Comments on: Pi Mobility – sexy electric bikes

By: Exposo

Exposo — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 23:13:30 +0000

I don’t think the bottom bracket could possibly withstand the pedaling induced loads of even light daily use. Very pretty though.

By: Neacht

Neacht — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:59:47 +0000

Whatever about the looks of these particular bikes, the jury is out on all electric bikes. Here’s my cautionary tale.
I bought a uGlider first, which was fun to cycle until I realised the battery was entirely unrealibe. The most I ever got out of it was six miles – not the 20 promised. Cyling a heavy elecic bike with only fve gears into a headwind for six miles is not fun.
I returned to my regualr hybride bike and the uGlider ended up lying around my garage; and yes, I shoduel have brought it back immediately. I finally did so and got a new battery, which meant I could try and sell it on with a good conscience. I got one or two bits, but nothign concrete.
I decided then the only solution was to trade up for a bike with a 50km range, which I would then try and sell to try and salvage some of the money I had thrown away on the first bike. I am getting no takers at all.
So paid a visit to a bike shop today only to be told that the best thing to do with these bikes is to strip them of the battery and cycle them as ordinary bikes. They are chronically unrelaible and the shop is dealing with problems all the time on all sorts of brands.
I am told th ebest I could expect for the bike is abotu one-thirdd of what I paid out. I’m sick to my stomach at the thought of how much money I have wasted on them. I would emphatically urge oterhs to avoid them as the con-job they are and to invest in a good road bike for half the price.

By: Efried

Efried — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:50:01 +0000

The one and only criterion for products is whether they are modular and using open standards. This way the user may refurbish after the end of life of some components.
So how to exchange worn out batteries?

By: rd

rd — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:40:35 +0000

Now let me get this straight, because these bike are sleekly designed and aren’t made of recycled bike parts they’re opulent? Though these bikes may be a little pricey – a good looking, well designed electric bike might actually entice a consumer to leave his car in the garage, or better yet not use one at all. I suppose car makers, fashion designers and alternative energy innovators should aspire to make products that look crappy and perform adequately – I’m sure they’d sell a lot of new them. Sometimes functional design actually looks good and serves a practical purpose. Go figure.

By: Chas Martin

Chas Martin — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:07:11 +0000

Design for the sake of design is like growth for the sake of growth. It’s the same principle as cancer.
The eco-friendly story misses the point. Use less to do more, not use more to do less.
I admire great design. I like sleek shapes. Better yet when both are combined to do more than was possible with less than previously required.
This takes opulence to a new level of irresponsibility.