beakemhawks
New Member
- Region
- USA
I'm new to looking at electric bikes and currently considering either the Electra Vale, Trek Verve3, or RadCity...all step thrus. The RadCity is clearly less expensive. Any opinions to share??
Which bike to choose?
- Thread starter beakemhawks
- Start date
Dewey
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Arlington, Virginia
The RadCity uses a direct drive hub motor so depending on how hilly it is where you live you might be better off with either of the other two which use Bosch mid-drive motors. Also the other two can be bought and serviced from a Trek bike shop or REI store.
Alaskan
Well-Known Member
Rad is serviced by you or at your expense at a local bike shop that may or may not be willing to work on it. You call their toll free number, they diagnose based on what you tell them and they send you the part to swap out.
The Electra and Verve will do way better on hills and give you a more natural bicycle feel, rather than the sensation of being pushed along from behind. Both Trek and REI provide excellent local bike repair service in many locations. That can be in valuable and well worth the added cost to many of us.
The Electra and Verve will do way better on hills and give you a more natural bicycle feel, rather than the sensation of being pushed along from behind. Both Trek and REI provide excellent local bike repair service in many locations. That can be in valuable and well worth the added cost to many of us.
I almost bought a Rad City but then realized the motor puts out 1/2 the torque of the Rad Rover so it's not as good on hills. 1800 miles later I've been very happy with the Rover.
Alaskan
Well-Known Member
The issue with the Rad or any other rear hub drive bike versus mid drive bikes become more relevant if you live in an area with lots of hills and climbing. A mid drive motor amplifies it stated torque because it adds its effort to yours AT THE PEDALS utilizing the leverage of the gear box along with your legs. A hub drive applies its power/torque at the wheel so it is what it is. This is whey a lower power mid drive bike can climb a long hill without overheating and shutting down.
indianajo
Well-Known Member
There is no leverage in 98% of bikes. The sprockets speed up the rotation of the pedals, not increase the torque. A few expensive mountain bikes have 36, 42 , or 48 tooth rear sprockets that will increase torque.
Mid drives can climb 1000' without overheating because the design of a geared hub drive retains the heat inside. Mid drives cool better. I ride a geared hub drive over 80 hills on my 30 mile commute without problems, but only climb 200' overall. Bosch mid drives except the most expensive, require power at all times to not drag on the crank. All mid drives require chain replacement 1.5 to 4 times as often as my hub drive. I got 5000 miles, 2 1/2 years, out of my first 8 speed chain before the Park gauge said to replace it.
In agreement with buying a bike from a dealer. They mostly sort out the brands that require service over & over again. Like the lady in Scotland that took her free warrenty spoke from Rad four times to a local bike shop for pay installation and truing service.
fooferdoggie
Well-Known Member
its not just heat its that mid drives are running closer to their ideal rpms because of the gearing. but I got 3000 miles out of my last 10 speed chain and the drag even on the last gen bosch drive train is the weight of a Allen wrench (I have posted a video of it) not enough to effect anything. 200 feet of climbing is not much I have done over 1000 in less then 2 miles with 16% and 20%+ grades. I i have climbed for a hour on our e tandem before with 7% + grade.
DevilinaBluDress
New Member
- Region
- USA
New Electra Vale Go EQ S owner here. It's a fabulous bike. I highly recommend! I originally bought a Verve2, but returned it for the Vale which, for me, was more stable and easier to use.
PedalUma
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Petaluma, CA
The electric Electra cannot take a hill and changing a rear flat is a pain. Hub motors make the tail of the bike heavy. It is much easier to pop on a new chain every once in a while on a mid-drive than to deal with a hub-drive. I know a guy, Michael who had a voucher worth $1500 and purchased an Electra with it. He retuned it the next day because it cannot go up hills. He got a Class 3 mid-drive with a torque sensor and is super happy.
PatriciaK
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Pacific Northwest and Piedmont Triad
It depends on the terrain you'll be riding most. I have a mid drive that's perfect for the very hilly area where I live on the west coast, and a hub drive that's perfect for the smaller, rolling hills where our part time home in the east coast is. The mid drive was purchased from my LBS; the hub drive purchased online. I'm very happy with both bikes, but know the hub drive could not handle the west coast hills without heating up and sucking the battery dry. so, both bikes are perfect... For where they are being ridden 
.
Also, my "bike mechanic" is a mechanical engineer with electrical experience, so I don't have to worry about any problems that might arise with my hub drive - though, so far, the manufacturer has been very responsive to the few, minor issues I've had.
.Also, my "bike mechanic" is a mechanical engineer with electrical experience, so I don't have to worry about any problems that might arise with my hub drive - though, so far, the manufacturer has been very responsive to the few, minor issues I've had.
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Both are lower end bikes which are way overpriced. Low end components, no suspension, lower tier motors in the $3k+ range is horrible in terms of value.
For that price range look for powerfly 4, it is a way better bike with better components, stronger motor, much more versatile and clearance for improvements, faster rolling tires etc if you like.
I can't comment on Rad but I suggest you to ride one first. Depending on where you ride it can work great in that case I don't see any reason for not going for it.
steve mercier
Well-Known Member
Since the mid drives you mentioned have Bosch motors If you can find a way to get a bike with a Performance or even better a Performance CX motor I am confident you will be very satisfied for many years and miles of hills. . Performance CX motor example =https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/.../allant-7-lowstep/p/30919/?colorCode=bluedark. Performance motor example= https://electra.trekbikes.com/us/en...10d-eq-step-thru/p/26948/?colorCode=greylight
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Alaskan
Well-Known Member
Not accurate info. The Electra Vale has a Bosch mid drive motor.
Vale Go! 9D EQ S - Electra Bikes
Discover your next great ride with Vale Go! 9D EQ. See the bike and visit your local Trek retailer. Shop now!
electra.trekbikes.com
PedalUma
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Petaluma, CA
As soon as I pressed Post reply I realized my screw up but lost the thread to edit it.Not accurate info. The Electra Vale has a Bosch mid drive motor.
Vale Go! 9D EQ S - Electra Bikes
Discover your next great ride with Vale Go! 9D EQ. See the bike and visit your local Trek retailer. Shop now!
Sorry and thanks for checking me. The Vale is nice.
The Townie GO! was etched upon my mind with the weight high and to the rear.
JimFMB
Active Member
My wife has the Electra Vale EQ9 S. It has the Kiox display which I prefer over the smarthub that is on my
Allant 8S. It has the new Bosh Class 3 performance line Sport Motor. The tires and wheels do not appear any different than those on my Allant. The Allant though has nicer components, but would not consider the components on the Vale to be cheap or problematic. I am also a big proponent of the relaxed pedal forward design on the Vale.
Allant 8S. It has the new Bosh Class 3 performance line Sport Motor. The tires and wheels do not appear any different than those on my Allant. The Allant though has nicer components, but would not consider the components on the Vale to be cheap or problematic. I am also a big proponent of the relaxed pedal forward design on the Vale.
beakemhawks
New Member
- Region
- USA
Thank you all for the input. I went with the Electra Vale and love it!! It’s great on hills, which we have some monstrous size in our area, and let’s me enjoy rides with my husband. Thanks to this fabulous bike and my new padded bike shorts, I’m really racking up the miles! 
st0ut
Member
- Region
- USA
I did the same thing and deleted it. I have a non electric Electra townie and it is NOT a climber. its not the motor n that bike its the geometry.
Having said that it is my preferred ride to the the shops in my town centre. 1/2 mile away.
AHicks
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Snow Bird - Summer S.E. Michigan, Winter Gulf Coast North Central Fl.
Not going to disagree with most of your thought here. There's only one piece I struggle with a bit, and that's regarding the idea of a hub drive "pushing the bike from behind". I've ridden direct drive, geared hub drive, and mid drive and failed to note one bit of that sensation.
Further, other than the very unusual 2 wheel and front wheel drives, my thought is ALL 3 types drive the bike forward using the the rear tire.
Agree with everyone regarding the direct drive type rear hubs and hills. The more you weigh, the worse they work. -Al
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