Another "what bikes might be a good fit for me" post, but for a short woman

[screechowl87]

Hi all, I've been thinking about getting an ebike and am not sure which route to go.

My most important factor are price, weight, and size. I mostly need something to help me get up the hills around my house. My bike will ideally be used for mostly leisure and exercise, maybe a quick trip to the grocery store if I forgot something (nor a grocery haul, just a bag of chips type of trip). Mostly paved roads, but the easiest way into town is a not regularly maintained dirt road that cuts a few miles off the trip.

Here's the deal: I'm short. Like, 5'1" on a good day. Basically teenager sized, but out of shape and dealing with lingering, old hip and wrist injuries that sometimes limit my use of my regular bike. I need to be able to lift my bike onto a rack (or into the back of my SUV) to transport it on occasion. I don't need to keep up with traffic, so speed isn't really an issue. I can lift 50lbs occasionally if my wrist isn't bothering me, but would prefer something lighter than that. I know, I'm probably asking too much.

I don't mind buying used, but I dont know what to look for when browsing through used bikes. I don't have a local bike shop (I'm in the middle of nowhere). I can be fairly handy with tools and stuff, and have no problem doing things like swapping handlebars. Not afraid of youtubing simple fixes.

I would like to stay under $1500usd, preferably under $1000 but I know I'm already dreaming with the non-price related criteria.

Anyone have any suggestions? I've seen the Aventon Soltera and the Lectric XP4 recommended quite a bit, but I'm concerned about my height with the Soltera and the weight of the XP4.

 

[Biplaneguy]

My wife is 5'0" and chose a Zugo, the only thing she found for that small a rider. There's no way she can lift it, but a rack with a ramp solves that problem. Not gonna meet your price target though.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Welcome! A little over $1,500, but my wife's 48 lb dual-sensor Velotric Breeze 1 cruiser might work for you. Some details here and here.

Whatever you do, strongly recommend (a) testing several ebikes before deciding, especially at your height, and (b) buying from a local shop if at all possible. Some shops won't service bikes they didn't sell, and some don't service ebikes at all.

If you must buy online, make sure you can get local service beforehand. Some big brands like Aventon and Velotric have extensive dealer/service networks. Many online brands have none.

 

[EMGX]

No knowledge of this bike other than from their web site but it looks interesting. 29lbs, full carbon folder. $1599 though.

Lightweight Foldable Electric Bike | Carbon Fold 1

Ultra-light foldable electric bike weighs just 29 lbs, folds in 10 seconds, offers 40-mile range, torque sensor, hydraulic brakes, and integrated lights.

newurtopia.com

 

[stompandgo]

Velotric Breeze
Dahon K One

I've fitted both to women around 5 foot tall.

 

[Hewholaughslast]

I'd focus on one that allows you to sit up straighter, a cruiser, unless you like leaning sharply forward. Beside tire/wheel width for your height, I'd look for something between 20" and 26" if the 26" has a step through frame. I like the step through frame on my 20" folding Unusual bike and my 26" Funhang bike since I keep the seat set very high. Also, take into consideration arm length. If I sit up straight on my two folding bikes with straight handlebars, just my finger tips touch the handlebar grips. I can sit up much straighter on the 26" Funhang with curved handlebars. If you have any bike shops in your town you could go sit on a few bikes so that you know which details fit you best and whether a straight handlebar or curved handlebar or a cruiser or mountain type bike is best for your first bike. Anything that is build for road racing or downhill racing is going to be less comfortable.

 

[indianajo]

My Yube Bodaboda is made for women that size. See avatar left. Unfortunately they don't make them anymore. A little heavy at 70 lb. I carry 60 lb groceries home weekly. My pant legs are 27", my arms are 29" sleeve although I have a normal length back. I'm Native Am, not a dwarf.
Liv and giant have bikes with an XS frame for short people. Don't go under 26" wheel, the shock of potholes you didn't see is not worth it. They are not cheap, and are not made of imitation components like the <$800 brands. I found with the $1800 Yuba, real steel and real aluminum require a lot fewer adjustments and less maintenance than the imitation stuff I was getting in the kiddie bikes I was riding (Diamondback & Pacific). I'm short, used MTB's for kids are $50-75. Tires would blow off the undersized wheels, axles & spokes would break under my enormous 180 lb, (now 150) plastic crank arms would wear out in 1500 miles, cables would stretch and require adjustment weekly. You might also look to see if Kona has any XS models. Unfortunately, you can't sit on a XS frame unless you buy it, NYC and LA may have some in stock. No dealer in a smaller market will take the riak of getting stuck with one.

 

[ausGeoff]

My only suggestion—from an oldie—is to be wary of folding e-bikes.
Although marketed as (supposedly) fitting in the back of a SUV with
the rear seats down, they can be just as heavy as a non-folder, and
often need—must have—two people to wiggle them in due to their
awkward configuration.

 

[Hewholaughslast]

Yuppy doodle. I looked at most folding Ebikes available on the WWW and decided I'd just get a full sized non-folding Ebike. My two folding regular bikes probably weigh 30-35 lbs and the electrified folding bikes were more like 55-75lbs depending on the bike. I didn't want to have to start lifting a much heavier bike in the name of convenience into my car or truck. My regular 26" Ebike weighs about 55 lbs and I will not be lifting it at all. I am close enough to the big park (five miles) that I can hop on the road and bike trails to get there twice a week. More exercise, more miles, but I can conquer that big hill inside the park now and if I am pooped out on the way home I just use the pedal assist. Good technology and I am not driving my car or truck to the park twice a week.