AREM
New Member
First of all, I'm not writing this editorial to undermine or discredit the e-bike industry. Far from it, considering I just bought my first e-bike three weeks ago and fully intend to buy another for my fiancée once her therapy treatments are completed and just before we go on vacation.
Being a newbie to the fraternity of electric cycling, I approached the industry with both curiousity and suspicion. As a senior, I seen more than my share of fads, fanaticisms, band-wagons and social 'paradigm' shifts to keep me wary of 'all things new are supposedly better' mantra. For me, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
But being a senior also means having to deal with debilitating infirmities like arthritis, less stamina, muscle atrophy and just pain in general. So e-bikes seemed an obvious choice for people like me who still want to be active - albeit limited - get outdoors, be mobile and still have some fun dammit.
So in researching which e-bikes would be suitable for me and my gal, we both watched countless hours of tutorials, testimonials and demonstrations of all things e-bike on YouTube. Then three weeks ago, we attended the Cycle and E-Bike Convention in Toronto, held at the International Centre. The one peculiarity I began to see was the striking similarity of so many e-bike models. Other than cosmetics, a rack here, a fat tire there, many of the bikes seemed like they came from the same factory somewhere in China...oh say it ain't so!
The final proof to my suspicions came when the dealer I bought my e-bike from didn't provide me the requisite paperwork one normally gets with their purchase. I pressed them, badgered them and cajoled them for a manual, warranty, receipt, etc. not to mention some identification on the make, model, serial number and so they relented and gave me their own vendor invoice. So now I knew who the Chinese manufacturer was, how much they paid - in USD - and even shipping costs but still no paperwork associated with my purchase.
Anyway, I checked out the manufacturer - nice e-bikes, e-trikes, electric scooters and electric motorcycles. BUT, they all look like knock-offs of so many other e-bikes and the likes.
So I'm thinking, could it be that some ambitious entrepreneur decides to go into the e-bike business but doesn't want to deal with designing, engineering and manufacturing a brand new - from the ground up - e-bike and just orders a container or two of several already to go models of generic e-bikes. When they arrive, they assemble them, jazz them up, accessorize them, change a things like batteries, front ends - with or without suspension, some cosmetics...and viola: their own 'exclusive' line of NEW e-Bikes for Court to test.
Seriously, that's what the dealer did with my new e-bike. They kind of admitted it to me...a slip of the tongue so to speak. They even removed all identifying features, decals and marking - they forgot to apply their dealer insignia logo or decals to my bike before the bike show.
If many of you are honest, you can't help but notice stark (not the e-bike model) similarities between most models of e-bikes. NOT ALL, but most.
But this is not a bad thing. Look at cars. Notice any similarities?
As I said earlier...if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Working with established tried and tested designs and features is just smart manufacturing. That's why we old people know what's worth our while and what's not. We've been through all the fads. We'll stick to what we know is good.
Being a newbie to the fraternity of electric cycling, I approached the industry with both curiousity and suspicion. As a senior, I seen more than my share of fads, fanaticisms, band-wagons and social 'paradigm' shifts to keep me wary of 'all things new are supposedly better' mantra. For me, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
But being a senior also means having to deal with debilitating infirmities like arthritis, less stamina, muscle atrophy and just pain in general. So e-bikes seemed an obvious choice for people like me who still want to be active - albeit limited - get outdoors, be mobile and still have some fun dammit.
So in researching which e-bikes would be suitable for me and my gal, we both watched countless hours of tutorials, testimonials and demonstrations of all things e-bike on YouTube. Then three weeks ago, we attended the Cycle and E-Bike Convention in Toronto, held at the International Centre. The one peculiarity I began to see was the striking similarity of so many e-bike models. Other than cosmetics, a rack here, a fat tire there, many of the bikes seemed like they came from the same factory somewhere in China...oh say it ain't so!
The final proof to my suspicions came when the dealer I bought my e-bike from didn't provide me the requisite paperwork one normally gets with their purchase. I pressed them, badgered them and cajoled them for a manual, warranty, receipt, etc. not to mention some identification on the make, model, serial number and so they relented and gave me their own vendor invoice. So now I knew who the Chinese manufacturer was, how much they paid - in USD - and even shipping costs but still no paperwork associated with my purchase.
Anyway, I checked out the manufacturer - nice e-bikes, e-trikes, electric scooters and electric motorcycles. BUT, they all look like knock-offs of so many other e-bikes and the likes.
So I'm thinking, could it be that some ambitious entrepreneur decides to go into the e-bike business but doesn't want to deal with designing, engineering and manufacturing a brand new - from the ground up - e-bike and just orders a container or two of several already to go models of generic e-bikes. When they arrive, they assemble them, jazz them up, accessorize them, change a things like batteries, front ends - with or without suspension, some cosmetics...and viola: their own 'exclusive' line of NEW e-Bikes for Court to test.
Seriously, that's what the dealer did with my new e-bike. They kind of admitted it to me...a slip of the tongue so to speak. They even removed all identifying features, decals and marking - they forgot to apply their dealer insignia logo or decals to my bike before the bike show.
If many of you are honest, you can't help but notice stark (not the e-bike model) similarities between most models of e-bikes. NOT ALL, but most.
But this is not a bad thing. Look at cars. Notice any similarities?
As I said earlier...if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Working with established tried and tested designs and features is just smart manufacturing. That's why we old people know what's worth our while and what's not. We've been through all the fads. We'll stick to what we know is good.
. 
