Hi Harry! Good for you, keeping at it for your friend... I haven't tested this bike, and can't comment specifically on the 2010 model, as I'm not sure if it has changed since then, but I'll share my thoughts on the model posted at their website.
- I like that the bike comes in multiple sizes, do you know which size the one on Craigslist is? If I remember correctly, your friend is rather large and tall... so maybe the larger frame would be best.
- I love that it has a seat post shock (at least that's what the site says, the pictures don't seem to show it)
- The internally geared hub will stay clean and require less service which is nice, it will also make it less likely that the chain will fall off since it won't require slack for derailleur.
- I love the front and rear fenders with mud flaps and the chain guard because they will keep you clean and dry if it rains.
- The v-brakes look solid and are easy to adjust and inexpensive to replace as pads wear out. They are classified as "rim brakes" and can squeak and start to slip in wet conditions but should still do alright.
- Not a huge fan of the rear mounted battery rack, since it's not welded on it may get loose and rattly over time but at least the tubing is standard size so it will work with most bags and panniers.
- While the motor and battery are rather small and weak at 250 watts for the front hub motor and 24 volts with 10 amp hours for the battery, it will still make riding easier than nothing. Note that I've found reviews of older Torker T400 ebikes that say they have 180 watt motors... which is even weaker.
- It looks like the bike weighs about 45 pounds which is decent, but not great considering the low power.
- The simple LED battery indicator is functional but you'll have to guess how much juice is left in the battery pack without a fancy LCD console. Speaking of battery capacity... Be careful buying used because that battery could be nearly dead being so old (and who knows if it was taken care of or used a lot). You need to charge a battery every month or so to keep it from completely hitting zero and messing up the chemistry. Also, over time the electrons dissipate and the battery just won't work anymore. A replacement could easily top $300 and I'm not sure if Torker sells them? I looked around but found nothing.
- The padded gel seat, adjustable stem and upright handle bars look nice and will be comfortable when riding (as long as the bike size is correct).
It looks like this bike has a top speed of 15mph which makes sense given the smaller motor and battery. It also appears to only have pedal assist mode which will extend the range (since you have to help the motor by pedaling in order for it to activate). They say it can go up to 40 miles but that depends on the terrain, rider size, weather conditions and how hard you pedal... also, what condition the battery is in
Hope this helps you out, none of these less-expensive ebikes are going to be perfect (or super powerful) but the biggest concern I would have is avoiding one that's going to cost even more (like with a battery replacement). Maybe reach out to Torker and ask about replacement costs... I'd love to hear what they say if you want to post it here when they respond.
