Looking for a ebike that fits my need

[aaronkimk]

Hey all, I'm looking to buy my first high-end e-bike mainly for fun. I'm not going to use it for commute or car replacement, this will be used mostly on the weekend on a creekside trails, parks, on the streets to have fun. I'm about 5'5"(165cm) and 155 lbs, I'm looking for the following:

• Under $6000 budget
• Fast(at least 25mph) and Powerful (if it can be unlocked to go super fast that's even better but not a must)
• Want High torque, high power that can zip hills
• torque sensor must, if it also has cadence sensor that's even better
• pedal assist must (if there is throttle option that's even better but not a must)
• integrated lights must
• rear rack and fenders
• suspension fork
• distance at least 25-30 miles with highest assist level

I looked at the vintage e bike scrambler which I love but those are over 7k before tax... so technically it's about 8k total so out of my budget. (I don't like the 42v version at least from that brand), Any other bikes that is priced total 6k (so technically before tax it should be 5.5k or less) and have power/torque/looks/distance. Thank you in advance for the tips and info!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

A Specialized Vado.

 

[Alaskan]

Evelo Omega (step through) or Atlas (more traditional frame) will check all your boxes. The rear rack is extra but comes with a second battery for extended range. The Omega has a fixed fork. I own an Omega and put a Baramind suspension flex handlebar on it and do not miss the front fork at all. Front forks can do a good job but at the cost of added weight, need for maintenance and reduced ride efficiency. Both bikes have a Gate Carbon Fiber belt drive with Enviolo CVT internal rear hub. The Omega has an auto shifing while the Atlas has a manual shifter.

Evelo bikes are designed for the USA market only, built in Taiwan, sold direct to consumer (so it helps to be a capable bike mechanic), and very well built with quality components. they have been around for over ten years and have earned a reputation for outstanding customer service. They have a 4 year/20,000 mile warranty and a customer satisfaction guarantee with a 21 trial period that allows you to return the bike for credit or full refund, they pay shipping and no restock fee. All my dealings with the company have been entirely satisfactory and the bike is a solid performer, with more power than most mid drive bikes, and just plain fun to ride.

The Atlas has the advantage of being in stock and shipping within 2 days right now. All their other models are a month or more out.

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[dodgeman]

A Trek Allant meets those specs. They can be bought as class III which gives assist up to 28 mph.

 

[Alaskan]

The Allant almost meets the OPs specs as does the Vado. Neither of them truly qualify as "powerful" I own and really enjoy my Allant 9.9S. However both the Trek and Specialized are designed to meet the lower power European specs while the Evelos are speced for the US market only and thus offer significantly more wattage and torque than any Euro spec ebike. The OP said he was looking for "powerful" so I omitted the Alllant from my recommendations. Even the Speed version offers just 85 Newton meters of torque while the Omega offers 115 and the Atlas offers 120, a big difference.

While you don't have to use all that power, riding in lower PAS levels, it is there for when you want it. For me the extra power is needed for health reasons (compromised right lung) but it is also there for extra fun. The built in battery is 720 watt hours and the secondary battery in the rear rack is 680 watt hours which will give plenty of range, even in higher assist levels.

The Trek and Specialized are strong bikes and great to ride. The Evelos are the same except they also have a beast mode if you want it.

 

[aaronkimk]

Whoa lot of information in a very short time, thank you all, I will check those bikes out, on an added note, what's the difference between NM torque and watt hours? Some bikes show motor specs with NM some say peak torque of xx watt hours, not sure why it's different for each brand.. it's harder for me to compare the specs.. Also, when I wrote I want "Fast" I meant it fast on the low end, low speed, so that's torque I believe, I want to get from 0 to 20mph as soon as I hit the pedal or throttle and maintain that speed. 20mph is plenty for me as speed wise but I want the zippiness that can accelerate really quick and then maintain that speed.

 

[PedalUma]

• Under $6000 budget
• Fast(at least 25mph) and Powerful (if it can be unlocked to go super fast that's even better but not a must)
• Want High torque, high power that can zip hills
• torque sensor must, if it also has cadence sensor that's even better
• pedal assist must (if there is throttle option that's even better but not a must)
• integrated lights must
• rear rack and fenders
• suspension fork
• distance at least 25-30 miles with highest assist level

Are you handy? This bike meets all your criteria and I made it. It keeps up with expensive bikes from bike shops. External batteries are easy to swap. 378Wh or you can take two and 80Nm.

 

[aaronkimk]

Are you handy? This bike meets all your criteria and I made it. It keeps up with expensive bikes from bike shops. External batteries are easy to swap. 378Wh or you can take two and 80Nm.

lol oh no I'm not, if I try to build stuff it usually break so I won't try to make an ebike myself.

 

[Alaskan]

Are you handy? This bike meets all your criteria and I made it. It keeps up with expensive bikes from bike shops. External batteries are easy to swap. 378Wh or you can take two and 80Nm.

That is a real beauty! What motor and what motor specs? Weight?

 

[Alaskan]

Whoa lot of information in a very short time, thank you all, I will check those bikes out, on an added note, what's the difference between NM torque and watt hours? Some bikes show motor specs with NM some say peak torque of xx watt hours, not sure why it's different for each brand.. it's harder for me to compare the specs.. Also, when I wrote I want "Fast" I meant it fast on the low end, low speed, so that's torque I believe, I want to get from 0 to 20mph as soon as I hit the pedal or throttle and maintain that speed. 20mph is plenty for me as speed wise but I want the zippiness that can accelerate really quick and then maintain that speed.

FIrst of all, neither the Trek nor the Specialized have a throttle. They are both pedal assist only.

• Electric motors are rated at continuous and maximum wattage which measures their power consumption and gives an indication of relative power. Volts x Amps = Watts
• Watt hours are a measurement of battery capacity.
• Newton meters are a measurement of torque and a good indication of how much raw power can be available to accelerate the bike and keep it going at speed against wind resistance.

 

[aaronkimk]

FIrst of all, neither the Trek nor the Specialized have a throttle. They are both pedal assist only.

• Electric motors are rated at continuous and maximum wattage which measures their power consumption and gives an indication of relative power. Volts x Amps = Watts
• Watt hours are a measurement of battery capacity.
• Newton meters are a measurement of torque and a good indication of how much raw power can be available to accelerate the bike and keep it going at speed against wind resistance.

Thank you that clarified a lot of things that I wasn't clear about.

 

[dodgeman]

For reference I own a Trek Verve +3. It’s rated at 50 newton meter of torque. On flat ground with no wind I can maintain 18 mph fairly easily but it takes some effort. I normally have mine set lower, at 40 n-m and I would have to pedal fairly hard to maintain 18 mph but could for a few miles. 85 or a 100 n-m would feel pretty powerful to me.

 

[Rexlion]

For your set of desires I'd suggest finding local dealers for Specialized and Trek. Go in and see about test riding a couple of different models. Tell them you want a higher torque mid drive motor (Trek has some with the Bosch Performance Line, 90nm torque, and Specialized has Brose with some at 75nm torque). Try one of the lightweight models also while you're at it; they have less torque but also less weight, and you might want to compare how they ride and handle. (I would also suggest that one of your tryouts at the Trek/Electra shop be one of the crank-forward models, because this geometry is IMO very comfortable to pedal.)

 

[TrevorB]

Start with lots of test rides even bikes you aren't particularly interested. Motor will give you speed but frame and components will decide if its comfortable and easy to live with on daily basis. If touring or long day rides are on wish list then consider 600-700wh battery.

I do lot leisure and commuter riding on 20mph bike also own 30mph bike. For commuting 30mph on tap is nice to have especially on road with rush hour traffic. When comes to leisure rides 20mph is fine and I avoid heavy traffic where possible so extra speed isn't needed.

NB if you like zipping in and out of traffic at speed it just a matter of time before car takes you out.

 

[aaronkimk]

Thank you everyone for all the advice, as I get more questions I will come back for more of those!

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Specialized has Brose with some at 75nm torque

90 Nm for versions 5.0.

 

[aaronkimk]

Hi Guys, I've had chance to demo ride quite a few bikes over the last 10 days or so and as "TrevorB" mentioned above I ended up liking other types of bikes more than what I first interested. I love theses 2 and can't decide which would be better for me. I absolutely loved both bike when I demo'd those which are Specialized Turbo Tero 5.0 and Serial1 switch/mtn bike. I mean I can't decide between the two currently, Serial1 is about $500 lower in price, both are hardtail beginner mtn bike that can also be ridden in the neighborhood. Any tips?

 

[Stefan Mikes]

Hi Guys, I've had chance to demo ride quite a few bikes over the last 10 days or so and as "TrevorB" mentioned above I ended up liking other types of bikes more than what I first interested. I love theses 2 and can't decide which would be better for me. I absolutely loved both bike when I demo'd those which are Specialized Turbo Tero 5.0 and Serial1 switch/mtn bike. I mean I can't decide between the two currently, Serial1 is about $500 lower in price, both are hardtail beginner mtn bike that can also be ridden in the neighborhood. Any tips?

Aaron,
I wanted to see the U.S. specs of Serial 1 Switch/Mtn but was unable to do that because that specific e-bike is not offered in Europe at all, and the Serial 1 website was persistently redirecting me to the European pages. My personal opinion is if an e-bike is not good for Europe, it is not good enough.

Secondly: Specialized is a leading bicycle brand, with the first mass-produced MTB worldwide as early as 1981. Specialized has become the world leader in modern e-MTBs with the introduction of Turbo Levo in 2015. Serial 1 is a new brand that is going together with Harley-Davidson (which has nothing to do with bicycles). The dealership network of Specialized is huge, and the personnel is trained in e-bikes (think of maintenance and repairs). What can Serial 1 offer?

You say $500 difference. Questions:

• Is Serial 1 we are talking about equipped with at least a 710 Wh battery?
• Is Serial 1 equipped with a 90 Nm mid-drive motor of the peak power of 560 W?
• Is Serial 1 equipped with premium componentry? Think of air suspension fork, quality brakes and drivetrain
• Is Serial 1 equipped with a premium display showing all possible ride data?
• Is Serial 1 providing state-of-art electronics with ANT+ and Bluetooth connectivity to smartphones and sports devices such as bike GPS computers?
• How good the Serial 1 warranty is?
• How well qualified in Serial 1 e-bikes your LBS is?

If you said the price difference were $2000, then you could hesitate. $500? Tero 5.0 is a no-brainer here.

A word of warning: Tero is a Class 1 e-bike, so it can be taken to the trails. What class is the Serial 1 Switch/MTN?

 

[Alaskan]

Aaron,
I wanted to see the U.S. specs of Serial 1 Switch/Mtn but was unable to do that because that specific e-bike is not offered in Europe at all, and the Serial 1 website was persistently redirecting me to the European pages. My personal opinion is if an e-bike is not good for Europe, it is not good enough.

Secondly: Specialized is a leading bicycle brand, with the first mass-produced MTB worldwide as early as 1981. Specialized has become the world leader in modern e-MTBs with the introduction of Turbo Levo in 2015. Serial 1 is a new brand that is going together with Harley-Davidson (which has nothing to do with bicycles). The dealership network of Specialized is huge, and the personnel is trained in e-bikes (think of maintenance and repairs). What can Serial 1 offer?

Stefan for your information, I copied and pasted from the serial 1 USA site

Frame​

• Frame
  Hydroformed aluminum, welded construction, internal routing
• Color
  Wasatch Green/Gloss Orange, Uinta Gray/Gloss White
• Fork
  SR Suntour ZERON35 BOOST AIR suspension fork
• Sizes
  S, M, L, XL

---

Motor​

• Motor
  Brose S Mag, mid-drive mounting
• Torque
  90Nm/66 ft. lb.
• Maximum Assistance Speed
  20 mph
• Controller
  Brose Remote
• Ride Modes
  Eco, Tour, Sport, Boost

---

Battery System​

• Battery
  529Wh, integrated, removable
• Range
  30-95 miles/48-153 km – Depends on mode and terrain
• Charge Time
  0-75% charge = 2.6hrs, 75-100% charge = 2.1hrs

---

Connectivity​

• Serial 1 App
  Digital Security with Pinpoint accuracy, Google Maps Turn-by-Turn Navigation, Virtual Garage, Record My Ride, Ride Dashboard
• Integrated Device Charger
  Integrated USB-C plug capable of charging mobile devices (up to 10W, depending upon mobile device)

---

Drivetrain​

• Transmission
  SRAM SX Eagle 1x12
• Final Drive
  Chain, 11-50 cassette

---

Components​

• Wheels
  27.5 x 35mm alloy rims and Sapim stainless steel spokes
• Tires
  Michelin E-Wild E-GUM-X 27.5 x 2.6-inch
• Brakes
  TRP hydraulic four-piston disc brakes front and rear, 203mm x 2.3mm rotors
• Kickstand
  Rear-mounted, adjustable length
• Seat Post
  TranzX dropper seat post

---

Lighting​

• Front Light
  LED headlight
• Rear Light
  Integrated LED taillights with brake light
• Signature Light
  Illuminated headtube light

---

Weight​

• Weight
  53.0 lb (Size Large)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

 

[aaronkimk]

Aaron,
I wanted to see the U.S. specs of Serial 1 Switch/Mtn but was unable to do that because that specific e-bike is not offered in Europe at all, and the Serial 1 website was persistently redirecting me to the European pages. My personal opinion is if an e-bike is not good for Europe, it is not good enough.

Secondly: Specialized is a leading bicycle brand, with the first mass-produced MTB worldwide as early as 1981. Specialized has become the world leader in modern e-MTBs with the introduction of Turbo Levo in 2015. Serial 1 is a new brand that is going together with Harley-Davidson (which has nothing to do with bicycles). The dealership network of Specialized is huge, and the personnel is trained in e-bikes (think of maintenance and repairs). What can Serial 1 offer?

You say $500 difference. Questions:

• Is Serial 1 we are talking about equipped with at least a 710 Wh battery?
• Is Serial 1 equipped with a 90 Nm mid-drive motor of the peak power of 560 W?
• Is Serial 1 equipped with premium componentry? Think of air suspension fork, quality brakes and drivetrain
• Is Serial 1 equipped with a premium display showing all possible ride data?
• Is Serial 1 providing state-of-art electronics with ANT+ and Bluetooth connectivity to smartphones and sports devices such as bike GPS computers?
• How good the Serial 1 warranty is?
• How well qualified in Serial 1 e-bikes your LBS is?

If you said the price difference were $2000, then you could hesitate. $500? Tero 5.0 is a no-brainer here.

A word of warning: Tero is a Class 1 e-bike, so it can be taken to the trails. What class is the Serial 1 Switch/MTN?

Thank you so much Stefan! You're right, it's a no-brainer. Ok I'm going bike shopping weekend which is perfect, since its labor day long weekend lots of deals going on at specialized dealers.