Perdendosi
New Member
Hi to everyone--
Thanks for establishing and participating in this community. I've been lurking and learning a lot, but I think I need some guidance to choose my first eBike.
I've never been a biker because I just hate the hills. I'm in mediocre shape right now, but I used to be a half marathoner, and I'm getting back into running. I'm 42, 185 lbs, and about 6'. My wife and I take ~15 mile walks as our COVID-quarantine antidote each weekend, and I see all these bikers zooming by. I think it'd be fun to join them. She used to bike a little, and she still has a road and a hybrid bike that she could use. We also have a 4-year-old who's not that great of an athlete, but we'd want to tag along. I would probably use the bike for commuting a little when I stop working from home. But my commute is only 2 miles each way. It's fairly flat, but uphill going home. (I tried using my Fuji hybrid bike to commute for a few months, but I was so exhausted riding up the hill going home it was absolutely no fun.)
Requirements:
- Something fun for weekends that works as an occasional commuting bike. (If I like it, maybe even commuting in rain and snow.) I'd need some storage capacity, too.
- Something that can work on streets, can easily go over bumps, and will work on hard packed gravel or other well-travelled, non-paved surfaces.
- Something comfy, with a cushioned ride.
- Something that can do a decent round trip (~30-40 miles or so, with me pedaling a bit), but I'm not going to be riding 100 miles without recharging.
- Something that can handle decent , rolling hills for a few miles (our favorite trail is 6 miles long and averages about 4% up), and something that can handle a couple of pretty massive, shorter hills (11% for .4 miles). I'm OK if I'm peddling at least a little on those hills.
- Something that I can put a child seat on for my 4.5, year old, 35 lb, daughter (she's kind of safety conscious, and wants a seat with a buckle. we're talking about seats that can go in the front of the bike as well as the back).
- Something that has a battery that's easy to remove, both for when I'm commuting and to take the battery inside to keep it clear of massive temperature swings.
- Something with a throttle, and preferably a throttle that (a) will start without pedaling (SLC has big intersections and that's when I need the boost of power), (b) has walk mode, and (c) has a lock out to protect against accidental activation.
- $2000, ABSOLUTELY MAX, with all accessories that I'd need (apart from the kid's seat), fenders, rack
Things I think I want:
- A decent built in headlamp for night riding.
- Delivery sooner rather than later. I'd prefer July, but probably would take August.
- Something sort of, kind of, portable. We have a vacation property 3 hours away in the southern Utah mountains. I think I'd like to take it down there occasionally when we go for longer trips. We have a really flimsy bike rack for our SUV right now, and maybe we could invest in a better rack and/or a roof rack, but being able to fit it inside our SUV, while still having some room for our bags (and of course my daughter in her car seat), would also be nice. Our garage is also fairly small, so it'd be nice for it to be somewhat compact when storing.
- Something that can do a little off-roading. I've never been a mountain biker, and I don't think I'd ever want to do something super technical, but there are biking trails near our summer home that would be fun to explore, and some of my friends are mountain bikers and it'd be fun to maybe go out with them.
Things I'm not sure I want:
- Torque vs. cadence sensor. I seem to recall when I did my test rides (see below) that I did prefer that smoother-feeling pedal assist system, but I don't know if that's really a dealbreaker.
- Brakes. It seems like hydraulic are nicer and better, but for the type of riding I want to do, it seems like mechanical are just fine, easier to tune, and cheaper.
- Motor. I've read a few threads about hub vs. mid, and it seems like a geared hub will suit my needs, and will come in more power within my price range.
- Big range of gears. One of the reasons I stopped riding my 7-speed Fuji was because it felt like there wasn't enough torque going downhill, and going uphill was too hard, even in the easiest gear. (Maybe that was just because I was out of shape and the bike was relatively heavy.) Having the ability to comfortably pedal in more conditions will make me want to ride the bike more.
Things that I have no interest in:
- Speed. Maybe I'd change my mind, but really all I want to do is keep up with traffic and have a nice ride. 20 mph would probably also be fine with the motor (that's class 2, right?), maybe 25 would be better to keep up with traffic on some streets, but I have no interest in being a speed demon.
- The super-cruiser style, with handlebars that are swept way back. I'm sure I could get used to it, but when I've ridden them in the past, turning just feels so awkward.
- A color LCD. It seems like the B&W ones are much easier to read in bright light, and readability of the display is most important to me.
About a year ago I went to a local bike shop and test rode some bikes. I can't remember which ones, but I know some were cruisers, some were fatties, some were foldables, and some were commuter/hybrids. I recall liking the feel of fatties, being unimpressed with the ride of the foldables (though it might have just been the foldable I tried-- I think it only had a 250W motor), and preferring a trigger throttle. I went to Salt Lake Ebikes, so I probably tried a Pedeo, an iZip, a Magnum, and maybe some others. But I don't recall. I could do some re-test-rides, but my wife isn't super keen on us leaving the house and going to indoor retailers (especially small spaces), even for a little bit of time, because of the virus. So I may skip that step now.
Are you still with me? Great. As a result of all of that, I was looking at affordable, fat tire, direct to consumer bikes.
So my primary list was:
Radrover5. It seemed like a really good bike for everything I needed. It looks like I could add a rear rack and have plenty of room for a kid's seat, either on the back or on the front. The price is good. The components seem good for the price. When I started looking, they were delivering in June, but it looks like I can still get it in a month or so. Local dealer network.
www.radpowerbikes.com
Voltbike 750 LTD Slightly better components, a few more good recommendations, but more expensive and probably a longer wait? I like the tire cutouts and the compass.
Then I kept reading the forum and found more options, like:
Sondors XS. Seems fun, but I don't like the triangle battery, and I'd have to add lots of accessories, I think. So this one is out, but I mention it because it was part of my journey.
shop.sondors.com
Rize X. Seems like it has everything I'd like, including that nice, 9 speed, 11-34 tooth gear system, torque sensor, built in headlight, etc. But that's at the very top of my range. I'd have to sell a couple of pieces of my watch collection or carry a balance on my credit card for a month to buy it.
rizebikes.com
M25 All Terrain R750HT. Seems like a competitor to the Voltbike. 48 V 16 amp for $1800 with rack and fenders, most of the stuff I was looking for (except torque sensor). Higher price than I was thinking but... And the step through model can ship next week!
shop.m2sbikes.com
Juiced RipCurrent. Another option, but probably above my price range after I add the necessary accessories.
www.juicedbikes.com
But then.... I realized that maybe a folding fattie would work, maybe even better. So I found the
Biktrix Kutty. Seems like it's got what I need specs wise, as long as a kid's bike would fit on the back.
www.biktrix.com
RadMini4. Maybe not as good of specs, but good price. Dealer network, etc.
www.radpowerbikes.com
Rize Mini. Same sort of idea, right? But even at the $1600, mechanical brakes level, still get 16ah battery. But I'm really skeptical about getting a bike seat on it.
rizebikes.com
I'm sure there are others in this line.
But then... I thought that, while a fat tire bike might be fun, a commuter might get what I need, and maybe even for less money.
M25 R500? Aventon Level? Rize 2020 (available now, 13AH with Cadence Sensor for only $1300)?
Still with me? Okay. Here's what I need.
1) What class of bike do you think would be best for me, considering my desires? Fattie? Foldable fattie? Commuter? Something else?
2) Any bikes I've missed that I should consider?
3) Am I up in the night about any specs or features? Something I need or not? (I'm assuming I should get a 750 W, geared hub motor, "medium" or "large" frame, at least 7 gears, etc.) Will a $1000 bike do for what I want?
Thanks in advance!
Thanks for establishing and participating in this community. I've been lurking and learning a lot, but I think I need some guidance to choose my first eBike.
I've never been a biker because I just hate the hills. I'm in mediocre shape right now, but I used to be a half marathoner, and I'm getting back into running. I'm 42, 185 lbs, and about 6'. My wife and I take ~15 mile walks as our COVID-quarantine antidote each weekend, and I see all these bikers zooming by. I think it'd be fun to join them. She used to bike a little, and she still has a road and a hybrid bike that she could use. We also have a 4-year-old who's not that great of an athlete, but we'd want to tag along. I would probably use the bike for commuting a little when I stop working from home. But my commute is only 2 miles each way. It's fairly flat, but uphill going home. (I tried using my Fuji hybrid bike to commute for a few months, but I was so exhausted riding up the hill going home it was absolutely no fun.)
Requirements:
- Something fun for weekends that works as an occasional commuting bike. (If I like it, maybe even commuting in rain and snow.) I'd need some storage capacity, too.
- Something that can work on streets, can easily go over bumps, and will work on hard packed gravel or other well-travelled, non-paved surfaces.
- Something comfy, with a cushioned ride.
- Something that can do a decent round trip (~30-40 miles or so, with me pedaling a bit), but I'm not going to be riding 100 miles without recharging.
- Something that can handle decent , rolling hills for a few miles (our favorite trail is 6 miles long and averages about 4% up), and something that can handle a couple of pretty massive, shorter hills (11% for .4 miles). I'm OK if I'm peddling at least a little on those hills.
- Something that I can put a child seat on for my 4.5, year old, 35 lb, daughter (she's kind of safety conscious, and wants a seat with a buckle. we're talking about seats that can go in the front of the bike as well as the back).
- Something that has a battery that's easy to remove, both for when I'm commuting and to take the battery inside to keep it clear of massive temperature swings.
- Something with a throttle, and preferably a throttle that (a) will start without pedaling (SLC has big intersections and that's when I need the boost of power), (b) has walk mode, and (c) has a lock out to protect against accidental activation.
- $2000, ABSOLUTELY MAX, with all accessories that I'd need (apart from the kid's seat), fenders, rack
Things I think I want:
- A decent built in headlamp for night riding.
- Delivery sooner rather than later. I'd prefer July, but probably would take August.
- Something sort of, kind of, portable. We have a vacation property 3 hours away in the southern Utah mountains. I think I'd like to take it down there occasionally when we go for longer trips. We have a really flimsy bike rack for our SUV right now, and maybe we could invest in a better rack and/or a roof rack, but being able to fit it inside our SUV, while still having some room for our bags (and of course my daughter in her car seat), would also be nice. Our garage is also fairly small, so it'd be nice for it to be somewhat compact when storing.
- Something that can do a little off-roading. I've never been a mountain biker, and I don't think I'd ever want to do something super technical, but there are biking trails near our summer home that would be fun to explore, and some of my friends are mountain bikers and it'd be fun to maybe go out with them.
Things I'm not sure I want:
- Torque vs. cadence sensor. I seem to recall when I did my test rides (see below) that I did prefer that smoother-feeling pedal assist system, but I don't know if that's really a dealbreaker.
- Brakes. It seems like hydraulic are nicer and better, but for the type of riding I want to do, it seems like mechanical are just fine, easier to tune, and cheaper.
- Motor. I've read a few threads about hub vs. mid, and it seems like a geared hub will suit my needs, and will come in more power within my price range.
- Big range of gears. One of the reasons I stopped riding my 7-speed Fuji was because it felt like there wasn't enough torque going downhill, and going uphill was too hard, even in the easiest gear. (Maybe that was just because I was out of shape and the bike was relatively heavy.) Having the ability to comfortably pedal in more conditions will make me want to ride the bike more.
Things that I have no interest in:
- Speed. Maybe I'd change my mind, but really all I want to do is keep up with traffic and have a nice ride. 20 mph would probably also be fine with the motor (that's class 2, right?), maybe 25 would be better to keep up with traffic on some streets, but I have no interest in being a speed demon.
- The super-cruiser style, with handlebars that are swept way back. I'm sure I could get used to it, but when I've ridden them in the past, turning just feels so awkward.
- A color LCD. It seems like the B&W ones are much easier to read in bright light, and readability of the display is most important to me.
About a year ago I went to a local bike shop and test rode some bikes. I can't remember which ones, but I know some were cruisers, some were fatties, some were foldables, and some were commuter/hybrids. I recall liking the feel of fatties, being unimpressed with the ride of the foldables (though it might have just been the foldable I tried-- I think it only had a 250W motor), and preferring a trigger throttle. I went to Salt Lake Ebikes, so I probably tried a Pedeo, an iZip, a Magnum, and maybe some others. But I don't recall. I could do some re-test-rides, but my wife isn't super keen on us leaving the house and going to indoor retailers (especially small spaces), even for a little bit of time, because of the virus. So I may skip that step now.
Are you still with me? Great. As a result of all of that, I was looking at affordable, fat tire, direct to consumer bikes.
So my primary list was:
Radrover5. It seemed like a really good bike for everything I needed. It looks like I could add a rear rack and have plenty of room for a kid's seat, either on the back or on the front. The price is good. The components seem good for the price. When I started looking, they were delivering in June, but it looks like I can still get it in a month or so. Local dealer network.
RadRover Electric Fat Bike Version 5
Shop the RadRover 5 electric bike at Rad Power Bikes, the makers of best-in-class electric bikes for all types of different riders and applications.
www.radpowerbikes.com
Voltbike 750 LTD Slightly better components, a few more good recommendations, but more expensive and probably a longer wait? I like the tire cutouts and the compass.
Then I kept reading the forum and found more options, like:
Sondors XS. Seems fun, but I don't like the triangle battery, and I'd have to add lots of accessories, I think. So this one is out, but I mention it because it was part of my journey.
SONDORS XS - AUGUST SHIPPING (US/Canada Only)
Get ready for the next upset with SONDORS XS. Detailed Product Page A special edition SONDORS ready to redefine what's possible. Bring the unreachable within reach with this next-level SONDORS, an unimaginable synergy of features and allure – making the excess, accessible at an exceptionally...
shop.sondors.com
Rize X. Seems like it has everything I'd like, including that nice, 9 speed, 11-34 tooth gear system, torque sensor, built in headlight, etc. But that's at the very top of my range. I'd have to sell a couple of pieces of my watch collection or carry a balance on my credit card for a month to buy it.
Rize X 2021 (Preorder)
The Rize X fat tire electric bike has extreme power with a 9-Speed gear for ferocious riding. Ready to go to places you never imagined? Show now!
rizebikes.com
M25 All Terrain R750HT. Seems like a competitor to the Voltbike. 48 V 16 amp for $1800 with rack and fenders, most of the stuff I was looking for (except torque sensor). Higher price than I was thinking but... And the step through model can ship next week!
All Terrain R750 HT
The M2S Bikes Electric Fat Bike features 750 watt motor, 16 amp hour battery, lights, and more. Compare to see we're the best electric fat bike on the market.
shop.m2sbikes.com
Juiced RipCurrent. Another option, but probably above my price range after I add the necessary accessories.
RipCurrent: Electric Fat-Tire Bike
Our RipCurrent fat tire electric bike is the perfect daily rider. With a 40+ mile range, 28MPH top speed, and all-terrain design, this bike can literally do it all.
www.juicedbikes.com
But then.... I realized that maybe a folding fattie would work, maybe even better. So I found the
Biktrix Kutty. Seems like it's got what I need specs wise, as long as a kid's bike would fit on the back.
Kutty details
Starting at only $2099, the Kutty is the premier electric folding bike. Powered by a 48V 750W motor, this small and mighty bike can climb up anything in your way. The sleek low step design makes it easy to get on and off. It’s the perfect companion when space is limited!
www.biktrix.com
RadMini4. Maybe not as good of specs, but good price. Dealer network, etc.
RadMini Electric Fat Bike Version 4
Shop the RadMini 4 electric bike at Rad Power Bikes, the makers of best-in-class electric bikes for all types of different riders and applications.
www.radpowerbikes.com
Rize Mini. Same sort of idea, right? But even at the $1600, mechanical brakes level, still get 16ah battery. But I'm really skeptical about getting a bike seat on it.
Mini
Our compact & foldable mini electric bike is designed with an extra powerful suspension system, smooths out all shocks & gives you the perfect ride. Shop now!
rizebikes.com
I'm sure there are others in this line.
But then... I thought that, while a fat tire bike might be fun, a commuter might get what I need, and maybe even for less money.
M25 R500? Aventon Level? Rize 2020 (available now, 13AH with Cadence Sensor for only $1300)?
Still with me? Okay. Here's what I need.
1) What class of bike do you think would be best for me, considering my desires? Fattie? Foldable fattie? Commuter? Something else?
2) Any bikes I've missed that I should consider?
3) Am I up in the night about any specs or features? Something I need or not? (I'm assuming I should get a 750 W, geared hub motor, "medium" or "large" frame, at least 7 gears, etc.) Will a $1000 bike do for what I want?
Thanks in advance!
