Anyone ride/own an electric bike?

[Rockdiamond]

Hi Ps’ers!!
Given that it’s going to take months to clear up, I started thinking of ways to get to our office- about 12 miles from home. Although I’ve slowed down a bit, I’ve loved biking for my whole life.
The ride to Manhattan is nice. There’s a bike path most of the way. Lots of long downhills. Coming home is a pretty steep/long climb.
So I thought about an electric bike. But I don’t know about them so I thought I’d ask my forum buddies!!
Does anyone own one or know about them?

 

[VRBeauty]

My sweetie is an avid mountain biker. AVID. I can barely ride a bike at all anymore because I injured one knee many years ago (riding a bike that hadn't been fit properly on a 100-mile mountain trek). For me, pedaling up even the slightest incline causes pain.

Sweetie treated himself to a very, very nice e-mountain bike last year and persuaded me to give it a try. It’s wonderful! I can finally ride again! When we ride together, he uses his non-electric mountain bike and I take the e-bike. I can negotiate even pretty steep inclines with no problem, and he - well, he gets a workout. It sort of evens out though because I can fly up the hills, but I’m much more cautious than he is on the downhills. Sort of. He really likes it for his mountain bike excursions, too.

 

[mrs-b]

No! But I really want one!

 

[Rockdiamond]

this is the one I'm considering....

RadRunner™ 2 Electric Utility Bike

Our moped-style electric bike is designed to ride like a utility cargo ebike. 300+ accessory combinations help carry everything — even your best friend.

www.radpowerbikes.com

 

[Rfisher]

Would love to have a vintage cricket-
Fun!

 

[HollyJane]

My late husband used to build electric bikes as a hobby.

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

My DH would like a Specialized Vado; but at present we ride traditional bikes. Trek makes a good one as well. My DH reads and watches a lot of videos on e-bikes. lol

cheers--Sharon

 

[Arcadian]

He has a Rad. He loves his rad, they're good value for the money, Aside from the mini, I find them to be pretty tall, but then again I'm 5'4". I wanted a step through and at the time, Rad had the mini and that was it.

So I went with a local company in Florida. I have a Veggo Fat tire (Ride Scoozy) which goes a wee bit faster than a Rad does (28MPH) and it comes with the cloud 9 seat I would have had to buy anyway. Plus, being I love color I loved that there were more than just black or white, orange or that weird green Rad carries. The have the semi fats which have nice colors like blue or pink, they're a bit lighter, don't go as fast, smaller motor. I've gotten mine to 30 without changing anything...basically a Rad bike on steriods. My model is newish, purchased in 2018 and its a step through. I will never ride a traditional bike again.

On ANY eBike, you never want to run out of juice, because they are HEAVY.

Both companies have great customer service. Rad has like 30 people, RS has like 3-4 (they're located in St Pete which I liked!)

IMO you can't go wrong with Rad if thats where you're leaning. Prices are coming down and the playing field is leveling. Still if yo have the money and want to spend it, you can get a VERY nice bike for over 2K....

Prodotech is one of the few companies that I know of that makes their frames in the US Most others are made in China but assembled here. Most of their bikes are commuter/city bikes.

There was another company I looked at but they started at some ridiculous amount of money (3K!!!) so that took them out of the running. I believe it was Optibike?

 

[Rockdiamond]

thank you so much @Arcadian!!
I have a call in to VeeGo.....Hopefully, they get back to me.
Part of me does not like the idea of riding a smaller tire bike.....
I originally was going to get this one, but realized it won't be nearly as practical in terms of carrying things....

ECOTRIC Fat Tire Electric Bike

ECOTRIC Fat Tire Cheetah Electric Bike About the Ecotric Fat Tire Introducing the ECOTRIC Fat tire e-bike a powerful, long-range, all-terrain Electric Bike. With 4-inch air-filled tires sitting on 26-inch rims and a durable Aluminum Alloy frame, The ECOTRIC Fat Tire is one tough Electric Bike...

electricboardingco.com

I guess if it gets you where you're going that's more important than haw it looks....

 

[Missy]

My DH said to make sure whatever brand you choose make sure it has longevity because there is going to be a shakeout in the electric bike market so you don't want to be stuck with something you cannot get parts for...he said he likes Specialized. A good brand and a brand that uses the Bosch mid drive motor. Best one on the market according to my DH.

Good luck and enjoy. I think it's a great idea to commute that way. No more subways!

 

[Karl_K]

Keep in mind range is usually a lot less than advertised.
Worse on a cold day and after a year of use.
Get a lot more range than you actually need.

 

[Missy]

And they are very attractive bikes too.

Electric Bikes - Specialized

Claim your bike first lifestyle with a Specialized ebike. Electric bikes for families, commuters, adventurers and everyone in between. Shop online now.

www.specialized.com

 

[Arcadian]

I care about looks...lol I wonder if they're going to update the Ecotric bike because its got a pretty weak motor on it. You do want a decent motor because that goes far when you need to add a bigger battery (just means you can!)

Many out of china use a Bafang motor which is decent mid range. Shimano Derailleur is also good/midrange What will draw me to a good bike is if it has an adjustable suspension, will never ever get a bike without one. Rad has the integrated head and tail light, mine has only integrated headlight. Its not a big deal to me but can get old if you ride in the dark.

My bike has 9 level pedal assist and Rad has 4 or 5 I believe. My pedal assist to get to the higher levels means you must continue to pedal. Thats not the case with Rad.

Bosch Motors are $$$ @missy and hardly seen on a bike less than 3K. Bafang is actually not bad at all, cheaper of course, but again not terrible. Works to get you from A to B and back, and my bike handles some pretty funky areas (swamp land...lol)

Of the lower tierd ebikes, I'd choose Rad as they've done very well for themselves. The company I purchase from has been in it since about 2013. A small company and they'll probably stay that way. I don't see Rad going anywhere to be honest as they have a very large fan club, they're what I call a very good value /money bike.

 

[Rockdiamond]

@missy thank you.....OMG- specialized!!!!

Throw on a pair of clipless pedals...man!!! A dream bike....it's $9k

The bike I ride daily is a Specialized M4. I rode it today. There's been no NYC meter maids for the last 6 weeks....so I have been parking in a meter spot, way west near the West Side Highway. Drive in with the bike in the trunk, and pedal the 1.2miles or so to 47th....

Now, this requires a rethink.....
I was digging the idea of a throttle but.....it's technically illegal in NYC. Not that you don't see zillions of delivery people zipping about without pedaling.
And the hills I face are long and or super steep. But maybe it's just a better idea to actually have to pedal.
I also learned that a center motor is far superior to hub mounted.
If for no other reason that tire changes- removing the back wheel- is far more complicated with the motor....

@Arcadian am I correct that your bike os pedal assist- no throttle? What do you think about that aspect?

 

[caf]

No but I want one too!

 

[Arcadian]

@Rockdiamond My bike is considered a class 3 pedal assist because it will go 28MPH + which is stock though you can get a lower pedal assist from this company. Then again, you don't need a license with certain types of mopeds here either....lol.

Rad bikes are all class 2, they go no more than 20MPH (they can go faster if you bust the warranty but they're limited to that at shipping). They classify themselves as pedal assist , and the "throttle" is tied to the levels you use. They have people who own the bikes in NYC so do check with their CS.

I hadn't really thought of it, but you guys in NYC have some pretty strict laws right? Does it have to be without throttle? (that will leave out a lot of bikes!)

 

[Missy]

was digging the idea of a throttle but.....it's technically illegal in NYC.

They are legal now fyi.

It's finally happened: Electric bicycles and scooters legalized in New York

New York State has had a complicated relationship with electric bicycles and scooters, and nowhere has that relationship been rockier...

electrek.co

"
The new regulations will legalize not only pedal-assist bicycles that travel up to 20 mph (32 km/h) while the user pedals, but also the more controversial throttle-controlled e-bikes that can hit speeds up to 25 mph (40 km/h) and don’t require any pedaling.

"

 

[Rockdiamond]

According to the website- the RadRunner1 can be ridden without pedaling at all. From what I know, the throttle is illegal in NYC. As is parking at a meter and not putting in a coin....but seriously.
The police can certainly confiscate a bike.

eta- thanks @missy !!!
That page clears up the policy.

 

[Rockdiamond]

The new regulations will legalize not only pedal-assist bicycles that travel up to 20 mph (32 km/h) while the user pedals, but also the more controversial throttle-controlled e-bikes that can hit speeds up to 25 mph (40 km/h) and don’t require any pedaling.

Electric bicycles and scooters were nearly legalized last summer after a bill containing a related provision was unanimously approved.

However, Governor Andrew Cuomo (D-NY) eventually exercised his veto power to kill it, as he was worried about the lack of helmet laws and other provisions that could result in safety concerns related to higher-speed electric bicycles.

Now it appears that an agreement has been reached to satisfy all sides. In addition to creating three classes of electric bicycles based on speed, e-scooters with speeds up to 15 mph (25 km/h) will be legalized in New York. However, riders under 18 years of age will be required to wear a helmet.

This part is a bit ambiguous.
Does the green part mean that scooters max out at 15mph- or is that the agreement hammered out for all the e-bikes/scooters,etc.

Even the red part would exclude many of the bikes we're looking at that can go more than 25mph with assist or throttle....

 

[VRBeauty]

My sweetie’s bike is a Specialized S-Works. Mixed blessing for me. On the upside, he lets me use it a lot, and it’s an absolute joy to ride. On the downside, I will want an e-bike configured to fit me one of these days, and I’m going to be real spoiled when it comes time for me to buy that bike.

But then again, what he paid for his e-bike will give me some serious leverage when we go shopping for my e-ring!

 

[Bron357]

I have one and did ALOT of research before my purchase. I’m here in Australia so the types available in the US might differ.
They are heavy. The battery is heavy and the frame is steel so it’s over 24kgs to lift if you have to.
The more watts the faster the bike. Check out battery options (a major expense in the total price) as some hold a longer charge, some bikes will even take two batteries for extra distance.
You need disc brakes on the bike, important for stopping.
I chose a bike that not only folds, it also has front and rear suspension. For me that’s important, ain’t as young as I used to be and my nether regions demand comfort!
My bike also has Shimano gears. A bike with a rear luggage spot is important if you want to carry stuff. Don’t recommend a front basket type as it makes the steering more difficult.
99% will be mostly made in China (here anyway) and are expensive, we can pay from $1,500 to $5,000 depending on bike type and components.
Here in NSW Australia if we want to ride on the roads it has to have a maximum wattage I’d 250. It has had to be limited to 6 kmph if not pedaling and motor support cut out once the speed reaches 25kmph. This is because some are almost like motorcycles and motorcycles have to be road registered, meet safety standards and you need a motorcycle license to ride a motorbike.
Things like a chain guard, front and rear lights and a comfortable seat were also important to me.
Wearing a bike helmet here is compulsory for everyone electric or normal.

 

[Bron357]

This is the bike I bought here in Australia. I notice that ones you’ve looked at don’t have mud guards over the tyres! Ride through a puddle and your clothes will be ruined!
Most ebikes can easily be turned to throttle / remove limiter BUT if doing so is illegal where you live and use the ebike, the traffic violation can be serious (riding an unlicensed vehicle) financially devastating (hit a pedestrian or run into an expensive car = being sued) and fines huge.
Not advisable.

 

[SparklieBug]

...he said he likes Specialized. A good brand and a brand that uses the Bosch mid drive motor. Best one on the market according to my DH.

@Rockdiamond This! ^^^

I completely adore my Levo. Mine is a mountain bike. It's quiet and feels just like my Specialized Stumpjumper. I ride the Levo when I'm out with the guys, and ride my Stumpy when I'm out with the gals. And that's only 'cause they don't have Levos or something similar.

Rode with a buddy last year who has a gazillion dollar, high-end Rocky Mtn. e-bike. It is SOOOO noisy! She couldn't hear the conversation on the trail. The Levo is whisper quiet. The drivetrain and motor are the best, to date. IMO, Specialized is leaps n' bounds ahead of the competition when it comes to mountain e-bikes/pedal assist bikes.

A friend just tried my bike and decided to buy a Turbo Levo Hardtail, as she's mostly on gravel or pavement. It's a really fun bike, as well. My bike would likely be OTT for a commuter.

After seeing what a difference it made for me and my improved fitness level (because I was out a lot more and just having so much fun!), and after endless nattering by me, my DH caved and also got one. So this winter, for his big birthday (60th!), we got him a carbon version of my bike. Both were floor models for the previous year, so we got a really good deal on them. Too good to resist.

DH loves his bike as well, and he's a decades-long, hardcore mountain bike guy. He's now fully in the converted camp. LOL! We both still love our regular bikes, and both ride fat bikes as well (regular, not e-bikes) through the winter.

If you like wider tires, do just that—buy wider ones. I love 29" rims the best. They really roll along!

The battery (and whole bike) has thus far been trouble-free. I can do six or more 1.5 hour rides and still have a bit of battery left. It will depend on what level of assist you set it at. I have my Eco/base level at 10% (7 percent would be perfect, but my model year only has increments of 5%), the mid/trail setting is 25%, and the high/Turbo setting I leave at 100% assist, because 100% is scenery blurring and fun!

If the assist levels are set higher, the batter lasts a shorter amount of time.

I have no affiliation with Specialized. I just love what I love!

 

[SparklieBug]

A carrier rack (and a dedicated kickstand) will fit onto a Turbo Levo Hardtail, and fenders are an inexpensive accessory to add. I ride with a rear fender when it's muddy-buddy season and in summer, don't bother with one 'cause if it's raining that hard, I'll wait to ride. LOL!

 

[Rockdiamond]

OMG @SparklieBug ....I adore my Stumpjumper too!!!
Isn’t she a beaut? I’ve got racing style wheels with bald tires. The absolute ideal bike for zipping around Manhattan

I adore the Turbo Levo.
Having said that- this foldable RadRunner is less than half the price....

Electric Folding Bikes | Fat Tire Folding Ebikes | Rad Power Bikes

Our electric folding bikes store easily for travel or small spaces, fit a range of rider heights, and are ideal for apartments, condos, RVs and more.

www.radpowerbikes.com

 

[Rockdiamond]

There's a bike shop in Brooklyn that apparently has some of the Specialized bikes in stock.
I'd really love to buy a bike from a store, as opposed to having one shipped in....so I'll see that they have.
I love buying last year's models with bikes...maybe they've got a bargain in stock....

 

[Missy]

There's a bike shop in Brooklyn that apparently has some of the Specialized bikes in stock.
I'd really love to buy a bike from a store, as opposed to having one shipped in....so I'll see that they have.
I love buying last year's models with bikes...maybe they've got a bargain in stock....

We have lots of great bike shops in Brooklyn @Rockdiamond. And I agree you might just find some awesome sales going on now so don't rule any higher end bike out til you check them out and see what is important to you and what deals you might be able to get. Last year's models are a great way to save and still get an excellent bike. And I always go by the fact that you get (not always but often) what you pay for so maybe spending a little more for a good bike now will serve you well for many years to come.

 

[SparklieBug]

@Rockdiamond It's really worthwhile to be able to do a taste-test and see if you like the bike. Well, I suspect you will love the bike if you already love your Stumpie! LOL! What's not to love?! It's definitely worth it even to just experience how quiet the ride is on a Levo! Maybe that doesn't make any difference in the city with lots of noise, but I like to be able to hear when vehicles are coming up behind me.

If the local dealer doesn't have any of last year's models in, you could ask if they can source one for you. The husband of my friend (who bought the gravel/non-mountain bike version) is so impressed with her bike that he's asked the local store to see if they can source another just like it for him. There was a significant savings buying the previous model.

I wonder if perhaps the bike shop might really sharpen their pencil due to wanting to move inventory? It's worth asking!

 

[Rockdiamond]

They came down quite a bit on a brand new Turbo. I’m headed over tomorrow for a test ride.
mine small drawback is that the Specialized won’t accept a rack panniers. So I’d have to ride with a backpack.
I can’t wait test ride it

 

[SparklieBug]

small drawback is that the Specialized won’t accept a rack panniers. So I’d have to ride with a backpack.
I can’t wait test ride it

Which model are you looking at? My friend's bike (Turbo Levo Hardtail) definitely takes a bike rack. There's also attachment points for a kickstand, although it's for a dedicated Specialized design made for the model.

I'm keen to hear your viewpoint on the ride!