A comfortable e bike

[Mr porky]

Hi
I would like a comfortable e bike i.e a seat that doesn't cut you in two and handle bars that are within reach without having a black belt in yoga, it also must also not look like I'm hankering back to edwardian times.

Seriously is this possible we have a garage that currently sits a 300cc scooter which we use a lot when in the uk but rarely when we are in mainland Europe so we will swap for each country. Unfortunately we do not have room for both even if we went for a folding style.
A full size would be better with proper wheels.
Don't want to spend thousands but up to say 4k is OK.
Any pointers would be great.
Thank you

 

[Norfolk Nige]

Tern Vectron. They are folding bikes. Very sturdy and well built. Top end of your budget. I’ve just bought one and love riding it.

 

[Jo May]

Swap the bike seat for a wider, more comfortable one. Easy job.
My bike came in 3 sizes, sm, m & l. In other words different shaped people are catered for and it's very much a subjective thing.
As important is battery / motor size depending on how far you want to cycle.
Plus where you want to go, i.e. specific bikes for off road, gravel, road??

 

[scotjimland]

Modern plastic saddles fitted on most 'off the shelf' bikes , broad, narrow, gel or whatever are rubbish ..

Fit a Brooks B17 leather saddle..

they take a bit of breaking in, but are the most comfortable you can ever use..

I have had them all all my leisure bikes,

B17, leather bike saddle for long distance - Brooks England

B17 is a leather bike saddle ideal for commuting, gravel, touring and long distance. Choose the comfort and the design with Brooks England. Order online.

www.brooksengland.com

 

[Guigsy]

How comfortable the saddle is, is more about saddle height and reach to the handlebars than how much padding it's got. If you're a long way forwards, instead of weight going on your sit bones, you lean on squishy bits instead, which isn't good. You also want the saddle high enough that your knees aren't up around your ears. Unfortunately, it's all bit of a dark art. Small changes can make a massive difference.

Generally Dutch style bikes are the most comfortable. Lots of mountain bikes and even hybrids now have very slack and long front ends that are great for off-road, but not so much for comfort.

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[RedFrame]

Gazelle Ultimate, they do a high step and low step frame.

https://www.gazellebikes.com/en-gb/ebikes/ultimate?utm_term=gazelle+ultimate+c380&utm_campaign=Search+-+Brand+-+Models+-+40312&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_acc=4928614135&hsa_cam=13660757496&hsa_grp=129931043248&hsa_ad=531080758989&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=kwd-861423435023&hsa_kw=gazelle+ultimate+c380&hsa_mt=p&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA0bWvBhBjEiwAtEsoW3bCSrZisZCS2dtbUaIBF9xhf3xV6BEfrEbmg2DT2B_s13fk9I-geRoCVB4QAvD_BwE

Cheers
Red

 

[Carpmart]

I would hate the idea of not having both the scooter and the bikes options when we are travelling. I now use a Thule tow ball mounted bike rack for the bikes, which is excellent. Could this work for you?

I’m going to get myself a nice Gazelle in the near future. Very smart even elegant bikes, well built, Bosch hub drives and a great reputation..

 

[TDub49]

These are good: https://wisperbikes.com

 

[Landy Andy]

If you want comfy, well built, and quality look at Riese & Müller bikes. Start off at about your budget, and have a lovely belt drive system

Bikes | Riese & Müller

www.r-m.de

 

[TrudeandDall]

Hi
I would like a comfortable e bike i.e a seat that doesn't cut you in two and handle bars that are within reach without having a black belt in yoga, it also must also not look like I'm hankering back to edwardian times.

Seriously is this possible we have a garage that currently sits a 300cc scooter which we use a lot when in the uk but rarely when we are in mainland Europe so we will swap for each country. Unfortunately we do not have room for both even if we went for a folding style.
A full size would be better with proper wheels.
Don't want to spend thousands but up to say 4k is OK.
Any pointers would be great.
Thank you

Don't just buy something that looks nice. Visit a good bike dealer who has the competence to measure you and get a bike that fits you - not settling for you trying to fit a bike that is for sale.
The Dutch are masters of easy riding "sit up and beg,' bikes a Gazelle would be a good starting point.
I've got Brooks B17 saddles on all of my bikes and ridden many, many thousands of miles on them - they work for me, maybe not everyone...

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[Bleau’s]

Wife has a gazelle purchased in Holland and I have a Rayleigh purchased with camc discount both traditional type bikes even more discount if Rayleigh do any shows.

 

[The Coops]

You need the Van Moof bikes have a look at them they also do a shop display discount which can equal a big saving, automatic gears and security linked through your I phone and funky styling.

 

[Jenben]

How comfortable the saddle is, is more about saddle height and reach to the handlebars than how much padding it's got. If you're a long way forwards, instead of weight going on your sit bones, you lean on squishy bits instead, which isn't good. You also want the saddle high enough that your knees aren't up around your ears. Unfortunately, it's all bit of a dark art. Small changes can make a massive difference.

Don't just buy something that looks nice. Visit a good bike dealer who has the competence to measure you and get a bike that fits you - not settling for you trying to fit a bike that is for sale.

I was going to write a post saying all this but as others have beat me to it I will just quote them above.

Having a bike that meets your specific size and riding style makes a huge difference.

 

[Rob Turner]

If you are passing anywhere near Bonn then call into https://www.bike-discount.de/en/
They will definitely have in stock what you are looking for and at the right price.

 

[Steve N Tracy]

Cube Kathmandu pro, choice of 3 frame styles uses Bosch's most powerful motor, with 3 different battery capacities,
https://www.cube.eu/de-en/e-bikes/trekking/tour/kathmandu-hybrid

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[Coolcats]

Hi
I would like a comfortable e bike i.e a seat that doesn't cut you in two and handle bars that are within reach without having a black belt in yoga, it also must also not look like I'm hankering back to edwardian times.

Seriously is this possible we have a garage that currently sits a 300cc scooter which we use a lot when in the uk but rarely when we are in mainland Europe so we will swap for each country. Unfortunately we do not have room for both even if we went for a folding style.
A full size would be better with proper wheels.
Don't want to spend thousands but up to say 4k is OK.
Any pointers would be great.
Thank you

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[Mr porky]

Thank you everyone for such great advise.
I see that the answer is not straight forward and I need to do some research but you have given me lots of starting points.

 

[Dutch 68]

Hi
I would like a comfortable e bike i.e a seat that doesn't cut you in two and handle bars that are within reach without having a black belt in yoga, it also must also not look like I'm hankering back to edwardian times.

Seriously is this possible we have a garage that currently sits a 300cc scooter which we use a lot when in the uk but rarely when we are in mainland Europe so we will swap for each country. Unfortunately we do not have room for both even if we went for a folding style.
A full size would be better with proper wheels.
Don't want to spend thousands but up to say 4k is OK.
Any pointers would be great.
Thank you

Try a gazelle ultimate with enviolo stepless gearing it is superb quality and all day comfortable

 

[dna]

There are probably more variations of e-bikes than motorhomes to chose from.

I have a specialised Vado SL bike (version 4.0 but later versions are now available). It weighs around 15kg which means I can ride it without the assistance and can lift it easily into my van or onto the rear bike rack high up on the back door. I have changed the seat post to one with suspension to improve the comfort.

Our local specialized dealer offers demo rides and I had the opportunity to try the light model (SL) and one of their other bikes. The weight difference was enormous with the normal version being 27KG. On that it was hard work if you didn't have the power assistance on at all times. I wouldnt fancy trying to put that on a bike rack (in fact it may exceed the limits on rear mounted racks except ones on a tow bar)

I'm not an expert on the relative quality / performance of all the different components on the bike so cant comment on those.

I would say find a bike shop willing to let you borrow a bike for an hour and give it a good test on the flat and hills to see if it suits you. Then get the shop to ensure they sell the right sized model for you (i bought an ex demonstrator bike and saved a significant amount compared to list price)

 

[DangerMousy]

If you want a truly comfy bike then the first step is to find one with the right geometry for you (height, reach, etc), but even then you might need to make some adjustments to get it just right. A good bike shop should be able to facilitate test rides, and also advise on what other adjustments can be made.

I've changed my handlebars - removed the stupidly wide Specialized ones and put on a set with a back sweep which I find much more comfortable (and helps them fit in the garage better too!). I've also changed the saddle - I have an old Selle Royal gel saddle that's been on 4 or 5 bikes now, its only a cheap one but it suits me. Sometimes you have to try a few before you find the best one (and expensive isn't always better).

I'm also a fan of the Vado SL - not only are they much easier to get on/off a rack or in/out of a garage than our old 20-something kg bikes, but when you're around town and needing to carry up or down steps it makes a huge difference.

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[Coolcats]

Thank you everyone for such great advise.
I see that the answer is not straight forward and I need to do some research but you have given me lots of starting points.

as they say try before you bike shops have demo bikes when I purchased my last bike it was 6 months of research and multiple testing and bike hire. One bike I tried was £10k had no idea it was that price I dropped it and caught it before it hit the deck. Phew! He must have thought I was a total amateur

 

[Marie-Claire]

we have pendleton Dutch style e bikes from halfords , comfy to ride and around 1k each

 

[scotjimland]

Off-the -shelf mass produced adult bikes generally come in five frame sizes

XS, S, M, L, XL

Only professional riders have a bespoke built frame .. or very rich Funsters ..

a good bike shop will measure you and advise on the correct frame size ..

a very good bike shop may do a 'bike fit' if you ask, but that may cost extra.. and not really required for leisure riding.

if you are between two sizes .. buy the smaller one.. you can make a small frame bigger... but not a big frame smaller.

When you collect your bike, the shop should adjust the seat height and distance from handle bar stem.. and height of handle bars to suit your riding style

Seat height is so important.. every day I see riders with the seat too low.. there are excellent guides on-line on how to adjust the saddle to the correct height ..


This is a good guide to what frame size to buy

Bike sizing guide

The frame size is given in inches. It is the distance between the centre of the pedal axis and the end of the seat tube. For some models, manufacturers state ...

greatebike.eu

 

[rob1234]

Hi
I would like a comfortable e bike i.e a seat that doesn't cut you in two and handle bars that are within reach without having a black belt in yoga, it also must also not look like I'm hankering back to edwardian times.

Seriously is this possible we have a garage that currently sits a 300cc scooter which we use a lot when in the uk but rarely when we are in mainland Europe so we will swap for each country. Unfortunately we do not have room for both even if we went for a folding style.
A full size would be better with proper wheels.
Don't want to spend thousands but up to say 4k is OK.
Any pointers would be great.
Thank you

this is my little bike hitway ,,love it and its only around £700 only problem is its a bit heavy ,,

 

[The Wino]

Hi
I would like a comfortable e bike i.e a seat that doesn't cut you in two and handle bars that are within reach without having a black belt in yoga, it also must also not look like I'm hankering back to edwardian times.

Seriously is this possible we have a garage that currently sits a 300cc scooter which we use a lot when in the uk but rarely when we are in mainland Europe so we will swap for each country. Unfortunately we do not have room for both even if we went for a folding style.
A full size would be better with proper wheels.
Don't want to spend thousands but up to say 4k is OK.
Any pointers would be great.
Thank you

Have a trip to your local Decathlon and look at their range.

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[grasscutter]

We just sold a kidney and purchased two Specialized Tero 4.0 e bikes. First thing was to buy two replacement gel saddles.
I think with many e bikes it requires fine tuning to get the set up right for each individual.
As others have said find a really good shop who can advise and let you have demo rides.

 

[dash300]

Hi
I would like a comfortable e bike i.e a seat that doesn't cut you in two and handle bars that are within reach without having a black belt in yoga, it also must also not look like I'm hankering back to edwardian times.

Seriously is this possible we have a garage that currently sits a 300cc scooter which we use a lot when in the uk but rarely when we are in mainland Europe so we will swap for each country. Unfortunately we do not have room for both even if we went for a folding style.
A full size would be better with proper wheels.
Don't want to spend thousands but up to say 4k is OK.
Any pointers would be great.
Thank you

That made me chuckle!

 

[DandJ]

Hi
I would like a comfortable e bike.....
Any pointers would be great.
Thank you

Someone has already mentioned this make.....solid german engineering..... Riese and Muller
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[RedFrame]

If you are passing anywhere near Bonn then call into https://www.bike-discount.de/en/
They will definitely have in stock what you are looking for and at the right price.

Ooooohhhh, Thanks Rob, now I can really be like a "Kid in a Sweetshop"

Cheers
Red.

 

[15edward]

We had really nice time trying out all sorts of e bikes, quite a few years ago so it might be easier to find the different makes now. My criteria was ease of hill start!
We settled for a pedelec Kalkoff- love it

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