Electric mountain *and* commuter bike??

[JeffDG]

Hello!
WOW! I knew e-bikes were emerging, but until my research research I had no idea the number of brands and offerings! Cost is still a factor, so I'm looking to merge the capabilities of a mountain bike with a commuter. Right now, I have a Trek 29er but because of the hills around here and asthma I don't go out much. That and I'm not overly sold on the 29er concept...

So...here is a rundown of my "must haves" and my "like to haves" followed by a couple options that seem to fit the bill.

Price: $2k (give or take)
Wheel size: strongly prefer 27.5"
Tires: not particularly relevant as I'd probably have to change to something amenable to both activities.
Drive: prefer a mid-drive
Suspension: Must have 100mm front suspension... full suspension would be wicked!!... could do front rack in that case (e.g., Thule pack n pedal)?????
Method of drive: prefer torque sensing with throttle
Accessories: needs to have the ability for a rack, fenders, and lights; prefer if they come pre-installed with lights integrated into the electric system
Class: Must be class III (20mph throttle / 28mph assist)

So far I found two that fit these criteria and two more that, well, might just be shooting for the stars:
1. Magnum Peak: a geared hub-driven mountain bike with bolt ons for racks etc.
2. M2S XC Sport - there is a dearth of info on this brand - but this site has done a review of the impressive drive system. The range seems low... are they just a conservative bunch?

• is there an option for a 500W motor upgrade
• is there an option for battery upgrades
• Possible to add a throttle?
• is there a gear-shift sensor?
• Are the head/tail lights integrated into the electric system?

3. M2S Dual Sport - this is a full-suspension mountain bike...not sure it would work, but it would be incredibly cool if it could!
4. M2S All Go - this looks so cool! And so light! 37 lbs! What!?!?! Looks like there's an option for front suspension based on their photos, but it's not listed on the drop down menus.

It seems that Magnum has been around for at least 7 years...which is a good sign. The M2S fits more criteria but they seem to be an incredibly new company, which has its risks...on the other hand... the parts seem to be all available elsewhere (Bafang Max drive system... shimano shifters, etc.)... M2S' website, while looks great and is nicely navigable, does leave some questions.

I'm open to other options and/or input on the ones above...

THANKS!!

EDIT: Add to the short list the Biktrix Monte 1000... that also seems to fit the criteria. Has a BBS02 motor, hard tail, etc etc.

 

[Dewey]

Check out Haibike 2016 specials, and (Link Removed - No Longer Exists) Easy Motion here's Court's review. The Voltbike Enduro doesn't have a throttle but is a good price and Court did an extensive review.

 

[jazz]

Take a look at Easy Motion. Established company, great ebikes and warranty is tops. Bought a 29er last week, love it!

 

[Dewey]

Hmm, looking at Court's review of the Easy Motion Evo Jumper the display wasn't working for the test ride. Then I went on the Easy Motion forum here and read this thread talking about problems finding parts for the custom free hub rather than sealed cassette, and servicing the Dapu rear hub motor. With a Haibike you'd find it easier to maintain using standard parts and finding a mechanic who can service the motor.

 

[jazz]

I have read more about Haibike issues in the forums than BH Easy Motion. Plus Easy Motion offers 5-year warranty (when registered online) on motor, controller and display which is I think the best in the industry so you shouldn't need to repair those components yourself.

Not saying one is better than the other, just comes down to how well you take care of your ebike with luck involved.

 

[Dewey]

If you had an Easy Motion dealer near then I expect they should know how to service the Dapu motor, it's just if you bought the bike online it should be easier to find Yamaha/Bosch certified technicians. Also the issue with the rear wheel bearings sitting in a free hub with cup and cones rather than a sealed bearing cartridge would make me think twice, one guy washed grit into the bearings during cleaning after a ride, another warned about magnets sucking up ball bearings during disassembly. Sounds tricky to maintain and wouldn't be an issue with a sealed cartridge.

 

[jazz]

OP was just asking for options for commuters and MTB. I gave him one. You can find issues and fault with almost everything out there. I can only speak to the experiences I have. Either I have had good luck or I have had really good luck. All 6 of my ebikes have been mostly trouble-free with nothing I couldn't repair myself.

 

[Sedgeman]

I have a scant 100 miles on my only ebike so far. The Rad City from Rad Power. It meets some of your criteria. It has nice fenders and lights, fat 27.5 tires, front shocks, is as solid as a rock and it gets me to work pretty quickly. I ride a combo of; decent road, pot holed road, gravel trail/road and this bike flies over all of it. I have a bunch of utility basket stuff on the back but i bet it would do just fine on trails if i lightened the utility equipment load. I bought it on faith based on some reviews and a testimonial from a bike shop guy that said that the Rad bikes that he had seen were really well made. The comparable bikes that I have seen are $1,000 more in cost so i figured it was a good gamble.

I am peaking out at 25 mph based on the gearing (peddling like a hampster). I would consider a bigger front chain ring to get me a more comfortable cruising speed (only has one front chain ring). Uphills have been no problem so far.

The only other ebike that I have ridden was my brother's Evelo that is a couple of years old. I personally prefer the more traditional setup of the Rad bike over the Evelo so far.

 

[JeffDG]

Thanks everyone for your responses!!
Too bad that most of the Haibikes are limited at 20mph.
I do like the design of the RadCity, though I don't think I'd take that off road (edit: single track). The other day we went to Columbus OH and road some e-bikes...Haibike, Juiced, Raleigh... and fell in love with the center Drive system...and I only rode the Yamaha, which was fantastic. The Juiced CrossCurrent was nice enough, but just didn't feel very natural, rather dead on start; but did better at higher (~15mph) speeds. The mid-drive worked marvelous throughout the entire speed range. It's true...it really felt like it was "more me" riding.

Two I did fine that meet almost all my criteria, but are budget busters are the Bulls six50 E Street ---28mph, center Drive, 100mm shock...but $3800... yikes. The other is the Haibike Hardnine Street 4.5 which loses out because it's only a 20mph, 29er, and almost $4k. Hmm...if I'm stuck in this price range, I feel like I could get a center-drive commute and convert my Trek Marlin.