Any opinions on the electric Islabike eJanis?

[ElephantLover]

I'm looking for a good bike for my DD who will be 15 soon. Ideally I want something that she and I can both use. We are the same height. Whilst looking online on the Islabike website (she's only had Islabikes since learning to cycle) I found the eJanis quite a good option. It's not cheap, but seems light for an eBike and light bikes seem to make a lot of sense for us as we both are hyper mobile with weak wrists and struggle with heavy bikes. We are in London so it's difficult to see the bike or try before purchase. I was wondering if anyone has tried the eJanis and would you recommend? Or if you have any other recommendations, I'd be grateful for those too.

Thats funny, Ive just answered a post about e bikes and in my answer although I didnt name it, this is the bike I had in mind that I might have got, if I hadnt got my bike that I have

I constantly look at bikes, dont know why, we only pootle along at about 8 mile an hour!!

But I was very attracted to this one, I love the fact that its so lightweight and that the seat post has a dropper. You are right to worry about the weight, they weigh a bloody ton, mine is about 22 kg and my OHs is 19 kg, very heavy

Apparently you can book to go and try them, they're in Ludlow or something are they? I just recall it being quite far away but I think if I were looking again it might be worth it

The other ones you might be intersted in are Ribble cycles, they are up north but have a branch in Bluewater, they have the hybrid and the step through commuter, both fairly light, they look lovely too. I think they are rear motors though, not my preference.

I've not tried one - not really my kind of thing - but it sounds like it would meet your needs pretty well. Islabikes are always well designed with a lot of attention to detail around the contact points in particular and this gets good reviews for people with mobility issues, especially those wanting to keep weight off the arms and minimise hand movements.
It's got very low gearing so should be easy to ride uphill and it's got reasonably god quality components that should last, as well as being on the light side as far as ebikes go. And it's a reasonable price for what you get.
The only downside I can think of from your DD's perspective might be the looks, but basically it's a mid range, mid priced well designed bike that will do what it says on the tin and last well. And regular Islabikes are reknowned for having excellent resale value, so asduming the ebikes follow the same pattern, you'll likely get most of your money back if you don't like it so it us a fairly low risk purchase.
I'd go for it!

I needed to change my bike last year as I have some mobility issues and now need a step through bike. I spent a lot of time researching, and thought the Isla Janis would suit me. We arranged a weekend in Ludlow and I booked to try a couple of bikes. First though I had a very long telephone conversation with them, discussing what issues I have, where and how I ride etc. It was a very useful conversation, and helped me to focus on which bikes I wanted to try.

I rode both the Janis and Ejanis. I fell in love with the Ejanis and ordered one. I've had it about 5 months now and am very pleased with it.

I ride with a younger friend who rides a non electric bike. Much of the time I ride without the motor, but an extra bit of "oomph" is useful if I'm getting tired, if there is a headwind or if we are going up steep hills.

Riding it this way, I can get about 100 miles out of a charge. It would be much less though if I used the battery more.

The same motor is used in a number of other light weight ebikes (Ribble, Orbea, Merida off the top of my head). The app that goes with it is a pain... very glitchy but really not a major stumbling block.

I don't have a dropper post so can't comment on that aspect.

For what it is I think it's good value for money. Though as with everything, the more accessories you add (rack, bottle cage mount, mudguards etc etc) the more it adds up. I added off road tyres too, which work well for our rides.

The disc brakes are impressive. I like the gearing : the lower gear ratio is really telling on hills in comparison to my friend's bike. I can also confirm after my most recent ride that the "easy change" tyres are indeed easier to change (though I was relieved it was a front and not a rear that I had to tackle).

For me it was a game changer and means I can now get out on a bike regularly again

@bellac11 - thank you, the eJanis is 13.5kg making it lighter than my current 11year old Ridgeback!

@MrsAvocet - indeed, we love Islabikes as a family and both girls love cycling because of their lightweight bikes. I do feel fairly confident in Islabikes themselves but since I am an eBike novice, I thought i'd check on their reputation in this space. I do agree with what you say though.

@paddlemyowncanoe - thank you so much. Amazing to hear from a current user. All your points are very relevant and cover most of my questions.

Do you ride to the shops etc? If yes do you feel confident to lock up your bike to a post? Or is it too expensive a bike to do this/risk it being stolen..?

Don’t know anything about this bike model but I have some expensive bikes inc an ebike and I would not lock them anywhere. Mine are insured and have hidden trackers and even with the best lock I wouldn’t. The best lock on the market btw weighs 2kg and that can be cut through with a battery operated angle grinder though admittedly it takes 8 mins and a change of blades. Any lighter a lock and they’ll be through it in a minute.

I lock my commuting bike up which is a cheap hybrid which I’ve put a Swytch kit on to make it electric. It’s not as decent a battery or motor as a proper ebike. I wouldn’t use it for leisure. But for a shop bike it’s ok.

Does the Ludlow company deliver?
I'm keen to get another ebike ( had one many years ago) and we will be in Ludlow in the Summer, but we don't have a bike rack to transport back.

@ElephantLover I use my islabike for leisure rides with my friend (or occasionally DH). We never leave the bikes unattended ie one of us goes into the cafe/pub whilst the other minds the bikes.

Like @QuebecBagnet I have a much cheaper bike I would use if I were going to the shops. I really wouldn't feel confident/happy to leave my ebike locked up and unattended, even though I have a heavy gold rated lock and insurance

@rookiemere The bike wasn't available to to take away when we went to test ride it. It was delivered a week or two later, partly assembled with very clear instructions on how to complete the assembly.

I have to say I was very impressed with Islabikes, from my initial questions, through my test ride, delivery and subsequent queries with them. (No connections to the company lol, just a happy customer)

Just to answer your query OP about locking the bikes, my OH and I never leave our bikes anywhere, the most we have ever done is leave them on the back of the car in a pub car park while we have a meal on our way somewhere, but a) we are normally seated somewhere where we can see them b) we lock every single bit of them and they are also locked into the rack and the rack locked onto the tow bar b) covered in a bike cover so its less visible that they are nice bikes

Mainly though we sit outside next to our bikes or if we're on a ride and someone needs to go to the loo, we wait in turns and look after them. They're like children!!

Ooh I have told DH about the ability to take it for a test spin when we're in Ludlow and he's up for it and didn't baulk at the price too much !
I'd mainly be using it to cycle to work and we have a secure car park so I think it would be ok there.

Thank you everyone. Not leaving the bike locked advice has given me a lot of food for thought. Thank you.

@rookiemere - good luck with the test drive. Too far out for me unfortunately. Do update us on how it goes.

@paddlemyowncanoe - do you find the eJanis at 13.5kg heavier or similar to other 'normal' road bikes/hybrids? I.e. Ridgeback/other normal brands.

My "normal" bike is quite old, and therefore probably quite heavy compared to modern day bikes. (It's this one, which is quoted as 12 kg: www.trekbikes.com/gb/en_GB/bikes/hybrid-bikes/fitness-bikes/fx/7-2-fx-womens/p/16233/)
So the eJanis is a similar base-weight. However, once you add a bike rack and bag (plus contents including a 2kg gold rated lock), mudguards, bottle rack and water bottle, it adds up. Nevertheless, I find it no harder to pedal (without electric assist) than my trek hybrid. And the assist is always there for when I do need a bit of extra "oomph" eg uphill, head winds or when I'm tiring.

@paddlemyowncanoe - thank you

I am tempted to go for the non electric eJanis given that it's only 9kg and since I can't 'park' the eBike anywhere, I might as well get a 'regular' bike which I can use for exercise/ casual riding. I guess I am questioning my whole aim of getting this new bike now.