newbie to ebikes - commuter and child-pulling friendly?

[Jamee]

Hi! Thanks so much for this awesome forum! I'm overwhelmed by the amount of choice there is out there for ebikes...and although I've read your reviews and top choices for multiple categories, I'm still at a loss. Can you make a suggestion as to the best option in my price range, for my intended use?

Here are my details and what I'm looking to use the ebike for:
-5' tall (with short legs! So finding adult-sized bikes is often hard for me to begin with...)
-115lbs
-I'd like to commute to work (which is a steady incline up, about 10km one way)
-I'd also like to be able to pull my almost 2yr old in his bike chariot without dying going up small hills or in light winds
-small budget ($1500-$2000, but would consider more if it made sense)
-Vancouver, BC (if location makes a difference)

The cheaper ones that you reviewed look nice, but the Freway one might be too big for me, and I'm not sure that I want mountain bike tires...

Thanks so much for your thoughts and help!

 

[MLB]

Hi Jamee,
I would look for a bike with 20" (or 24", but rare) wheels. Most of the folding bikes are smaller in stature as well.
With your light weight, most any E bike should have plenty of power to pull your soon to be toddler. Only takes a little power.
The hills (how steep) are the big variable, though 10k is short enough that again most should handle that (downhill home!) unless it's steep, though a gearless hub motor might get hot and cut out if it's too much.
Geared hub or middrive would likely be best for hills and towing. (**newest gearless are VERY strong and would handle anything a geare hub does, but will be a lot more expensive)

 

[David1]

A2B's KUO ( folding bike) is in your price range, 20 in.wheels ,and has lots of adjustments for seat and handlebar. Dealer will know about pulling power. These bikes are powerful , and miles of smiles.

 

[Tara D.]

@Jamee Maybe look into the easy motion step through bikes?

• https://electricbikereview.com/easy-motion/easygo-street/
• https://electricbikereview.com/easy-motion/evo-city-wave/
  
• https://electricbikereview.com/easy-motion/evo-street/

@PowerMe you are on the smaller side and really like your easy motion if I recall correctly?

I have a two year old also! And have you seen this adorable balance bikes?! The Yuba Flip Flop, they have little racks and accessories for them to carry their treasures around in!

 

[Jamee]

Thanks guys!

@Tara D. I quite like the easy motions you recommended, but they're a bit out of my price range...i want to make sure I get something great that will work for what I need it for, but unfortunately don't have a ton to put into it.

Also,ive noticed that most bike shops in Vancouver now only sell bionx bikes! (Something to do with the ease of repairs.) Like the evo toba st1http://www.citecycles.com/evo-st1.php
That shop (above) isn't in the city proper, and seems to be the onlt one that sells other e bikes.
They also have a 2015 I zip e3 path, that rated highly in Court's reviews, on sale for 2489. Is that a good deal?
Do you guys have an idea a out the evo bike? I haven't found a review for it on this site, and there's only one forum post.

Thanks for all your help!! I'm soooo excited to get an e bike and start riding again! I just need to make a decision and pull do it!

 

[Jamee]

Oh and @Tara D. That flip bike is awesome!!! Has your little tried it? I have a balance bike for mine but he's still a bit too small for it (hes really little for his age). Can't wait for him to ride though!

 

[Tara D.]

The nice thing about buying from a local store there is that they will have the knowledge to do maintenance on the bike or be able to fix something if it breaks. Where as if you purchase online your local shops might not be able to make repairs on the "e-bike" components though they would surely be able to work on the regular bike aspects.

I would take a trip to the store and see if you could give them both a test ride. I like the Izip it looks like from that review the bike was priced around
$ 2600.00 so I would think that is a good price they have there. And its pre wired for lights which is great.

He hasn't tried the flip flop but I would LOVE to get him one but I imagine he will be moving on to a pedal bike in the next year or 2 so I probably wont end up getting a new balance bike. Currently he is on the Velo balance bike and doing great with it. It has an adjustable seat and handlebars so he was able to start a little before his second birthday. Bonus is it is inexpensive!

 

[Garrick K]

Woah. Getting Yuba for my 2 year old.

 

[Tara D.]

@Garrick K if you do I would love hear how they like it! Here is my little guy not letting a little snow stop him!

 

[Fensus]

Heya Jamee,

I'm actually in a VERY similar situation to you. Looking to get a sturdy commuting ebike in Vancouver, BC for about a 15 km one way commute towing a trailer (for my 25 pound dog). I'm still pretty early in research to find out what motor and whatnot is best for me (6ft 210 lbs + trailer and dog).

This is roughly the commute I'll be doing (exact start/end is different for anonymity): https://goo.gl/maps/VuKbkiUxSL82 and as you can see it does have some hills which are my main concern for towing.

So far, these are the bikes that I am looking at incase they may work for you as well:

urban ryder http://www.urbanryder.com/ ($1900 cdn)
rad wagon http://www.radpowerbikes.com/products/radwagon-electric-cargo-bike ($2000 cdn)
biktrix MONTECAPRO http://www.biktrix.com ($1600-$2600 cdn)
Voltbike interceptor http://www.voltbike.ca/voltbike-interceptor.html ($1700 cdn
juiced crosscurrent http://www.juicedbikes.com/crosscurrent/ ($2000 cdn)

 

[Lyn707]

Heya Jamee,

I'm actually in a VERY similar situation to you. Looking to get a sturdy commuting ebike in Vancouver, BC for about a 15 km one way commute towing a trailer (for my 25 pound dog). I'm still pretty early in research to find out what motor and whatnot is best for me (6ft 210 lbs + trailer and dog).

This is roughly the commute I'll be doing (exact start/end is different for anonymity): https://goo.gl/maps/VuKbkiUxSL82 and as you can see it does have some hills which are my main concern for towing.

So far, these are the bikes that I am looking at incase they may work for you as well:

urban ryder http://www.urbanryder.com/ ($1900 cdn)
rad wagon http://www.radpowerbikes.com/products/radwagon-electric-cargo-bike ($2000 cdn)
biktrix MONTECAPRO (Link Removed - No Longer Exists) ($1600-$2600 cdn)
Voltbike interceptor http://www.voltbike.ca/voltbike-interceptor.html ($1700 cdn
juiced crosscurrent http://www.juicedbikes.com/crosscurrent/ ($2000 cdn)

What bike did you end up with ? I'm 5'2" and in a similar boat. Would live to hear how it went.

 

[Jamee]

hey @Fensus - I'm curious too, what did you go with in the end?
I ended up moving to a place about a 10min bike ride from work, so I haven't gotten an e-bike yet. BUT, I just got a new job and will be commuting from the Burnaby/Vancouver border to UBC (exactly the other end of the city) every day! So I'm back on the e-bike search!!
Would love to hear from someone in a similar situation.

 

[Jamee]

@Lyn707 did you end up getting an ebike yet?

 

[JohnT]

My wife is about 5' or 5'1", and one of the reasons we opened a Pedego store is that she loves Pedego's smaller bikes. MLB mentioned 24" tires. We have two models with that size, an Interceptor and a Comfort Cruiser. We've put a person as short as 4'9" on these. We also have a 26" Step-Thru City Commuter that is very comfortable for my wife. For hills and towing, I'd recommend the 48V bikes, but the 36V bikes are decent on hills, too.

I agree with the recommendation to buy local if you can. I cant tell you how many of our customers come in with an idea of which model they want but change their minds after spending a little time trying others. I know there are several Pedego stores in Canada, mostly in the west, I think.

Buy the way, Jaymee, switching tires is very easy to do, so I wouldn't let MTB tires deter you if you otherwise like a bike.