I have had bikes sionce i was a kid, but like a lot of us, as i get older the need for a bike as changed.
I no longer use mine to grind out the km in order to burn a few calories and keep fit.
I am looking for one to keep in the van....not the caravan, the tow vehicle.
Use would be just to get around the places i stop at. Nothing too far, as i will also have a motorbike with me, but there are some beautifull bike tracks around rivers and lakes etc that i can not do on a motorbike.
I do not enjoy Bushwals, and after too many knee injuries, i don't enjoy walking more that 5 km or so, due to discomfort.
Bike riding does not hurt the knees, so i thought about buying an E bike.
What did you buy?
Do you use it much?
Many thanks for the input.
Possum3 said
08:15 AM Jun 5, 2021
I do sometimes wish I hadn't hung up the bike about 10 years ago, mainly because I feared being knocked over and being severely injured. I have looked at E-Bikes and in my mind I imagine a 30 year old me, then reality kicks in and I realise if I was knocked off my bike I would in all probability never get up again. Note I do ride a 120cc Honda bike around the property though.
I have noticed in Qld some very senior citizens riding adult sized trikes - fortunately I have not yet discovered an easy way of carrying one in the van - so I will live on.
At around the one grand mark E-bikes are monetarily affordable but they should only be used by competent cyclists, mentally and physically fit that won't be a hazard to themselves and other road users. Only you are in a position to judge
rgren2 said
10:03 AM Jun 5, 2021
There are a lot of electric scooters being ridden by people of all ages around Hervey Bay. Just another option.
EJP said
01:35 PM Jun 5, 2021
I bought an electric bike about 4 years ago and love it. I took up cycling a few years before retiring to maintain a level of fittness and due to a dislike of walking and a couple of dodgy knees. I originally had a basic mountain bike but after a health issue I was unable to cycle at the same level as before. I bought an e-bike, a Earth M15 pedal assist mountain bike, and have not looked back. Pedal assist means the motor assists in pedaling, particularly up hills, difficult terrain and head winds. The pedal assist cut out at 25 KPH when you are on your own. I now regularly ride 100-120 kms per week mainly on bike tracks and some roads in bike lanes. E-bikes range in price from about $1000 upwards, mine cost $2500. They are substantially heavier than normal bikes and more robustly built, particularly the mountain bikes. Mine is 25 kgs compared to 18 kgs for my mountain bike They are becoming increasingly more popular with a very large range of brands and models. If you get one have a decent lockable chain as they are very attractive to other people.
Buzz Lightbulb said
04:18 PM Jun 5, 2021
I bought a cheap one for my wife from Aldi, about $700. I wasn't sure if she was going to continue riding to work or if it was just a trend. She's still riding to work now and then after three years and we ride on the weekends of the weather is good.
Oka374 said
08:18 AM Jun 6, 2021
I've had an ebike for nearly ten years, the first one was a Bafang bottom bracket drive on a good quality full suspension mountain bike, it and its battery still work well.
Eighteen months ago I bought a top of the line carbon framed full suspension bike, a company demo at a good price after an electric bike demo day in our town. It now has over 4,000km on it and has had the battery replaced under warranty at 1300km.
A modern bike with full suspension is a much nicer ride especially on less than ideal country roads and tracks which are the most prevalent surfaces in Australia and they still work well with good brakes etc on dedicated bike trails and paths.
We bought a cheap basic no suspension ladies Ebike for my wife to get back on a bike after a 30 odd year departure from bike riding and its shortcomings quickly became apparent once she got the hang of it due to our cobblestone local roads as she found that the brakes got more use than the pedals as it was hard to control at speed!
She now has a full suspension touring Ebike that she loves and the basic one is for sale.
Look for the best quality you can afford and any ebike MUST have disc brakes for safety, they are heavier, usually on the wrong side of 20kgs and us oldies tend to be heavier too so the ability to stop is very important.
Another thing to make sure of especially if intending to use in rural and bush areas is that tyres/tubes are fitted with sealant to prevent flat tyres as three corner jacks are everywhere!
The quickest way to wreck a good bike is to carry it outside the vehicle on a rack as the weather, dirt and dust will destroy the drivetrain unless they are constantly serviced.
gdayjr said
10:18 AM Jun 6, 2021
Thanks for the replies.
The bike will be kept in the tow vehicle along with the motorbike.
I did see some Ebikes at the Sydney show, but i almost fell over when i saw the $7k price tag.
I am tall, and weigh around 110 kg, so i think its time to pop round to my local 99 bikes store.
Sandyfreckle said
09:11 AM Jun 8, 2021
After I had both hips replaced, I got myself a pedal assist E bike...., it was perfect to help me recover..., not bearing weight in the drive train(legs !). I took it easy and slowly built up muscle condition then strength. Operation was very successful and recovery more so ! After regaining almost full mobility(I even took up surfing again - I'm only 65), anyway's.., I decided the Ebike was (1) way too heavy and cumbersome to move and lift and (2) the E bike was making me lazy. So I bought myself a proper ultra lite weight mountain bike. How lite ? ultra lite - very easy to manhandle and lift onto either carrier or into vehicle, with lot's of very efficient gears.., also it has very good suspension and larger tyres...., oh and everything is VERY easily adjustable on the MTB, not so easy to adjust stuff on an E bike ! Anyway, that was about 10 years ago and I'm still loving it. E bikes are undoubtably very usefull.., but, if you use one beware of a tendency to get sucked into going too fast(especially on roads).., and IMHO they can make you lazy and less inclined to be more active ! nuff said
-- Edited by Sandyfreckle on Tuesday 8th of June 2021 09:22:03 AM
-- Edited by Sandyfreckle on Wednesday 9th of June 2021 05:12:34 AM
Tony Bev said
02:26 PM Jun 8, 2021
I purchased a second hand one a few years ago, which came with two batteries
The model name of the electric bike is, "Beyond Oil"
Back in the day it would have been the ants pants of electric bikes, it has disc brakes, lights, speedo, etc
I took it for one trip only, (with a normal deadly treadly), on the rear bike rack
The method behind the madness, was that the good wife would ride the electric bike, and I would ride the normal one
For whatever reason, on a 14,000 kilometre road trip, they stayed on the bike rack
I sometimes use it at home, the batteries are now getting a bit tired, so I am ready to buy a new one
Alas the new (Silverfish) batteries, have a reverse polarity
I shall wait until my original batteries have completely worn out, and then buy another battery
If I was travelling on my own, I would probably take the electric bike with me
StreetsAhead said
01:18 PM Jun 17, 2021
Just received an RAC email update here in WA, and there was a link to an interesting article on e-bikes.
I thought this may be of interest to those that are in the market or just information for others.
Interesting read. i am still doing the research, so many bikes aon the market, and more every month.
I will shop at my 99 bikes store who seem to have a good selection.
It's a fair outlay for a bike.
jeepnudger said
06:28 PM Jul 16, 2021
I can write about E bikes with personal experience, having been a bike rider for the last 20yrs and found that I needed a little extra help so graduated to E bike, 1st being a $900 Aldi purchase. It was a normal guys bike BUT with battery over rear wheel and E motor on rear wheel, was comfortable to ride , however, throwing my leg over the bike was becoming a problem, especially with the battery over the rear wheel meant that you would catch yr leg on the battery and also the battery being so high up made the bike top heavy. In addition I found that the rear motor further added to the bike being rear heavy and would tip over easily. I decided that Aldi bikes are ok for the young and energetic in high kicks/gymnastics. My wife had a folding E bike $2500 which was step through and a real winner with 5 motor speeds and disc brakes , I took over riding this bike, however, it was a little small to ride comfortably, but very easy to get on and off an ideal ladies bike.
I then decided that a new E bike was in order BUT I required step through making easy to get on and off, E motor in the centre at pedal position and battery in the centre. The bike is well balanced with weight in the centre and EBike looks good, it was not cheap Canadian design Norco but nice to ride. Back to the Bike trails.
-- Edited by jeepnudger on Friday 16th of July 2021 06:30:13 PM
dogbox said
07:56 PM Jul 16, 2021
anyone had any issues with the charging systems have heard of a fire recently that was caused by ebike batteries catching fire on charge?
was a few issues with the hoover board catching fire when being charged
Whenarewethere said
09:01 PM Jul 16, 2021
There has also been issues with Samsung washing machines & the thousands of kilometres of Chinese electrical wiring's PVC insulation which is installed in houses throughout Australia.
I have a general question about E bikes.
Has anyone bought one, and do you use it often?
I have had bikes sionce i was a kid, but like a lot of us, as i get older the need for a bike as changed.
I no longer use mine to grind out the km in order to burn a few calories and keep fit.
I am looking for one to keep in the van....not the caravan, the tow vehicle.
Use would be just to get around the places i stop at. Nothing too far, as i will also have a motorbike with me, but there are some beautifull bike tracks around rivers and lakes etc that i can not do on a motorbike.
I do not enjoy Bushwals, and after too many knee injuries, i don't enjoy walking more that 5 km or so, due to discomfort.
Bike riding does not hurt the knees, so i thought about buying an E bike.
What did you buy?
Do you use it much?
Many thanks for the input.
I have noticed in Qld some very senior citizens riding adult sized trikes - fortunately I have not yet discovered an easy way of carrying one in the van - so I will live on.
At around the one grand mark E-bikes are monetarily affordable but they should only be used by competent cyclists, mentally and physically fit that won't be a hazard to themselves and other road users. Only you are in a position to judge
I bought a cheap one for my wife from Aldi, about $700. I wasn't sure if she was going to continue riding to work or if it was just a trend. She's still riding to work now and then after three years and we ride on the weekends of the weather is good.
Eighteen months ago I bought a top of the line carbon framed full suspension bike, a company demo at a good price after an electric bike demo day in our town. It now has over 4,000km on it and has had the battery replaced under warranty at 1300km.
A modern bike with full suspension is a much nicer ride especially on less than ideal country roads and tracks which are the most prevalent surfaces in Australia and they still work well with good brakes etc on dedicated bike trails and paths.
We bought a cheap basic no suspension ladies Ebike for my wife to get back on a bike after a 30 odd year departure from bike riding and its shortcomings quickly became apparent once she got the hang of it due to our cobblestone local roads as she found that the brakes got more use than the pedals as it was hard to control at speed!
She now has a full suspension touring Ebike that she loves and the basic one is for sale.
Look for the best quality you can afford and any ebike MUST have disc brakes for safety, they are heavier, usually on the wrong side of 20kgs and us oldies tend to be heavier too so the ability to stop is very important.
Another thing to make sure of especially if intending to use in rural and bush areas is that tyres/tubes are fitted with sealant to prevent flat tyres as three corner jacks are everywhere!
The quickest way to wreck a good bike is to carry it outside the vehicle on a rack as the weather, dirt and dust will destroy the drivetrain unless they are constantly serviced.
Thanks for the replies.
The bike will be kept in the tow vehicle along with the motorbike.
I did see some Ebikes at the Sydney show, but i almost fell over when i saw the $7k price tag.
I am tall, and weigh around 110 kg, so i think its time to pop round to my local 99 bikes store.
After I had both hips replaced, I got myself a pedal assist E bike...., it was perfect to help me recover..., not bearing weight in the drive train(legs !). I took it easy and slowly built up muscle condition then strength. Operation was very successful and recovery more so ! After regaining almost full mobility(I even took up surfing again - I'm only 65), anyway's.., I decided the Ebike was (1) way too heavy and cumbersome to move and lift and (2) the E bike was making me lazy. So I bought myself a proper ultra lite weight mountain bike. How lite ? ultra lite - very easy to manhandle and lift onto either carrier or into vehicle, with lot's of very efficient gears.., also it has very good suspension and larger tyres...., oh and everything is VERY easily adjustable on the MTB, not so easy to adjust stuff on an E bike ! Anyway, that was about 10 years ago and I'm still loving it.
E bikes are undoubtably very usefull.., but, if you use one beware of a tendency to get sucked into going too fast(especially on roads).., and IMHO they can make you lazy and less inclined to be more active ! nuff said
-- Edited by Sandyfreckle on Tuesday 8th of June 2021 09:22:03 AM
-- Edited by Sandyfreckle on Wednesday 9th of June 2021 05:12:34 AM
The model name of the electric bike is, "Beyond Oil"
Back in the day it would have been the ants pants of electric bikes, it has disc brakes, lights, speedo, etc
I took it for one trip only, (with a normal deadly treadly), on the rear bike rack
The method behind the madness, was that the good wife would ride the electric bike, and I would ride the normal one
For whatever reason, on a 14,000 kilometre road trip, they stayed on the bike rack
I sometimes use it at home, the batteries are now getting a bit tired, so I am ready to buy a new one
Alas the new (Silverfish) batteries, have a reverse polarity
I shall wait until my original batteries have completely worn out, and then buy another battery
If I was travelling on my own, I would probably take the electric bike with me
Just received an RAC email update here in WA, and there was a link to an interesting article on e-bikes.
I thought this may be of interest to those that are in the market or just information for others.
New e-bikes in WA 2021 | RAC WA
Interesting read. i am still doing the research, so many bikes aon the market, and more every month.
I will shop at my 99 bikes store who seem to have a good selection.
It's a fair outlay for a bike.
I can write about E bikes with personal experience, having been a bike rider for the last 20yrs and found that I needed a little extra help so graduated to E bike, 1st being a $900 Aldi purchase. It was a normal guys bike BUT with battery over rear wheel and E motor on rear wheel, was comfortable to ride , however, throwing my leg over the bike was becoming a problem, especially with the battery over the rear wheel meant that you would catch yr leg on the battery and also the battery being so high up made the bike top heavy. In addition I found that the rear motor further added to the bike being rear heavy and would tip over easily. I decided that Aldi bikes are ok for the young and energetic in high kicks/gymnastics. My wife had a folding E bike $2500 which was step through and a real winner with 5 motor speeds and disc brakes , I took over riding this bike, however, it was a little small to ride comfortably, but very easy to get on and off an ideal ladies bike.
I then decided that a new E bike was in order BUT I required step through making easy to get on and off, E motor in the centre at pedal position and battery in the centre. The bike is well balanced with weight in the centre and EBike looks good, it was not cheap Canadian design Norco but nice to ride. Back to the Bike trails.
-- Edited by jeepnudger on Friday 16th of July 2021 06:30:13 PM
was a few issues with the hoover board catching fire when being charged
There has also been issues with Samsung washing machines & the thousands of kilometres of Chinese electrical wiring's PVC insulation which is installed in houses throughout Australia.