Hi All - I have been getting a lot of great information from everyone on this forum, and want to share as well. I finally found a dealer with both in stock and took 4 back to back test rides (over 12 miles in all) so I feel that I can pretty much fill anyone in with information if they are unable to access a test ride.
The Dash - initially my favorite, I got it up to 33mph and verified with that with my GPS as well. The stock speedo is actually quite accurate. I could only find a 7% hill and it took it (in throttle mode only, no pedaling), from a dead stop at the base of the hill.. The Dash accelerated to about 10-11 mph but then slowed as the hill steepened to about 5-6 mph. Keep in mind that the Dash will climb much steeper hills but it requires rider's input in PAS (Pedal Assist Mode.) I just wanted to see what types of hills I could take in throttle only mode. What really appeals about this bike is the throttle mode, or "T" mode, as it runs like a silent scooter anytime that you want up to 20 mph. Of course, in PAS mode it really flies. Being a hub motor, it starts from a standstill rather slowly, (again in throttle mode only) but once it gets up to 3 or 4 mph it really pulls good all the way to 20 mph. What a blast! Get tired, or sweaty, just cruise in T mode and cool down. If you want to ride it like a bike, just leave it in "T" mode and only use the boost when you want to! How neat is that!
The Peak - this thing will almost get away from you from a standstill if you gun it in a low (large diameter) gear. Unlike the Dash, this is limited to throttle assist to only 6 mph, and compared to the Dash, it feels really limited, you just don't have the freedom to "twist and go". The Peak is less of a scooter and more of a bicycle. It makes you pedal. But what a neat bike nonetheless! It seems more rugged that the dash, with a wider diameter flared headtube, juice brakes, and a better front fork. I was able to get it up to 28mph, and my son got it up to 30mph. The neat thing is - this is a decent mountain bike that just happens to go, oh, about 10 mph faster than most other mountain bikes on the pavement. It will climb just about any hill, I found myself cresting a very steep grass incline at the side of the road in a lower gear in PAS mode and almost doing a wheelie at the top as I crested it, and I was not trying to do that! So, the Peak is really a DUAL PURPOSE mountain bike! It will cruise with the race-type road bikes and perform as well as, or better than, most other mountain type bikes in the rough. It does weigh more though, but its not excessively heavy, and I found that I could go just as fast without any electric assistance on the Peak as i did with my non-electric mountain bike - about 20 mph on level paved ground with a slight headwind..
Features of Note:
We ran both the Peak and Dash up to speed in electric mode by lifting the rear tire and activating the throttle. The Dash was quiet, mostly spoke and wheel noise, but the surprise was that the Peak was also quite quiet, with just a light whine, and virtually inaudible on any city street. Frankly, I could not hear the motor at all when riding on a quiet sidewalk. Court's video may have exaggerated the noise, perhaps because of camera placement, because I was expecting a lot more motor whine from the Peak than what I experienced!
I tested both models in the small/medium size, and was surprised to find that the Peak had greater stand-over clearance than the Dash. (I am about 5'-8" with a 30 inch inseam.) It of course also felt better balanced when it was picked up, a consequence of the mid-drive motor location.
Conclusion:
Primarily because I live in a region of hills with several 10% and higher slopes on a typical commute, I really need hill climbing ability. I therefore decided on the Peak. It also fit me better, and appeared to have more rugged components and build. Even though I am not a radical mountain-biker, I do appreciate the higher grade components and the ability to go off-road I if so choose. Having said that, I am also still enamored with the Dash as well, especially with its 20 mph "T" mode, and relatively effortless cruising at speeds in the mid 20's or more. It is also significantly cheaper! I may yet change my mind! Well, if only Currie would offer a Peak "T" mode like the Dash, that would settle it for me!! I really appreciate Court's efforts here and all the information offered to us ebike enthusiasts, and hope this helps a little for some of you out there as well. Cheers -
Rusty
The Dash - initially my favorite, I got it up to 33mph and verified with that with my GPS as well. The stock speedo is actually quite accurate. I could only find a 7% hill and it took it (in throttle mode only, no pedaling), from a dead stop at the base of the hill.. The Dash accelerated to about 10-11 mph but then slowed as the hill steepened to about 5-6 mph. Keep in mind that the Dash will climb much steeper hills but it requires rider's input in PAS (Pedal Assist Mode.) I just wanted to see what types of hills I could take in throttle only mode. What really appeals about this bike is the throttle mode, or "T" mode, as it runs like a silent scooter anytime that you want up to 20 mph. Of course, in PAS mode it really flies. Being a hub motor, it starts from a standstill rather slowly, (again in throttle mode only) but once it gets up to 3 or 4 mph it really pulls good all the way to 20 mph. What a blast! Get tired, or sweaty, just cruise in T mode and cool down. If you want to ride it like a bike, just leave it in "T" mode and only use the boost when you want to! How neat is that!
The Peak - this thing will almost get away from you from a standstill if you gun it in a low (large diameter) gear. Unlike the Dash, this is limited to throttle assist to only 6 mph, and compared to the Dash, it feels really limited, you just don't have the freedom to "twist and go". The Peak is less of a scooter and more of a bicycle. It makes you pedal. But what a neat bike nonetheless! It seems more rugged that the dash, with a wider diameter flared headtube, juice brakes, and a better front fork. I was able to get it up to 28mph, and my son got it up to 30mph. The neat thing is - this is a decent mountain bike that just happens to go, oh, about 10 mph faster than most other mountain bikes on the pavement. It will climb just about any hill, I found myself cresting a very steep grass incline at the side of the road in a lower gear in PAS mode and almost doing a wheelie at the top as I crested it, and I was not trying to do that! So, the Peak is really a DUAL PURPOSE mountain bike! It will cruise with the race-type road bikes and perform as well as, or better than, most other mountain type bikes in the rough. It does weigh more though, but its not excessively heavy, and I found that I could go just as fast without any electric assistance on the Peak as i did with my non-electric mountain bike - about 20 mph on level paved ground with a slight headwind..
Features of Note:
We ran both the Peak and Dash up to speed in electric mode by lifting the rear tire and activating the throttle. The Dash was quiet, mostly spoke and wheel noise, but the surprise was that the Peak was also quite quiet, with just a light whine, and virtually inaudible on any city street. Frankly, I could not hear the motor at all when riding on a quiet sidewalk. Court's video may have exaggerated the noise, perhaps because of camera placement, because I was expecting a lot more motor whine from the Peak than what I experienced!
I tested both models in the small/medium size, and was surprised to find that the Peak had greater stand-over clearance than the Dash. (I am about 5'-8" with a 30 inch inseam.) It of course also felt better balanced when it was picked up, a consequence of the mid-drive motor location.
Conclusion:
Primarily because I live in a region of hills with several 10% and higher slopes on a typical commute, I really need hill climbing ability. I therefore decided on the Peak. It also fit me better, and appeared to have more rugged components and build. Even though I am not a radical mountain-biker, I do appreciate the higher grade components and the ability to go off-road I if so choose. Having said that, I am also still enamored with the Dash as well, especially with its 20 mph "T" mode, and relatively effortless cruising at speeds in the mid 20's or more. It is also significantly cheaper! I may yet change my mind! Well, if only Currie would offer a Peak "T" mode like the Dash, that would settle it for me!! I really appreciate Court's efforts here and all the information offered to us ebike enthusiasts, and hope this helps a little for some of you out there as well. Cheers -
Rusty
