Powerful City Commuter eBike with Throttle

Grok on 16/09/2022 - 11:59

I am looking for a city commuter eBike with a bit of go. So something with a 500w motor or better, a throttle, good range, preferably a hub motor.

Yes I am aware mid-drives are “better” but they don’t really appeal but I am open to suggestions.

I found the Vamos El Diablo. Looks pretty decent.

https://vamosbikes.com.au/electric-bicycles/el-diablo-high-p…

Then there is the Mamba Venom, more of a trail bike.

https://www.pedl.com.au/products/2022-new-mamba-venom-plus-e…

A bike with suspension is not necessary.
Don’t want a fat tire bike.
Throttle would be nice.
Quality components.
Good range
250 watt motor won’t cut it.

Any suggestions, criticisms or ideas?

Sports & Outdoors Electric Bicycle

Comments

  • Hybroid on 16/09/2022 - 12:03
    +4

    Throttle (self propelled) eBikes aren't legal in NSW. Nor technically anything above 200W. Check for your intended location.

    https://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/stayingsafe/bicycle-…

    • Grok on 16/09/2022 - 13:08
      -2

      Yes I know but the streets where I live have ebikes pulling wheelies.

      No-one seems to care so far.

      • Hybroid on 16/09/2022 - 13:12
        +3

        They zip up and down the Sydney CBD too, many without helmets, but have seen some get stopped and ticketed. They're quite hefty fines too.

        It's just a matter of when. Not worth the risk.

  • Porker on 16/09/2022 - 12:04

    Be sure to check your local road rules - as I'm aware in Victoria, electric bikes can only be 'pedal-assist' to not trigger other requirements. Once push bikes operate under a different means of motor, they're then classed as vehicles.

    An electric bike with a throttle control (that is, not pedaling) may fall into this vehicle classification.

  • Fredfloresjr on 16/09/2022 - 12:17

    You musky a bikie

  • Drakesy on 16/09/2022 - 12:17
    +1

    Unfortunately throttle e bikes are very much illegal in many states due to it no longer fulfilling the function of a bike (no pedalling required).

    The twist the throttle and go will get you in a bit of strife. Especially with 500w that will get you to 50+km/h

    IMHO get a pedal assisted one.
    Hack it/relocate the speed sensor to a cadence pickup and you'll get your 40-45km/h cruising speed and not capture the police's attention. (It'll still be illegal though, just less obvious)

    • Grok on 16/09/2022 - 15:31

      I want 500watts for the hills not the speed.

      • Drakesy on 16/09/2022 - 16:13

        "Hills"
        250 watts is more than enough to go up most hills at 20-25km/h, any faster and you should really be on a motorbike.

  • SnowDragon on 16/09/2022 - 12:23
    +1

    You'll have to DIY to fulfil those requirements.

    Grab a decent bike to start (I'd go second hand) but for example this

    Then a hub wheel - I have one of these (prices are USD)

    Then a compatible battery like this

    Ta-da! You've got yourself an e-bike for $1600~ that goes 45-50km/h flat for about an hour or so. If you hang around 40-45km/h you can probably get around 70km distance on a full charge.

    • derrida derider on 16/09/2022 - 12:47
      +3

      And it will be just as illegal as a bought one and get you big fines if you use it. For good reason - pedestrians have every reason o be afraid of these things on paths, and they are complete suicide on a busy road mixing with trucks and cars.

    • pharkurnell on 16/09/2022 - 12:57

      Bloke on that highway patrol show got 1100 in fines for that.
      I thought the bloke was being decent about it all and a warning would have been more than enough - yet they still let him ride off…

      https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x79nwar

  • rowd22 on 16/09/2022 - 12:30

    I converted my commuter to an ebike with a 500w motor. I pickup my kid from kindy and am so glad I chose the higher power to get both of us around the steep hills in our suburb.
    The El diablo would be my pick, rear suspension is unnecessary on the road. Both bikes are low-mid level with regards to quality components.
    Get the biggest battery available, I can go 70km using my 15Ah battery.

    • pharkurnell on 16/09/2022 - 12:58
      -1

      and still illegal.

      • Grok on 16/09/2022 - 13:10
        +3

        I think of it as civil disobedience for the good of the planet.

        • pharkurnell on 16/09/2022 - 13:31

          Tell the cops that :)

    • Grok on 16/09/2022 - 13:12
      +1

      Yes I like the El Diablo too, I can’t really fault it for the price. Brand name components.

      With the optional big battery (which I would get) it’s supposed to go 50-60km.

  • sharkyoz on 16/09/2022 - 13:00
    +1

    try a Cullen version 4 from Pedl.com.au
    im a fat bugga ,weigh 130kg, still gets up to 60kph+

  • bargaino on 16/09/2022 - 13:41
    +2

    Musky,
    is there any reason why you can't just get a 50cc moped? Lost your license?
    You can find a low-km used one cheaper than a good eBike, and it will suit your needs better.

  • pegaxs on 16/09/2022 - 13:42
    +2

    Just buy an electric motorcycle like a SuperSoco TS or TC, or an electric scooter like a cUX or a Fonz Arthur. Used, one of these will set you back about the same price as a decent ebike setup and these EV motorcycles are legal to ride on the road.

    Upside, they are faster and more comfortable and safer for doing those speeds, can register and insure them and police are not going to throw $2000 fines at you.
    Downside, in NSW you will need a minimum learner motorcycle license to ride one and a helmet.

    • Grok on 16/09/2022 - 13:58

      I have a full motorcycle license already but you can’t ride these electric motorcycles on bike lanes which are taking over my city. Or ride them on the footpath for a shortcut.

      Interesting though.

      • pegaxs on 16/09/2022 - 14:25
        +4

        You cant ride e-bikes on footpaths either, but you know, may as well double down if you're going full illegal.

        And you don't need to ride them in "bike lanes" because you can legally lane filter to the front of a line of traffic on your motorcycle anyway, so you are always at the front of the traffic queue.

        Setting up an e-bike and 1 fine would cost you more than what a used scooter or EV motorcycle would cost. Not to mention that if you hit someone on your illegal e-bike, riding illegally up the footpath, you are not covered by any amount of insurance.

        • Grok on 16/09/2022 - 15:28

          All true but yesterday I was walking in the city almost being run over the constant delivery riders and their NCM eBike passing.

          The horse has bolted mate, electric things are taking over the streets.

          Plus the footpaths are full of conventional bikes as well and it appears the courtesy of ringing a bell as you pass someone from behind has long gone.

          I may as well join the club (but be much more careful)

  • AustriaBargain on 16/09/2022 - 15:57

    Why not just get a proper scooter, like the ones everyone in Thailand seems to use to get about.

    • cookie2 on 16/09/2022 - 18:15

      In Melbourne anyway, they're illegal. Unless in part of the cbd trial. All a jib, they'll make them all legal once they figure out how to get a cut themselves. Just like cannabis. And e-cigarettes.

  • Euphemistic on 17/09/2022 - 08:59

    “bUt I’Ll bE a ReZpoZiBLe RiDer”. Yeah right, pull the other one it plays jingle bells. Just get an electric motorbike and be done with it they have legal throttles. You want to ride bike lanes, get a legal bike. You want more power, go all in and get a motorbike.

    Just because ‘everyone else’ is riding high powered throttle bicycles doesn’t mean at some point you aren’t going to cop a fine. All it will take us a pedestrian to be seriously injured and the public outcry will mean the police will have to divert from real crimes to go fine all the illegal e-bike riders.

    • Grok on 17/09/2022 - 10:18
      -1

      Relax dude.

      My preferred ebike at this stage, no-one has come up with a better one, is the Vamos El Diablo which is a pretty conservative bike. It is locked to 25kmh standard, the throttle is only activated when you press a button and it only has 500 watts peak.

      It is not that much different to a normal “legal” eBike. It doesn’t look illegal because all it really has is a slightly more powerful rear hub motor.

      As for seriously injuring people, no BS, just in the last 6 months I have almost been hit a couple of times walking on the footpath by people riding a conventional bike. Not children, adults.

      So I don’t think I’m a danger to anyone on bike lanes and the occasional careful shortcut on footpaths.

      I don’t want a motorcycle, I did that, and survived, the roads are crazy now, full of entitled millennials.

      • rod1709 on 17/09/2022 - 15:08

        understand what you are saying, but when/if you get a $2000 fine or a law suit for an accident don't come onto ozb complaining. seriously, it's just not worth going illegal.

      • Euphemistic on 17/09/2022 - 17:02

        You’ve described could be a legal e-bike. Throttle assist is legal, but only from a standing start and only up to like 6km/h. Limited to 25km/h. Continuous is prob closer to 250w. They just chuck out 500w specs to make potential buyers salivate.

        I wasn’t saying you’d cause an injury, just someone riding an illegal e-bike will be enough to start a crackdown and in that case you don’t want to be riding one.

        BUT if it’s not a legal e-bike just don’t.

  • ConsumerAffairs on 22/12/2022 - 16:17
    +1

    I don't know what is with all the sticks in the mud here and law abiding citizens?!
    I have the El-Diablo and it's a fantastic ebike, I have the pre hydraulic brake model with the 10Ah battery. It stops well enough mind you that's with the almost maximum 150kg load on board and as for the weight, the motor is more than capable of shifting that weight up almost any hill.
    On maximum PAS it will get up to the claimed 50km/h with some effort and it will sit comfortably on 40km/h on pure throttle alone.
    As for the range I get around the 50km mark on throttle alone and about 65km with maximum PAS on, this could probably be improved some what by removing the off road inspired tires which also aren't the most balanced tyres out there. I've got a set of Schwalbe Super Moto-X tyres to fix that issue plus there better designed for fast ebikes.
    It's definitely not the lightest ebike but it has quite a sturdy frame, the Suntour suspension is more than adequate for the weight. The rear rack is rated to 25kg and holds the loads securely.
    The only gripes I've had with it is some of the rear spokes popping, it may have been the weight I've had on it or they were under tensioned from when I got it. The other one is the rear gearset, I can never seem to get the adjustment in the right spot.
    I hope this helps your decision making, as for the 'laws' I've never has a second look when I've been riding it but I mainly stick to the bike tracks and rail trails.

    • Euphemistic on 27/12/2022 - 17:55

      I don't know what is with all the sticks in the mud here and law abiding citizens?!

      It’s up to the individual, but the fines are stupidly high if you are caught riding an unregistered motorbike - which an overpowered e-bike will be. They may also throw other charges at you depending on the circumstances and those would likely be related to driving laws. Why would we suggest someone go out and purchase a bike that could end up costing thousands in fines?

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