George S.
Well-Known Member
It was great to stumble on this site because it shows just about everything that is available. A few years ago, with lead acid batteries, electric bikes did not make sense. Now they seem completely workable and there are refined products.
For the most part, everything seems like a regular bike with a motor system. Some are higher powered, better balanced, neater, lighter, etc, but not many break the mold. That's fine. I like my regular bike a lot, riding for fitness and to explore. An electric bike might be more flexible, with more range. But I have a problem with the idea that it is transportation. Fun, but how practical?
I'm sure there are places where (any) bike would work, places where bikes are included in the road system. But a bike is a pretty fragile platform. Upright bikes are not built for speed, so you are an impediment to cars, even if they see you. Under the federal guidelines, a bike with a motor is regulated into being a bike with an assist that lets you move at a pedal pace without pedaling, but nothing more. And how much further could you take it, anyway?
For the most part, everything seems like a regular bike with a motor system. Some are higher powered, better balanced, neater, lighter, etc, but not many break the mold. That's fine. I like my regular bike a lot, riding for fitness and to explore. An electric bike might be more flexible, with more range. But I have a problem with the idea that it is transportation. Fun, but how practical?
I'm sure there are places where (any) bike would work, places where bikes are included in the road system. But a bike is a pretty fragile platform. Upright bikes are not built for speed, so you are an impediment to cars, even if they see you. Under the federal guidelines, a bike with a motor is regulated into being a bike with an assist that lets you move at a pedal pace without pedaling, but nothing more. And how much further could you take it, anyway?