This is the $2k E-Bike Oprah Loves

e-boy

Well-Known Member
https://www.bicycling.com/bikes-gear/a22884907/oprahs-favorite-things-story-electric-bike/

fullsizeoutput_416.jpeg
 
Oprah has a huge following, and is a great example of grit and creativity for her fans. Wonderful that she is joining Martha in promoting ebikes! :)

Here's the website for the bike on Oprah's list: https://storybicycles.com/pages/the-story

My only thought in looking over the website is that there seems not to be any information on customer service, except for returns--no information on parts, maintenance, servicing, etc.

I hope she and those on her gift list enjoy ebiking. :)
 
Last edited:
"My Santa Barbara neighbor makes this battery-powered beauty.
I love mine because (a) I can pedal up to 20 miles per hour and (b) for every one sold, a nonelectric model is donated to a person in Africa, South America, or Southeast Asia." - Oprah
 
Wow! That's the first ebike I've seen that at a first glance I could not tell it was an ebike. So how do you replace the battery? Is there a secret hatch on the down tube to remove and replace? BTW, I like it a lot.
 
36v 7 ah battery. In this case function follows form.
Yet the bike still gets a 35-45mph range which is quite similar to bikes with bigger batteries like 48v 10.4+Ah. Probably because it is lighter (only 33lbs) and more aerodynamic (with the hidden battery) than the others.
 
The cynic in me says she did not shop around for an e-bike, but Story supplied it to her. Clever marketing. Regardless, great that they will donate a bike for every sale.
 
Wow! That's the first ebike I've seen that at a first glance I could not tell it was an ebike. So how do you replace the battery? Is there a secret hatch on the down tube to remove and replace? BTW, I like it a lot.

You don't. In two or three years when your battery is dead and the manufacturer is no longer in business you throw the whole thing away since it is cheaper than trying to get a third party to find a solution. How green is that? :)
 
All the ebike manufacturers lie. I have yet to ride an ebike even with a 17Ah battery that met the max spec range. Not even close no matter what. But because of the low weight and better aero that bike might.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
You don't. In two or three years when your battery is dead and the manufacturer is no longer in business you throw the whole thing away since it is cheaper than trying to get a third party to find a solution. How green is that? :)
Are you saying they don't use lithium batteries or something else? Cause I don't care even if they are in business or not, cause I can replace those Li batteries with my own.
 
You don't. In two or three years when your battery is dead and the manufacturer is no longer in business you throw the whole thing away since it is cheaper than trying to get a third party to find a solution. How green is that? :)

When I was first looking for ebikes I met more than one person who had an ebike graveyard in their garage with just this sort of thing going on. The limited-shelf-life ebike seems to be a thing. I hope that with time it will become clearer to consumers what products have longevity and what don't, and that companies that provide a durable bike with long-term servicing and parts will be those that survive and thrive.
 
Are you saying they don't use lithium batteries or something else? Cause I don't care even if they are in business or not, cause I can replace those Li batteries with my own.

I think the reality is that if it's hard to replace a battery due to a particular special shape, ordinary folks are unlikely to come up with creative solutions. There are companies that re-pack batteries, but is it correct that they can't ship them? I think it's tough for the ordinary person to keep an ebike maintained if the original motor or battery dies and the manufacturer doesn't sell replacement parts or provide service. For those who are mechanically inclined, much more is possible, of course!! :)
 
I think the reality is that if it's hard to replace a battery due to a particular special shape, ordinary folks are unlikely to come up with creative solutions. There are companies that re-pack batteries, but is it correct that they can't ship them? I think it's tough for the ordinary person to keep an ebike maintained if the original motor or battery dies and the manufacturer doesn't sell replacement parts or provide service. For those who are mechanically inclined, much more is possible, of course!! :)
Nope. You can do yourself any shape Li battery you could possibly want.
https://vruzend.com/
 
You don't. In two or three years when your battery is dead and the manufacturer is no longer in business you throw the whole thing away since it is cheaper than trying to get a third party to find a solution. How green is that? :)
Lol. That was my fear with ebikes. So I tried to shop around to find companies that had a good reputation. I settled on the electric bike company, Model S. I've liked it, and company seems solid.
 
The battery building "kit" is a great idea but I don't think the cells will fit in any OEM enclosure w/ all that hardware
 
The battery building "kit" is a great idea but I don't think the cells will fit in any OEM enclosure w/ all that hardware
I think the cells will fit... looking at the down tube I bet 4 cell sections could go in there at a time. The question is how many 4 cell sections as I don't know how much empty length is in there. And if that fails we get to use the soldering iron. Either way, all the batteries of every ebike ever invented are replaceable.
 
Wow! That's the first ebike I've seen that at a first glance I could not tell it was an ebike. So how do you replace the battery? Is there a secret hatch on the down tube to remove and replace? BTW, I like it a lot.
I realize this is an old post, but I came here to research this earlier and thought others would find the company answer helpful. The battery can be removed for replacement, but not easily on a daily basis. You have to remove the fork, but there is a port behind the emblem.
 
Back