Father daughter ebike advice

[Ryankh]

Hello. I’m looking for a new hobby to get into with my 10 year old daughter. Hoping to get some advice about ebike styles.

We enjoy bmx and mountain bikes. We like speed. Enjoy small jumps. Off roading. But also cruising the streets.

We’ve never ridden an electric bike. Looking online and YouTube getting overwhelmed with styles and choices. Ebikes that look like regular bike to mopeds to dirt bikes.

Personally I’m drawn towards the aggressive dirt bike style. Doesn’t seem like there’s any kids version yet.

Feel like a powerful throttle would be really fun. Would like to be able to rides the streets and take it off-road.

But then the moped style looks fun too.

Feeling overwhelmed

Ryan
Boston Massachusetts

 

[AHicks]

I think some homework may be required regarding where you can ride this new bike (or bikes) you're considering - legally. Metro areas generally frown on anything with a "powerful throttle".

 

[Dewey]

If you're intending to jump curbs and ride singletrack on an ebike you'll probably want bikes with at least a front suspension fork. A capable ebike for a 10 year old would be a Haibike Sduro HardFour 4.0 designed for children 140cm (4'6") which is about the average for a 10 year old. However that model is not currently listed on Haibike USA's website so it might be difficult to get hold of. Along those lines you might look at converting a youth sized 24" mountain bike with a mid-drive kit motor.

As for yourself, since you want a throttle you're missing out on eMTB's from the big three like the Giant Stance E+ which are Class 1. But for a full suspension with a 750w motor and throttle you might like the Evelo Aries mid drive.

 

[Marci jo]

Hello. I’m looking for a new hobby to get into with my 10 year old daughter. Hoping to get some advice about ebike styles.

We enjoy bmx and mountain bikes. We like speed. Enjoy small jumps. Off roading. But also cruising the streets.

We’ve never ridden an electric bike. Looking online and YouTube getting overwhelmed with styles and choices. Ebikes that look like regular bike to mopeds to dirt bikes.

Personally I’m drawn towards the aggressive dirt bike style. Doesn’t seem like there’s any kids version yet.

Feel like a powerful throttle would be really fun. Would like to be able to rides the streets and take it off-road.

But then the moped style looks fun too.

Feeling overwhelmed

Ryan
Boston Massachusetts

Ryankh,

What a fun a activity to enjoy with your daughter! She is very fortunate.
Agreed, it’s overwhelming but this forum is a great place to start. Tons of info and of opinions.

When I read you are attracted to “powerful throttle “ I immediately thought of that monstrous beast that Simon Cowell crashed on and ended up with a broken back. My point is with electric machines, anything is available.

Are you seeking a bicycle machine, meaning it needs to be pedaled or more a traditional dirt bike, throttle only?

Looking forward to seeing what you decide.

 

[steve mercier]

Hello. I’m looking for a new hobby to get into with my 10 year old daughter. Hoping to get some advice about ebike styles.

We enjoy bmx and mountain bikes. We like speed. Enjoy small jumps. Off roading. But also cruising the streets.

We’ve never ridden an electric bike. Looking online and YouTube getting overwhelmed with styles and choices. Ebikes that look like regular bike to mopeds to dirt bikes.

Personally I’m drawn towards the aggressive dirt bike style. Doesn’t seem like there’s any kids version yet.

Feel like a powerful throttle would be really fun. Would like to be able to rides the streets and take it off-road.

But then the moped style looks fun too.

Feeling overwhelmed

Ryan
Boston Massachusetts

 

[RandallS]

If you can, get bikes that share the same types of batteries so if one of you (likely you if she's only 10), wants to go on an extended ride, the second battery can be carried as a spare. It's also handy if for some reason your daughter is struggling and runs out of power, you could potentially swap and you go without power for a while (not easy...)

 

[rich c]

I know what I was like at 10 and lived, but just barely a couple of times. A go-kart was involved and I know it would not reach 20mph. A 20mph eBike can be a dangerous thing for the reaction time and poor choices a 10 year old can make. I'd loose sleep putting a young daughter on one, but just my opinion.

 

[Nova Haibike]

We’ve never ridden an electric bike. Looking online and YouTube getting overwhelmed with styles and choices. Ebikes that look like regular bike to mopeds to dirt bikes.

EBR and this forum is primarily about electrically assisted bicycles.

Personally I’m drawn towards the aggressive dirt bike style. Doesn’t seem like there’s any kids version yet.

Feel like a powerful throttle would be really fun. Would like to be able to rides the streets and take it off-road.

By dirt bike style, I take it you mean ones that look like motocross motorcycles as opposed to mountain bikes. These are rarely discussed here, especially since these type of bikes are not really meant to be pedaled. Also, the demographics of EBR is older, so almost no one is interested in this type.

But then the moped style looks fun too.

Even though this style is not great for pedaling either, there is a fair amount of coverage on this site. But like the dirt bike style, I'm not sure anyone is making child size moped style e-bikes.

 

[steve mercier]

I know what I was like at 10 and lived, but just barely a couple of times. A go-kart was involved and I know it would not reach 20mph. A 20mph eBike can be a dangerous thing for the reaction time and poor choices a 10 year old can make. I'd loose sleep putting a young daughter on one, but just my opinion.

You forget that girls are smarter than boys...It was not a girl who said " look Dad , no hands!"

 

[Citycrosser]

We purchaed our daughter an ebike at 14 so she could commute to school and summer camp where she is a camp counselor. She has loved it! And we often ride together for her commutes or just for fun on the weekend. We picked her's out for primarily road use so a much different need than yours. Depending on your daughter's height, a small ebike in a mountain bike style may fit her soon and then she won't out grow it so quickly.

One option is to get her a mid drive kit (like a Bafang BBS02 or similar). It could be installed on any bike, that way you wouldn't take a big loss in value when she outgrow's her bike.