Hi there, new member here. A bit of background: I bought an electric bike about 7 years ago, front drive hub type and enjoyed it. After a couple of years in storage I needed a new battery and some parts. Of course, the manufacturer had gone out of business, so lately I've commenced looking at other makes. I rode a couple of Peddigos which were nice, but then I rode a R&M GT Vario -- clearly the superior of the two brands (and priced accordingly). I maxed out speed assist wise pretty easily, and am now wondering: If I bought a Vario HS, could I maintain 25 mph or so without killing myself? And is the same bike with a Roloff 'better' for maintaining 25? Also, I've read a lot from folks who know a lot about electric assist bikes, and from what I gather maintaining speeds in excess of 20 mph takes quite a bit more effort due in no small part to the extra wind resistance at that extra speed. What do you guys think? As a point of reference, I'm 64, 205 lbs, fair shape, and I'll use the bike for mostly recreation and to attempt to get into better shape as well as lose 10-15 lbs or so. Also, do dealers discount the bikes at all if I was to order one? They ain't exactly cheap. Thanks for you thoughts!
I've been test riding several R&M bikes recently after trading in my previous e-bike because it just wasn't working for me. As a result, I've been thinking long and hard about what kinds of things are important to me.
Regarding getting a 20mph vs. 28mph bike, I'll echo what my LBS told me —
if you're even considering getting the HS model, go for it.
The beauty of a class 3 bike is that you'll regularly find yourself cruising at 21, 22, 23 mph instead of feeling like you're always butting up against a wall and getting stuck at 19.6, 19.8, 20.1 mph. And while it can take some effort to get up to 28+mph, it's great having the option of doing so if you really want. My LBS mentioned they have lots of customers who were on the fence and later regretted going with a 20mph bike. And once you've gone with a class 1 bike, your options to reach higher motor-assisted speeds are essentially limited to speed dongles which void your warranty and increase wear & tear on the bike.
(On a side note — if you do decide to get a HS model, I'd consider getting the dual battery option if available since higher speeds means you'll be using up your battery faster.)
As for the Nuvinci (Vario) vs. Rohloff drive systems, each has their advantages and it really depends on what's most important to you. If maintaining high speeds is what you're after, the Rohloff might be the better option since it has a larger gear range which leads to higher efficiency (e.g. you won't have to pedal as fast to maintain those higher speeds). However, having all those gearing options may be overkill for your particular situation. You'll also be paying for it in terms of additional cost and weight.
The Nuvinci hub, on the other hand, doesn't have as large of a gear range so you may find yourself pedaling a bit quicker (many folks say they wish it could reach a slightly higher gear ratio). That said, it offers very easy and fluid gear shifting, and you may find it to be perfect for your needs.
Finally, regarding discounts, I wager you'll probably be hard pressed to find a dealer offering anything significant. However, I know some dealers offer financing as well as price reductions on floor models, etc. My suggestion would be to take the time to figure out what matters most to you and buy the best e-bike you can reasonably afford without rushing into a purchase.
Hope that helps!
