Is $800 a reasonable price for a beginner ebike?

[slamchest]

Hello, I'm going to get my first ebike and I have a two questions. First, my budget is $800 and I'm not sure if the specs I'm hoping for are realistic. I'm hoping for 48V and class 2. I'll be going on mostly flat ground, but the occasional hill climb would be nice. I'd need at least 40 miles of range hopefully because I dont always have a place to charge. Are these requirements reasonable with this budget? My second question is, can I leave it out in the rain once and a while? I figure the chain might need oiled, but I just dont want the battery exploding or something. Thanks

 

[Stefan Mikes]

$800 for an e-bike is a scrap metal price.
Fire insurance might be more expensive than that.

 

[mr-stitches]

I think your requirements are realistic, but brand quality is a bit more subjective. Be sure to reasearch them. Here are a few sites that you can use to compare whats out there:
EBike-Prices - Tons of bikes to compare prices and specs
r/ebikes Comparative List - A shortlist of recommended ebikes based on budget
EBR's Affordable Bike Reviews - This site's budget bike reviews

After looking into this myself, the consensus seemed to have been around $1200 for something decent though. Regarding rain, I think it'll be fine, so long as you dont throw it in a river.

 

[Gionnirocket]

That's pretty much bottom of the barrel as far as quality. I spent more than that for a diy reliable motor and descent battery kit. If you are looking in the $1000 price range you better be familiar with bike maintenance and repair and know your way around basic wiring as well as you'll be on your own.
And though most of the hardware has some weather rating I would avoid leaving it in the rain at all cost... especially the battery.

 

[BillH]

If you can up your budget a bit and are ok buying used I'd at least check out Upway.

 

[slamchest]

Yeah, I thought 800 might be a little low. If the battery is UL-certified though, does that actually reliably mean the battery isnt gonna blow up when indoors?

 

[BillH]

Yeah, I thought 800 might be a little low. If the battery is UL-certified though, does that actually reliably mean the battery isnt gonna blow up when indoors?

This is a copy-n-paste:
Key factors for e-bike battery safety:

• Certification: Look for batteries and e-bikes certified to UL 2849 and UL 2271 standards.
  
  
• Reputable Brands: Choose batteries from well-known and trusted e-bike manufacturers that prioritize safety testing.
  
  
• Proper Charging: Use only the charger specified by the battery manufacturer and follow their instructions for charging and storage.
  
  
• Avoid Bargain Batteries: Steer clear of aftermarket or bargain batteries, particularly those from unknown sources, as they may not meet safety standards.
  
  
• Proper Handling: Handle the battery with care, avoiding impacts, drops, and exposure to extreme temperatures.
  
  
• Regular Inspection: Inspect the battery and charger regularly for any signs of damage or wear.
  

 

[Gionnirocket]

Yeah, I thought 800 might be a little low. If the battery is UL-certified though, does that actually reliably mean the battery isnt gonna blow up when indoors?

A UL listing is never a bad thing and is a safety certification... so yes if authentic it should be ok to keep the battery indoors. I belive you can verify the certificate of their website.
https://www.ul.com/cere-search-certificates
I keep many uncertified batteries indoors but they come from reputable manufacturers including ebike and tools

edit: also be aware of wording. Conforms to UL Standard means it is built to the specifications but has not been tested or verified by UL Labs.

 

[Cycologist]

I have a friend who bought a $550 Huffy Vertis e-bike (class 2) and it's surprisingly decent for the money and has UL certification.
It came in pieces, so I had to put it together for him and it seemed fairly well made for a bike this cheap.

He loves it and it has improved his riding by quite a bit.
The bike advertises a 40-mile range and he's managed to get a real world 35 miles out of it at the power levels he rides at (power setting 3 out of 6 mostly). He never uses the throttle.

Drawbacks:
- It's bit heavy at 50 lbs, but that's about average for a bike in this price range.
- The Shimano cassette doesn't shift all that smoothly and I couldn't get it to shift into the tallest gear, no matter how I adjusted it. Not a big deal since that gear would probably never be used anyway.
- It has a cadence sensor instead of a torque sensor, so as soon as it senses pedal movement, the motor engages at the set power level. This takes a bit of getting used to.
- It has disc brakes, but they are weak. I blame the brake pads and it's nothing a more agressive set of pads couldn't fix.
- Spare batteries seem hard to come by. It would be nice to have a spare so he could use a higher power level and not have range anxiety, but we've been unable to source one.

I agree with what most people are saying though. You really need to spend at least $1,200 to $1,500 to get a fairly decent bike.
That being said, if you can only afford $800 then there are good options out there that you could probably be happy with.

 

[Gionnirocket]

I have a friend who bought a $550 Huffy Vertis e-bike (class 2) and it's surprisingly decent for the money and has UL certification.
It came in pieces, so I had to put it together for him and it seemed fairly well made for a bike this cheap.

He loves it and it has improved his riding by quite a bit.
The bike advertises a 40-mile range and he's managed to get a real world 35 miles out of it at the power levels he rides at (power setting 3 out of 6 mostly). He never uses the throttle.

Drawbacks:
- It's bit heavy at 50 lbs, but that's about average for a bike in this price range.
- The Shimano cassette doesn't shift all that smoothly and I couldn't get it to shift into the tallest gear, no matter how I adjusted it. Not a big deal since that gear would probably never be used anyway.
- It has a cadence sensor instead of a torque sensor, so as soon as it senses pedal movement, the motor engages at the set power level. This takes a bit of getting used to.
- It has disc brakes, but they are weak. I blame the brake pads and it's nothing a more agressive set of pads couldn't fix.
- Spare batteries seem hard to come by. It would be nice to have a spare so he could use a higher power level and not have range anxiety, but we've been unable to source one.

I agree with what most people are saying though. You really need to spend at least $1,200 to $1,500 to get a fairly decent bike.
That being said, if you can only afford $800 then there are good options out there that you could probably be happy with.

Not being able to source a battery can render the bike useless so that's no small consideration.

On the shifting.. it sounds like the limit screw needs to be backed out or the cable is too tight/damaged... that or the hanger is bent.
Low gear may be needed to get home if you're having too much fun and run out the battery.

 

[stompandgo]

What is "hangar out of alignment", Alex.

This is a game show reference for those that aren't familiar.

 

[alihyder]

With an $800 budget, getting an e-bike with a 48V battery, Class 2 rating, and a solid 40-mile range can be challenging but not impossible if you’re flexible on some specs. Real-life range often depends on your riding style and terrain. For rain, most ebikes can handle light showers occasionally, but it’s best not to leave them out too long to protect the battery and electronics. Keeping the chain oiled after wet rides helps prevent rust. One of my friends told me about some Riding Times Deals while I was searching for an affordable ebike, and checking them out might help you find beginner-friendly options that balance price and performance.

 

[Slaphappygamer]

What is "hangar out of alignment", Alex.

This is a game show reference for those that aren't familiar.

“What is when your shifting is garbage and you’ve tried everything else?”

I can’t tell you how much better my shifting got after I corrected the alignment on mine. Night and day!

I’ll take The pen is mightier for 300, Alex.

 

[stompandgo]

On 8, 9 and 10 speeds, the misalignment is very easy to see. On 11 and 12 speeds, it can be subtle. The same tool works for all, though.

 

[kevinmccune]

I have a friend who bought a $550 Huffy Vertis e-bike (class 2) and it's surprisingly decent for the money and has UL certification.
It came in pieces, so I had to put it together for him and it seemed fairly well made for a bike this cheap.

He loves it and it has improved his riding by quite a bit.
The bike advertises a 40-mile range and he's managed to get a real world 35 miles out of it at the power levels he rides at (power setting 3 out of 6 mostly). He never uses the throttle.

Drawbacks:
- It's bit heavy at 50 lbs, but that's about average for a bike in this price range.
- The Shimano cassette doesn't shift all that smoothly and I couldn't get it to shift into the tallest gear, no matter how I adjusted it. Not a big deal since that gear would probably never be used anyway.
- It has a cadence sensor instead of a torque sensor, so as soon as it senses pedal movement, the motor engages at the set power level. This takes a bit of getting used to.
- It has disc brakes, but they are weak. I blame the brake pads and it's nothing a more agressive set of pads couldn't fix.
- Spare batteries seem hard to come by. It would be nice to have a spare so he could use a higher power level and not have range anxiety, but we've been unable to source one.

I agree with what most people are saying though. You really need to spend at least $1,200 to $1,500 to get a fairly decent bike.
That being said, if you can only afford $800 then there are good options out there that you could probably be happy with.

finding a spare battery takes some digging,out put pins,width,depth and length you really have to study the dimensions,I have bought a good many spare batterys and have always had success,first find the generic name or style,then dig into the dimensions and output/