Please help me figure out a few questions about ebike with these specs
Posted by GlitteringCharge7792@reddit | ebikes | View on Reddit | 11 comments
So I took my son (6) to VeloBerlin this weekend because I wanna get a bike for us for school and hangouts. We were planning to get a normal ebike but he didnt feel comfortable on most of them. Tried taran longtail and they had a kids seat set up on the back. He liked it and was also kinda giggling the whole time we rode it around the test track. The guy at the stand was super helpful and let us do a few laps.
Now I am very close to ordering one because I think with it I will have to buy but I dont wanna impulse buy because I know nothing about ebike maintenance. So pleasee answer these questions for
Battery - its got a 693Wh battery. our daily use would be school run + errands so maybe 15-20km most days, sometimes more on weekends. we have some hills in our area. is one battery enough for that or will i be stressing about range constantly? also how fast do these batteries degrade with daily charging? I dont wanna be replacing a 500 euro battery every year
Motor - 100Nm mid-drive. everyone says mid-drive is better than hub but is there a downside? does it wear the chain out faster? the guy at the stand mentioned a belt drive option on the higher spec version thats basically maintenance free but that ones more expensive
Brakes - 4-piston hydraulic 180mm rotors. ill be carrying my kid plus groceries so probably 130-150kg total system weight. lots of stop and go in our area. how often do brake pads actually need replacing with that kind of load?
Yearly costs - what do you guys actually spend per year on ebike maintenance? chain, tires, brake pads, servicing.. trying to figure out if it saves money or if it will be more or less same
Please help
Lordly_Lobster@reddit
The battery will degrade quicker if you run it down to zero % capacity. Ideally you should charge it when you get to 20% capacity. Which for you would probably be every few days. Typically you can get 500-1000 charge cycles out of a battery so you should be good for a few years.
The nice thing about a mid drive is you can reduce stress on the drivetrain by shifting to lower gears. Just remember to downshift when you get to a hill or before you come to a stop.
Simple-Narwhal-8676@reddit
Sounds like a great setup, and your kid loving it is a big win. The battery is more than enough for your rides, and it’ll last years, not one. Mid-drive is great (just a bit more chain wear), brakes are solid, and maintenance is pretty normal; nothing crazy. Overall, you’re good; don’t stress it
ipercepti@reddit
You didn't mention which drivetrain. IGH (enviolo) will be less wear and tear on the drivetrain since you'll have a straight chainline in any gear. Derailleur would be cheaper to replace if something goes wrong.
Belt will be cleaner (no lube), quieter, and technically less maintenance, but replacement is expensive. You'll get more life out of your drivetrain by rotating 2 chains every few hundred km's. Chains are cheap and easy to install.
Battery should last you years. I have a 52v battery I've used with almost daily riding for over 3 years and it still charges to over 95%.
If you do the easy stuff yourself (i.e. replace the chain, replace the brake pads), you'll probably end up paying more anually for your subscription services than bike maintenace.
raiijpg@reddit
Mid-drive is better for hills and for how the bike goes when pedaling, that trueeee. The downside is , it kinda puts more stress on the chain and drivetrain compared to a hub motor because all the motor power goes through the chain. On a chain drive setup you'll probably replace the chain every 2000-3000km and the cassette every 2-3 chains. It's not very expensive though.
GlitteringCharge7792@reddit (OP)
Okay that's not too bad then. Do you do the chain replacement yourself or take it to a shop? I've literally never done any bike maintenance so I don't even know if that's something I can handle
HG1998@reddit
I can and would do it on my own, it's not that difficult.
GlitteringCharge7792@reddit (OP)
Can you please share some tips for a beginner like me about overall maintenance
HG1998@reddit
Clean and lube the chain, clean the bike, occasionally check whether everything that should be moving moves and anything that shouldn't move isn't.
That's about it.
Electronic_Coat_2265@reddit
693Wh for 15-20km daily is way more than you need honestly. You'll use maybe a third of the battery on a normal day so you're charging like twice a IG. Battery degradation isn't as scary as the internet makes it sound just don't leave it at 100% for weeks, don't store it in your freezing garage over winter and you should be covered.
GlitteringCharge7792@reddit (OP)
For some reason I had it in my head that I'd be charging every night like a phone. that sounds goood.
GlitteringCharge7792@reddit (OP)
693Wh for 15-20km daily is way more than you need honestly. You'll use maybe a third of the battery on a normal day so you're charging like twice a IG. Battery degradation isn't as scary as the internet makes it sound just don't leave it at 100% for weeks, don't store it in your freezing garage over winter and you should be covered.