So you guys (and gals) might be right.

[sc00ter]

So I rode my Swing King Elite swing bike today. Its been forever and it was very pleasant to ride. Obviously it's a 26" wheeled beach cruiser and the bigger wheel ride was a eye opener. Now I'm not so sure I want a 20" for a commuter anymore. I soared over sidewalk cracks that would jar me on the 20" bikes. Now I just need to test ride a good torque sensor ebike to see if that will impress me as well.

I love my Xpedition still and will always have it on hand for farting around on with the wife on the back. Well, not fart with her on the back. You know what I mean. But I think I'd enjoy my commute a bit more with an appropriate sized ebike.

What things have you rode that changed your perception of your ride wants and needs?

 

[6zfshdb]

My perception changes every time I borrow, rent, or test ride a bike. Every one is different, and has it's own unique "feel". Some features I like and some I don't, but that is my own personal opinion. That's why it's so important to try out a variety of bikes before buying.

 

[AvalancheRun]

So I rode my Swing King Elite swing bike today. Its been forever and it was very pleasant to ride. Obviously it's a 26" wheeled beach cruiser and the bigger wheel ride was a eye opener. Now I'm not so sure I want a 20" for a commuter anymore. I soared over sidewalk cracks that would jar me on the 20" bikes. Now I just need to test ride a good torque sensor ebike to see if that will impress me as well.

I love my Xpedition still and will always have it on hand for farting around on with the wife on the back. Well, not fart with her on the back. You know what I mean. But I think I'd enjoy my commute a bit more with an appropriate sized ebike.

What things have you rode that changed your perception of your ride wants and needs?

So, I’m 6’1” and my wife and I have the same city upright e-bike. Mine is size large, hers is size small. Due to some rearranging at home it’s easier for me to take her bike. I’ve been using it for 3-4 weeks now.

The kicker is, it actually fits me better. Reach is much more comfortable. The seat post (I moved a carbon post over from another bike) has a lot of extension which really makes for a comfortable ride. I’ve been looking for downsides to this size and not finding any.

So in addition to trying a variety of bikes, try out different sizes too. Height is just one metric of many, and it can’t completely determine your frame size.

 

[Rome]

My wants and needs for ebike will not be same as yours. You will have to figure out yourself what your ideal ebike is.
Otherwise members will recommend what they think is good fit for you.
My suggestion is pick the ebike you want.
You got experience riding ebikes. No need to ask what is good for you. Whatever ebike you end up with is the bike you wanted. Not someone else suggested.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I only wonder @sc00ter how you would feel on a proper 28" or 29" wheel e-bike

 

[sc00ter]

I've owned a bit of everything and discovered that for local runs with my wife, 20" cargo works best. It sucks trying to go to work on it though. I think I spent to much time on 20" wheels and find them not ideal for my 14 mile commute.

I'm kinda kicking around the idea of a Euphree Stellar Falcon for strictly commuting. Cadence OR torque sensor. So far it ticks all the boxes for commuting. I was foolishly trying to just have a one and done ebike that could haul my wife on weekends and do commuting during the work week, but that no longer seems like a wise idea.

 

[indianajo]

I've been warning posters on here since 2017 they do not want a 20" x 2" tire bike. Not unless they live in perfect pavement (west) Germany. And 3" up tires adict the riderto the battery. With those draggy tires power fails you call a tow truck. I've ridden my bike 25 miles unpowered after rain took out the throttle. I made sure to buy a 26" wheel cargo bike to solve the flying over the handlebars problem of MTB's and cruisers built after 1990. "Fast steering" ****s.
I saw 2 kids flying on 3" wheeled scooters Sunday. But when I was 12 I felt no pain. Bent their knees, probably, and did not sit down.
Posters keep telling me I need a mid-drive to cope with hills. ???? 70 hills on my weekly commute to summer house each way. No rental bikes here but rear hub drives, so I will never know. I have front geared hub. 12000 miles of ignorance of what I am missing.
One thing that surprised me about a $2000 Yuba bike, I do not have to adjust the derailleur and brakes 4 or 6 times a year. Steel cables do not stretch. I was riding discount store bikes before because I am small and they fit me. But the alleged steel and aluminum in those bikes is scrap. I had to scrap a Pacific Quantum because the plastic crank arms wore out in 2.5 years and would not come off. But being thrown over the handlebars 6 times in 10 years really teed me off about fast steering.

 

[Charles Kirkland]

The direct drive front hub motor on my trike is working out great for my intended use. I bought a 48v 14ah blue battery that I was going to use as a second battery till I could get a 48v 120 or bigger, but so far it's doing fine for me. I run it between 8 and 14mph. It's 20" and rears ar 24. Hub motor won't work anyways, they are what I looked at first.

 

[Elyot919]

So it sounds like you're looking for some input on modifying your Lectric XP 3, Gene. What kind of mods are you thinking of? Maybe something to improve the brakes or gears?

And wow, 70 miles already! You must be loving the electric bike experience. By the way, have you considered adding some blinking lights to your bike for increased visibility? It can make a big difference, especially at night.

 

[kevinmccune]

I only wonder @sc00ter how you would feel on a proper 28" or 29" wheel e-bike

what about a 30 or 32" there is an area of diminishing returns on wheel sizes( velociped calling) what i have found tire construction and proper sizing of tires makes a lot of difference,the 26 ers have been around forever and the seating ,pedal placement and whatnot make quite a difference.,i rode a 26" with skinner tires through a trail (i will no longer ride on due to trail bike damage) and a 27.5" with a bit wider tires, the 27.5 handled a lot better on that crappy road( wasnt near as concerned about taking a spill) of all the ebikes i have owned the one i regret getting rid of was a 26" inch fattire beachcruiser( it was as long as a chrysler) so each to their own a feminazi bike shop worker extolled the virtues of her 29" vs 27.5" bike on what she termed a bike friendly city( bike friendly in her estimation anyway,imo not to compare with the west coast works.) so over a period of time people will gravitate to what works for them. one advantage of smaller wheels besides torque is closer to the ground in case of a spill.

 

[kevinmccune]

I've been warning posters on here since 2017 they do not want a 20" x 2" tire bike. Not unless they live in perfect pavement (west) Germany. And 3" up tires adict the riderto the battery. With those draggy tires power fails you call a tow truck. I've ridden my bike 25 miles unpowered after rain took out the throttle. I made sure to buy a 26" wheel cargo bike to solve the flying over the handlebars problem of MTB's and cruisers built after 1990. "Fast steering" ****s.
I saw 2 kids flying on 3" wheeled scooters Sunday. But when I was 12 I felt no pain. Bent their knees, probably, and did not sit down.
Posters keep telling me I need a mid-drive to cope with hills. ???? 70 hills on my weekly commute to summer house each way. No rental bikes here but rear hub drives, so I will never know. I have front geared hub. 12000 miles of ignorance of what I am missing.
One thing that surprised me about a $2000 Yuba bike, I do not have to adjust the derailleur and brakes 4 or 6 times a year. Steel cables do not stretch. I was riding discount store bikes before because I am small and they fit me. But the alleged steel and aluminum in those bikes is scrap. I had to scrap a Pacific Quantum because the plastic crank arms wore out in 2.5 years and would not come off. But being thrown over the handlebars 6 times in 10 years really teed me off about fast steering.

what the middrivers do not consider is this,gearing does not increase power it only increases torque, the power is the power,your torque may increase at the expense of speed,if you do not have the power to begin with gearing will not completely compensate( no substitute for cubic inches) the torque sensor middrive i had didnt impress me at all,i am always willing to put in the extra ,long grades ask for,might be slow going up can scream down the other side.

 

[BigNerd]

I have this same effect going between my Espin and Aventon, both 27.5" but different dynamics and it depends on the trail for which is my favorite. That's why the rule is N+1!

 

[teskow]

what the middrivers do not consider is this,gearing does not increase power it only increases torque, the power is the power,your torque may increase at the expense of speed,if you do not have the power to begin with gearing will not completely compensate( no substitute for cubic inches) the torque sensor middrive i had didnt impress me at all,i am always willing to put in the extra ,long grades ask for,might be slow going up can scream down the other side.

This is sort of what we experienced as young men was that our cars did not go faster by going to overdrive but in fact would slow down. Diminishing returns for gearing up.

 

[kevinmccune]

you guys get it back in the day a 300 hp detroit diesel wouldnt out climb an "high torque rise" 283 hp mack and you disnt have to row through 18 gears with the mack,5 was sufficient it saved the driver a ton of work.