Need some real world Advice

[Stefan Mikes]

Hi @Ofarrell! I've noticed you mention the throttle, arthritis and a hill, and ask for a real life advice. The throttle will make the things rather complicated as makers of respected e-bikes avoid providing the throttle, which is partly dictated by Classes. Class 1 has no throttle, Class 2 has only throttle, Class 3 afaik has no throttle but is capable of 45 km/h, and anything faster and more powerful than Class 1/2 and which has a throttle is a moped.

Now, everybody carries their own cross and illnesses vary. I'm arthritic myself and can hardly walk yet I can pedal as long as pedalling does not require too much effort from me. For example, it is really tiresome for me to do 6 km on a normal bike during the wintertime and I feel like I'm dying after 20 km in the summertime. The things have become completely different for me since I got my e-bikes. First of all, pedalling is good for my health. The legs get more blood, I breathe a lot of fresh air, I feel fantastic during the ride and after. If I walk, the intermittent claudication stops me after 200 metres but I can easily do 40-50 and sometimes 60 or 70 km on a single e-bike ride. If that's a 40 km ride, I usually take two stops only on the entire route. E-bikes changed my life for good. I feel younger and more healthy now.

If there is a hill, I simply shift down and put the Turbo mode on (maximum assistance level). Riding up the hill feels as if I rode on the flat against minor resistance. Riding into a strong headwind requires assistance level 2 (e.g. Sport, Trail, Normal, etc on different e-bike brands).

Regarding advices, BrownEye and PatriciaK gave you some good initial tips re e-bike selection. I am a fan of Specialized and could mention Turbo Vado 1.0 through 4.0, the Class 1 e-bikes. I could mention BH E-motion e-bikes which are also very good. If you can afford a brand trekking/hybrid bike with a mid-motor (Brose or Specialized, Yamaha or SyncDrive, Shimano STEPS or Bosch), your legs will thank you.

There is yet another aspect. People suffering from arthritis often cannot mount and dismount easily. Therefore, I recommend looking after "low-step", "unisex" or "lady" frame e-bikes. For example, Giant makes "ladies"e-bikes under the brand name of Liv. All others offer low-step or unisex frames under their own brand name. Both e-bikes I have got are low-step ones.

I hope you will be able to find the e-bike of your dreams. A test ride is a must!

 

[pualine]

I can suggest Ariel Rider C-Class. It has throttle, mid motor and very comfortable to ride. Seatpost suspension doesn't have a huge travel so you can upgrade it with something of higher end like suntour. I think court covered in some of his videos. I am thinking to upgrade it.

But other than that C-Class offers great value.

 

[PatriciaK]

I can suggest Ariel Rider C-Class. It has throttle, mid motor and very comfortable to ride. Seatpost suspension doesn't have a huge travel so you can upgrade it with something of higher end like suntour. I think court covered in some of his videos. I am thinking to upgrade it.

But other than that C-Class offers great value.

I thought C class (class 3) has no throttle, by definition?

 

[Browneye]

Any fans of the Magnum Peak?

Wait....you said 'comfort'...and 'fenders'.

At least see if you can test ride a hub-drive bike, and a mid-drive bike, so you'll have a better feeling about what might suit your needs better.
Very few of the name-brand mid-drive ebikes have a throttle. But then anything with a Bafang hub or mid-drive likely does.

I'm not very familiar with Magnum, other than we have a LBS that sells them. Court did at least a couple of reviews - you found those?

 

[Browneye]

Class 3 is speed - 28mph limit, throttle or no.
C2 has a throttle, limited to 20.
C1 is pedalic, speed limited.

At least that's my understanding. Here in CA C1 and 2 are allowed on all bike paths. C3 only on designated paths, or on the road, any road path. If pedestrians are going to be involved there are speed limits, usually 10 to 15, no C3's.

Initially most of the paths were only C1, but the writing was on the wall, and with the new fed designations everything got opened up to the 1 and 2 classes.

That said, I'm not aware of any patrolling, other than some offroad ranger stuff. I suppose there's some metro police in high density areas, but for the most part nobody is watching or checking. Surely if you run over a pedestrian and you're outside the limits, you're gonna have some trouble.

 

[Ofarrell]

Thats for all the replies. Im really still on the shelf. No disrespect to anyone but I need something thats going to be reliable and wont need much mechanical tinkering. Im not looking for ultra speed either. I probably should have said that at the beginning. So as of right now Ive ruled out fat bikes so thats something. I dont need a step through, I can still make it over the bar on my road bike and its old school high... future maybe. I know I dont need a full on moutiain bike either so out goes the Surface Shred but in walks the Surface colt. Ive been kinda leaning towards the Magum Metro plus. Seems to review well and is available in a real store here

 

[indianajo]

Ive been kinda leaning towards the Magum Metro plus. Seems to review well and is available in a real store here

If you/er 5' 10" you'll really need to try it out. I'm 5'8" and I would have trouble with 22.5" reach & 28" tires. But if the store has it and you like it, it has a nice range of features. Geared hub are great in hills, I have one. Some posters can't tell the difference between a geared hub motor and a direct drive hub motor. The latter can handle hills but burns up the electricity doing it.
I also have days when I absolutely don't want to pedal. Glad I don't live in the EU, I'd have to buy a car and ride it everywhere. I have no cartlege in my knees, the Army pounded it out. Biking helps keep them flexible but the slightest twist of my foot and I can hardly walk for days. Taxis couldn't find the property where I might get injured, and an electric wheel chair couldn't make 30 miles back to civilization. No sidewalks out there either. The whole idea of buying an e-bike with throttle was to get me home without pedaling without calling an ambulance if I run out of food out there and have to leave.

 

[Ofarrell]

If you/er 5' 10" you'll really need to try it out. I'm 5'8" and I would have trouble with 22.5" reach & 28" tires. But if the store has it and you like it, it has a nice range of features. Geared hub are great in hills, I have one. Some posters can't tell the difference between a geared hub motor and a direct drive hub motor. The latter can handle hills but burns up the electricity doing it.
I also have days when I absolutely don't want to pedal. Glad I don't live in the EU, I'd have to buy a car and ride it everywhere. I have no cartlege in my knees, the Army pounded it out. Biking helps keep them flexible but the slightest twist of my foot and I can hardly walk for days. Taxis couldn't find the property where I might get injured, and an electric wheel chair couldn't make 30 miles back to civilization. No sidewalks out there either. The whole idea of buying an e-bike with throttle was to get me home without pedaling without calling an ambulance if I run out of food out there and have to leave.

Thanks for this... I was feeling a bit inferior with my leaning towards a throttle. Psoriatic arthritis its whats holding me back these days. When I can I still jump on my road bike and push myself a bit. But then I pay the price for a few days after. So the Ebike idea sounded like a good one to me. I do admit tho, I was ready to go try out that Yamaha mid drive but sadly I cant find one in the Toronto area or even Canada.