Topic: Electric Bikes

[BWII]

Anyone know anything about EV bikes?
Wife was looking at a Maui EV bike, reg price $3995 and the place has it on sale for half.  Were willing to drop another $100.  Reviews are hard to find. Similar to this, step through design but fenders, rack, lights... https://www.partsengine.ca/maui-bik310-700c-ecity-bike-with-frame-of-17-medium-large-p-105847.aspx

No idea what to look for.  Or at.  Or are they all the same (at that price range) and a good little $500 US EV bike (my neighbour has) would be just fine. (no it wouldn't lol)

[dkaz]

Any e-bike under $1,000 tends to be a $200 department store bike with low grade electrical components strapped to it that probably won't do well the one thing we want e-Bikes to do: Climb hills.

[Guy]

At half price it is ok for what you get. Bafang motors and batteries are used on a large number of eBikes ans they are ok. If it is just to run around and you are ok with the 60 km range it should do fine.

[Fobroader]

$4K....holy crap man. This would be the perfect opportunity to get a motorbike for you and the wife 

[PJungnitsch]

I would compare specs with an established e-bike player like Radbikes who has been around forever:

https://radpowerbikes.ca/

Good to compare specs, like weight, battery capacity, motor power, etc but a big thing is what to do if you need parts, like a charger or if the battery goes bad

The custom type batteries built into the frame I could see especially being a problem

I'd send whoever you are buying from an email to see if they sell parts like that

[JohnnyMac]

I bought my older sister E bike from Costco for $1,200 on sale and it has been excellent.  The one you listed there I know nothing about, but the electric motor is a bit on the small side at 350, my sisters is 500.

This one is currently on sale at Costco https://www.costco.ca/ebgo-cc47-electric-bicycle.product.100720750.html

This is similar to what I bought my sister.  Great for going to work and running errands, but not exactly stylish.  Costco has a bunch of others to choose from and you can’t beat Costco customer service. 

I would lean towards these higher value than what you typically find at over priced bike shops.

Heck, even Princess Auto has some for sale.  https://www.princessauto.com/en/searchresults?Nr=product.active%3A1&Ntt=Bike*&Nty=1&No=0&Nrpp=50&Rdm=736&searchType=simple&type=search

[me_2]

Last week-end I went into a new bike store next to the other reason of my displacement to that site. Men, i feel out of my world with e-bikes price tags between 5 up to 10K$ and even some nice bike (w/o motor), above 10K$... 

Last August, my friend gave a short try to the EBgo CC47, she liked it but didn't buy yet. (Pricing make more sense to me, I'm cheap).

Next spring I may shop for Volt's hitch & bike rack.

[KD]

I would compare specs with an established e-bike player like Radbikes who has been around forever:

https://radpowerbikes.ca/

Good to compare specs, like weight, battery capacity, motor power, etc but a big thing is what to do if you need parts, like a charger or if the battery goes bad

The custom type batteries built into the frame I could see especially being a problem

I'd send whoever you are buying from an email to see if they sell parts like that

Wife and I are considering getting e-bikes.  We spoke with a couple a few days ago that were riding Rads and they were quite happy with them.  Price seems reasonable and I like that that are a Canadian company.  Wondering if anyone else has experience with them, or any others worth recommending?  Not interested in anything over $3k each max, at least not until we are sure how much use they will get.

My buddy stopped by our property earlier this summer with his new Specialized.  Nice bike, but way more than I'm willing to spend, esp for two.  Life of a single man! 

[PJungnitsch]

I've had a Biktrix e-fat bike for years now. Local company from Saskatoon. All these companies though are importing stuff from China and rebranding

It's been a good bike, but when a charger went wrong I had a heckuva time getting a replacement, and while i was waiting screwed up the battery with the charger. Luckily it was a frame mounted battery so I could replace it and the charger with ones from a battery specialist, but it wasn't a cheap fix

Was checking with Rad at the time (which sells similar bikes) and they had chargers, batteries etc readily available, so that would have saved a lot of grief

[BWII]

Awesome!  Thanks.  Now to get her to research it, or Mr. Engineer.  Better them than me. 

[Arthur Dent]

My wife bought a cheapo from Walmart this summer.

https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/hyper-electric-700c-unisex-aluminum-electric-bikes-light-blue/6000198837445

It rides pretty nice for her purpose. Handle some modest hills and speed up rides around the neighborhood. (basically to better keep up with me on a pedal hybrid bike). Its seems decent for the price and her role.

[KD]

I've had a Biktrix e-fat bike for years now. Local company from Saskatoon. All these companies though are importing stuff from China and rebranding

It's been a good bike, but when a charger went wrong I had a heckuva time getting a replacement, and while i was waiting screwed up the battery with the charger. Luckily it was a frame mounted battery so I could replace it and the charger with ones from a battery specialist, but it wasn't a cheap fix

Was checking with Rad at the time (which sells similar bikes) and they had chargers, batteries etc readily available, so that would have saved a lot of grief

Here's a solution. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y4ZyyZB284   Actually, quite well thought out, if a little clunky looking.  Be nice if there was a standard.  The plumber who was working at my place this summer must have had a least 30 dewalt batteries kicking around the back of his truck.   

[PJungnitsch]

Not skateboard weather here anymore, so serviced the e-fatty and took it for a shakedown ride yesterday

[rrocket]

One of the parks that I like to fish closed to for the season this weekend. So no staff, but they will allow you to walk or bike in. Just the automated car lane will be shut off and locked. But I'm not ready to pack in fishing yet!

With that in mind, I was looking for something I could shove in my hatch, pull out when I arrive, and away I go! From the gate to fishing spot is 2km.

A bike would work, but this time of year I'm in a Gore-Tex bib with some type of boot. Not ideal but doable. I don't have a bike rack though.

Settled on a platform e-scooter with larger tires. Folds. About 50lbs. Apparently tops out at 40km/h.

If it works as I hope, that opens an extra 2 months minimum of fishing there per year!

[sailor723]

Great solution to a specific problem but wear your helmet. Fracture clinics are full of middle aged guys who came off these things. 

[rrocket]

Great solution to a specific problem but wear your helmet. Fracture clinics are full of middle aged guys who came off these things. 

Oh I'm well aware of the potential mayhem. I'm typically ATGATT.

Also, IQ used to work in traumatic head injury unit...and I never, ever want to make a stop there.

[rrocket]

Got to ride my scooter.

Started off in "ECO" mode which I set the max speed to 15km/h. Went up and down street several times. Stopped to adjust bars, riser, controls, screen etc to suit me.

Shocks work but I might be light for them as the scooter capacity is 440lbs! Not lots of give. Will they break in? Can I change the shock oil? Beats me!

Turned it up to normal mode and 28km/h feels like no joke! You definitely feel like you're moving!  The headlight works well, the horn is loud. There's an blue LED under the deck that looks interesting. It gets brighter when you brake! Ditto the taillight. There are also turn signals which is a nice touch.

I next turned it up to "TURBO". 42km/h feels positively terrifying! It definitely has some zip!

The app is ok. You can lock the scooter with the app. It also has lots of data about the scooter and your ride.

Folds down quickly and easily fits in Prius hatch. It's a bit heavy at 50lbs but not terrible.



All in all...I think this will serve me well getting me to my fishing spots!

[PJungnitsch]

Time to set up the fatty for winter again. Main things were oiling up everything to limit salt damage and  re indexing the gears so it shifts clean

[EV Dan]

Nice ride! 

What make/model is the center motor unit?

[PJungnitsch]

Believe it is a Bafang 750W BBS02. It's a few years old now, no issues