Bike for farm use

[Snetram]

Hi all,
I am new to ebikes so want some advice.
I have a grain farm that's spread out over about 10 miles. I would like something that I can strap to the back of equipment when I go to a field and then ride back to the farm to get more equipment. Basically I don't have much hired help so it would help in that way. I would also like to cruise around crop scouting fields, so I would be on gravel roads as well as rough tilled fields.
Thanks in advance for any advice you can give me.

 

[Dallant]

Hi all,
I am new to ebikes so want some advice.
I have a grain farm that's spread out over about 10 miles. I would like something that I can strap to the back of equipment when I go to a field and then ride back to the farm to get more equipment. Basically I don't have much hired help so it would help in that way. I would also like to cruise around crop scouting fields, so I would be on gravel roads as well as rough tilled fields.
Thanks in advance for any advice you can give me.

Welcome! Strap to the back? How many different pieces of equipment? Sounds like you might consider fat tire bikes with plenty of torque. Do you have any ebike shops locally?
This link is included just to give you an idea of what’s out there. A mid-drive would be best, imo.

All Terrain Series

The All Terrain Series The All Terrain’s name says it all, it is built to handle anything you can throw at it. The M2S Bikes’ All Terrain electric fat bikes are meant to give you the power to explore your world. From deep sand to fresh snow and everything in between, the bikes have everything...

shop.m2sbikes.com

 

[Art Deco]

Search for hunting bike. I think the use case is the same.

 

[Cowlitz]

A bike with two inch wide tires might do. The wider tire you go, the heavier the bike (probably an exception out there somewhere). It all depends on the surface that you will ride on. I probably ride my bike where I shouldn't. But on a packed down wheat field "road" two inch tires would be fine. Remember, you probably have to lift that bike up onto your tractor, combine, or whatever, so the weight of the bike is important.

 

[AHicks]

A bike with two inch wide tires might do. The wider tire you go, the heavier the bike (probably an exception out there somewhere). It all depends on the surface that you will ride on. I probably ride my bike where I shouldn't. But on a packed down wheat field "road" two inch tires would be fine. Remember, you probably have to lift that bike up onto your tractor, combine, or whatever, so the weight of the bike is important.

I agree the wider wheels and tires are heavier, but it's not like you're adding 30% more weight. More like 2-3 lbs. tops. In the off road case, I think that weight would be easily justified with the extra traction, flotation, and ride offered.

 

[antboy]

I'd say look at Biktrix.com

The Juggernaut Classic is relatively inexpensive with a proven mid-drive and throttle, with a 300lb load capacity.
The Juggernaut Ultra 1000 Pro is more expensive, but adds more powerful motor and torque sensor for more natural pedalling, and an increased 400lb load capacity.

Biktrix has some customization including tire sizes. I'd say that 3" wide tires will probably serve you well on the tilled fields. 4" would be even more cushy, but maneuverability in those ruts might suffer.

There's other brands that sell similarly configured e-bikes and you might save a little money, but Biktrix has a good rep , and the owner is pretty responsive here on EBR, which is a real bonus compared to many "online" shops.

In any case, I'd highly recommend a bike with a throttle, given the conditions you'll be riding in. I know how sloppy tilled fields can get after the rain (or snow melt), and the throttle would be a real benefit.

 

[Art Deco]

Speaking of sloppy; cleaning mud, ice, and chalf out of a deraillier isn't fun. I'd look for an internal geared hub (IGH) with a belt drive.

 

[rich c]

A bike with two inch wide tires might do. The wider tire you go, the heavier the bike (probably an exception out there somewhere). It all depends on the surface that you will ride on. I probably ride my bike where I shouldn't. But on a packed down wheat field "road" two inch tires would be fine. Remember, you probably have to lift that bike up onto your tractor, combine, or whatever, so the weight of the bike is important.

As a farm boy I will suggest that 2" tires will not be enough to get through stubble or chisel plowed end rows. Buy something with 4" tires, a small chainring, and lots of torque. Weight to someone lifting hay bales all summer is not as critical as to office workers.

 

[tomjasz]

UBCO

 

[Cowlitz]

As a farm boy I will suggest that 2" tires will not be enough to get through stubble or chisel plowed end rows. Buy something with 4" tires, a small chainring, and lots of torque. Weight to someone lifting hay bales all summer is not as critical as to office workers.

People still actually buck hay? Thought it was pretty much all mechanized now--round bales and giant square ones mostly. I grew up on a small alfalfa farm. My dad finally started hiring a guy with a harrow bed to pick up the bales in the field.

 

[onlineaddy]

Check out the UBCO Bikes. They have a page with several agriculture use cases.

The 2x2 work bike is what you may be interested in:

 

[Art Deco]

People still actually buck hay? Thought it was pretty much all mechanized now--round bales and giant square ones mostly. I grew up on a small alfalfa farm. My dad finally started hiring a guy with a harrow bed to pick up the bales in the field.

Folks still use a horse drawn haywagon around here...

 

[PedalUma]

Cool application. I would get a used Yuba or similar cargo bike. Many people in the fruit-and-nuts granola region of California purchased these cargo bikes with the idea they would haul kids but never did and the kids are now too big. A good deal. Look at SF Bay Craigslist.
I would lace a Nexus eight-speed hub and use a Split Belt 130BCD to a BBS02 and upgrade the tires with some Nobby Nic's.
A bike shop can cut new heavy gage spokes and lace in the new hub. This would be so much better for your needs and more cost effective than a new electric bike from online or a retailer.
When you install the Bafang BBS02 file a clock face in to the bottom bracket to correspond to the locking brace to prevent slippage then evenly torque it down with Loctite. Two smaller batteries are more utilitarian than one large one even if not more efficient because it cuts total charge time in 1/2 because you can use two chargers, or just take one battery while the other is charging.
If you ever go hunting with it you will be able to listen and you will not be heard by the herd or flock. Farm animals will also continue to chew not noticing you.

 

[Dewey]

UBCO

Wow at 150lb, might be an idea to use a ramp or ATV winch to lift it

 

[reed scott]

I'd say look at Biktrix.com

The Juggernaut Classic is relatively inexpensive with a proven mid-drive and throttle, with a 300lb load capacity.
The Juggernaut Ultra 1000 Pro is more expensive, but adds more powerful motor and torque sensor for more natural pedalling, and an increased 400lb load capacity.

Biktrix has some customization including tire sizes. I'd say that 3" wide tires will probably serve you well on the tilled fields. 4" would be even more cushy, but maneuverability in those ruts might suffer.

There's other brands that sell similarly configured e-bikes and you might save a little money, but Biktrix has a good rep , and the owner is pretty responsive here on EBR, which is a real bonus compared to many "online" shops.

In any case, I'd highly recommend a bike with a throttle, given the conditions you'll be riding in. I know how sloppy tilled fields can get after the rain (or snow melt), and the throttle would be a real benefit.

Eggs Ackley !

 

[PedalUma]

The electric Surly was 55lbs. It is a big bike.

 

[PedalUma]

Wow at 150lb, might be an idea to use a ramp or ATV winch to lift it

This one has a 400lbs cargo capacity.

 

[Mulezen]

‘If you ever go hunting with it you will be able to listen and you will not be heard by the herd or flock. Farm animals will also continue to chew not noticing you.’
My animals definitely notice me on my Allant...the donkey lets everyone within a half mile know
OP mentions up to 10 mile trip...my 2” do fine on the on the rutted backroad...and 2” to 3” would be fine I think for the real ride back to the barn

 

[rich c]

‘If you ever go hunting with it you will be able to listen and you will not be heard by the herd or flock. Farm animals will also continue to chew not noticing you.’
My animals definitely notice me on my Allant...the donkey lets everyone within a half mile know
OP mentions up to 10 mile trip...my 2” do fine on the on the rutted backroad...and 2” to 3” would be fine I think for the real ride back to the barn

OP said he will be riding through rough tilled fields.

 

[Dewey]

This one has a 400lbs cargo capacity.

Eh? I was commenting on the 150lb weight of the ebike