Has anyone bought an electric moped for their van?

[szymon]

Decision made and arriving today, Knaap 2-seater electric bike. As we have a PVC, one electric bike is far easier to transport added to the fact that my wife cannot ride a bike.

Hey there! We too have been looking at the Knaap — what are your thoughts on it having had it for a couple of weeks? Is it easy to lift and put on a bike rack? Does it work well two up with the wife? How is the throttle start? (It’s supposed to be able to “move off” using the throttle, until some low speed when you have to use the pedals — does that work well to help you get going two-up?).

 

[mikeandmary]

Hey there! We too have been looking at the Knaap — what are your thoughts on it having had it for a couple of weeks? Is it easy to lift and put on a bike rack? Does it work well two up with the wife? How is the throttle start? (It’s supposed to be able to “move off” using the throttle, until some low speed when you have to use the pedals — does that work well to help you get going two-up?).

My thoughts are only positive on my choice. I have not been able to use properly as yet as I’ll health has prevented that. I was extremely fortunate looking round for a suitable ebike. I got in touch with Calum Devitt at LaunchElectric, he arranged for a demonstration from Knapp for me who were visiting one of their Midlands dealers. Steven, the chap from Knaap went through everything, controls, setting up the digital display, the all important “Throttle Start”. The bike does everything and more and does it well and it’s only about 26kg. Good luck in your search.

Mike

 

[claude et maude]

Did your Classic GT arrive ok on Thursday?

It arrived a week and a half ago and couldn’t be happier. Can’t wait to get it into the back of the MH and head south.

 

[Vennwood]

Just been browsing through electric motorcycles and unsurprisingly there is a mountain of choices and while every user has their own requirements I thought I would ask the dumb question. What experiences has anyone had with electric motorbikes (the lightest preferably) that can safely carry two people with a reasonable range?

 

[Take2]

I’m also looking into the electric moped for the van too. Under 28mph classed as 50cc and drivable on car licence. Over 28 needs either full bike licence or CBT test. The bikes 3kW and above are the ones able to go 40 plus mph but there are some 3kW machines limited to 28mph.
I’ll need the 3kW, 48mph for my and my lady but deliberating on weight and size for garage.
Hope this helps

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Calamaster]

Yes, We have two of these: https://www.e-bikesdirect.co.uk/ele...0/basis-osprey-folding-low-step-electric-bike
Excellent / fold up / fit in Garage. Also, have towing cart for hound. You just have to remember to use the batteries once a month and recharge.

 

[claude et maude]

I have a Bumblebee Classic GT, it comes in various sizes so from 28mph (car licence) to 50mph (motorbike licence) versions. It has enough range to get me from an aire/site to local towns and is fine 2 up. Usefully it also comes with front and rear racks for carrying shopping. It’s Classic Vespa styled so looks good IMHO.

The claims made for speed and distance appear to be honest, in fact I would say the distance is actually better than they state.

We are really happy with it.

 

[Steve N Tracy]

I have recently purchased Niu MQI GT SR it's supposed to have 268kg payload, it is quite heavy though at 113 kg with both batteries on board, however take them out and it reduces the weight by 22 kgs, I like it because its big enough for 2, built-in alarm and tracker, and software updates come over the air without going into the dealer.
They have certainly come along way from the old petrol scooters, self canceling indicators, led lamps, a phone app for tracking, alarm, starting, disabling and satnav, there is even cruise control, not that its needed on a moped rated machine lol.

 

[Take2]

Hi Steve and Tracy really interested to read about your bike. We're thinking of popping to the bike place in Southsea.. did you manage to go into Europe with it yet? How did your van cope with the extra weight?
..I mean the bike, lol

 

[Folkranger]

I wanted one but she woudn't have it so we've used two e-bikes for the last few years. Now changing to "lightweight" folding e-bikes as the big ones were too heavy for her, causing her to fall off when she stalled on a very steep hill in Wales last year.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Peppadog]

I, but we half the time, have done about 400 miles so far on the Silence SO1. As a biker, I wanted a run around that could keep up with normal traffic and that felt more like a bigger bike. It delivers. Very usable with acceleration to get away from traffic in or out of town when needed, and a limited top speed just over 60mph so not to to be a nuisance on an A road or dual carriageway.
With its new top box, and big under-seat storage, its also proving ideal for nipping into Bristol or Bath for shopping (we live between them).

 

[Steve N Tracy]

Hi Steve and Tracy really interested to read about your bike. We're thinking of popping to the bike place in Southsea.. did you manage to go into Europe with it yet? How did your van cope with the extra weight?
..I mean the bike, lol

Not had a chance to drive the motorhome yet with it on the back, just tried mounting it on the carrier, but as its not too much heavier then the 2 e-bikes we normally take I don't expect to much of a problem, I will find out this Friday.
We will not be taking it to Europe for the forseeable future as we like to take the e-bikes.

 

[Vennwood]

I have recently purchased Niu MQI GT SR it's supposed to have 268kg payload, it is quite heavy though at 113 kg with both batteries on board, however take them out and it reduces the weight by 22 kgs, I like it because its big enough for 2, built-in alarm and tracker, and software updates come over the air without going into the dealer.
They have certainly come along way from the old petrol scooters, self canceling indicators, led lamps, a phone app for tracking, alarm, starting, disabling and satnav, there is even cruise control, not that its needed on a moped rated machine lol.

I've been looking at this model also - it seems to tick most of my boxes. Will it carry two people comfortably and still maintain a decent speed? We had a Honda 50 many years ago and while it carried two easily it really struggled to maintain much over 20mph. I wouldn't want to be riding down a narrow country lane holding up a few dozen tooting motorists. The brochure mentions three driving modes with their related speeds - 15 mph, 30 mph and 43 mph. Would I be right in thinking the units are incorrect and those units should read KPH?

 

[Steve N Tracy]

I have the SR version limited to 30 mph, it does this uphill without any issues, the motor rated wattage is the same as the ER 125cc rated version, which was a £1000 pound more for a extra 10 miles range and 10 mph faster, could not justify the £100 per mile, there is a delimited ecu avaliable from Ecomove in Holland for around 300 euros if I decide to up the top end.

 

[Ianto]

My wife bought me one of these. No insurance. No license. 50 miles on a charge. £1700. They were doing nhs discount.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Vennwood]

I have the SR version limited to 30 mph, it does this uphill without any issues, the motor rated wattage is the same as the ER 125cc rated version, which was a £1000 pound more for a extra 10 miles range and 10 mph faster, could not justify the £100 per mile, there is a delimited ecu avaliable from Ecomove in Holland for around 300 euros if I decide to up the top end.

Thanks for that. Do you get the range as quoted (40 miles) or is this like many adverts - the range is in ideal conditions?

 

[Vennwood]

My wife bought me one of these. No insurance. No license. 50 miles on a charge. £1700. They were doing nhs discount.

What model is this one?

 

[Ianto]

I believe sx250

 

[mofurt]

I've been looking at electric stuff for a while now, but not yet bought into it.
Both my wife and I have have proper motorcycle licences, she rides a Virago 250 (not for power reasons, it's physically a 2/3 size bike for a 2/3 size person...). I've got a few, but my goto machine is a Pan European ST1300 - which we also use two up.

We both cycle, I have a ten mile each way commute to work which is perfect cycling distance.

We have a PVC, which I mounted a proper tow bar onto. That has a max nose weight of 150kg. Usually that's got a Thule rack on it with our old school hardtail mountain bikes (i.e. the ones we already had that we won't be too heartbroken about if they get stolen so we don't worry about leaving them chained up in town centres).

But sometimes it'd be nice to be powered. I commute on my Pan sometimes, we've taken that on a trailer to sites (330kg is a tad on the heavy side for a fixed rack on the van...). Pulling a trailer is a pain, especially a small bike one that has the usual small trailer reversing challenge.
Whatever we get has to be able to go onto a rack - so two light-ish bikes, or one that can take us two up. Having something to commute on that doesn't need petrol station trips would be nice.

E-scooters (the stand on, push yourself along) are right out. When I talk about scooters below, I don't mean them - they are illegal unless as part of a rental scheme. It confuses discussions like this that they have same name as a Vespa style motor scooter. And that mopeds generally don't have pedals anymore, so their name is wrong too...

Neither of us are fans of the Vespa style scooter, though it's not totally out of the question, and they seem to currently be the more practical solution on the van.

E-bikes look interesting. A bit of assistance, though topping out at 15mph. I'm still fit enough to wonder if it's really worth paying thousands of pounds to save a bit of effort, when the exercise is good anyway. It wouldn't make going in to town any faster.

S-Pedelecs (28mph variation of E-bikes) are fairly interesting. A bit more oomph, and you still get to pedal if you feel like some exercise, you want more power to go faster, or the battery is flat. The problem is that UK law hasn't dealt with these as well as the European's have; over here it is treated as a moped, you need to fasten a number plate to it, have at least a CBT (no problem - though for some that might also mean L plates depending on what else is on their licence) and insurance (might be, there aren't many companies who deal with them) and MOTs when the time comes.

Then there are full blown e-scooters as described above. Range isn't too bad, not sure I can get over the looks/style - I'm more a rocker than a mod

Or SuperSoco type motorbikes (relatively low power, no pedals). These are almost there in power and capability; the next generation may swing it for me. I'm happier with the style of these, and that they are more likely to ride like a proper bike.

Full on Zero/Livewire/whatever electric bikes. These would be great, except range limits mean they aren't useful to me as an everyday ride (on the Pan I regularly do 200+ miles per day, 4-500 isn't that unusual), they are too heavy for a rack so would need a trailer, and the economics don't add up at the moment. Otherwise perfect!

Nothing has yet been compelling enough to either replace the bicycles or the proper motorbike as get-around transport once on site, but I read threads like this with interest in case I've missed anything.

 

[Ianto]

Yes. Just checked . it's Eskuta SX-250

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Vennwood]

Eskuta SX-250

Thanks

 

[mofurt]

It's interesting to note that Super Soco are looking at making bigger bikes now - https://www.visordown.com/news/indu...g-electric-motorcycles-under-new-global-brand

 

[Richard n Ann]

I've been looking at electric stuff for a while now, but not yet bought into it.
Both my wife and I have have proper motorcycle licences, she rides a Virago 250 (not for power reasons, it's physically a 2/3 size bike for a 2/3 size person...). I've got a few, but my goto machine is a Pan European ST1300 - which we also use two up.

We both cycle, I have a ten mile each way commute to work which is perfect cycling distance.

We have a PVC, which I mounted a proper tow bar onto. That has a max nose weight of 150kg. Usually that's got a Thule rack on it with our old school hardtail mountain bikes (i.e. the ones we already had that we won't be too heartbroken about if they get stolen so we don't worry about leaving them chained up in town centres).

But sometimes it'd be nice to be powered. I commute on my Pan sometimes, we've taken that on a trailer to sites (330kg is a tad on the heavy side for a fixed rack on the van...). Pulling a trailer is a pain, especially a small bike one that has the usual small trailer reversing challenge.
Whatever we get has to be able to go onto a rack - so two light-ish bikes, or one that can take us two up. Having something to commute on that doesn't need petrol station trips would be nice.

E-scooters (the stand on, push yourself along) are right out. When I talk about scooters below, I don't mean them - they are illegal unless as part of a rental scheme. It confuses discussions like this that they have same name as a Vespa style motor scooter. And that mopeds generally don't have pedals anymore, so their name is wrong too...

Neither of us are fans of the Vespa style scooter, though it's not totally out of the question, and they seem to currently be the more practical solution on the van.

E-bikes look interesting. A bit of assistance, though topping out at 15mph. I'm still fit enough to wonder if it's really worth paying thousands of pounds to save a bit of effort, when the exercise is good anyway. It wouldn't make going in to town any faster.

S-Pedelecs (28mph variation of E-bikes) are fairly interesting. A bit more oomph, and you still get to pedal if you feel like some exercise, you want more power to go faster, or the battery is flat. The problem is that UK law hasn't dealt with these as well as the European's have; over here it is treated as a moped, you need to fasten a number plate to it, have at least a CBT (no problem - though for some that might also mean L plates depending on what else is on their licence) and insurance (might be, there aren't many companies who deal with them) and MOTs when the time comes.

Then there are full blown e-scooters as described above. Range isn't too bad, not sure I can get over the looks/style - I'm more a rocker than a mod

Or SuperSoco type motorbikes (relatively low power, no pedals). These are almost there in power and capability; the next generation may swing it for me. I'm happier with the style of these, and that they are more likely to ride like a proper bike.

Full on Zero/Livewire/whatever electric bikes. These would be great, except range limits mean they aren't useful to me as an everyday ride (on the Pan I regularly do 200+ miles per day, 4-500 isn't that unusual), they are too heavy for a rack so would need a trailer, and the economics don't add up at the moment. Otherwise perfect!

Nothing has yet been compelling enough to either replace the bicycles or the proper motorbike as get-around transport once on site, but I read threads like this with interest in case I've missed anything.

Conclusion...

Honda Vision

 

[LesW]

E-bikes look interesting. A bit of assistance, though topping out at 15mph.

I converted our two hybrids to electric (250w) 20mph easily achieved, max's out at about 23mph possibly more if fit enough... Good for about 60 miles, but not at max speed I would think, we're happy at around 12mph.

One of the benefits of ebikes is that you can wheel them around town centre etc and use them on cycle trails/paths and suchlike.

 

[KimSteve]

An electric one would be zero tax, zero insurance, zero MOT....that's what I think they are talking about.

if it's road use it will need insurance.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Ianto]

This is mine

 

[TheTwoOfUs]

Ianto is that a twistgrip operated ebike or pedal assist?

 

[mofurt]

Conclusion...

Honda Vision

Pragmatically, that or a Suzuki Address would not be a bad solution - except not being able to take cycle paths, tow paths etc. or walk it through a town. There are two distinct use cases here though.

The main problem with a petrol scooter is that this is me on my normal bike - riding a bicycle I'm OK with, I just can't quite bring myself to jump on a hairdryer

 

[Deepingvet]

We nearly bought a electric scooter but the salesman put us off or guided us in a more suitable direction.
He said the scooter would do probably 30 miles (if your lucky) and not even half that at two up!!
We bought a Peugeot 50cc Kisbee instead. About £1k cheaper too!
So far the scooter has been brilliant, even in the Welsh countryside.
£20 per year tax, 140mpg, insurance cheap as chips….
I will look again in a couple of years when the tech is better..

 

[Richard n Ann]

Kn

Pragmatically, that or a Suzuki Address would not be a bad solution - except not being able to take cycle paths, tow paths etc. or walk it through a town. There are two distinct use cases here though.

The main problem with a petrol scooter is that this is me on my normal bike - riding a bicycle I'm OK with, I just can't quite bring myself to jump on a hairdryer

View attachment 554983

Know the feeling, they are annoyingly practical .
Our scooter starter battery failed a few weeks ago here in Benidorm and that certainly made me appreciate it though

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}