Search results

Thanks for the detailed follow-up. I hope you'll consider posting once you've been riding the bike for a few weeks. (We should make sure we cross-post/cross-link to the brand-specific categories to make it easy for other people researching bikes to find the post.) I plan to post after I've...

@Dave, your thinking is one of the main reasons I didn't take up Motiv's offer to custom-build a pedelec version of their Spark by pulling parts from their new Shadow. I don't want to be the guinea pig, especially when I'm nowhere near a bike shop that has experience servicing electric bikes...

Speaking of saving money, I ran some numbers on what the bike I'm buying will save me. Total purchase price was $2,901. Battery replacement costs amortized over 1500 charges (750 trips to and from work) amounts to $1.06/day. I read somewhere (maybe this site) that "refilling the tank" runs about...

One accessory I got as a gift a couple of years ago but never really got to leverage was a Monkey Light. I try to keep my commutes to daylight hours, but might need to make a few trips to the nearby store after dark just to show off my bike bling. :)

In all likelihood, I'll keep it as a second battery until it gets down to the point where its weight outweighs its benefit as a range-extender. I can totally see carrying around an extra 8 lbs. if it'll give me another 10-15 miles of range for a weekend trip.

Well, phooey. My wife is 5'1". I guess I don't need to worry about her stealing mine from me. A mixed blessing. :(

So the bike I'm buying has a battery that is rated for 1,500 cycles. That will last me 3-4 years based on my anticipated level of use (commuting an average of 4 days/week, considering that I won't ride on days that it's blustery outside). So, what do we do with the battery after that point? Are...

Since I'm 5'7", I'm the perfect guy to ask! (Court, the site owner/moderator, is 5'9".) On Court's recommendation, I got the step-through model (a.k.a. "girl's bike"). :rolleyes: I'll let you know how it works. Maybe even post a couple of photos or a short video showing how the proportions work...

Yeah, the liability thing is definitely something to think about. People aren't used to bicycles traveling at 20MPH+, and could conceivably step off a curb in front of you. A heavier-than-average bicycle with a rider on it hitting someone at 20MPH? Yikes! I don't want to think of that happening...

So I looked into bicycle insurance. Markel Insurance quoted me $27/month for coverage for a $3K bike for theft & damage with a $100 deductible. It was $22 and change for a $500 deductible. This didn't include liability, medical coverage, roadside assistance, or other coverages, though those were...

Well, I finally pulled the trigger! A 48V City Commuter will be on its way tomorrow or the next day. There's a hefty restocking fee plus return shipping if it doesn't work for me, so hopefully I've made the right decision! :-O I also ordered the Model 8 Sprung Saddle (Honey) to accommodate more...

I had considered the Ridekick a few years back when I was on my last round of "how can I rationalize spending money on an electric bike." Or if it wasn't the ridekick, it was some similar powered bicycle trailer. My wife isn't really into exercise, so it'd be her riding the electric while I...

I emailed the ERW folks to ask them about compatibility with heavier/faster bicycles. We'll see what they say!

EBS, thanks for the follow-up with airless tires. I thought it might be too good to be true. Sounds like it's not a good tradeoff. My wife's going to give me the "I told you so" speech when she has to come pick me up, even if it's only 2-3x/year. She thinks I'm crazy for wanting to bike commute...

PracticalCycle.com has the City Commuter for $100 less than MSRP, has free shipping, AND gives you a $74 set of pannier bags. They've been very responsive when I've emailed them, too. One of the employees called me to discuss financing options and to estimate how long I should plan to spend on...

St. Augustine is only 4 hours, 12 minutes from me. 1/3 closer than the 6 hours to Chattanooga from Charleston, SC. :-) Court is a couple of inches taller than you and me, and even he prefers the step-through Commuter, so that's the one I'd definitely get to avoid the whole swinging-leg thing...

Does anyone have thoughts on airless/solid/foam tires? I read up on Amazon and read that they can create a fair amount of rolling resistance and make a sickly squishing sound, but I'm wondering if the trade-off isn't worth it to not be caught out on the way home with a flat. I'm sure it's a lot...

Ralph, in case you pull the trigger before I do, I second the request for a follow-up. At an identical 5'7" to yours (and 172.2 lbs. yesterday, though that was before eating ice cream last night ;-), I'm leaning hard toward the City Commuter with the 48V upgrade. The custom Spark is also...

Well, I'm glad I posted! I hadn't been considering the Commuter, but now I'll add it to my list. Additional detail: I was 183 last year at this time, but am down to 172.2 as of this morning. I'm running at the gym in the morning (about 5K) 4 days a week, and am aiming for a final weight of...

A new wrinkle to add in: I heard back from the Motiv team, and they're willing to build a custom Spark with a pedal-assist module pulled from one of their new Shadow models. It'll bump up the price a bit since they'll need to charge Shadow price, but to have the pedal-assist, I think it'd be...