Moustache is now already sold out of particular models pre-production, so we'd suggest to get in quick to reserve yours. Most landing early new year, just in time for the summer. Find the full 2017 Moustache range here.
Thinking of buying a Haibike Full Carbon Ultimate electric bike? A really good review here from one of our customers (Peter) who has a few Haibike eBikes, this actually sums up the experience of the xDuro FullSeven RC, NDURO PRO & the Full Carbon Ultimate. Read on..  A little history I purchased my ďŹrst Haibike from Martin when he was in Alton, it was a 2012 Xduro, the bike was excellent never had any problems, the only minor issue for me was it was very fast in turn and I prefer a lazy front end. I sold it to fund my next Haibike a 2014 Xduro Nduro pro which I still have and love it, this ticked all the boxes for me. Again this has been reliable with only a bearing replaced at a cost of ÂŁ5, not bad for 2 years use. Read Peter's previous review on the Haibike xDuro NDURO PRO 2015.  Present day I made an appointment with Martin to purchase an E-bike for my wife. Martin recommended an Xduro Fullseven RC. While she was deciding I saw the full carbon (a customers bike Martin had in stock), memories came ďŹooding back from my Marin days when Carbon was something very special and I said one dayâŚ.. My wife being the understanding person she is (or canât stand me going on and on and on) told me to purchase the Carbon, I was in the lucky position of having the money without having to raise a mortgage. We purchased two bikes, the RC for my wife and the Carbon. The RC was in stock so we were able to collect a few days later, the Carbon was about a month away but as I had another E-bike time was not an issue. Martin kept me updated on expected delivery times.  Our ďŹrst ride out With my wife on RC and me on Nduro, she is not experienced on E-bikes and has not ridden for quite a few years, so she took it nice and easy. The ride near Salisbury was mostly tarmac with some steep hills. She loved everything about the bike apart from the saddle. A short 6 mile trip ďŹnished with a very steep climb and some green lanes. She lead the return journey, as I did not want to show off and leave her miles behind. I got that wrong - by the time we reached the top of a steep hill she was a good 70 ft ahead of me - Have the bikes changed or did I forget to connect the battery on my bike? The bikes must have changed. Second ride - again near Salisbury - about 12 miles mainly tarmac. I am faster downhill, she is faster uphill (itâs the bike). She loves the bike but for some reason does not want to ride it without a pillow tied to the saddle!!  After a few delays the Carbon arrived Wow what a bike, very understated (which is a good thing), I was a little unsure about the riding position as the bars drop slightly but give it time⌠I opted for a dropper post and new saddle, the saddle and seat post that are supplied with the bike are carbon and weigh about the same as a coffee cup (empty) and probably about as comfortable to sit on as a coffee cup. Martin has a device for measuring sitting bones to ensure the saddle size is correct (highly recommended), I also changed the front sprocket for a larger one (more top speed, about 17mph assisted). I have done this on all my bikes, I never use 1st gear so happy to lose a bit on the climbs. It was also recommended that I ďŹt protective tape over the Carbon parts of the bike that may suffer from stone chips, a very simple process at a cost of about ÂŁ7 for a meter (I have used about 11 inches in total). First ride on the carbon was about 16 miles, bridal way, beach, hard mud and tarmac. Initial thoughts - this bike just rolls and rolls, maybe the tyres maybe the 27.5inch wheels, maybe better bearings, all I can conďŹrm is it never came out of ECO mode. The assist was in the OFF position for a fair bit of the ride, this is a major difference between the Carbon and the Nduro. The xDuro Carbon Ultimate feels lighter, after 16 miles the riding position is ďŹne, however the gear selector is driving me nuts. Haibike have moved the levers, every gear change is wrong, I want to go up a gear, I go down, I want to go down I go up, just a case of getting used to it I guess. (Update: After seeking e-bikeshops advice, I have since found out I can actually invert the shifting lever using the cable and software Martin supplied me with the bike. Neat!) While on gears the electric gear change is quick and is accompanied by a audible clunk, you know the gear has changed. Itâs a shame the shifter has its own re-chargeable battery that has to be charged via USB and is not powered from bike battery. I have been told about 25 hours between charges so maybe not a big deal, time will tell.  How does the Carbon eBike ride? We have just completed Queen Elizabeth Park (QEP,Butser Hill) to PetersďŹeld and back - a brief description for anyone who does not know the area - starts in the main carpark at QECP, short tarmac road to start of climb, gentle path through woodland, bit more gravel track then back through wooded section full of tree roots, a horrible descent on hard uneven gravel that was very overgrown to the lower carpark, then another descent through the old chalk pits at Buriton followed by country lanes to PetersďŹeld pond and the cafe. The return was a similar route until we left the main track and hit the blue route (the easier ride), ending back at the Cafe at QEP visitor centre and the car. Both bikes performed as they should, the biggest surprise for me was the amount of braking I had to do. As I previously said the bike just rolls, on a steepish decent a release of the brakes saw the bike accelerate from standstill to 26mph in less that 100 ft. I regularly see over 30mph on downhill tarmac (on the same road the Nduro would max at 22mph). On to the Blue section, this is what the bikes are designed to do. Select sport mode, lower the saddle and begin the zigzag climb, fantastic. I have done this section on many bikes and the carbon was best by a mile, I was hitting 16+mph in the uphill sections, I would speed ahead then wait for my wife to catch up, making sure she was OK before I zipped away. She was ďŹne and loved every minute of the ride, for someone that has not ridden for some time her bike made it possible to enjoy a route that would not have been possible for her on a non E-bike (I did change her saddle for a touring one).  Final thoughts Was the RC worth the money? Yes every penny, my wife keeps asking where to next, she loves it. Was the Carbon worth it? Probably not, I will never be a good enough rider to really get the best out of the bike but I donât care. I was told to keep the bike in mint condition as it will probably increase in value but I canât do that. I will clean, polish and maintain it to the best I can, but it will be used, as much as possible. I believe if you buy something it should be used, if you donât use it you donât need it so sell it. Do I prefer my Carbon to my Nduro? Yes and no, they are very different bikes. The Nduro will always be better downhill, 180mm travel does that, the Carbon will be better overall. Will I keep both bikes? I donât know. If I enjoy the carbon so much I donât use the Nduro, it will go - then I would regret it and want another. Special thanks to Martin for his help and support. It is great to be able to make an appointment and have 60 minutes of one to one time with someone that is passionate about what he sells. The only negative aspect about Martin and his warehouse full of goodies is the hit on my wallet when ever I visit Thanks so much to Peter for his words on the â Haibike xDuro Carbon Ultimate 2016
On Sunday 31st July saw another great E-bikeshop Owners Club ride at Friston Forest in Eastbourne. We had a fantastic ride across the downs and then some excellent single track in the forest itself. As usual we were so lucky with the weather it was an absolute lovely day and the sun was shining high. This made all the difference as we met in the main car park in Alfriston. This ride saw some new faces with is good, lots of new eBikers ready to ride their new pride and joy as part of the club. After a quick brief we left the car park in a long line of riders to joint he road and then turn off up a bridleway which offers a really long climb right up to the top of the south downs. On the way up one member Paul got a nasty flint puncture which pretty much flattened his tyre within seconds, fortunately we had a spare tube to hand and were back up an running in minutes. In fact this was the only mechanical of the whole day. A long gruelling climb which was made fun on the eBikes which smashed it all the way to the top, it was all worthwhile when we got up there to find an amazing view across East Sussex. We then followed across the top of the hill to enter Friston Forest from the top. Which meant once into the trees we had lots of long descents and bomb holes to play in. A few of the bomb holes we stopped at for a few runs down with some riders getting a little ambitious and getting some air out of the other side. Finally riding down to the bottom of the forest we then headed back up a fire road that seemed to never end to check out some of the trails over the other side. The next set of trails were long and swoopy with tight berms and the occasional jump which added to the excitement. Worth noting, everything could be passed so if you were not up for hopping over the jumps them each rider could ride round. We led onto the 'Bomb Hole' challenge which involves each rider to enter the bomb hole at their own pace and you have to make it out the other side without pedalling. Only one of us managed to make it all the way out without pedalling which sounds easier than it is in reality! Gary who led this ride mixed it up and took us over to some DH tracks which were eventful. Really good fun and pretty much most riders rode back up to the top to do the whole section again! After a pit stop at a lovely local pub for a pint and some pork scratchings we finally crossed back over the downs to follow over the hill tops with a long descent back down towards Alfriston. At which point we managed to loose Ken and Kerrie, but safe to say they eventually made it back to the car park. That'll teach Ken for zooming off as always! Conclusion It was nice of Gary to lay out some new routes to mix it up and although we had ridden this same route in the previous year we took alternative trails this time round which kept it fresh. With thanks to Gary in particular for leading the ride. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed it and really look forward to coming back here again. All in all a great ride with only the odd puncture. The electric bikes were spot on and performed immensely well as always! The next electric bike ride will be at Ranmore Common at the end of August. Already live on the club events section, you can sign up now. We will of course publish all the photos of this ride on the ebikeshop club page in the next few days, donât forget to tag yourself in them. The E-Bikeshop Owners Club is a closed group of riders, if you have purchased a eBike from us and want to get involved, please get in touch.
We are live in Schweinfurt, Germany for the eBike launch and first preview of the 2017 Haibike xDuro and sDuro electric bikes. Want to see what's new?.. The launch set off at a secret location close to Haibike's production facility in Germany. The presentation was attended by the top dealers from around the world in an exclusive first look at the 2017 model ranges that will be officially announced later this year. Haibike has always been ahead when it comes to electric bike integration with their sDuro (Yamaha) and xDuro (Bosch) ranges of eBikes. New Features for 2017 Haibike Yamaha PW-X System New for 2017 is the Yamaha PW-X system, a totally revised, more powerful eBike system that will feature on some of the higher end Haibike sDuro line up of eBikes for 2016. You can read our full article on the new Yamaha PW-X system here - Yamaha PW-X 2017. Integrated Yamaha Display The Haibike 2017 sDuro model range with the new Yamaha eBike system will have an exclusive Integrated Display, designed by Haibike to mount the complete display within the stem. The new stem will be available in 3 lengths. This is fully integrated with metal a surround, so nothing protrudes from the bike allowing for a neat bar set-up and less vulnerability overall, particularity for eMTB'ers. Bosch Purion Display Haibike have opted for the smaller Bosch Purion display across both the xDuro Downhill, NDURO and so me of the AllMtn ranges for 2017. This smaller display sits to the left of the bars with inbuilt user controls and screen in one small, compact unit. Read our full write up about the Bosch 2017 components here - Bosch eBike 2017. eConnect eBike App Haibike have developed the worlds first integrated eBike smartphone application. Some of the higher end sDuro (Yamaha) 2017 model ranges will come pre installed with the hardware to run the application. Users can then become fully connected to their eBikes by use of a smart phone application labelled 'eConnect'. The eConnect On Board Unit (OBU) hardware will allow many connections from a Haibike including GPS for location tracking, GSM for communication, Bluetooth for data connectivity & an in-built battery. This new technology will open up many new features that we will cover in a separate article. But for the time being, things like Anti-Theft, Bike Locator, Crash Detection & Route Exports will become available. When can I get these? The new Haibike sDuro & xDuro 2017 ranges will be announced later this year at EuroBike. With pre-orders starting closer to Christmas and likely stock arriving early next year. Stay tuned on our blog where we will be taking more in-depth looks at the product ranges over the coming months. You can view the full current range of Haibike Electric Bikes here:- Haibike Electric Bikes. Stay up to date with all the new 2017 news and special pre season orders by subscribing:
We take a first look at the new Yamaha PW-X eBike system which will be introduced into some of the 2017 model year electric bike ranges. Faster, lighter & more powerful.. Yamaha has been in the electric bike game for some years now. One of the biggest moves was to bring the PW series into Europe for 2015. Now 2 years on; the PW series will evolve into the new PW-X for 2017 with some all new eBike features. Lighter & Smaller For 2017 the Yamaha PW-X eBike system will be 13% smaller in volume than it's predecessor. Not only have Yamaha been able to bring the size of the motor unit down but also been able to reduce the weight too using lighter materials. By reducing the thickness of the Yamaha drive gears and also using a wider hollow axle, the weight has come down by 11% which equates to a staggering 500 grams lighter in 2017. Yamaha has coupled the internals with a 128mm axle which is widely preferred on MTB's, the new 2017 system will move over to a ISIS axle, where it has previously been square taper on the standard PW series. More Responsive Yamaha has increased the overall responsiveness of the new PW-X system by using lighter components and also tighter gear pawls within the drive. This means that as the rider presses the pedals, the crank will engage a lot quicker. This in turn allows the Yamaha 2017 motor to assist quicker and with more more and torque than ever before. The PW-X eBike system is now more sensitive so the rider can really put the power down in the applicable areas. More response from the assistance, combined with the tighter pawl patterns and engagement of the cranks will work for a better ride overall. New User Interface Yamaha have really developed the display and controls for 2017 allowing more connectivity and a nicer way for the rider to read all the necessary information. The new Yamaha 2017 display is smaller and more rugged than previous systems. It sits below the bar out of harms reach with the control buttons neatly mounted over to the left. The new LED assist on the PW-X series allows the rider to see what mode is being used at a quick glance of the led at the top of the display, this should be a lot more simple than before when you physically had to read the screen to check assistance modes. Also for 2017 Yamaha brings more connectivity to the table. Which we will delve on a little more in a separate article. But this will mean that the system will be able to connect to smart phones and alike and should allow developers to bring more user applications to the table that connect with the statistics of the Yamaha electric bike system. More Power & Torque Yamaha ups the game by increasing the amount of torque available to 80Nm. At the same time we introduce a new riding mode - Code named 'Extra Power' (EXPW). Now 5 assistance modes available to the rider over the previous 4. The ride modes will be Eco+, Eco, Standard, High & Extra Power. The torque is also now more powerful across the entire range for 2017, not just at top end. The lighter movement and faster responsiveness mentioned above give the rider more control in tighter spots and the bike is more agile to manoeuvre. More Range Yamaha follow their competitors by introducing a larger capacity 500Wh battery for 2017. Previously 400Wh batteries available, now bikes will come pre fitted with either a 400Wh or 500Wh, depending on the bikes specification. Good news for riders on the current Yamaha system, the larger capacity battery is the same shape and size, so will be able to retro fit more range onto older models. Now allowing the rider to travel further on one charge, the limits of the new PX-W system are expanded. When can I get PW-X? The PW-X is not designed to replace the standard Yamaha PW series, it sits alongside the series as a slightly more advanced system. The Yamaha 500Wh batteries will be transferable across both systems. We expect Haibike will be one of the first manufacturers to announce the new Yamaha PW-X eBike system on their 2017 Haibike range later on today in the first preview. This will be officially announced later in the year, likely at Euro bike. Likely a few other manufacturers will also follow suit, for example Lapierre who have a current Yamaha range, but that's all we can say for the moment. Check out the latest 2017 Haibike sDuro bikes with the Yamaha PW-X system here.
We are pleased to look at the new Gocycle G3 front pannier luggage bag which will be released to the public very soon. Here we take a look at some of the new features. The new bag will attach directly to the front of any Gocycle G2 or G3 without the need for any extra pannier mounts, rods or fixings. A smart solution for many Gocycle users answering previous load-carrying dilemmas. This versatile product has been specifically designed by the Gocycle team based in London, UK. The new Pannier Bag doesn't compromise the Gocycle's seamless design or ability to fold and become portable, taking only seconds to remove, without tools, whilst leaving no brackets or fixtures. Richard Thorpe, designer of Gocycle said: I use my Gocycle daily for commuting and running errands. The hassle-free convenience Gocycle offers is unmatched. But when it comes to carrying stuff , traditional bike panniers just donât cut it! Theyâre cumbersome, inconvenient, and ugly, and my complete dissatisfaction with using them has led to the development of a new, no compromise front pannier designed specifically for Gocycle. Richard Continues: We started by maximising all usable space, using expanding pockets wherever possible - the rear facing double baguette holders being a personal favourite! Weâve chosen lightweight, water resistant materials and selected moulded zip pullers for easy access even when wearing cycling gloves. Weâve designed a bespoke and integrated mounting system which maintains Gocycleâs clean and seamless lines when the pannier is not in use. Inspired by high-tech backpacks, the pannier has a lightweight and rigid internal support structure to transfer weight directly to the Gocycle for confident handling. Versatile, convenient, and fun - itâs a no compromise design - just like Gocycle! Features Multi-use rear and side pockets with drawstring adjustment to suit any occasion, making use of all available space. Deep main compartment designed for maximum useable volume. Internal support structure ensures a robust connection with the Gocycle for re-assuring handling when fully loaded. Top pocket and colour-matched, soft-touch moulded zip pullers for fast access to your essentials even when wearing gloves. Internal padded pocket for tablets and laptops locates weight close to the steering axis for sure-footed handling. No cumbersome mounting brackets are required to be fitted maintaining Gocycleâs clean and seamless design. Inspired by Gocycleâs patented PitstopwheelÂŽ, with one simple movement, the front pannier can be effortlessly detached or re-attached Available for pre order now with first stocks arriving in late August / early September. See the full spec & more pictures on our dedicated pre order page here -Gocycle Front Pannier.
It's always nice to get good customer feedback post purchase. Here is a review of the 2016 Haibike xDuro NDURO RX sent in by one of our customers after owning the bike a while. The xDuro NDURO RX electric bike took a lot longer to arrive than anticipated, but the wait was definitely worth it. I collected my new eBike on Friday 6th May, and can still remember the excitement of seeing this beautiful bike in the flesh for the first time. Due to family commitments, I was unable to ride my new eBike for a couple of days, which was quite hard. Finally, I was able to take it to my favourite mountain bike trails in the Surrey Hills and put it through its paces. The first thing I noticed on the 2016 NDURO RX was how smooth and forgiving the rear and front suspension units were..... Rockshox Vivid Air on the rear and Fox float 36 on the front. I spent a bit of time setting these up for sag and rebound I was completely blown away by the way the bike handled over a variety of terrain and particularly how it cornered, which I had some concerns about due to the slack head angle of the forks. I needn't have worried. The next thing to check was how the new Bosch CX motor compared to the Bosch performance line fitted to my old bike. I took the bike up a very steep hill which the performance line motor didn't quite have the grunt to make it to the top. The CX motor fitted to my 2016 Nduro Xduro and with the Shimano 11 speed cassette fitted at the rear, the bike flew up the hill......Very impressive. The new 500Wh Bosch battery really extends the range of the electric bike, which is a great asset. I've always been a Shimano man when it comes to brakes, and was a little nervous of the Magura 5 fitted to the bike. I needn't have worried, as these brakes are very powerful and modulate really well. I've been so impressed with this xDuro electric bike, and truly believe that this is the start of an e-bike revolution. I've had some hard core mountain bikers ride my bike and everyone of them loved it!! The service I have received from the guys at the E-bike shop has always been fantastic. Thank you guys!! Thanks so much to Ken for his words on the - Haibike xDuro NDURO RX 2016
On Sunday 26th June we held another successful E-Bikeshop Owners Club Ride. At one of the clubs favourite trail centers - Swinley Forest in Bracknell, Surrey. We met for 10:30am in the main car park. A initial brief with all riders and we were straight onto the Blue route at Swinley forest, the Blue is a family orientated trail and gives us a good chance to warm up. Great to see some old faces back out for the Summer rides! We filled the trail as usual with our whole crew, the group quickly evens out with the fastest riders at the front and naturally through to the back with each rider's ability and fitness level. The Blue route is mainly man made trails which undulate across the forest with high banked berms, climbs and descents. Every time we visit Swinley Forest the trails change as the trial builders open new sections and close old sections. It had been raining the week before, but fortunately the forest is well drained / looked after and the trails were fast and smooth as usual, it's a great place to ride all year round! We followed the Blue trail for approx 4 miles before joining onto the Red. The Red is a little more technical with some more natural sections, fast flowy, lots of berms, small table top jumps and segmented sections that cross fire roads in between, which is a great chance to regroup and have a quick rest. As we found out alst time the 'Jump Gulley' is now closed so we skipped passing this on this occasion and followed the red all the way to the downhill sections in the middle at the top of the hill. Many riders had 2-3 rides down different runs, each offering something different in terrain. The best bit about being on the eBikes is being able to swiftly climb back to the top after each descent so we could get a few runs in before continuing onto the Red trail. After a quick rest stop, a natter and a chance for everyone to catch up we continued to follow the Red trail which goes on for approx 11 miles, before joining back onto the Blue section and head back. The last bit of the Blue is really fun with really fast flowy sections that whisk down the side of many hills, after rising the Red for many miles, you can ride the Blue with ease and just enjoy the trails at a faster pace. Conclusion We all made it back safe and sound to the cafe. After a long ride which travelled approx 16 miles with lots of ascents and descents a much needed cup of coffee and slice of cake was in order for the team to build the energy levels back up. No mechanical issues at all on this ride which was great, kept the group fast flowing, a couple of off's but fortunately everyone was back on their feet and no injuries sustained. All in all a great ride with a great bunch of guys. Really looking forward to the next one now! The next electric bike ride will be at Friston Forest at the end of July. Already live on the club events section, you can sign up now. We will of course publish all the photos of this ride on the ebikeshop club page in the next few days, donât forget to tag yourself in them. The E-Bikeshop Owners Club is a closed group of riders, if you have purchased a eBike from us and want to get involved, please get in touch.
It's always nice to get good customer feedback post purchase. Here is a review of the 2016 Haibike xDuro HardNine RC sent in by one of our customers after owning the bike a while.  Introduction I have been watching and researching Ebikes for about 3 years. I have been following the Ebike shop for a similar amount of time. During this time I established that the crank drive motors are the way forward â put simply they are the most efficient. With the recent addition of the larger capacity battery â The Bosch / Haibike combination seemed the best option for me.  Where to get one? I could have purchased the xDuro HardNine only and/or Local (I live in South Wales) but after watching the market and the activities and achievements of Martin and his E-bike shop I felt it prudent to travel up to see for myself â what they are like in the flesh. Needless to say, I was not disappointed â These do not come with a small price tag, but if you are looking, you are probably considering purchasing one. If you are at that point, then you are likely to be in a position where you can finance (buy outright or on finance) an E bike. Providing you make the right choice at the beginning â Full suss / Hardtail / Commuter and ultimately the correct size/fit bike I cannot see that anyone would be at all disappointedâŚ. In fact, if you feel anything like myself, youâll be flipping amazed !  First Impressions It started out by everyone else getting a go with grins from ear to ear before meâŚâŚ.. Flippinâ Nora â What a Machine !! Iâm flabbergasted! It's Phenomenal! Like I said, my boys wanted first goâŚ.. well I could get them off it, neither could I get the smiles off their faces!! Iâve spent most of the day showing and letting work colleagues have a go!  Setting the scene I live on a hillâŚâŚ so each person was going to the bottom and riding up effortlesslyâŚ. Grinning⌠The Hill I live on is Caerphilly Mountain and for those that know it, know itâs bad enough to walk up, buses and cars have to drop a cog or two to get up thereâŚâŚ Yup, I went up it effortlesslyâŚâŚon tarmacâŚ. Then there is a section of common land that takes you up to a Trigg pointâŚâŚ I flew up the gravel/lose trackâŚâŚ for a 22 stone blokeâŚâŚ A quick charge last night and it was ready for this morningâs commute into CardiffâŚâŚ. YaY All Hills are Flat ! PS. South Wales is not FlatâŚ.. I am overweight and appreciate that the distance/capacity of the battery will be affectedâŚâŚ i.e. total assisted miles will be reduced. HOWEVER, having said all that â I did have a point clarified for me which when it was, the penny droppedâŚ.. The battery is only used when assisting (sounds logical) So when I am travelling over 15.5mph â the miles left in the battery will remain the same, until such time as I slow allowing the motor to kick in againâŚâŚ so to say you only have XX miles left on the screen is toshâŚâŚ. Ride it and use the motor for the inclinesâŚ.. you can go for milesssssss.  Where does the fun end? This morning, day 2 of ownership, I chose to take the shorter route that takes me over the local mountain into CardiffâŚâŚ. - as soon as I pulled up on the drive after cycling home from work on my new bike, and even before I could stop Strava and take my coat off, my young son (number 2 son) was waiting with baited breath ready to ask for a go of my bikeâŚâŚ of course I let him have a goâŚ.. On his return, Number one son had heard I was home (Strange as he can never hear us call him for tea, when he is on his Xbox) and was readying his shoes to have a go as soon as Number 2 son returnsâŚ. Ha ! Needless to say, I did need to recharge the battery ready for the day 2 commute..  Conclusion I live part way up the mountainâŚ.. so whichever way I go I always have to climb to get homeâŚ.. but keep that for laterâŚ.. My best time to go up the mountain so far is about 15 mins and thatâs a mile (half mile of climbing, then it flattens a bitâŚ.) So this morning, a 4.5mile commute to work over said mountainâŚâŚâŚ.. Total time on the eBike was 14.5 minsâŚ.. Yep, 14.5 mins (and that included negotiating some fools in traffic queues and a stop at a traffic light). My best time has been about 27 mins⌠as after a climb up any mountain you are always rewarded with a nice downhill section. Anyhow, itâs a 400 odd foot climb over a mile and a bitâŚâŚ. It took me 7.5 mins to complete the 1.2 mile climb this morningâŚ. YaY! I was happy to have hit 42mph (Strava) on the way down the mountain â as suggested by my speed coming down the mountain, itâs a reasonably decently high mountain to climb. Canât wait for the ride home nowâŚâŚ and the local MTB club beginners ride is out tonightâŚ.. so a good ride home and a few miles of single track to look forward to.  Iâm Loving E-Bike Ownership Into my Third week of ownership and Iâve commuted to work for nearly all the daysâŚ. Plus Iâve managed to squeeze in a bit of fun on the way homeâŚ. And managed to get out with the local MTB club last Wednesday for their âBeginner ridesâ â It was CLEARLY not for beginners! My thoughts about whether the bike could manage 22 stone of Welshman has been thrown by the wayside on some hill in South Wales !!! I have a 3-4 mile climb coming home which I find a breeze now. Also, living in Wales, whichever way you ride, there are generally hilsâŚ.. I can ride up the hills but it often turned into an Anaerobic session for my quadsâŚ.. whereas now, It feels like Iâm 10 stone lighter and Iâm getting the Aerobic/cardio session that I so dearly missed! Granted, Iâm probably not going to get the miles out of the battery as itâs probably working a bit harderâŚâŚ but weâll work on the weight to power ratio slowlyâŚ. For the person that considers themselves overweight / clinically obese / big boned â Whichever best describes you (Iâm technically Clinically obese) â The only thing that will slow you down with this bike is either your riding skill or forgetting to charge the battery before going out !! Thanks so much to Phil for his words on the - Haibike xDuro HardNine RC 2016
We take a look at some of the new exciting Bosch eBike 2017 electric bike components. For 2017 Bosch make some changes to secure themselves as the eBike market leaders. We see Bosch eBike systems move forward year on year. With the most radical change last year over to the new higher performing Bosch CX eMTB specific motor & larger range batteries. As the latest battery and motor tech was only just released late last year we expected to see some revisions in other areas, focusing on charging, software and user interface. The official new Bosch eBIke components will of course be launched later this year at EuroBike, but until then we can take a sneaky peak at some of the new features: Bosch eBike Purion Display 2017 The new Bosch Purion display will predominately appeal to electric mountain bikers looking for a more compact display that will avoid any impacts and spills. The Bosch Purion display will also appeal to other genres of cycling and neaten up the handlebars in general. Its compact assembly resembles the first ever Bosch classic display. A step back from the larger Nyon display, this new unit is just enough to navigate the assistance levels and view all important on board parameters including speed and battery capacity. Notice the new Bosch Purion display is an all-in-one component. It merges the normally separate display and bar controls into one compact assembly located to the left that controls everything. It still features a USB port but this is just for dealer diagnostics and no longer can you charge auxiliaries like mobile phones etc. The new Bosch Purion backlit display is visible in low light or at night time and is navigated by fewer buttons. The power button to the top and walk assistance button re-located to the bottom. The battery capacity, speed and assistance mode are shown as standard. To scroll the assistance levels is just a quick tap of the plus or minus button and to navigate into further functions like range, distance, total odometer and when the next service is due the buttons are depressed for longer. We still think the features of the larger Nyon display will appeal to those more techy riders that make use of functions like the extra fitness tracking and satellite navigation features. Buy the Bosch Purion Display here - Performance Display / Active Display. Summary Advantages: +Compact Display +Cleaner Cockpit +Backlit +Lighter Weight +Retro Fittable Disadvantages: -No USB Charging -Less Functions Bosch eBike Nyon 2017 Updates Bosch has released significant incremental updates to the Bosch Nyon controls. With each update comes changes based on user feedback on eBikes across Europe. Every now and again Bosch release major eBike updates with the 2017 update being like no other. The eBike user interface has already taken a pretty radical design change which some users may have already noticed when updating their Nyon display a couple of weeks ago. Along with many visual revisions the major 2017 eBike changes are in the mapping with advanced controls to do with electric bike battery charge state and range. The Nyon can now take into consideration topical changes in the environment to ascertain better predicted eBike ranges. It will also take into consideration the assistance mode selected and even things like the conditions of road surfaces or off road resistance. We also see Bosch moves forward in the social aspect of Nyon for 2017 with things like gaming and more social media integration. Now Bosch Nyon users can stay more connected and share more than ever before. Some new features are added to the Bosch Nyon Online Portal, along with a fresh look as explained in more detail further down this article. Summary Advantages: +More Features +Gaming +Social Media +More Range Control +GPX Disadvantages: None - Same platform, better usability! Bosch eBike DualBattery 2017 Want more range? Bosch have the answer with their 2017 product offering, which now introduces the flexibility to add 2 Bosch power packs to your electric bike inventory. Bosch have 300Wh, 400Wh and the later 500Wh battery options in their range. With the new Bosch DualBattery option, you could effectively have the range of up to 1000Wh in sync. The new Bosch DualBattery cabling allows anyone eBike to take up two batteries, thus doubling your range! This unique setup allows both eBike batteries to be charged and used together, as one battery gets low the system can automatically switch between the two. This new Bosch DualBattery system will be popular with longer distance touring cyclists along with utility bikes, cargo electric bikes and alike throughout 2017. This setup will be officially launched later in the year and as such will be limited to OEM manufacturers using this on their Bosch electric bikes. So for the meantime you can't officially just add on another battery to your existing Bosch eBike as the bike itself will require modifications to the frame in particular. Worth noting here that the Bosch Dual Battery setup is not restricted to dual frame mounted eBike batteries, but can also be more versatile in accepting a pannier rack mounted battery and frame mount in tandem meaning much more convenient installation to manufacturers of future Bosch 2017 electric bikes without manipulating frames too much. Summary Advantages: +More Range +OEM Integration +Automatic Switch +Also Rack Mount Disadvantages: -Not Currently Retrofittable Bosch eBike Compact Charger 2017 Also new for 2017, Bosch release a new compact eBike charger that will be compatible with both the current 2015 / 2016 Bosch Active & Performance eBike systems and batteries. The new Bosch compact charger is a lot smaller any will be suitable for those wishing to take it out with them for a longer duration in the saddle, in particular long distance riders & eMTB'ers. With a 40% reduction in size to the already small Performance charger it'll take up a lot less room in any riders luggage bag or a back pack. It's also 200 grams lighter than the standard charger and thus only weighs in at approx 600 grams! As with all positives comes a negative and the new 2017 Bosch compact charger will take a fair amount of time longer to charge your battery. With the current charger charging a 500Wh battery full in approx 3.5 hours, the newer smaller charger will take around 6.5 hours. You can also use the new charger with the older Classic batteries using this Bosch Adaptor. Buy here - Bosch Compact Charger. Summary Advantages: +Smaller +Lighter +Compatible With All Bosch eBike Systems Disadvantages: -Longer Charge Time Other Bosch eBike 2017 Changes We will report back after the official launch with smaller revisions to the Bosch eBike ranges, but until then we do know that the following has also been revised for 2017: Walk Assist: This will be updateable so that the user doesn't have to hold the button down for continuous walk assist support, rather now you can switch walk assist on by a double tap and then a single tap to release. eShift: Electronic shifting will be compatible from more manufacturers across more ranges in 2017. In particular the ability to link up Shimano Di2 with auto downshifting and along with other manufacturers like NuVinci and Sram. The Bosch eBike system and gear changes will be more connected in 2017. Online Portal: Some of you will notice the Bosch Online Portal has been recently updated with a fresher look, now there will also be more functions to work hand in hand with the extra Nyon functions listed above. The user will have the ability to export routes in GPX format and also allow the user to create new routes out of previously un-recorded rides. You can now also see more parameters into each assistance mode and how they have been used across the ride. What do we think? Obviously we will be able to tell you a lot more after extensively testing the new components and performance tweaks later this year after their official launch but in the meantime we see many advantages. In particular riders with the DualBattery setup this would have been handy to have access to over a year ago when we set the new World eBike Distance Record! Although Bosch state it's not retro fittable, we are fairly confident our advanced in house eBike technicians will find a way! The new small Bosch Purion display setup is an obvious step forward for many riders in particular eMTB'ers but we feel some will still want the usability and functions of the slightly more in-depth eBike Nyon display. Whilst were on the Nyon, lot's of users will eagerly await the new updates for smoother operation and advanced functions on their electric bikes. The only thing we are not too sure about is the new Bosch Compact eBike Charger, whilst some will see this as a definitive advantage, we feel the weight and size reduction comes at a huge cost of charge time. The Bosch eBike charger is already one of the smallest chargers on the market! What does this mean moving forward? Well, not a huge change for 2017, but in fact some smaller revisions to user controls which will obviously be retrofittable as the end user specifies. So going into the 2017 Bosch electric bike ranges the actual Bosch eBikes (aside from DualBattery) will be the same in respect of power, assistance and range. Utilising the same motor and battery configuration we can tailor each eBike to the customers specification by way of fitting the new Purion eBike controller or the Bosch Nyon and visa versa. Keep an eye on our blog for more updates along the way, in the meantime, check out our range of eBikes here: - Latest Bosch Powered eBikes.
In May we all got together again for a very sunny E-Bikeshop Owners Club ride across Peaslake in the beautiful Surrey Hills. A great day out on the electric mountain bikes! We met at 10:30am at Holmbury Village Hall car park. After setting the eBikes up and a brief we were ready to set off with this ride being led by Team Leader - Ken. It was quickly noticeable how many of us there were with over 20 eBikes and also 3 of the guys from the Crank Cycles race team joined us to see if the super fit guys could keep up with us on eBikes for the day on their analogue bikes! A couple of late arrivals set for a huge group and a mega ride. Not only did we have a great group with a mix of different riders, abilities, sex and fitness levels but we were joined by about 5 new members to the club for their first ride on their new electric mountain bikes. Out of the carpark we were met with a killer climb, in fact we climbed for what felt forever! In reality it was probably only a few miles but up steep inclines, certainly something to get warmed up with. It was apparent that we had all become very accustomed to our electric mountain bikes, in fact probably take it for granted as one of the race team guys on a normal bike was physically sick when we finally reached the peak! God I remember those old days! We then led onto a real fun jump valley with twists and turns and some easy table top jumps, some members getting more confident with each go with lots of airtime to be had on their eMTB's, even the novices had a go which was great to see and everyone enjoyed it. A few more trails and we led onto the famous Summer Lightning trail which actually goes on for miles, not many pictures here as we were all having way too much fun to think about stopping. But a fast, long fun bit of singletrack that never seems to stop. Great stuff! Half way along we stopped for a pitstop, catch up, and bite to eat. A much deserved rest stop for the Crank Cycles Team boys who had really struggled to keep up this far, but fair play to them for doing so. Also a great time to try our eBikes and make new converts! We then led onto some more modest tracks, paths and bridleways for miles to head over the Surrey hills and to the other side to see what it had to offer. This included the 'Barry Knows Best' trail which is a fast undulating trail that flows down the side of a big valley. Lots of fast technical bits to keep the heart pumping. Once over the other side of the hills, we found our way to the famous Peaslake center which offers a fantastic cafe so a great opportunity to stop for tea, coffee and a slice of cake. Some riders headed off from here to get off early, whilst 2/3 of the group then continued up back up to the top of the Surrey Hills, all the way to the top where the fantastic view (pictured in the header) can be had at the peak, here it is again incase you missed it! Then back down onto the famous 'Yoghurt Pots' with fast flowing twists and turns through lots of bomb holes is fast and fun. Along a couple fire roads to the 'Telegraph Poles' trail and then a short ride back down to the car park. Conclusion Overall a really great ride, with lots of mixed riding across fire roads, paths, trails and more techy sections. Well done to team leader Ken for leading and keeping everyone together. It was a great chance to put the electric mountain bikes through their paces and also apparent that we could cover the whole of the area in one day on eBikes being able to dart from one side to another which clearly wouldn't have been feasible / so easy on regular bikes. A big turnout and no mechanicals which always helps. Plus no accidents or falls at all on this ride so everyone came away really happy, a great day out all round with great people and fantastic weather. What could be better. So nice to see so many new faces and the continued growth of the club overall. Finally well done to the Crank Cycles Team boys for keeping up the whole day even if they did have 'jelly legs' and struggled the next day. Top work! Electric bikes next time boys eh!?.. The next electric bike ride will be at Swinley Forest at the end of June. Already live on the club events section, you can sign up now. We will of course publish all the photos of this ride on the ebikeshop club page in the next few days, donât forget to tag yourself in them. The E-Bikeshop Owners Club is a closed group of riders, if you have purchased a eBike from us and want to get involved, please get in touch.
Have you picked up the latest issue of T3 magazine yet? If not, then go grab one! The 'Best Electric Bikes Rated' makes for a real good read. Here the test winner - Haibike xDuro Urban. In the latest July issue T3 magazine took three world class eBikes and road tested them to the max. This included our Haibike xDuro Urban RC road bike, the Gocycle G3 and the ETT Trayser. T3 Says: Once you've ridden the Haibike, you'll never want a normal bike again. Side by side T3 reviewed the bikes and competed at 3 stages - Design, Power & The Ride. Read the full review below. For mobile readers it's easier to navigate by clicking here. We are really pleased to not only see 2 out of 3 of the bikes in T3 magazine are bikes that we offer, but to also come 1st and 2nd. With the Haibike winning overall first place and the Gocycle leading second. T3 Rates: The Haibike offers a perfect blend of power and battery life, with optimum gearing to suit. It also looks great and is fantastic to ride - even more so with the optional Nyon computer. Garage-dreamers will love the removable battery. Both with 5 star overall reviews and both winning all 3 of the major tests. This is a real feat! Find out more about the electric bikes featured: Haibike xDuro Urban & Gocycle G3. Credit to the guys over at T3 Magazine who clearly know their tech. Makes for a great read.
We are pleased to announce that Bikmo Insurance has just awarded E-Bikeshop as chosen bicycle retailer of the month!.. We are proud to accept the badge of honour! Bikmo partner with some of the leading industry cycle shops to offer a premium cycle insurance designed by cyclists for cyclists! Offering policies designed specifically around riders is the key to their success. Bikmo stated: Our âRetailer of the Monthâ for June goes to one of the UKâs top destinations for power assisted bikes. As the cycle industry has seen a huge surge towards e-bikes in recent years, weâve also noticed a dramatic uptake in customers adding e-bikes onto their insurance policy at Bikmo We too have seen an uptake in our customers insuring their precious steeds. We think with higher ticket items like electric bikes it's important to know your covered and most want the added peace of mind. Let's not forget eBikes tend to be a fairly big purchase and people rely on them more, that's why it's important to offer a eBike specific policy that meets these needs. Bikmo went on to say: We visited our June âRetailer of the Monthâ in May and were super impressed with how slick their operation is. By scheduling one-to-one appointments with new customers, theyâre able to provide the utmost information and advice as well as also allowing customers to test ride the bikes before purchasing. We can now also offer live quotes at the time of purchase to give the customer an instant idea of any insurance costs associated. Many actually pleasantly surprised the relative low cost. Bikmo concluded: The after care is also top notch, and to save time and get you back on your bike quicker, these guys even deal with warranty issues in-house meaning if your battery or motor pack up, you donât have to wait for any middle-men or couriers. So, without further delayâŚâŚweâre awarding our âRetailer of the Monthâ for June toâŚ.. E-Bike Shop Thanks so much to the Bikmo team for offering such a great service and also choosing us as their retailer of the month.. Bonus! As "Retailer of the Month" our Bikmo customer discount has been increased from 5% to 10% for the next month (that's the whole of June). Find out more about the services we offer & insure your eBike today by visiting our dedicated page - Bikmo Electric Bike Insurance.