Fecking e-bikes ...

[Mr Moofo]

My ride to Surrey Hills was canned when I was told "most of the other riders will be on e-bikes"
Which would be fine if I was 35 again - but I'm not.
Slightly miffed, I went off and did a loop around the Downs, lovely weather, great temperature - and home by 17.50

But it doe suggest that either I have to go on a Tom Piddock train regime - or buy a (sodding) e-bike.

SO, recommend me an e-bike
1) FS
2) I'm 6ft 2 and shrinking - but like long reach
3) I'm 105kg
4) Generally ride an XL
5) 160 mm plus front / 150mm ish back

6.5k tops ( at the moment - but no rubbish forks, please)

[weeksy]

Funny enough, @crust has just done same. Trek Rail 9. Due next week.

[Mr Moofo]

Funny enough, @crust has just done same. Trek Rail 9. Due next week.

At the age of 63 I don't have enough time to plan to get fitter

Had a quick look at those - but the do look unnecessarily chunky
Also looked at the Vitus E-Sommet
And a Nukeproof thingy

But I have no idea of motors / battery size/ expected weights

[weeksy]

Well you've basically got full fat at 24-26kg

Half fat 19-22kg

I've ridden a half fat and against full fat bikes they're pointless. You still won't keep up.

Chunky is what you get I'm afraid. That's how it is. But they're very very effective.

[Mr Moofo]

The Trek Rail looks good
Any real reason to pay for the carbon one ?
They both weigh around 24kg - and one in about 750g lighter?

[weeksy]

Not when it's 24kg imo no.

[crust]

I hired a Rail 5 and did a peak district loop with Couchie on his Rail 5 and Ming on his mega bike.

Couchie has been through a load of ebikes and basically backed up what I'd read that the Bosch motor is generally the best of the bunch in terms of reliability. I liked the handling of the Rail but the fork felt harsh to me (not that I stressed it ).

Couchie did advise that being near the shop was a good idea if anything went wrong, plus there's a Trek shop near me in Bracknell.

So a Bosch bike with better forks in the southern half of the UK, a Rail 7 seemed to fit the bill, then I spotted Balfes bikes had Rail 9 in medium at £5099 - better fork, shock, Weeksy recommended Code R brakes and a newer KIOX controller < ticked all the boxes in terms of equipment and price.

I ruled the carbon frames out as (in my mind) they aren't as strong - impact wise as an ally bike, given that the bikes a heavy beast and I'm bound to drop it on rocks and there's no weight saving which is supposed to be their benefit though I guess the frame is a small part of the weight make up of an ebike.

[Couchy]

Well you've basically got full fat at 24-26kg

Half fat 19-22kg

I've ridden a half fat and against full fat bikes they're pointless. You still won't keep up.

Chunky is what you get I'm afraid. That's how it is. But they're very very effective.

There’s full fat 25kg and 85nm, medium fat 19-20kg and 60nm and low fat 35nm and 19-20kg. The low one is pointless. I’ve got both the full and medium, mostly ride the full fat apart from our local bike park for dad jumps when I take the medium one.

I’d always say go bosch motor and a trek rail, the rail 5 starts at £3500 with a 500w battery. Step up and get a 625 battery and it’s £3700, add a bit more and you get a better spec but frame and motor are the same all through the range

[Mr Moofo]

Well you've basically got full fat at 24-26kg

Half fat 19-22kg

I've ridden a half fat and against full fat bikes they're pointless. You still won't keep up.

Chunky is what you get I'm afraid. That's how it is. But they're very very effective.

There’s full fat 25kg and 85nm, medium fat 19-20kg and 60nm and low fat 35nm and 19-20kg. The low one is pointless. I’ve got both the full and medium, mostly ride the full fat apart from our local bike park for dad jumps when I take the medium one.

I’d always say go bosch motor and a trek rail, the rail 5 starts at £3500 with a 500w battery. Step up and get a 625 battery and it’s £3700, add a bit more and you get a better spec but frame and motor are the same all through the range

@Couchy
Trek sizing - it says I am right on the border of Large or XL at 6ft 2 ...
In the real world, I have always thought Trek came up small - is that still the case?
Thanks

[Couchy]

Well you've basically got full fat at 24-26kg

Half fat 19-22kg

I've ridden a half fat and against full fat bikes they're pointless. You still won't keep up.

Chunky is what you get I'm afraid. That's how it is. But they're very very effective.

There’s full fat 25kg and 85nm, medium fat 19-20kg and 60nm and low fat 35nm and 19-20kg. The low one is pointless. I’ve got both the full and medium, mostly ride the full fat apart from our local bike park for dad jumps when I take the medium one.

I’d always say go bosch motor and a trek rail, the rail 5 starts at £3500 with a 500w battery. Step up and get a 625 battery and it’s £3700, add a bit more and you get a better spec but frame and motor are the same all through the range

@Couchy
Trek sizing - it says I am right on the border of Large or XL at 6ft 2 ...
In the real world, I have always thought Trek came up small - is that still the case?
Thanks

I’m 6’2” and have an XL. Before I had an L and tbh I’m unsure which was best. My orbea is an L and does feel very similar to the XL trek. Not much help but if both sizes are on offer I’d go XL but if only L is available I’d get that

[Mr Moofo]

^ the XL has very similar sizing to my Cotic , so would work

[weeksy]

at 6'0 i rode his XL and it was HUGE.... Crust hired an L and i tested that, it felt pretty right.

[Mr Moofo]

^but you have a strange tendency towards riding bikes in dwarf sizes

[weeksy]

^but you have a strange tendency towards riding bikes in dwarf sizes

Yes granted, i do generally like smaller. I rode Couchies Specialized HT which was a L and that fitted fine.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Anything that meets your spec with a Bosch motor, it's a bicycle with pedal assist, so it's like buying a bicycle and you won't go wrong with a Bosch motor.

[Mr Moofo]

@crust @weeksy

The Trek Rail better be good ....

[weeksy]

@crust @weeksy

The Trek Rail better be good ....

Which you gone for?

[crust]

at 6'0 i rode his XL and it was HUGE.... Crust hired an L and i tested that, it felt pretty right.

I hired a medium.

[weeksy]

at 6'0 i rode his XL and it was HUGE.... Crust hired an L and i tested that, it felt pretty right.

I hired a medium.

Clearly you never looked at the sticker

[Mr Moofo]

Trek Rail 9.0
Managed to negotiate them down to 4795 GBP