speed pedelics are they as fun as it sounds?

[Cuddles]

I ´ve often thought that it would be great to have a bicycle that is also a motorbike and I came across speed pedelics today. They´re limited to 45 km/h in our country but boy - are they pricy! gulp.
Does anybody here own one and is it fun and worth getting one?

The one reason I like the idea is that I would be able to visit my parents house now and then without needing to get a lift there and back. And the other is that it can be kept in the bike shed or even upstairs inside my flat

 

[f-e]

My city has some of the lowest commuting speeds nationally, and when I moved to a suburb out along one of the slowest corridors, I had had enough. I built such a bike, and took my car off the road. My longest regular journey was 7 miles, and most were 1 or 2. Only on that 7 mile run was the car quicker, but by a small margin. I only put the car back to use when a wedding meant moving back n forth between villages in my suit, where there was no bus routes. Not that I had used a bus in the 8 months I didn't drive.

When I moved out into a small town, I found walking places quicker than locking the bike up. I still put it in the car and drove to the city though. Parked for free a mile out, and cycled the last mile. The bike can take you along different routes that car's can't use. Right up to the door of places you need to be, that might be quite a walk from car parking. Many cities are becoming car free zones, making movement within them a case of walking, cycling or scooting.

Just a word on scooters.. They can be picked up, or up-ended and wheeled like a carry-on suitcase. Shops and public transport don't mind this. Adults look like pillocks on them, but for that last mile, they car be useful. I see no point on long range high powered ones though. Comfort and safety comes from big wheels and sprung seats.


Safety is a real problem for the speed pedelec. People don't expect you to be traveling as fast as you are. I don't mean to be sexist, but women don't judge distance in the same manner as guys. Men have a better grasp of objects in space, and will look twice to see how far something has moved, and know it's trajectory. Women pulling out their driveway have landmarks they judge by. If a cycle has not passed nextdoors driveway, they have time to pull out. Based on experience. Now that's a very black and white view, but is essentially one of the main differences between how the sexes think. However, the experience of bicycles is one of objects moving at 9mph where the rider is sat upright. A sports cyclist might be doing 18mph. The speed pedelec rider is sat upright, with a basket on the front, doing 30mph. Using tyres that ain't stopping them as there is no real weight upon them.

Most ebike riders fall into one of two groups. The first likes 18mph. At 18mph you can ride defensively, and get up after the occasional mishap. The other group ride as fast as possible, because they have no fear (or comprehension) of how others around them act.

Your route may allow speeds into the upper 20s at certain points. Just as an autobahn is safe at most speeds. If you feel 18mph is going to be your limit, then a normal pedelec can usually be de-restricted and do that speed.

Find a rental shop. This is a big investment. If you have to go to the coast to rent bikes, so be in. You need a day on one. Unless you have a long decent path making up quite a bit of your journey, you will likely find 18mph enough.

Do you drive? If you don't drive, forget the fast bike anyway. It's a motorcycle, and you need serious awareness of the things people do behind the wheel.

 

[Cuddles]

thanks, this however:
I don't mean to be sexist, but women don't judge distance in the same manner as guys
is indeed sexist and utter bollocks. I for instance have an excellent eye for measuremts.

the pedelic i would go for is the 45 km/h one although I find that kinda slow as many roads are at least 60 . Over here you have to go on the road rather than the bicycle lane which is kinda daft as you can get in the way of cars, which go faster and they have to go around you.. but anyway, I really like the idea of these kind of bikes.
funny thing is that you can get a new moped for about 1,500,00 EUr or so, or even less and you don´t have to pedal, lol .
But parking a pedelic is easier

 

[f-e]

I can just look at a woman, and know exactly how she feels, without her saying a word.

Now that really is bollocks

Show me a chair or table, and I'm within 2cm, maybe closer. I think that's good, because it's the best I can do. Can you beat that? If so, look at the nails on your forefingers.
Are your thumbs pointing apart?
A typical girl won't get within 2% and will have thumbs together. Hands out stretched, while a guy has curled his fingers like a fist. Try it with your friends.

The rules are not fixed though. One major league male footballer has come out as gay. Now look at the girls. Football requires that objects in space skill.

I'm content with guys not switching between tasks so fast. Not being so dexterous. So loving. Being more aggressive. More insular. There is good and bad wherever you fall on the spectrum of attributes.



We should stick to bikes

Doing 45 on a 60 is alright, but most days somebody will try and pass you, then realise they ran out of room. At which point they will hit you before the oncoming car. More typical is them nipping past before turning across your path. A lot of car drivers see bikes as unworthy, non-taxpayers, who have no right to be there. They will drive around you, and won't actually care that they ran out of space. Leaving you grabbing for the brakes. This is rare on a normal bike, as a normal bike doesn't need the respect of a motorcycle. An ebike does that speed though. Which they are not used to. I can guarantee that if I'm doing the speed limit, someone will try and pass me, just because I'm a bike. In their brain, I'm a bike. Bikes hold up cars. They must pass as soon as nothing is coming. A maneuver that takes them much longer than they expected, as they gambled on going 20mph more than me. Which they are not.

In a 30 zone, it's not safe to do 30. Purely because everyone thinks you are doing 12. You have to do 20, so you can get down to 12 quickly.
This is why I ask if you drive. You need to really understand the mentality of drivers. I have countless numbers of friends who got on ebikes that can't drive. Either they won't get on another, or fall off regularly and don't care. Motorbikes are at least expected to be moving along. Yet find a rider who doesn't have a crash story. People opening car doors on them. Flying over bonnets. Into car back windows as they can't stop like a car. It's always someone elses fault, as they didn't see them. Cycles are much more invisible and disrespected.


I'm concerned you are going to hurt yourself, aiming for a land speed record, before you have even had a ride. At 45kmh, you have a 50% rate of survival hitting stationary objects.

 

[sneezydog]

but are they fun though? and what does a really fast one cost and look like... any good colors..... pegs on these bad boys? anyone making e-trick bikes? those old heavy pegged monsters that some crazy kids slide down railings on.... skateboards, now theres a liability.

 

[sneezydog]

^^^ but hes right about the dangers though, i used to ride a fixed gear on black ice ahahaha. couple moments. got hit once in the rear and spun around hars but no real accident.

 

[f-e]

greypaul are one of the more established makes in high end kit

Greyp Bikes - The World’s First Fully Connected e-bikes

At Greyp, we're designing and creating the worlds' first fully connected e-bikes to bring you the next-level technology and riding experience

www.greyp.com

Are they fun..
Depends what you do on them.
I have a friend who can't hold a driving license. They have improved his life massively. Simply as transport. He did step up to a fast one, but soon switched back to an 18mph one. Which as a non driver, he crashes regularly. I have to build him wheels using jump bike rims, with the eyelets opened up to take cargo bike spokes. Rhino lites and sapim strongs. He has realised nobody see's him now and slowed down. However him and his shopping is over the typical 100kg rating of a pushbike.
There are other suitability uses such as chain size. As yet they still use standard chain and rings. If you drive power through them, the chain is just not meant for any real power. We stick to hub motors (the ones in the wheel) so if we bust the cogs/chain/derailleur.. we still have drive to get home. He breaks a derailleur every 6 months. Once as I fixed one he put through his spokes, he put mine through my spokes. He had that 'want fast, I'm not stupid' attitude that many non-drivers have. He is a lot better having been over a few cars though. Now he talks like a driver "the roads are full of idiots" and such like.

I like to take mine to the woods. There are a few downhill runs I enjoy more than cycling back up. This really improves my time there. Enough that I'm happy to travel some way to reach these places. It's like skiing. Do you want the slope with the lift, or without.
I also like the less technical mtb routes, speeded up.

On a hot summers night, a 30mph bike, is a 30mph wind. It's much more refreshing than a fan.

Safety gear... well... statistically there is more chance of a head wound in the passenger seat of a car, than on a cycle. Also the helmets are for falling off like you fainted while stationary. If you want protection at motorbike speeds, you wear motorbike gear. Somewhere you need to find a balance. I remember flying through the air like superman, thinking how I keep telling another mate to wear gloves and he doesn't. So I bought him some after I landed. However, he quit riding as it was too dangerous for him. Gloves are an absolute must though. Along with jeans, because you have to land on something.

 

[Cuddles]

greypaul are one of the more established makes in high end kit

Greyp Bikes - The World’s First Fully Connected e-bikes

At Greyp, we're designing and creating the worlds' first fully connected e-bikes to bring you the next-level technology and riding experience

www.greyp.com

Are they fun..
Depends what you do on them.
I have a friend who can't hold a driving license. They have improved his life massively. Simply as transport. He did step up to a fast one, but soon switched back to an 18mph one. Which as a non driver, he crashes regularly. I have to build him wheels using jump bike rims, with the eyelets opened up to take cargo bike spokes. Rhino lites and sapim strongs. He has realised nobody see's him now and slowed down. However him and his shopping is over the typical 100kg rating of a pushbike.
There are other suitability uses such as chain size. As yet they still use standard chain and rings. If you drive power through them, the chain is just not meant for any real power. We stick to hub motors (the ones in the wheel) so if we bust the cogs/chain/derailleur.. we still have drive to get home. He breaks a derailleur every 6 months. Once as I fixed one he put through his spokes, he put mine through my spokes. He had that 'want fast, I'm not stupid' attitude that many non-drivers have. He is a lot better having been over a few cars though. Now he talks like a driver "the roads are full of idiots" and such like.

I like to take mine to the woods. There are a few downhill runs I enjoy more than cycling back up. This really improves my time there. Enough that I'm happy to travel some way to reach these places. It's like skiing. Do you want the slope with the lift, or without.
I also like the less technical mtb routes, speeded up.

On a hot summers night, a 30mph bike, is a 30mph wind. It's much more refreshing than a fan.

Safety gear... well... statistically there is more chance of a head wound in the passenger seat of a car, than on a cycle. Also the helmets are for falling off like you fainted while stationary. If you want protection at motorbike speeds, you wear motorbike gear. Somewhere you need to find a balance. I remember flying through the air like superman, thinking how I keep telling another mate to wear gloves and he doesn't. So I bought him some after I landed. However, he quit riding as it was too dangerous for him. Gloves are an absolute must though. Along with jeans, because you have to land on something.

you´ll be relieved to hear that a drivers license is a legal requirement in order to drive around on a 45 km one so is safety gear as in a helmet and the bike also has a plate and insurance is also a must - just like you would on a moped, motorbike or car.
I think that the most important thing is that you have a good sense for the traffic in general, bikes or cars alike because well, idiots or just thoughtless people are everywhere -in cars, on bikes, on foot and they can be either male or female.
I´ve seen it when driving a car or cycling or as a pedestrian...

 

[sneezydog]

had a bicycle with a 4 stroke motor i mounted to it with the spoke sprocket add on design, and a 2 stroke before that. both were sweet but dangerous for all the reasons mentioned. i burned out the back pedal back brake hub on my huffy cruiser at about 30 mph... was a little tight...
But those designs all hinge on your ability to get the sprocket perfectly centered and be a little handy to fix the chain tensioner just right without slop...centered is the main thing. cheap buggers and alls you need is a bike permit or whatnot for most places.
That greypaul bike is too much tech for me personally i dont want connected with a bike... just a gogo, no wifi on that baby.

 

[Loc Dog]

From title thought it was research chemicals.

 

[Switcher56]

I ´ve often thought that it would be great to have a bicycle that is also a motorbike and I came across speed pedelics today. They´re limited to 45 km/h in our country but boy - are they pricy! gulp.
Does anybody here own one and is it fun and worth getting one?

The one reason I like the idea is that I would be able to visit my parents house now and then without needing to get a lift there and back. And the other is that it can be kept in the bike shed or even upstairs inside my flat

When it comes time for the wife's car to be replaced, we will use my truck until it is time to retire it. '17 Nissan Frontier 11,000 km only on it, and I'll be getting me one of these, which you can ride on the sidewalks here. We no longer travel long distances and the further I go is the local shopping mall (4.7 km away)

As long as it has pedals on it, it is considered a bike. An electric scooter for example requires you to take all the BS courses and a "motorbike" license. No thank you.

... my stability is not what it used to be. $1800 CAD

I looked at this one as well

That sucker is pricey $3300 CAD and I'm ot fusy on the fat tires.

Good enough for my trips to the pharmacy, grocery store and power house. If i need to go further, I'll use my truck. The only reason I want to buy one is to maintain my mobility. Isn't it funny that when you need a 2nd vehicle it is always at the most inopportune time

 

[Cuddles]

When it comes time for the wife's car to be replaced, we will use my truck until it is time to retire it. '17 Nissan Frontier 11,000 km only on it, and I'll be getting me one of these, which you can ride on the sidewalks here. We no longer travel long distances and the further I go is the local shopping mall (4.7 km away)

As long as it has pedals on it, it is considered a bike. An electric scooter for example requires you to take all the BS courses and a "motorbike" license. No thank you.

View attachment 18718827
... my stability is not what it used to be. $1800 CAD

I looked at this one as well
View attachment 18718828
That sucker is pricey $3300 CAD and I'm ot fusy on the fat tires.

Good enough for my trips to the pharmacy, grocery store and power house. If i need to go further, I'll use my truck. The only reason I want to buy one is to maintain my mobility. Isn't it funny that when you need a 2nd vehicle it is always at the most inopportune time

how fast is it? It looks cool for getting all your groceries and stuff. I would have to stick to one with 2 wheels myself due to storage/parking issues.
The saddle looks a lot more comfy than the one I was looking at the other day, not to mention that it´s a lot cheaper. The 45 km/h s-pedelec I liked best so far costs nearly 7,000 EUR. That´s a LOT more than a moped for the same speed costs...

 

[Mitsuharu]

I'm using a normal pedelec and for me that is already fast enough(27km/h)... Don't want a speed thing, too dangerous in my humble opinion. With a normal bike it's already dangerous cause so many car drivers don't look right and disregard way oft right and traffic-signs... i experience that every day.

But if you're traveling long roads to work or just for traveling this could be nice for some people for sure. Keep in mind that you need to charge this thing more often.

 

[Cuddles]

I'm using a normal pedelec and for me that is already fast enough(27km/h)... Don't want a speed thing, too dangerous in my humble opinion. With a normal bike it's already dangerous cause so many car drivers don't look right and disregard way oft right and traffic-signs... i experience that every day.

But if you're traveling long roads to work or just for traveling this could be nice for some people for sure. Keep in mind that you need to charge this thing more often.

We have a lot of bicycle lanes, many of them are on the pavement. But the fast pedelecs are for the road only. You´re right about many car drivers not giving a toss although cyclists are very common here. When I first cycled in London - I ended up sweating blood!m I mean drivers just weren´t used to bicycles. I learned to be even more careful as a result.
The main reason I´d like a speed one is indeed to go a longer distance with it.
And let´s face it- just because you can go fast, doesn´t also mean that you´re automatically obliged to do so but it´s nice to have a choice.

 

[Mitsuharu]

Sure, but when you are fast you need to be extra careful. And car drivers are already not aware of so fast bicycles!

So if you are fit, maybe start with a normal pedelec. But if a speed thing that is what you want, go for it. I just wanted to tell an other side .

 

[f-e]

The legality aspect puts me off the speed version. If you need all the motorbike gear, and can only go where motorbikes go, which could mean parking charges and a reg plate to id you... where is the bicycle in that. It's a motorbike you have to pedal. That doesn't seem like fun.

What gain over an electric motorcycle is there?

For me, the bike is about the freedom from all the red tape, and the go anywhere aspect of ownership.

This may come as a surpise to many of you, but I sometimes break the law. I have a bike that appears to be a 25kmh model, and is used as such. Right up to the point where I can twist the throttle, and go. It will do 45kmh+ but I very rarely pass 35, even if I had a race track to myself. You need eye wear with that kind of wind speed, or you start streaming and can't see. Suddenly you are not dressed for the occasion because it's windy. It starts feeling like an extreme sport.

The last time my car was sideways, was about half hour ago. I'm not Mr Safe & Boring. I like the bike that goes fast, and not the motorbike that goes slow. Only one of them I consider fun. A bit naughty maybe. A bit of a buzz.

 

[unclefishstick]

i commute by bicycle,and have for 10 years...i would say don't get anything that goes too fast,if you don't have the experience going that fast on two wheels it can be very dangerous to yourself and others...and the faster models tend to be rather heavy due to the weight of batteries,and once the juice is gone you're left with trying to pedal a tank...not to mention with the faster models you really shouldn't be on the bike paths and thus are sharing the road with drivers who are generally blind to the presence of bikes...plus half the joy of riding bikes is going slow enough to see the world around you

 

[Mitsuharu]

Yeah, even with my normal pedelec it's very heavy if you ran out of juice, it's like around 20kg or more... Dont't know what the speed things weigh!?

We have a Bulls Bike btw, very robust. With a german Bosch Motor.

What gain over an electric motorcycle is there?

It is still a bike so you can go offroad etc. And you still need to move your legs.

 

[unclefishstick]

over 15,000 miles on this bike,and literally tons of cargo moved

 

[Cuddles]

i commute by bicycle,and have for 10 years...i would say don't get anything that goes too fast,if you don't have the experience going that fast on two wheels it can be very dangerous to yourself and others...and the faster models tend to be rather heavy due to the weight of batteries,and once the juice is gone you're left with trying to pedal a tank...not to mention with the faster models you really shouldn't be on the bike paths and thus are sharing the road with drivers who are generally blind to the presence of bikes...plus half the joy of riding bikes is going slow enough to see the world around you

that´s a good point and I was wondering about running out of power too. Maybe get 2 charged up batteries, just in case?