Guess I'll be the contrarian on this topic. I've considered e-bikes and decided not to get one. I used to commute to work on an standard pedal power bicycle. After the second time I was wrecked by someone opening a car door in front of me as I was passing, I gave that up. I could not give those cars any wider clearance because of car traffic whizzing past on my left. The second event had the car's driver standing over me shouting as I lay on the pavement trying to figure out if any bones were broken. He was yelling at me about damaging his car!
So, Mike, by all means get one yourself and enjoy riding on the bike trails, measure to your hearts content and share the results with us, but do be really, really cautious riding near parked cars or in automobile traffic.
I have a 2019 iZIP dual suspension emtb. It has a 500 watt Bosch battery and Bosch Performance Line CX Mid-drive motor rated at 90nm torque. 11 speed derailleur and 4 level controller (Economy, Tour, EMTB, Turbo).
I am a full-time RVer and charge the battery regularly with my two 100w Renogy panels thru my two 100ah Renogy LifePo4 batteries and a 400w Bestek inverter.
Using mostly Tour level but occasionally EMTB and on really steep (17° degree) hills TURBO. (EMTB allows the bike to shift in 3 modes from tour, EMTB thru TURBO).
I have gotten 80 miles on a charge on almost all just slightly off level rolling paved bike paths in Boise, taking the battery into the 20% range market. Usually I easily get in the 40 to 60 mile range on variable Oregon logging roads. I am averaging 800 miles per year so far.
I am currently 74 years old with a (finally) receding beer belly.
iZip was bought by Raleigh in its first years and the name is no longer used. The closest I've seen in design and power are TREK EMTB models with dual suspension.
My bike is a Class 1 pedelec which means the motor only supplies assistance when the pedals are being used (there is no throttle) and is calibrated to limit assist after 21mph. I could send a data sheet from the mgr of I knew where to email it.
This may be the best investment I've made fun and health wise.
I have a “lectric” brand folding bike. I opted for the long range battery which is supposed to give you about 60 miles range. Obviously this dependent on the type of riding, the terrain, the riders size and amount of boost you use.
We have RadPower Mini 2's. They are a folding units with fat tires and 500 Watt motor. We have used them for over 100 miles and they have worked great. Had a bit of a Hiccup in the beginning as the electronic system calved, but Rad stepped up to the plate and sent me 2 new ones. They are incremental on power assist, 20% per step and 5 steps. You can ride the bike without using the motor but we have found that if the battery is installed and powered up you seem to be fighting the Motor, as any motor that is being driven is a gen. So if we just ride the bikes, we disconnect the battery.
My wife & I have a pair of Velotric 2 Class 2 bikes. They are heavier than I expected, but after a short learning curve, they are awesome as steep hills just disappear. If I want a work-out, just leave the throttle alone. Dear friends have a pair and recommended them. We also bought Sena helmets w/bluetooth so the four of us can stay connected. The perfect set-up for us.
I’m 70+ years old and still ride my combined mountain or road pedal bike 6-8,000 miles per year. What I find with people that have not ridden a bike in decades and then get an electric bike is they do not know riding etiquette. I say this due to being run off of mountain bike trails twice in the last few years by people on electric bikes. Once by someone going the wrong way on a single track and once after getting clipped from behind going uphill. Electric bike sales should come with mandatory training!
They are way too heavy for me to load up. I thought about it but a friend had one and sold it for that very reason and bought an electric 2 wheeled scooter.
We're "somewhat" sexy seniors, enjoying our Rad City ebikes going on 7 years with most of our 2K miles out on our RV trips (25 foot Class C with dual Kuat MV 2 carrier on the back. We have Sena helmets to safely communicate with one another, ranging up to 1/4 of a mile and have Garmin Varia radar units on the back fender to warn us of oncoming cars approaching within 150 yards from behind (along with rear mirror on our helmets). With bike racks they weigh over 60 pounds each so I generally remove the 8 pound battery before lifting them up on the rack. Whenever possible I park the RV's front tire higher than the back tire so I only have to lift the ebikes about 12 inches to put them back up on the rack. For our CaliforniaTravelVideos YT channel, I'll regularly film using anything from a GoPro to a DJI Pocket 3, along with a Insta360 ONE X3 or Insta360 2S camera. Of course just like driving your RV, we must be careful to pay attention to our surroundings when moving and filming at the same time so I often put my selfie stick inside my shirt or affix the camera to the bike, etc. Happy safe travels!
I have never owned one but I have had experience around them. People who are accustomed to them ride entirely too fast and silently around campgrounds, on non motorized trails and in congested downtown areas. They are fast...and silent... and dangerous to everyone else in my opinion. Older folks on them tend to be a bit less aggressive but put a teenager on one and "look out!!". They travel too fast and too quiet and should be required to be insured and registered if they go on the street. Helmets, lights, turn signals and all the requirements of mopeds and motorcycles. Far too many different types of motorized and electric conveyances on our highways and byways with far too few rules.
We ride almost exclusively on canal paths, roads with almost no traffic, parks, and roads with wide shoulders. I'd not be happy if we were required to buy insurance or a registration. I also am not convinced it would solve the problem with reckless bikers. It sure hasn't with motorcycles.
I have a Como as well, just over 3 years. I recently turned over 3,000 miles. I chose the Como because it fits my large frame. Seldom use anything over level one and I have that dialed down to 10%., mostly I just pedal unless there's a steep hill or wind. On a steep hill I use level 2.
We have 2. My wife has a Bintelli tricycle which has an unusual feature for a trike - the frame articulates so the front wheel leans into turns. Riding it feel more like a traditional bicycle than a trike. I’m on a Trek e-bike. Got it mainly because my knees couldn’t handle hills that well. Range hasn’t been a problem because we rarely take long rides and only use a little assist instead of going full electric.
I want a motor - cycle or bike. small but efficient, easy to lift and store in van or motor vehicle; trail street bike. Also, good enough to have saddle bags and a long seat for two. A good get away in case of emergency.
Guess I'll be the contrarian on this topic. I've considered e-bikes and decided not to get one. I used to commute to work on an standard pedal power bicycle. After the second time I was wrecked by someone opening a car door in front of me as I was passing, I gave that up. I could not give those cars any wider clearance because of car traffic whizzing past on my left. The second event had the car's driver standing over me shouting as I lay on the pavement trying to figure out if any bones were broken. He was yelling at me about damaging his car!
So, Mike, by all means get one yourself and enjoy riding on the bike trails, measure to your hearts content and share the results with us, but do be really, really cautious riding near parked cars or in automobile traffic.
I don’t ride on streets with a bike any more. There’s just too many distracted drivers not paying attention.
I have a 2019 iZIP dual suspension emtb. It has a 500 watt Bosch battery and Bosch Performance Line CX Mid-drive motor rated at 90nm torque. 11 speed derailleur and 4 level controller (Economy, Tour, EMTB, Turbo).
I am a full-time RVer and charge the battery regularly with my two 100w Renogy panels thru my two 100ah Renogy LifePo4 batteries and a 400w Bestek inverter.
Using mostly Tour level but occasionally EMTB and on really steep (17° degree) hills TURBO. (EMTB allows the bike to shift in 3 modes from tour, EMTB thru TURBO).
I have gotten 80 miles on a charge on almost all just slightly off level rolling paved bike paths in Boise, taking the battery into the 20% range market. Usually I easily get in the 40 to 60 mile range on variable Oregon logging roads. I am averaging 800 miles per year so far.
I am currently 74 years old with a (finally) receding beer belly.
iZip was bought by Raleigh in its first years and the name is no longer used. The closest I've seen in design and power are TREK EMTB models with dual suspension.
My bike is a Class 1 pedelec which means the motor only supplies assistance when the pedals are being used (there is no throttle) and is calibrated to limit assist after 21mph. I could send a data sheet from the mgr of I knew where to email it.
This may be the best investment I've made fun and health wise.
Have had one for 4 years now. Use all the time, you will be amazed at how often you use it.
I have a “lectric” brand folding bike. I opted for the long range battery which is supposed to give you about 60 miles range. Obviously this dependent on the type of riding, the terrain, the riders size and amount of boost you use.
We have RadPower Mini 2's. They are a folding units with fat tires and 500 Watt motor. We have used them for over 100 miles and they have worked great. Had a bit of a Hiccup in the beginning as the electronic system calved, but Rad stepped up to the plate and sent me 2 new ones. They are incremental on power assist, 20% per step and 5 steps. You can ride the bike without using the motor but we have found that if the battery is installed and powered up you seem to be fighting the Motor, as any motor that is being driven is a gen. So if we just ride the bikes, we disconnect the battery.
Just curious, about how much difference do you notice in the effort required with the battery disconnected?
My wife & I have a pair of Velotric 2 Class 2 bikes. They are heavier than I expected, but after a short learning curve, they are awesome as steep hills just disappear. If I want a work-out, just leave the throttle alone. Dear friends have a pair and recommended them. We also bought Sena helmets w/bluetooth so the four of us can stay connected. The perfect set-up for us.
I’m 70+ years old and still ride my combined mountain or road pedal bike 6-8,000 miles per year. What I find with people that have not ridden a bike in decades and then get an electric bike is they do not know riding etiquette. I say this due to being run off of mountain bike trails twice in the last few years by people on electric bikes. Once by someone going the wrong way on a single track and once after getting clipped from behind going uphill. Electric bike sales should come with mandatory training!
I converted our tandem into an e-bike.
They are way too heavy for me to load up. I thought about it but a friend had one and sold it for that very reason and bought an electric 2 wheeled scooter.
We're "somewhat" sexy seniors, enjoying our Rad City ebikes going on 7 years with most of our 2K miles out on our RV trips (25 foot Class C with dual Kuat MV 2 carrier on the back. We have Sena helmets to safely communicate with one another, ranging up to 1/4 of a mile and have Garmin Varia radar units on the back fender to warn us of oncoming cars approaching within 150 yards from behind (along with rear mirror on our helmets). With bike racks they weigh over 60 pounds each so I generally remove the 8 pound battery before lifting them up on the rack. Whenever possible I park the RV's front tire higher than the back tire so I only have to lift the ebikes about 12 inches to put them back up on the rack. For our CaliforniaTravelVideos YT channel, I'll regularly film using anything from a GoPro to a DJI Pocket 3, along with a Insta360 ONE X3 or Insta360 2S camera. Of course just like driving your RV, we must be careful to pay attention to our surroundings when moving and filming at the same time so I often put my selfie stick inside my shirt or affix the camera to the bike, etc. Happy safe travels!
I have never owned one but I have had experience around them. People who are accustomed to them ride entirely too fast and silently around campgrounds, on non motorized trails and in congested downtown areas. They are fast...and silent... and dangerous to everyone else in my opinion. Older folks on them tend to be a bit less aggressive but put a teenager on one and "look out!!". They travel too fast and too quiet and should be required to be insured and registered if they go on the street. Helmets, lights, turn signals and all the requirements of mopeds and motorcycles. Far too many different types of motorized and electric conveyances on our highways and byways with far too few rules.
We ride almost exclusively on canal paths, roads with almost no traffic, parks, and roads with wide shoulders. I'd not be happy if we were required to buy insurance or a registration. I also am not convinced it would solve the problem with reckless bikers. It sure hasn't with motorcycles.
Thinking about it. My criteria: belt drive not chain, no derailers for gear changes.
Lectric 2.0, IIRC. Folds in half and fits in the trunk of my Kia Soul toad.
I have a Como as well, just over 3 years. I recently turned over 3,000 miles. I chose the Como because it fits my large frame. Seldom use anything over level one and I have that dialed down to 10%., mostly I just pedal unless there's a steep hill or wind. On a steep hill I use level 2.
We have 2. My wife has a Bintelli tricycle which has an unusual feature for a trike - the frame articulates so the front wheel leans into turns. Riding it feel more like a traditional bicycle than a trike. I’m on a Trek e-bike. Got it mainly because my knees couldn’t handle hills that well. Range hasn’t been a problem because we rarely take long rides and only use a little assist instead of going full electric.
I want a motor - cycle or bike. small but efficient, easy to lift and store in van or motor vehicle; trail street bike. Also, good enough to have saddle bags and a long seat for two. A good get away in case of emergency.