hey, name is jim. i live in the northern tip of lower michigan. im not old really. but my body thinks otherwise. ive suffered with muscle and leg issues my whole life. i collect vintage bicycles and repair them as a hobby. they are very heavy and well built machines. with that quality comes a weight. they are not easy for me to pedal anymore. it got me looking at assisted bikes. i have a vintage styled eye so i knew many of the e bikes available werent my favorite design. then i came across the tracer 25ds. best looking e bike ive seen. it has a 500 watt rear hub and a 47watt 17.5 AH battery in the tank. not trying to make you watch my video but im giving a link to a short first season overview of it. i grew up in the UP of michigan so yes i know i sound like a canadian. if you can deal with my poor info and little knowldge laced talk. please take a look. ill add a picture of it now in case you dont want to watch the video. thanks for allowing me to join the club.
hello from an old guy with bad legs
- Thread starter slow ride
- Start date
Gionnirocket
Well-Known Unidentified Member
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- USA
- City
- Y. O.
Not my thing... but I definitely appreciate it's look.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
stompandgo
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
Springer front end.
thanks, it is a comfortable bike.. it took several small trips with slight tweeks for the first month to get it just right but now its great. no questions yet. im trying to use the forums posts to help me before i ask redundant questions.
to each their own. i appreciate the comment and you taking the time to write.
Gionnirocket
Well-Known Unidentified Member
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- USA
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- Y. O.
I would love to take it for a ride though!
Went on their website and they make quite a few variations in the same style. Definitely eye catching.
i can admit. with its stretched frame it can be a bit tricky to learn how to ride. but once you get the hang of the different feel its actually kinda nice. i use it on an abandoned railroad line that runs behind my house. i cant go too far but ive riden 13 miles as my longest ride so far. i wanted the bigger tires for the gravel/dirt that i ride on. i try to stay away from the roads as the rules with these are iffy. ive just always enjoyed the feeling of being on a pedal bike but i need a bit of help pedaling now and this e bike world is fitting in great with my lifestyle. may i ask what you prefer to ride?
Gionnirocket
Well-Known Unidentified Member
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- USA
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- Y. O.
I ride an all purpose SUV style bike. Same as you I ride mostly paved rail trail... but also do about 20% off road with some singe track style horse trail near my house. Nothing near professional.
I also use it to run errands, grocery, pharmacy and home depot quick runs.
I also use it to run errands, grocery, pharmacy and home depot quick runs.
harryS
Well-Known Member
Very nice. I looked at the stock guard on the Tracer website. The new one is much better looking! I might have trimmed the end of the chain guard and smoothed it out. Will look just as good. To keep busy tinkering during the winter, they have fake leather hand grips with metal clamping rings that will complement your seat. If that front is a mechanical cable caliper, upgrading the front disk to a cable hydraulic is easy/cheap too, but a full hydraulic isn't much more money,
Chrome pedals in your future?
I suppose the battery is inside the tank, and well secured. Does it have a throttle?
Chrome pedals in your future?
I suppose the battery is inside the tank, and well secured. Does it have a throttle?
thats a tough looking bike. i like it
I'm actually changing the seat in a couple days to a brooks b135. those are my preferred saddles on pedal bikes. so, i figure id try one on this. it is a mechanical setup for the brakes. ive been looking into what's involved in changing to hydraulic. im thinking i will change this eventually. it does have a thumb throttle. 5 levels of assist. i try to use as much leg power as i can though so i never go above level 2. it tops out at 25 with me on it and that's still too fast haha. that's why my name is slow ride. I'm more into the leisure of biking than climbing mountains and all the adventurous stuff some of you guys do. thanks for the comment. i really appreciate you're taking the time to write and ask questions about it. also, the advice and suggestions are noted and logged for future use.
Gionnirocket
Well-Known Unidentified Member
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- Y. O.
Thanks....
It's much cooler looking without all the accoutrement
But I need it to be practical.
I most ride for exercise and have been averaging about 4000mi/year.
It has a 1000w mid drive motor paired with a Rohloff 14 Speedhub... I swear this thing can climb a tree
But there are many days I'm just happy to be outside pedaling and enjoying the scenery... Like now as the trees are changing.
It's much cooler looking without all the accoutrement
But I need it to be practical.
I most ride for exercise and have been averaging about 4000mi/year.
It has a 1000w mid drive motor paired with a Rohloff 14 Speedhub... I swear this thing can climb a tree
But there are many days I'm just happy to be outside pedaling and enjoying the scenery... Like now as the trees are changing.
it would seem you and i both are blessed with a beautiful place to ride. i like accessories. it gives the rider a chance to add what they want to the bike to make it theirs. i would like a set of bags like you have eventually. ill figure out a way to mount them and go from there. for now, i have the small bag in back but that doesn't fit much. i can appreciate the need for practicality. i know riding a stretched out chromed bike on a railroad grade isn't the most practical but it's a balance ya know hahaThanks....
It's much cooler looking without all the accoutrement
View attachment 201217
But I need it to be practical.
I most ride for exercise and have been averaging about 4000mi/year.
It has a 1000w mid drive motor paired with a Rohloff 14 Speedhub... I swear this thing can climb a tree
But there are many days I'm just happy to be outside pedaling and enjoying the scenery... Like now as the trees are changing.
View attachment 201219
Definitely not as classy as yours but here is a cruiser bike I bought many years ago to ride with my wife when she was riding a Schwinn Cruiser 6. 4 years ago I added a mid drive conversion which can climb very well (I live on a small but named mountain so hills almost everywhere here). The rear hub is a Nuvinci N360 CVT, not a motor, with pretty good gear range that was a replacement for the original Nuvinci CVT that broke down. It also had wider rims, tires and no front brake originally. I don't have cause to use it anymore but it is a very comfortable bike and was a pleasure to ride.
PS I lived in northern Michigan (Alpena) for one bittersweet year before moving on. Every year I think of riding the DALMAC Lansing to Mackinaw, if you're familiar, (not on this bike) but haven't.
This stock image is how it looked originally.
PS I lived in northern Michigan (Alpena) for one bittersweet year before moving on. Every year I think of riding the DALMAC Lansing to Mackinaw, if you're familiar, (not on this bike) but haven't.
This stock image is how it looked originally.
yep, that's a bike i can get into. love the look of classics like this. every bike has its place and i can see beauty in every kind, but this is what i gravitate too. I'm new to the e bike world and I'm not sure what brand or anything of rear hub mine has. i could find out but haven't had the need yet. I'm very familiar. I live in cheboygan. 15 miles from the bridge. my goal next year is to make it to mackinaw city and back without an ambulance being involved haha. thanks for writing and showing me one of your rides
DaveMatthews
Dave's not here. Cheating since 2018
- Region
- Canada
Welcome from Vancouver Canada. Cool lookin' ride mate!
your kindness and warm welcome are very much appreciated. ill treat ya to some poutine if we ever cross paths haha
Gionnirocket
Well-Known Unidentified Member
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DaveMatthews
Dave's not here. Cheating since 2018
- Region
- Canada
Lol! I've only ever had that once I think. Cheers!
