You thought your family was going to be talking about web3 this Thanksgiving. But they’re actually talking about ebikes. Let’s help you prepare. Ebikes are about to change the world. They are already the best selling electric vehicles, and are selling as fast as factories can make them.
FWIW, my bike (iZip e3 dash) is mid-drive and has a throttle option (which I don't have but I recently thought about it), so the two aren't mutually exclusive.
I bought that bike when Performance was closing a bunch (all?) of their stores and were selling everything for 50% off. I was a skeptic before but figured I'd never get a better deal, and it's definitely been life-changing. I have a couple trailers (Burley Tailwagon and Travoy), although rack/panniers are usually enough for me.
You’re right, there are mid-drives with throttles. I have the Ariel Rider M-Class for instance. Though it’s discontinued. I rarely see them in practice.
really wished I had one on Sunday, the bike was powered up but no boost. I'm hoping it's just the cadence sensor (in which case the throttle would have helped)... but it was a lonnnnnng ride home, all uphill of course, with a heavy bike and 42x32 lowest gear. First I tried to get fancy and take a trail to the bus stop, but I got trapped on the other side of the tracks and by the time I gave up I missed the bus. You can see I stopped a couple times to try to fix it, and ultimately walked up the last hill by my house. https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/8400094966
I'm going to try to diagnose it tomorrow, but may be in the market for a new bike depending on the results.
I'm a long time (30+ years) bike commuter, in Wisconsin and New Mexico, and a major lesson I learned is that chains and sprockets suck. I usually have to replace my chains and sprockets every 2 years due to sand grinding down the parts. So I keep looking for ebikes that have a driveshaft. I haven't found any. Perhaps you've seen some. Alternatively, someone could make a bike with a hub motor and a generator in the bottom bracket. And for free you get a solid state variable speed transmission.
Thank you! For such information wich is very helpful for us and for you since any problems can finish in a lawsuit I hope that you can continue to teach and train everyone of us so we have a safety ride with an https://rokkelectricbike.com/e-bikes
We love the ebike we bought from a local builder, BUT, I don't know if the guy is still around, or will last for another 2 years: what do long term ebike owners do about older battery replacement? Are there industry standards yet for interchangeable batteries and perhaps, new ebike buyers need to ask, "If I like this bike, how can I get parts/batteries for my bike, if I keep it for more than 2 years?"
Good mention about insurance. We found out the hard way, Allstate doesn't cover ebike theft under any circumstance!! 😡 I ended up buying a Merkel policy. Cheap for the coverage and peace of mind, AND, major insurance companies UNLIKE ALLSTATE😡, who do offer ebike coverage, use Merkel anyway.
Awesome article Ryan! Totally changed my mind and opened my mind to the application of an E bike to a family. I had no idea It could handle a load like that package on the Turn or something like the the Urban Arrow existed.
I've got my eye on Culdesac and am beginning my search for the E-bike that will allow me to sell my car. I'm 5'0, do you have any recommendations for us shorter folks? Thanks!!
Look for the Longtail style step through designs, like Tern, and Rad power(as general designs to consider). It's easier to balance the load pulling behind you, than it might be reacting to the weight and shifting, when the weight's in front of you...in general. Plus, their frame designs and mass tend to be a lower profile and more stable as you take off, or come to a stop, the times when you're more likely to want stability.✌
I just purchased my first ebike. Wing fatty 2. Do you have an experience with this company or bikes? I use it for my 4 mile commute to work. So far so good
Good article, thanks for the shout out to EBR
Here is a list of Attorneys for the DC area that specialize in bicycle accidents https://waba.org/supporting-attorneys/ There are others including https://www.kitchellaw.com/
In any of that, did you say how far each bike will go on a charge? Or are you only concerned with the five to ten miles around your house?
Is the tern gsd worth the extra $$ over a radwagon? I get the components are better but that’s a whole lot of $$$
Most first timers get a RadWagon. It’s a great bike. And then people that realize that these bikes are car replacements aren’t afraid to spend more.
Great article!! It would be great to get the info on mileage range on a charge and time to charge for each of the bikes above.
I don’t plan to add those right now but if anyone else compiles a database I would love to link to it.
FWIW, my bike (iZip e3 dash) is mid-drive and has a throttle option (which I don't have but I recently thought about it), so the two aren't mutually exclusive.
I bought that bike when Performance was closing a bunch (all?) of their stores and were selling everything for 50% off. I was a skeptic before but figured I'd never get a better deal, and it's definitely been life-changing. I have a couple trailers (Burley Tailwagon and Travoy), although rack/panniers are usually enough for me.
You’re right, there are mid-drives with throttles. I have the Ariel Rider M-Class for instance. Though it’s discontinued. I rarely see them in practice.
really wished I had one on Sunday, the bike was powered up but no boost. I'm hoping it's just the cadence sensor (in which case the throttle would have helped)... but it was a lonnnnnng ride home, all uphill of course, with a heavy bike and 42x32 lowest gear. First I tried to get fancy and take a trail to the bus stop, but I got trapped on the other side of the tracks and by the time I gave up I missed the bus. You can see I stopped a couple times to try to fix it, and ultimately walked up the last hill by my house. https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/8400094966
I'm going to try to diagnose it tomorrow, but may be in the market for a new bike depending on the results.
I'm a long time (30+ years) bike commuter, in Wisconsin and New Mexico, and a major lesson I learned is that chains and sprockets suck. I usually have to replace my chains and sprockets every 2 years due to sand grinding down the parts. So I keep looking for ebikes that have a driveshaft. I haven't found any. Perhaps you've seen some. Alternatively, someone could make a bike with a hub motor and a generator in the bottom bracket. And for free you get a solid state variable speed transmission.
Thank you! For such information wich is very helpful for us and for you since any problems can finish in a lawsuit I hope that you can continue to teach and train everyone of us so we have a safety ride with an https://rokkelectricbike.com/e-bikes
We love the ebike we bought from a local builder, BUT, I don't know if the guy is still around, or will last for another 2 years: what do long term ebike owners do about older battery replacement? Are there industry standards yet for interchangeable batteries and perhaps, new ebike buyers need to ask, "If I like this bike, how can I get parts/batteries for my bike, if I keep it for more than 2 years?"
Good mention about insurance. We found out the hard way, Allstate doesn't cover ebike theft under any circumstance!! 😡 I ended up buying a Merkel policy. Cheap for the coverage and peace of mind, AND, major insurance companies UNLIKE ALLSTATE😡, who do offer ebike coverage, use Merkel anyway.
Good article. I like the approach, but a long range bike category would have been more useful to me than most of the ones you chose.
Good article. I like the approach, but a long range bike category would have been more useful to me than most of the ones you chose.
sold my car live off my ebike in car crazy la
here is race between ebike and dump truck with trailer on wilshire
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNsgLWAR8Rs&t=616s
Hi Ryan,
Super insightful post, thank you for sharing.
I have a question - would you or a customer pay 50% more premium for a bike that charges 80% in 8 minutes vs others that take hours to charge?
Awesome article Ryan! Totally changed my mind and opened my mind to the application of an E bike to a family. I had no idea It could handle a load like that package on the Turn or something like the the Urban Arrow existed.
I've got my eye on Culdesac and am beginning my search for the E-bike that will allow me to sell my car. I'm 5'0, do you have any recommendations for us shorter folks? Thanks!!
Look for the Longtail style step through designs, like Tern, and Rad power(as general designs to consider). It's easier to balance the load pulling behind you, than it might be reacting to the weight and shifting, when the weight's in front of you...in general. Plus, their frame designs and mass tend to be a lower profile and more stable as you take off, or come to a stop, the times when you're more likely to want stability.✌
I just purchased my first ebike. Wing fatty 2. Do you have an experience with this company or bikes? I use it for my 4 mile commute to work. So far so good
I have a Wing. Jury still out.