Went on my first serious (ish) ride on my Strike 940 today ............

On my own, as waiting for my mate to move house and take delivery of his Orbea Rise.

 

Few niggles and I have chopped the bars a little and cut some of the cabling down too.

I think Scott just put the longest cables on it they could find.

 

It certainly put a smile on my face though. Looking forward to getting it out again.

Checked out it's climbing ability and I still cannot understand why these bikes need such a huge cassette. I tackled a very steep 100yd gravel slope using the 34T / 25t combo. (I think that equates roughly to a 39T / 28t)

In Emtb mode. Very easy with just the 25 cassette ring.

I guess if you are out of power the 50t rear may come in handy but I already want to swap it, and possibly a larger front ring too.

Interested to hear others thoughts on this???

 

I will get some pics up eventually but still excited as have just ordered a Specialized Turbo Vado SL4.0 from Evans. This for a commuter bike. 

Should be at the store for me by next week.

I wasn't trusting delivery company delivering it to my address after what I went through with Tredz and TNT......

Edited 6 July, 20223 yr by Tilt

Easy to wreck cassettes in not a lot of miles on bikes with lots of torque.

My small rear ring is often stripped in a couple of hundred miles and then i adjust the derailleur and just use the rest and when the next one replace the gears and chain.

Damn expensive.

On 18/12/2021 at 16:02, Gaz said:

... I'm just back from a 21 mile circuit, started at 99% and finished at 6%.  Five years ago I'd still have 45 to 50% left.

 

Interesting.  I've just done pretty much the same circuit, albeit covering 23.2 miles.  Started at 96% and finished at 48%.  Perhaps the binding rear brake was having more of an effect than I realised.

 

I did 16 miles yesterday on my Giant CS3 (analogue bike).  It's better cycling weather today, but even taking that into account, I prefer riding my e-bike now, even with the power off.  Will keep the Giant as I still like its light and nimbleness.

 

Gaz

1 hour ago, roottoot said:

Easy to wreck cassettes in not a lot of miles on bikes with lots of torque.

My small rear ring is often stripped in a couple of hundred miles and then i adjust the derailleur and just use the rest and when the next one replace the gears and chain.

Damn expensive.

 

Have you thought or is it possible for you to fit a bigger front ring George???

 

Could this help prevent using the small ring so much ??? just a thought. 

No because they are bl00dy expensive.

As it is i went to £100 Praxis cassette instead of £50 ones. 

 My needs are different as i am cycling with only one leg so i use the small ring until it is gubbed.   

This is just on my Specialised, the other bikes do not have the instant power. 

Classic eMTB mistake.....using the modes not the cassette.

Cassettes now are waaaay too expensive to replace with only a couple of rings worn, spread the use.

Well, second ride at the weekend ............... 🚲 ............... Ooh, my blummin sit bones. Need some new shorts at least, Lol.

 

Never really thought of a sprung seat, but  (pardon the pun) I've just mended a bike that was left by a student at work, for our gaffer to use. It has a sprung seat and feels quite comfy, and as you can ride an emtb much faster along rough ground ......... well I may have to invest in one.

 

A pretty good hard(ish) ride and definitely wanting to upgrade / alter the gearing at least a little. Best I can see atm is upping the chainring from 34T to 38T.

Should be doable. Need tools though I think.

I think currently we are stuck with the very limited choices of 12 speed cassettes with 50 or so teeth. Looking into it a bit more.

 

One bar end fitted, just the other one to fit now. Well, I like them and they give your forearms a way to relax. 

 

 

Really enjoying my commute on this thing...

 

This is the Strike. Not the best picture tho

Edited 28 July, 20223 yr by Tilt

My initial thoughts were to be using the emtb for commuting as well as a good bit of off road-ing on the weekends, however, upon receiving delivery of the Scott Strike I decided it was a bit cumbersome to be weaving around traffic on that, so decided to get a dedicated commuter also.

 

I was torn between front suspension vs no suspension and drop bars vs straight bars.

The options were the Crossfuse (as mentioned) a Boardman ADV 8.9E and the Specialized Vado 1.1SL

 

I then ruled out the Crossfuse as decided I still like the rigidity of a road bike feel and it was then a difficult choice between the other two.

 

One with the Fazua Evation motor and a 250wh removable battery and the other with Specialized's own motor (I think) and a fitted 320wh battery.

 

I was worried about the low torque figure of the Vado's motor but no worries with it at all and the issue with the Boardman was that it switches into a sleep mode after 8 hours of non use and you have to unlock the battery (every time 😲) to switch it back on again inside the battery compartment. Lovely looking bike though.

https://www.halfords.com/bikes/electric-bikes/boardman-adv-8.9e-mens-adventure-electric-bike-2021---s-m-l-xl-frames-439310.html?cm_mmc=Google+PLA-_-Cycling>Bikes>Electric+Bikes-_-Cycling>Bikes>Electric+Bikes-_-439310&istCompanyId=b8708c57-7a02-4cf6-b2c0-dc36b54a327e&istFeedId=62b447cf-331e-4fec-a47a-9985ff72d404&istItemId=iqmqalmal&istBid=tzpr&_$ja=tsid:|cid:17632096466|agid:|tid:|crid:|nw:x|rnd:7066468719643833467|dvc:c|adp:|mt:|loc:1007418&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqMGPzvjZ-AIVVeDtCh3iZQT7EAQYAyABEgKLgvD_BwE

 

Obviously in the end decided on the Vado (from Evans local as mentioned) and after many hours sorting the cabling (on both bikes) I am pleased to say that I am loving it and look forward to getting on it in the mornings.

 

Bars chopped a little on both bikes now, bar ends fitted on both too, new carbon (probably plastic) bottle cage on the spez and made my own little bracket for the computer sensor to fit on the fork without using unsightly cable ties.

 

Oh, and I have just purchased a new 105 CS-R7000 11-30t cassette for the vado as not requiring such low (44T / 11 speed 11-42t) gears that it came with.

Should allow me to utilise more gears so the cassette lasts longer and a smoother gear change too.

 

I think my first stop for the Strike will be the chainring swap from the supplied 34T to an E-Thirteen steel 38T and then consider a cassette swap from there. Possibly to the 105 CS-R7100 11-34t. These are both all steel. NOT an easy job though unfortunately, though with it being the Sram it should have a self extracting crank arm.

 

Funnily enough my mate texted last night that his Cube (I think he changed his mind again, Lol) has arrived and that he too has done the same and purchased a commuter bike as well.........

And other mate should be getting his replacement within a week or two.

 

I will put a few more pics up of the Vado for anyone interested. Lovin it. 

Edited 30 July, 20223 yr by Tilt

Maiden voyage for the Freego Eagle today with Sally riding it and me on my Whyte Coniston.  She went around the Cut De Sac first to get used to it, then we were off.  The LCD display is a generic one across several bikes, and the different setting numbers P1 to P20 don't mean anything until you watch explanatory videos on YT, which were really helpful.  It's only by watching a video that I could even work out how to change it from Kph to Mph.

 

It's now clear that the bike isn't restricted (although can be), and on power level 5 I'm completely unable to keep up with Sally 🙄  We got to about 18mph and as I bogged down into the headwind, she simply sailed away, Mr Bean stylee.  We'll be keeping it, whether it end up her's or mine, albeit if Sally has it she'll need another saddle as she's problems with her coccyx and the one the bike came with isn't particularly comfy for her.

 

Gaz

 

23 hours ago, Tilt said:

I will put a few more pics up of the Vado for anyone interested....

 

Yes please 

 

Glad you're enjoying it 😎

 

Gaz

Since leaving work I've been trying, steadily, to improve my appalling physical fitness.  Amongst other things I've been gradually increasing how far I cycle, and reducing how often I use any power assistance.

 

Today I went past the 30 mile in one go milestone, and am feeling pretty good about it 😀:

 

 

Started at 85% battery, finished at 51% battery.  Only power assist I used in the first 15 miles was for about 50' getting quickly across a busy road, and probably the same trying to get up a public footpath on the Downs which was made up of deep and sodden leaf mould (failed, and it was too steep to ride back down).

 

All in all a lovely ride.

 

Gaz

 

Happy to say I have started commuting again after a forced period of rest from the saddle.

 

After a few thousand hours in total (over a number of years) sat with my right foot on the accelerator pedal and plastered to the floor in a (horrible) Transit van touring the Midlands and beyond, fitting kitchens, I get a lot of Sacroiliac (now I know what it is called) joint pain on my right side.

 

 

Having to take cycling a bit steadier and less frequent and atm using full power mode most of the time.

 

I overdid it last time commuting all week and doing a few outings on my mtb at the weekend too............ Pity as I love being on the bike.

 

Bit annoyed as I lean't my new commuter bike against the car the other morning to turn and lock the front door.

I realised it was risky as couldn't rest it on the tyre because of the mudguard, but thought it would be ok for the few seconds I was turned around.

Thanks to a gust of wind, crash, over it went. Gutted, but luckily doesn't seem to have done any damage (other than that I cannot rectify, Phew.......

It did break the mudguard bracket though and I had to take that off. (Nearly went in the car, Lol.)

 

I won't do that again (he says) Lol.

 

When I get on the phone I will post a pic or two up when more time. 😉

Edited 26 October, 20223 yr by Tilt

The controller is great design with little + & - buttons on the handlebar. 10 bars on the display for 100% and individual bar for each 10%. The circle ishows the mode. Eco, Tour (as shown) and Turbo.

 

Edited 26 October, 20223 yr by Tilt

Oh Yes. And I have fitted the Shimano 105 CS-R7000 cassette .

Early days with only one ride but seems ok even with the original eKMC chain.

It wasn't dropping down gears at first but seems ok now.

The one thing not keen on .... SRAM gearing. Always had Shimano and without issues.

The previous model had 10 SPEED Shimano but this has 11speed dram due to shortages I guess. Not a fan really.

Shimano shifter way better with push pull rather than push push to change gears.

And the NX derailleur springs are so stiff.

Still love it tho...

 

Just bumping this section for someone i was telling about the site so that they will spot this when he gets chance to look in .

He is looking to chip a Yamaha motor Haibike.

 

How has anyone got on chipping their bike?

I have not been keeping abreast of anything on the market recently, or any issues. 

Edited 3 November, 20223 yr by roottoot

I haven't chipped either of mine yet. Been pondering it though........

 

Two wheels empire and ebike tuner seem popular for the dongle's. Just needs to get the correct one to suit.

These for my Vado.

 

PEARTUNE 3.0 FOR BROSE SPECIALIZED SL 1.1 MOTOR – Two Wheels Empire

 

Levociraptor Gen2 for Specialized eBikes with 2.1 or 1.1 Brose motors – EBIKE TUNER

 

Different one required for my Scott / Bosch motor.

Edited 4 November, 20223 yr by Tilt

I heard Kit Malthouse MP on BBC 2 Politics Today / 28th February 2023 say

' You can now have a throttle on electric bikes in the UK.'   

 

  I thought, WTF is he speaking about. 

Well he is right if now the UK has aligned with the EU / European countries or otersh,

but really what he says is about the fact of it. 

 

I found this.  I have no searched out a UK Government Statement on changes.

 

Edited 28 February, 20233 yr by toot

Yes, if it is, or can be ridden throttle only, then it is a motor bike, so requires insurance, Licence etc etc  that's my belief anyway.

 

I speak to lots of students that think their own E scooters are legal ....... I think not ........( fairly sure but i'm not 100%).

 

I have asked the local (I think they were) PCSO's and they weren't at all sure but what they did say was that it was a Police matter and not something they themselves (the PCSO's) dealt with.

 

I see lots of what I believe to be illegal bikes being ridden around Nottingham as well.

32 minutes ago, Tilt said:

Yes, if it is, or can be ridden throttle only, then it is a motor bike, so requires insurance, Licence etc etc  that's my belief anyway.

 

Not necessarily, if the Grandfather rights apply:

 

https://www.pedelecs.co.uk/electric-bike-guides/uk-electric-bike-law/

 

We've now had two with a 'full' throttle that can be ridden quite legally.

 

I've a feeling David at Amps has managed to get some of the new Wisper bikes type approved for throttle use:

https://wisperbikes.com/shop/e-bikes/crossbar-ebikes/tailwind-comfort-crossbar/

 

Gaz

 

Edited 28 February, 20233 yr by Gaz

@Gaz

 

You know what they say mate ......... you learn summat new every day.

 

I will have a read .... thanks  

 

Not sure what is involved with the meaning of 'requiring type approval' (since 2016) ?????

 

Throttle control

‘Twist and gos’ – electric bikes manufactured with the capability of being powered by a throttle alone – have required type approval since January 2016. ‘Grandfather rights’ apply to ‘twist and go’ e-bikes prior to January 2016. (This is entirely separate to ‘walk assist mode’ throttles that power the bike to a 6kmh top limit i.e. walking speed, to help you push the bike along, which are not affected by this law update.)

Edited 1 March, 20233 yr by Tilt

2 hours ago, Tilt said:

 

You know what they say mate ......... you learn summat new every day.

 

Abso-blooming-lutely, and I still don't completely understand it.  I get the Grandfather rights bit.  But then can I buy a pre 2016 bike, gradually replace everything and still have a grandfather rights e-bike?  It seems there isn't a definitive answer to this question 

 

And the new (i.e. post 2016) Wisper e-bikes can be specced, bought and used with a full (15.5mph) throttle.  How does that work then?  I know David Miall knows his stuff and put a lot of work and effort into this, so I've no doubt about its legitimacy, and the DVSA approval :

 

 

 

Gaz

 

Edited 1 March, 20233 yr by Gaz

Thanks ... , I don't have a problem with throttle only bikes being legal as it is reasonably easy for a regular cyclist to pedal to that speed (15.5mph) anyway, even unassisted.

Very easy with pedal assistance.

 

I say F*** em anyway ......... ride what you like .........

 

BUT ride sensibly and with respect to others.