It's not really about planning financial issues in advance, it's about wanting to make the right choice initially & keep my toys running if possible in the future. If there's one thing I hate about the world today its the seemingly disposable society we live in. Conversely I love fixing things, no matter if it's electronics, cars, bikes, DIY etc.
My SL is the first 29 I've owned - and it's far and away the "snappiest" bike I've ever ridden, in direct comparison to my acoustic and electric 27.5s.Why are you looking at 29ers if you want a snappy bike?
The Whyte is available as both a 27.5 and a 29er, if I was looking for snappy I'd choose the 27.5. My Rail is a 29er and is snappier than my Powerfly that was a 27.5, but the geo is 3 years further on and I often wonder how much better it would be as a 27.5. I rode my mate's Cube Action Team and it was snappier than my Rail.
What are your clockwork bikes?
I hired a Whyte at Bedgebury in Kent when I couldn't find a shop demoI think I need to try & find a Whyte stockist in Berkshire/Hampshire area that actually has demonstrators available and see if that can help me come to right decision.
My wife was dead keen for a threesome. I was enthusiastic until I met him.I backed out of a threesome with Cheryl Cole and Sarah Harding.
Still regret the decision almost 20years later.
Life's too short for regrets ?
Great points, articulated very well!Just because you cant buy a replacement motor from chain reaction or wiggle like you might buy a new bottom bracket, doesnt mean that you wont be able to replace a broken motor in (say) 5 years time.
The motors may not be on open sale , but you'll be able to pay your local bosch/shimano/specialized dealer to fix it for you. Exactly the same as you would do if the motor expires when in warranty, except it will cost you.
There may also be a market in 'unofficial' reconditioned motors.
Batteries will just keep getting cheaper, So a bosch battery now is ~£650 - in a few years I'd expect them to be much cheaper (because the new bikes will be coming with 20mwh batteries or something).
I think you'll have no problem in keeping an old e bike going, but it probably does have a shorter life span than a normal bike (which could be still going in 50 years time)
Unfortunately all the technology is so new that generally, when a new motor is released, they're not able to compromise themselves with the existing fittings. Maybe in the future .It would be nice if they'd standardise something on these motors so you could upgrade to a newer motor of the same brand if needed. I assume this currently isn't the case.
I backed out of a threesome with Cheryl Cole and Sarah Harding.
Still regret the decision almost 20years later.
Life's too short for regrets ?
Not only that, manufacturers usually don’t allow direct-to-customer sales for new motors. I tried to get a Bosch motor sample for prototype testing years ago and was asked to fill-in a form stating your company’s worth plus past and projected future bike sales figures (there is a minimum). Passing that, you’re then required to submit engineering plans of your frame design for their evaluation. So motors aren’t likely going to be off-the-shelf items. After all they have a reputation and a badge to protect (which ironically keeps falling off their motors ).Unfortunately all the technology is so new that generally, when a new motor is released, they're not able to compromise themselves with the existing fittings. Maybe in the future .
The Husqvarna looks like it's made a little like this ... ?!Perhaps one way to future proof bikes - and to even do cross-brand motor upgrades is for an independent frame manufacturer to produce a frame with an intermediary bayonet member that works as the motor mount. If you want/need to change/upgrade a motor, you just change to the corresponding bayonet mount.
I’ve rarely had an opportunity to fully test a new bike. It’s tough to fully emulate the total environment you will use the bike in both now and in the future.....
..........sorry a bit long winded but totally understand your hesitation....
Be careful with that train of thought. A motor isn't necessarily going to help your dodgy knee.I guess what I’m looking for in terms of ride is something that’s more like an analogue Trail bike but gives me a bit of a boost to take the pressure/torque load of my dodgy knee.
This isn't quite true .. I once had to stop to move several hundred kilo's of fallen tree off a trail and my Kenevo definitely FELT lighter than it had before..Super heavy bikes actually NEVER feel any lighter than they are. It's a complete myth.
How is that any different than the hordes of folk who aspire to owning "better" normal mtbs?That is the one huge downside to eMTB right now. If you want a newer better motor you usually have to buy a new bike and the bikes are expensive.
This is actually pretty hilariousNice bike but the Shimano E8000 is pretty old tech and the 500wh battery is too small for my weight and use
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