Best Ebike for hills (US)

[KinCalifornia]

Specialized Turbo Como 5.0 Low-Entry ticks almost all the boxes:

• It is a comfort e-bike where you can rest your feet on the ground during ride stops still remaining in the seat, with more upright riding position, and swept back bars
• One of the most powerful mid-drive motors with 90 Nm of torque and 550 W peak power
• Ideal for riding roads; the stock tyres could be replaced with Schwalbe Johnny Watts 27.5 x 2.35" ones for added mild terrain riding capability
• Both 550 W peak power / 90 Nm torque and 28 mph top speed (U.S.)

@Sierratim has cleared a 31% climb around Nevada City with his Vado 5.0, sporting the same motor as Como 5.0. Actually, Specialized 1.3 motor is an e-MTB one.

Thank you, very helpful! I prefer sticking with one of the major brands (Specialized/Trek) for LBS service. @Sierratim, I live in Nevada City too.

 

[Sierratim]

Thank you, very helpful! I prefer sticking with one of the major brands (Specialized/Trek) for LBS service. @Sierratim, I live in Nevada City too.

Must be a small world, since Nevada City is so small!

 

[Marci jo]

Sounds like the voice of experience. Lots of wind up your way off the lakes, @Marci jo ?

Yes, Spring time is windy time here in upper midwest. Plus I learned a tough lesson early by trying to fight the wind using Turbo mode. Barely made it home, only 5% battery left. And the Vado is a beast to pedal unassisted.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Yes, Spring time is windy time here in upper midwest. Plus I learned a tough lesson early by trying to fight the wind using Turbo mode. Barely made it home, only 5% battery left. And the Vado is a beast to pedal unassisted.

If I only can, I choose the outbound ride leg into the wind. It gives good understanding of battery consumption, and almost guarantees a safe return...

 

[PedalUma]

First try to switch to a wide range cassette like this one microshift 11-46. The steeper the hill the slower you have to go and to keep your cadence high at slower speeds you need a larger cog. 11-46 will be a very big step up which should solve your problem.

If you still wanna change the bike and 20mph limit is fine, instead of making the same mistake and going for overpriced hybrid bikes like allant, como, look into emtb offerings like powerfly which come with wide range cassette, clearance for wide tires etc. to ease steep climbs, handle non-smooth terrain and be comfortable.

I live in the Petaluma Gap AVA. You can be riding into the 20 Mph wind going North, get hit by it from the West, then catch a tailwind from the South. It makes for good Pinot and interesting rides. The hotter it is inland the cooler it blows. The wind with the hills makes it nice to have an electric bike.

 

[Johnny]

I live in the Petaluma Gap AVA. You can be riding into the 20 Mph wind going North, get hit by it from the West, then catch a tailwind from the South. It makes for good Pinot and interesting rides. The hotter it is inland the cooler it blows. The wind with the hills makes it nice to have an electric bike.

Beautiful. We actually did a short trip to Sonoma and Napa last month, passed through vineyards. The scenery was beautiful, great location for bike touring, if only I had a bike rack...

 

[PedalUma]

Beautiful. We actually did a short trip to Sonoma and Napa last month, passed through vineyards. The scenery was beautiful, great location for bike touring, if only I had a bike rack...

Johnny, Folks liked that photo. If you want to see more of this riding region go here starting with Benziger. The Scottish Highland Cattle are in the vineyards now. No RoundUp being sprayed, just a round up of the sheep. They have the Burgundians in the Gap and the warmer varietals further inland. Their main Glen Ellen location has 5-micro-climates from savanna to foggy redwood forest. It is next to a great park to ride in, Jack London State Park. These trails connect to other bike trails and to other parks. https://www.sonomacounty.com/wineries/benziger-family-winery