E-bikes and thoughts
- Thread starter mikeduf
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Yeah I like motorcycles and I would still be riding if it wasn't for this car Centric area that I live in, it's just Insanity on two wheels of any type being around these cages!
And like I mentioned before on my previous post,
even on the bike trails the pedestrians are so lackadaisic to their surroundings they'll just walk in front of you if you don't give them fair warning that you're coming.
so I use my bell quite a bit. they know I'm coming, and then of course there's the druggies and the roamers that are very unpredictable, especially when they're whacked out.
I'm thinking of looking at Mad Max Road Warrior movie again and retro fit my e-bike with some of those items! Maybe even get myself a chrome helmet and some chaps,... sorry I digress this post should be closed. Thanks all for your comments
And like I mentioned before on my previous post,
even on the bike trails the pedestrians are so lackadaisic to their surroundings they'll just walk in front of you if you don't give them fair warning that you're coming.
so I use my bell quite a bit. they know I'm coming, and then of course there's the druggies and the roamers that are very unpredictable, especially when they're whacked out.
I'm thinking of looking at Mad Max Road Warrior movie again and retro fit my e-bike with some of those items! Maybe even get myself a chrome helmet and some chaps,... sorry I digress this post should be closed. Thanks all for your comments
I have a minimalist folding E-bike, an XP Lite 2.0 black from Lectric out of Phoenix. It is enough and only cost $800. I love it. It is everything I need.
The "lecture" wasn't meant so much as a safety thing, but a "rules" thing.
Maybe your bike paths and trails are different, but where I ride, the rules are very clear: motorcycles, motorized bikes, or gas- or electric-assisted cycles of any kind are prohibited. I'm just paraphrasing at the moment but that is the gist of it. Sure, those rules were written back about 1970 and were intended mainly to keep motorcycles away, but until they revise them, all those kids and grandmas slow-peddling their e-bikes at 25 MPH are in violation. And E-bikes have became the stepping stone to all manner of gas-powered dirt bikes and scooters that fill up the path every weekend.
Enforcement, of course, is non-existant.
If you need to go faster I strongly suggest you get a Class 3. I absolutely do not recommend a rear hub motor if you can afford a Bosch.
Totally agree with this. Our pathways are for human powered vehicles and class 1 Ebikes only. I've seen full blown vespa sized scooters being driven on them along with all manner of gasoline engine modified bikes and high speed e-bikes and scooters. Zero enforcement.
I have two e bikes, one at home and one at my office. I finally got to the point where I cannot ride a regular bike up the hills any more. I still use the pedals and just use the motor for assistance when I need it.
I ride on the street a lot, but some places it just is not safe. It is legal to ride an e bike on the sidewalk here because the city changed the law a few years ago. I have been up to 35 mph, but only on the streets. On the sidewalks I keep the speed down and always stop or otherwise give pedestrians the right of way.
I ride on the street a lot, but some places it just is not safe. It is legal to ride an e bike on the sidewalk here because the city changed the law a few years ago. I have been up to 35 mph, but only on the streets. On the sidewalks I keep the speed down and always stop or otherwise give pedestrians the right of way.
I understand that rear hubs are a little Twitchy but they are now putting in torque sensors which are making these 750 watt rear hubs quite smooth. Can you recommend a good class 3 bike I know Yamaha is making one but I like more of a city Urban upright position like my Trek Verve + 3. I should also mention something that isn't going to cost more than my Trek.
Like the spandex crowd that blasts by everybody else? But yea- the OP is nonsensical thinking he needs to go faster.
There are a bunch of YouTube videos on hacking a class one bikes. Most of them involve moving the speed pickup and adding a magnet to the crank arm for example. I know the bike speed limits are slower in Europe, so there are speed boxes to hack the max speed there. I’d guess the first option makes the speedometer inaccurate. A speedometer app and a phone mount would be an easy cure for this.
I’m a little surprised by the one size fits all thinking here. 25 mph down a very empty rural trail with a clear view ahead isn’t reckless in the slightest. 25 mph in Central Park NYC probably is.
I’m a little surprised by the one size fits all thinking here. 25 mph down a very empty rural trail with a clear view ahead isn’t reckless in the slightest. 25 mph in Central Park NYC probably is.
Built a kit with a Bafang mid-drive to avoid the speed limit. On the rough roads in Boston find myself going 15-18 anyway.
Just bought some bar end rear view mirrors.
Just bought some bar end rear view mirrors.
No it isn't necessarily reckless-just the point there is no need for it. I mean I guess if you are dying of cancer and you want to get everywhere as quick as you can because the end is near.....
Yeah that would be a item that I would stay away from. Not really into hacking and voiding system warranties. I decided to go with a class 3 electric bike, with a Bosch system. I'll be happy with 25 mph and a maximum of 28.
All of the offshore companies that are coming in with electric bikes are pushing high-powered machines because there are no regulations and they don't really care and they don't really have any quality control or support when they burn up on you. I have been looking at this pretty extensively and a lot of them that are very cheap and fast just don't last that long and even some of the more expensive scooters that are fast just burn out after a couple of thousand miles. You don't have a pot to urinate in after you buy it.
Just my two cents
All of the offshore companies that are coming in with electric bikes are pushing high-powered machines because there are no regulations and they don't really care and they don't really have any quality control or support when they burn up on you. I have been looking at this pretty extensively and a lot of them that are very cheap and fast just don't last that long and even some of the more expensive scooters that are fast just burn out after a couple of thousand miles. You don't have a pot to urinate in after you buy it.
Just my two cents
I picked up a basic Cannondale E bike, 250 W motor, 250 wHr battery with nice feeling cable disc brakes, 7 speed gears with one sprocket up front and 7 at the rear wheel. The power selector has four levels of torque. Because there is only one sprocket up front, there is only one gear selector with two levers and both levers push forward, one to go up and one to go down. The 250 W motor is on the rear wheel. The torque application is very smooth. I suppose like other things like bass boats, snowmobiles or Seadoos, someone will always want more power.
Is 250 W enough? I’d say if you weigh 180 lbs or less and you’re not trying to race your buddies, it’s enough. Also, it’s not a throttle bike. The motor controller takes its cue from how hard you peddle.
I found the best reason to own an E bike. If you’re feeling a bit tired, such as after supper and you’re wondering if you should go for a ride or just watch the game on TV, the E Bike lets you get going easy by adding some power. In a few minutes you’ll get your energy back and be glad you’re out there.
Last thing. At 250 watts, will the bike go like hell up a hill when you hit the “Red” button? The answer is Yes.
Is 250 W enough? I’d say if you weigh 180 lbs or less and you’re not trying to race your buddies, it’s enough. Also, it’s not a throttle bike. The motor controller takes its cue from how hard you peddle.
I found the best reason to own an E bike. If you’re feeling a bit tired, such as after supper and you’re wondering if you should go for a ride or just watch the game on TV, the E Bike lets you get going easy by adding some power. In a few minutes you’ll get your energy back and be glad you’re out there.
Last thing. At 250 watts, will the bike go like hell up a hill when you hit the “Red” button? The answer is Yes.
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Well I was a naysayer for e-bikes for quite some time.
My main ride was a road bike, and i rode quite a bit on that; over 10,000 miles in the past 2 years.
I started test driving a few of the Class one, Class 2 and class 3.
The throttle and pedal assist on bikes was cool, but the power output and longevity of the battery was not enough for me.
I think for short rides that's more than enough.
I ended up going with a class 3, 28 mph maximum.
But the main thing that I found out about e-bikes is if you keep your Cadence up to a good RPM of 80 to 90 revolutions with the pedal assist of the motor you can burn quite a few calories very quickly, And you won't be blowing your knees out.
I also found that the afternoon evening rides when the winds pick up you can blast through that headwind no problem coming home and save the knees and get back in a reasonable amount of time.
For me after about 30-40 miles I get pretty bored now on a bike, So the faster I can get home the better. But it's all discretional and everybody has their own reason but I see them as a very positive.
Good luck on your e-bike Journeys
My main ride was a road bike, and i rode quite a bit on that; over 10,000 miles in the past 2 years.
I started test driving a few of the Class one, Class 2 and class 3.
The throttle and pedal assist on bikes was cool, but the power output and longevity of the battery was not enough for me.
I think for short rides that's more than enough.
I ended up going with a class 3, 28 mph maximum.
But the main thing that I found out about e-bikes is if you keep your Cadence up to a good RPM of 80 to 90 revolutions with the pedal assist of the motor you can burn quite a few calories very quickly, And you won't be blowing your knees out.
I also found that the afternoon evening rides when the winds pick up you can blast through that headwind no problem coming home and save the knees and get back in a reasonable amount of time.
For me after about 30-40 miles I get pretty bored now on a bike, So the faster I can get home the better. But it's all discretional and everybody has their own reason but I see them as a very positive.
Good luck on your e-bike Journeys
Good point about the knees.
I haven`t ridden a bike for almost 20 years after i got a driving license and a car but just all of a sudden i felt the urge to start to ride bikes again. So i this rad thing of a e-bike:
Some have a thing against e-bikes but buying this after so many years absent from riding, i really found the love of riding back. I can go places where cars and motorbikes are forbidden and see new places in the city. Quite rad bike btw, draws a bit of attention when you pass fellow bikers and pedestrians. I also love the seat, most comfortable bike seat i`ve ever sat on, i hate small traditional bike seats as my butt hurts after a very short while.
So all in all my first ever e-bike is a pleasant surprise, i thought these bikes was pretty much niche toys. But me, i`ve ridden this bike to work for a week and enjoyed a long scenic detour on the way back as weather is quite pleasant.
Some have a thing against e-bikes but buying this after so many years absent from riding, i really found the love of riding back. I can go places where cars and motorbikes are forbidden and see new places in the city. Quite rad bike btw, draws a bit of attention when you pass fellow bikers and pedestrians. I also love the seat, most comfortable bike seat i`ve ever sat on, i hate small traditional bike seats as my butt hurts after a very short while.
So all in all my first ever e-bike is a pleasant surprise, i thought these bikes was pretty much niche toys. But me, i`ve ridden this bike to work for a week and enjoyed a long scenic detour on the way back as weather is quite pleasant.
That's a motorcycle and I'm not a Ebike hater
I actually check the wind direction for the day before heading out to work in the morning. If I have a tail wind coming home, I ride my regular hardtail. Strong headwind, e-bike for the win. I expect a tail wind this afternoon so this for today:
