BrianK
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- NOVA
I have to get daily exercise because of my health status, but I’m not a morning person since my health trouble and chronic fatigue, so this summer’s heat and humidity is just too much for my regular daily walk. Four years ago I had 4 strokes and left sided hemiparesis, but they put two stents in my brain and with months of intensive physical and occupational therapy I was able to start using my left arm and leg.
I’ve been researching e bikes for a number of years. I built an electric trike from scratch with an electric hub motor several years ago when I was first recovering from strokes, but it was a 350w direct drive hub motor conversion and just wasn’t able to climb even small hills.
There was no way I could afford a decent new mid drive e bike now, due to disability, but I need the extra power due to my size in order to get back home safely and for climbing even small hills.
I found an archery shop in Virginia that got into selling hunting e bikes several years ago. They sold well their first year, but the prices on these e bikes rose enormously over the ensuing years to the point their customers couldn’t afford the newer ones, so they got out of the e bikes business altogether.
However they had one leftover demo from several years ago, a Rambo R750 G3 with BBS02, and the owner just wanted to get it out of his shop because it was taking up so much space. He offered it to me at a bargain basement price, way below his original wholesale price.
With a little creative financing (i.e., selling motorcycle stuff I no longer use) I was able to pick up this e bike yesterday.
The hunting e bikes were geared really low, for off-road use and pulling trailers with game out of the woods. I had to change the front sprocket from 34t to 46t for road use, but otherwise it’s a great fat tire e bike so far.
This bike can go twenty miles without pedaling on a charge, more if you pedal, but I’m getting a second battery and will change out the 26x4 fat tires to a road oriented tire once the Kenda Juggernauts wear out.
I can climb hills now that there is no way I would attempt without the electric motor, and when my body “hits the wall” the electric motor can get me back home. I never know when that will be, but this bike will allow me to get more exercise and ride farther than I ever would have attempted otherwise.
And even in the heat, e bikes create their own breeze, so there’s no excuse not to get some daily exercise.
My original plan was to get a Dost Kope, but my finances wouldn’t permit it in time to get riding this summer. But this “hunting e bike” will be more than adequate to keep me moving till I can upgrade to the Dost.
I’ve been researching e bikes for a number of years. I built an electric trike from scratch with an electric hub motor several years ago when I was first recovering from strokes, but it was a 350w direct drive hub motor conversion and just wasn’t able to climb even small hills.
There was no way I could afford a decent new mid drive e bike now, due to disability, but I need the extra power due to my size in order to get back home safely and for climbing even small hills.
I found an archery shop in Virginia that got into selling hunting e bikes several years ago. They sold well their first year, but the prices on these e bikes rose enormously over the ensuing years to the point their customers couldn’t afford the newer ones, so they got out of the e bikes business altogether.
However they had one leftover demo from several years ago, a Rambo R750 G3 with BBS02, and the owner just wanted to get it out of his shop because it was taking up so much space. He offered it to me at a bargain basement price, way below his original wholesale price.
With a little creative financing (i.e., selling motorcycle stuff I no longer use) I was able to pick up this e bike yesterday.
The hunting e bikes were geared really low, for off-road use and pulling trailers with game out of the woods. I had to change the front sprocket from 34t to 46t for road use, but otherwise it’s a great fat tire e bike so far.
This bike can go twenty miles without pedaling on a charge, more if you pedal, but I’m getting a second battery and will change out the 26x4 fat tires to a road oriented tire once the Kenda Juggernauts wear out.
I can climb hills now that there is no way I would attempt without the electric motor, and when my body “hits the wall” the electric motor can get me back home. I never know when that will be, but this bike will allow me to get more exercise and ride farther than I ever would have attempted otherwise.
And even in the heat, e bikes create their own breeze, so there’s no excuse not to get some daily exercise.
My original plan was to get a Dost Kope, but my finances wouldn’t permit it in time to get riding this summer. But this “hunting e bike” will be more than adequate to keep me moving till I can upgrade to the Dost.
