Experience with electrified bicycles? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

cyrnel · 07-27-2007, 03:15 PM

I'd like to try one for trivial trips. Many of my daily jaunts are business casual. Meaning, I'm not making a first impression but I can't arrive in a puddle of my own sweat. My car isn't terrible but 22mpg stop-n-go isn't enough.

Anything that can go 15-20mi/day at 20MPH would do the trick. It'll have to carry my 200lbs, plus a 20-25lb case of laptop and stuff.

Right now the Bionx kit looks very good. I could see myself riding a full suspension with that strapped on. I would also consider ready-to-go bikes like the Giant SuedeE, but most of these things look like they require a pocket protector and slide-rule. Not sure about recumbents. They look ungainly as hell maneuvering and getting started.

Anybody have experience with these things? Yay or nea?

MexicanOnABike · 07-27-2007, 06:44 PM

that's a good question. If i found one that was also able to let me pedal, I'd look into it. my work is about 30min bike distance from my house but it's very hard to not be all sweaty when i get there. Let me know what you find!

squeeeb · 07-28-2007, 08:28 AM

i haven't ridden any, but i've seen a bunch of people riding motorized bicycles around tucson, in the heat, with nary a drop of sweat on them, and some of them are in the 200lb range.

i don't know if this helps, but here is an article about it:

http://www.tucsonweekly.com/gbase/cu...?oid=oid:80052

MexicanOnABike · 07-28-2007, 05:18 PM

under 1000$ and useful for the full summer? I'd go for that.

cyrnel · 07-28-2007, 05:33 PM

I remember Oregon defined the bicycle/moped thing when I was a teenager. Nevermind. From the tables I've seen about half the states classify 20mph electrics with functional pedals as not requiring a license. Some lump them with mopeds. Only a few still leave it up to the locals to decide.

Here's a simple summary from electric-bikes.com:

Quote:

In 2001, the U. S. Congress passed Public Law 107-319 which exempts electric bicycles under 750 watts/20 mph from the definition of a motor vehicle only "For purposes of motor vehicle safety standards...", which means that the manufacturers of these bicycles don't have to meet federal equipment requirements, and are instead governed by the manufacturing requirements of the Consumer Product Safety Act. There is no mention of exemption from other federal, state, and local traffic laws, or exemption from the definition of a motor vehicle for other purposes.

Various states have passed their own laws. California law states that no driver's license, license plate, nor insurance is required. You must be 16 years or older and wear a standard bicycle helmet. Electric bikes are subject to all the rules of the road, and additional laws governing the operation and safety of electric bicycles may be extended by state or local governments. It's legally a bicycle, so you can use it wherever and however you can use a bike. Washington law is similar.

If you live in a state that lacks basic electric bike legislation, consider this. Although riding your electric bike may be illegal, so is jay-walking. Generally speaking, 1) police don't know the exact rules, 2) police expect electric bike and scooter riders to wear a bicycle helmet, 3) most electric bikes look to the casual observer like ordinary bikes, and 4) if you get ticketed, just go to court and plead your case; judges usually let you off with a warning. And start working your state legislature to enact an electric bicycle law similar to California's.

I noticed Costco has the eZip. Putting the batteries in the frame minimizes the dork effect. $1350 though, for a 24V system, and too many "depending on rider weight" disclaimers with the 18mph top speed.

I think I've found a reasonable 36V/350W kit. I'll be picking up another bike this week so as to avoid butchering my mountain bike. Total with crappy bike should be under $600 with extended run batteries. I'll post progress later.

ngdawg · 07-28-2007, 05:53 PM

NJ doesn't license them. The only one I've seen looked like a small Vespa

sprocket · 07-30-2007, 05:35 AM

they are pretty fun but it still requires a bit of sweat to operate one. Especially if you live in hot climate. I would suggest you try and find a local bike shop that carries them and take them for a test ride. Definately don't purchase anything unless you've taken it for a spin first.

cyrnel · 07-30-2007, 06:21 AM

I'm trying a BionX setup today. They sell both 250 and 350W versions. That's at the lower end of what's available, but advanced with features like regen braking. The system I'm sort of decided on is more powerful but without regen. I'm hoping the BionX will give me an idea of the worst effort that's involved.

But yea, just maneuvering and hopping can be work. I think I'm looking for maybe 50% pedal assist. Today will tell.

BTW, these speedbykes look like fun.

The high end 2240W (

) model can do something like 35-40mph. But then for $2500 I'd just buy another motorcycle.

JStrider · 07-30-2007, 05:02 PM

I think I would be inclined to get a good normal bike and a box of wet wipes or whatever and arrive at work 20 minutes early to cool back down and wipe off the sweaty areas.

when I start work in a month I'm planning to bicycle commute, but I'll have access to showers so I'll just ride over and take a quick shower.

cyrnel · 08-23-2007, 06:29 PM

@JStrider - I've done the long distance commute thing, and it was nice with a shower at each end. In this case I'm talking about multiple destinations around town on the same day. Adding cool-down time and layers of my stench would mean a car or motorcycle.

So far this kit is neat. I've added oversize batteries to improve the range. It pulls to just over 20MPH in ~7 seconds. Casual pedaling cuts that drastically and raises top speed. I tried a BionX equipped bike and this destroys it on speed and range for less than half the cost.

The worst part is the usual 2-wheel risk thing: You're faster than most bikers, which could throw drivers off, but you don't have a motorcycle's power to get out of the way.

Oh, it also makes for a heavy bike which leads to lots of effort carrying/hauling it wherever for security.

Still, so far it gets a big thumbs up.

07-27-2007, 03:15 PM	#1 (permalink)
cyrnel Adequate Location: In my angry-dome.	Experience with electrified bicycles? I'd like to try one for trivial trips. Many of my daily jaunts are business casual. Meaning, I'm not making a first impression but I can't arrive in a puddle of my own sweat. My car isn't terrible but 22mpg stop-n-go isn't enough. Anything that can go 15-20mi/day at 20MPH would do the trick. It'll have to carry my 200lbs, plus a 20-25lb case of laptop and stuff. Right now the Bionx kit looks very good. I could see myself riding a full suspension with that strapped on. I would also consider ready-to-go bikes like the Giant SuedeE, but most of these things look like they require a pocket protector and slide-rule. Not sure about recumbents. They look ungainly as hell maneuvering and getting started. Anybody have experience with these things? Yay or nea? __________________ There are a vast number of people who are uninformed and heavily propagandized, but fundamentally decent. The propaganda that inundates them is effective when unchallenged, but much of it goes only skin deep. If they can be brought to raise questions and apply their decent instincts and basic intelligence, many people quickly escape the confines of the doctrinal system and are willing to do something to help others who are really suffering and oppressed." -Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media, p. 195

07-27-2007, 06:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
MexicanOnABike Location: up north	that's a good question. If i found one that was also able to let me pedal, I'd look into it. my work is about 30min bike distance from my house but it's very hard to not be all sweaty when i get there. Let me know what you find! __________________ - Movie Reviews - Ratings-

07-28-2007, 08:28 AM	#3 (permalink)
squeeeb part of the problem Location: hic et ubique	i haven't ridden any, but i've seen a bunch of people riding motorized bicycles around tucson, in the heat, with nary a drop of sweat on them, and some of them are in the 200lb range. i don't know if this helps, but here is an article about it: http://www.tucsonweekly.com/gbase/cu...?oid=oid:80052 __________________ onward to mayhem!

07-28-2007, 05:18 PM	#4 (permalink)
MexicanOnABike Location: up north	under 1000$ and useful for the full summer? I'd go for that. __________________ - Movie Reviews - Ratings-

07-28-2007, 05:53 PM	#6 (permalink)
ngdawg peekaboo Location: on the back, bitch	NJ doesn't license them. The only one I've seen looked like a small Vespa __________________ Don't blame me. I didn't vote for either of'em.

07-30-2007, 05:35 AM	#7 (permalink)
sprocket Psycho Location: In transit	they are pretty fun but it still requires a bit of sweat to operate one. Especially if you live in hot climate. I would suggest you try and find a local bike shop that carries them and take them for a test ride. Definately don't purchase anything unless you've taken it for a spin first. __________________ Remember, wherever you go... there you are.

07-30-2007, 06:21 AM	#8 (permalink)
cyrnel Adequate Location: In my angry-dome.	I'm trying a BionX setup today. They sell both 250 and 350W versions. That's at the lower end of what's available, but advanced with features like regen braking. The system I'm sort of decided on is more powerful but without regen. I'm hoping the BionX will give me an idea of the worst effort that's involved. But yea, just maneuvering and hopping can be work. I think I'm looking for maybe 50% pedal assist. Today will tell. BTW, these speedbykes look like fun. The high end 2240W () model can do something like 35-40mph. But then for $2500 I'd just buy another motorcycle. __________________ There are a vast number of people who are uninformed and heavily propagandized, but fundamentally decent. The propaganda that inundates them is effective when unchallenged, but much of it goes only skin deep. If they can be brought to raise questions and apply their decent instincts and basic intelligence, many people quickly escape the confines of the doctrinal system and are willing to do something to help others who are really suffering and oppressed." -Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media, p. 195

07-30-2007, 05:02 PM	#9 (permalink)
JStrider Poo-tee-weet? Location: The Woodlands, TX	I think I would be inclined to get a good normal bike and a box of wet wipes or whatever and arrive at work 20 minutes early to cool back down and wipe off the sweaty areas. when I start work in a month I'm planning to bicycle commute, but I'll have access to showers so I'll just ride over and take a quick shower. __________________ -=JStrider=- ~Clatto Verata Nicto

08-23-2007, 06:29 PM	#10 (permalink)
cyrnel Adequate Location: In my angry-dome.	@JStrider - I've done the long distance commute thing, and it was nice with a shower at each end. In this case I'm talking about multiple destinations around town on the same day. Adding cool-down time and layers of my stench would mean a car or motorcycle. So far this kit is neat. I've added oversize batteries to improve the range. It pulls to just over 20MPH in ~7 seconds. Casual pedaling cuts that drastically and raises top speed. I tried a BionX equipped bike and this destroys it on speed and range for less than half the cost. The worst part is the usual 2-wheel risk thing: You're faster than most bikers, which could throw drivers off, but you don't have a motorcycle's power to get out of the way. Oh, it also makes for a heavy bike which leads to lots of effort carrying/hauling it wherever for security. Still, so far it gets a big thumbs up. __________________ There are a vast number of people who are uninformed and heavily propagandized, but fundamentally decent. The propaganda that inundates them is effective when unchallenged, but much of it goes only skin deep. If they can be brought to raise questions and apply their decent instincts and basic intelligence, many people quickly escape the confines of the doctrinal system and are willing to do something to help others who are really suffering and oppressed." -Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media, p. 195