New E-Bike for aussie to commute to work around 60km round trip

[Johnny]

Thanks, are hub motors better suited for my needs? I thought the mid-drives might be better.

Was looking at the giant quick-e. Seems like a nice and good priced bike.
I was also looking at perhaps a diy option of getting a bike and then putting on the bafang motor and battery. Slightly cheaper but sacrificing the nice integrated look that some of new e-bike have like the giant.

Still considering my options, but thanks for the replies!

I think Giant quick-e is a great bike, I personally like it a lot.

Since you have mentioned going fast on roads and your commute is not short I thought hub will be easier to keep the speed up.

If you are happy with 17-20mph average any mid drive should be great however keeping 24+ mph with those mid drives require quite a bit of an effort since they are not very powerful.

I am not a fan of diy kits, they are not really much cheaper, their reliability will be a big question mark and more importantly the kits will never be as well integrated to the bike as the purposefully built ebikes.

 

[Alaskan]

If you are happy with 17-20mph average any mid drive should be great however keeping 24+ mph with those mid drives require quite a bit of an effort since they are not very powerful.

Not really. I have a Bosch 28mph mid drive with a Rohloff hub. On flat ground with no wind in assist level 3 (sport). I can sustain 24mph quite easily in 13th gear with a cadence of 75. In Turbo 26mph is quite sustainable. Any slope or wind can reduce or enhance that. I'm 68 and weigh 210, with some heart issues.

 

[steve mercier]

Sally this one is lighter than yours (-: https://motorino.ca/blog/post/vanco...es_the_world_lightest_commuter_electric_bike/

 

[steve mercier]

This is what it looks like foldedView attachment 27530

https://motorino.ca/blog/post/vanco...es_the_world_lightest_commuter_electric_bike/

 

[Johnny]

Not really. I have a Bosch 28mph mid drive with a Rohloff hub. On flat ground with no wind in assist level 3 (sport). I can sustain 24mph quite easily in 13th gear with a cadence of 75. In Turbo 26mph is quite sustainable. Any slope or wind can reduce or enhance that. I'm 68 and weigh 210, with some heart issues.

I was talking about average speed? Is your average 24mph?

Also you know flat roads with no wind is not descriptive of most commutes.

 

[Alaskan]

As I said, I have places to ride that are in a broad, flat river valley, near the mouth, where, if the wind is a neutral factor, I can sustain 24 mph for an hour. As I understand it there are places in Australia that are mostly flat. You are right though as regards mixed terrain and/or windy conditions, which can have a real impact in lowering the average speed to 18-20. Not having ridden a hub drive except in a fairly short test ride, I can't say, under those circumstances, one is better than the other. Just trying to clarify what a good mid drive provides in my experience.

 

[Alaskan]

It is important to note that, in most commutes one of the factors in reducing average speeds is stop lights and stop signs. this old fart can get my mid drive bike back up over 20mph from a dead stop in half a city block or less...and have fun doing leaving a look of surprise on peoples faces. Regardless, stops still significantly reduce average speeds

 

[Melbourne23]

Hi all

I'm an aussie too in Melbourne and am currently tossing up between the Giant Quick E and the 2019 models of the Khalkhoff Endeavor 5 and the Focus Aventura. I'm aware that the Khalkhoff and Focus are a price level up. My commute is only 4km each way with some small hills so is the Bosch CX warranted in this case?

 

[Over50]

It is important to note that, in most commutes one of the factors in reducing average speeds is stop lights and stop signs...Regardless, stops still significantly reduce average speeds

I can attest to that. Like you I can maintain 24 pretty easily with the Rohloff (in 13th gear). But I'm lucky to average 16 mph on my commute due to all the stop/start.

 

[steve mercier]

Hi all

I'm an aussie too in Melbourne and am currently tossing up between the Giant Quick E and the 2019 models of the Khalkhoff Endeavor 5 and the Focus Aventura. I'm aware that the Khalkhoff and Focus are a price level up. My commute is only 4km each way with some small hills so is the Bosch CX warranted in this case?

Any bike will do the job, but some are a joy to ride and others are a drag. Get thee to a cyclery and test them all until you find your steed!

 

[E-Wheels]

Hi all

I'm an aussie too in Melbourne and am currently tossing up between the Giant Quick E and the 2019 models of the Khalkhoff Endeavor 5 and the Focus Aventura. I'm aware that the Khalkhoff and Focus are a price level up. My commute is only 4km each way with some small hills so is the Bosch CX warranted in this case?

https://electricbikereview.com/forums/threads/information-on-new-kalkhoff.25059/#post-160645

 

[PDoz]

Hi all

I'm an aussie too in Melbourne and am currently tossing up between the Giant Quick E and the 2019 models of the Khalkhoff Endeavor 5 and the Focus Aventura. I'm aware that the Khalkhoff and Focus are a price level up. My commute is only 4km each way with some small hills so is the Bosch CX warranted in this case?

See if you can get a test ride on some of the various drives. I'm in gippsland so probably a bit too far away to be much use to you? By small hills , what are you looking at? Arthurs seat / the dandenongs , or just a gentle slope?

Do you want to stay legal?

Nb My perception is tainted by being a mtb rider, and I ride a 2018 giant full e pro ( so the next motor up on the quick e - more like the motor that's in the fathom pro) , My comparrison is from riding mt taylor near bairnsdale ( check out trailforks for gradients etc) - My giant vs a trek full 7 with the bosch cx and I was underwhelmed , The bosch speed limit is litterally like a brick wall at 24.9 km/ hr - on the giant you can sit at 26 - 27 km with the assistance gently pushing along every time you drop below about 26.5 , and it eases in / out - -so the giant litterally leaves the treck for dead up hills. Specialised also seem to pull away from bosch powered bikes up hills at the speed limit.

Sure, you can buy a dongle and de restrict the bike - but there goes your warranty and theoretically a savvy cop can get you for unregistered unliced motorbike ( knowing the vic police...any excuse to book someone " speeding" ) . There are also rumours that bosch is going to be able to detect derestriced bikes...

Also, the motors feel very different - in full assist, the giant pro motor also feels a LOT quicker at lower cadence ( but tapers off between 80 and 110 ) - so for stop start it's viable to leave the bike a couple of gears above optimal and rely on the huge torque to get you up to speed. To be honest, I tend to ride in lower assist levels most of the time because the motor is almost too powerfull for what I do . I will say, the bosch feels more progressive in stop start riding - almost like you pedal a couple of cycles and the boost builds up as opposed to the hit from the giant.

If you can't get test rides, there are more and more places popping up that hire ebikes - so having a holiday and incorporating a test ride is viable. I know the bright shop hires giant pro , so you could ride the rail trails there. Mt buller / mansfield hires specialized for the rail trails out that way. There is a lot to be said for a reasonably long test ride - any ebike feels awesome on a short ride, but it takes a few hours to really appreciate the subtle differences.

 

[Dancier]

The commute to work is about 30km (around 19miles) so 60km two way. I can cut it shorter by around 3km by taking a different route but I haven't scoped it out to see if it's any safer.
What I'm worried about is range and speed. I know where I am there is a restriction of 25kph (15mph) (quite a joke really when there are other maniacs on non e-bikes doing 50-60kph!), but I think it's not really enforced. Most of my commute has hardly any other riders so I think it would be safe to get it going a little faster then take it slower in the city.

What are some e-bikes that would suit my needs? I would need to get it derestricted so i'm looking for a motor that could handle it. I was thinking the bosch performance line.

Check out the high wattage direct drive rear hub motors, with a big 48v battery for the speed and distance you want, it won't be legal in Oz though. Maybe the Rev or Dillenger kits. https://rev-electricbikekits.com.au/product/1000w-hub-motor-kit/ - http://dillengerelectricbikes.com.au/electric-bike-kits.html

 

[roguex]

Sure, you can buy a dongle and de restrict the bike - but there goes your warranty and theoretically a savvy cop can get you for unregistered unliced motorbike ( knowing the vic police...any excuse to book someone " speeding" )

Have you heard of anyone getting done for this?

 

[PDoz]

Have you heard of anyone getting done for this?

I've spoken with cops who are are well aware of a local who is switching between legal and illegal modes - they are waiting for the opportunity to be able to prove it. ( presumably catch him using throttle over 25 k when they're not drinking coffee?) .

I have also heard from stealth bike riders who were followed by cops so had to stay in legal mode.

More importantly, from a melbourne ( australia) perspective - if there is an accident where someone is seriously injured and an electronic device that can prove the vehicle was being opperated illegally - good luck.

 

[roguex]

I've spoken with cops who are are well aware of a local who is switching between legal and illegal modes - they are waiting for the opportunity to be able to prove it. ( presumably catch him using throttle over 25 k when they're not drinking coffee?) .

I have also heard from stealth bike riders who were followed by cops so had to stay in legal mode.

More importantly, from a melbourne ( australia) perspective - if there is an accident where someone is seriously injured and an electronic device that can prove the vehicle was being opperated illegally - good luck.

Well I think I'm going to ditch the idea of getting an ebike for now. If the cops in Melbourne are too busy following riders trying to catch them out rather than trying to stop local gangs doing home invasions and a terrorist attack in the city, then it really shows how backwards our laws and police really are. The 25km/h limit is really slow considering the average distances people have to travel here compared to Europe. We should really be following the US regulations.

 

[PDoz]

Well I think I'm going to ditch the idea of getting an ebike for now. If the cops in Melbourne are too busy following riders trying to catch them out rather than trying to stop local gangs doing home invasions and a terrorist attack in the city, then it really shows how backwards our laws and police really are. The 25km/h limit is really slow considering the average distances people have to travel here compared to Europe. We should really be following the US regulations.

Sad, isn't it? But until fines for texting become more common than fines for speeding....welcome to victoria.

 

[Solom01]

It's insane for countries like Australia and Canada to try to match EU regs. Those were meant for compact cities that were built in the middle ages. Their speed limits make no sense in places like the US, Canada and Australia and are especially funny since many people using non-ebikes can and do go a lot faster.

 

[Alaskan]

It's insane for countries like Australia and Canada to try to match EU regs. Those were meant for compact cities that were built in the middle ages. Their speed limits make no sense in places like the US, Canada and Australia and are especially funny since many people using non-ebikes can and do go a lot faster.

-Well said! It is a classic case of bureaucratic laziness. Instead of applying thought and careful planning to local circumstances, they adopt rules, laws and guidelines written by others with radically different fact patterns.

 

[steve mercier]

It's insane for countries like Australia and Canada to try to match EU regs. Those were meant for compact cities that were built in the middle ages. Their speed limits make no sense in places like the US, Canada and Australia and are especially funny since many people using non-ebikes can and do go a lot faster.

Maybe it is my age ,but I dont have a problem with the motor kicking out at 30 kmph. If someone needs to do a long commute at high speeds ,perhaps an electric scooter (google Motorino scoooters ) might be more appropriate for that commute anyway. One reason I like the limit is that pedestrians who share the trails will not notice any substantial difference between pedal bikes and Ebikes .You see I also have a 500 watt hub motor bike that can go up to 28 mph on the flats. If there were to be a preponderance of these bikes in the hands of some knucklehead riders , it would not be long before all Ebikes were banned from the car-free trails that are a great joy to ride around here. So come to think about it , perhaps law makers could make a designated category for road- only ebikes with no top speed limit ,although I am not so sure this could be enforced in a practical manner.