New Battery or New Bike?

[drmorison]

I currently ride a 2009 Kalkhoff Tasman. It has a 250 watt Panasonic mid-drive and a Shimano Alfine 8-speed rear hub. It was imported from Europe, so the top speed is only 15mph. It's a great bike, and a real workhorse. My one complaint is that my pedaling cadence often exceeds the maximum cadence recognized by the bike, so if I am in a low gear going up a hill and I am pedaling too fast, I lose some of the assist. I currently need a new battery, and a replacement runs about $800-

The only e-bike currently on the market that really interests me is the Faraday Porteur. It is lightweight, beautiful, and will assist up to 20mph. The negative is that it is a 250watt front hub motor, so it might actually be weaker than my current ride. Oh, and it's also $4,000.

I am trying to decide whether to buy myself a new battery, or buy a beautiful new bike.

What do you all think?

 

[rich c]

Definitely a new bike. A 2009 is almost an antique based on how fast technology is changing.

 

[jazz]

I misread it, didn't realize it was that old. Yes anything older than 4 years has to go

 

[irishnutter]

Definitely a new bike. Almost a decade of service from your current bike is quite impressive. Donate it to a friend or family member and treat yourself to something current.

 

[PowerMe]

Kalkhoff has that new Image ebike out that looks very enticing... I vote for something new; you deserve it!

 

[MisterM]

I currently ride a 2009 Kalkhoff Tasman. It has a 250 watt Panasonic mid-drive and a Shimano Alfine 8-speed rear hub. It was imported from Europe, so the top speed is only 15mph. It's a great bike, and a real workhorse. My one complaint is that my pedaling cadence often exceeds the maximum cadence recognized by the bike, so if I am in a low gear going up a hill and I am pedaling too fast, I lose some of the assist. I currently need a new battery, and a replacement runs about $800-

The only e-bike currently on the market that really interests me is the Faraday Porteur. It is lightweight, beautiful, and will assist up to 20mph. The negative is that it is a 250watt front hub motor, so it might actually be weaker than my current ride. Oh, and it's also $4,000.

I am trying to decide whether to buy myself a new battery, or buy a beautiful new bike.

What do you all think?

Save the $3200.

 

[Ravi Kempaiah]

I currently ride a 2009 Kalkhoff Tasman. It has a 250 watt Panasonic mid-drive and a Shimano Alfine 8-speed rear hub. It was imported from Europe, so the top speed is only 15mph. It's a great bike, and a real workhorse. My one complaint is that my pedaling cadence often exceeds the maximum cadence recognized by the bike, so if I am in a low gear going up a hill and I am pedaling too fast, I lose some of the assist. I currently need a new battery, and a replacement runs about $800-

The only e-bike currently on the market that really interests me is the Faraday Porteur. It is lightweight, beautiful, and will assist up to 20mph. The negative is that it is a 250watt front hub motor, so it might actually be weaker than my current ride. Oh, and it's also $4,000.

I am trying to decide whether to buy myself a new battery, or buy a beautiful new bike.

What do you all think?

Look at the link below.
http://newwheel.net/products/used-electric-bikes

You could get a Kalkhoff for $800 or even better bikes for less.

 

[drmorison]

Those who think that the 2009 is outdated, what can I expect to be different on a newer model? On my current bike, all of the mechanical parts work perfectly. Am I going to experience more power with a current model? My motor is 250 watts which is the same as the new bike I am interested in. For those of you who have been riding ebikes for a long time, in what way will it feel/be different?

 

[drmorison]

Look at the link below.
http://newwheel.net/products/used-electric-bikes

You could get a Kalkhoff for $800 or even better bikes for less.

That Kalkhoff looks like a very good deal, but other than the 5mph top speed difference, in what way has it improved compared to what I am currently riding? In practical terms, what will the difference be in riding experience?

 

[rich c]

My 2016 Haibike has shift sensing, torque sensing, 28 mph, computer range estimates, large rotor hydraulic brakes, Schwalbe tires with puncture resistance, 500wh battery pack with a true 50 mile range based on the way I ride, full air suspension, full lighting off the main battery, and ergonomic grips. I think that covers it, but no idea what you are looking at or what your 2009 has.

 

[Ravi Kempaiah]

That Kalkhoff looks like a very good deal, but other than the 5mph top speed difference, in what way has it improved compared to what I am currently riding? In practical terms, what will the difference be in riding experience?

There is a number listed on that link. I suggest you call the owner and talk to them.
A lot has changed since 2009 in terms of E-bike tech. Compared to your old bike, batteries and motors are are vastly superior now. I tried to help you with good info, the rest is upto you

 

[drmorison]

There is a number listed on that link. I suggest you call the owner and talk to them.
A lot has changed since 2009 in terms of E-bike tech. Compared to your old bike, batteries and motors are are vastly superior now. I tried to help you with good info, the rest is upto you

i really do appreciate the response. The bicycle that I am interested in is the Faraday Porteur. It is light-weight and beautiful. Extremely tempting!

 

[MisterM]

Look at the link below.
http://newwheel.net/products/used-electric-bikes

You could get a Kalkhoff for $800 or even better bikes for less.

What struck me was the high prices being asked for used bikes. I'd be happy if I could sell a bike for 50% of my cost.

i really do appreciate the response. The bicycle that I am interested in is the Faraday Porteur. It is light-weight and beautiful. Extremely tempting!

Tempting or not, if you're mostly satisfied with a new battery would provide on your existing bike, why not save the $3200? You'd still have the old battery as a spare.

And rather than buying a new battery, have you looked at replacing the cells in the existing battery? I suspect newer batteries might offer a low cost performance/range upgrade.https://ebikemarketplace.com

Court discussed that company in this post https://electricbikereview.com/foru...nued-or-the-company-is-out-of-business.22737/

 

[Trail Cruiser]

Speaking of batteries, I would be concerned of the low 300 wh battery capacity of the Faraday. That would only provide a real world 15 miles range (unless you want to completely drain it and compromise the battery life).

Replacing the battery is also not that easy. I don't know if this is something you want.

 

[Bicyclista]

The Faraday Porteur is a good bike, although my experience is limited to test-riding one. It's best feature, I think, is that it looks like a conventional high-end bike with its double top tube, like some of the (non electric) Rivendell frames.

Given that it has a small, front-hub 250W motor, it was a surprisingly capable climber. I rode up a half-mile, 10% slope easily. But, as others have pointed out, it has a small battery, limiting its range. On the other hand, the Faraday Porteur is probably easier to pedal without electric power assist than most other e-bikes!

I am going to be a contrarian and recommend that you get a new battery at a cost of $800. After all, you cannot get a good new ebike for $800!

Perhaps it's because I like to keep things a long time. I still have vinyl records and a turntable. I still have two film cameras and many manual lenses. I still have 3 non-electric bikes, one of them dating to the 1980's!

 

[drmorison]

So, it turns out that I can get a new battery for $600. Also, my current battery is 24v and 10ah, so a total capacity of 240wh.
The new battery will is 24v and 18ah for a total capacity of about 430wh.
Thanks for all of your excellent input everyone! I am very happy to have found this new community.
I am thinking that I may just do both!

 

[J.R.]

So, it turns out that I can get a new battery for $600. Also, my current battery is 24v and 10ah, so a total capacity of 240wh.
The new battery will is 24v and 18ah for a total capacity of about 430wh.
Thanks for all of your excellent input everyone! I am very happy to have found this new community.
I am thinking that I may just do both!

I agree with just about evertyhing that's bee said in this thread. The dollar value is a tough one to make. I have an antique floor model radio made in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the 1920's. It's beautiful, it even sounded ok in the 1980's when we got it as a wedding gift. Forward in time, I won't plug it in due to old wiring. Vacuum tubes are fine, it's the old wiring and a lot of it that would need to be replaced. My call.... oh and Alexa said not to bother!

A bike is a bike, if the bike works as desired ok! My doubts are in the electronics inside the hub motor and the controller. 10 year old wiring could be okay, could be. With the expense of a $600 battery, if something else goes wrong, like a $200 controller or a $400 motor, will it be worth it? Only you know.

I'm in sort of the same boat, my boat a little newer. I own a 2014 ebike, very basic, that I'd like to give to a family member with health problems. So far no-go. With greater than 6000 miles it will be retired soon though. I also own a great 2015 Easy Motion 29er with top of the line components on it (still). Thousands of miles on it yet running like new. I'm a bit of a DIY maintenance fanatic. It's actually only 2-1/2 years old. But! I kind of want a new bike, but I love my 29er, yet the battery no longer gets me 'all the way there and back'.

What to do? Shopping for a new bike for late this year??. That's one, and two? Purchased a new battery from my favorite dealer for $650, for my 29er. It's a personal decision you need to figure out the pros and cons. Good luck!

 

[drmorison]

Thank you everyone for you excellent advice. I went ahead and purchased a new Gazelle Arroyo HMB.

 

[AlanDB]

Great choice drmorison! I have only had my Arroyo a couple of months, but so far I really like it. I went on a 21 mile ride yesterday, starting with a fully charged battery. I rode the entire distance on eco mode. it was quite windy, but the trail was flat and paved. When I started, the Intuvia showed a 62 mile range for eco mode, but kept steadily increasing as I rode. About 8 miles in, it showed an 84 mile range. When I finished my 21 mile ride, I still had 5 bars on the battery meter, and the Intuvia still showed a range of 72 miles for eco mode.