Is the jetson bolt a good idea?

[chasl]

I'm considering a jetson bolt folding bike because of the $350 price which is all I can afford now since I lost my job because of covid 19. all I need is short trips with a backpack to carry a few things. I've seen reviews that say the tires are very bad and can't be repaired at home, and there are battery problems. I'm 240 pounds and don't care about speed, but I can't make a $350 mistake. I've seen videos on youtube of everyone having fun with it but what about months later? Can anyone advise me?

 

[Nova Haibike]

I know this is an electric bike forum, but how short are these short distances? Is a regular bicycle completely out of the realm of possibilities? $350 could buy a very good used bicycle, or a still not-bad new one.

 

[Sierratim]

I'm considering a jetson bolt folding bike because of the $350 price which is all I can afford now since I lost my job because of covid 19. all I need is short trips with a backpack to carry a few things. I've seen reviews that say the tires are very bad and can't be repaired at home, and there are battery problems. I'm 240 pounds and don't care about speed, but I can't make a $350 mistake. I've seen videos on youtube of everyone having fun with it but what about months later? Can anyone advise me?

With a 250W hub motor this ebike will have limited hill climbing ability. The 5.2Ah battery will also have limited range. The load rating is 250lbs limiting your extra cargo, clothing weight, etc. The single rear disc brake also gives me pause from a safety standpoint. I would also suggest looking at lightly used regular bikes with better components and load capabilities. Many regular bikes in this price range will also be lighter than the Bolt.

 

[chasl]

With a 250W hub motor this ebike will have limited hill climbing ability. The 5.2Ah battery will also have limited range. The load rating is 250lbs limiting your extra cargo, clothing weight, etc. The single rear disc brake also gives me pause from a safety standpoint. I would also suggest looking at lightly used regular bikes with better components and load capabilities. Many regular bikes in this price range will also be lighter than the Bolt.

My need is for short-range trips on flat streets. I have a regular bike but because of my age and health, it's not easy to ride. My main concern is will it last without breaking down.

 

[indianajo]

In the under $1500 category, there are a lot bikes with imitation wheels that require constant maintenance for loose spokes. Also batteries that stop producing voltage at the first pothole due to bad welds. DD hub motors are cheap, but really drag if the battery runs out before you are home. I prefer geared hub motors.
I'm age 70, and when I quit working age 58 totally out of shape, found the many gears of a mountain bike very useful for maintaining forwards motion. I started riding a couple of blocks, and was up to a couple of miles at the end of the summer. I paid $60 for a diamondback MTB at the local Salvation Army resale, then when the axle of the first one broke with no parts obviously available, $75 for a Pacific Quantum MTB at the local flea market. Hint, don't buy the 6 speed rear axle bikes, the axle is too thin for adult weight. The 7 speed rear axle ones are a whole .370" thick.
In the new bikes for heavy people category, I've been much impressed by the mongoose envoy which is under $800. www.mongoose.com/products/envoy It has no power. You can later add a geared hub motor on the front from ebikeling for under $400, and as much battery as you can afford - A $620 17.5 AH one gets me 30 hilly miles around here on the bike shown left, which is the same configuration as the envoy. Lunabikes, ebikeling, and california ebikes provide reliable batteries.

 

[chasl]

In the under $1500 category, there are a lot bikes with imitation wheels that require constant maintenance for loose spokes. Also batteries that stop producing voltage at the first pothole due to bad welds. DD hub motors are cheap, but really drag if the battery runs out before you are home. I prefer geared hub motors.
I'm age 70, and when I quit working age 58 totally out of shape, found the many gears of a mountain bike very useful for maintaining forwards motion. I started riding a couple of blocks, and was up to a couple of miles at the end of the summer. I paid $60 for a diamondback MTB at the local Salvation Army resale, then when the axle of the first one broke with no parts obviously available, $75 for a Pacific Quantum MTB at the local flea market. Hint, don't buy the 6 speed rear axle bikes, the axle is too thin for adult weight. The 7 speed rear axle ones are a whole .370" thick.
In the new bikes for heavy people category, I've been much impressed by the mongoose envoy which is under $800. www.mongoose.com/products/envoy It has no power. You can later add a geared hub motor on the front from ebikeling for under $400, and as much battery as you can afford - A $620 17.5 AH one gets me 30 hilly miles around here on the bike shown left, which is the same configuration as the envoy. Lunabikes, ebikeling, and california ebikes provide reliable batteries.

I need a small folding bike for my car. My problem is I moved into an area with horrible parking and I can pay $100 monthly to park which I can't afford, or I can buy the jetson bolt for $350, park 5 blocks away and ride to and from my car. I just need to know if it will last.

 

[Lightning P38]

My need is for short-range trips on flat streets. I have a regular bike but because of my age and health, it's not easy to ride. My main concern is will it last without breaking down.

Unfortunately the $350 price point has no assurance of lasting for a lot of miles. You might get 300 - 500 miles from it before repair is needed. I have seen Non motorized cheap bikes wear out a hub or break an axle in 300 miles. Or get a bent axle. I am not concerned about the electrical components, so much as the mechanical components. My nephew wore out his $200 pedal bike from Walmart...broken fork, broken axle.

This is not really a bike, as it has no pedals. It is an electric scooter.

The bike is a light duty bike. The wheels are small, as is the whole bike. To me, it looks like a kids bike.
You are a big guy, and you are going to be putting more stress on the bike than a kid, and I think you will have more trouble with repairs than the average rider, as you are at the weight limit maximum.

Have you test ridden the bike? Definitely test ride it before you buy it.

And no pedals, means when the battery runs down, you can’t pedal home. That would make me nervous.

If you buy it new, you should have a one year warranty on parts, but you would have to pay for labor to remove and replace the part unless you did it yourself. You may find you can’t afford to fix it if major parts break, and then you have no e-assist bike. I weigh 215 lbs, and I would not buy this bike for an adult my size.

But after a year, you will be on your own for parts.
I have a $1,000 aluminum frame bike, and the frame cracked on it, during warranty, but it would have cost me $600 to replace all the needed components for a new frame.

The reviews from the web site are positive, but no indication of how many miles they have ridden with it.

 

[WattsUpDude]

I need a small folding bike for my car. My problem is I moved into an area with horrible parking and I can pay $100 monthly to park which I can't afford, or I can buy the jetson bolt for $350, park 5 blocks away and ride to and from my car. I just need to know if it will last.

Once or twice a week, I drive into work and park way out in the surrounding neighborhoods to save money on parking. I use a dorky electric scooter to turn a 20 minute walk into a 3-5 minute ride. A basic scooter like an M365 would be perfect for this. I’ve seen them for as low as $320 on Woot. Just another option to consider.

 

[chasl]

Once or twice a week, I drive into work and park way out in the surrounding neighborhoods to save money on parking. I use a dorky electric scooter to turn a 20 minute walk into a 3-5 minute ride. A basic scooter like an M365 would be perfect for this. I’ve seen them for as low as $320 on Woot. Just another option to consider.

I actually do have a scooter, but after 20% riding and 80% stopping in terror while almost falling off, I decided on a safer sit-down bike.

 

[WattsUpDude]

I actually do have a scooter, but after 20% riding and 80% stopping in terror while almost falling off, I decided on a safer sit-down bike.

In that case, I don’t see why the Jetson won’t serve you well as long as it’s maintained. I do understand about the tires being tough to replace even with the proper tools as they’re about the size of some electric scooters and they’re on really tight. Just keep the tires inflated at the proper pressure for your weight and that should prevent most flats.

 

[2mins4roughing]

Hey @Chasi I own a Jetson Bolt and I am totally happy I bought it. Looked at it for a while at Costco and then the Covid thing hit and they were out of stock. Kept watching videos and i am also disabled and don't have a lot of cash to spend. Didn't want a pedal assist as I don't want to pedal and didn't want a stand on scooter to ride. So I found one refurbished online and bought it. For the first months I had an issue with the bluetooth board and was unable to address it (previous owner had entered new id code) so it was stuck on 12 MPH as the fastest speed. But I stream on twitch and this was a cool little bike to cruise the city with so I was hooked. Jetson Customer service is a nightmare and will take months on any issue given to them. Anyways on a charge I can cruise for 2 hours all over easy, regenerative hub can fool you on the charge that is left and find a way to keep going when you think it is close to the end of charge. I get my mail, go out at night with the lights on and love this bike. Yesterday after finally figuring out my bluetooth problem and got the app to work... Set it to max speed 16mph and flew by a radar sign at about 18 mph. Totally love my little bike and an Adult can easily ride it without looking like a Clown on a small bike. Battery Charges quickly about 4 hrs and your off on a ride. Smaller tires are inflated and provide some cushion during rides.Not great on the inclines but it will go up small inclines and ramps easily, but by no means a hill climber. Well built nice disc brakes, Buy the one with one rear brake the front brake is dangerous with the size and speed and will cause falls. I have gotten off my bike with a smile and thought how cool is this.

Happy Biking...

 

[chasl]

I bought the jetson bolt and found my answer, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!, it went less than a block and stopped running, the company wants me to pay return shipping, and may charge a restocking fee. I wish I read the negative feedback on their website because it happened to others.

 

[TomD]

Similar experience here. I bought a Jetson Adventure from Costco and burned the 250W motor out on my first ride up a steep hill. Fortunately I could take it back to Costco.

 

[2mins4roughing]

Had my Bolt since May and have taken it out all over... No problems except for the bluetooth connectivity. Been to parks, around lakes, hiking trails across grass, sorry you had bad experiences I heard stories too. But no problems and still have fun with it.