Buying the first bike

[Jerry LM]

I must say that after about 3 months now looking and reading about e bikes and looking at all the different brands available a conclusion has been reached on my part. I am more confused and undecided than before I started!
I can buy a car or other products and make a fairly quick decision based on reviews and so on but this bike thing is really (IMO) confusing and overwhelming. When I first heard about them I saw a add for Rad Power bikes and almost purchased one but they were all sold out so I used the time to start looking at other brands and reading articles concerning the bikes, wow what a pile of info and much of it contradictory, so many manufacturers and different drive trains and opinions all over the place.
I have decided to back off for a while before laying out 3k plus for a bike until I find one that seems reliable and has limited problems for someone like myself who is not a mechanic. The derailure systems seem very complex and the auto CVT things are either praised or hated, the step thru frames seem to have some problems with stability but the top tube frames are hard for an old guy to get on and off, and geared vs. non geared vs mid drive vs ...........
Reviews are great but I can't find a real rating table or place that gives real opinions of comparison between makes etc. Most just end with no solid opinion except in a few Court has done that mention minor problems such as speed wobble.
I really want to buy a bike and I have the cash saved but have never had such a hard time making a decision on a purchase.
Glad this forum exists though as it has helped me become more confused...LOL
Maybe I should just take my wife's advise and "just buy one of the darn things and get on with it" she's usually right.

 

[AlanDB]

Go to a few local bike shops and test ride some different brands and styles. That will help you narrow down what brands, designs and features you like and don't like.

 

[rich c]

My advice. The cheaper you go, the more likely you will be required to become a bike mechanic. If you are good with wrenches, start cheap and consider it a fun start. Even the highly regarded RadPower bikes will just provide you parts if something fails. Someone needs to be the mechanic. I started very cheap ($500 second hand Sondors), rode 1,700 miles and spent over 5 times that amount on my second bike. I really knew what I wanted the second time. Don't want to be a bike mechanic, or can't find a local shop to work on a generic Chinese bike? Buy from a local shop or buy high end. Better components won't need to be upgraded. I bought a Haibike for the second.

 

[Gator]

I encountered the same conundrum. I want to be an informed buyer, but the amount of info is paralyzing. I don't know what the weather is like in your area, but don't miss out on anymore riding weather. EBR has a comparison tool on the home page. It is a tab at the top. Plug in your three favs in your price range, compare, and go for it.

 

[Jerry LM]

Well here on the Or coast all winter is possible if not raining, we get a lot of nice 50/60 degree dry days off and on so not bad, from around April to Nov no rain and most days in the upper 60/70 range and lot's of sun.
The one bike that kind of interests me is the Easy Motion Atom Diamond Wave Pro, but at 5'9" I don't know if the frame is to large for me. The other thing is it has no throttle so class 1 but I don't know if I really need a throttle. Most I see reviewed all have throttles so I wonder if I end up disappointed not having it? My other consideration is the Evelo Aurora it has it all, but not sure about the auto trans thing.
My price is 3600 dollars tops, I figure if I don't end up liking it I will have a hard time selling around here as I have never seen any. One plus with Evelo is the return policy 10 days and they pay return shipping so not much risk other than some packing hassle..

 

[Ravi Kempaiah]

Well here on the Or coast all winter is possible if not raining, we get a lot of nice 50/60 degree dry days off and on so not bad, from around April to Nov no rain and most days in the upper 60/70 range and lot's of sun.
The one bike that kind of interests me is the Easy Motion Atom Diamond Wave Pro, but at 5'9" I don't know if the frame is to large for me. The other thing is it has no throttle so class 1 but I don't know if I really need a throttle. Most I see reviewed all have throttles so I wonder if I end up disappointed not having it? My other consideration is the Evelo Aurora it has it all, but not sure about the auto trans thing.
My price is 3600 dollars tops, I figure if I don't end up liking it I will have a hard time selling around here as I have never seen any. One plus with Evelo is the return policy 10 days and they pay return shipping so not much risk other than some packing hassle..

It doesn't matter even if you research 6 more months online, purchasing purely based on reading/videos can never equal actual ride experience. There are no shops in the 100 mile radius?
At 5ft 9", you're NOT too big for Atom Diamond Wave Pro. It should fit you just fine.

 

[Bruce Arnold]

I have decided to back off for a while before laying out 3k plus for a bike until I find one that seems reliable and has limited problems for someone like myself who is not a mechanic. The derailure systems seem very complex and the auto CVT things are either praised or hated, the step thru frames seem to have some problems with stability but the top tube frames are hard for an old guy to get on and off, and geared vs. non geared vs mid drive vs

Most mechanical stuff on bicycles -- any bicycle -- is not that complex. If you don't want to mess with it anyway, any local bike shop (LBS) can handle anything not specifically associated with the electronics, which means basically battery, motor, controller, display, wiring.

Derailleur systems are not complex, although I can see why they might look that way to someone who just isn't familiar with them. Trust me, I'm no mechanic, and I will take my bike to my LBS for even simple work because I value the relationship we are building, but almost all typical maintenance is within my ability (thanks to YouTube.)

Step thru frames can be less rigid, but in practice this may not be a problem for you unless you're a racer trying to ensure that every bit of energy possible is transferred from your body to the tires. If that's true, you're probably not looking for an ebike. I'm going to go out on what is not much of a limb and say that any frame from any reputable ebike manufacturer is going to be strong enough for any person who fits on it, so don't hesitate to get a step-thru if that's the kind of ebike you think you'd really use.

Geared vs. direct-drive (non-geared) hub motors vs. mid-drives -- go with the bike you want and don't worry about it. Unless you have a particular challenge you are trying to solve, any of the three will provide good service. If you have a particular challenge, start with the challenge, not the hardware and work from there.

The more I read this forum, the more I become convinced: almost every ebike rider will be perfectly happy by getting a bike that appeals to them, whatever the appeal might be, if they buy from a reputable manufacturer. To some it may be looks, to some it may be frame size, to some it may be the battery size, to some it may be full suspension, or maybe just a certain je ne sais quoi -- you get my drift. I'm not 100% certain why I bought a Juiced Bikes CrossCurrent S, but I'm perfectly satisfied that I made a good choice for me.

There is a small percentage -- 5%? maybe 10%? no higher than that IMO -- who have very specific needs and who will have to research a bike that meets those needs. Like if you live at the end of a road with a long and incredibly steep hill on it, you'd want a bike with exceptional hill climbing ability.

 

[AHicks]

<<<"you'd want a bike with exceptional hill climbing ability ">>>

AND good brakes!

 

[ebikemom]

On brakes--I've got mechanical disc brakes and they work great at stopping me and my heavy bike, even when going fast down hill. LOVE them compared to what I was used to (traditional bike friction brakes, if that's what they are called--you know, the ones that clamp their little pads onto the tire?)

I wouldn't describe my bike's hill-climbing ability as exceptional--it's great for grades up to 15%. After that, it goes pretty slowly and I work pretty hard, too! But, the exercise is good for me and I can sustain it for short periods, which is what steep hills always are--they don't last long.