Best E-bike for me?

[jpa2825]

Posted over in the Trek forum, but thought I'd bring the question over here as well to get a broader spectrum of opinion and audience.

LBS has a Conduit+ on sale for $2500. Is that a good deal? Still charging MSRP for the Lift+ which makes it $300 more than the Conduit+. Seems crazy. There is also 1 Dual Sport + in stock for $3000 but I haven't gotten to see / try it because it is at a different location. Very interested in the XM700+ as well, but not sure it's worth $1k more than the Conduit + on sale and it doesn't appear to be in stock locally.

Any help appreciated.

 

[Over50]

I'll hazard an opinion based on my research but caveat that it isn't based on experience (so take it with a grain of salt). I think the $1K price difference between the XM700+ vs the Conduit+ is worth it. If I recall correctly, the Conduit+ is max speed 20mph vs 28 for the XM700+. In addition and perhaps more importantly, I believe the Conduit is a Shimano Steps system vs the Bosch of the XM700+. From what I've read here the Bosch is the better system. I'd suggest reading the threads here devoted to those systems (assuming you can't just go out and try them as is my case). Or I'm sure some experienced folks will chime in on that.

I really like the style of both bikes and the Conduit+ has some nice features (like the lighting integrated into the frame). I talked to my Trek dealer a month or so ago and I thought they told me the manufacturing had stopped for this year on the Conduit+. So likely dealers are trying to clear out remaining bikes? I might be wrong about that though as we had a number of discussions about ordering either one of those bikes for me. Unfortunately they said there was practically no chance I would find a demo bike in stock locally to try out prior to ordering.

 

[Texas Jim]

I don't know anything about the bike with the Bosch motor but I have a bike with the shimano steps system and it has over 1000 miles on it without any problems. great bike.

 

[jpa2825]

I'll hazard an opinion based on my research but caveat that it isn't based on experience (so take it with a grain of salt). I think the $1K price difference between the XM700+ vs the Conduit+ is worth it. If I recall correctly, the Conduit+ is max speed 20mph vs 28 for the XM700+. In addition and perhaps more importantly, I believe the Conduit is a Shimano Steps system vs the Bosch of the XM700+. From what I've read here the Bosch is the better system. I'd suggest reading the threads here devoted to those systems (assuming you can't just go out and try them as is my case). Or I'm sure some experienced folks will chime in on that.

I really like the style of both bikes and the Conduit+ has some nice features (like the lighting integrated into the frame). I talked to my Trek dealer a month or so ago and I thought they told me the manufacturing had stopped for this year on the Conduit+. So likely dealers are trying to clear out remaining bikes? I might be wrong about that though as we had a number of discussions about ordering either one of those bikes for me. Unfortunately they said there was practically no chance I would find a demo bike in stock locally to try out prior to ordering.

Thanks for the feedback. Complicating factor is that LBS says XM700+ won't be available to get until Thanksgiving. Assume that means the warehouse is out of 2016 models and the 2017 models won't arrive until then. (That's consistent with the chat I had with a Trek representative at their website a few days ago.) I guess there may be a few 2016s in LBS inventories across the US that haven't sold yet, but Trek rep said they don't have access to a global inventory so you'd have to look at relatively close cities and call or check their online inventory in hopes of finding that needle in the haystack. Worst part is can't even demo one and have to wait and pay $1k more. Hmmmmm.

I am going to demo a DualSport+ at another branch of the Trek store (3 in the Cincinnati area with integrated inventory) in the smaller frame size. The Conduit+ I tried was a 22.5 and the DualSport+ is a 20.

In a perfect Machiavellian world, the 20 fits comfortably and would also fit my wife (I'm 5'11' and wife is maybe 5'6"). Ride the Conduit+ so much that the wife loves it and wants one. Give her the Conduit+ and get an XM700+ or a SuperCommuter for myself!!! Far fetched, but a guy can dream, right?

 

[jpa2825]

Rode a Haibike Trekking RX (I think) on FRI. About $3,500 and I really liked it. If I decide to spend that much, could be a battle between the XM700+ and it. Bosch mid motor but only 20 mph top speed. Very peppy and really like the styling. LBS (actually a scooter store that also sells ebikes but no regular bikes) was helpful and frank about what he knew and didn't know (comparisons to others like the Trek and Stromer).

Rode a couple of Stromers yesterday. ST-1 and ST-1+. Very helpful store that also sells AB2 and Vanmoof. Not very enthusiastic or knowledgeable about the Vanmoof. The AB2 didn't have anything that seemed to compare to the other bikes above. Mostly commuter stuff. The Stromers performed very capably and I like the integrated battery in the frame. Don't love the fatter tires. Just have a hard time justifying $2k over the Conduit+.

NOTE: they also had the new Segway mini-pro which I wanted to demo but didn't have time to do the safety training and take it out. Had just seen it at Sam's 2 hrs. earlier for $798 and that appears to be the new standard pricing across the board. No health improvement but very cool on the gadget factor.

 

[jpa2825]

Rode the 20" Dual Sport+ and the 18 Lift again. The Lift remains out of the competition just based on the fact that the Conduit+ is a nicer bike and currently cheaper with the $500 off.

The Dual Sport+ had a nice ride and the front suspension was nice. Odd that they don't have a quick release seat post on this bike. Not sure the front suspension is worth $500 over the Conduit+ since I will be doing mostly road riding. The frame size seemed fine and would give me more opportunity to get the wife on it if she is interested.

www.propelbikes.com (found from this site in the classifieds) has introduced some other bikes worth looking at from a value standpoint.

Felt Sporte Demo looks nice but not sure I'd like the low step over
Scott Esub Tour is similar
2105 Specialized TurboX for $2700 is a good value. Not sure I like throttle and only 2 pedal assist modes. 30 miles of range in lowest assist mode in optimal conditions w/ a 486Wh battery seems ultra conservative. Since it only has 2 assist levels, maybe their ECO is more like Mid for others. Top speed of 28 mph is probably a huge factor in those calcs as well. I do like the battery integrated into the downtube from a styling standpoint. Really the only rear wheel drive model I've liked.
Haibike Xduro Urban is interesting.

 

[EdSu]

Rode the 20" Dual Sport+ and the 18 Lift again. The Lift remains out of the competition just based on the fact that the Conduit+ is a nicer bike and currently cheaper with the $500 off.

The Dual Sport+ had a nice ride and the front suspension was nice. Odd that they don't have a quick release seat post on this bike. Not sure the front suspension is worth $500 over the Conduit+ since I will be doing mostly road riding. The frame size seemed fine and would give me more opportunity to get the wife on it if she is interested.

www.propelbikes.com (found from this site in the classifieds) has introduced some other bikes worth looking at from a value standpoint.

Felt Sporte Demo looks nice but not sure I'd like the low step over
Scott Esub Tour is similar
2105 Specialized TurboX for $2700 is a good value. Not sure I like throttle and only 2 pedal assist modes. 30 miles of range in lowest assist mode in optimal conditions w/ a 486Wh battery seems ultra conservative. Since it only has 2 assist levels, maybe their ECO is more like Mid for others. Top speed of 28 mph is probably a huge factor in those calcs as well. I do like the battery integrated into the downtube from a styling standpoint. Really the only rear wheel drive model I've liked.
Haibike Xduro Urban is interesting.

Propel emailed me telling me the specialized TurboX was sold out. Just a tip.