Not an ebiker yet

[RubyRides]

Wow!! Confusing! My hubs and I are heavy so needing a tough bike. After much searching I think we have narrowed to a couple.
Looked at Electra Townie... said our weight was no problem?‍
Also, Radpower Commuter
Looked at an IZIP bike but didn’t get much feedback from salesperson.
Reasons for these three is bike shops are nearby for assistance.

Biking will be mostly neighborhood and bike trails in our area, not long range at this time.
Throttle/ no throttle?
Which bike per ease of use?
Any thoughts from you guys??

 

[TaraBara]

Those Electra Townies are nice....especially if your looking for a casual ride. You get that sit back feet on the ground feel with Townie. I have a Giant Lafree E+2.... I love it. It's a bit more upright than the Townie. I chose it because I am looking to shed lbs and am able to pedal harder because of the upright position than the Townie. Mid drive motors handle hills better than hub drives. You may want to check what the laws are for your local bike trails. Class 1 (pedal assist only) are the only legal bikes in my area. Those are going to be the two bikes I would highly recommend for the details you describe. You will find they have a great warranty and plenty of places to bring for service. Raleigh and Izip make great bikes as well.....and as long as your under 300lbs any of those bikes are going to work. Too bad the salesperson about the Izip wasn't knowledgeable. Specialized also makes some amazing bikes. There are a ton of brands to choose from. Try not to get overwhelmed....if you ride something and you like it go for it. It's way too easy to get hung up on all the brands. Rad Power bikes are a good box bike but they are a hub drive so I don't know how they would perform on a steep grade hill. Good luck on your adventures.

 

[Katysax]

I had an Electra Townie non electric bike that I bought used and used it as a cheap bike to park at the train station. It was heavy but not tough; a poorly made bike with cheap components. But if only used for short rides you might like being able to put your feet on the ground. And if you don’t ride much maybe it won’t turn into a rattletrap. If you are not going long distances or climbing mountains a hub drive is fine. Most bikes will handle up to 300 lbs just fine. Throttle is nice to have. Hub will be cheaper and require less maintenance. Mid drive will go further and climb more. Radpower or kai- would be great for neighborhood and trails.

Are you going to be transporting your bike to trails by car. If so consider how you will carry the bike.

 

[rich c]

How good are you and hubs at electrical troubleshooting and bike mechanics? Does hubs own a multimeter? If you order from on-line only company, it's up to you if there is trouble. LBS costs more, but all the service is on them.