newheights
Member
- Region
- USA
Compiling some more budget friendly options and curious to hear other's opinions and suggestions.
Goal budget is to stay under $2,000 before tax. Could stretch to $2,500 if it checks every box.
Intended use is mixed, riding flat pavement with a kid trailer sometimes, brewery tours, etc. Other times riding dirt/gravel forest service roads, with some fairly steep hills (one in particular with average grade of 11% over several miles). I would use it for some basic single track if it was maneuverable enough though no jumps or anything particularly aggressive, but not a priority.
Need to have:
Nice to have
Ideas so far:
Aventon Aventure.2, hits the price point at ~$1,900, I am not really sold on fat tires but willing to try them, would remove single track options but could be fun to try in the snow. Torque sensing hub drive with a fair amount of torque on the hub motor. Frame supposedly has a larger size but it looks like that really just extends the seat tube without modifying the stack/reach (I think), not sure if this would be capable of the hills I want. LBS sells them and will offer support. Main holdup here is not being sure if the power will be adequate, question on frame fit, and not sure if I would like fat tires. Also looks like the pedal clearance of the ground is pretty small.
Ride1Up Prodigy XC - over the mark on price at ~$2,300 but impressive enough specs to make up for that, 90 nm mid drive brose, components look good. Main holdup is there is only one frame size for 5'6" to 6'4", which I doubt would be very comfortable at either end of that spectrum (but open to hearing otherwise)
Ride1Up LMT'D - price on point at ~$1,500, 95nm torque sensing hub motor, again unsure on frame fit. Also unsure how it would perform offroad, it does have a front suspension and it has 27.5" x 2.4" slicks on it which I am guessing could be changed to MTB tires, but I haven't seen any reviews of anyone doing this. Additional holdups on frame fit (same listed 5'6" to 6'4"...) and if the hub motor can handle the hills.
Priority current was very tempting with the mid drive and belt drive, but with no front suspension and tires maxing out at 2.1", and price of $2,600 (costco next), I think it's a no go. Unfortunate that they don't have an offroad option.
Biktrix was considered but I think too expensive for a budget oriented pick
Sondors mid drives considered but again I think too expensive
Motobecane Hal e29 (bikes direct) - top of stretch price range at $2,500 but checks all the boxes on paper, full suspension 29er with mid drive shimano and hydraulic brakes, main holdup here is I am leery of mixed reviews on quality and lack of support for assembly or any issues that come up. Relatively small 418 Wh battery. I am suspicious the price is too good to be true, and that is probably for a reason. I also don't see a max supported weight listed anywhere. https://www.bikesdirect.com/product...ikes-hal-e29-electric-mountain-bikes-29er.htm
Motobecane Elite eAdventure Team (bikes direct) - $2,200, essentially pretty similar to the full suspension version above with a slightly bigger 504 Wh battery, and slightly cheaper, but still out of target range. Not sure if the rear suspension on the Hal e29 is high enough quality to be worth the $300 difference or not. Same reservations on the brand as above. https://www.bikesdirect.com/product...ikes-electric-bikes-elite-eadventure-team.htm
Anyone with experience with these bikes care to weigh in, or any other suggestions to consider?
Goal budget is to stay under $2,000 before tax. Could stretch to $2,500 if it checks every box.
Intended use is mixed, riding flat pavement with a kid trailer sometimes, brewery tours, etc. Other times riding dirt/gravel forest service roads, with some fairly steep hills (one in particular with average grade of 11% over several miles). I would use it for some basic single track if it was maneuverable enough though no jumps or anything particularly aggressive, but not a priority.
Need to have:
- offroad tires, or option to switch to offroad tires, minimum 27.5 x 2.4 (or fat 26 x 4)
- front suspension
- torque sensing motor
- high weight capacity, rider + gear will be ~275 lbs, prefer ~300+ lbs weight limit to leave room for accessories, secondary battery, water, etc
- support attachment of burley steel hitch for kid trailer at the left rear axle, or be adaptable to this (https://burley.com/pages/hitch-guide)
- fit tall rider, 6'4"
- 15-20 mile range
- easily swappable battery (to carry extra and change trail side)
- hydraulic brakes
- 180+ mm rotors
- weigh 70 or less lbs (without battery) for bike rack rating
Nice to have
- upright / relaxed geometry for more comfortable rides
- tune-able pedal assist settings
- rear suspension
- mid drive
- throttle
- 29" wheels
- quad piston hydraulic brakes
- 200+ mm rotors
- tubeless ready wheels
- belt drive with IGH (unlikely but can dream...)
- rear rack / fenders
- integrated light
- 30-50 mile range
- range extender / dual battery option
- shimano trigger style shifting
- weigh less than 70 lbs including battery
Ideas so far:
Aventon Aventure.2, hits the price point at ~$1,900, I am not really sold on fat tires but willing to try them, would remove single track options but could be fun to try in the snow. Torque sensing hub drive with a fair amount of torque on the hub motor. Frame supposedly has a larger size but it looks like that really just extends the seat tube without modifying the stack/reach (I think), not sure if this would be capable of the hills I want. LBS sells them and will offer support. Main holdup here is not being sure if the power will be adequate, question on frame fit, and not sure if I would like fat tires. Also looks like the pedal clearance of the ground is pretty small.
Ride1Up Prodigy XC - over the mark on price at ~$2,300 but impressive enough specs to make up for that, 90 nm mid drive brose, components look good. Main holdup is there is only one frame size for 5'6" to 6'4", which I doubt would be very comfortable at either end of that spectrum (but open to hearing otherwise)
Ride1Up LMT'D - price on point at ~$1,500, 95nm torque sensing hub motor, again unsure on frame fit. Also unsure how it would perform offroad, it does have a front suspension and it has 27.5" x 2.4" slicks on it which I am guessing could be changed to MTB tires, but I haven't seen any reviews of anyone doing this. Additional holdups on frame fit (same listed 5'6" to 6'4"...) and if the hub motor can handle the hills.
Priority current was very tempting with the mid drive and belt drive, but with no front suspension and tires maxing out at 2.1", and price of $2,600 (costco next), I think it's a no go. Unfortunate that they don't have an offroad option.
Biktrix was considered but I think too expensive for a budget oriented pick
Sondors mid drives considered but again I think too expensive
Motobecane Hal e29 (bikes direct) - top of stretch price range at $2,500 but checks all the boxes on paper, full suspension 29er with mid drive shimano and hydraulic brakes, main holdup here is I am leery of mixed reviews on quality and lack of support for assembly or any issues that come up. Relatively small 418 Wh battery. I am suspicious the price is too good to be true, and that is probably for a reason. I also don't see a max supported weight listed anywhere. https://www.bikesdirect.com/product...ikes-hal-e29-electric-mountain-bikes-29er.htm
Motobecane Elite eAdventure Team (bikes direct) - $2,200, essentially pretty similar to the full suspension version above with a slightly bigger 504 Wh battery, and slightly cheaper, but still out of target range. Not sure if the rear suspension on the Hal e29 is high enough quality to be worth the $300 difference or not. Same reservations on the brand as above. https://www.bikesdirect.com/product...ikes-electric-bikes-elite-eadventure-team.htm
Anyone with experience with these bikes care to weigh in, or any other suggestions to consider?
