Hi James! That's exciting, the Stromer bikes are definitely higher end and the
ST1 Platinum can reach those higher speeds and go further with pedal assist and regenerative braking. Great choice for speed, efficiency, low center of gravity and getting some exercise
Your commute is pretty serious there, 50 miles round trip (I'm assuming daily?) is quite the ride and it's awesome that you'll be doing it so efficiently with an ebike. You mentioned that it's all on backroads, are these smooth pavement or dirt roads? I ask because the ST1 seems to offer a front suspension fork that could come in handy on rough terrain (or even just for the length of your ride). I've been riding ebikes to work for quite a while, just five miles one way, and the speed and repetition can start to wear on you after a bit. This is why I sort of switched to the full suspension models after a while (and because I've been involved in some car accidents and skiing accidents when I was younger). Have you seen this video? It sort of covers my commute which is partially done on dirt trails and it shows the bike I've been using.
As far as the higher speed, I don't know the laws in Canada but if you ride safe it shouldn't be an issue. The Stromers look like regular electric bikes and you could be pedaling 27+ pedal only (with any bike) so it's hard to tell whether you're really breaking a law. Also, the gearless hub motor is so quiet, it's unlikely to raise the same kind of concerns that a
Stealth ebike would for example, because those look huge and are louder. In all my time riding regular bikes and now riding ebikes to work, I've been pulled over by police twice and it was on my non-electric road bike (Specialized Tarmac Expert) for running stop signs... and I got a warning both times (they were side streets after all and I did slow down... a bit). Pardon my show and tell picture here.
Maybe it was the "arrest me red" paint job? Anyway, your real question was focused on how well the Stromer ST1 Elite would hold up over all of those miles and in the wet rainy conditions. The ST1 Platinum has an
amazing warranty with 3 years on the frame and 2 on the battery and motor (that's the official word). Depending on where you buy the bike you could get an even better 10 year warranty on the frame and 3 years on the battery and motor, as seen with
NYCeWheels out of New York. So that's a pretty confident statement but you'd still have to deal with shipping it back and trying to get support which is no fun.
My own experience with ebikes in Austin, riding in the rain, is that some parts are more vulnerable. One time I just got drenched (and I park my ebike inside the garage so this was on my way home) and the LCD computer buttons stopped working correctly. I took the bike to my local shop and they replaced the LCD and the battery pack. I got special treatment because they are my friends and I had purchased several bikes there... and I run this site and the company wanted my experience to be great, but the truth is it can happen. After that I was more careful to cover the LCD monitor with a ziploc bag and just try to avoid harsh weather. I won't say the brand of ebike that was but it was before my
Easy Motion Neo Jumper which never had an issue. It's hard for me to comment on the ST1 Platinum specifically with regard to water but given how integrated their battery is with the rubber seal and side-mount on the downtube, I think you'd be in good shape. Also, the electronics are pretty modular so you could swap one out for another if it had an issue.
One of the other components I've had break on an ebike is the rear rack. It was a bike with the battery that was mounted on the rack and the weight and vibration over time (especially at higher speeds) just caused the metal tubing to crack. I got good support from the local shop and they replaced the frame but I had to find another way to get to work for two weeks. Another time my twist throttle stopped working because I would let it go after accelerating and it would snap back (based on the spring inside) and that just wore out the wiring or something over time, I don't let go of the throttle like that anymore (and the Stromer ST1 Platinum doesn't even have a throttle so it's a null point here). The other issue I've had is getting the occasional flat tire, and if it's on the rear and you have a hub motor it's more work to fix. Always check your tire pressure, keep it high, consider tire liners if/when a flat comes, consider kevlar-lined tires.
Given all of the ebikes I've ridden, the one that seems the most water-tight is the
Specialized Turbo. It has a wireless control unit that to the gearless hub motor and the buttons are completely rubberized. The battery pack is tight and overall there is just such a high attention to detail. It also has the higher speeds and is mainly pedal assist but also has a throttle mode that you can activate. Of course, it's much more expensive than the ST1 Platinum and the two bikes are actually very similar in terms of design but you can't get the Turbo with a suspension fork. It does have thru-axels though which is nice for durability at high speeds and long range. Specialized also has a vast network of dealers to fix any issues that crop up.
Another great brand is
OHM and I think they are based in Canada? They do a lot of rental fleets and hold up really well. I think the benefit of having the company nearby and a shop that can support you well is a big deal. I'm not sure how bike savvy you are (but you must be decent if you're planning to ride that far). Electric Bikes just get ridden so much more and so much further and harder due to the speeds and weight. They are bound to require more maintenance but in my experience it is truly worth it for the efficiency, fitness and connection with community. I'm stoked to hear you're about to jump in and I think you'll be happy with it but this whole huge post is meant to openly disclose the issues I've had over the years.
