For those still tuned in here...
Last Sunday I went to closest branch of LBS, test rode the recently-transferred last remaining floor model of the Trek Verve+ in my size. Liked the test ride - nice machine! This was discounted to the $1999 price I noted earlier. I wasn't 100% but definitely upwards of 90%, so went ahead and pulled the trigger, knowing that I could baby it for a few days while contemplating what I'd done, not to mention watch black Friday sales, etc. Basically, bought the bike since it was the last specimen available at a good price, while considering a slight chance of returning it for a full refund.
A day later I took it for a spin around the block in my neighborhood. Riding this thing on streets that are familiar to me is certainly more revelatory than doing a test ride around the large, flat, empty parking lot next to the LBS -- I have no basis for comparison in the latter venue. But when I was back in my 'hood where I know how the (very small) hills feel, I got the distinct impression that the bike wasn't adding as much power to my efforts as I'd hoped.
^ This is a distinct nod to the advice I got earlier - the lack of power in the entry level Bosch motor, I believe.
SO... I am considering backing out, returning this one, and (now that I've had a couple more experiences) reviewing some slightly up-market options.
Right now those options are:
1) Giant Explore+ 4 - $2500 but maybe (?) goes on sale for the holidays; subject to tax since I'd get it locally through LBS; Austin ebike rebate gives me $300 back; would need to change tires to e.g. Schwalbe Marathons and eventually will want fenders. Seems like an all around great platform that could adapt to my needs for a long time, and I understand this "big 3" would be well-supported at many LBSs.
2) Gazelle CityZen T10 HMB - There's an LBS selling these for $2999, which seems like a tremendous deal on this otherwise much more spendy model. Local tax and local rebate basically even out, but it's otherwise feature complete with rack, fenders, commute tires, and generally excellent build quality from what I surmise. Also offers higher class 3 speeds, which I am starting to think will matter to me on the occasional long straights. This is the tip-top of my range and I would only go with this option if somebody made the case that the extra quality or specs really justify stretching what I intended to spend here. In other words, several years down the line, will the extra cost here be worth it?
3) Mod Berlin - on sale for $2201 right now from a passionate local shop that seems like they'll bend over backward to provide support - that is, assuming they survive the current trade war, which one of the owners has told me has been "a killer" for them lately. I think of this machine as kind of a "CityZen T10 lite" - it's feature complete and class 3ish as well (25mph), was positively reviewed and MOD itself gave off good vibes when I visited. They seem to have kept the price down by doing careful work sourcing a custom Shengyi motor and a few other components. I think that would be a slight downvote for longevity / maintenance, but the downvote perhaps gets canceled out by the excellent service agreement.
The MOD is a bit of a compromise because the stand-over height is just a little too much for me, but I wonder if I would simply get used to it. Is being able to fully stand over your top tube (both feet on the ground) considered a hard requirement for common sense, or just a preference?
4) Finally, there are the direct to consumer options, some of which *might* work through a Velofix partnership - still need to figure this out, and how exactly it compares to an actual locally purchased bike from an LBS.
The front runner under this last category is eg the FLX Roadster, which appears to be a light and fast commuter, with a ton of motor power, with a positive review on EBR, various price points between 1900 - 2200 depending on config, and class 3 speeds.
But... the forum is pretty quiet on this brand, and just like any small DTC brand, I have mixed confidence about the future, about what my support situation will be in the meantime, hell even mixed confidence about ordering something sight-unseen that might be difficult to return.
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SO! Those are the latest candidates in view for me. As before, please share if anything obvious or interesting jumps out to you.
As a reminder, I'm looking for:
- Mid drive commuter with a forward posture (not upright).
- Prefer fenders and rack, must at least have attachment points.
- Terrain in my city is mostly flat, and my commute is very short right now (7 mi round-trip). But should my office location change, etc, the round-trip could become 20-25 mi one day, and larger hills are plausible.
Thanks as always for the continued guidance!
) but they're all rear-hub motors. I'm looking for a mid drive 
