Advice for new husband / wife bikes

[Jim Dove]

I'd appreciate any advice. We're in the market for two electric bikes. As background, we live in a very hilly town in the NE and are about 9 miles from the beach. We would like something that takes the edge off the hills generally makes biking 'more fun'. We will probably do 80% road and 20% gravel/trails -- but, nothing that should require a pure mountain bike.

Other requirements (for me):

Needs to be class 3 28 MPH
Emphasis on quality but don't want to spend needlessly
Would like to be able to go at least 40 miles without having to worry about it (I'm 6' / 220)
Would like to get something with a good dealer network
Would like to feel like I'm really riding a bike

Considering the two as-yet unreleased 2018 GIANT trekking bikes (I get it would be hard to comment there, other than any general opinions on the Yamaha set-up), a Specialized Turbo Vado x.0, or a Stromer.

It's odd how little coverage Giant gets? I rode a Full E+ MTB on vacation in the mountains and that's what turned me on to this in the first place. It was in Europe and there, they used the Bosch mid-drive rather than Yamaha.

My wife rented a Pedego City Bike and seems set on that. She is a bit of a lazy rider, wants a comfy seat and upright position. Please let me know if that's a horrible choice.

Much appreciated.

 

[Saratoga Dave]

My wife has a City Commuter and loves it, though she does find it a bit heavy - as most ebikes are, of course. She hasn't ridden it all that much, but she always enjoys it when she gets out with it. You don't have to think about much, just get on it and go. The battery is very strong, she should have no issues with range.

She got a nice set of flowered panniers and and really couldn't be much happier with the whole setup once we got it all adjusted for her. Tons of range in the handlebar adjustments on that thing, and you can do them out on the road with no tools to get it dialed in exactly. A nice, well built bike.

I started with a hub drive, jumped to a mid drive Bosch system Trek after about 1400 miles (in May of the year), just went over 1200 miles on that. It's all about the Bosch system to me. The more you get used to it, the more it works with you. Haven't tried the Yamaha system, but people certainly seem to love that as well.

 

[jmcdono362]

Hi Jim,

I think you really can not beat the Juiced Bikes CrossCurrent Air.

Seems to meet your needs with:

Price: $1,794 (with the 17ah battery)
Class 3 28MPH
More than 40 miles range at full power with the optional 17ah battery. More if you tread lightly.

Plus I've been following these guys for awhile now, and the owner Tora Harris seems to have a real passion for e-bikes.
His website is full of specs.
He frequently posts on this forum with more information.
He personally stays over in China to inspect all the manufacturing of the parts.
He uploads tons of video of the products.
He constantly is striving for better technology (such as the awesome 21ah battery, which can deliver 100 miles of range with eco driving)
His prices are very very reasonable for what you get.

(Link Removed - No Longer Exists)

If you sort all the reviewed e-bikes on this site by price, you'll see anything below this model either:

Has maximum speed of 20MPH
and/or uses the heavy lead acid batteries.

Good luck on the search.

 

[opimax]

I find it best to have the same bikes, so you are equal when riding and can share and use each other's batteries. When my wife doesn't ride at all I had access to 4 batteries when she does ride w/me we each had 2. There is a variety of ways to share the power and and length of ride. Additionally as you get to know the bikes you are only dealing w/1 manufacturer and very similar issues. Support is always an issue w/Ebikes, you get what you pay for to a certain extent. Buying cheap bikes 1st then upgrading to quality bikes is very expensive in way to go w/ebikes.

I no longer have the same model of bike as my wife but she wont let me upgrade hers, she is now ready to ride again after some foot surgery, hoping this makes it something she will if she rides more.

 

[rich c]

I'm a big Haibike fan, own a Mtb and a Trekking. Both are class 3. The Mtb has a tire upgrade to Schwalbe Super Moto tires, no knobbies. Great for road, gravel, and dry trails. It will depend on your fitness and the speed you want to maintain on the hills for that 40 mile range, on nearly every brand. The Trekking has a 500wh battery pack that should work well for your application. Spending needlessly is an odd term. You get what you pay for, and I doubt if any manufacturer just tacks on to the list price. More expensive will get you better components, stronger frame, more enjoyment. Less expensive means Chinese components and upgrades latter in the bike's life. Sort of a pay now, or pay latter.

 

[TrevorB]

I find it best to have the same bikes, so you are equal when riding and can share and use each other's batteries. When my wife doesn't ride at all I had access to 4 batteries when she does ride w/me we each had 2. There is a variety of ways to share the power and and length of ride. Additionally as you get to know the bikes you are only dealing w/1 manufacturer and very similar issues. Support is always an issue w/Ebikes, you get what you pay for to a certain extent. Buying cheap bikes 1st then upgrading to quality bikes is very expensive in way to go w/ebikes.

I no longer have the same model of bike as my wife but she wont let me upgrade hers, she is now ready to ride again after some foot surgery, hoping this makes it something she will if she rides more.

Have common batteries is big plus. Allows one of you to do extended rides. Buying extra battery extends both your range by 50% for a ride together.

Make sure you both test ride different drive systems and styles of bikes. Test rides need to be about 2hrs especially for final bike.