Class 1 vs Class 3 & the Well Meaning Miss-information that personal experience Dispels

[Rick53]

I had to fly down to Fort Myers Florida for a Few Days : In My Spare Time I went with the Wife and Rented 2 Ebikes

All they had available were a Specialized Como 4 and Haibike Sduro 3.0

Let me get right to My Observations :

#1: It was 75 Degrees with 13 MPH Winds

# 2: The Paved Riding Surface was basically long flat stretches with one tiny area of Slight Incline :

COMO 4 Class 3 : I was easily able to get to 25 MPH and maintain it. I did get up too 29 a couple of times

Haibike Sduro 3 : Quick little sucker : Reaching 21-23 MPH was Relatively Easy with aggressive pedaling


Both Bikes Were Medium sizing : Which was actually Small for me :


My Wife never exceed 18-19 MPH on Either Bike. Not because she couldn't : It was just Faster then she was comfortable Riding > This experience totally changed my out-look on what I actually want >

Going over 20 MPH was Exhilarating and Fun. Over all though it wasn't that Enjoyable : On the Como I found myself leaning forward at 21 MPH bucking the head wind : Over that Speed I had to bend over quite A lot > Makes you feel like a KITE LOL : A couple of times We had cars pass us and you'd get this gust of wind that actually knocked you around a Little. We also took a several bugs in the face:

Granted it was Windy to some degree , but how many days aren't a little windy : Prior to this experience I'd only ridden really short distances . Riding 15 miles round Trip was an Eye Opener :

I had this idea in My head that going 23-24 MPH endlessly would be a blast. While it is Fun You find yourself Slowing down to under 20 just for comfort reasons.

AT 20 plus MPH you feel every little crack in the road. Plus I'd left My Sunglasses in the Car (HATE WEARING GLASSES) *SURE WISH I"D HAD THEM

Naturally riding back with the wind was easier : But really not that much difference in the over all experience

IN CONCLUSION : I'll Probably Still buy a Class 3 Bike : But if I find a Bike that fits me in a Class ONE I'll be just Fine . So long as the Cadence Support is 120

LAST: Due to Tires the Haibike Slowed quicker when Coasting : Over all Full Suspension is way easier on the Body , and definitely gives you more confidence

MY WIFE AGREES

Granted an Ebike like a Creo would have been a different set of circumstance : IMO Ebikes with Bigger Tires designed with More Upright Seating .

Just aren't meant for speeds much past 20MPH. A Full Suspension Bike with 29 Tires might be in My Future :

 

[opimax]

1 comment on logic, pls read in neutral tone of voice,...on a class 3 bike you can do 28 or 20, on a class 1 you have to stop at 20

in addition you may have more hill power ( holding 22mph up a steady incline) depending on the bike. A working Stromer does all of this well, hills and choice of speed.

I would also agree about wind speed and eyes but I am never w/o glasses so no issue there

i went from 26 to 28inch wheels on my last bike, agree big wheels make riding more comfy, looking to test a full suspension bike for more comfort soon.

i have not experienced slowing down for comfort , only for battery life and wife too , maybe stand some to get off my backside , still pedaling

Wind buffs i don’t think change much between bikes as far as I can tell but a more powerful motor will with headwinds

When I ride for speed I am disappointed if I am under 26, looking for more on my next bike. Stromer seems to do 29 or so on flats, Bh may assist higher but takes longer to get there , doest like small inclines either

no judgement ,just my thoughts after reading your post...we are different, I don’t thing I even have a cadance much less over 60, I ride for distance , 4 to 8 hour trips (with stops!) 80 to 100 miles more or less

multiple batteries allow speed and distance but empty bank accounts. I consider this part of the cost of riding, almost double the cost of a bike...don’t forget ebike quality hitch and rack in your budget too

enjoy what you decide on

 

[rich c]

I have owned two class 3 eBikes for more than 3 years now, and have test ridden several class 1. When I ride a class 1 now, I find myself feeling the assist drop off, and look down to confirm it. It's not that I ride at 28mph, but find I hit the 20mph limiter too often. All these speed related issues are when I'm riding by myself. I ride at speed as a workout, not as some kind of contest or need to get somewhere quickly. When riding with others, non of which have an eBike, we are almost always at 15mph or less. I will always want a class 3 from now on. The only exception is my class 1 Ruffian. It's a cruiser for sunny afternoons, slow rides with the bike co-op folks, or night rides to outdoor concerts. Not made for speed, but made for attitude and the joy of riding an unusual machine.

 

[Rick53]

1 comment on logic, pls read in neutral tone of voice,...on a class 3 bike you can do 28 or 20, on a class 1 you have to stop at 20

in addition you may have more hill power ( holding 22mph up a steady incline) depending on the bike. A working Stromer does all of this well, hills and choice of speed.

I would also agree about wind speed and eyes but I am never w/o glasses so no issue there

i went from 26 to 28inch wheels on my last bike, agree big wheels make riding more comfy, looking to test a full suspension bike for more comfort soon.

i have not experienced slowing down for comfort , only for battery life and wife too , maybe stand some to get off my backside , still pedaling

Wind buffs i don’t think change much between bikes as far as I can tell but a more powerful motor will with headwinds

When I ride for speed I am disappointed if I am under 26, looking for more on my next bike. Stromer seems to do 29 or so on flats, Bh may assist higher but takes longer to get there , doest like small inclines either

no judgement ,just my thoughts after reading your post...we are different, I don’t thing I even have a cadance much less over 60, I ride for distance , 4 to 8 hour trips (with stops!) 80 to 100 miles more or less

multiple batteries allow speed and distance but empty bank accounts. I consider this part of the cost of riding, almost double the cost of a bike...don’t forget ebike quality hitch and rack in your budget too

enjoy what you decide on

Thanks for your input . You are definitely more into it then I am. I enjoy Golf as well as 2 other sports : For me an Ebike would be to cover more Miles in the same amount of time I spend or have to spend now. For some reason Retired people like myself. Never seem to have enough time I mention Bikes support only 110 Others 120 . I also ride with several guys younger then me that like to go Offroad. Sorta impossible to find an Off road Class 3 that doesn't weigh to much. Thanks again

 

[opimax]

Rick I retired in Nov, just moved in end of last month officially, all I want to do is ride bikes and “explore”. I ride alone unless I can find someone in the Atlanta area who may be as extremly weird also. I wish I could play basketball, never could ( honestly coordinated challenged ) although I tried til my back, knees and other parts said you can’t years ago. my next goal is a personal trainer to get me in much better shape ...so I am healthy to ride even more

the Stromer weighs...

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Rick, riding a Class 3 e-bike is certainly easier in glasses, and when the weather is cold (not your case) -- in balaclava, goggles and a windbreaker. I was fighting very cold 12-13 mph wind only on last Thursday. The Sport mode in Vado really helped on that route segment.

 

[Browneye]

Right on @Rick53 - and why I like my Giant Explore so well.
I do hit the speed limit pretty easy, but wife is just not a speeder and really likes it about 18-20. So I am constantly backing off and riding along with her, it's a more leisurely pace, and quite enjoyable.
If I was riding alone, or with a faster riding partner or group, then for sure a faster bike would make sense, even if you don't use it much past low-20's. The good news is a lot of C1 bikes can be de-restricted if you really want more speed. Obviously some models already come with that greater speed capability.

The 700-series wheels really do roll more effortlessly, so there is surely an advantage there. In my experience, if you're really going to cover some ground and put some miles on, that reduced riding effort really pays off over small-wheeled bikes. Each have their intended purpose. A lot of folks think a small-wheeled folder is the perfect answer, but then find they're too heavy and bulky to transport that way anyway. As mentioned, consider having a way to transport your bikes to where you'll ride them, long or short distances from home.

So far I don't see a need for rear suspension or long-travel suspension unless you intend to ride offroad.
A road-oriented bike doesn't do very well offroad - and vice versa - a mountain bike isn't all that great on pavement. Will they do it? Potentially yes, but it is so much more satisfying with a bike used for its intended purpose.

You're doing it right trying an assortment, and getting a feel for how you'll actually ride when you do have them.

Let us know what you decide.

 

[AHicks]

Rick,
I really like how you are defining your future potential mission, and using that "data" to help temper your buying decision.

My viewpoint is as a senior pushing 70 that rides a couple times a week because I enjoy being out doors (not for excercise, and not for commuting). My wife is my most frequent riding partner. Our riding is split between a fairly flat area (like Ft. Meyers), and a rolling (hilly) coastal area. Been riding e-bikes for 3 years now.

So, to add to what's been said, though I'm 6'2", I sold an e-bike based on a 29'er because though comfortable to ride, it left me in sometimes scary positions while mounting and dismounting. I went with a 26" bike and am MUCH more comfortable now knowing I can now avoid those "situations". The only way I would consider something that tall again would be with a step through.

I've found one of the most important decisions you need to make very early in your new bike selection is what type of drive to go with. I went with direct drive first, because the simplicity and silent operation appealed to me. What did not appeal to me, was the lack of power. I even went to a 1500w direct drive and found THAT to be inadequate in some of the bigger hills. I settled on a 1000w gear driven rear hub that provides much sportier performance at the speeds I ride most often AND all the hill climbing performance I needed. I would no longer consider a direct drive, but might be willing to try a mid drive. My concern there would be the lack of a throttle on some, and for those with a throttle, remembering to back off while shifting gears (my brain struggles with that concept a bit).

Last, though our bikes are both very capable, we ride most frequently at speeds similar to what we used to ride with our analog bikes, 9 to maybe 13 mph, with an average 10-11mph. Hope this helps! -Al