The elusive $1k quality E-bike... Coming this year?

[Timpo]

Interesting... had to look that up to understand the meaning.

Mamachari is a mash-up of two Japanese words meaning “mother” and a slang term for “bicycle”.

Mamachari - commuting Japan style - Katie Anderson

Everywhere you go in Tokyo are people on bicycles, riding on the streets and sidewalks, with kids strapped in the front and back, on their way to school, shopping or work. But these “mamachari” bikes are nothing like I’ve seen before. Mamachari is a mash-up of two Japanese words meaning...

kbjanderson.com

Yea, the mamachari style ebikes are more expensive than commuter ebikes since they have more things on them.

But the price is usually cheaper than RadWagon.
Compare to Tern.. the price advantage is obvious. (Though Tern bikes have much better components, they come with high prices)

Bridgestone Bikke GRI dd
148,000 yen ($1380)

Panasonic Gyutto
139,800 yen ($1296)

Yamaha PAS Babby
151,800 yen ($1415)

 

[FlatSix911]

Very cool design with the low center of gravity for the child seat.

We had them back in the '80s with high diamond frame bikes... an accident waiting to happen.

 

[Alex M]

Don't hold your breath, mamarachis are not coming yet - not to the US market. They've been making mamarachi for years but not for the US.

Apples to apples, there is not much price difference from commuters. On a brief glance at Bridgestone line of mamarachi several months ago I remember prices from $US 1,300 approximately. This is close to entry-level commuter in the current US market (excluding some bikes of Walmart quality). But then again, it's meaningless comparing prices of commuters in the US market to mamarachi sold in Japan.

 

[GenXrider]

Here you go. Early bird pricing is $999 on the new Espin Nero through August 31.

Nero | Fat Tire Electric Bike | Pedal Assist | 500 Watt | 48 volts 696 Wh | 45 mile range – Espin Electric Bikes

Endless Adventure. The SUV of Electric Bikes. Bring all your most important belongings with you all while gliding over any terrain. Outfitted with 26x4 all-terrain tires, comfortably take this powerful machine over any surface: dirt, snow, sand, or pavement.

www.espinbikes.com

EBR thread: https://electricbikereview.com/forums/threads/espin-nero.35765/

 

[Art Deco]

Imagine being able to ebike with a drive / battery that can draw power from a wireless charging power grid that is as commonplace as wifi or cell coverage today. Probably not in my lifetime but who knows. That would be a game changer. But back to reality, yeah, I don't see the current battery paradigm having significant weight or cost reductions.

Technically, we could power low power ebikes from lots of wireless stations. Economics would not work at all , and people that live by the wireless boosters might glow in the dark, but doable, I think.

 

[Ravi Kempaiah]

Here you go. Early bird pricing is $999 on the new Espin Nero through August 31.

Nero | Fat Tire Electric Bike | Pedal Assist | 500 Watt | 48 volts 696 Wh | 45 mile range – Espin Electric Bikes

Endless Adventure. The SUV of Electric Bikes. Bring all your most important belongings with you all while gliding over any terrain. Outfitted with 26x4 all-terrain tires, comfortably take this powerful machine over any surface: dirt, snow, sand, or pavement.

www.espinbikes.com

EBR thread: https://electricbikereview.com/forums/threads/espin-nero.35765/

That's pretty interesting!

 

[GenXrider]

That's pretty interesting!

They've changed the early bird to "first 200 units", so it might not last until Aug 31st now. On the plus side, the premium package for early bird was lowered $50 to a total of $1099.

 

[BigNerd]

So after a few weeks of looking around, it seems like the following bikes may fit into the the "quality" $1k ebike category. My caveat for "quality" is that the company that sells the ebike provides after sale support that is responsive and helpful (I've based this on going through the forums for these brands so not exactly proven):

Lectric XP $899
RadPower Mission $999 (no real world reviews or usage yet but depending on experience with previous RadPower ebikes)
Biktrix Swift Lite $999 (like the RadPower Mission, a new model that doesn't have many reviews yet but Bikrix looks popular in the forums)
Anything from Japan (that's for Timpo )

The Ride1Up Core-5 and the Aventon Pace 350 would be on this list but those are now $1100 bikes but should be under consideration.

Are there any others?

(I realize there is a new thread about "cheap bikes" but I started here)

 

[FlatSix911]

Here is another option... take a look at the EBR recommendations for the Best Affordable Bikes of 2020. ($999- $1,699)

Best Affordable Electric Bikes of 2020 | ElectricBikeReview.com

Here are my top picks for the best affordable electric bikes of 2021. These top five ebikes represent the best combination of features and value right now, but you can see all 192 of my detailed affordable ebike reviews listed by date here. Reviewing electric bikes is my primary focus, EBR has...

electricbikereview.com

Best Affordable Electric Bikes of 2020
Here are our top picks for the best affordable electric bikes of 2020. These top five ebikes represent the best combination of features and value right now, but you can see all 190 of our detailed affordable ebike reviews listed by date here. Reviewing electric bikes is our primary focus, EBR has the industry’s most complete and objective reviews. Since 2012, we’ve helped millions of people find and choose the best ebike for their needs and budget. Let’s go!
Table of Contents:

• Best Premium Affordable Electric Bike
• Best Value Affordable Electric Bike
• Best Affordable Affordable Electric Bike
• Promoted Affordable Electric Bike
• Honorable Mention Affordable Electric Bike

 

[BigNerd]

@FlatSix911 Yep, already looked at what EBR recommends... only one of them is $1k or less, the RadMission.

 

[GenXrider]

The Ride1Up Core-5 and the Aventon Pace 350 would be on this list but those are now $1100 bikes but should be under consideration.

Cross those off the list - they are over $1000. However, for the Core-5, you can get $40 off with the R1U pledge and 5% cashback with Paypal linked to Discovercard, which makes it about $1000 net, but you have to pay for a mechanic to inspect or assemble it to validate the warranty, so maybe $1050 net with a warranty, assuming you don't have to pay tax, which won't be the case for some people. But for this thread, tax isn't a consideration.

Espin Nero is $999 for now.

 

[BigNerd]

Cross those off the list - they are over $1000. However, for the Core-5, you can get $40 off with the R1U pledge and 5% cashback with Paypal linked to Discovercard, which makes it about $1000 net, but you have to pay for a mechanic to inspect or assemble it to validate the warranty, so maybe $1050 net with a warranty, assuming you don't have to pay tax, which won't be the case for some people. But for this thread, tax isn't a consideration.

Espin Nero is $999 for now.

Yes, that's why I said "consideration' for those who want to stretch.

I did not include the Nero because that's limited time pricing (also why there are no Sondors on this list either as they used to be sub $1k).

 

[BigNerd]

So I get that those Japanese bikes are not high-powered but why don't we have value mid-drive bikes here? Some people (like commuters) just need that extra pedal assist for inclines or a faster ride so it's not like it needs to be a powerful mid-drive motor... are there any mid-drive ebikes in the US that are in the $1k range?

 

[BET]

Cheaper mid drive e bike, Buzz bike, is around $1500.

 

[J.R.]

So I get that those Japanese bikes are not high-powered but why don't we have value mid-drive bikes here? Some people (like commuters) just need that extra pedal assist for inclines or a faster ride so it's not like it needs to be a powerful mid-drive motor... are there any mid-drive ebikes in the US that are in the $1k range?

Many of the motors on Japanese ebikes are only sold in Japan. Their laws are very restrictive and strictly enforced. 250 watts, pedal assist only and max 24 kph (14.9 mph). Lower than Europe and much lower than North America.

 

[Timpo]

Somebody posted a video showing how powerful Japanese mamachari can be when climbing hills.

I'll try to find it..

 

[Timpo]

 

[BigNerd]

Many of the motors on Japanese ebikes are only sold in Japan. Their laws are very restrictive and strictly enforced. 250 watts, pedal assist only and max 24 kph (14.9 mph). Lower than Europe and much lower than North America.

But that's the point, even if it's lower power, that's enough for commuters and casual bikers and will give them a mid-drive entry point in the sub $1k range.

I would buy a mid-drive ebike for under $1k even if it only has a 250w motor and max speed of 15-20mph (most paved trails near me have a 10mph limit anyways).

 

[J.R.]

But that's the point, even if it's lower power, that's enough for commuters and casual bikers and will give them a mid-drive entry point in the sub $1k range.

I would buy a mid-drive ebike for under $1k even if it only has a 250w motor and max speed of 15-20mph (most paved trails near me have a 10mph limit anyways).

Couldn't agree more. Like so many things the vocal minority on social media seems to drive companies these days. YouTube is full of videos of fast, throttle driven ebikes. A 15 mph PAS doesn't have a chance to excite the market. Non cyclists have no idea that 15 mph is difficult to maintain on most bike paths. Whether true or not it seems most want a minimum 28+ mph. I'd love to see a scientific poll of the speed members here average over a year of riding.

 

[GenXrider]

Yes, that's why I said "consideration' for those who want to stretch.

I did not include the Nero because that's limited time pricing (also why there are no Sondors on this list either as they used to be sub $1k).

That's ok, I already included it earlier, since it's currently that price rather than "used to be", despite being temporary.

I might want to stretch to $1200, $1500, or $1700, though.