Defining expectations

[MLB]

There are such huge variations in expectations and in the types of riding in different terrains.
Hills or no hills, how much and how hard you expect to work, etc etc etc
Some of these setups on nigh on "lite motorcycles" with wheelie pulling power and "whoa" comments on assist kicking in videos. Personally I just want to go a bit faster, and further than I can on my own. Doubt I'll seldom go more than 20mph as I'm on a bike path mostly.
Somehow we need to grade/define kits/bikes and whate we can reasonably expect, relative to several different user/customer expectation types.

ie; Type 1 - just wants a boost, go 5- 7 mph faster than on my own. 20mph top end just fine. Want boost to come on gently and feel natural, like I'm just having a GREAT day! I love to ride for the workout and just want even more of that. Maybe ride out, assisted back? Or moderate useage of lower end of scale assist.
Other factors:
A - Flat
B - Hills
C - Extra Hills
Type 2 - I expect to use boost quite a bit, I like to feel the power kick in and that little rush, but i want to get some workout too! I like to go faster and race sometimes, 20+ is exciting. I think I could get addicted to the power hit.
Type 3 - I'm a power junkie. I'll be goosing the throttle from ever stop and I want turbo charged type assist when it kicks in. I'm always 20+ and the faster the better. 30 makes me grin.

With those type self descriptions or something like it then recommendations could START to make some sense to other people as enough user experiences came in. "I'm John and I'm Type 1 B and with the XX kit and 36v XX hr I get about XX range" would start to mean something.
Just a thought.

 

[stevenast]

I am type 1.5 B
I don't race, not an adrenaline junkie but ...

...20 mph is NOT fast. Definitely need 28-30 at least.

 

[Mike Smith]

Hi I'm Mike and I'm type 2 B, O positive, and a Gemini. Just having some fun. I actually Really like your idea so I don't have to explain my situation in every post. I think you could add other factors such as age, weight, and main reason for choosing an ebike, such as Recreation, Exercise, Commuting, Touring, Mountain biking, Weight loss, etc. I'm seriously not trying to be sarcastic (although it is in my nature) but it could be something like this... Hi I'm Mike and a I'm type 2 B 50 250 R/E/W, what bike would you recommend for me? Seriously the ebike world is in its infancy so why not be creative. We'll call it the MLB rating system for ebikes. Great Idea and post. Look at it this way, someone had to call that silly computer thing a mouse first, now it's universal.

 

[MLB]

I am type 1.5 B
I don't race, not an adrenaline junkie but ...

...20 mph is NOT fast. Definitely need 28-30 at least.

Yes, if you BIKE, 20 mph IS fast. And it's plenty fast as in faster than the speed limit of trails.

You are a Type 3, just admit it.

 

[PowerMe]

Type 1 - 1.5 A/B

Happy with 20mph maximum considering I can only do about 9 - 11mph on my own.

 

[stevenast]

Yes, if you BIKE, 20 mph IS fast. And it's plenty fast as in faster than the speed limit of trails.

You are a Type 3, just admit it.

Type 3, ha ha! I actually go so far as to stop for people who are walking on trails. We all need to be responsible on bicycles, and that increases exponentially on ebikes!

I should have specified that I meant 20 miles an hour is too slow for the street ... sometimes you need more speed to get clear of situations.

 

[pxpaulx]

Type 3, ha ha! I actually go so far as to stop for people who are walking on trails. We all need to be responsible on bicycles, and that increases exponentially on ebikes!

I should have specified that I meant 20 miles an hour is too slow for the street ... sometimes you need more speed to get clear of situations.

I agree, 20mph is too slow on the street. Back in the day where I grew up and rode everywhere, there were a few long street downhill sections I would get my mountain bike up to 40mph. Not that I would do that now, but I can get my neo xtrem to 25 with assist and that is starting to get into the realm of fun

I would also consider myself 1.5 B.

 

[eDean]

very nice categories im a 1b. what would be very useful is a flowchart that leads you to a specification. for example 1's will avoid gearless hubs due to the drag. 3 want 500 watts or minimum.

Took a stab, feel free to modify to your hearts content.
https://www.lucidchart.com/invitations/accept/64321c99-4d73-44be-bb30-42812bfdd24b

 

[JoePah]

What people say that they want and what they really want are two entirely different things.

That's why internet shopping is just a waste of time... Get on a bike and ride! See if you like it. Not complicated.

What you will find is that most of the eBikes reviewed are overpriced and the bikes themselves are of average quality.

$4000 for just a pleasure ebike that goes 20 mph for 30 miles is kind of silly if you think about it.. And it depreciates faster than your car.

People should just get off their computer, off their butts, go to an LBS and check the rides out.. buy one and hit the road or hit the trials.

 

[Deleted member 803]

What people say that they want and what they really want are two entirely different things.

That's why internet shopping is just a waste of time... Get on a bike and ride! See if you like it. Not complicated.

What you will find is that most of the eBikes reviewed are overpriced and the bikes themselves are of average quality.

$4000 for just a pleasure ebike that goes 20 mph for 30 miles is kind of silly if you think about it.. And it depreciates faster than your car.

People should just get off their computer, off their butts, go to an LBS and check the rides out.. buy one and hit the road or hit the trials.

I disagree. I am a big proponent of analyzing every technical detail of an ebike, debating it endlessly, spending hours on forum talking about charts, graphs, and spreadsheets and wasting huge amounts of time that could be spent doing something experiential. I used my intense quantitative analysis when choosing my first 5 wives. I'm doing a study on circadian rhythms and how they affect pedal performance and have just initiated trials on how galvanic skin responses change in accordance with bicycle body geometry.

I've backed off a little in recent years as my wife objected to wearing an EKG heart monitor, a G-spot pulse meter, and a blood pressure cuff during sex. I still have a hard time accepting her telling me that she enjoys sex without numbers to back it up.

 

[PowerMe]

86, you're hilarious.

You spoken about your wife, your husband, and (possibly) your boyfriend at various times on this board. Not sure what you're smokin' but I say, keep at it!

 

[stevenast]

go to an LBS and check the rides out

Thanks for the bicycle recommendation. I think this is an ebike forum, but let me check, I could be wrong.

You have posted your anti-ebike comments in multiple places - it is your right, of course.

I just want readers of these posts to know that you have a "political campaign" going.

 

[Deleted member 803]

86, you're hilarious.

You spoken about your wife, your husband, and (possibly) your boyfriend at various times on this board. Not sure what you're smokin' but I say, keep at it!

I wasted 30 years of my life surrounded by geeks in the high tech arena. While I admit that we all benefit from innovation and science I still refuse to believe that software is sexy and that a good glass of wine and friendship is paramount to a good life. Can you imagine the poor fellow (male/female) who gets on their e-bike and is preoccupied with stuff like newton meters and discharge rates. Smell the fucking roses and chill......................

 

[Brambor]

amen to that

 

[NoDTMF]

For commuting I am 1.5
Now that I've taken this thing a serious trail ride, for that purpose I want 3+

 

[stevenast]

Smell the fucking roses and chill

Add my amen!

Now that I've taken this thing a serious trail ride, for that purpose I want 3+

...and yet another AMEN BROTHER!

 

[Mike Smith]

I wasted 30 years of my life surrounded by geeks in the high tech arena. While I admit that we all benefit from innovation and science I still refuse to believe that software is sexy and that a good glass of wine and friendship is paramount to a good life. Can you imagine the poor fellow (male/female) who gets on their e-bike and is preoccupied with stuff like newton meters and discharge rates. Smell the



Can I get another Amen, Amen (Green Day song) ....just get out and ride.

 

[PowerMe]

I wasted 30 years of my life surrounded by geeks in the high tech arena. While I admit that we all benefit from innovation and science I still refuse to believe that software is sexy and that a good glass of wine and friendship is paramount to a good life. Can you imagine the poor fellow (male/female) who gets on their e-bike and is preoccupied with stuff like newton meters and discharge rates. Smell the fucking roses and chill......................

Ummm yeah! 10-4 that. Keep on truckin'!

 

[Bike_On]

I wasted 30 years of my life surrounded by geeks in the high tech arena. While I admit that we all benefit from innovation and science I still refuse to believe that software is sexy and that a good glass of wine and friendship is paramount to a good life. Can you imagine the poor fellow (male/female) who gets on their e-bike and is preoccupied with stuff like newton meters and discharge rates. Smell the roses and chill......................

Great point. Like-