Electric Bikes
Help
My mum would love an electric bike for her 60th but they are so expensive.
Does anyone know good but cheaper bikes?
If she only wants an electric bike (and I don't blame her), Would she be happy with 2nd hand? Around where I live we have two popular cycle trails and several companies have sprung up renting bikes. After a couple of years they usually sell the older ones off at pretty good prices. They are all well maintained and the paintwork is usually touched up if there is any damage. Most big towns also have at least one place that sells reconditioned bikes.
Have a look at the Amazon Electric Bike Bestsellers here, prices start from around £500:
It should help you get an idea of prices.
I also found a review online for the Coyote Connect:
Coyote Connect: The best budget folding electric bike
If you’re looking for a no-fuss, cut-price e-bike for short commutes, the Coyote Connect is an excellent option. At 20 miles, the range is minimal, and it’s not the most powerful of beasts, but the Connect is solidly built and the three levels of assist on offer will get you up any hills you encounter on your brief rides. The Connect is easy to fold and unfold, though a little heavy and unwieldy if you have to carry it any further than off a train and out of a station, should the need to do so ever arise
I'm having a bit of trouble tracking one down – but it looks like you could have got one from Halfords on eBay for £499 (out of stock now)
This one seems like an okay price:
I've seen bikes like this around but would rather be in a car. lol
Is she sure she wants to ride an electric bike? Sure, it's way better than a normal bike but not quite as safe as driving a car/motorbike.
Drivers on the road can be really dangerous and some don't even bother to stay around when they're the ones that caused an accident (or worse). She could just drive a car which learning to drive is pretty easy and straight forward though she may already.
Just throwing it out there.
Remember buying secondhand that the batteries only have limited charge cycles, some as low as 300 but typically 500 or more with I think 800 being the absolute maximum. At 300 cycles someone who uses the bike everyday for work could use up the capacity of the battery in only a year or for someone who needs to charge at work for the cycle ride home that could be 2 charge cycles per day meaning its exhausted in only 6 months. After that the charge level may drop off considerably. I've seen people who are surprised how much their e-bikes sold for s/hand many people don't seem to factor in the battery is end of life when buying and the battery is the most expensive component on an e-bike normally. Also mid-mount motors can be problematic and need expensive replacement parts, Bosch etc. I think for an e-bike there is a lot to be said for buying new and basic e-bikes start as low as £450 thereabouts, you can also convert an existing bike.
Join for free to get genuine deals, money saving advice and help from our friendly community
Chief Bargain Hunter