Kathy Smith
Active Member
This is a bike I would really love to get but it's not out yet. What do you guys think of it, worth the wait?
http://vello.bike
http://vello.bike
Vello ebike
- Thread starter Kathy Smith
- Start date
ReallyGoodEbikes
Member
I wasn't familiar with this bike, but I just read the Indigogo campaign. It's very beautiful, and has a very nice form factor. The carbon belt drive and chromoly frame are real plusses. But it seems a little pricey for what you get, and I'd be concerned about shipping to the US once the campaign ends. Also, the regenerative / self-charging battery details are a little be sketchy, and I wonder if the hill climbing claims are accurate (I didn't watch any of the videos). Hope this helps.
Kathy Smith
Active Member
Well, I would be willing to pay that much for the WEIGTH! That's how important it is for me. I don't even care for the regenerative aspect as it only works when you are in a regenerative mode and I would most likely be using Turbo mode. But the bike is not out yet
ReallyGoodEbikes
Member
Well, if you want a very lightweight folding ebike right now, I can recommend the Velomini+, which has a twist throttle and 3 levels of pedal assist. It only weights 29 pounds.
Kathy Smith
Active Member
Thanks, but the wheels are too small.
ReallyGoodEbikes
Member
I understand. I'm working on an ebike database which can sort all available ebikes by over 100 technical parameters including weight (not an easy task), but in the meantime, might I suggest the Oryx by Surface 604, at 35 lbs, one of the lightest ebikes on the market!
Kathy Smith
Active Member
It's too big and doesn't fold.
harryS
Well-Known Member
What do I think about an ebike that supposedly recharges off the pedals? Marketing hype. To make it work, you're going to be working the pedals so hard, you might as well pitch the motor and pedal a lighter bike. Anyway, that's what I think. Maybe I'll be proven wrong. I can tell you that I've pedalled a Stomer ST1 in regen mode. Great bike, but why would anyone do this was my thought. Find a charger and have a cup of coffee. Prolly get you more charge than the same amount of time pedalling.
Are there are batteries hidden in the frame of the mini-vello? If so, it won't have much range at all.
Are there are batteries hidden in the frame of the mini-vello? If so, it won't have much range at all.
Kathy Smith
Active Member
Just curious, where did you read about it recharging off the pedals? All I see is the following statement: "“self-charging” mode for a boost only uphill – battery recharges downhill/braking"
Perhaps you read about another bike mini-vello?
Kathy Smith
Active Member
What other e-bikes? They don't have any other ebikes.
What top screen?
Kathy Smith
Active Member
I'm not worried I'm 100lbs.
I don't know about the magnet release system but they use the same folding magnetic system on their non-electric folding bike, I would think that by now you would hear people complaining about it if it was a complete BS but I don't know. Something to investigate.
harryS
Well-Known Member
It says self charging ebike on that screen capture.
Other models? My mistake. Sorry. They have been talking up the self charging Vello bikes since October, 2014, and it was mentioned there. Didn't realize that this is the same one from the original video.
I do like the frame, but I don't see how they can pack much battery power into it. It also uses a blue tooth interface, which I feel is problematic unless done by good designers. Regen means direct drive motor, and one that is this small will be power starved, in my opinion. Geared motors work far better when the motor has to be small/light. I don't think it was worth going for regen as a feature.
Edit: This uses the zehus motor, and the batteries are inside the hub. It's a 160 watt-hr. I have similar sized batteries to run my folders. That's good for 90 minutes at 12 mph and less than an hour at 16 mph. I think that's OK, but I don't believe that many riders have the strength to recharge via pedaling. I was amused by Court's review several years ago where he mentioned the "optional" charge port. Tone down the self-charging hype and I would not be a critic.
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Kathy Smith
Active Member
The video doesn't mention any electric bike so I'm not really sure where you are getting this from.
As for self charging, again from what I read it says that it only recharges going downhills and breaking only in regen mode, you still plug it in if you want it to ride in a turbo mode.
NYCWheels will be offering this bike so I'll wait and see.
rafalima
New Member
- Region
- United Kingdom
hey, did you buy this bike? if so, what is your experience so far?
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