Long distance travel by Ebike

[Gentle Ben]

Planning to ride the Southern Tier from St Augustine to San Diego. Instead of my 2016 Trek 520, I plan to ride an E-bike. I am wondering if the Trek Allant + 8S is a good choice to buy. I'm looking for suggestions and bike options. The price of $3299 for this bike is probably the outer limits of my budget.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

I'd ask what the longest segment of your trip will be between charges and if the 625wh battery that comes standard will get you through it.

Honestly the rear rack looks grossly inadequate as well.

 

[Gentle Ben]

I'll carry a second battery and should have no problem recharging. I'll probably ride in Eco mode for the most part and hope to ride 50 to 100 miles daily. I'll be in no hurry. On my Trek 520 I completed the ride in a leisurely 10 weeks. The racks on the Allant 8S support panniers and I may use a seat post extender for my tent, poles etc. I do wish it had the rear rack as seen on the 7S.

 

[BlackHand]

If you're looking along those lines, I think the Tesoro Neo X is better specced and is prewired for a 2nd battery.
Kiox>SmartphoneHub (trust me on that one)
12sp>10sp
Magura MT5/203mm > shimano mt520 /180mm
Supernova lights > whatever trek has
Rack looks like a step up from the Trek

$2700 from Cannondale, but limited availability. $3200 from REI

Tesoro X Speed

A rugged, comfortable ebike for high-speed commuting and transport. Built off-road tough to handle the worst the city can dish out.

www.cannondale.com

 

[dodgeman]

I think it’s a good choice. On eco I’d say a battery will get you through an entire day on most days. I have a Trek Verve +3 and it has a 500 wh battery and it will get me 50 miles riding mostly on tour. If I was riding that far I’d turn it upon a higher power setting and enjoy the ride.

 

[Gentle Ben]

If you're looking along those lines, I think the Tesoro Neo X is better specced and is prewired for a 2nd battery.
Kiox>SmartphoneHub (trust me on that one)
12sp>10sp
Magura MT5/203mm > shimano mt520 /180mm
Supernova lights > whatever trek has
Rack looks like a step up from the Trek

$2700 from Cannondale, but limited availability. $3200 from REI

Tesoro X Speed

A rugged, comfortable ebike for high-speed commuting and transport. Built off-road tough to handle the worst the city can dish out.

www.cannondale.com

Good info worth checking out.

 

[Gentle Ben]

I think it’s a good choice. On eco I’d say a battery will get you through an entire day on most days. I have a Trek Verve +3 and it has a 500 wh battery and it will get me 50 miles riding mostly on tour. If I was riding that far I’d turn it upon a higher power setting and enjoy the ride.

I appreciate the feedback. I still don't understand Trek not adding a rear flat rack as on the 7S. I definitely want to get a second battery even though it's cost is almost one-third that of the bike.

 

[dblhelix]

A plus is that of the brands, you're most likely to come across Trek or Trek-affiliated shops on your ride.

Are you staying in hotels/motels or camping?

 

[indianajo]

Frankly, on a 30 mile trip I carry 25 lb of repair parts, supplies, rain gear. 80 oz water. Pushing the bike 7 miles at 96 F because a tire blew & no cell service is no fun. I carry a whole fold up tire, 2 tubes and a pump now. Cruisers & MTBs put too much weight on the back tire. I measured 120 lb rear 20 lb front on a Pacific MTB with 60 lb groceries in the wald rack. I have had trouble with the front tire skidding around, like when it was hit by a dog. Groceries all over State 3. I've also had trouble with racks flexing from side to side & scrubbing the tire.
Stretch frame cargo bike put your weight on the front tire, have a welded rear rack that does not go anywhere, and often have mounts for a front rack that also puts loads on the front tire. Yuba kombi https://yubabikes.com/compact-cargo/, blix packa https://blixbike.com/products/packa-electric-cargo-bike, and giant momentum pakyak https://electricbikereview.com/momentum/momentum-pakyak-e-plus/ are 3 such bikes I respect. Blix has a dual battery option. On the southern tier, you will encounter no long steep grades that require a mid drive.
I have a yuba bodaboda, which has been excellent for 6 years and 12000 miles. I have particularly short legs. You may want the bigger frame.
The weight of the bike IMHO matters only if you are giving the bike rides with a car. Wind is a much bigger eater of power in my location. 25 mph headwind makes my pulse rate 20 bpm higher, unless I use a lot of electricity. 840 wh battery is not enough to pull me all the way home 30 miles with that headwind and 70 small hills, without significant leg effort.

 

[Gentle Ben]

A plus is that of the brands, you're most likely to come across Trek or Trek-affiliated shops on your ride.

Are you staying in hotels/motels or camping?

Camping, hostels and motels as I did on my first Southern Tier ride; however, the Ebike gives a few more options. I continue to get positive feedback on the Trek Allant + 8S for long rides.

 

[Gentle Ben]

Frankly, on a 30 mile trip I carry 25 lb of repair parts, supplies, rain gear. 80 oz water. Pushing the bike 7 miles at 96 F because a tire blew & no cell service is no fun. I carry a whole fold up tire, 2 tubes and a pump now. Cruisers & MTBs put too much weight on the back tire. I measured 120 lb rear 20 lb front on a Pacific MTB with 60 lb groceries in the wald rack. I have had trouble with the front tire skidding around, like when it was hit by a dog. Groceries all over State 3. I've also had trouble with racks flexing from side to side & scrubbing the tire.
Stretch frame cargo bike put your weight on the front tire, have a welded rear rack that does not go anywhere, and often have mounts for a front rack that also puts loads on the front tire. Yuba kombi https://yubabikes.com/compact-cargo/, blix packa https://blixbike.com/products/packa-electric-cargo-bike, and giant momentum pakyak https://electricbikereview.com/momentum/momentum-pakyak-e-plus/ are 3 such bikes I respect. Blix has a dual battery option. On the southern tier, you will encounter no long steep grades that require a mid drive.
I have a yuba bodaboda, which has been excellent for 6 years and 12000 miles. I have particularly short legs. You may want the bigger frame.
The weight of the bike IMHO matters only if you are giving the bike rides with a car. Wind is a much bigger eater of power in my location. 25 mph headwind makes my pulse rate 20 bpm higher, unless I use a lot of electricity. 840 wh battery is not enough to pull me all the way home 30 miles with that headwind and 70 small hills, without significant leg effort.

I plan well considering all of my long distance adventures. Thanks for sharing the links as I did review. The 80 lb bike is a little heavy to me. The new Trek is around 57 lbs.

 

[TrevorB]

I appreciate the feedback. I still don't understand Trek not adding a rear flat rack as on the 7S. I definitely want to get a second battery even though it's cost is almost one-third that of the bike.

Alliant is designed as high speed commuter hence miminise rear rack and rigid fork. Geometry is more aggressive so more weight on your wrists.

Neo X is more of trekking/touring bike.

 

[TrevorB]

The 625wh is heavy 3.5kg and bulky with length making it difficult to carry in pannier. Being able to fit 2nd hardwired battery on frame will free up lot more space for luggage. I've similar bike Neo X and bought trailer for touring.