Each year, electric bike manufacturers continually try to outdo each other, all of them vying for that coveted "lightest ever ebike" spot - but what does that really mean for the rider, and is there a clear right and wrong answer? Is it really worth paying thousands of pounds more, only to drop a couple of hundred grams off a bike? We'll break down a couple of example bikes, look at why there is such a weight difference, and highlight the key differences with the pro's and con's of each. Why are some electric mountain bikes so heavy? Removing the motor, battery, controller and associated wiring, an electric mountain bike is effectively no different to an ordinary analogue mountain bike. It has a frame, wheels, suspension, brakes, gears and all of the other interconnecting bits you would expect but for all intents and purposes, its your current mountain bike. Sticking the electrical components on the scales, it suddenly becomes obvious. A Bosch Generation 4 CX motor (one of the most common found in eMTB models in 2023) weighs a whopping 2.9kg. The battery to power it (largely now 750Wh) is 4.4kg. Combined, they're the weight of an average UCI legal road bike on top of your normal mountain bike frame! There are other small things that increase the weight of electric mountain bikes. There are eMTB specific or "approved" suspension components and wheels for example, which are built a bit more robustly to cope with the extra stress of eMTB weight and strain. Likewise, even carbon frames on eBikes are marginally thicker to cope with the extra torque being put through them. Effectively, weight is something you can't hide from on an eBike, but in the last 2 years, they've to got to within the weight of 10 year old non-electrics! Power vs Weight Here's something I find myself saying to customers in our showroom here almost every day - You can't have all of the power and all of the range and none of the weight. They come at a cost to each other and so as you might expect, the more power a bike produces, the heavier its motor is likely to be. The longer its theoretical range, the larger the battery. The larger the battery... you guessed it. Bikes with the largest motors and batteries are normally the heaviest. Sure, there are "light-er" options, but generally speaking, anything fitted with a Bosch or Yamaha motor is likely to be over 22kg. The carbon framed, Cube Stereo Hybrid 140 HPC Action Team for example, normally weighs in at around 23kg each year. The Scott Genius eRIDE range with their ultra tough alloy frames tend to be around the 27kg mark but will withstand the worst that even the most aggressive riders can give them. Both of these bikes use the Bosch Generation 4 drive system. The Cube offers a 750Wh battery and the peak motor output is 85Nm. This is universally considered the top end of eMTB power in the UK. In Turbo mode, it offers 340% assistance. You plus another 3.4 sets of legs on the pedals. It doesn't really get much more powerful - legally anyway. While the theoretical range is up to 160 miles, riders using its dynamic "eMTB" mode tend to get around 40-50% of this. Conversely, anything fitted with the Shimano EP8 system like the latest 2023 Orbea Rise M-Ltd can tip the scales at sub-16kg which is a huge difference of 11kg off the weight of a Scott. In bike terms, that's the weight of a Scott Spark RC analogue bike off the weight of a Scott Genius eRIDE. The trade-off here is power and range. The Orbea Rise models use a proprietary version of the Shimano EP8 motor called the "RS" or "Rider Synergy", outputting 60Nm and powered by a 360Wh battery. In testing, our Orbea Rise M10 demo managed 38 miles and 4800ft of climbing around the Queen Elizabeth Country Park and Butser Hill area on a relatively warm summer day. As well as being light weight, its super economical and its smaller battery really does have some legs in it! When considering your first or next electric mountain bike, the amount of power and the size of the battery will directly affect the overall weight, riding feel and performance of the bike and this should be a primary consideration when choosing your next off-road machine. Are lightweight electric mountain bikes underpowered? "Underpowered" is a word I hear a lot and more often than not, from those who have either never ridden an eBike, or have been told by a Bosch Gen 4 or similar rider that "85Nm is minimum you want to go for". Sadly, neither of these are true but do sometimes lead to poor buying decisions. Going back to the Power vs Weight argument, the heavier a bike is, the more power it needs to overcome its own weight and the more power it produces, the larger the battery it needs to provide reasonable range. Eventually, swinging the scales in each direction you reach an equilibrium where the two are perfectly balanced. In my (perhaps slightly un-balanced!) opinion as an Rise owner, Orbea really hit this nail squarely on the head. My Rise has 30% less power than the 85Nm Bosch driven Cube mentioned earlier in this article but its also 29% lighter, which means that their power to weight ratio is almost identical. It doesn't need 85Nm to haul itself around because its frame, components and Shimano drive system are so significantly lighter than the Bosch system. To compare like for like, the complete Bosch Gen 4 drive system including its battery and other ancillary components weighs about 7.5kg. On the Rise, its just 2.6kg! Realistically, no bike can be considered "underpowered". They have exactly the amount of power they should have, for exactly the type of rider its designers had in mind. The chances are, if you find a bike "underpowered", its likely that you aren't the type of rider its designers had in mind, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. I regularly ride to work with Dan, one of our senior workshop technicians who lives very close to me and we're lucky enough to be able to take a beautiful 15 mile route through the Surrey countryside to work without really seeing a road for more than half a mile or so. He's a very accomplished, "well raced", serial bike park frequenter and rides a Scott Ransom with an 85Nm Bosch motor. Here's our normal 7.30am drink stop at Frensham Ponds; He chose it because its a hard-hitting, alloy framed monster he can repeatedly throw down hills and into trees without fear of doing it much harm. I'm actually a full time road cyclist but only part-time XC rider so my fitness is (usually!) very good and 15 miles would normally count as a nice warm-up. Despite his vastly greater off-road skill, I rarely struggle to keep up with him on my lesser powered Rise and make up for in fitness and economical use of gears and power, what he possess in lunacy and uncanny ability to seemingly not use his brakes. At all. As two vastly different riders, our respective bikes do a great job of levelling us out. Is it really worth paying significantly more for a lighter bike? This is a bit of a loaded question I'm asked regularly when looking at things like the 2023 Orbea Rise M-Ltd in our showroom which this year has a RRP of £9,999 against the entry level 2023 Rise M20 at £6,499 or the 2023 Haibike Lyke CF SE at £8,999 vs the entry level 2023 Haibike Lyke CF 10 at £5,899 and again, its not very clear cut. Lighter bikes cost more for pretty much one reason only - R&D. The extra research and development costs to reduce the weight of bikes and their components can run into often millions of dollars for the respective manufacturers. On top of this, each time a big advancement in design and technology is made, it more often than not requires completely new manufacturing techniques and tooling, which when brand new, cost more. Carbon fibre frames also cost more than alloy frames to manufacture. Its worth while remembering that with the Rise models as an example here, you're not just paying this R&D cost to Orbea. When designing the Rise, Orbea were specifically trying to make it as light as possible and so they were hand picking the very top end, lightest components they could use and so your R&D portion of the bike is being paid through Orbea to Fox for their suspension, Shimano for their brakes, gears and jointly designed drive system, and all of the other companies who contribute ultra-lightweight components to the end package. But, is all of this really worth it? This is where it gets a little murky and it really comes down to the individual. In the simplest terms, even if you have all of the money in the world, is it good value to spend £10k+ on an electric mountain bike if you've literally just started out? Absolutely not. You wont get anywhere near the performance limits of the bike for probably 5-10 years. On the flip side, is it good value to spend £3,000 on an entry level electric mountain bike if you're already riding at pro level and just want something to whizz you to the top so you can get in more downhill runs? The answer is the same. You'll get to the top quicker, but be severely limited by its components on the way back down. The best way to choose Its worthwhile taking a look over the specification of the bike (we provide a component level breakdown near the bottom of each product page) and make an honest assessment of your riding skill. Don't make the mistake of going straight for the cheapest possible option. Long-term, this is a poor buying decision and you may find yourself as a skilled rider on a bike which doesn't have the specification to match your skills or as a new rider, having put in solid skills work for a year, with a bike which no longer performs at the level that you are. Take your time and carefully consider the specification of each model option. For best long-term value, you're looking for an option which offers a little more specification than you need right now, in order to make sure you have room to grow as a rider. Likewise, don't be sucked into the trap of needing to have the swankiest bike out on the trail. A more expensive/lighter bike honestly doesn't make a better rider. No-one is ever impressed by a 15kg ebike with its Kashima coated everything, flashy paint job and fully electric gears that spends more time wrapped around trees than it doesn't with your bum on the seat! Not only is it poor value to be riding around on a 10k bike as a "£6k rider", replacement components are significantly more expensive. An SLX chain and cassette kit for the M20 costs £149.98 at RRP. The XTR components from the M-Ltd will set you back £389.98 and you'll be eating through these once every several thousand miles if you look after them well. If you crash and destroy a rear derailleur the SLX replacement is £84.99. The XTR unit is £214.99. If you're not getting the performance benefits they offer, why pay for them? Brass tacks/TLDR; There is a roughly 2kg (11%) weight difference between the top and bottom models in the Rise line-up for 2023, at a cost of £3,500 between the two. The components used to make this difference do have their own performance characteristics and they do have real world performance advantages but if your skill as a rider isn't high enough to see those benefits and you have no plans to get there, why spend the money? How do you know if you need a "full fat" or lightweight electric mountain bike? Sometimes its a "need", sometimes its a "want" and almost always, there is never a 100% clear cut answer. Through my experience of having sold several thousand electric mountain bikes to all types of rider, I've found it tends to vary based on whether a rider is buying their very first bike or replacing a currently owned one, along with their current experience and fitness level. Budget aside, this actually helps me categorise riders in three ways; The "Power Hungry" Those who are looking to do as little work as possible or are looking to buy their very first bike are very often influenced by those they have been or plan to ride with, or are very much stuck in the "I want all of the power and all of the range" mode. Sadly, this can often lead to poor buying choices and rider experience if they're not adequately "steered" with proper education on the pro's and con's. The "Ex-Racer" These are already very accomplished riders and/or understand the intricacies of mountain bike performance (not necessarily ex-racers, but highly skilled at least), geometry, kinematics and componentry. They normally take a more considered approach and its this more in depth knowledge which often leads them naturally to a lighter weight bike and/or are generally "fitter" riders and making better buying decisions without needing to be taught to suck eggs. As a result, this group also includes converted roadies or those who flick between the two. The "Second-Timer" Second (or more) timers have normally outgrown their current eMTB in one or more ways. Often this can be that they didn't account in the specification of their first bike for increasing their skills with the increased number of miles they're doing now they have a motor underneath them, have previously made a bad buying choice based on lack of eMTB education or prior given information on them or they just feel its time to upgrade and through having already owned a bike, they at least know what one of the "fat vs thin" eBikes feels like. Is there anything else I should consider when deciding between a full fat or lightweight eMTB? The intricacies of ownership are often overlooked, so here are a few other things to consider, largely as a "side-note" to purchasing a new electric mountain bike in 2023; Transport If you find yourself needing to transport your bikes to get to where you want to ride of for service, electric bikes, even the lightweight ones, need special consideration when transporting them. Thankfully at 6'3" and just the wrong side of 100kg, manhandling the Orbea Rise into the boot of my estate car without the front wheel on isn't all that tricky but for those who are shorter or not very physically strong, it can be a bit of a hassle or might need an extra pair of hands at each end of the journey. Lighter bikes make this much easier. I have, on occasion, struggled to wedge an almost 30Kg Haibike FLYON into peoples boots where they've not been able to do it themselves after having had it serviced. Traditional bike carriers such as those which clip on to the panel edges of your car (like the wonderfully designed Saris Bones) will only take a single "full fat" ebike. Even the 3 bike version of the Bones isn't rated high enough to take two and it'll either damage your panel edges, or worse, drop them off somewhere you didn't intend. At speed. Probably into the bumper of whoever is unlucky enough to be behind you. Roof racks normally are rated high enough. Most car roof racks have a maximum permissible weigh of around 100kg, sometimes a little more. The trouble is always in the getting them up and down. Lifting a 16.5Kg Orbea Rise above your head isn't too much trouble for many, but lifting a 30Kg FLYON and skilfully getting it into the right slot before strapping down is harder work than it probably sounds. Doable, but not ideal. The best solution for carrying electric mountain bikes )and certainly if you're lucky enough to be carrying more than one), is a tow bar mounted rack. These are normally rated to take up to two, with a max capacity of around 60kg. The only downside to them is that if you don't already have a tow bar fitted, the cost of getting one and a rack will put you at around £1,000, just to cart the bikes about. Trail obstacles Off road I ride mostly "cross country", seeking out fast, flowing tracks and trails without too many big mandatory jumps so perhaps I come across this more than most but eventually, they catch out almost every rider. Gates, turnstiles, stiles and other things put in place to keep animals or people in or out of places. Recently we had a customer who when buying his first ever bike had purchased it online without chatting to us and several weeks later, came back to us asking to trade it in. He 'd recently joined a new cycling group in his area of the West Sussex countryside but hadn't "cased" the routes and had no idea that he would need to lift his bike above his head roughly once ever 1.5 miles over a 30 mile ride. This was something that he hadn't considered and at almost 70, simply wasn't able to physically do. Sometimes these types of obstacles can shape the course of bike ownership if you only ride your local area, but can also be helped with method and practice. Maintenance and Manual Handling If you like to do your own maintenance and fine tuning, having a workshop stand in the garage is almost obligatory. In our workshops we have very swanky electric bike stands which lift the bikes to any height or orientation for our technicians who sometimes might have as many as 20 different bikes in their stand during a single working day but at home, you're more likely to have an ordinary manual stand and you're going to need to be able to lift your bike about 3ft off the floor and with one hand free so you can clamp it in with the other. With my 7.5kg road bike it takes little more than a thumb and index finger. With a 30Kg FLYON driven bike, you're liable to put your back out! As well as maintenance, there is also the need to physically move the bike around. If like me, you're very tall and your ebike only weighs about 20% of what you do, this isn't an issue at all but if you're a 5'2" lady and only weigh over 50kg when you've got back from a typical British winter ride, you're still soaked through and mostly covered in mud, a 25kg eMTB weighs half as much as you do and its going to be a bit more of a challenge! So, which are you going to pick in 2023? Ultimately, which you go for, should depend on what is most important to you as a rider but it's not always that simple. As a general rule; Those who aren't particularly fit, are new or returning to cycling as a whole, are trying to protect an injury (Knee, hip, etc) or disability or otherwise need the most amount of support possible, should consider a "full fat" or circa 80Nm power output. Those who are already accomplished riders with a good to excellent degree of base fitness, those who are looking at an electric mountain bike with the specific aim of increasing their fitness and not relying solely on the motor to get them about, bike park riders who only want to skip the uplift queue or those who just want something which "feels" and rides like their normal bike should absolutely be taking advantage of a lighter bike in 2023. We hope this gives you all of the information you need to make a more informed buying decision on a full fat or lightweight ebike this year but if you're still struggling, you can always Contact Us, or Book an Appointment to visit us and we'll be very happy to help you find the right bike, for your skill and fitness level and your own riding style. If this has tipped you off the fence you've been sat on and you're ready to buy your full fat or lightweight electric mountain bike, you can find them all here.
With supply issues of the past 18 months beginning to calm and overall stock levels in shops returning to pre-pandemic levels, this newly returned level of choice brings with it far more ease and opportunity to make an eBike part of your daily life. This is far from exhaustive, but we've picked out the best 10 reasons why you should buy an ebike in 2022. It's time to get off the fence and onto an eBike. Here are 10 reasons you should buy an ebike in 2022. Gradually leaving the stigma in their dust and ignoring the uninitiated who scream "heathen" and "cheater" while still at the bottom of the first hill as you break over the crest with barely a bead of sweat in sight, eBike popularity in all aspects of cycling is on the rise and at its greatest ever pace. Regardless of what type of rider you are, there is an eBike for you. It doesn't matter if you're new to cycling or clock up thousands of miles each year. Nor does it matter whether you ride road, MTB, cross country or downhill. It doesn't matter whether you ride for fitness, to commute, or just to nip to the shops. Manufacturers are actively ensuring that every base is covered and that no-one is left behind. If you've been on the fence about joining the ever growing eBike community or making the switch from a conventional bike, here are 10 reasons why 2022 is the year to do it. eBikes are a great way to get back into cycling. Haven’t ridden in years? Worried you’re not as fit as you were? An eBike is a great way to get back in the saddle, rediscover cycling and immediately start improving your fitness without being worried you’re only going to make it around the block. With eBikes ranges as high as 100 miles, you’ll be racking up miles like a pro from day one! If you're struggling to work out what type of bike you need or is best for your intended riding, why not get in touch or Book an Appointment to visit our showroom in Surrey today? eBikes are for everyone. Whatever your goal and whatever you want to conquer, there’s an eBike to help you do it. Want to beat the traffic to work? There’s an eBike for that. Looking to keep up with your mates on those huge mountain climbs? There’s one for that too. Something just to nip to the shops and run errands in the sun rather than use the car? Yup… you guessed it. We've even got one for that! Not only is there a bike for every use case, but manufacturers work hard to ensure they're as easy to use as an ordinary bike and technology to assist this evolves every year. You don't have to be technical whizz-kid to operate them either. Almost all in their most basic form only require one button to switch it on, and an up and down button to change how much assistance it provides. The electrical system aside, they work exactly the same as a normal bike. eBike riders do it more. And it's not cheating - because multiple studies between 2017 and now have disproved that myth. Because of their versatility and range, eBike owners spend much more time in the saddle than regular bike riders. In a study in 2018, the Transport Research Laboratory reported that owners of regular cycles use them on average, less than 25 times per year with only half of those studied only using them around once a week. The study found that in comparison, over 30% of eBike owners use them every day, with over 80% of them making it out at least once a week making eBike owners twice as likely as conventional bike riders to use them! eBikes help you go further, faster and for longer. With readily achievable ranges of over 100 miles on a single charge, eBike technology continues to evolve at an ever faster pace. They've never been more effective at covering ground with minimal effort and they’re only getting better. Although their principle is the same as a conventional bike, with up to 250w of power added to each pedal stroke getting where you’re going will be quicker, easier and much more fun. Regardless of your fitness level or cycling ability, much more is within reach on an eBike. eBikes can often be faster than cars. There’s a good reason that companies like Deliveroo, Uber Eats, multiple Same Day Couriers and Pizza delivery businesses use bikes, even conventional ones, in large cities. While cars get faster, there are also more of them on the road than ever. Did you know, the average daily speed in central London is just 7mph! An eBike on the other hand can reach 15mph in just a few pedal strokes, making them a much better and time efficient way to get around heavily congested towns and cities. Taking off from the line in many cases more quickly than a car, they allow riders to safely stay ahead of the moving traffic. They also don't require Tax, MOT or a license to ride. Nor will it ever need defrosting on a cold morning or trips to dirty fuel stations! eBike riders have a greater chance of increasing fitness. Because eBike riders now spend more time on average in the saddle than conventional bike riders (TRL research mentioned previously), they stand a much greater chance of increasing their fitness than those who own a normal bike, but barely ride it. “Its better to do something than nothing” and that statement is very true of eBikes. Not only do eBike owners use their bikes more frequently, they cover more miles than conventional bike users. Electric bikes don't "do all the work". They require continual rider input and so the longer you spend with an elevated heart rate, the fitter you'll get! You’re still having to pedal, steer and put some effort into balance (which works your core) and so no matter how many times someone says, “its cheating”, its definitely not! eBikes are economical, in every way. We don’t just mean you’re helping to save the planet (you are) - they’re cheap to run. Taking away the initial purchase price (we’ll get to that), the running cost of an eBike is almost the same as a normal one. It costs on average, about 7-10p to fully charge an eBike battery from your home (less if you get permission (or sneak) it on charge under your desk at work!). With up to 100 miles of range, that’s just 0.07p per mile. To put that into perspective, an average family car doing 40mpg around town uses around £15 of fuel to cover the same 100 miles. Over 2000% more! Ongoing service costs are also directly comparable to an ordinary bike. The motor, battery and control systems are sealed, self contained units which dont require servicing. The rest of the bike components are exacly the same as conventional bike components. Wear and tear components like brake pads are around £15 per pair and easily fitted in 2 minutes at home. Tyres are between £15 and £50 (some are more, if you go for really swanky race tyres on your road bike!) and you'll readily see several thousand miles from a set. They too can be changed at home. As you can see, not only are many of the normal service items inexpensive, you can fit them yourself with minimal and tools, and a couple of YouTube videos! An eBike can help you save money. eBikes aren’t “cheap”. There. We said it. But they do help people save money. Forget the initial purchase price for a moment and consider what you can easily do and achieve with it. eBikes don’t require road tax, insurance or a MOT and are exempt from congestion charges. This is where they really start to become more economical, especially for city commuters where the initial purchase cost immediately starts being saved. The average cost of even the cheapest small motorcycle/moped is around £3,000. Insurance due to rising theft rates in London is now around £600 a year. Road tax is around £100 per year, not to mention an up to 2000% higher “fuel bill”. Add in an obligatory helmet and you're already in the region of £4,000 before fuel and servicing costs. The average number of miles covered by UK drivers is around 10,000 per year. At average 40mpg, that’s £1500 in fuel. Can you really afford not to be using eBike for your commute this year?! Even if commuting on a bike is either prohibitively difficult due to distance or time (or perhaps just don't want to!), replacing the car on short journeys to pick up groceries, popping to a friends and other small errands is another easy way to save fuel, help the planet and get fitter all at the same time! eBikes are a much more fun way to get around. Forget walking (does anyone still do that?!). No more getting on the tube, into a train or being stuck in traffic. You can forget standing like a packed sardine hanging off a weathered leather strap in a packed train carriage too. No standing in bus stops wondering whether the bus will be late (or turn up at all!). Electric bicycles are a far more rewarding way to get from place to place quickly, while improving your health. Despite being a “motorised vehicle”, you don’t need a license but can still use all the cycle lanes. Whether its zipping through the city or taking a relaxed weekend ride through local trails and countryside (even the big cities have some brilliantly scenic places to ride on their outer fringes!), an eBike is one of the most economical and stress free ways to enjoy getting around and with the motor providing as much or as little assistance as you decide, you can do it all without breaking too much of a sweat if you don’t want to! eBikes are going to be a big part of the future of personal travel The ban on combustion engines is being bought further forward each year. More towns and cities are going to see restrictions and complete bans on fossil fuel vehicles. In fact, this is already the case in some cities. These bans will leave walking or public transport as your only option. The rest of Europe is already miles ahead of the UK. E-mobility hasn’t suffered the same legal restrictions (and fines!) and the industry has been allowed to flourish naturally. It’s no surprise then, that many of the biggest eBike manufacturers aren’t based in the UK! In London, its estimated that in 2021 just 3% of journeys were undertaken on bicycles. To put this into perspective - in the Netherlands, 43% of the population ride their bike at least once a day. The UK figure is a miserable 4%. This is aided by most European countries having invested more heavily and over a longer period in the infrastructure and enablement of choice to use a bike instead of a vehicle. Only 13% of those in the Netherlands never ride their bike. The UK, has one of the highest rates of non-use. A whopping 69% of the population don't use or own a bike at all. The government has already pledged an extra £5 billion to increase the cycling network and infrastructure, literally paving the way for greater adoption of eBikes. We hope you've enjoyed our "10 reasons you should buy an ebike in 2022". If these "10 reasons you should buy an ebike in 2022" haven't been enough to tempt you down off the fence, pop us an email, give us a call or Book an Appointment to come and see us at our Surrey showroom. We can have a chat over a coffee, get a good understanding of your needs and make sure you have everything to make a fully informed decision on the best investment you can make this year! Convinced already? Take a look at our extensive range of eBikes here.
Could electric bike prices for consumers be due to drop by as much as a third under the UK Government's new plan to shake up and better enable the way people move around in large towns and cities? Is a Government eBike subsidy the answer to bringing the UK in-line with the rest of the EU on cycling adoption rates and transport? If so, how do you apply for a government ebike subsidy or grant? Operation "Gear Change". In July 2020, the Government launched a new plan called "Gear Change", a "Bold Vision for Cycling and Walking". Looking to create a step-change in cycling adoption rates, they announced a new £2bn funding package with a £175m purse for local councils to help make England a great cycling nation by providing safer spaces and networks for those looking to move away from vehicular transport. On top of this, there are also strong hints at plans to offer government eBike subsidies or grants. This is welcome news for everyone because currently, eBikes are the only form of sustainable/electric transport where subsidies/grants aren't already available in the same way they are with electric cars, motorbikes and lorries. When will the Government ebike subsidy scheme begin? The Government's plan is to set up trial schemes in some UK cities and towns "before the end of the fiscal year", which sets the deadline as March 2021 however very little official information exists and the Coronavirus situation will of course have an impact on anything above initial talk and research. Its also worth bearing in mind that similar plans have been touted previously, to little fruition. We do of course still have the normal "Cycle to Work" schemes available, which have proved incredibly popular, especially so over the last 12 months. They allow employees to save as much as 40% on the price of a new bike through sacrificing some of their pre-tax salary. While this time it appears (outwardly at least!) that it really could be a "go-er", as with anything government related it will take time and very little information has given to-date. No confirmation has been made on where or exactly when the trials will start, who will be involved, or the criteria for eligibility for any new Government eBike subsidy. How can I apply for the Government eBike subsidy? Because the scheme isn't live yet, we don't have any answers to many of the most commonly raised questions when new schemes are put in place. Once more information is readily available and verified, we'll set up a dedicated page on the website for it, much like with Cycle to Work E-Bike Schemes. The new cycling revolution began in the first UK Covid-19 Lockdown. During the first of the Coronavirus lockdowns in the UK, the Government commissioned studies into changes in transport behaviour - with people "locked up" in their homes and only 1 form of exercise permitted per day, eBikes were a naturally easy way for those not used to daily exercise to get out and enjoy the weather while improving their fitness at a pace that scales with them. The more you ride, the fitter you get! Below, is the percentage change in estimated cycling trips taken between 1st March and 4th July, when the first restriction was lifted; Despite fewer people travelling overall during this period, the average increase in people cycling was in excess of 100% and at weekends, this was as much as 200%. This was particularly prevalent in large towns and cities and especially among key workers and those who cannot work from home where public transport was simply too big of a risk . Over this time, we saw a sharp rise in the sales of our Hybrid, Town and Trekking eBikes, especially in and around London and other major cities. This increase in cycling activity offers a huge personal benefit, but also a much wider reaching positive impact. Any increase in physical activity is estimated to reduce the risk of dementia, depression, some cancers and "all-cause" mortality by as much as 30%, and can reduce risks associated with Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease by as much as 40%. A win personally, but also a load off an already struggling public heath service. Better infrastructure is needed. Cost aside, one of the biggest barriers to eBike (or any cycle) adoption rates is the perceived conflict with or danger to those on two wheels on the UK's roads from vehicle users. Under "Theme 1" in the new plans, the government will no longer fund cycle route schemes for simple "painted lines and symbols" routes, nor those where pedestrians and cycles are forced to occupy the same space. The funding will only be approved for local authorities who treat cyclists as a vehicle class of their own and provide a physical barrier between motor vehicle users, cyclists and pedestrians. This might be raised curb to separate the main carriageway or a small barrier, but it will be a move to finally bring us closer to our European counterparts, where as much as 40% of journeys are made on two wheels. Whilst the possibility of new Government eBike grants ride in the back seat for the moment, they're committing to "find cities and towns across the UK to install at first hundreds, then thousands of miles of main road cycle tracks", citing that cycling increased by 55% after the installation of a protected cycle track on London's Blackfriars Bridge. Moving cycling to the heart of transport, place-making and health policy. With access and sharing of space issues being alleviated, the significant and dedicated spend increase on infrastructure will only help to increase the uptake rate of Government eBike grants. The UK Government pledges to create a special "budget". The delivery of schemes previously have been hampered by the "stop-go" nature of funding avaialbitly. With a new assured pipeline of funding, local authorities will better be able to long term plan changes to infrastructure to enable this new drive for more sustainable inner city transport and movement. Part of this infrastructure change and enablement strategy looks at increasing the ways in which cyclists are able to use existing transport and its links. As well as working closely with transport schemes to ensure that cyclists are both valued and considered as a vehicle in new road network planning, it also seeks to address the ways in which railways and bus operators support cyclists on parts of their journeys. On top of the infrastructure and strategy on the integration of other services providers, provisions are also being made to better enable the movement of goods - specifically "last-mile" (covered under the "Last Mile Review" and Transport Decarbonisation Plan) deliveries via the use of Cargo bikes. Some Cargo eBikes are cable of carrying as much as 250kg and so in extra urban environments, the lower purchase and operating cost of cargo eBikes like the Tern GSD S10 along with the ability to take up less space on the road than a small van make them an incredibly popular options for couriers. How does all of this sit with current supply issues for new eBikes? Its no secret that the cycle industry right across the world has experienced a huge surge in demand, but is currently suffering. Much of it coems down to supply of common parts. Manufacturers of gears and brakes for example, are almost universal across all major brands and with the demand for cycles being as much as 10x the production capacity of manufacturers at the moment, its no surprise that the supply of new eBikes is much slower than normal. We handle thousands of calls and emails each week, and 80-90% of bikes arriving each day are pre-sold prior to arrival - if you don't have a bike already on order its difficult, if not totally impossible to get the bike you want in the size you need during 2021. So has this come at a bad time? There's no bad time for the government to offer ebike grants and subsidies. Anything which increases the adoption rate of eBikes is fantastic news, but the timing could have been better. Its been cited that some dealers have seen a drop off in orders or have met with objections from customers reluctant to order a bike now, and then find they could have got it cheaper had they waited. Unfortunately, with stock so scarce at the moment, not at least placing a pre-order on a bike means you'll be unlikely to get a 2021 model eBike at all, and therefore less so with the backing of a Government ebike grant or subsidy. The other things to consider are; The length of time it will take to implement a scheme like this. You still have the use of Cycle Schemes in the meantime. Eligibility criteria. Whilst not a market we're involved in, trials in preparation for legislation on privately owned and rental e-scooters began in September 2020 and are still ongoing 5 months later. Once complete, there will be months of data gathering before implementing a stringent section in law much as there is with current eBikes. It could be reasonable to assume that it will be at least a year before a verdict reached and announcements made on their permitted use, Covid-19 allowing. With the above in mind and trials of the touted government ebike subsidy scheme not yet even visibly started, we could be well into model year 2023 before it starts to show its benefits to end users, at which point, perhaps, supply will have settled to a sustainable level! There might also be a strict eligibility criteria, so its possible that the scheme could be rolled out to those who need it most initially, before being rolled out to those who could otherwise readily get themselves a bike with no financial assistance. Scotland Electric Bike Loan Scheme For more info on our dedicated Scotland Loan Scheme page. We'll update this page and any information as it becomes available.
With the rise of e-mobility across the globe during the Covid-19 pandemic, it's only a matter of time before the inevitable happens. Here's how to stay on the right side of UK eBike law on your new eBike. Laws. Naturally, anyone thinking about buying an eBike will question their limits and uses and how it affects you. Do I need a license to ride an eBike? How fast can I go on my new eBike? What is the maximum power eBike I can buy in the UK and still comply with eBike law? Thankfully, despite their rapid rise in popularity, eBikes aren’t heavily regulated at all and are very accessible. First, lets define an “eBike”. The UK law on eBikes (like most) was harmonised with the EU version under UN15194 in April 2015 and this forms the legal basis of what can be called an “eBike”. In short, an eBike is an “EAPC” (electrically assisted pedal cycle). To be considered an EAPC, it must have pedals as its primary method of propulsion. The limits The electric motor/drive system fitted/contained within the bike must; Have a maximum power output of 250 Watts Not be able to propel the bike while its exceeding 15.5mph Markings As well as the limits on the drive system, it has to show; The manufacturer of the motor The power output Anywhere visible on the bike it also has to display; The voltage of the battery used/contained within it The maximum speed (assisted) of the bike Where can I use my eBike? So long as your eBike meets the above criteria, you can ride it on all UK cycle paths and anywhere else bikes are normally allowed. Is there a minimum age to ride an eBike in the UK? Yes. In order to ride an eBike on public access land in the UK you must be over 14 years old. On private land there is no restriction. Do I need a license to ride my eBike? No! In the UK, so long as you and your eBike meet all of the above criteria, no license is required. I already have an eBike and I think it breaks the rules. All of our eBikes are compliant with the law. If your current eBike doesn’t meet the above criteria (for example its motor exceeds the 250W limit or it provides power/assistance above the 15.5mph limit) it should be/you will need to register it with the DVLA and it will need to be taxed and insured as a motor vehicle. You’ll also need to wear a full motorcycle helmet while riding it. This type of eBike (often referred to as a “pedelec”) also can't be ridden on cycle paths (because of its classification as a full “motor vehicle”) and you’ll need to apply for “Individual Vehicle Approval” from the DVLA which is similar to an MOT before you can register, tax and insure it. Some eBikes have “throttles”, what’s the deal with those? Before advancements in motor technology and the introduction of the EU Harmonised Standards, some eBikes had a twist throttle that works the same way as a motorcycle. Starting on January 1st 2016, all bikes with a “throttle” function (whether twist or button) must only provide power up to 6mph, IE, its only function is to get you moving. After this it should cut off and you will need to pedal (with motor assistance) up to 15.5mph at which point the motor should again, cease assistance. If you bought or now own a bike with a throttle from before this date, don’t worry. As long as it was manufactured before 1st January 2016, its still considered an EAPC and doesn’t require a license/registration with the DVLA. Can I “de-restrict” my eBike? Yes. Many companies/private individuals offer services to de-restrict eBikes however there are two serious considerations to make. Firstly, you are immediately removing your compliance with the law and you will fall into the motor vehicle category unless only using your eBike on private land. The second is that if fitting it yourself, you will immediately invalidate your factory warranty. We really do not recommend making any unauthorised alterations to your new eBike* outside of normal routine maintenance or “bolt on” upgrades. That’s it! Now you’re up to speed on the UK law on eBikes, why not get in touch or Book an Appointment to come and see some?
Although currently in "lockdown", everyone is still entitled and allowed to exercise and so there's no better time to get out on your eBike. It's much quieter than usual too. We'll teach you how to survive being an eBiker in isolation... #1 - Go For a Ride Your favourite trails are quiet, walkers are limited. The weather is unseasonably good so the outdoors is a welcome break from being locked away at home for the potential of another 6 weeks! The government recommends and allows one form of exercise a day. "For example, a run, walk, or cycle - alone or with members of your household". If you've been putting off getting fit this year or isolation has prolonged your hibernation, why not do it on an eBike? A new eBike is the perfect way to increase fitness at a pace you decide. Have you seen our handy eBike riding techniques guide? If not, be sure to check it out! #2 - Maintain Your eBike Maintaining your bike goes hand in hand with maintaining your health. With many people having to work from home, sneaking to the garage or shed on your lunch break while your boss is unaware is a perfect excuse to tinker when you can't ride! If you've been putting off servicing and maintenance over winter, now is the time to get it done. You can find our full range of eBike spares available for delivery. Did you know we have a complete "best practice" guide on cleaning your eBike on our dedicated E-Bike support page? You can also find other useful tips like how to look after your battery, too. #3 - Book a Video Call With Us If you've been considering becoming an eBiker, now is the perfect time to start your search. With better weather on the horizon and biking being one of the few things you can still do, we can help you navigate the ever-expanding market and get you onto the right bike and spending more time outdoors.Our eBike experts are on hand to discuss your requirements. We can narrow down the options and have your new electric bike delivered to the comfort of your own home. #4 - Browse Our Website Over 150 bikes, an extensive catalogue of parts, spares & accessories - at your fingertips! We work hard to ensure we have a comprehensive range of products that naturally complement the bikes we sell at prices that make sense. All stocked parts and accessories are available for delivery the next working day. You'll also find hours of helpful and informative blog posts, hints and tips, videos, tutorials, and user guides - there's something for everyone available from the comfort of your sofa while planning your next (short!) eBike escape from isolation! Browse Electric Bikes here. Hopefully, this has helped you in learning How to Survive Being An eBiker In Isolation! Find out how COVID-19 has affected us and how our operating procedures have changed. Read More on our dedicated page here - COVID-19.
This is everything you need to know about the new Haibike FLYON 2020 electric bikes. We offer the complete Haibike FLYON eBike guide, keep reading to learn more. The Haibike FLYON range of eBikes is one of the most anticipated electric bike ranges for 2020. Haibike was awarded 'Best Brand' by the readers of eMountainbike Magazine and it's the first time ever that they've created a completely in-house eBike system, codenamed: FLYON. Jump to a specific section or keep scrolling to read the whole Haibike FLYON article:- - What is Haibike FLYON? - Highlights of the 2020 Haibike FLYON eBike system - Highlights of the 2020 Haibike eConnect system - Full range review of the 2020 Haibike FLYON models - When are the Haibike FLYON 2020 bikes arriving? - Where can I find Haibike FLYON parts & accessories? - Where can I find Haibike FLYON geometry charts? - Where can I find Haibike FLYON user manuals? - Where can I read reviews of the new Haibike FLYON's? - Where can I try out the new Haibike FLYON TQ motor? What is Haibike FLYON? Haibike have been secretly plugging away in their design and research lab in Schweinfurt, Germany to bring, for the first time ever, an exclusive new electric bike product for 2020. Offering more torque (50% more), assistance (200% more) & range (26% more) than ever before… It’s called FLYON! Head of Haibike engineering, Ingo Beutner, says:- "The eBike as we know it was completely rethought in order to launch the next generation of ePerformance. With FLYON we have been able to create a system according to our understanding and concepts. This system enables eBike riding as it should feel in our opinion: self-evidently and powerful. All components seamlessly integrate into the overall design, which convinces with a high level of integration." Highlights of the 2020 Haibike FLYON eBike system FLYON Motor System The motor is designed by a company called TQ. This company designs & manufactures direct-current motors for the control of modern satellites. TQ has used this technology to create the HPR 120S crank drive eBike motor. The motor provides up to 120Nm of torque and assistance levels up to 820%. Thanks to the integrated freewheel, the bicycle can be pedalled just like a regular bike without a motor. When the drive is disengaged, no internal components are moving. It’s super-efficient with ultra-high torque and ability, specifically designed to meet the demands of eBike riders. FLYON Battery System Haibike have designed all the components from the ground up using all their eBike experience to date. The battery uses a whopping 630Wh high-density cell to deliver a huge range. The optional 10Ah quick charger charges this high capacity 630Wh battery to 80% within just 60 minutes! It can be charged both on or off the bike as the battery slides out the frame. FLYON Display Controls The system offers 5 levels of assist:- ECO, LOW, MID, HIGH & XTREME. The new colour TFT display offers all the rider credentials in a neat, compact and removable display. Whilst the Haibike remote (located to the left of the bars) is quick and simple to navigate the modes. Five lovely bright colours illuminate to show the assistance mode selected alongside the same colours on the display. Easy to see at a quick glance while riding! FLYON Carbon Frameset All of this built into a brand new 2020 CARBON frameset by Haibike. This not only brings the weight down but allows complete integration of the system. It also allows Haibike to do special things like integrating lights into the rear swingarm. Not forgetting a front light to match too. All of the cables run through the 2020 carbon frame using specialist channels, so everything looks really neat. They’ve managed to squeeze in their Haibike ‘MRS’ (Modular Rail System) so all the Haibike accessories (Bottle, Lock, Tool Bag etc) fit onto the frame too. In true Haibike fashion, the motor is integrated with a skid plate incorporated too, this adds protection & offers complete integration. Lastly Haibike finish off this new frameset with a stealth dropper seat post, built-in, so again no cables are exposed. They have built in the speed sensor within the rear swingarm and instead of a magnet on the spokes, the sensor is built into the rear disc. Highlights of the 2020 Haibike eConnect system Following the successful first edition of the eConnect system, a new upgraded version - eConnect 2.0 has been released. This comes built-in FREE-OF-CHARGE on all 2020 Haibike FLYON electric bikes. Offering a new modern design, a user-friendly interface and extended features for 2020. In a nutshell, Haibike eConnect tracks the bike’s movements works as a GPS / Anit-Theft device and tracks routes you take on your electric bike. It has 'smart features' like text a family member with your location if the rider has a fall or alert you to your bike's movements if you have it parked up somewhere. For 2019 eConnect gets an improved route recording and a brand new user interface. It’s available in more countries, more languages and eBike dealers can access bike information too. You can add more than one bike, meaning all of the families bikes can be controlled by the touch of a button. There’s a new app too. All current users can upgrade to the eConnect V2.0 for free! Full range review of the 2020 Haibike FLYON models ALLMTN - All Mountain Range The new Haibike xDuro AllMtn range is offered with 150mm of travel. It consists of 3 model specs for 2020 and is ideal for trail riding, all-mountain, single track & trail centres. With big enough travel to tackle the bike parks but not too big to tackle single track too. Haibike xDuro AllMtn 10.0 FLYON 2020 The AllMtn 10.0 FLYON electric mountain bike is the top-spec model in the FLYON range with uprated DT Swiss wheels/suspension and a Sram Eagle 12 Speed drive train. Priced at £8,099 / More Info - Haibike FLYON AllMtn 10 Haibike xDuro AllMtn 8.0 FLYON 2020 The AllMtn 8.0 FLYON is the mid-spec AllMtn bike built on Fox suspension front and rear. Full Shimano XT 11 speed drivetrain and brakes, finished on Haibike wheels. Priced at £6,299 / More Info - Haibike FLYON AllMtn 8 Haibike xDuro AllMtn 5.0 FLYON 2020 The AllMtn 5.0 is the entry spec 150mm AllMtn model. Built on RockShox suspension, Magura MT5 twin pot brakes and a Sram NX 11 speed drivetrain. Priced at £5,399 / More Info - Haibike FLYON AllMtn 5 NDURO - Enduro/Freeride Range The new Haibike xDuro NDURO range is perfect for single track, Down Hill, Enduro & bigger hitting Trail Centres. The NDURO bike will soak up even the most demanding of conditions. The new geometry base, carbon frame, flip chip at the rear mean it's both nimble & play full to ride. Haibike xDuro NDURO 10.0 FLYON 2020 The top-spec NDURO 10.0 features Factory series FOX Kashima coated suspension front and rear. A Full Sram EX1 eBike specific drivetrain and Magura MT7 twin pot brakes. Finished on DT Swiss Freeride wheels. Priced at £8,099 / More Info - Haibike FLYON NDURO 10 Haibike xDuro NDURO 8.0 FLYON 2020 The NDURO 8.0 is the mid-spec model offered with Fox Performance suspension front and rear. A full Shimano XT 11 speed drivetrain and XT twin pot brakes. Priced at £6,299 / More Info - Haibike FLYON NDURO 8 Haibike xDuro NDURO 5.0 FLYON 2020 The base model NDURO 5.0 comes with RockShox 180mm travel suspension front and rear. A full Sram NX 11 speed drivetrain and Magura MT5 twin pot brakes. Priced at £5,699 / More Info- Haibike FLYON NDURO 5 ADVENTR - Adventure/Touring Range The new Haibike xDuro Adventr range is perfect for your everyday rider who wants to explore the great outdoors both on-road and on paths, tracks and trails. With built-in lights, integrated pannier rack and mudguards it's got all the essentials to explore a new world of possibilities. Haibike xDuro Adventr 6.0 FLYON 2020 The Adventr 6.0 comes with rugged Marathon Plus tyres, RockShox suspension and a full Shimano XT 11 speed drivetrain and brakes. This model comes as standard with the SkyBeamer 5000 headlight. Priced at £5,399 / More Info - Haibike FLYON Adventr 6 Haibike xDuro Adventr 5.0 FLYON 2020 The base model Adventr 5.0 comes fully equipped with lights mudguards and a rack. Featuring Suntour suspension a Sram NX 11 speed drivetrain and Magura MT54 brakes. Priced at £4,499 / More Info - Haibike FLYON Adventr 5 ALLTRAIL - All Trail / Hardtail Range The new AllTrail hardtail range for 2020 is offered in two spec choices. It's built for those who want to explore both on-road and more vigorous off-road riding too. With 140mm travel it's capable enough for the trails as well as everyday riding. Haibike xDuro AllTrail 6.0 FLYON 2020 The top-spec hardtail model in the 2020 range. The AllTrail 6.0 features a RockShox Revelation fork, Magura MT5 brakes and a brand new Sram GX 12-Speed drivetrain. Finished on lightweight DT Swiss wheels. Priced at £5,399 / More Info - Haibike FLYON AllTrail 6 Haibike xDuro AllTrail 5.0 FLYON 2020 The AllTrail 5.0 is the entry-level model in the Haibike FLYON range. Spec'd with Suntour Raidon forks, Magura MT54 hydraulic disc brakes and a Sram NX 11 speed drivetrain. Priced at £4,499 / More Info - Haibike FLYON AllTrail 5 When are the Haibike FLYON 2020 bikes arriving? Whilst the Haibike FLYON bikes have suffered delays; Haibike wanted to get it right, the first time. But the good news is that the bikes are now in production and we're getting steady drops through right now and in the coming weeks too. Existing orders are being fulfilled right now. Have a bike on order with us? Make sure to check back to the dedicated FLYON Pre-Order Page as it's updated frequently (existing clients only). Remember, we'll be in touch on arrival as promised. For new orders, the dates of each model can be found in the 'Stock Availability' top section of each bike page. Some models are even in stock right now to purchase (in certain sizes). You can view all the FLYON models along with their availability here - 2020 FLYON eBikes. Where can I find Haibike FLYON parts & accessories? We are pro-actively stocking and listing Haibike FLYON eBike spares in good time for when they are required. We have everything from FLYON specific lighting kits through to spare batteries. We're adding more parts shortly and as the UK's largest Haibike dealer we are offering the full support for Haibike FLYON bikes. We also have fully trained Haibike FLYON Techs on site. It's important with any product to not just sell the bikes but fully support the bikes too. This is why we'll be offering support exclusively to our clients only and have everything on hand should there be any issues. We only offer parts for bikes purchased from us so we always have spares here to hand to support our clients should they be required - We never want to be left short. You can find spare parts here - Haibike FLYON Spare Parts. Note the 'Add to Cart' button for many items only shows when our clients are logged in and approved. Where can I find Haibike FLYON geometry charts? We list the frame geometry charts of all of our bikes on each bike page under 'Downloads'. You can find it towards the bottom of each page beneath the 'Specification' section. We'll list all the 2020 FLYON frame geometry charts here also. These are split into 4 categories: NDURO, ALLMTN, ALLTRAIL & ADVENTR. Click on any of the charts to expand. Note that both NDURO and ALLMTN have 4 sizes from Small through to X-Large. Where-as the ALLTRAIL and ADVENTR are both offered in 5 sizes from X-Small through to X-Large. Where can I find Haibike FLYON user manuals? We list the user manuals for all of our electric bikes on the Downloads Page of our website. Here you can find everything from catalogues through to manuals and guides. We list above the Haibike FYLON Quick Start Guide and also the Full Haibike FLYON User Manual. In addition, we also have the Haibike FLYON Brochure. Where can I read reviews of the new Haibike FLYON's? As with any new product, reviews are hard to come by until the product is actually out on the market. Fortunately, there are stacks of reviews on the Haibike FLYON eBikes as they released pre-production models to the media ahead of the curve. We include links to eMTB News & e-Mountain Bike Magazine to name a couple. All of these are real riding reviews on actual bike terrain. Let's not forget that Haibike actually won the prestigious Design & Innovation Awards this year too. The judges said:- "Haibike’s new FLYON series is probably the biggest developmental leap since the invention of the eMTB, once again proving the brand’s pioneering spirit! At the heart of the futuristic-looking carbon frame is the FLYON HPR120S motor from TQ Systems, which is the most powerful pedelec motor currently available, offering a full 120 Nm of torque. While the motor perfectly integrated into the overall concept, the bike is full of individual solutions regarding design and technology. All features are controlled by a specially developed remote and a large colour display provides the rider with all the relevant information. Haibike has succeeded in developing an eMTB that is much more than the sum of its parts." In addition to the NDURO 10.0 review listed above, Rob (From eMTB Forums) actually did a follow-up review on the AllMtn 8.0 too around some amazing trails in Itlay. Watch it below: Where can I try out the new Haibike FLYON TQ motor? We exclusively have a demo bike for those wishing to try out the mighty TQ motor which powers the new Haibike FLYON electric bikes. We also have some models in store to view too. Following a short ride, so you can feel the sheer power of FLYON, we can demonstrate the user interface and talk you through the model selection to work out what's best for your riding style. We offer a short ride, so you can feel the sheer power of FLYON. You can ride it back to back with another bike so you can feel the difference! We can demonstrate the user interface and talk you through the model selection to work out what's best for your riding style. We operate by appointment so we can give you the very best FLYON experience you deserve. Book online now, all the available sales slots are shown live here - Book Appointment. We hope you've enjoyed this in-depth article on the much anticipated Haibike FLYON electric bikes. Hopefully, you've learnt something along the way. If there's anything you think we've missed, drop it in the comments section below!You can view the full range of 2020 FLYON eBikes here - Haibike FLYON Electric Bikes.
We take a look at the top 5 best looking electric mountain bikes for 2019. This includes all eSystems across a number of brands. It's our opinion of what 2019 has to offer for eMTB. We take a look at the best full suspension electric mountain bikes for 2019. Following our visit to EuroBike, it's clear that integration is a key moving forward for the mid-high end bikes into 2019. We also see advancements in motor integration, battery capacity and systems being used. No 1: Haibike NDURO 10 FLYON 2019 The 2019 Haibike FLYON bikes are the next generation of eBikes on the market. Their hugely powerful motor drive system combined with brand new carbon frame and hidden battery tech make this one of the most must-have's for 2019. Click for more info → Haibike xDuro NDURO 10 FLYON 2019 No 2: Lapierre eZesty Ultimate 2019 For 2019 Lapierre changed the game as they introduce the eZesty. Based on the ever-popular Zesty (regular bike) the new eZesty brings lightweight and ePerformance together in a fantastic package. At just 18kg, this full suss'er is fully spec'd at 150mm for ultimate trail fun. Click for more info → Lapierre eZesty AM LTD Ultimate 2019 No 3: Haibike xDuro DownHill 9.0 2019 Everyone loves downhill days where you can actually ride back up again! Forget uplifts and say hello to the Haibike downhill bike. A one-of-its-kind full DH rig set up with 200mm travel front and rear to take on anything. It's a killer bike & certainly looks even better in this colourway! Click for more info → Haibike xDuro DownHill 9.0 2019 No 4: Scott Strike E-Ride 710 2019 Scott has taken what they already know in the E-Genius & created the Strike E-Ride for 2019. This utilises top end eBike components, but they build it onto a comfy all-day-long trail geometry. A first of it's kind for those wishing for a well spec'd trail bike but with a relaxed feel. Click for more info → Scott Strike E-Ride 710 2019 No 5: Cube Stereo 140 Race 500 2019 Finally, we have the Cube 140 Race. Built with an internal Bosch 500Wh battery and mighty CX motor. This 140mm travel bike is perfect for UK trail fun, great for any rider looking to move over to eBike. On a side note, it's a great spec and very well priced too! Click for more info → Cube Stereo Hybrid 140 Race 500 2019 Conclusion There you have it! Out best top 5 picks for electric full suspension mountain bikes for 2019. It's certainly an exciting time for eMTB and electric bikes in general. The manufacturers are pushing the boundaries with battery tech, motors and integration. So many great packages on the market make it difficult for newcomers to navigate. Hopefully, our top 5 best picks have helped you? Drop a message in the comments to let us know your favourite electric mountain bike for 2019. Click to view all full suspension → Electric MTB
Did you know? Alongside the 4 Orbea Gain colours of electric road bikes, we can actually custom spec & configure your new Orbea electric road bike via the MyO configurator. Life would be boring if we were all the same, right? Why is this the same with our precious electric bikes? Most models are only available in one stock colour. We already offer each of our Orbea road eBikes in four options in the carbon frame models: But we can take it one step further... As the UK authorised Orbea electric road bike dealer, we can actually tailor the bike to your exact requirements from spec right through to colour. This is done by using our simple 5 step Orbea eBike setup process. You are just 5 steps away from your dream ride today. Keep reading to find out more about our steps: Step 1: Orbea Gain Model The very first thing we need to establish is the very best eRoad bike for you. We can talk you through each of the models & understand a little more about your riding style/requirements. We can custom configure/colour any of our 5 carbon road models which range from just £3,399. Step 2: Orbea Gain Custom Colour The next step is the most creative part! We bring out the factory Orbea colour swabs of every colour option possible. There is a range of over 20 primary colours to choose from. You can even choose between a Gloss or Matte finish. Keep one colour across the bike or choose a secondary colour to fade across into. This can be matched across to the forks or invert the colours in real time in front of you. Look at different angles so you can see the fade. We can even adjust text, logo and various other colours. The options seem endless! We can even add your name and riding club onto the top tube of your Orbea electric bike if required. It doesn't get any more personal than that. Nice one Orbea! At this angle, you can see the smooth finish of the Orbea carbon frames. Even on the matte finish, the paint lines are seamless and graphics/logos painted in. Step 3: Orbea Gain Frame Sizing Now we can size you onto one of the 5 sizes of carbon frame electric road bikes we offer, from X-Small right through to X-Large. We match your measurement onto the factory size chart. We also have the opportunity to spec individual component sizes on your new Orbea road eBike. If you require certain size components, we can spec this into your eBike build inc bar width, stem length & crank length. Bar widths are offered in 400, 420 and 440mm. Stem lengths from 90mm right through to 120mm. Cranks arms are available in the 3 Shimano lengths: 170, 172.5 & 175mm. We make sure that every aspect of your new electric bike is totally configured to your specific requirements. Step 4: Complete Your Spec You can choose to customise the components on your Orbea to your taste from tyre choice and widths, through to saddle and width & even the size ratio of the rear cassette if required. You also have the opportunity to upgrade to carbon components on certain Orbea eBike models. For example, on more basic models you can upgrade to carbon stem, bars and even clincher wheels. Higher spec model may already have these parts. We will show you every aspect of your chosen Orbea spec on the screen at different angles. You can make sure you are 100% happy with each step. We'll then print you out a custom PDF with all of your chosen options. Step 5: Confirm, Delivery & Ride Once confirmed, we'll log your custom spec with the Orbea factory in Spain. Your bike will be built, custom painted and hand assembled to your specification in their unique factory. We require payment upfront for all factory custom orders. There is ZERO £ cost to custom paint your new bike to your unique design. Additional upgrade components are priced accordingly. We'll tell you when we expect to receive your new Orbea electric road bike. On arrival, we'll fully set up and prepare your new Orbea bike. You can opt for a personal handover at our HQ. Alternatively, you may wish for delivery to your front door. (Delivery is £4.99 UK Mainland). Your new Orbea road bike will arrive fully set up in a specialist box. For delivery, you'll need to align the handlebars and fit some pedals. Want to find out more? Why not view our full range of Orbea electric road bikes here. Remember the alloy models are pre-configured, although these can be altered with certain components. The Orbea custom MyO configurator is reserved for carbon frame bikes only. Please get in touch if you would like to book an appointment at our HQ by booking an appointment. Nothing compares to visiting us, actually seeing the bikes & colour options in the flesh. We also have a demonstrator so you can feel how well these Orbea eRoad bike ride. Sat on your PC right now? Why not try the Orbea MyO Online Tool right now & see what you come up with? You can click 'Send to my dealer' on the top bar. Enter our postcode (GU10 5EH) & select our shop (The UK Electric Bike Company) so we can see what your dream bike looks like!
We are live at EuroBike to announce the launch of the 2019 Haibike Electric Bikes. We're excited to show you the latest line up of 2019 Haibike eBikes, with some extra special models in there. Haibike have been at the pinnacle of ePerformance since electric mountain bikes began. In fact, they were the very first guys to ever make a Bosch powered eMTB. Since then the Haibike design team have been pushing the boundaries staying years ahead of the crowd. With their knowledge and product testing, Haibike seems to always be the first to market with the latest and greatest in electric bikes. *** The images contained in the article are artists impressions.Price & specification can be subject to change*** What's new for Haibike bikes in 2019? Last year we saw the integration of Bosch 500Wh PowerTube batteries into many of the higher spec eBikes. For 2019 we will also see InTube battery integration from Yamaha too. The Bosch powered eBikes remain with some spec highlights and new 2019 models featured. There's a host of new Bosch features for 2019. Full article here. Haibike introduces their own ePerformance system for the first time in 2019. The brand new bikes will feature a TQ system with unprecedented levels of torque, assistance & range. Highlights of 2019 Yamaha eSystem on Haibikes Many of the new Yamaha powered 2019 Haibike range of electric bikes will feature the new 500Wh integrated downtube battery and also the new Yamaha eBike Display A side switch. The new Yamaha eBike battery integration looks very similar to the Bosch powered InTube models moving forward for Haibike eBikes in 2019. The 2019 Yamaha eBike Display switch is neat and sits over to the left of the handlebars. Offering the rider vital stats on the fly whilst keeping the cockpit area clear and clutter free. The 1.7" LCD display offers the quick reading of stats like Speed, Battery Capacity & Assist Mode. Leaving more selectable options there but hidden away including details like Trip meter, Overall Odometer & Range. Highlights of 2019 Haibike FLYON eBike System Haibike have been secretly plugging away in their design and research lab to bring, for the first time ever, an exclusive new product line up for Haibike in 2019. Offering more torque, assistance & range than ever before... It's called the FLYON! The motor is designed by a company called TQ. This company designs & manufactures direct-current motors for the control of modern satellites. TQ has used this technology to create the HPR 120S crank drive eBike motor. the motor provides up to 120Nm of torque and assistance levels up to 820%. Thanks to the integrated freewheel, the bicycle can be pedalled just like a regular bike without a motor. When the drive is disengaged, no internal components are moving. It's super efficient with ultra high torque and ability, specifically designed to meet the demands of eBike riders. View the full range of Haibike FLYON eBikes to pre-order here → Haibike 2019 FLYON Bikes. Haibike calls the 2019 system 'FLYON'. Head of Haibike engineering Ingo Beutner says:- The eBike as we know it was completely rethought in order to launch the next generation of ePerformance. With FLYON we have been able to create a system according to our understanding and concepts. This system enables eBike riding as it should feel in our opinion: self-evidently and powerful. All components seamlessly integrate into the overall design, which convinces with a high level of integration. Haibike have designed all the components from the ground up using all their eBike experience to date. The battery uses a whopping 630Wh high-density cell to deliver a huge range. The 2019Haibike 10 amp quick charger charges this high capacity 630Wh battery to 80% within just 60 minutes! It can be charged both on or off the bike as the battery slides out the frame. The system offers 5 levels of assist:- ECO, LOW, MID, HIGH & XTREME. The new colour TFT display offers all the rider credentials in a neat, compact and removable display. Whilst the 2019 Haibike remote over to the left of the bars is quick and simple to navigate the modes. Five lovely bright colours illuminate to show the assistance mode selected alongside the same colours on the display. Easy to see at a quick glance whilst riding! All of this built into a brand new 2019 CARBON frameset by Haibike. This not only brings the weight down but allows complete integration of the system. It also allows Haibike to do special things like integrating lights into the rear swingarm. Not forgetting a front light to match too. All of the cables run through the 2019 carbon frame using specialist channels, so everything looks really neat. They've managed to squeeze in their Haibike 'MRS' (Modular Rail System) so all the Haibike accessories (Bottle, Lock, Tool Bag etc) fit onto the frame too. In true Haibike fashion, the motor is integrated with a skid plate incorporated too, this adds protection & offers complete integration. Lastly Haibike finish off this new 2019 frame set with a stealth seat post built in, so again no cables are exposed. They have built in the speed sensor within the rear swing arm and instead of a magnet on the spokes, the sensor is built into the rear disc. View the full range of Haibike FLYON eBikes to pre-order here → Haibike 2019 FLYON E-Bikes. Highlights of 2019 Haibike eConnect eBike System Next, we have the Haibike eConnect system. You may have seen Haibike launched this into a few models in the range last year. Now it's available as a retrofit kit (we actually have it in stock for both Bosch and Yamaha bikes right now to our customers). Following the successful first edition of the eConnect system, now the further developed version follows eConnect 2.0. Offering a new modern design, a user-friendly interface and extended features for 2019. In a nutshell, Haibike eConnect tracks the bike's movements works as a GPS / Anit-Theft device and tracks routes you take on your electric bike. It can do smart things like text a family member with your location if the rider has a fall or alert you to your bikes movements if you have it parked up somewhere. For 2019 eConnect gets an improved route recording and a brand new user interface. It's available in more countries, more languages and eBike dealers can access bike information too. You can also add more than one bike, meaning all of the families bikes can be controlled by the touch of a button. There's a new app too. All current users can upgrade to the eConnect V2.0 for free! Now we've summed up a whole host of new features. Let's take a look at some of the new models for the Haibike electric bike range for 2019. Haibike sDuro 2019 Electric Bikes The 2019 Haibike sDuro range is designed for sporty riders, this includes trekking, touring, hybrid & light off-road bikes ranging from hardtails to short travel suspension mountain bikes. Haibike xDuro 2019 Electric Bikes The 2019 Haibike xDuro range is designed for more off-road and extreme riders. Featuring full suspension bikes ranging from Trail, All Mountain to Enduro and DownHill riding and Fat Bikes. Haibike xDuro Bikes With FLYON 2019 The new features of FLYON we mention above will come on an exclusive new range of 2019 Haibikes. This includes AllTrail, AllMtn, NDURO and Adventure bikes. All of these bikes feature the carbon frame, 120Nm of torque, 500% assistance and the 630Wh extended range battery. View the full range of Haibike FLYON eBikes to pre-order here → Haibike 2019 FLYON Electric Bikes. What do we think? We are really excited about the new range. The fact that some of the Yamaha models now feature the InTube battery setup means bikes with integrated batteries are available at an even more affordable price level. There's a 2019 Bosch powered trekking bike in there with the new Bosch ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) which looks really good. The big highlight is the 2019 FLYON equipped electric bikes with assistance & torque levels never before seen via a specialist eBike manufacturer like Haibike before. Expect demand to be high! Haibike has clearly put a huge amount of development into this with so many features that cover all bases for a mix of riders and practicalities. We think they are pushing the boundaries to new levels... Again! When can I get one? We will be taking early 2019 reservations on the range with more basic models arriving from September onwards. You can view the current model line up for 2018 Haibikes here. The models featuring the new Yamaha InTube 500Wh battery should be arriving from November onwards. The new Haibike FLYON equipped electric bikes will be available in 2019, with drops scheduled as early as April onwards ready for next years season. It will be important to get your order in early. View the full range of Haibike FLYON eBikes to pre-order here → Haibike FLYON Bikes.
E-bikeshop is proud to announce that you can buy electric bikes from the UK's specialist eBike retailer via the Cyclescheme. A government-funded cycle to work scheme. Riders can save up to 42% off when buying their electric bike, the Cyclescheme offers not just significant savings off the first £1000 but a host of other benefits too. You can reduce your travel costs significantly whilst feeling great and getting fit. Don't forget, there's no commitment to only ride your eBike work, you can use your new electric bike for leisure too. Example Savings The below shows an example of the saving on a £1000 voucher, with a higher rate taxpayer. eBike Cost £3299Accessory Cost £299Helmet (Safety Equipment) £69Total Cost = £3667-£1000 Voucher = £2667Saving on £1000 = £418.85Total Overall Cost = £3248.15 There are also benefits to the employer too, offering increased productivity whilst maintaining a happy workforce. The savings are not just for the employee as the employer will save too with National Insurance contributions. E-Bikeshop & Cyclescheme As the specialist eBike retailer in the UK, e-bikeshop.co.uk is proud to be only 1 of 5 online retailers authorised to process Cyclescheme vouchers directly via our checkout online. E-bikeshop's managing director Martin Brown said:- We have been working closely with Cyclescheme this year to fully integrate the platform into our website & back end systems. With the main focus on usability for our customers. We wanted to simplify the process of redeeming Cyclescheme vouchers online. It's great to be listed alongside the 'big boys' and to be the only specialist retailer focussing solely on electric bikes. Fully automating the process, offering the full package from the initial purchase to full support & long term backup. E-bikeshop's simple 3 step checkout process makes it easy to redeem Cyclescheme vouchers online, learn how here. Their qualified eBike technicians will fully build and set up your new electric bike ahead of carefully delivering it with any accessories you may have added. Start saving today Cyclescheme has processed over 649,000 bikes to date via the government-funded ride to work scheme. Start saving on your new electric bike today. Start your journey here »
Gocycle has just added the Gocycle GS to run alongside the Gocycle G3, but what is the difference you may ask? Let's compare both Gocycle's side by side. We've been a Premium Gocycle reseller for many years now, starting with the Gocycle G2 and evolving into the state of the art Gocycle G3. The Gocycle is a market leading product, however, they now set out to release the Gocycle GS base model to run alongside the G3. So what's the difference? We'll break this down into some key areas to keep simple. On the surface the Gocycle G3 and GS may seem similar, we'll take a deeper look. Let's start with the basics: Gocycle G3 Gocycle GS Charge Time 3.5 hour 7 hour Weight 16.7 kg 16.5 kg Price £3,499 £2,499 Looks & Appearance Both Gocycle G3 and the GS look similar in their design, that's because they share the same frame and wheels. You'll notice the GS is only available in Grey & White and it's defined by the coloured swingarm (CleanDrive) and the 'S' logo printed on the side. The Gocycle G3 is available in 3 colours: Black, White & Electric Blue. Visually we also offer the Gocycle G3 with a 'Base Pack' included in the price (Normally £169). This includes the folding side leg, centre kickstand and a coil shock lock for securing your bike when parked. The Gocycle GS also uses different handlebars, saddle, grips, pedals and the cables are routed externally, where-as on the Gocycle G3 the cables are fully internal within the frame. The additional Gocycle accessories all fit on both the Gocycle GS and the G3. Gocycle G3 Gocycle GS Colour Uniform Two Tone Cable Routing Internal External Accessories Fits All Fits All Ergonomics As the Gocycle GS and the G3 use the same frame and wheels, the handling is similar. The Gocycle G3 it's fitted with ergonomic grips for more support. Also up front, the G3 handlebars are adjustable in height, the Gocycle GS is in a fixed height handlebar position. The saddle is an Ergo Comfort saddle on the Gocycle G3 over the standard saddle on the GS. The pedals on the Gocycle G3 are sealed bearing, platform pedals (also available in folding) where-as the Gocycle GS comes as standard with folding pedals. So this means all contact points including the handlebar grips, saddle and pedals are different between Gocycle G3 and Gocycle GS models. Gocycle G3 Gocycle GS Grips Ergo Comfort Standard Saddle D2 Comfort Velo Sport Handlebar Adjustment Height & Reach Reach User Interface The UI is where things really differ between models. Not to mention the ergonomic features we talked about above. On the Gocycle G3, the handlebars have an edge to edge built-in display to give parameters such as speed, gear indication, battery level and power assist. The Gocycle GS features a hollow handlebar with no display. You need to connect your phone to for access to such parameters. This smartphone application is also compatible with the Gocycle G3 should you wish to use it in addition to the built-in dash display. The Gocycle G3 also has an integrated Daytime Running Light (DRL) built into the handlebars for safety. Alongside this, the G3 uses rotary shifters to change gear, access assistance modes and adjust the light beam built into the end-to-end display. Gocycle G3 Gocycle GS LED Display Yes No Daytime Running Light Yes No Handlebar Dash Built-In Display No Dash Display Gear Shifting Both Gocycle models have a built-in 3-speed hub within the 'CleanDrive'. The drivetrain is completely enclosed from the elements meaning no maintenance and no dirty clothes! Where the models differ is in the shifting. The Gocycle GS has mechanical shifting by the rider, using cables and a twist grip shifter. The Gocycle G3 however, has complete predictive shifting, electronically, where the user just rides and the gears adjust accordingly. You can however still electronically change manually on the Gocycle G3 should you wish by using the built-in electronic rotary shifter on the handlebars. The rotary shifters are built into the handlebars, with the left controlling various features including high and dipped beam on the Daytime Running Light (DRL) and the right-hand rotary shifter controlling the gears. Gocycle G3 Gocycle GS Shifting Electronic Predictive Mechanical Gear Display LED Dash Mechanical Shifters Electronic Rotary Mechanical Twist Conclusion To conclude we expect there will be demand for the basic Gocycle GS. We see it similar to the iPhone model strategy, Apple launches an iPhone and in a basic 'S' version alongside too. Both make calls and receive texts, but one has more features than the other. Typically the higher spec model is higher in demand. The Gocycle GS & the Gocycle G3 are similar to the iPhone model listed above, in that they both have wheels and roll down the road, but the Gocycle G3 offers more features over the GS. Which Gocycle is for you? Only you can decide.
Ever wondered where Lapierre eBikes are made? Last month we were invited to visit the home of Lapierre bikes based in Dijon, France. Including an inside look at the assembly line and complete factory for Lapierre electric bikes. Having been working with Lapierre bikes for many years now, it was an opportunity we quickly snapped up when offered to visit the factory in France. It all began on an early morning before the sun had come up, we had been staying in a lovely place situated within miles wine field's, of course, what Dijon is also famous for (aside from mustard and bikes!). On arrival, we had an introduction by Gilles Lapierre himself and a welcome presentation by Aurelien Boeuf, Lapierre's second in command. This was to follow with an inside tour by Florian Robin, Lapierre's export manager of the headquarters and electric bike assembly line. Inside the main meeting room, one wall was lined with signed jerseys from various team riders across all aspects of cycling - A nice touch! Inside Aurelien's office was past memorabilia from a previous role, lined up neatly on one wall for inspiration. The factory tour started in the wheel assembly section, where each wheel is handbuilt then laser true'd before being checked again at the other end by a human eye. The wheels are then stored ready for assembly into the bike further down the line. The next stage see's a technician getting each set of handlebars ready with brake levers, gear levers etc installed onto the bar and stem. Lastly, the grips go on ready for the next stage. The previous picture set shows the road handlebars neatly lined up in size order. The factory had just received a big order of Yamaha batteries in (first picture), ready to be installed into the eBikes. The neatly stacked frames and parts then go onto a dedicated technician to build the complete bike. We spotted some Lapierre Overvolt frames ready to be built up next. Then at the far end of the factory, Lapierre had a load of batteries fully charged for us and a mixture of carbon Bosch electric mountain of bikes prepared: 'Just pick one' - they said. After a nice lunch, we left the factory in the heart of the city and were quickly climbing up the tracks between the vineyards up to the peak to find the singletrack down the other side. Mr Lapierre's son rode with us along with one of the team riders. It was a great chance to test the bikes in real conditions. The singletrack was rocky in places with quick drops into sudden climbs, a perfect setting for the Lapierre Overvolt electric mountain bikes! Other areas of Lapierre's headquarters include the top secret quality control and testing areas which photographs are forbidden. Along with the back office team, guys in product testing, design and the support department. It's clear that Lapierre as a whole is built around the bikes and it's the people that make it all work. Born in Dijon in 1946 and is still based here today, generations of dedicated people pass down the secret to what is Lapierre. The city is at the heart of production. All in all, a great trip with fantastic people and amazing bikes. Thanks to the Lapierre team for being so accommodating and the true hospitality - Keep up the good work guys. Learn more about the Lapierre Overvolt electric mountain bikes here - Lapierre eBikes.
A common question relates to how long does an electric bike battery take to charge? We discuss the 3 most popular systems including Bosch, Yamaha & Shimano eBikes. Modern lithium batteries on eBikes recharge in a matter of hours, rather than having to leave them overnight. The charge time depends on how flat the battery was when you put it on charge, sounds obvious, right? Most newer style batteries have a BMS (Battery Management System) on board that controls lots of parameters in the cell. In most circumstances, if the battery is partially charged and you just top it up, it will top up really quickly. Whereas, if the battery is completely flat it could do an 80% fast charge and leave a slower trickle charge for the last 20% to condition the eBike battery. How long does a Bosch battery take to charge? Bosch batteries will charge in 4.5 hrs on a 500Wh and 3.5 hrs on a 400Wh battery from flat. This is using the standard 4A charger. Bosch also offer a compact charger which offers a slightly smaller shell and overall lighter build, this charger in on a 2A system so batteries will take a little longer to charge, about double the time in most circumstances. Expect a 500Wh battery to fully charge in around 7.5 hrs and a 400Wh to charge in about 6.5 hrs. The same applies to Bosch's travel charger which is designed for 12v systems (i.e car cigarette lighter), also running on a 2A system you can expect similar times as the compact charger. How long does a Shimano battery take to charge? Shimano electric bike batteries recharge from flat in 5 hrs. The partial charge terminology we mention at the start of this article also applies to Shimano eBikes, in fact on the E8000 system, Shimano quote: Charging: 80% after 2,5 hrs / 5 hrs from 0 to 100%. The Shimano E8000 batteries only come in 500Wh but are offered in 2 styles depending on which bike you purchase, one is integrated into the downtube and the other is mounted externally. Although different shapes, both styles offer the same capacity and thus take the same time to recharge. How long does a Yamaha battery take to charge? Like Bosch, the Yamaha electric bike batteries come in 2 sizes 400Wh and 500Wh. The system just uses one type of Yamaha charger. The 500Wh battery will recharge in 4 hrs and the 400Wh battery will charge in approx 3.5 hrs from flat. The Yamaha battery can be charged both on and off the bike. It uses the same charger port in both circumstances. Again the Yamaha battery will top up much quicker as it doesn't need to do a slow part charge when not charging from completely flat. To Conclude Electric Bike Battery Charge Times Both Bosch, Yamaha and Shimano all offer similar charge times on the same capacity cells. Bosch is the only one to offer different charger types. But based on the standard charger this table highlights the charging times: Bosch Yamaha Shimano 500 Wh 4.5 hrs 4 hrs 5 hrs 400 Wh 3.5 hrs 3.5 hrs X You can learn how to extend your battery life in our dedicated electric bike battery care guide. Or alternatively, learn more about preserving life and charging in our extended battery care article here. Want to learn how far an eBike battery can assist you? Use our simple eBike battery range tool here.
We take a look at the 2017 electric mountain bike ranges & select the top 5 best looking eMTB out there for the year. Not taking into consideration spec or price, just pure looks! Following a visit to EuroBike it's clear every manufacturer is now on board with a Bosch powered eBike. Selecting the range for 2017 was about summing up many different characteristics including specification, price, components and the also important - Visuals! In this article, we sum up the top 5 best looking (in our opinion) Bosch powered electric mountain bikes for 2017. So spec, use, and price aside here goes: No 1: Haibike xDuro DownHill 9.0 An electric assisted downhill bike? Yes! Now you can forget the uplifts and get back to the top quicker, ready to come back down. More ride time = more fun! With slack angles, triple clamps and DH specific components, the xDuro DownHill 9.0 remains at the top of the list for looks! No 2: Moustache Samedi Race 8 The Moustache Samedi Race 8 for 2017 get's big hits as they are the only manufacturer to fully integrate the battery into the frame. The 'Hidden Power' setup has already received prestigious awards to date and gets voted no 2 on our list. It looks, feels and rides great! No 3: Lapierre AM 700+ Carbon Lapierre took a totally different approach for 2017 on the AM 700. Their GLP system brings the battery centrally within the eBike & lowers the overall centre of gravity. As we are going by design, it looks amazing & the carbon frame brings out the smooth lines with no welds. Nice! No 4: Haibike xDuro FullSeven Carbon What could you not love about the xDuro Full Carbon 10.0? This full suss, fully carbon XC bike is well spec'd but looks the part too. The wheels really set this bike apart. It's the ultimate boy's toy! Ride it or hang it on your wall and don't stop staring, either way, it's great! No 5: Scott E-Genius 700 PLUS TUNED The brand new Scott E-Genius 700 TUNED has certainly gained a lot of momentum for 2017. It's sleek lines, internal cable routeing and high spec components make it look sweet. If that's not enough, the Factory FOX Kashima coated gold components really finish it off! Conclusion Have eBikes become sexy for 2017? You decide! What we do know is, there are some great looking electric mountain bikes out there, with lots of different designs and styles. Many of the above models have also been backed with prestigious awards including the EuroBike Awards and the more recent Design & Innovation 2017 awards. Ready to ride longer, harder & faster? Click to begin your eBike journey now »