One of our customers decided to give us an update of his eBike journey throughout 2015. This includes a detailed review of both the Gocycle G2 and the Haibike sDuro FullNine SL. Where it started? It was late September 2014, my brother was visiting for the weekend and we decided to pop up to Covent Garden and do something touristy. As we walked through Covent Garden, we passed a Smart Car display, and there were a couple of Smart e-bikes on display too. I hadn't really done any cycling since the early nineties. I briefly tried cycling again back in 2007, but this only lasted a few days! So I wouldn't say that I was that mad about cycling, but the idea of an electric bike seemed quite appealing. The next step? While surfing the web, I came across the Gocycle G2, and decided to take a closer look. So the following weekend I went to the closest dealer to try out the Gocycle G2. It was surprisingly easy to ride! It really was fun, but it seemed expensive (for me at least). After much deliberation I popped back to the dealer the following weekend and came away with my new Gocycle G2. I cycled home in the pouring rain with big smile on my face. To sum up the Gocycle? I've now clocked up nearly 1,500 miles on it. It's not like cycling as I remember it, you don't notice the hills so much, you don't get so frustrated when you have to stop and start in traffic, and best of all you don't arrived at your destination dripping with sweat. It's just a more civilised way to cycle. I'm not saying the Gocycle is necessarily the best choice for an e-bike, but it was my first choice. I'm not sure that I was very clinical with my selection process though, I just liked the look of it. Longer term thoughts? Now that I've lived with it for a year I can say that there are some points that really stand out. It's very easy to keep clean (which is quite important given that it is stored in the living room). It's fairly light compared to some other e-bikes, so still fairly easy to carry when necessary (unavoidable sometimes when the lifts are out in the Greenwich foot tunnel). It is possible to fold up. I don't think you would want to do this on a regular basis though. I've not used the folding feature that much, although there have been a few times where I popped it in the boot of the car or took it on the bus. It's very simple to use, and fairly easy to adjust the amount of assistance you want. One thing I'm not so sure about though is the attention it attracts. If you don't like to be noticed then the Gocycle is not for you. People can't help but comment on it. It really is a head turner. The Gocycle is a great little bike that attracts a lot of attention! I'm guessing the range may be a bit short for some. I probably get about 15 miles, but obviously this will vary depending on hills and the level of assistance. The Gocycle really opened my eyes to the benefits of e-bikes, so much so that I bought another e-bike! What did you go for? Back in March 2015 I had been surfing the web again when I came across the Haibike range of mountain e-bikes and I was curious about the crank drive system. I phoned e-bikeshop to see if they could give me a bit more information about the benefits of the crank drive over the hub drive. I spoke to a very helpful chap named Martin and he simply said I should try it out. They were organising a demo day on the South Downs and Martin suggested that I come along and try a few different models. How did it go? The Haibikes are a very different proposition to the Gocycle. The demo day was a lot of fun, and I came away trying to work out how I was going to convince my wife to let me buy another e-bike so quickly after the first one, because my mind was definitely made up. The next week I took delivery of the Haibike sDuro FullNine. It is a great bike! The crank drive kicks in as soon as you start to pedal, which really helps if you are trying to push off on a steep hill. The ride is really smooth and everything feels so tight. The range is surprisingly good. It's just an awesome bit of engineering. Do I prefer the Gocycle or Haibike? That's actually quite a difficult question to answer. The Gocycle is just so easy to live with and is bursting with great ideas, not to mention that it is possibly the most stylish bike I've seen. On the other hand the Haibike is a marvel that you feel you could ride just about anywhere. They both have their advantages and disadvantages, but I'm not sure I could choose one over the other. I use them both fairly equally. I love both of these bikes and I don't plan on parting with either of them anytime soon. To sum up my eBike experience? I would say that the e-bike really has changed my life. I look forward to the daily commute to work! They are expensive but I have only been on public transport a handful of times over the last year so I have already saved myself about £1,500 in bus/tube fares. If you haven't considered an e-bike, I would thoroughly recommend that you do. I've seen articles which suggest it is for those people that aren't very fit for one reason or another, but I don't really agree with that assessment. An e-bike is a really efficient means of personal transport for anyone, much better in the city than a car, or even a motorbike. With thanks to David for this interesting article covering both the Gocycle G2 Folding eBike & Haibike FullNine.
We are pleased to announce details and a first look of the new 2016 Scott eBike range coming to the UK shores. Some exciting new electric mountain bike models with an expanded range for 2016. Due to the success of the 2015 range, we have decided to stock in more models for 2016 with a new expanded range of eMTB's consisting of full suspension, hardtail & different wheel sizes. What's new? Scott are fairly new to the eBike game, we say that, they have been around in the eBike world for a few years now.. But for 2016 the range is refined and incorporates the new exciting Bosch Performance CX drive with more torque and power than ever before. The system is predominantly designed for mountain biking and also includes a larger capacity 500Wh battery pack for more extended trips in the saddle. You can read more on the new Bosch system in another article here 2016 Bosch eBike System. More models? We will be offering the full range of eMTB's, this includes a mix of 2 27.5" hardtails & 2 29" variants. Also on top of the standard 2 Scott Spark (120mm travel) full susser's we will be offering 2 larger travel 29" version and also 2 new 27.5+ versions! How to navigate the range? It's fairly easy to navigate the new 2016 Scott electric bike range, we break it down as follows: The E-: Of course refers to the fact that it's an electric assisted mountain bike! Every eBike has 2 spec grades built on the same frame, wheel size and electrical system. 10: means higher spec, lighter & more durable components. 20: means base model components, built to be well equipped but more affordable. E-Genius: means larger (140-150mm) travel full suspension eBike. E-Spark: means smaller travel (120mm) full suspension eBike. E-Aspect: means that it is a hardtail electric bike (without rear suspension). Anyway enough gassing, let's get on with the models on offer! Starting from the top down: Scott E-Genius 710 Plus 2016 The new E-Genius Plus bikes offer 140mm of full blown trail suspension travel, but are mounted up on extra wide tyres, these bridge the gap between fat bikes and standard trail bikes. Spec Overview: Bosch CX, 500Wh Battery, Intuvia Display, Fox 34, Custom Fox shock, Full XT 11 speed, SLX brakes, RockShox Reverb Stealth post & 27.5+ Formula / Zee wheelset. Find out more here - Scott E-Genius 710 Plus 2016 Scott E-Genius 720 Plus 2016 Built on the same chassis as above but on a lower spec grade, the 720 Plus offers superior grip grip levels, while maintaining full trail ride comfort with the wider 27.5+ tyres. Spec Overview: Bosch CX, 500Wh Battery, Intuvia Display, Fox 34, Custom Fox shock, Full SLX 10 speed, Deore brakes, 27.5+ Formula / Zee wheelset & Syncros finishing kit. Find out more here - Scott E-Genius 720 Plus 2016 Scott E-Genius 910 2016 A brand new model for 2016, the E-Genius 910 offers a high spec 140mm travel 29" electric mountain bike. Finally an option for proper trail addicts that want a larger wheel, faster bike. Spec Overview: Bosch CX, 500Wh Battery, Intuvia Display, Fox 34, Custom Fox shock, Full XT 11 speed, SLX brakes, RockShox Reverb Stealth post & 29" Shimano / Syncros wheelset. Find out more here - Scott E-Genius 910 2016 Scott E-Genius 920 2016 Built on the same chassis, wheel size & electric system as above but on a lower spec grade, the 920 offers an easy way into the electric mountain bike scene, without breaking the bank! Spec Overview: Bosch CX, 500Wh Battery, Intuvia Display, Fox 34, Custom Fox shock, Full SLX 10 speed, Deore brakes, 29" Syncros / Shimano wheels & Syncros finishing kit. Find out more here - Scott E-Genius 920 2016 Scott E-Spark 710 2016 The Scott E-Spark range offers an everyday comfortable full suspension trail bike with 120mm travel and 650B wheels. A good spec bike that suits as an everyday all rounder. Spec Overview: Bosch CX, 500Wh Battery, Intuvia Display, Fox 32, Custom Fox shock, Full XT 11 speed, SLX brakes, 27.5" Syncros / Shimano wheelset & Syncros finishing kit. Find out more here - Scott E-Spark 710 2016 Scott E-Spark 720 2016 There's a theme running here! The Scott E-Spark 720 is the same chassis as above, but again with a lower spec base, offering a more affordable option with more entry level components. Spec Overview: Bosch CX, 500Wh Battery, Intuvia Display, RockShox 120mm Recon, Custom X-Fusion shock, Full SLX 10 speed, Deore brakes & 27.5" Formula / Shimano wheels. Find out more here - Scott E-Spark 720 2016 Scott E-Aspect 710 2016 The Scott E-Aspect 710 is the top spec hardtail for 2016. This model offers decent components on a 100mm travel hardtail frame for your everyday biker. Spec Overview: Bosch CX, Intuvia Display, 500Wh Battery, Fox Float 32 fork, Full Shimano XT 11 speed, Deore brakes, 27.5" Syncros / Shimano wheels.Find out more here - Scott E-Aspect 710 2016 Scott E-Aspect 720 2016 The entry level hardtail within the Scott eBike range. This 100mm travel bike is built on the same chassis as above, but drops down on forks, 10 speed gearing and wheels. Spec Overview: Bosch CX, Bosch Intuvia Display, 500Wh Battery, RockShox Silver forks, Full Shimano SLX 10 speed, Deore brakes, 27.5" Formula / Shimano wheels & Syncros finishing kit. Find out more here - Scott E-Aspect 720 2016 Scott E-Aspect 910 2016 The E-Aspect 910 is the 29" version for 2016. The higher spec model complete with larger wheels for faster rolling & handling. Built with decent components to match the price tag. Spec Overview: Bosch CX, 500Wh Battery, Intuvia Display, Fox Float 32 fork, Full Shimano XT 11 speed, Deore brakes, 29" Syncros / Shimano wheels & Syncros finishing kit. Find out more here - Scott E-Aspect 910 2016 Scott E-Aspect 920 2016 The entry level 29" hardtail within the Scott eBike range. This bike comes with 100mm of travel and is built on the same chassis as above, but drops down on forks, 10 speed gearing and wheels. Spec Overview: Bosch CX, 500Wh Battery, Intuvia Display, RockShox Silver TK fork, Full Shimano SLX 10 speed, Deore brakes, 29" Formula / Shimano wheels & Syncros finishing kit. Find out more here - Scott E-Aspect 920 2016 Please Note: Although all hardtails are pictured above with the standard Bosch performance motor they will arrive spec'd with new Bosch Performance CX drive unit for 2016. What do we think? The new Scott eBike range looks really good for 2016. We have decided to expand on the model range to include the bigger travel suspension bikes. Although we will be stocking both the 27.5" & 29" entry level hardtail models, these will be to run alongside the higher spec ones to make it easy for you to see the differences. Our money is still on the higher spec models, considering the small price difference, the spec is justified and in our mind - is a no brainer. It's also nice to have the larger travel, bigger wheel 29" suspension bikes. This really closes a gap in our range for those hardcore 29'er boys looking for a fully spec'd eMTB. One of the models we think will be most popular is the new E-Genius 710 PLUS bikes, the 27.5" wheels combined with the wider tyre will offer superior levels of grip and ultimately be the middle ground between a fat bike and practical trail conditions. When can I get one? Is exactly the same question we are thinking!. All models are available to pre order right now on our website. The hardtails come in around November time, with the full suspension models following a little later on. Some even before xmas! You can find full spec & availability of each bike on our website here - Scott 2016 eBikes.
Haibike announced the first ever sDuro Yamaha powered ladies specific electric mountain bike a few months back. We were eager to get the verdict on this fantastic new model. Haibike sDuro HardLife SL 2016 Not sure the gents will agree on the name, the Germans decided on this one, so we followed suit. Ladies do you have a HardLife?.. Well it's about to get easier with this new sDuro electric mountain bike! Forget the hills, this tough part of the ride is eased up somewhat with new eAssitance from the Yamaha system. Who better to give the bike a verdict - the lovely Kirsty from our E-Bikeshop Owners Club. With a revised Ladies specific geometry, tighter bars, shorter stem and even offered in 4 sizes. The new ladies Haibike will be popular for an all round hardtail mountain eBike. Great stand over, means ladies short and tall can benefit. The Yamaha battery slides in from the side meaning the top tube can be mounted lower down, giving more clearance. Even the 100mm forks match in perfectly with the matte finish and exact colour coding. We love the fact that Haibike have added the forks decals to match, nice touch! The new decals certainly suit the ladies, we particularly love the hearty sDuro logo and all the little refined decals that come together to make this bike stand out! The new Yamaha control buttons offer a sleeker appearance with blacked out buttons, that no longer look faded after extended use. The buttons also feel more responsive and you can even charge your smartphone on the go using a USB adapter. Let's see what Kirsty had to say after riding the new electric mountain bike for the first time: How would you sum it up? As a keen e-bike rider I have been waiting a long time for a ladies mountain e-bike. I feel this bike was built for me, the handle bars are in the perfect position, the seat is reasonably comfortable considering how streamlined it is. Wow FINALLY a ladies e-bike that looks and feels awesome! It's also much lighter than other e-bikes I have tried which is a massive win in my eyes. It's easy, fuss free and not too technical, which is just what I am after. This now means I can go out riding with my partner on his electric mountain bike, keep up and be comfortable... This will definitely get me out on my e-bike more. You can read more about this bike here - Haibike sDuro HardLife SL Ladies eBike
The E-Bikeshop Owners Club visited Ranmore Common in October 2015 for another amazing day riding electric mountain bikes across the various trails and singletrack. Across the top of the South Downs, Ranmore common offered a mix of different riding terrain. With yet another great day of weather for the club this meant another pleasurable yet exciting ride for the members at the Surrey setting. As our members club continues to grow we welcome the new faces to the team with every meet we have, this is a great chance for them to test their new bikes to the max with a group of E-Bike lovers. Long lasting members Chris and Ken treated the club to another one of their pre-planned track rides, of which they never seem to fail to bring something for everyone. After a little prep talk from the pair about what was ahead for us we soon set off on our adventures on these power injected push bikes. After much hill climbing before long we hit our first bomb hole, some of these ballsy men psyched themselves up enough to chuck themselves down this giant bomb hole. With this winter leafy grounds now forming some of us decided we didn't quite have balls big enough and chose a calmer route. This is what is the great thing about these rides is that no one leaves disappointed, we make our rides as easy or as hard as each individual is comfortable with. Although there is nothing like pushing yourself that little bit harder. Clive after free falling from an identical hill like this one on the opposite side creating a U shape, which shot him straight up the this second hill. There were quite a lot of tree roots going down this hill which made it very slippery but great to watch as an observer. Here is the club having one of our 5 minute breaks because although these great push bikes are powered with electrics we are still getting great exercise and we do have to catch our breath sometimes, especially if some of us have just chucked ourselves down some crazy hills. It is also very important we keep ourselves hydrated, I mean we are going out longer, harder, faster, that's thirsty work. Derek being the one of many ballsy riders went all out and did a slide out down this steep hill. A ride isn't a ride without someone having a slide out. The inner trials always comes out of our main man Martin when he gets out on two wheels, but yet shows us that these bikes can be so versatile, which equals to great entertainment. We always manage to find some area where there some more technical jumpy parts, which is great to mix things up. Chris doing his thing in leading the way through the Ranmore Common hills, tracks and trails, doing an amazing job as always. 'The Sick Bowl' now named by the club. This awesome but daring bowl that we came across gets it's name due to it making you feel so sick because once you join the bowl you can't stop or you'd full in the leafy water that awaits in the middle, much fun for some of the members. Bernie loves to challenge himself and rarely opts out of the trickier parts. This is another bomb hole, these can be very steep and slippery at this time of year and often with many trees blocking tracks, so this can very much be a challenge but great fun. Conclusion While out for another amazing ride with the club we stopped for a little treat at a cafe for tea and cake where we could gather and chat about our ride so far. To sum it up there were a couple of falls, a lot of laughs and a lot of power. We even topped off the ride with a little extra circuit for the more technical riders which really tested their performance. Overall great work from the club, to be continued... Don’t worry club members, the next ride will be posted in the group shortly. Photos will of course be uploaded to the members page in the coming days, feel free to tag yourselves! The E-Bikeshop Owners Club is a closed group of riders, if you have purchased a eBike from us and want to get involved, please get in touch.
Now you've got your electric mountain bike, it's time to learn some of those skills & techniques for use out on the trail. Even if you are already confident in trail riding on your eMTB then take a read, as you may be able to refine some of those techniques further. Some of you may have seen the new Up Hill Flow 2 video from Bosch. We have broken this down into easy snippets of simple numbered manoeuvres. Sorry for the German speaking, but the translated subtitles have been added and the pictures speak for themselves. Bosch eBike Technique 1: Selecting Assistance Modes When riding a Bosch eBike off road, it's imperative to select the correct assistance mode. You can use the electric bike assistance to your advantage. Get used to scrolling different levels of assistance on your eBike dependent on the terrain you are riding. Bosch eBike Technique 2: Center of Gravity When riding eMTB's off road, you can use the low center of gravity to your advantage. Providing a good balance, especially when riding downhill. It also helps when braking because you have more weight, therefore better traction on the back wheel. Bosch eBike Technique 3: Cornering Boost Using your Bosch eBike in cornering can give you great benefits, you can ride in slower and more controlled and then boost out of the corner. This achieves a really flowing ride when riding and keeps your momentum up across the trails. Bosch eBike Technique 4: Pedal Management Keeping your eBike pedals level is paramount when coasting, this allows more control and a higher ground clearance. Depending on if you are left or right footed you should have this at the front. This will give your body more control and balance. Bosch eBike Technique 5: Navigating Sharp Turns Making sharp turns, particularly when travelling uphill can be tricky. It's important to use your body weight and the power of the eBike to hold momentum correctly. It's important to be in the correct gear and enter the corner with the opposite pedal at the back so that when you exit it is ready at the front to power out. Bosch eBike Technique 6: Gear Selection Bearing in mind the Bosch eBike system responds to cadence, correct gear selection is essential to get the most out of your electric bike. Particularly useful when climbing as the eBike benefits from being in a higher gear, and seated in the saddle, this gives you more momentum and allows good traction of the rear wheel. Bosch eBike Technique 7: Starting Up Hill One of the massive benefits of an electric mountain bike is that it is no trouble stopping and starting on a steep slope. To do this, the best way is to select a good assistance mode and start in a high gear. This will quickly propel your momentum forward so you can find your balance. Don't select a too high assistance mode as you may find the bike wheelies on a steep hill. Bosch eBike Technique 8: Tapping Obstacles Use the electric assistance to your advantage when approaching obstacles. As you approach, tap on the pedals to give yourself a boost just before you hit, this will balance your weight and allow the eBike to be propelled up and over. Suspension will also help here as it compresses and springs back. Once mastered you can use these together to ride over obstacles easier. Bosch eBike Technique 9: Trail Boost By using your eMTB to it's full potential, you can 'Boost' the trails, turns and obstacles. Select a high assistance mode and light gear. Then nudge the pedals where required to boost your way round tight trails and keep a good flow. Bosch eBike Technique 10: Turning eBike when stationary When stationary, sometimes it is required to turn around and go back the other way. On the eBike you can hold the rear brake, stomp on the pedal, at the same time release the brake. Let your arms move with the bike as it hops around. Make sure you have a clear area, with enough space and make sure to keep your legs out of the way. A pedal to the shin sucks! Bosch eBike Technique 11: Uphill Wheelie A wheelie on a eBike is easier than you may thing. You have the added advantage of power and torque. Select a high assistance mode and light gear. Then propel the pedals, whilst lifting slightly on the bars. It's easier to sit down as you can balance your weight and have more control. This one really takes some practice! Make sure to hover your finger over the rear brake lever so you can control yourself if you go up too high. Practice makes perfect, find the balance point, start on soft ground! Bosch eBike Technique 12: Wheel Prancing As you power up the hill on the eMTB, you get good traction on the rear end and the front end will become light. Prancing is where you can almost allow the front wheel to go where it wants as it prances over the terrain. Keep your body pointing in the right direction, but this will allow for a smoother more flowy ride. Bosch eBike Technique 13: Trail Etiquette Last but not least, certainly most importantly, we need to appreciate the trails are accessed by everyone and learn to respect others out on the hills. Leaving plenty of space and being courteous to others is key to a safe outdoor environment for everyone to enjoy, be it dog walkers, other cyclists, horse riders and of course the ramblers. Now its your turn.. Now you have navigated through the videos, it's time to take some of these skills to the trail. Remember practice makes perfect, give yourself some time to learn and refine the moves above. Make sure you have good space around you and remember others may be using the trials too, so find a quiet place to try these out and be courteous to others. Don't forget you can also spend some time with a professional rider to hone in on these skills. Sometimes it's good to have someone there to watch what you are doing 3rd hand and suggest ways to improve. There are now a number of electric bike coaching professional ready to offer their services. In the UK, Alex @ eMTB coaching specialises in this area. We have first hand experience with him and must say the feedback is great. Enjoy the videos above? Don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel for updates. Not got an eMTB yet? View the full range on our shop here - Electric Mountain Bikes. Bookmark the page so you can refer back to them when out on your bike and take your electric mountain biking to the next level! Lets Go!..
The E-Bikeshop Owners Club revisited Swinley Forest in September 2015 for another amazing day riding electric mountain bikes across the various trails and singletrack. We actually already visited Swinley Forest AKA The Lookout in Bracknell earlier in the year & everyone had a great day. So we decided to do it again for our September outing, this time with lots more riders and some new faces as always. To mix things up fellow club member Clive offered to lead a few 'off piste' sections which were optional as he lives local and knows some of the hidden trails off the main track. We all met in the carpark first thing for a quick briefing and welcome, mainly for the newer members. We don't have rules as such, but a quick overview of where we were going and some trail etiquette saw us off out the car park and hitting the trails in no time. We had a mixed group of riders this time, some only just got their new eBikes and some were more hardened members. A couple of ladies joined us and we had a mix of abilities, fortunately we never push the limits too much, so it's a enjoyable experience for everyone. There are certain places where the 'wilder' riders can have a bit of fun too! We started on the Blue section, which is tight and twisty with lots of man made berms and bumps through the trees, this leads onto the Red section which is slightly harsher trails, but still tame enough to be able to gently roll over the whole trail if needs be. Some sections we had to make sure if we were stopping in between to regroup for a few seconds, that we actually didn't block the trail. This was quite apparent with everyone grouping over to one side to let other people past on the crossing sections. The first part of the red section was actually closed last time we visited which was a real shame, but fortunately all the felling was complete and it was back open this time for us tall to enjoy. The famous 'Tank Traps' lead you up and down each side of a small valley, was really fun keeping your momentum up each side to come back down again. A quick pit stop a short way in was just enough to catch the breath, also a good time to natter 'eBike talk' and of course chat with 'Analogue Bikers' to educate on what they will be upgrading to in the near future! About half way round we took a detour over the 'Jump Gully', this was great to have a little play over the jumps and also a good rest stop for others. Some were getting a little bit ambitious (Derek mainly) which turned into dropping off small ledges into the gulley! Everyone had a few runs down here. It was great as you can take it at your own pace, all the jumps are tabletops, so they are flat on top, which means you can simply roll over them until you build up confidence and speed. As the confidence grew, some club members found themselves catch air as they got faster and faster over the jumps. Fortunately everyone stayed upright, although Derek did have a little wobble after dropping off ledge and nearly coming off sideways, fortunately he held on and rolled out safely without hurting his pride. The next section of Red trails were absolutely awesome, probably a good point to say the weather was fantastic with blue summer skies and the sun really warming the trails up. As most of this was singletrack through the trees the shelter got the temperature just right. With such a high number of riders, we pretty much ruled the trails yesterday, it was nice to be in a decent sized group as it added lots of different positions within the group to ride in and close with other Bikers. Conclusion There were a couple of tumbles throughout the day, but everyone made it back in safely in one piece with smiles all round. Most of all we all had fun! This ride ended with a monster tea and coffee order in the cafe next to the car park, another good time to catch up and natter about the day's events. What is the most noticeable when riding in the club, it's not just the enthusiasm shared across the eBikes, it's the great people who make the club what it is. Such a good bunch of guys (and girls), it's actually as much about catching up with everyone as it is riding the bikes. Don't worry club members, the next ride will be posted in the group shortly. Keep your eyes peeled! There are over 100 photos from the day will be uploaded shortly to the members area. Feel free to tag and share as you like. Lots of good new profile pictures in there. The E-Bikeshop Owners Club is a closed group of riders, if you have purchased a eBike from us and want to get involved, please get in touch.
E-Bikeshop are live in Germany this week at EuroBike 2015. We bring you up to date information about the most interesting electric bikes on show in the 2016 eBike ranges. One thing that was apparent this year was the increase in electric bikes across the board. EuroBike is the biggest cycle show in Europe with every manufacturer showing off what they have to offer for 2016 in both normal bikes, eBikes, parts and accessories. Last year we visited and eBikes were on the increase, however this year it's quite clear that the eBikes are dominating the space with almost half of it devoted to electric assisted bikes. With over 600,000 eBikes sold in Germany last year alone, it's no wonder every manufacturer now has an eBike to offer. Some early adopters are taking the eBike scheme very seriously, manufacturers like Haibike now have over 50 different models within the range, lots with more eBike on offer than normal bikes. The show is split between far east hub drive suppliers and the crank drive suppliers. The dominance of European bikes adopting the latest crank drive systems. It's clear Bosch has the biggest piece of the pie here, but others are following. In particular Yamaha, Shimano and smaller manufacturers like Panasonic, Brose and Continental are entering the crank drive market. All adding to the competition, in our eyes is a good thing because it means we get to see bigger advancements year on year. With so much on offer this year, we haven't even been able to take it all in. So here below are the more interesting electric bikes we spotted in our travels around the Euro Bike show from over 1000 exhibitors from 54 different countries.. Enjoy! The new 2016 Scott 27.5+ Bosch powered eBike certainly caught our eye. This electric bike supplier offering manufacturers a stealthy approach with the battery inside the frame. Coffee anyone? This Bosch powered Nicolai is fully kitted up for hot beverages on the go! New beautiful looking Moustache larger travel Bosch eBike for 2016. This Sinus eBike tucks away the Bosch motor and mounts the battery in line with the seat tube. Mean looking Lapierre Overvolt with Bosch CX motor for 2016. Taking a look what goes on inside the new Shimano Steps crank drive motor. The new 2016 Haibike xDuro Downhill bike, the only eBike we spotted with triple clamps, winner! Cobi smart phone system that will connect to most eBikes including, Bosch, Yamaha, Brose and Trans-X. Not an eBike, but had to picture this bike hand crafted out of bamboo! THE best bike of the show? The 2016 Haibike Full Carbon ULTIMATE. Wondered what it looks like in the new Bosch Performance CX drive unit?.. Here it is. Little shopper bike by Lambardo, mounts the Bosch battery in the basket, that's different! Gocycle had a specially wrapped bike for Levis jeans, looked really smart. How will you customise your Gocycle? New 180mm travel Lapierre Yamaha powered electric mountain bike, WOW! Not quite sure what this is, but it's electric and super light weight with a plastic frame. Not sure if we love it or hate it? The new Spitzing electric mountain bike. Specialized enter the market with a new crank drive electric mountain bike for 2016. For the sly eBiker's out there, this system pops down the seat tube for a minimalistic look, not sure how well it will work under pressure. A Reese and Muller Cargo Bosch powered bike, it's different! Could get a weekly shop in the front. The new Heisenberg Bosch powered eBike, this it just came off the set of the new terminator movie? It's nuts! Brand new Haibike sDuro 2016 NDURO Yamaha powered enduro bikes. Not sure what this thing is, but some crazy European guys have been hard at work creating this piece of electric assisted machinery. FIRST EVER 24" kids electric bike from Haibike, powered with a unique Yamaha system to assist kids further. This electric mountain bike is a bit strange, the massive crank drive motor is powered by a battery pack in your rucksack. Not sure if this works? Last but not least we have a Brose powered electric fat bike. This one taking its inspiration from honey bee comb design.All in all it's been a great first day at Euro Bike 2015. Not even scraped the surface but lots of interesting electric bikes to look at. One thing is clear - It's certainly a big year for eBikes in 2016! You can view many of the up and coming 2016 electric bikes in our shop by clicking here.
New Haibike 2016 sDuro range of Yamaha powered eBikes coming to UK shores soon. Here we give an overview of the growing sDuro electric bikes set for 2016. Last year we saw a whole new range come to Europe from Haibike as they collaborated with Yamaha to bring a totally new range of electric bikes to the continent. The Yamaha system proved to be hugely popular, most models sold out shortly after announcing the new range. What's new? The 2016 range continues to grow, now with lots of new additions to complement the popular existing models. We see a new things like a kids 24" eBike, new ladies specific hardtail, enduro, cross, 27.5+ wheel eBike and even a full suspension fat bike! This tops the range to a staggering 15 models over last year's 6 model line up! Wow! Yamaha 2016 eBike system There have been some small improvements to the Yamaha eBike system situated on all the 2016 model across the range. The biggest addition are a new Eco+ mode of assistance. Before we had just 3 modes - Eco, Medium & High. Now with the addition of the Eco+ mode ranges can be extended with this more conservative mode of assistance. Haibike have told us that the Yamaha 400Wh battery can now extend to 30% more than previous. Tests have shown Eco+ mode to offer powered assistance up to 170km (105 miles). Also the control buttons see a revamp, now with more stealthy buttons which will last the rigours of mountain biking without fading the what was previously white symbols. The control also now features a micro USB for 2016 so the user can recharge phones, mp3 players etc whilst out on the ride, directly off the Yamaha eBike battery. Neat Eh? Now the new features are out of the way, let's talk about some of the new 2016 models! Every bike is listed below with a brief description, you can click the link on each to learn more including the full overview, specification & prices. Please Note: All of the images below are artists impressions and some of the specification in the pictures is not 100% accurate. Please refer to the full specification on each bike page. Haibike sDuro HardFour RX 2016 The smallest of the 2016 sDuro eBikes, a kids 24" wheeled electric bike! Now they won't get worn out half way through the day. Let the family go on a proper full day ride out! Price: £1,749 Wheel Size: 24″ Sizes: One Size Haibike sDuro HardFour RX 2016 Haibike sDuro HardSeven SL 2016 The entry level Haibike sDuro for 2016. The HardSeven is your everyday hardtail eBike built on 27.5" wheels and budget components. Now with 10 speed, even better than last year! Price: £1,894 Wheel Size: 27.5″ (650B) Sizes: 35, 40, 45, 50 & 55cm Frames Haibike sDuro HardSeven SL 2016 Haibike sDuro HardLife SL 2016 Same spec and price as the HardSeven above, but now in a new ladies specific variant for 2016. With narrower bars, revised geometry and new colour scheme, it looks good. Price: £1,894 Wheel Size: 27.5″ (650B) Sizes: 35, 40, 45 & 50 Frames Haibike sDuro HardLife SL 2016 Haibike sDuro HardNine SL 2016 The Hard Nine is the same specification and price as the two models above. But this time in a 29" wheel variant. Now for the first time ever we have both option of wheels on the SL. Price: £1,894 Wheel Size: 29″ Sizes: 35, 40, 45 & 50 Frames Haibike sDuro HardNine SL 2016 Haibike sDuro Cross SL 2016 The first ever Haibike sDuro hybrid bike. The Cross SL is capable of light off road riding and road, this versatile bike comes in at a wallet friendly price point with good components. Price: £1,949 Wheel Size: 700c Sizes: Unisex 44, 48 &52cm Mens 48, 52, & 56cm Frames Haibike sDuro Cross SL 2016 Haibike sDuro Trekking RC 2016 Similar to the Cross model, but more orad inclined. The 2016 Trekking RC is fully equipped with all the necessaries, it can be used on roads, bridle paths and light off road paths. Price: £2,349 Wheel Size: 700c Sizes: Unisex 44, 48 &52cm Mens 48, 52, & 56cm Frames Haibike sDuro Trekking RC 2016 Haibike sDuro FullNine SL 2016 The new FullNine SL is the entry level full suspension model within the Haibike range. Built with 100mm of travel and a 29'er wheel for a fast rolling XC mountain bike. Price: £2,499 Wheel Size: 29″ Sizes: 40, 45, 50 & 55cm Frames Haibike sDuro FullNine SL 2016 Haibike sDuro AllMtn SL 2016 The entry level eBike within the Haibike all mountain range, built on 27.5" wheels & 150mm travel, the spec on this bike brings us a new all mountain bike in at sub £3k! Price: £2,699 Wheel Size: 27.5″ (650B) Sizes: 40, 44, 48 & 52cm Frames Haibike sDuro AllMtn SL 2016 Haibike sDuro AllMtn RC 2016 The next one up from the SL, the AllMtn RC. Based on the same frame but offers a better spec base. This Yamaha AllMtn model was a popular one for us last year. Price: £3,099 Wheel Size: 27.5″ (650B) Sizes: 40, 44, 48 & 52cm Frames Haibike sDuro AllMtn RC 2016 Haibike sDuro AllMtn RX 2016 Let's go up again within the AllMtn range. The RX offers a supreme level of components, this difference on this one is the electronic suspension! Read the spec to find out more. Price: £3,699 Wheel Size: 27.5″ (650B) Sizes: 40, 44, 48 & 52cm Frames Haibike sDuro AllMtn RX 2016 Haibike sDuro AllMtn PRO 2016 The top spec model features the Ei Electronic Suspension as the RX above, but now with the full XT, Mavic wheels and more burly components you can really put through its paces. Price: £4,299 Wheel Size: 27.5″ (650B) Sizes: 40, 44, 48 & 52cm Frames Haibike sDuro AllMtn PRO 2016 Haibike sDuro AllMtn Plus 2016 The new tyre size to hit the UK by storm - 27.5+ What is it? It utilises a 27.5" wheel on 3" tyres to bridge the gap between standard trail bikes and fat bikes. More grip = More Fun! Price: £3,499 Wheel Size: 27.5″+ (650B) Sizes: 40, 44, 48 & 52cm Frames Haibike sDuro AllMtn Plus 2016 Haibike sDuro NDURO RX 2016 Part of the new enduro range within the Haibike sDuro's - The NDURO RX, fully equipped with 650B wheels and 180mm of travel to take whatever you throw at it. Amazing machine. Price: £3,599 Wheel Size: 27.5″ Sizes: 43, 45, 47 & 49cm Frames Haibike sDuro NDURO RX 2016 Haibike sDuro NDURO PRO 2016 Built on the same frame as the RX above. The PRO version takes the specification to a whole new level. Say hello to the new breed of enduro electric mountain bikes. Beautiful. Price: £4,399 Wheel Size: 27.5″ Sizes: 43, 45, 47 & 49cm Frames Haibike sDuro NDURO PRO 2016 Haibike sDuro Full FatSix 2016 What can we say about this one?.. It's absolutely awesome, a full suss fat bike! This is plain crazy OR makes perfect sense. We can't decide, but would love to take it on the trails! Price: £3,499 Wheel Size: 26″ Sizes: 42, 46, & 50cm Frames Haibike sDuro Full FatSix 2016 What do we think? The new range of sDuro bikes for 2016 looks set to be pretty mega! Some of the new models are a warm welcome and actually finish off the range of bikes quite nicely. We think the 24" kids bike will be popular as this market has never really been properly catered for before. The Yamaha system is revised on this model to make it safer for kids, you can read more by clicking the link above. The new NDURO bikes are highly anticipated, now riders have the option of either Bosch or Yamaha on these bikes. It also means that you can hit the trails on a 180mm travel enduro bike without breaking the bank. The Full FatSix is growing on us, at first it was a little bit of a shock, but then that's precisely what its all about. It does make sense to have the added grip and comfort together. We like the new 27.5"+ model too for anyone pondering over getting a fat bike, this will be the perfect inbetweener. Haibike have clearly been very busy putting this new 2016 sDuro range together! When can I get one? We have decided to release details of the 2016 range early so anyone who missed the boat, can get in quickly and reserve a Haibike sDuro model for 2016. We have actually already started taking orders. All can be ordered now on a first come first served basis with pre-ordered bikes starting to arrive around October 2015. View the full Haibike 2016 range here. Pay in full or reserve today with a £199 deposit. Please Note: All of the 2016 model images above are artists impressions.
So here goes, let's present the 2016 range of Bosch powered xDuro³ electric bikes! From electric mountain, trekking & road with a brief overview of what each has to offer for 2016. What's new? First off you may want to know what the major significant changes are for 2016. On many models we have the integration of the new Bosch Performance CX drive. Now with more assistance and torque levels, it's also a smoother more compact quieter ride. We also see brand new frame integrations, where the motor is tucked right up within and the battery actually mounts directly into the frame itself. Along with many other things like geometries, graphics, new models ranges etc. Learn more in the full article of 2016 Haibike xDuro features here. Hopefully you have now scrolled through the article above, so lets move swiftly onto the complete range of bikes. Every bike is listed below with a brief description, you can click the link on each to learn more including the full overview, specification & prices. Please Note: All of the images below are artists impressions and some of the specification in the pictures is not 100% accurate. Please refer to the full specification on each bike page. Haibike xDuro HardSeven RC 2016 The entry level xDuro mountain hardtail electric bike, with 27.5" wheels & 100mm travel front suspension for your everyday mountain biking. Price: £2,599 Wheel Size: 27.5″ (650B) Sizes: 40, 45, 50 & 55cm Frames Haibike xDuro HardSeven RC 2016 Haibike xDuro Cross RC 2016 The cross does exactly as the name suggests, it's suitable for both on and off road, a hybrid if you like. With clutter free components and a larger faster rolling wheel. Price: £2,499 Wheel Size: 700c Sizes: Unisex 44, 48 &52cm Mens 48, 52, & 56cm Frames Haibike xDuro Cross RC 2016 Haibike xDuro Trekking RX 2016 Your all round trekking bike with 700c wheel mainly catered for the road, but can touch bridle, canal & towpaths. full equipped bike with mudguards, rack, lights, side stand etc. Price: £2,999 Wheel Size: 700c Sizes: Unisex 44, 48 &52cm Mens 48, 52, & 56cm Frames Haibike xDuro Trekking RX 2016 Haibike xDuro HardNine RC 2016 The entry level xDuro mountain hardtail electric bike, with 29" wheels & 100mm travel front suspension for your everyday cyclist. Good for both on road and offroad. Price: £2,599 Wheel Size: 29" Sizes: 40, 45, 50 & 55cm Frames Haibike xDuro HardNine RC 2016 Haibike xDuro Urban RC 2016 Built as a fast tarmac bike, popular with both commuters, leisure and roadie riders alike. This fast rolling bike is one of the lightest in the range, built for speed and agility on roads. Price: £3,199 Wheel Size: 700c Sizes: 50, 53, 56cm & 60cm Frames Haibike xDuro Urban RC 2016 Haibike xDuro FullSeven RC 2016 The entry level xDuro full suspension mountain bike, with 120mm travel. For your everyday cyclist after a full suss'er for general trail riding, cross country & trail centers. Price: £3,299 Wheel Size: 27.5" Sizes: 40, 45, 50 & 55cm Frames Haibike xDuro FullSeven RC 2016 Haibike xDuro FullSeven Carbon RX 2016 The entry level xDuro full suspension carbon mountain bike, with 120mm travel. Featuring a lightweight carbon chassis suitable for general trail riding, cross country & trail centers. Price: £5,599 Wheel Size: 27.5" Sizes: 40, 45 & 50cm Frames Haibike xDuro FullSeven Carbon RX 2016 Haibike xDuro FullSeven Carbon PRO 2016 Your mid range xDuro full suspension carbon mountain bike, with 120mm travel and better spec components. Suitable for general trail riding, cross country & trail centers. Price: £8,599 Wheel Size: 27.5" Sizes: 40, 45 & 50cm Frames Haibike xDuro FullSeven Carbon Pro 2016 Haibike xDuro FullSeven Carbon ULTIMATE 2016 Pretty much what it implies in the name, THE best bike money can buy, also the lightest Bosch full suspension eBike on the planet! Check out the full spec on this one. Price: £12,999 Wheel Size: 27.5" Sizes: 40, 45 & 50cm Frames Haibike xDuro FullSeven Carbon Ultimate 2016 Haibike xDuro AllMtn RC 2016 The entry level spec Haibike All Mountain bike. With 150mm travel & a good component base and affordable price tag. Suitable for trail centers and all mountain riding. Price: £3,799 Wheel Size: 27.5" Sizes: 42, 46, 50 & 54cm Frames Haibike xDuro AllMtn RC 2016 Haibike xDuro AllMtn RX 2016 The mid range Haibike All Mountain bike. With 150mm RockShox / Fox suspension & the new Shimano XT 11 speed gear system. Suitable for trail centers and all mountain riding. Price: £4,299 Wheel Size: 27.5" Sizes: 42, 46, 50 & 54cm Frames Haibike xDuro AllMtn RX 2016 Haibike xDuro AllMtn PRO 2016 The top spec xDuro all mountain bike within the Haibike range. Full Sram 11 speed, Bosch Nyon and latest Fox suspension. Suitable for trail centers and all mountain riding. Price: £5,899 Wheel Size: 27.5" Sizes: 42, 46, 50 & 54cm Frames Haibike xDuro AllMtn PRO 2016 Haibike xDuro NDURO RX 2016 The entry level Enduro bike, built with 180mm travel for tougher hits and maximum adjustability. This bike is suitable for enduro, light downhill & trail center use. Price: £4,299 Wheel Size: 27.5" Sizes: 43, 45, 47 & 49cm Frames Haibike xDuro NDURO RX 2016 Haibike xDuro NDURO PRO 2016 The top spec Enduro bike, built with 180mm travel for tougher hits and maximum adjustability. This bike is suitable for enduro, light downhill & trail center use. Price: £5,999 Wheel Size: 27.5" Sizes: 43, 45, 47 & 49cm Frames Haibike xDuro NDURO PRO 2016 Haibike xDuro Downhill PRO 2016 The world's first Bosch full suspension downhill bike. Set to take the UK by storm, no longer wait around for uplifts, take this bike to the extreme - A fully specced DH eBike! Price: £6,899 Wheel Size: 27.5" Sizes: 42, 43, 44 & 45cm Frames Haibike xDuro Downhill PRO 2016 Haibike xDuro FatSix RC 2016 Again set to be popular the entry level Haibike fat bike. This grizzler will take on mixed terrain from snow, sand, mud and pretty much anything you throw in its path. Price: £3,299 Wheel Size: 26" Sizes: 40, 45 & 50cm Frames Haibike xDuro FatSix RC 2016 Haibike xDuro FatSix RX 2016 The higher spec fat bike within the Haibike range, this one built with the latest Shimano XT 11 speed, RockShox Bluto forks and higher grade components. Proper job! Price: £3,999 Wheel Size: 26" Sizes: 40, 45 & 50cm Frames Haibike xDuro FatSix RX 2016 Please click the links above to view full specifications of the new 2016 models above. What do we think? Here at E-Bikeshop HQ we think new range for 2016 looks great. With lots of new models that pretty much covers all bases for anyone looking for an electric bike. We particularly like the new xDuro Down Hill bike and also the hybrid Cross bikes. These plug 2 gaps in the market that have previously been un-catered for. Pleased to see the spec of the new Haibike FatSix RX too with the new revised geometry and 11 speed gearing. Not to forget the Carbon Ultimate, looks absolutely awesome, can't wait to see these through! When we rode the new Bosch CX Performance drive in Germany, the extra torque and assistance was very noticeable, especially in both Sport and Turbo modes. There is also more low down torque and the whole bike is quieter. Expect a full review on this soon! As always these bikes are in high demand and we expect the popular models to sell out pretty quickly. We think Haibike like the fact that demand is greater than build capacity! When can I order one? Here's a sneaky shot when we visited Haibike to show production is already in full swing: We have actually already started taking orders. All can be ordered now on a first come first served basis with pre-ordered bikes starting to arrive around October 2015. View the full Haibike 2016 range here. Pay in full or reserve today with a £199 deposit. Please Note: All of the 2016 model images above are artists impressions.
On Sunday 2nd August we travelled south for another E-Bikeshop owners club ride. This time seeing what the south coast has to offer around Friston Forest! We met mid morning at a small village called Alfriston, here a convenient car park located just a short ride down some country lanes and we were straight onto some tracks. While a couple of Owners Club regulars missed this one, we did see some more new faces on this ride, every ride seems to show new people and the club is growing in popularity. We rode out of Alfriston and up a steep climb then headed out onto the road to see a fantastic sight - The Wilmington Giant. We then climbed further up the side of Windover Hill for quite a while until we hit the peak at the top, where some more fantastic views could be taken in. Fortunately all the climbing at the start of the ride was not diminished as of course we were all on eBikes and could enjoy the up hills! We then rode down and along into the top of Friston forest, this ride was led by fellow member Gary. This is his local riding spot so he knew exactly where to take us to get the best views, terrain and singletrack. Friston forest is full of bomb holes following the war. Fortunately for us, these bomb holes made for great riding in between the tight woodland singletrack. The first ones we rode are called Doris and Bert. We then went on to ride 'The Wall of Death Bomb Hole'. All the tricker parts were avoidable for the less experienced in the group. Whilst some got carried away and hit them multiple times, getting more and more confident with each run! We then went on to ride the 'Fairy Trail' with lots of tight twists, turns, roots and the odd jump to keep things exciting. Gary got us all trying the bomb hole challenge, where you have to enter one side and leave the other side without pedalling. The temptation to stick the anchors on or add in a little pedal to get back the other side was agonising. But a couple managed to do it after multiple attempts. Entering with enough speed to get back out meant that a little airtime was required as you entered the bomb hole. Good fun indeed! Lovely trails and the fact that you could ride around most bits if you were not confident was again great for the newer members. Although by the end of the ride most of them were getting air on the tabletop jumps! From the bottom of Friston forest we climbed back up and Gary showed us the Snow Trail. What appeared to be fairly hidden, I am glad we had him on board as so many of these excellent trails could easily be missed if you didn't know where they were. The bonus of having a local in the club I suppose! We have found this with previous rides too, it's so nice to follow and not have to know where you are going. Each ride we tend to have a leader that knows the area well. This works perfectly and not only do you get to ride with like minded eBikers, but you learn new places to ride too. Double win! Conclusion To conclude the ride we headed out of Friston and rode down through Westdean to Cuckmere Haven. This hotspot was really busy on the Sunday with tourists and locals alike enjoying the beach and a quick paddle in the sea. It was a great opportunity to stop, unwind and cool off. Forgot to add at the start of the report that once again the weather was amazing! A short ride back up through Litlington and over to Alfriston left us back at the car park where we met. With high spirits & smiles all round. The big question is when is the next ride out? Well it's live now, so to all of our fellow owners, login and make sure you get the date aside! This next one's going to be popular as we revisit a favourite from earlier in the year. The E-Bikeshop Owners Club is a closed group of riders, if you have purchased a eBike from us and want to get involved, please get in touch.
On Sunday 12th July 2015 our E-bike Shop Owners Club hit the hills again for another great day riding electric bikes at Leith Hill! While our chief man was doing his E-Bike thing is Germany checking out the new range, that meant that the other E-Bike Shop Members took lead in making sure our team were geared up and ready for a super fun ride. While we have the same great faces that come to our action packed meet's that we now class as friends, it was great to see the new faces of the two Mark’s and Neil that joined us on the day and are now very much sucked into the E-bike vibe. We soon set off where Chris and Ken lead the way to show us all kinds of different terrains, some of which we had not yet come across such as sand. It’s great that we can get different rides with each meet we have, no ride is ever the same, which always makes it that more exciting. After much climbing and a lot of pedal work we were rewarded with these breath taking views (quite literally after getting up there), a full 360 degree view of nothing but fields. We all thanked ourselves for getting up early to appreciate such views. Which is the lovely thing about this club is that it’s not just about the fitness, yes it gets you out the house, it gets you meeting new people with the same interest, but we get to see views that not everyone is able to see, which always gives you the real feeling of achievement together as a team. On our journeys, of course we are always going to come up against people and have not seen these bikes before and always have a few questions, of course naturally we always just hand them the bike and say try it for yourself, as there sometimes is just no other way to explain or describe such a fantastic invention. Ken being the talkative one, he tends to stop and chat to everyone interested, but like Ken we are all equally passionate about these great bikes. There is always time for a quick selfie just to show how happy we are, even with a few minor stumbles along the way. The team are always supportive, so motivational to keep you going when at times, even when you feel you may be struggling. But we always do it as a team, and we never split off and always wait for one another. But we always make it flexible so we can go at our own pace. There were some easy parts of our ride but also some extra tricky parts which involved pushing yourself that little bit further. We love a good challenge to keep it interesting and to test ourselves but to get that feeling of accomplishment. To finish off what was another great ride, at this point we started getting quite heavy rain, while before it was a nice light misty rain which kept us feeling fresh and cool with the British muggy weather, we began to get quite soaked through. To which we thought a great opportunity to have a hot beverage before heading back. The E-Bikeshop Owners Club is a closed group of riders, if you have purchased a eBike from us and want to get involved, please get in touch.
Last week we visited Haibike in Germany. Aside from riding the very latest Haibike eBike tech, we were invited on a factory tour at Haibike HQ at Winora in Schweinfurt. Certainly an offer we couldn't turn down! Haibike pride themselves in producing high quality eBikes. The complete innovation, design and production comes from the heart of their electric bike factory in Germany. We were met by Tina Puello in the Winora reception Haibike are part of Winora Group). Both Winora & Haibike are a family business, originating with Tina's great grandfather opening a small shop in the industrial town of Schweinfurt back in the early 19th century. The cycle shop was closed after the war and Tina's grandfather decided to re-open it and start producing bikes. The business today is a global company offering 1000's of bikes, parts and accessories. Today, Tina's mother Susanne Puello is CEO of Winora group and Tina's father Felix Puello is Winora groups Haibike brand manager. They still hold a stone embedded in the wall at Haibike which originated from the small shop many years ago. Winora Bike Parts Let's start off by saying this place is massive! So we have grouped together some of the interesting things we found inside. First off, lets see where the parts are stored. This side of the warehouse holds 1000's of the larger parts, it works in darkness and is un-manned, the whole system runs completely by robots. The warehouse holds around 8.9 million euros of parts at any one time, this means that parts can be held efficiently in a refined space. When parts are required, a person in the other side of the building can ask the computer for these and the machines will go and get them. Neat huh? Smaller parts are contained by 100's of picking rows split across multiple floors. Every 3 rows is manned by one person and as orders come in the boxes automatically stop by each corridor where parts are required. Winora has almost 3 km of automated tracks, where parts can travel to their designated areas. Parts that are going out to dealers all arrived here, the packing station. Once every box is full and checked for the parts required. The boxes proceed from here into the manned cardboard packer machine, which fills any remaining space in the box to make sure they don't move around. All packaging at Winora is recycled and 100% recyclable after use. Wheel Building This area of the factory is devoted to wheel building. 100's of rims, different sized spokes and hubs come together here by dedicated wheel building technicians. Machines check each and every wheel for tension, rigidity, and trueness. 100% of the wheels Winora use are handbuilt in house, this hidden secret is not often shouted about & we think it should be shown more. They say that they will not outsource wheels and building in house is always produces the very best quality. Haibike Assembly Line Now onto the most anticipated part, the Haibike electric bike assembly line! Where all the magic happens. As you can imagine, it's Haibike heaven for us. Here the Haibike xDuro HardSeven getting ready for assembly: First up the completely bare frames are arranged into lines ready for specific parts to be added. Notice each frame already has it's frame number stamped and a tag related to it is attached. At each stage of production the parts and bike are tagged by use of the barcode attached. Above is the highly rated Haibike xDuro FatSix being produced. Parts are lined up ready to be fitted onto each electric bike. To run efficiently, some parts are already pre bolted together. Above for example the stem is attached to the handlebars, then the handlebar controls, brake & gear levers are attached prior to going on each bike. The standard bike components are then fitted to the bike. Headset, forks, stem, handlebars, brakes & gears are fitted by an cycle technician. Each tech has their own workstation & tools. At every stage the bikes are hand built by a technician, some specialising in certain parts, the bikes then get spun upside down and held by their seat tubes & transported onto the next stage. Bosch Electric Motor Installation This stage, Haibike refer to as 'The Marriage'. Where the motor is married to the Haibike. The electrical components and the bike combine to become one - The eBike! Once the motor and Bosch components are fitted, each Bosch system is flashed to the eBike. So the technician enter factors like manufacture date, wheel size, gear ratios and frame number to programme to that Bosch electric bike's software. We now see the complete bike with all its components installed. The finishing touches and they wheels go on after this stage to test the bike is working properly before completion. Packing & Quality Control At this point, once the eBike has passed Haibike's quality control, a technician carefully wraps up the bike to keep it protected during transit. Every Haibike has to be in perfect condition for it's proud owner waiting on the other end. Last but not least the bike is part dis-assembled and packed down into a cardboard box container ready for shipping to the dealer. At this point we (Haibike dealer) have to re-install the parts, fine tune the bike, update software, carry out our own pre delivery inspection, spec the bike to it's country of sale and get the bike prepped for the customer. Summary All in all, the Haibike factory is a lively buzzing place with lot's going on. It's currently huge and Winora inform us they have pretty much bought every available unit in this estate to allow for their ongoing expansion! It's clear that although this is a huge company, they are clearly focussed on what they do, have built it up from the bottom to the top & in turn by doing it properly and building great bikes they are the market leaders of eBikes today! Finally, we could resist adding in this picture of Guido Tschugg's brand new Haibike lorry parked outside the front of Haibike, this will follow him to all the major bike festival / races. As the UK's largest Haibike suppliers, we hold the largest eBike range - check it out here.
We are proud to be live at the Haibike xDuro³ launch for 2016 electric bikes. Bringing you eagerly anticipated exclusive news and first look of the eBike range for 2016... Here goes! This afternoon (Sunday 12th July 2015) we attended the xDuro³ presentation in Haibike's home-town of Schweinfurt, Germany. The presentation kicked off with the introduction of the 2016 sDuro range with Yamaha drives, we'll cover that in another article. This article is all about the Bosch xDuro³! Haibike were the first ever manufacturer to make a Bosch powered electric mountain bike & have been at the forefront of innovation ever since. Staying ahead, Haibike bring a whole host of new features for 2016. Here's a run down of what's new: New Bosch CX Motor We have another article that covers the new Bosch Performance CX 2016 motor in more detail on - Bosch Electric Bikes 2016. The main advantages of the motor is reduced size & weight, more assistance, improved torque & smoother power curve. But Haibike take the integration to a whole new level with the xDuro³ with a new interface and complete stealth approach. Step-In-Battery System Haibike have developed a new Step In Battery system for the Bosch battery on the xDuro³. This unique design means the battery slots straight into the locking mechanism and holder within the frame. Giving a closer fit and further integration, the battery seems more a part of the frame than an add-on. New Decal Designs Where's a new model without new graphics? The Haibike xDuro³ takes it to a whole new level for 2016 with vibrant colours and new offerings in terms of colours. New Interface With the integration of a completely different motor, the 2016 Bosch Performance CX drive has to be mounted in a new way. Haibike have developed a whole new interface for the xDuro³ to reduce weight and optimize fit, this way the Bosch CX drive uses no adaptor plates and sits perfectly in place with minimal flex. On the Full Carbon Ultimate they have also created a 100% carbon interface for the new Bosch CX drive to make it the world's lightest full carbon Bosch powered eMTB! New SkidPlate Haibike have always offered some sort of Bosch motor protection. For 2016 Haibike have created a whole new skid plate on the xDuro³ to match the new Bosch CX drive and the new interface mounting. Overall you can see the xDuro³ range has had quite a drastic makeover with new features and rider focussed innovations. We think Haibike are so far ahead with what they are doing in the electric bike world, that unless they actually put their tools and riding aside for a year or so, no other manufacturer will be able to catch up! We also see a whole host of new models, which we will be touching base on in more detail soon. Expect a full suspension fat bike, new carbon eBikes, 200mm down hill bikes & plus sized tyre models. When can you get your hands on it? We have actually already started taking 2016 eBike orders. All can be ordered now on a first come first served basis with pre-ordered bikes starting to arrive around October 2015. View the full Haibike 2016 range here. Pay in full or reserve today with a £199 deposit. What's next? We will be riding samples of the xDuro³ tomorrow round the single track of Schweinfurt, so expect full xDuro³ reviews, range overviews & plenty more details to follow. Watch this space.
I started looking at the idea of electrically assisted bikes a few years ago, and the thing that always put me off was they were too road-centric. What I wanted? I really wanted to start riding the trails and downhills I did when I was younger. I used to compete, back in the days hard-tails were the only option and front suspension forks were new to the market. Life moved on and now older and wiser, I wanted to come back to the sport. Fortunately technology has moved on too! Time constraints and old age meant I was not as fit as I wanted to be. I thought that having the option of some assistance to help me up the steeper hills meant I could have more time enjoying the sport, and less time cursing the hills. Where next? After doing lots of research I looked at all the manufacturers out there and decided that Haibike seemed to me to be the truest/purest bike. I looked at all the shops and online options and decided to start speaking to the e-bike shop. I sent an initial enquiry to Martin, which was answered promptly, and fully in plain English. Many more questions over many months followed, each answered with the same verve and enthusiasm, with never any pressure on trying to “close the deal”. It was clear that this was more than a job but a real passion. What bike did I choose? Having settled on a bike (the xDuro AllMtn Pro), the difficult bit came with parting with so much money. The Bike arrived the next day, and suffice to say I have not been disappointed in either the bike or the post sales support, any query I have had since delivery has been answered straight away, sometimes when I am on the trail and I have had to pick up the phone. So how's the bike? In terms of the bike itself, it is a revelation, the flexibility for different types of riding from bombing downhill to technical trail sections all seem to be dealt with easily. The Fox suspension is phenomenal, I have ridden it hard and I have never had to adjust it off of the trail setting. I am sure this is partially due to the expert set up of Martin and his team. Unclimbable hills are know no harder than a flat stretch of tarmac. The level of assistance is easy to change, and it is rare I need to rack it up to Turbo. I come back from my rides exhilarated but not exhausted. The Nyon head unit displays all I need at any moment and again it is easy to switch screens. As The tuning dongle, was the only addition to the standard bike I made, as the majority of my riding is off public highways I tend to leave this on and adjust the assistance levels. To me the dongle is a great piece of kit, it stops the assistance cutting out when the fun is about to begin. I have not yet explored the customisable assistance levels, as the standard ones work thus far. So to conclude? This sport should not just be about fitness (although since owning the bike this has improved drastically), it should be about technical skills and enjoyment, and not dread. I could write more superlatives but the bike is calling to me now.. time to hit the trails once more! I look forward to reporting back on future adventures with this bike as I explore further afield. With thanks to Jamie for this excellent review of our Haibike All Mountain PRO.