Electric Bikes -N- Scooters Blog

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One of the things that will come up sooner or later with electric bicycle owners is the fact that you will probably need to have a part replaced on your electric bike.  Fortunately, there are plenty of parts available for electric bikes as well as electric scooters; you just have to know where to look for them.  The problem is that there are so many aggregate data based websites that are kind of like Shopzilla that you could spend endless hours trying to find an online resource that is specifically developed for electric bike parts.

Two of the places I have found to be great for finding electric bicycles are Electric Rider Bike Parts  Link: Electric Bike Parts (http://www.electricrider.com/parts/) and Electric Cyclery Link: Electric Bicycle Parts (http://www.greenspeed.us/).    Both of these dealers have a considerable amount of merchandise on the websites and it is all categorized inj a fashion that makes it very easy to find what you need.

Other Resources

Another website that is dedicated to electric scooters but may also have electric bike parts is:  Electric Scooter Parts . Com  and you can find the link here: (http://www.electricscooterparts.com/index.html) or here:  Electric Scooter parts.  This site primarily focuses on electric scooter parts and it has them all neatly categorized in  a manner that will allow you to find the e-scooter and the e-bike parts relatively easily.  If you can’t find the parts there, you can always go on Amazon or eBay to look for dealers in electric scooter and bike parts however; you will probably have to look around quite a bit.  As you probably already know, those sites already have extensive databases of products and if you already know what it is you need exactly, it will make your search a lot easier.

Well, if you’ve been looking at the news lately, you will notice that is pretty obvious that oil prices will begin again to start soaring and of course, gas prices will naturally go up. If there ever was a time for a call for alternative energy vehicles and alternative energy lifestyles, this is the time.

Actually, they hand writing has been on the wall for quite some time because of the fact that the world population has now exceeded 6 billion people and all of those people will probably be using fossil fuel to get to work and back as well as all of the other activities that are involved with their lives. The problem with this scenario is the fact that oil is a finite resource and will eventually run out. So, human beings on the planet Earth need to think about what type of alternative energy we can use to sustain the lifestyle that we have.

One of the easy ways that people who on electric scooters or electric bikes can get almost free energy from the sun is to buy electric panels for your garage or house. After you have purchased the electric panels (which aren’t cheap by the way) you can then wire them in a manner which will be conducive to charging up your electric bike batteries. Once you have your electric bike batteries wired from the solar panels you will be able to extract free energy from the sun without being on your city’s electrical grid.

Not only can you power up your electric bike or scooter that this matter, but there are also people who are powering up their electric cars this way too. Yes, there are still people out there with electric cars, however they have used their own innovation to build their cars in a manner which allow them to run and operate on electricity. Some of them have even installed electric panels so that they can charge up their electric batteries without drawing any power from electrical grid in their areas.

This is really a reasonable and easy way of gathering sustainable energy so that you are no longer dependent on any city or for an oil company to supply you with what you need to survive.

One of the things that you will probably encounter as you get older is that you want to stay physically active, but you get tired and sore from jogging or riding a bike.  The last time I went jogging my knees got so sore, that I could hardly climb the set of stairs in my home.  So, as we get older, we don’t stop being active, we just need to find other ways and methods to still get that much needed exercise.

Besides swimming, what I like to do is ride an electric bicycle.   Now, if you don’t know much about how electric bicycles can benefit your health, then I will try to fill you in a little bit.

First of all, electric bicycles are different than electric scooters in that you can have the type of electric bike that you will still have to pedal.  On an electric scooter, you will have just a throttle on the handlebars, and all you will need to do is twist the throttle to go.

Electric bikes can also have that option, however most electric bicycles are what you would call “assist” electric bikes.  In other words, there is a sensor built into the electric bike that can tell when the torque is becoming more resistant ( just like when you are going up a hill or riding faster) and when that happens, the electric  motor starts up and “assists” you in your ride.   What does this mean for you?   It means that you will not have a tiring, strenuous ride that may hurt you, or at the very most, put you into the hospital.

Electric bicycles will enable you to still  get some exercise, but at a lower level of impact that will help you to stay in the game.  You will still have some resistance which can be somewhat adjusted to your needs while being able to get outside and get some exercise. You can get these assist electric bicycles almost anywhere on the internet, but you can find my list of recommendations at my electric bikes page by clicking on this link: Electric Bikes.

Often the question gets asked, “why ride an electric bike?” Which is the premise of this book by author David Henshaw was actually an editor with A to B Magazine, which is a magazine that is dedicated and specializes in electric bicycles since about the year 1997. This book, Mr. Henshaw try to cover all of the reasons why you should consider purchasing electric bike and what you should look for when you try to buy one.

Many times, I myself, have answered the question because it is a subject that is very important to our world today, especially since people are so concerned with global warming and increasing dependence on fossil fuels which will eventually run out. The way I look at it, electric bicycles are the lab rats of the electric vehicle world. In other words they are a smaller version of what gets tested with an electric car or an electric motorcycle. As a matter fact, the technology behind the electric bicycle as well as electric scooters has jumped considerably the last 15 years. Manufacturing has jumped almost 200% in the last 10 years because of the fact that many countries like China, India, and Taiwan are using electric bikes more because of their infrastructure. Infrastructure of those countries is such that people can easily write bicycle to work and back, so having electric bicycle electric some of the people. They could ride to work without getting all sweaty and tired before they get there and that is a big benefit.

This book also covers development of electric bikes as well as different types of classic models and a whole host of other important factors that are prevalent to the electric bike and electric vehicle would. So, this is a great primer for people who have never looked at electric bikes before want to gain some knowledge with actually go out purchase. You should know where the electric motor is usually located on bike, how power is rated for electric motor, as well as what types of batteries and charging system electric bike has. This book will cover that and a lot more.

You can purchase a copy of Electric Bicycles from 50 Cycles Electric Bicycle Company by clicking on this link.

In Germany there is a development and design company called  ID-Bike which has a group of industrial designers, economists an experienced electrical engineers which  are building state-of-the-art electric motors as well as electric vehicles. Located in beautiful Stuttgart Germany, (I lived it Heidelberg Germany for three years and Berlin for three years as well and I have been the Stuttgart many times. It is an absolutely beautiful town.)  Anyway, this is one of those high-quality Deutsche companies that never seems to sacrifice quality under any circumstances.

They have recently designed a beautiful electric bicycle called the ELMOTO, which they started work on back in the year 2009. Their idea was to create a way to change the way you move about in an urban area with an electric bicycle. Of course, like many electric vehicle companies, they are looking to create eco-– friendly vehicles as well as emission free.  Of course, the result of this is the beautiful, sleek ELMOTO which can hit speeds of around 45 km (28 mi./h) an hour in ways only 47 kg (103 pounds).

As you probably already know, this is a heavier electric bicycle because it is a crossover between of electric bicycle and an electric motorcycle. So, basically it handles just like electric bike because of its smaller size yet it has all the power of an electric motorcycle.  With a 1.7 kW and 50 Nm torque you could easily hit speeds of around 28 miles an hour with the wind blowing through your hair in style. All you will really need for this great electric bike is a good helmet, common sense and a motorist license. (This is because the electric motor exceeds the 750 what limit required by most states for a drivers license on an electric vehicle.

To see the incredible ELMOTO, just click on this link: ELMOTO electric bike.

Optibike is having a Winter Sale on Tuesday, February 15.

I’m really sorry that I did not get this message out on my blog sooner, even though that I knew all about it. It’s been a rough week this week getting a lot of things done that I needed to do, so I finally got this message out. Anyway, Optibike is having a winter sale which is their biggest sale of the year and they are offering discounts of up to 25%.

Now, if you’ve been following my electric bikes and scooters site and blog for a while, you’ll know that I really like the quality of Optibike and the integrity be put behind every single electric bike that they make. These are quite possibly the highest quality electric bikes on the market and while they are pricey they’re worth every penny that you would pay for one. Not only that, but usually Optibike custom fits it’s electric bikes to the person that is riding on it.
Two of the bikes that Optibike makes are the 850 R and the Helia. Both of these electric bikes utilize lightweight materials, utilizing the latest state-of-the-art components such as: avid hydraulic disc brakes, carbon fiber handlebars, front and rear Fox suspension, as well as a sleek look and cables that are hidden inside of the frame of the bike.  The benefit of having the cables and inside the bike, is so that they are not damaged by water and dirt as these are usually look for rougher terrain so that you can actually have a dirt bike experience while on the Optibike.

The disc brakes also perform very well because of the fact that they could handle mud soaked conditions which would be damaging to most other electric bikes that are on the market today. These electric bikes can travel well over 30 miles an hour and the hydraulic disc brakes are operated by a finger switch which makes braking extremely easy
So, if you’re considering getting a great quality electric bicycle this year, you may want to take a look at this sale that Optibike is having before the spring and summer months started getting upon us again.  These bikes also come with other great safety features such as safety lighting, Kevlar reinforced tires, and a host of other outstanding safety features that will instill confidence in your ability to write quite fast and through rough terrain.

To find out how to get in on a great 25% off electric bike sale, click on this: Optibike Electric Bikes

There are many new electric bicycle manufacturers on the market today and rarely do you find a company that produces a high quality product as this! This is the OHM 700 XS electric bike from OHM Cycles.  Just one look at this beautiful bicycle and you could tell that not only does it have a lot of craftsmanship, but also a lot of thought has been put into the design. OHM Cycles have been around since about the year 2005, and it is based in Vancouver British Columbia, Canada. The purpose of this company, focus of its product, as well as marketing, is to create a high-quality electric power assist bicycle that will stand the test of time.  Utilizing the best components on the market, the XS 700 is one of the top-of-the-line electric bicycles on the market today.

This electric bike has a BionX electric motor that sports about 350 Watts of power which will help you in the assisted mode or generative mode. This bike should whiz right along, maximizing its energy that is stored up in its lithium batteries, because not only are the batteries lighter but they are lithium. Another reason why the bike should be faster and lighter is because the frame is made of aluminum which is a lighter material.  Most of the other components that are on the bike are of the highest quality and it would probably be very hard to find a higher quality electric bicycle that is on the market today.

You can find a dealer selling the OHM XS 700 electric bike in 14 different states in the US and in five different provinces in Canada plus Italy, Spain and the Netherlands. This is a great electric bicycle and made of such high quality, it would last you for very long time. You can see more about the OHM XS 700 at the OHM Cycles website here:  Ohm Electric Commuter Bicycles

If you are going to buy an electric bike conversion kit, there are a couple of things that you need to know about before you go ahead with your purchase.    In this blog post, I will attempt to educate you on the most important facets of going through the process of buying one of these money saving and time saving units and what you should think about before you buy one.

You can easily break down  the task of buying electric bike conversion kits by making a list of important facets of this purchase.  Here are a couple of things to think about:

• How much money do you want to put into the unit?
• How much wattage (electric power) will you need in the hub motor?
• What type of terrain are you going to be riding on?
• Are you going to be using the bike for commuting or recreation? ( Trail biking or riding to work?)
• How far will you be riding?
• Will you be riding the converted, electric bike in cold weather or warm? (Batteries can be affected by the cold?)

These are just a few of the considerations that you should think about.  There are quite a few electric bike conversion kits on the market today and if you don’t educate yourself, you could get confused and buy the wrong kit for your needs.  remember, just like any other product, the more educated you are, the less of a chance you will waste or lose your money needlessly.

Another thing that you should consider, is that if you do decide to get one, you will have to consider the fact that you will be the one that is putting the electric bike kit on the existing bike frame yourself.  So, if you are all thumbs or have never done anything like this before, you may either want to reconsider or get someone to help you with this project.  It not only will save you some money, but it will definitely save you some time and frustration.

To find out more about these innovative products click here: Information on electric bike conversion kits

Over the last 10 years there has been a wide proliferation of electric bicycle manufacturers. Originally, many of these manufacturers that came onto the market are producing cheap and quick bikes to the fill the growing need for this type of technology and bicycles.

However, there are many newer companies that are producing excellent electric bicycles and electric scooters and the OHM Cycles Company of Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada is one of the companies that is producing fine quality and affordable electric bicycles. One of the latest models that they have on the market today is the Urban XU 700 electric bicycle. This bike has an elegant design and you would find it a sheer joy to ride around town and do your errands on. You can  be easily whisked from place to place on its 350 watt  Bionix motor which will not weigh down the bike at all, because it has a light aluminum frame.

Lighter Is Always Better

Not only is the frame lighter, but so are the batteries because this electric bicycle uses the lighter lithium batteries to power up the 350 W motor. Not only will you be able to move faster and lighter, but you also have the choice of 27 different speeds on the drive train utilizing a Shimano Dynamo hub.

The Urban XU 700 also comes in two different sizes 18.5 inch and the other a 19.5 inch. This is a great bike that has an elegant look to it, which minimizes the drag that and electric battery pack on when resistance by merging it to the bicycle frame and a sleek manner.

Where to Get More Information

The OHM Cycles Company not only has this outstanding bicycle that they have a whole contrary of great products for you to take a look at. If you’re considering buying electric bike that is high-quality and has outstanding performance that you may want to consider the Urban XU 700 electric bicycle. To find out more about this great bike please click here:  XU 700 Electric Bike

Today, many people are either trying to move toward greener technology in their lives or find a way that they can use alternative types of energy besides just fossil fuels.  There are a small number of people that have decided to try to make a difference at least in their own lives by purchasing electric scooters or electric bicycles.   There are a wide range of electric bicycles that are on the market today ranging from the rather cheap to the very expensive.  The problem is that when you spend too little on an innovation like an electric bike, you will definitely get what you pay for.  If you are looking for a cheaper alternative to riding an electric bicycle, then you may want to consider one that has worked well for years and thousands of people have bought.  I am referring to, of course, an electric bike engine or an electric bike conversion kit.

Just like electric bike models, there are a wide range of electric bike conversion kits to consider.  Like everything else the U.S. federal law limits electric bikes to 750 watts or 20 miles per hour.  One thing you need to keep in mind when looking at information put out by manufacturers and that is the fact that many times the wattage and miles per hour are exaggerated on their electric bike engines and conversion kits.  If you see an advertisement that states that the power of the motor is at around 1000 watts, you need to beware of false claims.

Think about the batteries that an electric bike engines use…

Another factor that you need to consider in your purchase of an electric bicycle conversion kit is the battery.  The best performance battery that you can get for an electric bike engine is a LiFePO4 lithium battery.  These types of batteries are pretty light in weight while maintaining the longest life.  Typical sealed lead acid (SLA) batteries do not last nearly as long as the lithium batteries do, as a matter of fact, lithium batteries left almost three times longer than they sealed lead acid batteries do.  In other good thing about the lithium batteries is that they are 50 to 60% lighter than the S. L. A. counterparts.  This will help your electric bike to go much farther and the much quicker speed in with a heavier set of batteries.  Another great thing about lithium battery is that you can easily be kept them from your electric bike and take them in your house to plug them in.  This is usually a very convenient thing to have and one aspect of an electric bike engine that I consider when buying a kit.

You always want to buy your electric bike conversion kit from a very good reputable dealer either online or locally.  You really do not want to spend your money on electric bike motor kits from overseas.  For one thing, companies in other countries do not have the high standards that companies and the United States have.  If you consider the fact that most of the electric bike conversion kits that are on the market today will run you somewhere in the vicinity of $300-$500, then you are taking a pretty big risk in either getting parts for repairs if need be, or getting good service when you buy the electric bike motor.  Once again, you should always consider buying from a good, reputable dealership that can help you if you have any problems mounting the conversion kit on your bike.

Another thing to look out for in an electric bicycle conversion kit…

One other good tip that I think need to be discussed in the actual installation and time it takes to install an electric bike motor or conversion kit.  If you just happen to see a company that says that you can install the conversion kit within an hour, then you should consider not purchasing the conversion kit from that company because they are probably not telling you the truth about the installation, and if they are not telling the truth about the installation chances are they are not telling you the truth about the electric bike motor in the first place.

Once again, I just want to reiterate the fact that if you pay a cheap price for electric bike engines or conversion kit, you will definitely get what you pay for as far as performance, reliability and quality.  If you can afford a good electric bike conversion kit then I suggest that you get a good one that will last you for quite some time.