From transforming daily commutes to bridging the gap for non-cyclists, e-bikes are the most significant evolution in cycling since the mountain bike—and that’s a win for all.
Yeah I hate riding a bike but oh how I love the electric bike. I got the new Velotric Discover cruiser, it’s heavy but so much of a joy to ride my whole family takes turns riding it around the neighborhood.
My main problem is how steal-able bikes are here. I take it to work and park it inside (we are a sports company, it’s not unusual) and home and park it inside, to yoga and pop the battery out, lock the bike where it’s not visible from the main road and keep the battery inside with me, but can’t just go get a diet coke or groceries or whatever and not expect it to be gone when I come out of the shop. I do have theft insurance, but there’s no good place to lock the bike most places.
Secondary problem is dangerous roads but work/yoga I can get to on 35mph speed limit roads, and there are two groceries within same circle. Bikes just get stolen so much.
Are there any clear winners in this space to consider? Shopping for ebikes feels like going on amazon to shop. Lots of options of dubious pedigree
Yes absolutely. Others mentioned some of these: Gazelle ( i have one and it’s amazing), Riese and Müller, Stromer, Tern, Bulls, Cube, Urban Arrow, and many others. Anything with a Bosch motor is probably worth considering.
Shimano gearing, Enviolo hubs and Rohloff hubs are all good.
Look for a brand and model that doesn’t skimp on brake quality.
In Europe:
gazelle is solid, but just okay for the price. They generally have very bad shock absorbtion in my testing. Many of them have a fork with no shocks making for an extremely jarring ride because ebikes are heavy.
Norta for great bang for your buck
Flyer for a bit more expensive but very good quality
Riese & muller for when you just have way too much money to spend.
Stromer for speed pedelecs (45kmph vs the normal 26kmph)
Then there are a ton of bikes with the standard Bosche Active Plus (performance is better), 500Wh battery (625Wh power tube is best). They are probably all fine, but use the same parts in general with just a different frame.
Belt driven instead of a chain if you want extremely low maintenance. The cost of a belt replacement is approximately 3x a new chain and the chain has to be replaced 3x as often, so it comes out about the same.
Build it yourself. Otherwise prepare to spend thousands. Buying a conversion kit and a lithium battery pack is by far the most cost effective option, and it’s not hard to assemble. Swap the wheel from whatever bike you have laying around, attach the battery pack and throttle, done. Takes 20 minutes. ~$500
And personally I’ve found that beach cruisers make the best eBikes. My initial thought was that a mountain bike would be ideal because it has suspension, but in my personal experience I found that even with suspension, a mountain bike is too hard on your back for long trips because you’re constantly hunched over. Beach cruiser is the way to go.
Whatever you get put a suspension seat post on it if it doesn’t have one. I’ll never ride a bike without a suspension seat again. It’s relatively cheap and easy to swap out the post but I’m sure a local shop wouldn’t charge much to put it on for you.
I got a Lextric XP 3, it was pretty cheap but it’ll get up to 30+mph and can handle well over 20 miles of range if you keep the pedal assist at like 3. I got a second charger to keep at work so I can just keep the pedal assist maxed out and not worry about range. It is foldable but it’s a heavy bastard, pedal assist does most of the work while riding but going up stairs is a pain if there isn’t an elevator. It also has a fixed seat post with some stiff springs, they do nothing, suspension post made all the difference. Overall i’d buy it again at that price point.
Shimano for gearing and Bosh for the motor is my preferred combo in e-bikes. It’s reliable and easily serviceable, and parts are easy to get.
I’m looking to maybe get a new bike somewhere next year, since mine is a hand down that’s quite old and I want to treat myself. I think I will go with Canyon.
It’s reliable and easily serviceable
Until the day any of your electronics break and you realize Bosch serialized all of their parts so you are at the mercy of getting it repaired from an authorized Bosch service center at their absolutely ridiculous prices. And once your particular motor gets it’s support discontinued you are completely screwed unless someone successfully reverse engineers it
If you care about repairability then the best option is to do a DIY conversion of a regular bicycle, as there are still completely open motor controllers and BMSs available for conversions
I see the root of your point being open source and right to repair, but given the electric assist bike format is a relatively new one, I think everyone here would settle for getting people on two wheels, regardless of form or repairability.
I don’t think you know how e-bikes work, since you advice me to build a motorcycle. Don’t you think anyone that is able to do it, should be able to order some spare parts and replace them?
I got an Aventon earlier this year and it’s been great. Two of my friends in another state coincidentally also got Aventon bikes, each a different model than mine, and they also love them.
However my wife’s family got some cheaper Chinese-made small fat tire folding e-bikes and they’re also pretty good, and cost a lot less.
Rad Power is what I see the most when I’m out riding around.
When I was researching, some folks said “buy from your local bike shop so you can take it back there for maintenance” which seems like good advice for folks who aren’t comfortable doing their own maintenance. I also watched a lot of videos on YT for models I was interested in, and videos by the same person so I could get a sense of what they said about bikes at all. I’d be particularly skeptical of people who never have anything bad to say.
This biggest concern I have with my ebike is theft, and that concern is keeping me from doing everything around my area with my bike that I would do if my family had a second car for me to take out instead. I find myself waiting u til our one car is available to do things where I would have to leave my bike out of view for very long.
I bought my Aventon from a local bike shop.
When I was researching, some folks said “buy from your local bike shop so you can take it back there for maintenance” which seems like good advice for folks who aren’t comfortable doing their own maintenance.
As someone that used to work as a bike mechanic, that’s incredibly silly advice. Your local shop should be able to do maintenance on any bike for a fee, and unless they offer some sort of servicing plan, won’t do it for free just because you bought from them (unless it’s a warranty issue).
I think the bigger issue was more about being able to go local for warranty service, instead of having to ship your bike somewhere far away, which would be costly and be a PITA.
But you’re absolutely right about regular maintenance. I gave the wrong idea about the reason in my last comment.
(And now I’m sitting here thinking “omg, I sound like ChatGPT.”)
A good u lock and a cable for the wheels is enough to prevent theft. Unless you mean there aren’t any bike racks to lock to
It takes 27 seconds to cut a ulock with a battery powered angle grinder. https://youtu.be/hjYXD9pyupg
That being said, I do use a ulock and cables when I lock up my bike. It stops opportunistic thieves, but not determined thieves.
I’d like to see someone try this with a Skunklock Chemical lol
uLock New York lock and an air tag hidden under the seat or somewhere else sneaky. Take photos of your bike and serial number. Register it with your renters insurance or homeowners insurance. Park it in public, visible spaces. Go ride your bike! People will steal anything if they really want. All you can do is deter them
Yeah, worry about stuff getting stolen as a reason to not use that stuff is futile. It’s only take 3 minute to steal a toyota hilux for determined thieves, if they want your bike so bad, they can break into your garage for it, or hijack it while you riding.
I’m still in the shopping phase too so I don’t have direct experience with this but I’ve read that sticking with known bike brands is a good policy. Just be ready to spread your wallet wide open.
I also read that for the purposes of getting it serviced, go with a local bike shop. Some will not do work on brands they didn’t sell.
I’m generally a fan. I see a lot more people biking around my suburban sprawling American city, and I’ve noticed the majority now are ebikes. Probably half of those are cargo bikes, so they really seem to be enabling more trips outside a car, and that’s pretty great.
Out of curiosity, what form of cargo bike are you seeing? Regular-ish bike with racks, or something more exotic like an Urban Arrow?
Whenever I have a garage I want a conversion kit. I’ve already got access to old bikes to fix up and it just seems like a really fun project
I’m a runner who cycle commutes to keep my fitness up. I never loved cycling, but I preferred it to the bus. I did over 20,000 kms (12,500 miles) over the years on my road bike, and basically never touched it outside of commuting.
Then I got an ebike. I’ve fallen in love with cycling now and cycle everywhere at the slightest excuse. I’m doing far more mileage, and riding for fun, and utility as well as commuting.
I live in a really popular cycling area which is very mountainous. Ebikes have massively changed the demographic of cyclists here. I would normally never have seen anyone over 50 cycling here because it’s too arduous for most people
Now it’s not unusual to see an octogenarian tootling up the mountain passes on an ebike, and it’s even nicer to see so many people smiling when they’re cycling, instead of the stone-faced lycra crowd
I noticed that even before I got my own. I always made jokes about “80 year old people smiling on their bike and chatting while going uphill”
I have a class 2 ebike and i’ve gone from 0km on bicycle per week to roughly 60km on bicycle per week. It gave me the boost i need for hill and slope as i live in hilly place, and it also help me lug grocery for the short grocery run, while also help me with my cardio and some exercise as i still need to pedal, and help with my mood. It enable me to skip the traffic line and straight to the front row, and skip looking for parking at peak hour.
I’ve seen all sort of people on an ebike going their business, all independent from car. I’ve also have a lady asking me about ebike because she doesn’t want to rely on her son to fetch her everyday. All these in a country with little to no bike infrastructure and mostly not having public transport. It’s a straight upgrade from the greatest micromobility tool human ever created, and it’s made accessible for everyone.
Though i must say, class 1 and 2 ebike are real bike, beyond that it’s a moped with pedal.
They’re bikes but I’m Marmite on them.
The people riding them are often inexperienced who can buy better performance without putting in the time to learn how to wield that. The number of mountain bikers I run into who pass closely on uphill sections only to slow down to a crawl at the slightest descent is infuriating.
Worse is the lime type bikes that allow complete cycling novices suddenly travel at 15mph on shared paths with absolutely no respect for anyone around them.
Marmite?
Something you either love or hate.
I’m pretty coriander on these new terms.
Your genes determine whether they taste like soap?
I ride an ebike to work and to the grocery store when I feel like it and I think it’s great.
I got a ride1up Turris. It tops out at 28 mph, which feels like a good pace on a bicycle. When the weather is nice, I use it to commute about 15 miles round trip to work, which requires about 0.4 kWh of electricity and a little over 20 minutes each way. This is compared to about 0.7 gallons of gas and about 15 minutes each way in my 20 year old truck.
So, if I charge the battery half at home and half at work, I pay about 10 cents a day for energy for the bike vs about $3 a day for the truck.
I hope lots of people start commuting on ebikes, given their decreasing cost. it would be a great way to reduce our carbon footprint and get a little exercise. It’s just the right amount of exertion where I feel like I get my blood flowing but don’t get to work all sweaty and gross.
I want to be a fan of ebikes. I actively looked for one for over 6 months and then I bought a regular bike. Majority of ebikes are far too heavy. Ebike manufacturers are focusing on long distances and only high end very expensive bikes are light.
Why not evolve all the way and get a motorcycle?
It’s too fast and too dangerous for me, considering I’m not sitting in a cage designed for crashes. I also don’t like wearing a full face helmet all the time, and the thick clothes suck in summer. It would also have to make me drive on the road instead of bike lanes, and a lot of my ways are on gravel like ground and through woods, up and down the hills, taking shortcuts between places. I use it for long and very short distances like going to the shop a kilometre away.
An e-bike is still a bicycle when the battery runs out.
It has cheaper replacement parts, isn’t as heavy and doesn’t need registration or insurance.
I like riding my bike, in every weather besides thunderstorms, I just don’t like working against the wind and uphill, and an e-bike cancels both out.
I ride about 7000 km each year with it.
Riding my e-bike is still a physical workout, just one that takes me further than my regular bike. I can take bike paths or forest paths and don’t have to always use the roads. E-bikes are quiet.
I think people will also ask motorcyclist why not just drive. While motorcycle is really good way to travel within city, cycling got an added benefits as its really good for your physical and mental health. You get your daily exercise by just riding it to places, and there is solid proof that people with ebike(at least on class 1) are still gonna put in energy on their ride and are likely to ride it further and longer, thus improve on their health.
If your purpose is only about going from point a to point b as fast as you can, then yeah go for motorcycle.
Motorcycles would be a step backwards in almost every aspect, except for speed. 😕
A step backwards just for changing the pedals for footpegs and adding a throttle control? I think it’s a great step forward, you don’t have to get tired anymore.
Just off the top of my head:
- Can you store a motorcycle in an apartment, closet, or under a desk?
- Carry one up or down a flight stairs?
- Drive one legally without training, licensing, and insurance?
- Take one on paths away from traffic and large vehicles?
- Purchase one new for under $1000?
- Safely move kids with it?
- Take one on public transit?
- Service it with basic tools and inexpensive components, even in your own living room?
- Ride one without it making noise?
- Use one to carry cargo (i.e. a week of groceries)?
- Refuel one at home or at the office?
I can come up with dozens of reasons why an e-bike would be better (more practical) than a motorcycle, for pretty much anyone.
I’m not against motorcycles, but they are basically cars with two wheels and far less utility.
Took about 2 minutes to find a two wheeled open seat vehicle powered by a motor (definition of a motorcycle) with most of those requirements. Look up the SWAGTRON Swagcycle. All for about 800€
That’s a seated e-scooter.
Are we talking about actual motorcycles or something else?
Where I live (ontario, Canada), the Swagtron you mentioned wouldn’t even be allowed to be used legally.
But the definition of motorcycle here is quite expansive, depending on the speed it goes, whether it has two or three wheels, the weight, motor size, etc. They all require special licencing, including “low-speed motorcycles” and mopeds.
Ebikes are electric motorcycles.
Care to elaborate?
Incorrect. E-bikes are actually economically viable. Show me an electric motorcycle that actually makes sense to buy.
Typically emoto = electric motorcycle, ebike = electric bicycle, but there’s definitely bleed-over in their usage.
In the same way that you’re a bonobo.
Well technically true, ebike can mean electric motorcycle and electric bicycle.
There is a massive spectrum of electric moving things and the terms are sadly not very clear.
Electric bicycles, mopeds and motorcycles are still all different things with some grey area. Their legal requirement and registration brackets in particular country are probably about the best divisions.
Yeah, (kick)scooter and (motor)scooter are different thing yet it’s normally just referred to as scooter. Motorcycle is a catch-all term for anything two wheeled driven by an engine, but somehow in some place it mean the one with higher cc and the lower cc are called moped, and then in some place moped is a kind of motorvehicle that ride below a certain speed.
Even when ebike are divided by class, in some country class 1 and 2 does include the motor power, while other just define it by their speed and the availability of a throttle. This is why when politician that never into these thing talk about it, they tend to mixed it up and people will go into a fit of rage about how ebike is all bad.
