Hi, I'm hoping to get some help in figuring out what bike would be best for my daughter. She needs it for commuting into town during the summer to get to practice and to meet up with friends since she's not old enough to drive and her parents work. We out in rural area with rolling hills. Her uphill riding will typically be 2% to 5% grade. She will be riding on some gravel roads. She's 5'4" for now and is in the 90-100 lb range. The commute into town is 5 miles (to the high school) so I'm estimating that she'll be biking anywhere from 10 - 20 miles. Any suggestions?
Need help in choosing bike for daughter
- Thread starter JCS
- Start date
Mike leroy
Active Member
J.R.
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Piedmont Highlands
Most places you don't need to be 16 years old and some young people are more mature than some adults. With a very good, proper fitting helmet and gloves, with daytime running lights on the bike, most will be fine. Only a parent can answer that. Now onto the question you asked.... You may want to see your local bike shop for advice on the best bike, they will be able to advise on size, power and style that will fit your personal needs and local roads/trails. A LBS will also be able to advise on your local laws. Diamondback is offering ebikes now which are reasonably priced and distributed. Good luck!
Mike leroy
Active Member
I think you have stated your purpose clearly enough to easily find a bike. You might consider using the
Advanced Search option. The basic parameters are cost, range, and top-speed. Court's reviews appear in a standardized format that facilitates comparison. If the technical specs are intimidating, you might start with Court's top-rated bikes. The trick is relating bike features to benefits. You are clear on benefits. Finding the features that relate to those benefits may be a little difficult.
Does your daughter have strong feelings about cool or uncool bikes? You might want to show her pictures before investing too much time.
I was pleasantly surprised how a friend responded to the bike I want to get. I thought she would balk at it. She said she wanted one, much to my disbelief. A picture appears in my latest article http://electricbikereview.com/commu...egal-20mph-bicycle-to-40-mph-motorcycle.1854/ you have to scroll down.
I am not proposing this bike for your daughter, quite the opposite. The point is I expected to struggle with her about riding the bike I want, which was actually the opposite reaction.
Mike leroy
Active Member
Take a look at the frame and my reasons for choosing it. I plan to use the frame as a 20mph "bicycle" to access fire roads. The motor is actually a 1400W or a CA scooter, but configured as a 1000W bicycle to deal with cops.
The kids think it is very cool, because it looks like a motorcycle. The kids want the 4500w motor option. I explain it thoroughly.
J.R.
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Piedmont Highlands
Jonah
Member
Do you mind if I ask some other questions? Please don't feel like you need to answer them. These are things I would consider if I were in your place.
- Does your daughter like to ride a bike?
- Does she like the idea of an electric bike?
- What is the upper limit of what you want to spend?
- Will she want to ride other places before she comes home? If so, the range of the bike may matter.
- What are the temperature extremes where you live, when she might be riding her bike (since that can impact the battery and hence range)?
- Do you think she will want a bike with a throttle, so she won't have to pedal at least some of the time?
Jonah - to answer your questions...
1. She likes to ride except for the hills!
2. She's still trying to absorb it all.
3. Trying to stay under $2000 but max would be $2500. Seems like we if go higher than that, a scooter might be a better choice. But once again the license laws make no sense whatsoever and she wouldn't be able to drive one this year.
4. Yes, she will probably ride other places before coming home, that's why I put the range between 10-20 miles. But there might be those rare occurrences where the distance is greater.
5. She won't be riding it in the winter so the temp range when she will be riding it would be from 35-100 degrees worst case. It will usually be between 50-90 degrees.
6. I would say probably so because of her dislike of hills. The safest route from home is to go up a 5% incline hill within the first 5 mins and then it's the same hill to climb right before coming home.
We don't one that goes over 20 mph.
1. She likes to ride except for the hills!
2. She's still trying to absorb it all.
3. Trying to stay under $2000 but max would be $2500. Seems like we if go higher than that, a scooter might be a better choice. But once again the license laws make no sense whatsoever and she wouldn't be able to drive one this year.
4. Yes, she will probably ride other places before coming home, that's why I put the range between 10-20 miles. But there might be those rare occurrences where the distance is greater.
5. She won't be riding it in the winter so the temp range when she will be riding it would be from 35-100 degrees worst case. It will usually be between 50-90 degrees.
6. I would say probably so because of her dislike of hills. The safest route from home is to go up a 5% incline hill within the first 5 mins and then it's the same hill to climb right before coming home.
We don't one that goes over 20 mph.
Jonah
Member
One thought off the top of my head is that if she has a bike she likes, it could be adapted using a Bionx kit. They are well rated and could meet your financial criterion. I have not ridden this myself but know someone who loves it. Check out Court's reviews if you like. I am thinking of modifying a bike myself. Otherwise, I think Easy Motion has a lower end bike. If it has the same 350 watt motor as their other bikes, it climbs hills well.
pxpaulx
Well-Known Member
I am local to JCS and just listed my easy motion neo xtrem for sale here on the forum, JCS and I have already tentatively set up a meeting on Sunday. Assuming the bike is a reasonable fit for their daughter, they aren't going to find anything new, in as nice shape or as close in price to what I'm offering! I have no doubt it would carry a 100lb person up any hill with ease, the BH 350w motors definitely give a lot of torque!
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