Need help on final choice of first ebike

[Kurt in CT]

I almost bought a FLX. From what little I know, the bikes look good (and fun) and the company seems to be trying very had to do things the right way, business wise. I ended up buying a similar type bike from a local LBS, for the support. (Magnum Peak). Also demoed it prior. Love it so far. Enjoy and welcome to this very cool world.

 

[Epic Mike]

I second buying a magnum peak. i actually purchased one myself. i currently have 1,440 km on mine and it still rides like new. after riding it i loved it so much i actually got involved with magnum bikes Canada. I highly recommend it if you are looking for an ebike that can handle all urban terrain

 

[Bayou life]

I would like to thank you both for the information on the magnum peak. I looked it closely. With the exception of being a rear hub motor, I thought they were very comparable. The throttle speed is the same at 28 mph. The magnum has 6 levels of pedal assist compared to 5 on the FLX. I also read that if a chain breaks on a rear hub you can use the throttle to make it home. Does anyone know if you can do that with a mid drive bike with a throttle ? That’s why this was a great site to find, someone can help with something that you didn’t think about.

 

[Epic Mike]

I’m new to ebikes and have narrowed my search down to 2 bikes
My problem is they are about the same price and the only difference is one has a throttle. The FLX Trail and the Volt Enduro. Any thoughts would be most helpful.

Yes. If your chain breaks on the peak the throttle will still take you home

 

[Chris Hammond]

Does anyone know if you can do that with a mid drive bike with a throttle ?

No you can't. Mid-drives use the bikes drivetrain to power the bike. If the chain breaks you will need roadside repair tools or plan on getting a ride home. Most $20 compact bike multi-tools include a chain-breaker, so you would only need a new pin, maybe a couple of spare links, and or a master link as well. It's a headache for sure, but shouldn't be a deal breaker, unless you have zero maintenance skills.

 

[John from Connecticut]

That isn't the biggest problem or even a very big problem with a non street-legal e-bike.

The big problem is that if you actually get hit by a car or some such the insurance companies will use the fact that your bike wasn't street legal to make sure they don't have to compensate you for medical expenses, physical therapy, or to replace your bike.

I agree with Mr Coffee from an insurance perspective regarding owning an e-bike that is not street/trail legal. In addition to the possibility of the insureds insurance company not paying should the FLX trail owner be involved in an auto accident, I would be equally concerned should
the FLX Trail owner hit a pedestrian on a bike path / trail or street with a non-legal street bike.

John from CT

 

[eBikerSteven]

Huge red flag for me when you cant test ride first. So many companies and bike shops do a great job of making test rides available, I strongly suggest test riding before making the commitment.

As for the throttle, it is so much fun, so just keep that in mind! lol

 

[Bayou life]

It's no more illegal than many others, for instance, Biktrix ultra does well over the legal limit as does the juiced bikes hyper fat and there's more so nobody seems to be bothered by that.

That is a great point. And if you change the settings, it should be recognized as a class II.