New to e-bikes first post.

[Thistledew]

Hello all and Happy New Year! New to e-bikes, I have not yet purchased my bike as there is so so many to choose from and such a wide range of price as well. And looking for experience and information.
My interests are of off-road nature to use on trails and through the woods, I am 72 years old and still love the wilderness, hoping this route can help keep me were i love to be a few more years. looking forward to chatting with you all. again, wishing everybody a safe happy and fulfilling New Year! Lots to look forward to.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

A Specialized Tero or Tero X

 

[Tom@WashDC]

Welome ot the EBR Forums!

 

[mrgold35]

Welcome to the forum!

I ended up giving away my two pedal bikes after I purchased my first ebikes. I ride all year and only exclude ice, snow, or rain for riding days with an ebike.

 

[Slaphappygamer]

Welcome!

2 big groups come to mind. Are you willing to learn how to work on your bike? Or do you want to have a warranty and rely on a bike shop for you maintenance and repair needs?

I ask this because some are comfortable working on their own bike which opens the door for Direct2Consumer bikes. Like a Ride1Up 700 Series bike, for example. You probably can’t bring that to a shop because you did not buy the bike there. Unless you get lucky and have a shop that is willing to take in the task.

Then there is the group of riders that depend on a shop to have the bike kept up and serviced as instructed by the manufacturers maintenance routine.

Both cases have their advantage and disadvantages. D2C bikes are cheaper and have little, to none, support. An ebike bought at a bike shop will cost more, but you’ll have a physical place to bring the bike to for any needs that raise.

 

[JGcycle]

Welcome to the forum.

 

[Thistledew]

Thank you for the response! I do feel I have the ability to work on most things, but I have never touched a e-bike.
Yes, I am so clueless were i do not know what a Rideup 799 series and or a D2C bike is, I am assuming they are brands of bikes that I have not yet heard of in my search, thanks again I obviously have lots to learn.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Welcome aboard! To give any meaningful buying advice, we'd need to know at the very least your country and budget and have some idea of your cycling fitness level. Also the heaviest bike weight you're willing to handle — say, for car transport to a favorite trail.

 

[Slaphappygamer]

Rideup 799 series and or a D2C bike is

I didn’t have my glasses on and mistyped. I meant to type Ride1Up 700 Series.

A D2C (Direct 2 Consumer) bike is one that you purchase right from the manufacturer. No middleman involved. You usually can only buy the online and not from a Local Bike Shop.

I have never worked on a bike, or any bike for that matter, before I got my bike. I’ve learned enough to be dangerous, yet treat my bike kindly. Learning on my own bike has been very rewarding. I’ve been able to fix a few scooters and e-bikes now.

With you looking for off-road/trail use, I’d assume you will probably drive there and transport your bike. Fat bikes seem good for wooded areas, but they are the heaviest e-bikes to transport. There are rack ramps that aid in getting the bike on the rack. With any ebike, you can always put new tires on. Tires that better suit the terrain you plan on traversing.

 

[EMGX]

Only you can really decide what type bike would work best for you but check out the Yamaha bikes that are on deep discount. Full suspension Moro is $1919, Wabash drop bar gravel is $1679 which are unbeatable prices for Yamaha mid drive bikes. You missed the oportunity to get a free second battery but you might not need that anyway. My local Yamaha dealer has both in stock YMMV.

Here's an image of the Moro

and here's the Wabash

 

[Thistledew]

Welcome aboard! To give any meaningful buying advice, we'd need to know at the very least your country and budget and have some idea of your cycling fitness level. Also the heaviest bike weight you're willing to handle — say, for car transport to a favorite trail.

I am in New England, Massachusetts and Maine, new to e bike for fitness level? I am 72 years old 6ft 200 pounds, I have been going about 5 miles a day through the woods hiking with pack + (in all weather) until I recently blew out my knee, and that is what sparked me to pursue e-bikes.
don't want to sound evasive but I recently tried a hunting forum for e-bikes info and was about run out of town. as far as price I don't have money to burn but I do know by experience that you get what you pay for.

 

[Thistledew]

I am in New England, Massachusetts and Maine, new to e bike for fitness level? I am 72 years old 6ft 200 pounds, I have been going about 5 miles a day through the woods hiking with pack + (in all weather) until I recently blew out my knee, and that is what sparked me to pursue e-bikes.
don't want to sound evasive but I recently tried a hunting forum for e-bikes info and was about run out of town. as far as price I don't have money to burn but I do know by experience that you get what you pay for.

And as far as transporting: not a issue

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Lots of old guys with knee issues use ebikes to stay active and get outside, myself included. Generally works quite well.

Would you spend $3,000 on the right bike?

Best to buy ebikes locally if at all possible. Strongly suggest that you start by testing a range of locally available bikes. Then come back with questions. If you test a cadence-sensing hub-drive, be sure to test one with torque-sensing assist as well. Also test a mid-drive. Test on hills, too.

Don't get sucked into a fat tire ebike without a strong use case for one. They're generally heavy and not very responsive. You can do a lot of fun offroad riding on 2" tires — even on beaches when the sand is right.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Only you can really decide what type bike would work best for you but check out the Yamaha bikes that are on deep discount. Full suspension Moro is $1919, Wabash drop bar gravel is $1679 which are unbeatable prices for Yamaha mid drive bikes. You missed the oportunity to get a free second battery but you might not need that anyway. My local Yamaha dealer has both in stock YMMV.

Here's an image of the Moro
View attachment 188052

and here's the Wabash
View attachment 188053

It's is such a pity Yamaha has withdrawn from the U.S. market...