E bike advice

[david k]

I think the issue with that bike is the low quality zoom suspension and basic freewheel drivetrain. Also the battery slots into the frame. The bike will be high maintenance due to the forks and basic drivetrain and the battery will be harder to replace due to its customised housing. It would likely need to be recelled by a specialist company. Basic zoom forks like that don't achieve a lot and with a heavier rider could be a problematic, they could bottom out frequently and let in water if the bike is ridden in the rain so you may have to service them quite frequently. Typical zoom suspension forks do not have spares available so if seals perish they may not be easily replaceable. Simpler bikes with less proprietary parts are easier to keep on the road especially for commuting which could be frequent use.

At £600 you might think worth the risk and maybe changing a few components but at £1200 I personally don't think its good value.

The Subway I linked to is a very low maintenance, strong bike and with an ebike kit will have many advantages over the eskute including much lower price, faster gearing, longer range, lower maintenance, no proprietary parts. Lighter overall too and much easier to climb hills due to the better gearing. Also later on if you get bored of the Subway you might be able to move the ebike kit to another bike.

Brilliant reply thank you.
Still pondering what to do and checking second hand market.
In Merseyside if anyone is selling

 

[david k]

This is a large frame, any thoughts.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/3210390939249804/

 

[bonzobanana]

Brilliant reply thank you.
Still pondering what to do and checking second hand market.
In Merseyside if anyone is selling

One thing I would like to change is in reference to the Carrera Subway. I've just been reading on the Pedelecs forum about someone who has a Carrera Subway and has bought an ebike kit and is having some difficulty. He choose a rear wheel ebike kit and the aluminium rear dropouts do not look ideal for converting to an ebike at all . I'd still recommend the Carrera Subway for an ebike conversion but front wheel conversion only because that will be fitting the hub motor to strong steel front fork dropouts. In fact most aluminium frame bikes with standard QR rear dropouts probably aren't ideal. Steel dropouts are definitely preferred.

 

[the snail]

One thing I would like to change is in reference to the Carrera Subway. I've just been reading on the Pedelecs forum about someone who has a Carrera Subway and has bought an ebike kit and is having some difficulty. He choose a rear wheel ebike kit and the aluminium rear dropouts do not look ideal for converting to an ebike at all . I'd still recommend the Carrera Subway for an ebike conversion but front wheel conversion only because that will be fitting the hub motor to strong steel front fork dropouts. In fact most aluminium frame bikes with standard QR rear dropouts probably aren't ideal. Steel dropouts are definitely preferred.

I think you would be ok with torque arms fitted

 

[bonzobanana]

I think you would be ok with torque arms fitted

Maybe but there are holes in the dropout and quite a lot of material has to be removed close to those holes. I think the person had a bike shop refuse to do it on the basis of the vicinity of those holes. Anyway it makes me a little uncomfortable to remove soo much material from a dropout like that.