REVIEW of my estarli E28 electric bike after 16 months and 1340 miles.
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- čas přidán 26. 07. 2024
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This ongoing Video Diary by myself John Neal, sometimes known as John Longcroft-Neal, as the whim takes me.
TODAY’S SUBJECT is a review of my estarli E28 electric bike after 16 months and 1340 miles. Spoiler alert - I give it 9 out of 10.
Shout out to Dave Allen at Allens bikes, Leighton Buzzard.
allensebikes.co.uk
GENERAL STUFF
I am retired from two careers of primary school teaching when I was deputy head of a Middle School and Primary School, and as a self employed Chalkboard Artist from 2002 until I reached the grand old age of 65 in 2016. Since I retired it’s like a second childhood but with more expensive toys.
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‘More Handwriting for Adults’
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I play guitar and write songs and have written about 14 songs for the local BBC radio station. I run a weekly (weakly) evening Acoustic session at a local pub and have been doing so for 14 years now. I also started an afternoon acoustic session in a quite large cafe in Nuneaton. Both premises were former songwriting clients of mine.
Much of the music I use on this channel is taken from epidemicsound.com free to use on CZcams for a reasonable monthly fee, and sometimes I suffer you with my own music.
Gear that I use:
DJI Mavic Mini 3 Drone.
Iphone 15 Pro for camera, generally front facing so I can see myself in frame. Super quality especially if I keep the lens clean.
Go Pro11
Gimble is a Q2 Smooth by Zhiyun, I ought to use this more often because it was expensive.
Canon G7mk2
Sony IC recorder
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Omnidirectional Lavalier Microphone
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Rhode videomic to do voice over on computer
Video editing with Final Cut Pro X
Polarduck Mini Tripod for mobile phone. This is so good and under £10.00 I bought two.
Lamcou bendy leg tripod
Smatree Tripod / mono pod
Mono pod is a Manfrotto Compact MMC3-02 and is very useful for getting high angles that look like low flight drone shots and so easy to carry on my bike along with the mini tripod.
My bike is a e28 Estarli electric bike.
www.estarli.co.uk/
Money from ARTWORK SOLD will go to the MONA FOUNDATION
for details see www.monafoundation.org
I am a follower of the Bahá'i Faith and some of my philosophical ideas may show through in comments that I make, but, by and large, I’ll not make direct reference to my beliefs.
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I also enjoy gardening but lay no claims to have any expertise, and you might catch me out in the countryside of Warwickshire and nearby Leicestershire on a walk with my wife or on a bike ride.
Please comment below to inform further plans for my vlogs. I’d love to hear from you. If you don’t you will just get whatever bubbly ideas float to the surface of my slightly muddled elderly mind. - Jak na to + styl
Thanks for the detailed review John. I'm sure people will find it really helpful. We have already been working on improving lots of the things you wanted to see improved but we will also learn from you comments. Thanks very much.
5:55 The tire 'only just grips'. I was swapping wheels and used the same great tire. When I fitted the tire over the properly sized wheel, it seemed like it was too big. I never encountered that before, THOUGHT I fitted it in as well as I could, wasn't paying close attention while pumping air into it, only to find out the tire slipped out, and the inner tube burst. -- However, since I paid close attention to it on my second attempt with a new inner tube, it worked. -- I didn't like the sizing of the wheel... at all.
Great review John. I had very similar experiences, and we've commented to each other in the past. I've sold the bike on now, way too unreliable after 4000 miles. I had three new bottom brackets in the end, three rear motors, chain falling off constantly, which they never managed to fix, 4 pairs of pedals, new suspension forks. In the end my wife took me to a bike shop and told me to buy another bike and sell the Estarli, that she called the Albatross. Great idea, poorly executed. Lets hope they learn from all these problems, because it should be a great bike. I also agree, love the LED handlebars.
That’s quite a catalogue of misfortune. What bike do you have now?
@@JRLNeal Cube Reaction Performance. Amazing bike for only 400 pounds more than the e28. 50 mile easily achieved range.
Still got it.
Hi John not commented for a bit, liked this video. Just thought I could mention a few ideas to you as regards to one of your problem's mentioned in the video...namely punctures. I have mentioned these to you in the past, Slime Scab patches, you don't need to take your wheel out, just take the tyre off and apply a patch, pump up and off you go, also you can get Slime Smart tubes which are an innertube with green slime in which when punctured just remove the offending object, the inner tube will then seal itself, a quick pump up if any air loss and then you are off again. Do you mind me asking, but when riding and filming are you using a selfie stick, therefore riding one handed? You can get a mount from Topeak called an Omni Ride mount that fits on your handlebar bracket , you then get a rubber holder for whatever size phone you have and it can then be positioned at whatever angle you want, leaving your hand free to ride both handed. Hope to probably see you around the lanes John.
Nice to actually bump into you today, Dean and I answered this questions as well. All the best my friend.
@@JRLNeal Yes and it was definitely a pleasure to meet you today also John, a nice fella on camera an even nicer person in the flesh. You gave me a few good ideas about filming my bike rides of which I shall try out next ride. I ended up doing 14.5 miles this morning and boy does my backside hurt...lol. Anyhow John lovely to meet you hope to see you about again sometime. Take care John and keep up the good work, look forward to your next video.
I bought one of these (in red) partly after your initial review. I'm also pretty happy with a couple of niggles, the major one being the fact that the bottom bracket failed after 350 miles. It took a few weeks to get a free replacement from Estarli as apparently, it was an early bike, so in the end the whole system had to be replaced.
I'm not sure if the front suspension works as it feels pretty rigid when riding on the local roads. But the brakes and gears etc are great and the bike itself feels pretty solid. I commute 16 miles a day to work and have managed to unlock the speed restriction so I now get power up to around 20mph which transforms it!
I hope my reply here is hidden away but I have also managed the fix you mention.
I had an initial bottom bracket issue but it was just loose.
I bought an e28 in January 2023 and paid the extra for front mono suspension. It didn't budge at all when you pressed down heavily on the bars. Turns out it was faulty, rubber buffers missing. They replaced quite happily once they had the bike back. I really did try and use the bike, I did 4000 miles in 9 months and the bike had to be returned to them 4 times. It's been sold on now. They did try their best at repairing, but it was very poor quality and is only fit for very light commuter use. They might not replace your forks now, because you've unlocked it.
Hi John have you sent your video to Allen’s and the manufacturer to see what they have to say.? I am sure they would appreciate the feedback.
I spoke to Dave Allen and I’ll send a link to establish later.
Thanks for this review John, I am complete novice when it comes to ebikes (and haven't had a push bike for over 10 years either) so I'm doing some research before I make my first purchase of this kind. From what I can tell, the estarli e28 is probably my preferred option, just need to find somewhere to test it.
My question is a fairly simple one... how have you found the battery/motor power, is it sufficient enough for a relatively relaxed ride? I live in a pretty flat area, and my commute is only 5 miles, however as I'm not a confident rider I would be worried about needing to put extra effort in (especially if I want to stay fresh for work!). For this reason I discounted the Raleigh Trace, with most reviews highlighting a lack of power as the primary downside.
Ronan for ten mile round trip the E28 more then capable. On the flat I get away with power level 3 (of5) or less if the wind is favourable. A recent economy trip I hit 50 miles on one battery sometimes not using the battery at all.
As for getting too hot - absolutely no sweat. If I’m really indulging myself on levels 4 and 5 I don’t even get breathing heavy.
See if you can get to a dealer to have a test run.
@@JRLNeal Thanks for the reply John, from your answers it does seem like an ideal option, just need to find a dealer. I guess I'm surprised it has the power as it really does just look like a regular bike...in contrast to other e bikes with a huge battery stored in the shaft.
Also see
www.cyclingelectric.com/reviews/estarli-e28-pro-review
It does seem odd that it wasn't originally fitted with UV-resistant gaskets and ties. I would certainly address that when you come to replace them. Oh, and the non-stainless screws are criminal, especially in an exposed part. They'd have been replaced at the first sign of rust were it my bike. Don't let those go too long! You'll never get them out.
Thanks for that advice Tom. I see what I can do.
Hello, can you tell me where you got handlebars and how did you fit them, thank you
VOANZO MTB Bicycle Handlebar Grips, Ergonomic Designed Integrated Bike Horn Grips with Bar Ends Plugs, for Inside Diameter (Black) amzn.eu/d/04dOrJkn
@JRLNeal thank you John, that's them ordered. Can see there being a problem getting the existing ones off, how did you manage it? Did you cut them off?