Ridekick instead of multiple bikes?

[mams99]

I literally didn't sleep half the night last night as I think through all sorts of possibilities. Situation is no matter what I need electric assist to get out of the neighborhood - period. Solo, tandem or cargo bike.

I already have a very nice street bike, barely used as I got an injury in shoulder and then knee and lost my fitness and now I can't power out of my neighborhood without wanting to keel over.

I am looking for a cargo or tandem bike to share with my autistic HUGE son (he just turned 12 and is already 5'9.33" and will probably get to 6'3"-6'4" with a large-ish build. We homschool him and we live near SO MUCH, but just a bit too far for a comfortable walk in the heat especially. All about 2 miles - mall, library, concert venue (2), lakes, grocery stores, etc.

I was going to ditch my bike, but I'm wondering, should I just get the ridekick with several hitches? (can it even go on a cargo bike)? And switch it out? But that is only throttle, right?

Anyone do something like that?

 

[harryS]

Can an electric Yuba cargo bike fit your budget? Kinda of expensive to me, but I would believe it's very safe. One could buy two electric bikes in my opinion for that kind of money, but I believe you want to be the only driver?

The ridekick should work on a single bike, but I just don't like the concept because I feel that a motor on the bike, while more difficult to install, is the correct way to power a bike. A pusher trailer is a solution marketed with an overly simplistic view of being easy to attach, etc. I think that when conditions are more rigorous, like hills and heavier weight ... it won't work as well. Plus it seems like bikes always tip if parked when they have a trailer on the back. Well, I've never seen a ridekick, so I am just biased.






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[mams99]

Can an electric Yuba cargo bike fit your budget? Kinda of expensive to me, but I would believe it's very safe. One could buy two electric bikes in my opinion for that kind of money, but I believe you want to be the only driver?

The ridekick should work on a single bike, but I just don't like the concept because I feel that a motor on the bike, while more difficult to install, is the correct way to power a bike. A pusher trailer is a solution marketed with an overly simplistic view of being easy to attach, etc. I think that when conditions are more rigorous, like hills and heavier weight ... it won't work as well. Plus it seems like bikes always tip if parked when they have a trailer on the back. Well, I've never seen a ridekick, so I am just biased.






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2 ebikes for that price? Not that I see. Or at least ones that are still classified as unknown/untested brands. To electrify anything costs money if you don't know how to do it yourself and have to pay someone and those high rated kits are $900ish to $2500oish.

If I'm missing something, please point me in a better direction.

 

[Robert W Green]

I used a ridekick for two years with a recumbent trike and found it to be quite up to the job. At the time I was about 180 lbs and the teratrike that I rode weighed probably 40 lbs give or take a few pounds. The range was 10 miles and speed on flat or small Phoenix area hills was 12 mph. Not bad for pushing all that weight. If you get one it'll cost twice as much as the sla battery version but give you more range if you buy the lipo battery pack. Theres even enough room in the trailer for a few bags of groceries. Oh, it is throttle only.