Choosing a Moustache, who would have thought it was so difficult?

[E56789]

So I'm down to the short strokes choosing a first ebike. For some context, I have only ridden 3 so far and only one of them for any time. The longest was a rental earlier this month and it was a Specialized Turbo Levo. Used it for a 34km winery tour in Penticton, BC; and while I enjoyed it, I was left wanting something more versatile. The other 2 were a Trek Powerfly 5 and an Ohm Sport 500 that my neighbour bought several months ago. The Powerfly was fun, but again not versatile enough.

What I want is something that I can take to the store (rack and bags), get some exercise (local roads and gravel bike paths) and just generally use more than my current 20 year old MTB converted with rack and road tires.

After several trips to my LBS I have narrowed the choice down to a couple of Moustache models. So far the weather hasn't been dry enough for a test ride (that is the opinion of the LBS not me). The models that I am considering are the Samedi Xroad 5 and the Friday 27. They are very similar and the decision has me rethinking every time I think I have made a choice. I'm pretty sure that either would be good fit for what I want out of an ebike and perhaps if they were not so similar the choice would be easier.

Sticking points for me are the difference in mounting of the headlight and the Performance Cruise vs the CX.

Anybody else had to make this choice, and what made you choos

 

[Ravi Kempaiah]

Samedi Xroad 5

Compared to bike mentioned above, I find the Haibike better in terms of component quality.
you should also try some of the latest Raleigh and BULLS bikes.

(Link Removed - No Longer Exists)

Here is a dealer close to you: https://kelownaeride.com/product-category/ebikes/bulls-ebikes/

 

[E-Wheels]

So I'm down to the short strokes choosing a first ebike. For some context, I have only ridden 3 so far and only one of them for any time. The longest was a rental earlier this month and it was a Specialized Turbo Levo. Used it for a 34km winery tour in Penticton, BC; and while I enjoyed it, I was left wanting something more versatile. The other 2 were a Trek Powerfly 5 and an Ohm Sport 500 that my neighbour bought several months ago. The Powerfly was fun, but again not versatile enough.

What I want is something that I can take to the store (rack and bags), get some exercise (local roads and gravel bike paths) and just generally use more than my current 20 year old MTB converted with rack and road tires.

After several trips to my LBS I have narrowed the choice down to a couple of Moustache models. So far the weather hasn't been dry enough for a test ride (that is the opinion of the LBS not me). The models that I am considering are the Samedi Xroad 5 and the Friday 27. They are very similar and the decision has me rethinking every time I think I have made a choice. I'm pretty sure that either would be good fit for what I want out of an ebike and perhaps if they were not so similar the choice would be easier.

Sticking points for me are the difference in mounting of the headlight and the Performance Cruise vs the CX.

Anybody else had to make this choice, and what made you choos

Does this help

 

[MikeDD]

I would question why the LBS won't let you ride in the wet weather. I test rode the Rad bikes in a Seattle drizzle. The wet weather should not bother a well made bike.

 

[Mass Deduction]

Compared to bike mentioned above, I find the Haibike better in terms of component quality.
you should also try some of the latest Raleigh and BULLS bikes.

Here is a dealer close to you: https://kelownaeride.com/product-category/ebikes/bulls-ebikes/

You can't get new Raleigh product in Canada at the moment (since Accell/Alta sold the rights to the Raleigh name to a box store chain in Canada, unfortunately). Ditto we can't get new Haibike units at the moment, as they were distributed in Canada by the same company, and they still have those distribution rights but now refuse to sell them to Canadian stores at the moment.

That's a good tip about the Bulls dealer near him, though. I've never ridden a Bulls, and I'd like to one of these days, especially since they offer class-3 bikes.

Personally, I'd be very reluctant to get a Bosch bike now that Shimano STePS 6100 and STePS 7000 are out. Shimano motors have a huge range advantage over Bosch, and Shimano's closing the gap on the quality of their shift detection. Shimano can get 75 KM on high assist with a 60 Nm motor and only a 418 Wh battery on a city bike. I have yet to see a Bosch bike with that much torque get that kind of range even with a 500 Wh battery. Perhaps you only do short trips, but longer range still means fewer charge cycles and therefore more years before battery replacement is required. And when that day comes, Shimano batteries cost less than Bosch batteries too (Shimano's 504 Wh batteries cost about the same as Bosch's 400 Wh batteries in Canada).

I don't personally ride Shimano motors as I ride class 3 bikes and Shimano doesn't make those (nor do I want to "speed tune" my bike), but our shop sells mostly bikes with Shimano motors as they cost less and offer more. When we put them side by side, the moment the customer asks what kind of range they can expect to get on a charge it's usually game over for the Bosch-equipped bike. Bosch was an easier sell vs. Shimano when the comparison was STePS 6000 vs. Bosch, but 6100 is a massive upgrade in both the range and the shift detection.

Bringing this back on track (and talking to the OP now), which Moustache bikes are you considering? I'd love to know which are the ones you short-listed and why. I've been looking carefully at the Moustache line-up since we're looking at whether to bring them in or not, and I'd be pleased to add my thoughts on each of them if you're still trying to decide.

 

[OkanaganEbikes]

A little Late to the party! But I would definitely suggest finding the perfect bike for your needs and converting it to an Ebike!

I may be a little bias but It really is the best way to go!
check us out here at
www.OkanaganEbikes.com

 

[Alaskan]

Much of the advice you get on forums is not in your interest. Most people are trying to justify their own choices by urging you to buy what they bought. Whatever you do, don't listen to anyone who tells you not to listen to the advice of others...Hah, I guess that eliminates me

The best thing you can do is be as precise as you can about how often and under what conditions you think you are going to ride. This will help a knowledgeable dealer guide you to a bike that will serve you best.

If you are like most of us you will ride your ebike more often and further than you ever imagined possible. Spending more money on a better built, safer, more reliable bike will be one of the best decisions you ever made. And I suspect I am not alone in that once I got going with my first ebike, I discovered latent capabilities within myself that lead down the road to longer. more athletic, endurance riding, something that never occured to me going into it. Buying a better, more versatile bike at first kept me riding longer till I could afford the kind of bike that I eventually learned would be right for me. That process took over a year in.

Add a grain of salt to the advice you get here. Some of it can be quite good and well informed but there are occasionally shills hiding in the corners, promoting their new brand. And then there is the fact that individuals riders often exhibit confirmation bias in their comments just wanting to give them affirmation for their choices.

Do it your self/retrofit guys can't imagine why someone would spend good money on a manufactured bike from the ground up ebike. Fans of low priced, Chinese made, hub motor bikes would not be caught dead on center drive bikes. Fans of German made equipment really don;t hardly bother looking at bikes from other countries. Some people will never even look at a bike without a throttle, while other would never have a bike with one. fans of a particular brand will insist the one they chose is the only one to buy.

If you are like most riders, you are not a mechanic, don't have the know how, tools, time or interest in converting a bike to an ebike or maintaining your production bike. Some of us live for this stuff others just want to ride. Most will need help from a local bike shop. Don't expect people at that shop to care about keeping your bike running smoothly if you bought a bike on line.

The only support you will get from an on line seller, if you are lucky, is phone help to diagnose the problem and they send you parts to replace yourself or you will pay a local shop to replace for you.

If you decide that building out an ebike is not for you, it is likely best to spend a little more and have a dedicated local shop standing behind the sale in who's interest it is to keep you happy and rolling along.

The most common comment I have heard from new ebike owners is almost always something like: "I never imagined I would be riding a bike this often or this far" Buying a cheaper, mass produced bike may or may not give you the same quality of "whoopee!!" experience that boosts you right into an enthusiastic embrace of ebiking.

All too often people who buy lesser bikes seem to arrive at regrets sooner because the bike's inherent limitations just never quite enabled it to do what they want. Personally I ended up spending way more than I initially thought I would or should. Given how much time I now spend on my bike, something I never could have imagined, I am glad I spent what I did and got a bike I can count on, that enhances my enjoyment every time I ride it.

My advice: Make an honest assessment as to how you will be riding, road or trails, easy grades or mountain trails, commuting, exercise/fitness or touring. Take your time but don't get bogged down in research paralysis. Test ride lots of bikes until you find the one that puts the biggest grin on your face and the people selling it you like the best. Then, if you can possibly afford it, pay more than you first thought you were willing to spend. The pain of paying out some more money wears off quickly. The joy of riding a bike that really suits you will endure long into the future every time you saddle up.

 

[Steve64]

Hi. I am mid 50s and ridden large motorbikes and mountain bikes for years.

I have just been down the same road as you and took the sensible option of a moustache xroad FS7. It's quality kit. Looks good. Has guards lights etc as you are aware.

I'm down sth in NZ. One of your locals bought a fs5. Read this thread it may pay to see where he got it. The fs7 has a few upgrades than the fs5. Lights on handlebars forks. Derailleur, front axle and a couple of other things. Bike is super comfy, rides like a majic carpet. Bought a 2nd one for my wife.

You pay for what you get.

Steve

. https://electricbikereview.com/forums/threads/moustache-fs5-emtb-mode-question.32416/

 

[smorgasbord]

The only support you will get from an on line seller, if you are lucky, is phone help to diagnose the problem and they send you parts to replace yourself or you will pay a local shop to replace for you.

While I agree with almost everything Alaskan says, I know from experience that at least one online seller, Evelo, will pay LBS charges for some initial warranty work on items they agreed are beyond the scope of most buyers.

To the OP - you're going to need to give a ballpark price range and largest distance you expect to ride in a day if you want useful suggestions in addition to how mechanically/electrically handy you are.

 

[Steve64]

Then there were 2