Electric bicycles

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Tsumitate Wrestler
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Re: Electric bicycles

Post by Tsumitate Wrestler »

RetireJapan wrote: Mon Sep 02, 2024 6:11 am
Tsumitate Wrestler wrote: Mon Sep 02, 2024 3:52 am What is your preferred style? (Reference: https://www.edinburghbicycle.com/blog/t ... ying-guide)
Probably gravel (road/commuter?)
https://www.wired.com/review/trek-fx-2/

retail: ¥279,290
Deep Blue
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Re: Electric bicycles

Post by Deep Blue »

Would think it makes a lot more sense to purchase a Japanese brand e-assist bicycle, support network is likely to be a lot better - especially out in the wilds of Saitama rather than central Tokyo.
captainspoke
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Re: Electric bicycles

Post by captainspoke »

Deep Blue wrote: Tue Sep 03, 2024 8:44 am Would think it makes a lot more sense to purchase a Japanese brand e-assist bicycle, support network is likely to be a lot better - especially out in the wilds of Saitama rather than central Tokyo.
Most certainly. There are a fair number of stories on reddit about folks who brought one in or ordered online, only to find that it doesn't meet japanese regulations--and no shop will touch it. Two easy giveaways are that there cannot be a throttle, and boost can only function when the rider is pedaling (not when coasting). And 24km/hr limit for boost to cut off (ebikes from abroad can have boost up to higher speeds).

I barely got started asking a good shop I've used regularly for years if they could change the gearing on one (I was wondering about making it lower), and it was a big, immediate no. (Re-gearing could potentially fool the limiter that works at 24km/hr) Many shops can even be a little sensitive about servicing bikes that they didn't sell, and a foreign ebike would be that on steroids.

The Trek above does look nice, and we have a friend who has one or another j-model that he really likes. Shop where you live, and give a local bike shop your business--they will then take care of you.
Deep Blue
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Re: Electric bicycles

Post by Deep Blue »

Captain spoke - username checks out for bicycle expert :)
Isodora
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Re: Electric bicycles

Post by Isodora »

As someone mentioned, pay a bit more and buy in a “real” bicycle shop nearby (avoid stores like Aeon, that also sell and service e-bikes but have revolving personnel that ist not necessarily good at their jobs). Thus you also get quite a bit of basic maintenance for free.

My experience is only with the Mamachari type though, but have used it also for a 60 km a day bike tour of three days, worked fine but less powerful than the one my friend used (probably Trek, not sure how easy it is to get service for those).

The three big ones Bridgestone, Yamaha and Panasonic are all very good when you use it within 20 km per day.

Most people here cover much smaller distances, (to the station, the shops, the Kindergarten etc) so you need to be aware that battery life will be much shorter if you use it a lot, also uphill rides drain the battery quite a bit - in the short and long term. A new battery costs around 40,000 Yen.

Make sure to get a bike with a strong battery. My recent one only has 9.4 Ah and I cannot get up our steepest hill (very steep) with it.

The newer ones have a battery recharge function when you go downhill, but I did not notice a big difference compared to the non-charging bikes.

My recent one is a stainless Bridgestone - with a non-iron chain, which looks more like a flat band, no maintenance needed so far (3 y 9 m). I average 15 km a day, more on weekends and could not live without it in our very hilly area (and with my age :)).

Also, e-bikes don’t last forever, my first one gave up after about 10 years, but at that time I still had a child in the backseat and going uphill was probably too much strain on the motor….

Only concern: If you are tall with long limbs, they may be too small for you, maybe there are custom-made options.


Good luck, you won’t regret it.
northSaver
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Re: Electric bicycles

Post by northSaver »

Just to give a quick example of real life battery usage on the Bridgestone TB1e:

Last Sunday's ride was relatively short (30 km) but fairly hilly. My wife was using power 2 (out of 3) most of the time, and power 3 on the steep bits.

Battery capacity before ride: 65%
Battery capacity after ride: 45%

Like I said, it recharges when you brake or go downhill, which seems to help a lot. The downside is that it slows you down A LOT when you're going down. I'm forever waiting for my wife at the bottom of long hills! But she likes it that way, and you can turn off the power (no recharging) if you want to go faster.

I also recommend buying it from a local bike shop and help keep them in business. Our local didn't stock it but they ordered and assembled it for list price if I remember correctly (we'd already tried it for size at a big shop in Sapporo).
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