Wanted, step through, thumb throttle, IGH best but SS or 7speed OK.

[tomjasz]

2 years ago I gifted a KHS Smoothie, 48V TSDZ2, 48V EM3ev Dolphin battery to a 70 y/o fellow living on $600/month Social Security. Living in a boat house without transportation was miserable. The bike meant he could easily shop for heating fuel, water, groceries, and have a modicum of freedom to move about. Today while parked at the public library some asshat decided he needed the bike more than my friend. Leaving him back on his feet and again depending on others mercies for rides and shopping. A deflating life event. I’ve heard scores of times how much of a life changer the eBike was for him. He looks and feels healthier, cleaner, and in much improved spirits. My best solution should the bike be unrecoverable is to give him my wife’s KHS Smoothie step through leaving her bike less.

I’m thinking I don’t want to do another build but would prefer a built bike. Step through, one speed would actually be great, IGH next best, thumb throttle a must. I was ready to go for a Rad Power for $2K but hate dangerous, IMO & IME, twist throttles. Battery must be a Reention made case that is readily available. The more I look the more discouraged I become and thinking I may be building again. Sadly my friend Arthur Itis has severely crippled my hands and back making work positioning and wrenching painful. Two trikes now sit in the wings unfinished. My helpers are great fellas but trying to impart and share years of build experience with n00bs is for me very frustrating and actually costly give the silly mistakes and miscues.

So! He needs a bike and so will she. Off the shelf ideas?

 

[PatriciaK]

Espin Flow has been a wonderful bike for me - step through, thumb throttle. They also have a single speed model (Aero, not step through). REI will service the bike as needed; they even did some warranty work, which Espin reimbursed me for:

Espin ebike | Buy the best step-through ebike

Espin offers specialized commuter/all-terrain fat tire electric bikes at affordable price. Shop an ebike with throttle and pedal assist to fit your life style.

www.espinbikes.com

 

[tomjasz]

Espin Flow has been a wonderful bike for me - step through, thumb throttle. They also have a single speed model (Aero, not step through). REI will service the bike as needed; they even did some warranty work, which Espin reimbursed me for:

Espin ebike | Buy the best step-through ebike

Espin offers specialized commuter/all-terrain fat tire electric bikes at affordable price. Shop an ebike with throttle and pedal assist to fit your life style.

www.espinbikes.com

Is the flow a thumb throttle? Any idea who made the motor? Battery easily replaced? THANKS!!!

 

[Gordon71]

Curious why you say Rads throttle is dangerous? Never had a problem with mine. I did sort of turn it into a thumb throttle by adding a cheap ring that I work with just my thumb as I find it easier to use than twisting it with my wrist.

 

[AHicks]

Tom, if you can hold off for just a bit, we'll be in the midst of Black Friday season. That's just about the perfect time to pick up a bike on the cheap (real cheap). If the recent RAD Rover sale (700. off) is any indicator, it might be a good time to pick one up.

We have 3 Espins (2 Flows and a Sport that's no longer available). The first Flow (2020 model) used a 500w Bafang, but they went to a knock off (that seems to be doing just fine) for '21. Batteries appear to be Reention types, easily removable. Thumb throttle for sure. Our first was purchased on a Black Friday sale for 1199 or 1299, and we fell in love with it. At 55lbs all up there was nothing left to not like. Perfect example of a no frills plain vanilla bike using all non proprietary parts....

Decent OEM support.

I did convert all 3 of these to KT, if for no other reason than we are spoiled. Waterproof KT 22a is a tight fit below the battery, but it does fit.

 

[tomjasz]

Curious why you say Rads throttle is dangerous? Never had a problem with mine. I did sort of turn it into a thumb throttle by adding a cheap ring that I work with just my thumb as I find it easier to use than twisting it with my wrist.

Personalnear mishaps and years of customer mishaps. Fogot to turn the power off? And move the bike inadvertently hit the throttle and...CRASH

Never had an issue with my motorccle and Vespa but I never moved them dismountd with the motor on.
YMMV! I'm glad you've not had a mishap!

 

[PatriciaK]

Tom, if you can hold off for just a bit, we'll be in the midst of Black Friday season. That's just about the perfect time to pick up a bike on the cheap (real cheap). If the recent RAD Rover sale (700. off) is any indicator, it might be a good time to pick one up.

We have 3 Espins (2 Flows and a Sport that's no longer available). The first Flow (2020 model) used a 500w Bafang, but they went to a knock off (that seems to be doing just fine) for '21. Batteries appear to be Reention types, easily removable. Thumb throttle for sure. Our first was purchased on a Black Friday sale for 1199 or 1299, and we fell in love with it. At 55lbs all up there was nothing left to not like. Perfect example of a no frills plain vanilla bike using all non proprietary parts....

Decent OEM support.

I did convert all 3 of these to KT, if for no other reason than we are spoiled. Waterproof KT 22a is a tight fit below the battery, but it does fit.

I have the 21 model of the Flow - definitely thumb throttle, and zero problems with the motor, though I can't tell you off the top of my head what make it is...

 

[Gordon71]

Personalnear mishaps and years of customer mishaps. Fogot to turn the power off? And move the bike inadvertently hit the throttle and...CRASH

Never had an issue with my motorccle and Vespa but I never moved them dismountd with the motor on.
YMMV! I'm glad you've not had a mishap!

Interesting. So what happens if you accidentally hit a thumb throttle while moving a bike with the motor on? For what it's worth, the first thing I do when I'm done riding is lower the kickstand and turn off the battery. Then I push it threw the door into my garage or, if not home, move it to wherever I'm going to park it.

 

[PatriciaK]

Interesting. So what happens if you accidentally hit a thumb throttle while moving a bike with the motor on? For what it's worth, the first thing I do when I'm done riding is lower the kickstand and turn off the battery. Then I push it threw the door into my garage or, if not home, move it to wherever I'm going to park it.

I think the thumb throttle is more difficult to accidentally engage, due to its placement. A twist throttle is right where you hold the handlebars when pushing, so would be more of an issue.

 

[Gordon71]

I just did a search for fun trying to find if most throttle equipped bikes use twist or thumb. If they are mostly twist I thought that might explain more mishaps but I didn't find that info. Did find this though.

Electric Bike Throttles: Twist Vs Thumb - Which Is Best?

Discover the pros and cons of twist throttle vs. thumb throttle for your electric bike. Uncover which throttle type is best suited for your riding style and preferences.

reallygoodebikes.com

 

[AHicks]

Interesting. So what happens if you accidentally hit a thumb throttle while moving a bike with the motor on? For what it's worth, the first thing I do when I'm done riding is lower the kickstand and turn off the battery. Then I push it threw the door into my garage or, if not home, move it to wherever I'm going to park it.

Gordon, if it's working out for you, I'm fine with that. The twist throttles are notorious for another reason too. If you loose your balance going up a hill or something, you can't easily let go of it without being ejected off the back of it. It's impossible to let go of (climbing a hill one handed?), and it generally goes to wide open throttle. Sound crazy? Talk to somebody that it's happened to (like me). I went for an unscheduled ride through the woods one day because of it. Lesson learned here....

 

[Gordon71]

I think the thumb throttle is more difficult to accidentally engage, due to its placement. A twist throttle is right where you hold the handlebars when pushing, so would be more of an issue.

I thought that too but then realized that throttles twist backwards not forwards.

 

[Gordon71]

Gordon, if it's working out for you, I'm fine with that. The twist throttles are notorious for another reason too. If you loose your balance going up a hill or something, you can't easily let go of it without being ejected off the back of it. It's impossible to let go of (climbing a hill one handed?), and it generally goes to wide open throttle. Sound crazy? Talk to somebody that it's happened to (like me). I went for an unscheduled ride through the woods one day because of it. Lesson learned here....

I thought of that too which is one of the reasons I added the little gadget so I only use my thumb to activate the twist throttle.

 

[tomjasz]

So what happens if you accidentally hit a thumb throttle

The thumb throttle on my bikes isn’t near my grab spot. It’s 6 or more inches inboard.

 

[tomjasz]

I just did a search for fun trying to find if most throttle equipped bikes use twist or thumb. If they are mostly twist I thought that might explain more mishaps but I didn't find that info. Did find this though.

Electric Bike Throttles: Twist Vs Thumb - Which Is Best?

Discover the pros and cons of twist throttle vs. thumb throttle for your electric bike. Uncover which throttle type is best suited for your riding style and preferences.

reallygoodebikes.com

Most kit sales by a vast majority are thumb throttles.