Is the a bad ebike?
- Thread starter Cycledoc
- Start date
indianajo
Well-Known Member
Companies pay court to provide reviews.
Court doesn't ride any bike more than a hundred miles or so. Many of the poor quality parts companies buy don't stretch for a week or two.
Search for threads about ehora bikes.
If you read "introductions" or "general", there are bikes show up there that nobody has an answer to their problems or questions.
Court doesn't ride any bike more than a hundred miles or so. Many of the poor quality parts companies buy don't stretch for a week or two.
Search for threads about ehora bikes.
If you read "introductions" or "general", there are bikes show up there that nobody has an answer to their problems or questions.
Explorer-1
Have bike, will travel
- Region
- USA
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- Boston North Shore
Unfortunately you have to watch reviews closely and see what he is not too happy about and see if that makes a difference for you. Few if any of the reviews are really reviews, they are really just overviews. Some of them have a lot of details, but they are not in-depth reviews that take into account longevity, robustness, different riders, different use cases.
Some people would certainly say my 2018 DJ MTB is a not a very good ebike, but it has been a great bike for me, and was probably the best first e-bike for me as well at the time from what I've seen. However I'm interested in really learning what works for me and the real pros and cons for my usage. Likewise, I really like my RCS as well, but a very different bike, and some would not buy just because of the Juiced record on support, their highway robbery for extra batteries, or many other reasons. Overall though I like the bike and love quite a few things about it.
There are many subjective aspects to these bikes, more than one might expect for what people often think of as a bicycle with a motor. So watch the reviews closely and see if you can test a couple bikes locally, so you can understand what is being said. Overall Court is fair, but he seems unable to be critical. Unfortunately most youtube influencers on any item have more serious issues, except for a very few upstanding people. There are also those that are overly critical, but most are just poor reviewers that like wasting your time.
The information here and elsewhere should be able to help you make a better decision than a blind one. Just hope your choice is actually available when you have decided.
Some people would certainly say my 2018 DJ MTB is a not a very good ebike, but it has been a great bike for me, and was probably the best first e-bike for me as well at the time from what I've seen. However I'm interested in really learning what works for me and the real pros and cons for my usage. Likewise, I really like my RCS as well, but a very different bike, and some would not buy just because of the Juiced record on support, their highway robbery for extra batteries, or many other reasons. Overall though I like the bike and love quite a few things about it.
There are many subjective aspects to these bikes, more than one might expect for what people often think of as a bicycle with a motor. So watch the reviews closely and see if you can test a couple bikes locally, so you can understand what is being said. Overall Court is fair, but he seems unable to be critical. Unfortunately most youtube influencers on any item have more serious issues, except for a very few upstanding people. There are also those that are overly critical, but most are just poor reviewers that like wasting your time.
The information here and elsewhere should be able to help you make a better decision than a blind one. Just hope your choice is actually available when you have decided.
Mike TowpathTraveler
Well-Known Member
Long term, real world information about any particular bike brand and model can be found in this site's section titled "Discussion by Brand & User Reviews.
tomjasz
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Minnesnowta
Unfortunately there’s a trend here for posters to claim their personal choice is the best. IMO eBikes should be reviewed for which components are used. Readily available or unobtanium like so many factory customers sales.
The primary reason I keep building on upgraded acoustic bikes. Mainstream LBS parts access and with kits from Grin I think better than many purpose built eBikes.
The primary reason I keep building on upgraded acoustic bikes. Mainstream LBS parts access and with kits from Grin I think better than many purpose built eBikes.
Explorer-1
Have bike, will travel
- Region
- USA
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- Boston North Shore
On most of the reviews I watch there is commentary on the general level of the major components such as the drive train, motor, shifters and brakes. Also remember to check the full written review for additional details or you may have missed something in the video as all the talk often is more a conversation than structured review. Some times they will just say though the component series and assume the ready knows the general level os the various series.
Hasaf
Member
Print magazines used to have this problem too. American Rifleman had a short op-ed about it many years ago. The gist of it was to say that there is only so much author time and magazine space.
From the point of an author, why would they want to spend time with something that was conspicuously bad? From the magazine point of view, why would they want to devote scarce pages to something that was bad, particularly when there is so much good that they can't get to it all?
The only magazines, that I read, that frequently pan products are computer gaming magazines.
From the point of an author, why would they want to spend time with something that was conspicuously bad? From the magazine point of view, why would they want to devote scarce pages to something that was bad, particularly when there is so much good that they can't get to it all?
The only magazines, that I read, that frequently pan products are computer gaming magazines.
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Mike TowpathTraveler
Well-Known Member
They still have that problem. Car magazines were the most infamous of touting each new car as the best ever built. But anyone who bought a car soon learns of it's fail points; things you'll never see in a car mag cause for the most part, car mags don't do long term ownership followups. So those writers are always stepping into a factory fresh or factory-special tuned press car for all of them to rave over.
It's all about advertising revenue for the magazine publisher. And the big car makers pay alot of money to advertise their cars in the magazines. One time, Car And Driver magazine did a hit job on the Opel Kadett Station Wagon; ripping it so bad for what it really was, that an enraged General Motors cancelled every magazine ad in Car And Driver, along with the magazines that publisher put out (non-car related magazines). Folks interested in that hit piece can google "Opel Kadett Assassination" to find the original article.
Gionnirocket
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Y. O.
Court is a nice guy... but he's obviously a car salesman.
Anyone that does an extra 30 minutes of research can have a better understanding of what is being sold, same as with any dealership and most reviewers.
As someone else said, they're basically overviews and good just for understanding if the bike gives you any interest.
Anyone that does an extra 30 minutes of research can have a better understanding of what is being sold, same as with any dealership and most reviewers.
As someone else said, they're basically overviews and good just for understanding if the bike gives you any interest.
Dallant
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
Reading reviews is a waste of time. I watched Court’s review of the Allant+7 AFTER I bought mine and, mostly, it revealed his general dislike of Trek and his whining about the RIB system.
Buying an ebike should be about your needs and how those needs are best fulfilled. For instance, do you want to/need to have a support shop nearby or are you going it alone? Trek has a huge system of support in the Midwest and I wanted that system and, yes, I paid more to have it. It’s worked out perfectly for me.
I say see what’s available near you, test ride those that interest you and get what fills your needs based on that and your budget, of course.
Buying an ebike should be about your needs and how those needs are best fulfilled. For instance, do you want to/need to have a support shop nearby or are you going it alone? Trek has a huge system of support in the Midwest and I wanted that system and, yes, I paid more to have it. It’s worked out perfectly for me.
I say see what’s available near you, test ride those that interest you and get what fills your needs based on that and your budget, of course.
The short answer is yes
RunForTheHills
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
You also have to find out if the reviewers criteria is the same as yours. As an example, when looking for a washing machine, you might find that a magazine rates one as the best because it conserves the most water not because it gets clothes the cleanest or is the most reliable. Maybe that is what you want in a washing machine or maybe it isn't.
RunForTheHills
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
I would start by making a list of the features you want in a bike and make a short list of those bikes that fit your criteria. If you are not sure what features you need, then post here asking for help with that. Be sure to state how you will be using the bike: commuting, offroad, hills, etc. Then read the posts under the brand specific forums to see what issues people are having with those bikes. Test rides are also highly recommended.
RunForTheHills
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
The low end Shimano stuff works pretty well. I would be concerned with getting consumable parts like brake pads and olives and inserts for the no name Chinese hydraulic brakes on some these bikes. However, they may be compatible with Shimano parts. I haven't really looked into it. You can always replace parts, but if the frame is bulky and heavy there is nothing you can do to change that.
indianajo
Well-Known Member
Other than axles breaking (6 speed) and bearing race coming unscrewed dropping balls on the road ( 7 speed). no locknut. 8 speed, I've had no trouble in 7800 miles. On broken axle, I weighed an enormous 180 lb and don't jump curbs or picnic tables.
Just a word of cation Shimano does have some stuff that is at the bottom of there barrel that is junk but they also have stuff that's on other end of the scale and everything between. Also there some cases where you can't just upgrade parts so keep that in mind.
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