I am 6'6" tall and weigh 225 lbs and I am looking for a powerful e-bike in the $2000 range. It must have enough power to get me up hills, a big enough battery to allow me to go at least 20-25 miles and the battery must be low, preferably built into the frame. I have narrowed my search to the three mentioned in the title based on research and looking at specs. I have never owned an e-bike so I don't know anything about the manufacturers and their reputation and reliability. Couldn't find any reviews on these yet. Can anyone give me some advice on the best way to select the one to buy or suggest a better alternative?
E-joe Koda vs Prodeco Genesis V5 vs Dillinger Stealth Outlaw
- Thread starter WaltR
- Start date
stevenast
Well-Known Member
Walt, I think you are off to a good start. I totally agree with you that a rear-heavy bike is not that great to ride.
Have you done any test rides? I think its important to add "feel" to your research... and even test ride a few above your price range just to understand the difference in feel... try an Easy Motion, Haibike, Stromer, even just an Izip.
You mentioned that hill climbing is important, make sure you have a mid drive or two that you test, hill climbing power isn't just about wattage.
Don't be in too much of a rush, and don't pay MSRP!
Have you done any test rides? I think its important to add "feel" to your research... and even test ride a few above your price range just to understand the difference in feel... try an Easy Motion, Haibike, Stromer, even just an Izip.
You mentioned that hill climbing is important, make sure you have a mid drive or two that you test, hill climbing power isn't just about wattage.
Don't be in too much of a rush, and don't pay MSRP!
Ann M.
Well-Known Member
I agree with @stevenast, no rush, LOTS of test rides and consider buying a demo unit or good used ebike as a way to get a better bike but pay what your budget can afford. Thus, the need to test ride, so you're real clear on what style of bike works for you. In the frame batteries don't distribute the weight any better than a down tube battery does, although they do have a classy look, so don't limit your selections. It is better to have the weight of the battery & motor distributed instead of all in the rear and mid drive motors are great with torque/hill climbing and make fixing flats no different than on a regular bike.
Court has many reviews of different styles of ebikes with both written info and very nice youtube videos to give a more 'real' view of a person pedaling each bike on the home page. He breaks the reviews into different categories of bike style (like mountain/city, etc) and drive style (like hub motor/mid drive motor) that way you can browse some of each before test riding, so that you have some familiarity with various product. The specs, performance and prices that he describes may go a long way to help you narrow what you think you want
Its amazing the amount of choices there are!
Also, perhaps you are mixing the Prodeco Tech Outlaw SS together with the Dillenger Stealth (which btw is a conversion using a Bafang 8fun system, which you can buy online). The Prodeco Tech Genesis v5 with the frame mount battery is supposed to be released this spring but is not available yet.
Court has many reviews of different styles of ebikes with both written info and very nice youtube videos to give a more 'real' view of a person pedaling each bike on the home page. He breaks the reviews into different categories of bike style (like mountain/city, etc) and drive style (like hub motor/mid drive motor) that way you can browse some of each before test riding, so that you have some familiarity with various product. The specs, performance and prices that he describes may go a long way to help you narrow what you think you want
Its amazing the amount of choices there are!Also, perhaps you are mixing the Prodeco Tech Outlaw SS together with the Dillenger Stealth (which btw is a conversion using a Bafang 8fun system, which you can buy online). The Prodeco Tech Genesis v5 with the frame mount battery is supposed to be released this spring but is not available yet.
Wow, thanks for your helpful advice and encouragement. I have test driven a couple of e-bikes and from that I am most comfortable with a bike that lets me sit up rather than lean forward. On the test bikes I did not like the very thin tires and did not try fat tires. I did feel comfortable with large 28" diameter tires and widths between 1.75" and 2.2". We only have one dealer nearby and I tried out several styles. I liked the ride of the e-joe anggun - especially with both assist and throttle working independently and simultaneously. I liked to be able to ride with no assist and use the throttle to power only when needed. And I liked the ability to set the bike on a high gear and in middle assist and just ride comfortably with no shifting, letting the assist even out the effort. It was a great experience.
I think I have read and watched every review that seemed pertinent and know from reading about the different kinds of motors, that gear drive or mid drive would provide the torque I need for hills but I think your advice is good I should try it first. I will have to find a place where I can do a test drive -- that is good advice. I never thought of a used bike just because I looked on Craigs list locally--I live in Kansas City, MO--and did not see anything that looked promising.
I have no way of test riding any of the three bikes I listed which appeal to me based on my research. I hate to wait till the summer is over before I get something but I hear your advice not to be too impatient.
Good idea to test out the more expensive bikes so I can compare their features and ride to the ones I can afford. That makes a lot of sense.
I think I have read and watched every review that seemed pertinent and know from reading about the different kinds of motors, that gear drive or mid drive would provide the torque I need for hills but I think your advice is good I should try it first. I will have to find a place where I can do a test drive -- that is good advice. I never thought of a used bike just because I looked on Craigs list locally--I live in Kansas City, MO--and did not see anything that looked promising.
I have no way of test riding any of the three bikes I listed which appeal to me based on my research. I hate to wait till the summer is over before I get something but I hear your advice not to be too impatient.
Good idea to test out the more expensive bikes so I can compare their features and ride to the ones I can afford. That makes a lot of sense.
NoDTMF
Active Member
Oh hi,
What to you consider hills? Everyone seems to have a different definition. In my case, my roundtrip commute is 15 miles. Going to work its all down hill. Coming home its the opposite, gradual up hill with two steeper hill climbs at the end. The elevation difference is about 800 feet. One is very steep and requires Turbo mode on my Bosch Active Line mid-drive. I can go three days with out a charge, but usually I charge after 2 days. I bought a hard tail to mount a rack and added seat suspension post. That combo works well. In the KTM forum I posted about my "hard ride" with 3000' elevation. My commute is dirt and paved, I got mountain bike tires, I inflate them to the max, they roll pretty good.
If I had a do over, I'd get the Bosch Performance Line.
What to you consider hills? Everyone seems to have a different definition. In my case, my roundtrip commute is 15 miles. Going to work its all down hill. Coming home its the opposite, gradual up hill with two steeper hill climbs at the end. The elevation difference is about 800 feet. One is very steep and requires Turbo mode on my Bosch Active Line mid-drive. I can go three days with out a charge, but usually I charge after 2 days. I bought a hard tail to mount a rack and added seat suspension post. That combo works well. In the KTM forum I posted about my "hard ride" with 3000' elevation. My commute is dirt and paved, I got mountain bike tires, I inflate them to the max, they roll pretty good.
If I had a do over, I'd get the Bosch Performance Line.
Last edited:
My hills are short and steep and right near my house so I can't avoid at least one very steep hill that is steep enough that I can't ride up it with my regular Walmart bike in the lowest gear. But once up the hill the other hills are manageable when riding unassisted. I want to ride for pleasure, not daily commuting and I am hoping to take the bike on my car to a remote starting point where I can explore new areas at my leisure. I anticipate mostly paved trails and roads that are safe for biking but would like to be able to ride on some of the regular improved trails-rock and possibly dirt that are available at parks, and nearby lakes.
Grench, what a nice offer to let me try your mid drive bike. I will definitely contact you if I am going to be near Wicheta. I am already impressed by the nice people who are into e-biking and the genuine helpful nature of the people who participate in this board.
Thanks to all and keep the ideas coming. I am particularly interested in feedback from people who actually have experience with these bikes -- surely someone must have ridden one of them--and with specific recommendations for alternatives that others would suggest based on your own personal experience. I am going to learn about the Optibike mid-drive right now.
Grench, what a nice offer to let me try your mid drive bike. I will definitely contact you if I am going to be near Wicheta. I am already impressed by the nice people who are into e-biking and the genuine helpful nature of the people who participate in this board.
Thanks to all and keep the ideas coming. I am particularly interested in feedback from people who actually have experience with these bikes -- surely someone must have ridden one of them--and with specific recommendations for alternatives that others would suggest based on your own personal experience. I am going to learn about the Optibike mid-drive right now.
Cory151
Active Member
I'm hearing a lot of good things about the Bosch mid drive systems. Is the Yahmaha just a rebranded Bosch, as they look similar.
While its way outside your price stipulation, the
Size "20" frame for the Stromer St2 is for very big people. I'm 6ft 200 and I have to have my seat (with the Body Glide) post as low as it'll go to touch. But let's face it, I'm suffering from "the man with a hammer syndrome."
While its way outside your price stipulation, the
Size "20" frame for the Stromer St2 is for very big people. I'm 6ft 200 and I have to have my seat (with the Body Glide) post as low as it'll go to touch. But let's face it, I'm suffering from "the man with a hammer syndrome."
Similar threads
