New posts

What e-bike would you buy or recommend?

June 13, 2023, 2:59 p.m.
Posts: 15075
Joined: Feb. 19, 2003

We're thinking of downsizing to a single car family as the second vehicle just doesn't get much use.  But for the occasion where there is a timing conflict, an ebike could fit the bill really well.  This is based on the ease of jumping on a Lime bike and getting over for a social hour at Lonsdale the other evening.  Spring/Summer/Fall replacing the car for commutes to downtown office is also appealing.

List of things I think I'd want out of an e-bike

- Not heinously ugly

- Mid drive 

- Removable battery(?) - not sure if that conflicts with the heinously ugly piece

- Ability to take it off slightly road - not MTB - but would be good to pop it down the Hyannis trail connector and up/over the twin bridges to LSCR if I wanted to get from Parkgate to Lynn Valley

- Don't want to break the bank - is there anything viable for 2-3K?

Somehow whenever I start searching I end up scrolling through bespoke throttle e-bikes or Super76s or stealth e-gravel bikes....

June 13, 2023, 5:06 p.m.
Posts: 19089
Joined: Oct. 28, 2003

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/ca/bikes-roam-eplus

June 14, 2023, 1:42 a.m.
Posts: 2280
Joined: Nov. 8, 2003

Posted by: Couch_Surfer

- Not heinously ugly

June 14, 2023, 7:13 a.m.
Posts: 19089
Joined: Oct. 28, 2003

Meh.  Ok then

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/ca/trance-x-advanced-eplus-elite-0-2023

June 14, 2023, 7:50 a.m.
Posts: 2664
Joined: April 2, 2005

bosch motor, at least 500wh. though not doable with your monetary restriction.

we sell those a lot for this case:

https://bennobikes.com/e-bikes/boost/

June 14, 2023, 8:56 a.m.
Posts: 15075
Joined: Feb. 19, 2003

Posted by: Hepcat

Posted by: Couch_Surfer

- Not heinously ugly

LOL - I mean that's probably the loosest of the 'requirements'.  Maybe I could put in a frame bag to camouflage that god awful downtube.

June 14, 2023, 9:06 a.m.
Posts: 936
Joined: June 17, 2016

Posted by: Sethimus

bosch motor, at least 500wh. though not doable with your monetary restriction.

we sell those a lot for this case:

https://bennobikes.com/e-bikes/boost/

Strange website. Link above shows full page photo of a guy walking an e-bike. Maybe his battery ran out? Clicked through to homepage, photo of mom and kid sitting on a parked e-bike. Scroll down, more photos of people hanging out next to parked e-bikes, and that guy walking his e-bike again. Nobody is riding them it seems.

June 14, 2023, 11 a.m.
Posts: 465
Joined: March 14, 2017

If you want it on the cheaper side and better performance, get a hardtail and bolt a bafang to it.   /bikehack

June 14, 2023, 11:24 a.m.
Posts: 15075
Joined: Feb. 19, 2003

Posted by: LoamtoHome

If you want it on the cheaper side and better performance, get a hardtail and bolt a bafang to it.   /bikehack

Not trying to open a can of worms, but are the Bafang kits where we're seeing battery fires?  Or is that from really cheap knock-off versions of Bafang?

June 14, 2023, 1:52 p.m.
Posts: 1587
Joined: Sept. 30, 2006

I don't think the Bafang kits are necessarily where we are seeing the fires. In general though, the cheaper the battery, the more likely it is to have problems which can lead to fires.

You would want to check that the Bafang kit didn't make your bike not road legal. Nothing over 500W, no assistance over 32km/h, and if it has a throttle, that throttle can only activate once you have reached 3 km/h with the pedals (ie no grip it and rip it off the start).

June 14, 2023, 2:39 p.m.
Posts: 465
Joined: March 14, 2017

cheap batteries that are constantly getting charged is the problem....  lots of good battery places on Boundary if you need replacement/modifications.  

How can anyone tell if your motor is over 500 watts?  The cops don't even care if you are smoking crack on the street stealing bikes.

June 14, 2023, 3:09 p.m.
Posts: 2668
Joined: April 25, 2003

Posted by: LoamtoHome

If you want it on the cheaper side and better performance, get a hardtail and bolt a bafang to it.   /bikehack

After owning on of the more viable “cheap” e-bike brands for over a year now (RadPower) this is the route I’d choose now, provided I had the time and inclination to do the conversion myself.

June 14, 2023, 7:09 p.m.
Posts: 19089
Joined: Oct. 28, 2003

I have two serious bike touring friends who bolted on motors for about a year, then gave up and got a van.  That’s after ten years of literally pedalling around the world (unassisted).

June 14, 2023, 7:13 p.m.
Posts: 19089
Joined: Oct. 28, 2003

The Radpower cargo bikes are pretty cool, especially if you really want to replace a car and haul shit or offspring.

June 15, 2023, 9:35 a.m.
Posts: 507
Joined: Feb. 24, 2017

Posted by: shoreboy

I don't think the Bafang kits are necessarily where we are seeing the fires. In general though, the cheaper the battery, the more likely it is to have problems which can lead to fires.

You would want to check that the Bafang kit didn't make your bike not road legal. Nothing over 500W, no assistance over 32km/h, and if it has a throttle, that throttle can only activate once you have reached 3 km/h with the pedals (ie no grip it and rip it off the start).

I've got a bafang kit on my bike and I am very happy with it. Build quality is good. I bought the battery from a Canadian supplier and it's advertised as using brand - name cells.  I don't actually know what's inside it though.

Ebike conversion kits don't seem to be regulated, and my bike definitely doesn't meet the legal requirements. It's not something I am worried about.

Forum jump: