Looking for an e-bike with the following:

ChicagoPhil

New Member
Hi All, looking for a hybrid e-bike with the following features:
Minimum 750w nominal, 1000w preferred
Torque sensor a must
Mid Drive (OR belt drive with hub CVT if that's possible
Front shocks
Throttle
Unlocked for off-road
Should be able to pull a doggie trailer
And, I'd like all that for <3k.
Is this a pipe dream, or is there a bike that will fit this bill?
Thanks, all!
 
1000w mid drive motors are few and far between and tend to be found in all out race bikes and cargo bikes, not hybrids. 600w-750w are much more common. My first recommendation would be the Velotric Discover 2 $1,999. These are nicely made bikes for the money. If you want a top brand bike and can deal with a 600w Bosch drive unit, look at the Cannondale Tesoro X1/X2/X3 series with the mid drives ($2,400-$2,999). I own a Neo X Speed, and the build quality is superb.

No matter what you end up with, I suggest that you buy through a dealer, not direct. The price is the same, and your connection with the dealer will pay off down the road.
 
i think that's reasonable, seems the prices are coming down pretty nice on the e-bikes right now especially in that price range. that Velotric Discover 2 looks pretty good, i could buy that one, i've been riding my current commuter e-bike (Aventon Pace 500) for 4 years or so and kind of ready for something new. torque sensor/front shocks would be the 2 features i would have got if i got a do-over.
 
1000w mid drive motors are few and far between and tend to be found in all out race bikes and cargo bikes, not hybrids. 600w-750w are much more common. My first recommendation would be the Velotric Discover 2 $1,999. These are nicely made bikes for the money. If you want a top brand bike and can deal with a 600w Bosch drive unit, look at the Cannondale Tesoro X1/X2/X3 series with the mid drives ($2,400-$2,999). I own a Neo X Speed, and the build quality is superb.

No matter what you end up with, I suggest that you buy through a dealer, not direct. The price is the same, and your connection with the dealer will pay off down the road

I ride with a 1000w mid drive bafang with 160 nm of torque. I ride fat tire bikes because I like to go off road, mud and snow!
 
i think that's reasonable, seems the prices are coming down pretty nice on the e-bikes right now especially in that price range. that Velotric Discover 2 looks pretty good, i could buy that one, i've been riding my current commuter e-bike (Aventon Pace 500) for 4 years or so and kind of ready for something new. torque sensor/front shocks would be the 2 features i would have got if i got a do-over.
The Velotric is a very nice bike but it leaves your wishlist with holes in it.
No experience with the bike but hub drives are typically lacking when it comes to climbing/pulling and natural feel. Things are developing so these concerns may be not be with the latest motors/controllers.
That said... Personally if I was looking to upgrade, I'd be looking at mid_drives.
ymmv
 
You’re not too far off, getting most of what you want under $3K is tough, but possible. A 750W or even 1000W motor with a torque sensor, throttle, front shocks, and trailer-pulling power can be found, especially with brands like Riding Times, Ride1Up, or Biktrix. Mid-drive motors with torque sensors are out there, but adding a belt drive with a CVT hub at this price is rare. You might have to choose between mid-drive or belt/CVT. Still, with some smart shopping or a few upgrades later, you can get close to your dream setup.
 
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