e-bicycle purchase

[cookiedough]

anyone have one?  thoughts?  suggestions?

I found a used one full msrp is 2K and older guy who fell off of it driven hardly at all is selling locally for 1K.  I looked it up and is an American Rider series and from what I can tell only a 350watt motor with 7 speeds, 26 inch x 1.95 kenda tires. 

Is a step thru design which I need.  I am thinking the 350w motor is not enough juice would prefer a 500watt motor for greater longevity/miles since am 285lbs.  Most reviews I read is only about 20 miles if all electricity and up to 50 miles or so if pedaling mostly with limited use using battery power.  I somehow think with me over 275lbs. that the 50 miles range would be tops 35-40 miles, if that, on a full charge.   

I went bicycling on my very nice NON e-bike this Sunday 18 miles back and forth level bike trail on crushed compacted rock and was about all I could do, maybe 20 miles tops, of constant pedaling 8 mph on level surface.    Lotsa bicycle trails near me but most are say 15-20 miles one way so unable to go 40 miles without an e-bike.  It only took near 3 hours to go 18 miles easy going but I know after 20 miles my bad hips would be killing me even more than what it did on Sunday. 

Not spending either 2K and more on any e-bike since the ones I like are 2 to 2.5K new.  Of the 10 bicyclists we saw on Sunday on the trail about 7 of the 10 all had e-bikes. 

[henry 008]

She seems to have a lot of fun on hers... 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoPi5ZbTZ90

[cookiedough]

She seems to have a lot of fun on hers...  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoPi5ZbTZ90

no thanks,  going UP steps and wheelies on a bicycle is not going to happen anymore.  

I test drove the e-bike tonight and probably going to buy it despite 36volts 350 watts  vs. my ideal ebike being 48 volt and 500 watt motor.  I called up ebike company and they said still get almost 20 miles total ebike power which I would never use fully e-power,  but only tops 40 miles pedal assist vs. 50 miles for a 500 watt motor.  Good enough I guess since the ebike ergos fit me perfect and near like new only 155 miles on it 2 years old.  The guy was age 88 never drove it this year since fell off it 2 years ago putting 150 miles on it that year and was knocked out and 19 days in hospital for shoulder surgery, etc.   Has aftermarket seat and seat suspension post on it paid 250 bucks for it with 2 lights and horn, 7 speeds, and fit me well.  Weight capacity in the owners manual was 270lbs. so close enough me 285ish.  Nice red color and step thru was easy on, easy off.  He paid 2k plus 300 for accessories so 1050 for it IMO good deal. He would not budge any lower just makes me curious since he said the local ebike company would sell it for 1500 used all day long vs. new 2K, so why not just trade it in to the ebike shop guessing get 1K for it, not sure???    he was legit telling me he also had to pay 250 bucks to get the right front brake handle lever new and new 7 speed click shifter on right handlebar when he fell off of it.  So, basically he was out over 2500 bucks total for 150 miles of use 1 year out of it selling for 1050.  

I am just a tad leery though since lives in yuppy Madison WI where all have e-bikes and should sell easily been listed online for 23 weeks now originally though at 1700 down to 1400 now 1050.  He said 2 people backed out on buying it about 5 months ago when first posted.  Weird if you ask me since all have ebikes in that big town now.  My guess is the 350watt motor vs. 500 watt is not powerful or fancy enough for those that spend 2500 or so on a new ebike in that city?

[cookiedough]

watched a lot of utube videos last night.  Seems like 350watt will do if only 30 miles and under range and mostly level pavement which will be 90% of my bicycle riding anyways.  I would prefer 500 watt to be safe knowing 40 mile range for sure, since a few bike trails are tops 30 miles one way. However,  besides just a few within driving distance,   all are 20-25 miles one way tops.  I also can use it as a regular bicycle and not use the battery power pedal assist as well.  ebike was not that much heavier to pedal on level pavement even with a 7 speed shifter. Battery weighs an extra 10 lbs. is all but is on top of the rear tire and with my 285lbs. that back tire is probably MAXED out almost for weight capacity..  LOL 

4 biggest things said using battery power was pedaling uphill and low tire pressure and my excessive weight and using full epower (no pedal assist) which I would not do on a bike trail level pavement anyways unless my legs were dead.

[..]

Sandra's eldest son and his wife have e-bikes. I don't know the wattage. He told me he got the power pack designated for offroad use only but they can achieve 58 m.p.h. on the flat.

[Valkorado]

Sandra's eldest son and his wife have e-bikes. I don't know the wattage. He told me he got the power pack designated for offroad use only but they can achieve 58 m.p.h. on the flat.

A guy who owns a local towing company says his bike hits those speeds with the original battery.  He said the company makes an upgraded battery that can do 80 m.p.h.!  I looked at the flimsy forks and brakes and thought, "no, thanks".

These are the "bikes" without pedals, BTW.  Looked very similar to a fat tire mountain bike, with pegs instead of pedals.  The guy said he paid about $5,000 for his.

[cookiedough]

Sandra's eldest son and his wife have e-bikes. I don't know the wattage. He told me he got the power pack designated for offroad use only but they can achieve 58 m.p.h. on the flat.

that is suicide if you ask me 58 mph on any bicycle.  I use to fly 30 mph downhill in town growing up (had a digital readout with cable and sensor hooked near front rim pretty accurate) and much faster and just asking for a wreck. 

Yah, 350watt motor top speed suppose to be 20 mph but with my weight is around 17-18 mph tops.  A 500 watt ebike motor is suppose to go 28 mph top speed.  I can live with 20 mph top speed or close to it not out to race anyone on the thing, just want enough pedal assist to go 30-40 miles vs. my regular bicycle can only go about 20 miles before hips hurting badly.  Our pedal power regular bicycles we average only about 8 mph on level bike trails which is fine with me much over 10 mph not needed.

[cookiedough]

now am torn on buying for 1K a used 350w one from this guy today since yesterday stopped at an ebike store and test drove four 500w ebike vs. one 350w ebike and big difference in power delivery, especially my weight uphills.  500w much better uphills but still the pedal assist 350w was adequate for my needs I think?

good thing sales lady said not much difference in terms of miles per battery between the 2 since the 500w sucks more juice vs. a 350w motor, which makes sense.  She said as long as level pavement using pedal assist feature only the 350w will be almost as long for mileage wise use as a 500w motor.  If going uphills a lot with my heavier weight (which I will not be much mostly bike trails fairly level) and not using FULL POWER mode letting ebike pedal 100% for me,  will be o.k. she said.

They had a low end 1600 500w ebike cheapest there rest 2K and higher and that is NUTS.  For 1K I think I still might hope the 350w used one is good enough.  He paid 2K used for it has a few aftermarket items like cushier seat and seat post spring loaded paid 250 extra for.

[cookiedough]

bought used ebike today 1050 decided a good deal after another test drive and wife can drive it as well.  Took it on bike trail today only 12 miles VERY windy and was super easy (almost cheating) just easy pedaling level crushed gravel bike trails near me.  level 2 pedal assist does 9 mph while level 3 bumps up HUGE at 13 mph pedal assist power.  NO NEED for level 4 and 5 unless going up STEEP hills in lower gears out of 7 total shifting gears. 

sorta sucks though wife on her normal bike does 10 mph comfortably so level 2 tad bit too slow at 8-9 mph while level 3 is 13 mph consistently on the bike trail.  I even floored it all power and does 20 mph top speed on level pavement but going against the wind today only did 17 mph due to wind resistance, which REALLY sucks battery power.

the 12 easy miles am guessing sucked 35 percent battery power so pretty sure it will go near 35 miles on pedal assist.    tomorrow doing 25 miles so will see I guess how low battery goes before near dying? 

[cookiedough]

ran another 16 miles on it today after fully charging and not charging overnight doing another 12 or more miles tomorrow as well day off.  I wanna see if goes about 30 miles without charging would be nice to know on a full charge with 95% all pedal assist which I think does not suck much juice on level 2 or sometimes level 3 speed.  Gonna be putting on my new to me but used ebike over 40 miles in 3 days vs. the guy age 89 who bought it new for over 2K and used it first year total of 150 miles.  

My wife and me were complaining after today's longer 16 miles that our hands and lower back hurt from stooping over slightly to reach handlebars.  DUH,  I spent 30  minutes on both bicycles adjusting the handlebar angle and height to basically the tallest height possible.  This allows to sit almost fully upright without stooping over to reach the handlebars which were not set really low just not all the way up.  Today my hands were going numb from having the handlebars down too low I think from previous owner.  I also adjusted the seat height another 1 inch up and adjusted front suspension and seat post suspension system on it guy bought extra for 250 bucks.    Still fine tuning the ride to be comfier for longer trips.  

Wife test drove her non ebike around block with me also late today and loved the new handlebar height all the way up and tad bit closer to her body for an easier reach.  She is excited to see if her lower back and arms/shoulders not hurt as much after our 12 or so more miles tomorrow.  

We have a few local bike trails nearby some paved, some crushed rock, and looking forward to next spring doing a few more crushed rock bike trails further away being Elroy Sparta state trail and one by LaCrosse WI as well along the river and one up by Eau Claire WI, among others.  Walking longer distances over 2-3 miles per day is WAY OUT due to bad hips but bike rides not bother me as much so gotta try something to loose 30lbs. so get both hips replaced.   PLus, I do not enjoy walking much since my pace is pretty slow going now.