First time buyer needs your expertise please

[mhs7386]

I am researching and test riding in advance of buying my first ebike. I am 64, 5’10, 190 lbs. I will use the bike for fun and local errands. There are no big hills where I live and won’t commute to work on it.

The Magnum Cruiser has been my favorite. The only negative is the closest Magnum dealer (where I test drove it and spoke at length with the owner) is 100 miles from my home.
I also rode the Rad City and liked it, though not quite as much, but it costs $600 less. The third and last finalist is the Pedego City Commuter. Looks beautiful, and there’s a new Pedego store 10 minutes from my home, but at $2995 it costs $900 more than the Magnum. The Pedego Classic Cruiser is only about $100 more than the Magnum, but with a smaller battery at that price point.

If I buy the Magnum and want the free 30-day tuneup, I would have to make the 100 mile trip back to the Magnum shop.

Any advice would be much appreciated
Thanks.

 

[rich c]

I've not taken my bikes back to the dealer in over a year, they are 200 miles away. Are you capable of basic maintenance tasks like cleaning and lubing the chain, adjusting and replacing brakes, adjusting derailleurs, and fixing flats? If you are, 100 miles to the dealer isn't a big issue because you don't need the 30 day tuneup. You just need them for major issues or updates to software.

 

[mhs7386]

Rich,

Thanks for your advice. I am not handy at all, but there is a good independent bike shop 15 miles from my home, and I recently used the mobile service Velofix for the Rad test ride and to fix something on my wife’s bike.

 

[rich c]

Rich,

Thanks for your advice. I am not handy at all, but there is a good independent bike shop 15 miles from my home, and I recently used the mobile service Velofix for the Rad test ride and to fix something on my wife’s bike.

Confirm that the bike shop will work on an eBike before considering them as a resource, many will not.

 

[mhs7386]

Yes they work on ebikes and sell three brands themselves.

 

[rich c]

Yes they work on ebikes and sell three brands themselves.

Still confirm that they will work on another brand that they did not sell. Isn't that like asking the Ford dealer to work on your Honda? Not sure I could do that.

 

[harryS]

Being an ebike nerd, I look at drive trains. The Radcity is a direct drive motor, while the other two use geared motors. While the first one has a 750W rating vs the 500W rating on the other two, ratings are 90% label and 20% engineering. Yes it's over 100% to account for marketing. You have to look at the controller to see the true wattage, but all three are limited to 20 mph anyway on throttle anyway. All three have plenty of power for recreational riding.

A direct drive will have some resistance to coasting/pedaling if the motor ism't being driven, as you have to push against the magnets. More resistance with bigger motors. I've ridden Stromers and Elbys and don't mind at all, but I've heard that the big 1000W pizza sized motors are brutes to pedal. Sometimes we come home with no battery, so it's just something to consider. You've already tested the RadCity. Meanwhile, geared motors will freewheel and coast quite well. Regen braking is a feature with direct drives that might save brake pad wear, but will add little to the battery, unless your ride is to the top of a mountain and then down.

In general, direct drives have more top speed, while geared motors have more torque for hills.

If you bike has to live at the shop, that would be a bummer. We bought my wife's bike at a shop 200 miles away. No issues. Never been back. I don't think 100 miles is that bad, but you want the Magnum guy to promise that the 30 day checkup will be scheduled and performed while you wait. Leaving it overnight is no good. Might even ask for credit to get it done locally., There's enough give in the prices, in my opinion.

 

[mhs7386]

Harry,

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply and for your great advice.

I just got off the phone with my local Velofix franchise owner. They will come to my home and do any maintenance and repairs on a Magnum. The only problem is they might not have a part and I'd have to wait one or two weeks, as Velofix currently doesn't have a partnership with Magnum, as it does with Rad bikes. But I really like the Magnum better than the Rad City and the Pedegos I've tested. The Pedegos are gorgeous and there's a new Pedego store five miles from me, but the comparable bikes to the Magnum are about $900 more.

Velofix charges $79 for the 30 day tuneup if I don't feel like driving 100 miles to the Magnum shop for the free tune-up.

Thanks again.

Matthew

 

[Chris Hammond]

I'm new to ebikes as well, and have been doing a ton of research. Probably the best advice I can give is what I have heard from many others; the battery is the most important part on the bike. Period. I would definitely opt for the Magnum in your situation as the larger battery than the Pedego will eliminate range anxiety. I have been biking for decades, and agree with the others, don't worry about the long dealer distance. Maintain your bike well, and you should hopefully only be seeing the bike shop for scheduled maintenance.

 

[mhs7386]

Chris,

Thanks very much for your input, I eliminated the Pedego and will test ride a 2018 Raleigh Retroglide next week when it arrives at my local bike shop. If it’s not as good as the Magnum Cruiser that’s 100 miles away, I’ll get the Magnum. Compare the specs if you have time and see what you think.
Thanks.

Matthew

 

[Dewey]

I like how for 2018 Raleigh Electric relocated the battery on the down tube on the Retroglide but the 200wh difference between it and the Magnum Cruiser might mean a range difference of 10-15 miles and the Magnum is a Class 3 speed pedelec so if those are considerations it favors the Magnum. I prefer riding at slower Class 1 or 2 20mph speeds and I like mid-drive motors for central weight distribution and less stress on the rear wheel spokes and less fuss changing a rear flat tire than a hub motor so I’d get the Raleigh with the optional throttle/boost button, turning it into a Class 2. Both are nice ebikes.

 

[mhs7386]

I like how for 2018 Raleigh Electric relocated the battery on the down tube on the Retroglide but the 200wh difference between it and the Magnum Cruiser might mean a range difference of 10-15 miles and the Magnum is a speed pedelec so if those are considerations it favors the Magnum. I prefer riding at slower Class 1 20mph speeds and I like mid-drive motors for central weight distribution and less stress on the rear wheel spokes than a hub motor so I’d get the Raleigh with the optional throttle/boost button. Both are nice ebikes.

Thanks, Dewey. I’ll decide after riding the Retroglide next week. I agree that 20 mph is plenty for me. The Magnum’s motor is 500 Watts vs the a Retroglide’s 500.

 

[Dewey]

Unsure if this is a consideration but the Magnum can only be fitted with independent battery lights whereas the Raleigh has wiring in place to run lights off the main ebike battery producing a 6v current through spade connectors to connect up to something like these Light & Motion nip n tuck lights.

 

[mhs7386]

Unsure if this is a consideration but the Magnum can only be fitted with independent battery lights whereas the Raleigh has wiring in place to run lights off the main ebike battery producing a 6v current through spade connectors to connect up to something like these Light & Motion nip n tuck lights.

Yes, Dewey, the Magnum comes with lights and costs $200 less. I’m test riding the Raleigh when it comes to my local shop next week.
What are your thoughts on the mid-drive in the Raleigh vs. the rear hub in the Magnum?
If I like the bikes equally, I will lean towards the Raleigh because the lbs carries that and the closest Magnum dealer is over 100 miles away. I really liked the Magnum test ride, though.
Thanks.

 

[Dewey]

What are your thoughts on the mid-drive in the Raleigh vs. the rear hub in the Magnum?

I’ve owned mid drive and front geared hub motors, I haven’t ridden a rear hub motor but Court Rye’s review of the Magnum Cruiser on this site mentioned his thoughts on the das-kit motor. You might like to ask the question in the Magnum forum in case any owners might offer more information. Both bikes have cadence sensor pedal assist plus throttle which is fine for street riding, both will have a power band they are happiest operating in and will keep pulling until you reach that sweet spot, a torque sensor pedal assist feels different, I’ve test ridden a Bosch mid-drive a couple of times and it definitely feels more sophisticated in its power delivery and responsiveness.

 

[mhs7386]

Thanks, Dewey. The Raleigh has the mid-drive motor but does not come with lights or a throttle. I would add a boost button for $50 and lights. So the Raleigh price would be about $500 more than the Magnum Cruiser, which has the rear hub motor, but comes with lights and throttle. I’ll decide after test riding the Raleigh next week. Tough decision.