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Any e-bike owners out there? Date: January 26, 2020 08:41AM |
I've been looking at them for a while now. I don't see any clear front-runners to focus on. I'm liking this one right now: Fat tire trike
I use oxygen 24/7 (2 liters) and am thinking that an e-bike will help me in rehabilitation. A trike would give added stability to my aging self.
I'd like to hear from any who've gotten one and what your thoughts are.
VROOM VROOM!
Central VA
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/27/2020 11:00AM by CJsNvrUrly.
I use oxygen 24/7 (2 liters) and am thinking that an e-bike will help me in rehabilitation. A trike would give added stability to my aging self.
I'd like to hear from any who've gotten one and what your thoughts are.
VROOM VROOM!
Central VAEdited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/27/2020 11:00AM by CJsNvrUrly.
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Re: Any e-bike owners out there? Date: January 26, 2020 10:19AM |
Can you find a local shop that will let you go for test rides? IMO, most questions can be answered by test rides.
There’s a local couple that I’ve seen a few times on electric recumbent trikes. They seem to put on a lot of miles.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/26/2020 10:21AM by mattkime.
There’s a local couple that I’ve seen a few times on electric recumbent trikes. They seem to put on a lot of miles.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/26/2020 10:21AM by mattkime.
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Re: Any e-bike owners out there? Date: January 26, 2020 10:25AM |
Make sure you buy one that's legal where you plan to ride. A lot of people around here buy them and then find out the hard way.
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Re: Any e-bike owners out there? Date: January 26, 2020 11:34AM |
Be careful if you have not ridden a trike before, they tip over pretty easy if you try to take corners too fast.
Local bike shops should know if electric bikes are legal. If your city/county does have laws allowing electric bikes, it usually limits power and top speed. Virginia has a power limit of 1000 Watts but does not seem to have a top speed limit like some states. It is more likely they are legal if your city has electric bikes for rent like LimeBike, "ofo," and Spin.
Trikes tend to be single speed. If you have hills in your neighborhood, you will likely need to trade off hill climbing ability (and very good brakes) versus top speed.
In tha 360. MRF User Map
Local bike shops should know if electric bikes are legal. If your city/county does have laws allowing electric bikes, it usually limits power and top speed. Virginia has a power limit of 1000 Watts but does not seem to have a top speed limit like some states. It is more likely they are legal if your city has electric bikes for rent like LimeBike, "ofo," and Spin.
Trikes tend to be single speed. If you have hills in your neighborhood, you will likely need to trade off hill climbing ability (and very good brakes) versus top speed.
In tha 360. MRF User Map
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Re: Any e-bike owners out there? Date: January 26, 2020 01:26PM |
I wanted a folding bike for my RV travels so, several years ago, I bought a Montague Paratrooper Pro (a folding a full sized bike @ $1000.00) and, added a Lithium 48VDC Bionex electric system (@ $2000.00). A bike bag and taxes brought the total to over $3400.00. 
I've used it MUCH less than I expected. 
When I do use it, it's a great bike. I expect that because of your medical issues, you'd use an bike MUCH more than I do. Fat tires will do better on soft surfaces like sand, grass and muddy roads. A trike would be far more stable and, easily takes a good sized basket (but, be more difficult to transport by car; look into trailer hitch platforms / bike carriers). MANY of the larger RV rallies have multiple bike sellers in the vendor's area. If could attend one of these events, you'd be able to see and test ride a variety of ebikes, etrikes and, be able to make a purchase decision from a position of knowledge. Escapees "Escapades" and FMCA "Conferences" are the 800# gorillas in the RV rally game. Camping World and big RV dealerships often have bikes for sale (although MANY Camping World locations are famed for POOR customer service). Any ebike is likely to set you back $1000+ (and possibly MUCH more than that). A GOOD bike shop would be a good source of information too. Because of your medical issues, have you checked to see if you qualify for any type of subsidy? I'd recommend that you start with your medical provider and then, whatever "Office for the Aging" that might be in your area.
The bike you link to looks interesting. I expect you have noted that it weighs 88#, so if (when) you have to move it without electric power, how difficult will that be? The video shows the chain guard on the sides of the front gear but, the top IS open. I wonder how abrupt the stop will be when something (pant leg fabric etc) gets caught and pulled in between the guard and the gear? At $2250 delivered, it's not inexpensive. Have you actually been able to see and ride this bike? A real life road test should let you know if this bike is a good fit for you. If you haven't / can't get a test ride BEFORE you buy, what is the return policy? Again, a GOOD bike shop should be very helpful.
I've used it MUCH less than I expected. When I do use it, it's a great bike. I expect that because of your medical issues, you'd use an bike MUCH more than I do. Fat tires will do better on soft surfaces like sand, grass and muddy roads. A trike would be far more stable and, easily takes a good sized basket (but, be more difficult to transport by car; look into trailer hitch platforms / bike carriers). MANY of the larger RV rallies have multiple bike sellers in the vendor's area. If could attend one of these events, you'd be able to see and test ride a variety of ebikes, etrikes and, be able to make a purchase decision from a position of knowledge. Escapees "Escapades" and FMCA "Conferences" are the 800# gorillas in the RV rally game. Camping World and big RV dealerships often have bikes for sale (although MANY Camping World locations are famed for POOR customer service). Any ebike is likely to set you back $1000+ (and possibly MUCH more than that). A GOOD bike shop would be a good source of information too. Because of your medical issues, have you checked to see if you qualify for any type of subsidy? I'd recommend that you start with your medical provider and then, whatever "Office for the Aging" that might be in your area.
The bike you link to looks interesting. I expect you have noted that it weighs 88#, so if (when) you have to move it without electric power, how difficult will that be? The video shows the chain guard on the sides of the front gear but, the top IS open. I wonder how abrupt the stop will be when something (pant leg fabric etc) gets caught and pulled in between the guard and the gear? At $2250 delivered, it's not inexpensive. Have you actually been able to see and ride this bike? A real life road test should let you know if this bike is a good fit for you. If you haven't / can't get a test ride BEFORE you buy, what is the return policy? Again, a GOOD bike shop should be very helpful.
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Re: Any e-bike owners out there? Date: January 26, 2020 01:55PM |
I wish I lived in an area conducive to bike riding, I'd get an eBike.
Not a trike guy, but that Fat Trike is pretty neat. I love those big tires, though.
Bunny trail/rabbit hole/rant: I hate it when a presenter in a video says 'This is the blah blah, we'll talk about that later... That is the blah blah, we'll talk about that later...' Just mention it, then talk about it later. Don't do stupid vamping. /rant.
Riding a trike is counter intuitive to riding a bike as the three wheel platform doesn't lean (or shouldn't) so you can't counter-steer, which is intuitive to any bicycle rider.
A reverse trike, with the two wheels in the front is much more stable, but wouldn't be too practical on an eBike. For one, it would be tougher to steer.
But if you watch your speed (Grateful Dead advisory) it should be stable enough. You can set the Fat Trike's top speed lower than the 26mph while you're on the mental training wheels.
It's 7-speed plus the multiple levels of power assist.
The tires are noisy, though. And I'd wonder if tires other than from the vendor will fit. Depending on rate of wear and cost, that could get expensive. Unless I'd be doing donuts on the neighbor's lawn, I'd want less agressive-treaded tires for longer wear and a quieter ride.
And lastly, the Fat Trike will be a beast of burden if the battery goes flat away from home. You can hitch up your Wonder Woman bustier as tight as you want, you'll be phoning a friend.
But at $2000 to open, it's cheaper than a lot of similarly featured eBikes so you could use some of that money saved towards putting a spare battery in the trunk.
I am that Masked Man.
All you can do, is all you can do.
There’s trouble — it's time to play the sound of my people.
Your boos mean nothing to me, I've seen what you cheer for.
Insisting on your rights without acknowledging your responsibilities isn’t freedom, it’s adolescence.
I've been to the edge of the map, and there be monsters.
We are a government of laws, not men.
Everybody counts or nobody counts.
When a good man is hurt,
all who would be called good
must suffer with him.
You and I have memories longer than the road that stretches out ahead.
There is no safety for honest men except
by believing all possible evil of evil men.
We don’t do focus groups. They just ensure that you don’t offend anyone, and produce bland inoffensive products. —Sir Jonathan Ive
An armed society is a polite society.
And hope is a lousy defense.
You make me pull, I'll put you down.
I *love* SIGs. It's Glocks I hate.
Not a trike guy, but that Fat Trike is pretty neat. I love those big tires, though.
Bunny trail/rabbit hole/rant: I hate it when a presenter in a video says 'This is the blah blah, we'll talk about that later... That is the blah blah, we'll talk about that later...' Just mention it, then talk about it later. Don't do stupid vamping. /rant.
Riding a trike is counter intuitive to riding a bike as the three wheel platform doesn't lean (or shouldn't) so you can't counter-steer, which is intuitive to any bicycle rider.
A reverse trike, with the two wheels in the front is much more stable, but wouldn't be too practical on an eBike. For one, it would be tougher to steer.
But if you watch your speed (Grateful Dead advisory) it should be stable enough. You can set the Fat Trike's top speed lower than the 26mph while you're on the mental training wheels.
It's 7-speed plus the multiple levels of power assist.
The tires are noisy, though. And I'd wonder if tires other than from the vendor will fit. Depending on rate of wear and cost, that could get expensive. Unless I'd be doing donuts on the neighbor's lawn, I'd want less agressive-treaded tires for longer wear and a quieter ride.
And lastly, the Fat Trike will be a beast of burden if the battery goes flat away from home. You can hitch up your Wonder Woman bustier as tight as you want, you'll be phoning a friend.
But at $2000 to open, it's cheaper than a lot of similarly featured eBikes so you could use some of that money saved towards putting a spare battery in the trunk.
I am that Masked Man.
All you can do, is all you can do.
There’s trouble — it's time to play the sound of my people.
Your boos mean nothing to me, I've seen what you cheer for.
Insisting on your rights without acknowledging your responsibilities isn’t freedom, it’s adolescence.
I've been to the edge of the map, and there be monsters.
We are a government of laws, not men.
Everybody counts or nobody counts.
When a good man is hurt,
all who would be called good
must suffer with him.
You and I have memories longer than the road that stretches out ahead.
There is no safety for honest men except
by believing all possible evil of evil men.
We don’t do focus groups. They just ensure that you don’t offend anyone, and produce bland inoffensive products. —Sir Jonathan Ive
An armed society is a polite society.
And hope is a lousy defense.
You make me pull, I'll put you down.
I *love* SIGs. It's Glocks I hate.
|
Re: Any e-bike owners out there? Date: January 26, 2020 03:30PM |
Quote
Racer X
Quote
M A V I C
Make sure you buy one that's legal where you plan to ride. A lot of people around here buy them and then find out the hard way.
eBikes ARE legal in the bike lanes in WA, but no other powered conveyance is. Like the various eToys the Amazon/Facebook/Google kiddies use.
It's much more complicated than that. It's up to every municipality. Take the Burke Gilman trail for example, are ebikes allowed on it? In the city of Seattle, yes. In other parts, no. And then it depends on which class of ebike. Seattle only allows class 1-3 in bike lanes. Eg, this ebike is not allowed [electrek.co]
King County doesn't allow ebikes on any of its trails. It also doesn't allow ebikes in parks.
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Re: Any e-bike owners out there? Date: January 26, 2020 08:30PM |
One of my pet peeves is electric bikes speeding past walkers and people pedaling bikes on the bike path.
Northern California Coast
Northern California Coast
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Re: Any e-bike owners out there? Date: January 27, 2020 05:19AM |
I have a weak knee so riding a regular bike was a problem when it came to hills. So some biking effort is better than no biking at all.
My friend who has an ebike, would occasionally be riding uphill to his home, using about the last of the battery. He'd pass 'regular' bikers working hard to get up the hill, and casually ask them in passing, literally, 'Hey, how ya doin'?' is a T-shirt and jeans while the other bikes in full traditional bicyclist kit were often to involved to respond.
He has one knee that gives him trouble on a regular basis, but has put a lot of miles on his bike. However it ran out of juice a good ways from home and had to pedal some distance. He eventually called his wife to come and get him and the bike.
She brought the spare battery instead.
I am that Masked Man.
All you can do, is all you can do.
There’s trouble — it's time to play the sound of my people.
Your boos mean nothing to me, I've seen what you cheer for.
Insisting on your rights without acknowledging your responsibilities isn’t freedom, it’s adolescence.
I've been to the edge of the map, and there be monsters.
We are a government of laws, not men.
Everybody counts or nobody counts.
When a good man is hurt,
all who would be called good
must suffer with him.
You and I have memories longer than the road that stretches out ahead.
There is no safety for honest men except
by believing all possible evil of evil men.
We don’t do focus groups. They just ensure that you don’t offend anyone, and produce bland inoffensive products. —Sir Jonathan Ive
An armed society is a polite society.
And hope is a lousy defense.
You make me pull, I'll put you down.
I *love* SIGs. It's Glocks I hate.
My friend who has an ebike, would occasionally be riding uphill to his home, using about the last of the battery. He'd pass 'regular' bikers working hard to get up the hill, and casually ask them in passing, literally, 'Hey, how ya doin'?' is a T-shirt and jeans while the other bikes in full traditional bicyclist kit were often to involved to respond.
He has one knee that gives him trouble on a regular basis, but has put a lot of miles on his bike. However it ran out of juice a good ways from home and had to pedal some distance. He eventually called his wife to come and get him and the bike.
She brought the spare battery instead.
I am that Masked Man.
All you can do, is all you can do.
There’s trouble — it's time to play the sound of my people.
Your boos mean nothing to me, I've seen what you cheer for.
Insisting on your rights without acknowledging your responsibilities isn’t freedom, it’s adolescence.
I've been to the edge of the map, and there be monsters.
We are a government of laws, not men.
Everybody counts or nobody counts.
When a good man is hurt,
all who would be called good
must suffer with him.
You and I have memories longer than the road that stretches out ahead.
There is no safety for honest men except
by believing all possible evil of evil men.
We don’t do focus groups. They just ensure that you don’t offend anyone, and produce bland inoffensive products. —Sir Jonathan Ive
An armed society is a polite society.
And hope is a lousy defense.
You make me pull, I'll put you down.
I *love* SIGs. It's Glocks I hate.
|
Re: Any e-bike owners out there? Date: January 27, 2020 08:43AM |
Quote
Markintosh
We have 2. One is the RadCity and the other the RadRover (fat tire model), both by Rad Power Bikes. They were about $1300 each.
We love them for tooling around town and trails. The Rad power bikes legitimately go 30+ miles with a reasonable amount of pedal assist. I have a weak knee so riding a regular bike was a problem when it came to hills. So some biking effort is better than no biking at all.
One thing to note is that all e-bikes are relatively heavy. Not a problem for riding, but an issue for loading into our truck or a bike rack.
The other thing is the biking purists...as demonstrated above.
Thanks for the endorsement for Rad Power Bikes. They were actually the first I'd considered, but they don't offer a trike. Waitin4CJ likes the idea of a trike due to balance issues--although it's never been a problem. I guess he just worries about me getting light-headed from lack of oxygen. You know...WHAT IF...
I checked VDOT for the laws concerning e-bikes and am good there. VDOT laws and safety tips
Central VA
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Re: Any e-bike owners out there? Date: January 27, 2020 09:05AM |
Quote
RAMd®d
She brought the spare battery instead.
Central VA
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Re: Any e-bike owners out there? Date: January 28, 2020 10:36AM |
Quote
CJsNvrUrly
I checked VDOT for the laws concerning e-bikes and am good there. VDOT laws and safety tips
If you're only going to ride on roads, that should be fine. I don't know Virginia, but in WA the DOT only regulates state property. Each county, city and landowner can set their own rules on their own roads, bike lanes, bike paths and trails. Eg, we have one paved path that goes through multiple cities and on parts of it ebikes are allowed, and on other parts they're not. There's no signage.
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