Need help on choosing my first e-bike! Want to purchase from website.
To help narrow the many choices down I'm asking the following:
What type of traveling? Local or transporting said ebike?
Is this for exercise or just getting out of the house?
Budget? Also, why only online purchase?
You handy with a wrench?
I've owned way to many ebikes trying to find the perfect one. I'm now down to 2, a Lectric Xpedition for my wife and I to run 'round the neighborhood and a RadRunner 2 for commuting. The RadRunner was picked for its simplicity and cadence sensor because my commute is more utilitarian. I also prefer the smaller 20" wheels.
What type of traveling? Local or transporting said ebike?
Is this for exercise or just getting out of the house?
Budget? Also, why only online purchase?
You handy with a wrench?
I've owned way to many ebikes trying to find the perfect one. I'm now down to 2, a Lectric Xpedition for my wife and I to run 'round the neighborhood and a RadRunner 2 for commuting. The RadRunner was picked for its simplicity and cadence sensor because my commute is more utilitarian. I also prefer the smaller 20" wheels.
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chunk
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
Try, if possible to ride the bikes that are on your list of possible bikes. Size and ergonomics are important. My first and only e-bike isn't too comfortable for me, but it was cheap enough that I now have a better idea what features and ergo's I want in a future e-bike.
Jeremy McCreary
Bought it anyway
- Region
- USA
- City
- Carlsbad, CA
Agree. Test some promising ebikes at local shops, get a feel for the features you do and don't want, the weight you can tolerate, and how much it all costs. Then come back with narrower questions.
Also, buy online only as a last resort. Sooner or later your bike will need service, and buying locally is the best way to insure that you can get it.
indianajo
Well-Known Member
If you are out alone, it is nice to carry 3 tubes, a folding tire, an air pump, a fairly complete set of tools. My mommy is not going to come pick me up after something breaks, she is deceased. Plenty of water, rain gear, sometimes a map or a gps in a rain pouch. Stretch frame cargo bikes allow one to tote 25 lb of accessories without overloading the rear tire. If you camp off the bike, you may want more weight than that. Some have bosses in the frame to mount a front basket or pannier rack without steering the load. The weight, well I got used to it. Cheapest weight to lose is around your middle and on the thighs & rear. I lost 55 lb biking everywhere instead of driving. When I ride 30 miles to my summer property, I carry 60 lb of groceries, ag supplies, tractor fuel, clean clothes, whatever. In addition to the trouble+rain kit. My bike & kit is 94 lb w/o groceries. I can pedal it up a 15% grade loaded if the throttle has failed in the rain.
I like 26" wheels for saving my hips on potholes. I like 55 psi tires for no drag, 2.1" or 2.4". I like yuba and blix bikes. If you like changing the chain frequently, giant momentum makes a nice mid drive cargo bike. I get 5000 miles per chain on my front hub drive yuba bodaboda (out of production). Motors about the same life, but a power wheel is easier to change than a chain. After a hub motor wears out the gears or the clutch, they pedal home fine with no drag. I have 7 years and 12000 miles on my cargo bike.
No store in a city of <10000000 people will stock a bike for small people except a pink one with rim brakes and a Holly Hobbie logo on the seat. I had to order in my yuba from California, 2500 miles away. I took the measurements of the kiddie diamondback MTB I was riding, looked for something a little different, ordered prepaid. Know your body dimensions and what size frame and preferred seating style you want, before ordering. One size does NOT fit all.
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I ordered a "Lectic" xp lite 2.0 from their site and it arrived fast, the box was almost perect. The bike appeared to be. MSRP JUST $799.00, free shipping!
I really like it so far. I've rode it few times to work, around the hood, have almost 300 miles on it now.
Broke the front lantern somehow and Lectric is going to replace it for free, no shipping charges...nice company.
I really like it so far. I've rode it few times to work, around the hood, have almost 300 miles on it now.
Broke the front lantern somehow and Lectric is going to replace it for free, no shipping charges...nice company.
Bought three bikes online in my ebike history. Never tested any of them. Mainly because in my own experience the UK is not as encouraging when it comes to test rides. The only one of the three I didnāt love was a Trek Powerfly. Immense torque would almost make it flip on severe inclines. But I just couldnāt get on with the noise from that Bosch CX motor. Sold it and bought the Specialized Tero X 5.0. Again without testing, but having watched multiple videos I thought I was making an informed choice. And it is indeed a hell of a do it all bike.
Jeremy McCreary
Bought it anyway
- Region
- USA
- City
- Carlsbad, CA
There's still some value in getting it right the first time. Testing helps a lot there but isn't infallible. Better yet, it's also educational ā especially for first-time buyers who lack the experience to know what they want or fully understand the advice they're getting here.
Just sold my wife's like-new first ebike ā a nice torque-sensing hub-drive commuter ā for $2,000 less than the 2022 purchase price. COVID pricing was still in effect then. About 40% of the bike's retail price now. It was only 2.5 years old with under 200 miles. All in all, a costly lesson.
We tested and rejected 5 cadence-sensing hub-drives before testing that one. Bought it for its very natural ride feel. The test ride correctly identified the 70 lb weight as a potential issue, but we figured she'd get used to it. She didn't, so it sat, but it was a good choice otherwise.
One thing's for sure: The other 5 bikes would've been even bigger mistakes. Now she's an eager rider on her new 50 lb ebike. Nothing like it in our price range back in 2022.
Just sold my wife's like-new first ebike ā a nice torque-sensing hub-drive commuter ā for $2,000 less than the 2022 purchase price. COVID pricing was still in effect then. About 40% of the bike's retail price now. It was only 2.5 years old with under 200 miles. All in all, a costly lesson.
We tested and rejected 5 cadence-sensing hub-drives before testing that one. Bought it for its very natural ride feel. The test ride correctly identified the 70 lb weight as a potential issue, but we figured she'd get used to it. She didn't, so it sat, but it was a good choice otherwise.
One thing's for sure: The other 5 bikes would've been even bigger mistakes. Now she's an eager rider on her new 50 lb ebike. Nothing like it in our price range back in 2022.
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Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Just to illustrate the local experience. Here (at least in Poland) Specialized has cleaned the market to only leave profitable dealers. It has only left Specialized owned stores as well as some outstanding independent dealers (only four left in the 5.5 million province of Mazovia). Here, you can demo ride any of the e-bikes of the demo fleet or rent one for a day or more. Here are all the Specialized bikes/e-bikes I could demo ride (some free, some against some fee):
Creo 1
Vado SL 4.0
Tero 3.0
Tero X 4.0
Vado SL 2 Carbon 6.0 EQ
Levo SL
Diverge Comp EVO E5
Epic 8 Expert.
@macp: Is there any Specialized dealer around you that is really good? Big Specialized dealerships actually allow demo rides and e-bike rental.
@Jeremy McCreary i am in agreement with you sir. I have also made some costly mistakes. But I was lucky with my Trek as I bought it well, and sold it close to what I paid. But being part Scotās I like a deal 
. I found my Tero X at an unbelievable price online of Ā£2500. And they were offering 0% finance. I really wanted the 6.0 for the 90Nm motor. But I havenāt found a hill yet that I and the 70Nm of the 5.0 canāt cope with. And the 6.0 was significantly more money.
. I found my Tero X at an unbelievable price online of Ā£2500. And they were offering 0% finance. I really wanted the 6.0 for the 90Nm motor. But I havenāt found a hill yet that I and the 70Nm of the 5.0 canāt cope with. And the 6.0 was significantly more money.My dealer in the city of Chester is very good. I have never asked about test rides though. My bad !
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Been there! A lovely city!
A demo ride (even if this only allowed in the dealership courtyard) gives the prospect a lot of information regarding sizing and the real need for a given e-bike, its strong points and weaknesses. For instance, I wouldn't buy an e-MTB again. I cannot ride with the drop bars. Any (even the most lightweight and advanced) traditional bike is a waste on me etc. I loved a Vado SL Gen1 and bought one soon after a day's demo ride. Were Vado SL 2 my first e-bike, I would buy it on the spot. I liked a Tero X on a forest ride but that e-bike felt too heavy for my precise needs and so on
You need a 14 to 19% grade and long ascent to really require anything like 85 Nm or above
Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
OK, OK! As we have proper high mountains in the Poland's south, we also have an anomaly called Sudovian Mountains at the northeast tip of the country in the notorious Suwalki Gap. The area only consists of steep hills (these are actually overgrown sand dunes). As I registered for a gravel race in that area for the first time and learned about the area specifics, I gave up the idea of riding on a 35 Nm Vado SL there and took my heavy 85 Nm Vado insteadTrust me Iām on holiday in Cornwall currently. You would not believe the crazy hill gradients here. My poor wife on her 50Nm Como takes one look and says, nope
FWIW, I've been riding a Mukkpet Ninja for about 6 months now. Exclusively on road, but the bike is advertised for offroad use as well. I'm 165lbs and I find the 400lb suspension to be far too harsh. Also with only the vibration of the road, the front headlight mounting bracket broke and the reflectors have started breaking off the pedals (which are required by law in SoCal at night). At some point I will likely either upgrade the suspension or the bike, and when I do, I will look for more compliant suspension. Hope this helps yaCurrently I was finding a e-bike helps to go traveling and a little bit off-road trails. Have seen lots of brands but not able to decide. Can anyone help to make the decision?
Have seen many popular brands like Aventon or Heybike. Need thoughts PLS.
Biplaneguy
Member
- Region
- USA
How about traveling 1800 miles for a test ride? My wife wanted a Zugo, but she's very short and wanted to be sure it would fit. The company had just reorganized and the only place we could see one was in Austin, TX, and we live in Connecticut. But I needed to go to Dallas anyway, so we flew to Austin, test rode the bike (at the company owner's house!), then drove to Dallas in a rental car before returning home (in a UHaul truck, but that's another story; the bike was shipped).
OTOH, I had pretty much settled on a Radster Trail, and the nearest place to see one was in Boston, a 3 hour drive each way. I was confident enough with what I saw online to order it direct from Rad, and I also have the skills to assemble and maintain it. So far, we both like our very different bikes.
OTOH, I had pretty much settled on a Radster Trail, and the nearest place to see one was in Boston, a 3 hour drive each way. I was confident enough with what I saw online to order it direct from Rad, and I also have the skills to assemble and maintain it. So far, we both like our very different bikes.
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