I wouldn't let the fear of "explosions" stop you, provided you take the right precautions. It's rarely random; it's usually due to damage, improper charging, or extreme temps.
Since you mentioned charging indoors and budget constraints:
Hope that helps ease your mind!
Since you mentioned charging indoors and budget constraints:
- Avoid Cold Charging: Never charge if the battery is near freezing (32°F/0°C). This causes permanent internal damage that can lead to failure later.
- Removable Battery: For an $800 bike, prioritize one with a removable battery so you can store/charge it in a safe, neutral temp area (inside a fireproof bag if you want extra peace of mind).
Hope that helps ease your mind!
gromike
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- City of Dreams
And it twas $350.
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Old-tool-guy
Member
- Region
- USA
The biggest concerns would be the battery, and wear parts like tires and brakes. Could be a good deal if you don’t need new flashy items.
Jeremy McCreary
Bought it anyway
- Region
- USA
- City
- Carlsbad, CA
Welcome aboard!
Where do you plan to get this ebike serviced? The day will come, and you can't assume that local shops will work on it — or even get parts for it.
Two strong reasons to buy locally:
1. Service after purchase.
2. Tests rides.
Bikes are way more than their specs, especially ebikes, and different manufacturers implement key features like the assist scheme in different ways, not all of them good.
I'd never buy a bike I hadn't ridden first — especially an ebike.
harryS
Well-Known Member
Usually around the holiday season, Walmart sells some of their Hyper ebikes for under $500. Basically a bike with a small battery that will ride 12-16 mph for 20-25 miles, If you know how to tune shifters.brakes, it can be a smooth riding bike. If you cannot, then you'll have a nightmare of bike shops overcharges and snobbish bike owners laughing at you, when all it takes is a couple of screws adjusted.
Cheaper bikes will have crude pedal response. Crude is a relative term, but compared to better bikes, cheap bikes have overboosted response, and it is difficult to ride them slow, especially the model with only 3 assist levels, . They want to go 13-15 mph in level 1, While you can get used to that, instead look for a bike that has an LCD display and 5 levels of assist. The 5 levels will usually give you enough granularity in assist levels that the lower ones will work, If you're hands on, it's no big thing to keep a inexpensive ebike mechanically tuned and running well. If you can't do that, then it's bike shops and making appointments and dropping money on repair bills.
Batteries will probably wear out in 2 years too. Best to buy a bike with an easily replaceable battery. As it turns out, most low cost bikes pull their batteries out of a big bin in China, and it's just a matter of identifying which one in the bin to buy.
Cheaper bikes will have crude pedal response. Crude is a relative term, but compared to better bikes, cheap bikes have overboosted response, and it is difficult to ride them slow, especially the model with only 3 assist levels, . They want to go 13-15 mph in level 1, While you can get used to that, instead look for a bike that has an LCD display and 5 levels of assist. The 5 levels will usually give you enough granularity in assist levels that the lower ones will work, If you're hands on, it's no big thing to keep a inexpensive ebike mechanically tuned and running well. If you can't do that, then it's bike shops and making appointments and dropping money on repair bills.
Batteries will probably wear out in 2 years too. Best to buy a bike with an easily replaceable battery. As it turns out, most low cost bikes pull their batteries out of a big bin in China, and it's just a matter of identifying which one in the bin to buy.
Dave Rocks
Well-Known Member
- Region
- Canada
- City
- MISSISSAUGA
Just going to the shops to get beer, ice cream and hotdogs or pleasant ride on a paved nature trail.
Work pretty close to home. If it' going to rain when the bike is parked, pack a tarp and throw it over the bike.
This is all you need for your 1st ebike. Keep the drive train lubed and the bolts tight...
Ride On E bike Man!!!
Work pretty close to home. If it' going to rain when the bike is parked, pack a tarp and throw it over the bike.
This is all you need for your 1st ebike. Keep the drive train lubed and the bolts tight...
Ride On E bike Man!!!
gromike
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- City of Dreams
Be warned about those cheap ebikes.
Just today I pedaled my torque sensing $350 mid drive to a local store and the chain broke! Fortunately, home was downhill.
(Advantage: hubmotor.)
The lesson I keep learning with cheap ebikes is that you need to thoroughly go through them, and repair or replace all the defects.
Outside the $100+ for parts (not including the price decent tires) you're looking at a day plus of labor, and then you might end up with a decent ebike.
If you don't mind wrenching on bikes, and have basic electrical knowledge, a cheap DTC ebike can be a bargain.
Just today I pedaled my torque sensing $350 mid drive to a local store and the chain broke! Fortunately, home was downhill.
(Advantage: hubmotor.)
The lesson I keep learning with cheap ebikes is that you need to thoroughly go through them, and repair or replace all the defects.
Outside the $100+ for parts (not including the price decent tires) you're looking at a day plus of labor, and then you might end up with a decent ebike.
If you don't mind wrenching on bikes, and have basic electrical knowledge, a cheap DTC ebike can be a bargain.
Dave Rocks
Well-Known Member
- Region
- Canada
- City
- MISSISSAUGA
$620.00 ÷ 12 months = $52.00 a month.
Know people that have these bikes for 2 years now and are happy.
Know people that have these bikes for 2 years now and are happy.
PedalUma
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Petaluma, CA
I am in the wine country. You can get a $6 bottle or a $12 bottle. You can get a $120 bottle. It is a matter of taste and appreciation. Newcomers would likely spit out the good stuff like barfing sorority girls raiding a cellar. The same with cheese's. Most like a Valvita slice melted on their burger. I happen to like Point Reyes Blue. Tuning, dialing in, a low priced bike is 10X harder than tuning a great bike. Then it takes four times the skill, epertice, and effort to get it right. You need to tune 1,000 cable actuated brakes to start to even start to get it right. The housings and cables are garbage. The shifters suck as well as the derailleurs, drop outs, and cassettes. Routing is planed by a marketing team for the photos.
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