Insuring ebikes for other riders

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Kneerly Down
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Insuring ebikes for other riders

Post by Kneerly Down »

I've been contemplating getting some ebikes for guests at our accommodation to use.
However, I'm concerned that they will wreck the bikes given the roads and trails around us and neither want to be lumbered with the cost nor have to chase guests for the same.

So.,..insurance.
Presumably it's a thing for renting out ebikes but I've no idea where to start looking.

Or am I worrying too much and the likely things that'll need fixing will be the same as normal bikes?

If you want to suggest models suitable for renting that'd be great also.
Mussels
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Re: Insuring ebikes for other riders

Post by Mussels »

I found I was always breaking bike bits on my ebikes, I could ride harder, faster and longer than a normal bike. Apart from snapping a frame there was nothing that would warrant an insurance claim but it did mean I spent a fair bit of time and money on maintenance.
If you like fixing bikes then give it a go but you may find yourself upgrading stuff like wheels to stronger versions. I ended up with rims designed for tandems.
Le_Fromage_Grande
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Re: Insuring ebikes for other riders

Post by Le_Fromage_Grande »

I've never had to fix anything on my Haibike hard tail, but it cost £2.5K and is built for reliability, I seem to get a lot of punctures and I've worn out the brake pads in 700 miles.

OTOH my mate has a £6K Cube that has only done 100 miles and the charging socket has fell apart.
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Couchy
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Re: Insuring ebikes for other riders

Post by Couchy »

Buy a proper known manufacturer emtb, biggest issue will be chains and cassettes, they do go through them and even more so with ham fisted users who change gear under load. Lad I ride with always does this and this weekend snapped another gear, in the past he’s bent gears changing while going uphill in turbo with all his weight on the pedals. Even being sympathetic my cassettes only last 800 miles and chains half that. Buy cheaper ones as the more expensive don’t last any longer.
Mussels
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Re: Insuring ebikes for other riders

Post by Mussels »

I'd probably go for bikes with a front hub motor, it keeps the e-bike bits separate from the bike bits, so if something goes wrong at the rear a standard bike tech can fix it. I've found in the past they don't always understand how electric bits affect standard bits so it's simpler if kept apart. The motor provides a significant amount of force and as Couchy said can wear out parts quickly.
For a hire bike as well as a front hub motor I'd stick to a single chainring and a seven speed rear, the parts are stronger and the motor means you don't need so many gears. Some people will moan that it is too low geared but it's a hire bike for pottering about, if they want something really fancy they can buy their own.
One of my bikes had nexus hub gears, a bit pricey to buy but the reliability and lack of servicing required made it worth it.
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Re: Insuring ebikes for other riders

Post by Kneerly Down »

I do quite like the idea of having an add-on hub motor + battery so parts can be changed easily between bikes but don't want the 'hire' experience to be rubbish either.
It's a bit of a minefield isn't it!?