Advice on ebike options before I buy...? Thanks!

[BayCityRoller]

(Couldn't see a section for this kind of "help me choose a bike" post so mods please move if its in the wrong place!!)

Hello everyone, newbie to ebikes here and would appreciate any advice! Looking to buy an ebike and am thinking it might be a good idea to try and utilise the memorial day sales that are currently available.

My use case will be:

• Using a Shotgun or Mac Ride front kids seat for my 2 year old
• Riding trails off road, but not hardcore mountain biking.
• Riding around town with a lot of hills (I live in SF, hills a plenty!)
• Budget upto $2k but savings obviously welcome
• I would like to have a good bit of power and range. The 750W/80+ Nm motors seem like a good bet.
• Want to get a step thru style for the riding position (more info below) & that if my kid moves to a rear seat as he gets bigger that will become more useful.

Thoughts/concerns:

• Weight is not really an issue as I will not need to carry it on any stairs. I’ll keep it in my garage and right straight out to the street & I have a hitch mounted rack that I carry my 346 lb motorcycle on I can use for the ebike.
• I am 6’ 2” and riding regular mountain bikes in the past has given me a sore neck & shoulders from having to constantly stretch my neck to “look up” from the canted forwards position they tend to put you into. When I have occasionally borrowed traditional “Dutch style” step thru cruisers in the past (non-ebikes) I’ve found the upright seating position and swept back handlebars a joy to ride.
• The model I keep coming back to is the Velotric Nomad 2, mainly because in the photos it’s the one that really seems to combine the upright cruiser/swept handlebars seating position with the off road ability. The others like the Xpeak seem to keep the lower down bars that would push you forward. It’s also the only Step thru bike of this style with a larger frame options that specifically says it suits someone my height. Most of the step thru ones like this only have 1 size and their websites imply that someone my height should get the step over model instead. Unfortunately no memorial day sales on that model!
• The other 2 that seem like good competitors to me are the Aventon Adventure 2 and the Lectric Xpeak 2.0, but they only have one size in each of the step thru models and their websites indicate that the step thru models might be too small for me. Concerned about feeling cramped. I did see a review for the Xpeak 2.0 that had the measured range as double what the Nomad 2 achieved which was pause for thought for me... (https://infogram.com/lectric-xpeak-20-st-range-test-1h7v4pdm53ql84k)
• Must have a battery that's easy to remove to carry indoors for charging. No ability to charge in the garage I’ll park it in.
• Using a step thru design will necessitate using the additional top tube style mount for the kids seats, so the front stem design must be compatible with this or accommodate a spacer to allow for that.
• I would like the ability to modulate how much assistance the motor provides, so that I can dial it back and use more of my own pedal power. Partly to conserve range but also because I want to use the bike to improve fitness so sometimes I want to do more of the work, if that makes sense.
• I quite like the idea of the fat bikes, although not entirely sure why. I quite like the idea of having the ease of bouncing over kerbs easily in town and also being able to ride on sand sometimes. This bit isn’t a deal breaker though.
• Have seen mention of a Velotric 10% discount referral code if anyone has one going!
• I’d be quite happy to buy a used bike too, any recommendations for where to look beyond fb marketplace/ebay/craigslist/pinkbike appreciated!

I am new to ebikes so have been trying to get my head around all the options available. Please post up any questions & key factors that I’ve missed!

 

[Annieolnie]

You've already done a ton of research. You might like Aima ebikes. The Santa Monica or the Big Sur, I know someone that has a Santa Monica and as a whole, their larger tire ebikes run a bit bigger. Upway just had a new overstock, Big Sur, for around $1500, but it's gone now. Check out Upway. Every time an ebike shop changes its mind, they buy up all of the overstocks.Then there are the new Velotrics, which you can switch between cadence and torque sensor, that is a great feature, especially if you are hauling a child around. You could always put 3 inch tires on a Discover2, which might put you in a happy medium and their large ebike is suppose to go up to 6'4", plus you are getting an Ipx7 battery. I don't really know your rack, but changing out a stem is not difficult if you need a different sort on there, as long as you are not on a bike that has gone all proprietary on each component, like some of the Treks. Lots of fun decisions. Let us know what you decide.

 

[Smaug]

I've no experience with Velotric some here have them and like them.

Aventon are very good quality, and the Pace seems like a good model for your needs, as long as it will accommodate your child seat of choice. Can you post some links and photos about the child seat? That compatibility might be the determining factor, as there are tons of models that would meet your other needs.

With the SF hills, you may want to go a bit upscale and look at mid-drive models. These have the motor down in the bottom bracket (near the crank arms) and they have the advantage of using the bike's mechanical gearing. More affordable eBikes have the motor in the rear wheel hub and drive the rear wheel directly. The problem with this is that they are geared for the bike's top speed and provide less torque as you go slower, so that the steeper the hill, the more work you're doing or you're drawing a ton of current; effectively like trying to pull too high of a gear.

A mid-drive, upright eBike with belt drive would be my holy grail, in your shoes.

A brand you may want to look into is Gazelle; they're an old Dutch bike brand and are starting to sell in the USA. (maybe not as much with the tariffs now, though...) Dutch people haul kids on bikes all the time and have the kids riding bikes immediately after they can walk.

Another approach you might take is to reach out to your child seat mfr. for recommendations on compatible eBikes.

Re. fat tires: avoid them if you don't need them for loose offroad surfaces. They add a ton of weight, which is not an issue for you, but it means the bike needs a bigger motor, bigger battery, bigger brakes, etc. It's an endless cycle. Something with ~2.5" wide tires will give you plenty of versatility without adding all that weight. The rolling resistance is also high, which really cuts into battery life. They ARE good on grass, shallow or firm snow or sand, dirt, etc.

Consider theft too. eBikes are big targets in your area. Get a heavy chain or grinder-resistant U-lock at a minimum and consider supplementing with a disc lock/alarm.

 

[BayCityRoller]

Thanks for the thoughts, much appreciated.

I have just ordered an Aventon Adventure.2 step over- there was an unused one on Upway at a good price with a $150 referral code too - came to $1250 which I was happy with. I realised that the Velotrics didn't have a fully round section of the stem to fit the Shotgun pro seat bracket to and I couldn't find any info online regarding whether there was enough length in it to add a spacer.

I thought more about the seating position and I think the Aventon will work fine. Can always change bars if I want them to come further back & sit a bit more upright. Easy modification.

I had read about mid-drive models and their suitedness to the hills in SF. I'll see how I get on with this one and keep that in mind - I can see myself upgrading or getting another upright mid drive with normal tyres for city use in time.

Protecting against theft is a high priority. Half the reason I'm looking to buy a new bike now is because my old Specialized hybrid (regular bike) got stolen from this building within a week of us moving in! I installed a Hiplok Ankr ground anchor last week with Tapcons deep into the concrete garage floor, and I'm about to order a beefy chain, probably this Kryptonite 15mm one:
https://www.amazon.com/Kryptonite-Legend-1515-Motorcycle-Security/dp/B07W44Y5H9

Costs a few dollars but I guess it's a buy it for life thing providing you don't lose the keys. 5ft is useful as it will give me enough length to feed it through my motorcycle too so it can do double duty (plus probably another bike if my wife gets one). I know that'll be super heavy so that will stay in the garage at all times and I'll get another for locking up around town.

Any specific recommendations for portable locks welcome!

And I'll add the bike to our home insurance policy or get an insurance policy for it I guess.

Looking forward to taking my boy out, I hope he adores it

 

[Smaug]

Thanks for the thoughts, much appreciated.

I have just ordered an Aventon Adventure.2 step over- there was an unused one on Upway at a good price with a $150 referral code too - came to $1250 which I was happy with. I realised that the Velotrics didn't have a fully round section of the stem to fit the Shotgun pro seat bracket to and I couldn't find any info online regarding whether there was enough length in it to add a spacer.

I thought more about the seating position and I think the Aventon will work fine. Can always change bars if I want them to come further back & sit a bit more upright. Easy modification.

I had read about mid-drive models and their suitedness to the hills in SF. I'll see how I get on with this one and keep that in mind - I can see myself upgrading or getting another upright mid drive with normal tyres for city use in time.

Protecting against theft is a high priority. Half the reason I'm looking to buy a new bike now is because my old Specialized hybrid (regular bike) got stolen from this building within a week of us moving in! I installed a Hiplok Ankr ground anchor last week with Tapcons deep into the concrete garage floor, and I'm about to order a beefy chain, probably this Kryptonite 15mm one:
https://www.amazon.com/Kryptonite-Legend-1515-Motorcycle-Security/dp/B07W44Y5H9

Costs a few dollars but I guess it's a buy it for life thing providing you don't lose the keys. 5ft is useful as it will give me enough length to feed it through my motorcycle too so it can do double duty (plus probably another bike if my wife gets one). I know that'll be super heavy so that will stay in the garage at all times and I'll get another for locking up around town.

Any specific recommendations for portable locks welcome!

And I'll add the bike to our home insurance policy or get an insurance policy for it I guess.

Looking forward to taking my boy out, I hope he adores it

Well, I think you're going to be shocked at how big & heavy the thing is, and how much the tires howl. I can't believe you bought this for city use. I can't get newbies to take my advice; they always have to learn the hard way on the first purchase.

On the other hand, you'll be happy with the quality, and there are street tread tires available for them. (fattirehouseLA.com) You will just be hauling a bunch more weight than is needed. I think the 750 W hub motor will be fine, as long as you're willing to pedal too; my eFatty has one and it's pretty stout.

Re. the locking, how was your Specialized stolen before? Cut through the lock with a grinder, or ...? What kind of lock was it? I think what you should do is find a noose-style chain and combine that with a LiteLok X-3 U-lock. (U-lock through frame & rear wheel, chain through the U-lock, front wheel and down through the anchor. Lastly, a disc lock/alarm. These are cheap & easy and will really make the bike less attractive, as the easiest way to defeat it is to replace the brake disc, which is a hassle.

When you're out and about, you probably can make do with the disc lock and X-3.

I forget whether the Aventure (not Adventure) has quick-release wheel skewers, but if so, you're going to want to immediately replace them with something theft-resistant.

Did you get the step-through or step-over? Step over will be easier to lock, as you don't have to try to get a U-lock around that fat downtube.

 

[Unit59]

It's a sad world we live in when you have to bolt your stuff down and heavily shackle it up so it doesn't get stolen.

 

[Tuckerfan]

I've no experience with Velotric some here have them and like them.

Aventon are very good quality, and the Pace seems like a good model for your needs, as long as it will accommodate your child seat of choice. Can you post some links and photos about the child seat? That compatibility might be the determining factor, as there are tons of models that would meet your other needs.

With the SF hills, you may want to go a bit upscale and look at mid-drive models. These have the motor down in the bottom bracket (near the crank arms) and they have the advantage of using the bike's mechanical gearing. More affordable eBikes have the motor in the rear wheel hub and drive the rear wheel directly. The problem with this is that they are geared for the bike's top speed and provide less torque as you go slower, so that the steeper the hill, the more work you're doing or you're drawing a ton of current; effectively like trying to pull too high of a gear.

A mid-drive, upright eBike with belt drive would be my holy grail, in your shoes.

A brand you may want to look into is Gazelle; they're an old Dutch bike brand and are starting to sell in the USA. (maybe not as much with the tariffs now, though...) Dutch people haul kids on bikes all the time and have the kids riding bikes immediately after they can walk.

Another approach you might take is to reach out to your child seat mfr. for recommendations on compatible eBikes.

Re. fat tires: avoid them if you don't need them for loose offroad surfaces. They add a ton of weight, which is not an issue for you, but it means the bike needs a bigger motor, bigger battery, bigger brakes, etc. It's an endless cycle. Something with ~2.5" wide tires will give you plenty of versatility without adding all that weight. The rolling resistance is also high, which really cuts into battery life. They ARE good on grass, shallow or firm snow or sand, dirt, etc.

Consider theft too. eBikes are big targets in your area. Get a heavy chain or grinder-resistant U-lock at a minimum and consider supplementing with a disc lock/alarm.

Going to disagree with you on the fat tires. I ride my bikes in town, on paved roads, and until I got a fat tire bike, I was having to change the rear tire with considerable frequency due to hitting some object that I didn't see. And yes, I tried Slime-filled tubes, Kevlar tires, and plastic tube shields that go between the tube and the tire. Even with all that, I was still having to replace the tube once a week on the rear. I switched to a fat tire bike, and it hasn't been nearly the issue. I've had one instance where something caused a slow leak.

So, if you live somewhere without a lot of trash on the road, a normal tire might work just fine, but if you live where I do and you have to dodge stuff constantly, then a fat tire makes more sense.

 

[climb14er]

Well, I think you're going to be shocked at how big & heavy the thing is, and how much the tires howl. I can't believe you bought this for city use. I can't get newbies to take my advice; they always have to learn the hard way on the first purchase.

On the other hand, you'll be happy with the quality, and there are street tread tires available for them. (fattirehouseLA.com) You will just be hauling a bunch more weight than is needed. I think the 750 W hub motor will be fine, as long as you're willing to pedal too; my eFatty has one and it's pretty stout.

Re. the locking, how was your Specialized stolen before? Cut through the lock with a grinder, or ...? What kind of lock was it? I think what you should do is find a noose-style chain and combine that with a LiteLok X-3 U-lock. (U-lock through frame & rear wheel, chain through the U-lock, front wheel and down through the anchor. Lastly, a disc lock/alarm. These are cheap & easy and will really make the bike less attractive, as the easiest way to defeat it is to replace the brake disc, which is a hassle.

When you're out and about, you probably can make do with the disc lock and X-3.

I forget whether the Aventure (not Adventure) has quick-release wheel skewers, but if so, you're going to want to immediately replace them with something theft-resistant.

Did you get the step-through or step-over? Step over will be easier to lock, as you don't have to try to get a U-lock around that fat downtube.

I bought an Aventon Aventure 2 last year as my first E Bike. It rides very smoothly and powerfully around the Denver bike paths and on smooth forest service roads. The fat tires offer good stability on the straights and curves and I don’t really ‘hear’ the tires much at all. I’ve ridden it in sport and turbo modes for added excitement on the streets with no issues at all. Usually when I ride with my girlfriend who is on her Level 2 that I bought her a year prior, I stay in one or two gears and on Eco mode.

I was going to spend $6000 on a Gazelle Eclipse but couldn't ‘justify’’ the cost for my first EBike. I got an extra battery from Aventon for BOTH bikes and $450 credits from Denver for each of the purchases. I don’t ride the Aventure that often, prefer my Waterford R33 Campagnolo Custom. But the EBike serves its purpose well.

My only gripe with the two EBikes is that they’re difficult for me to work on as I really need some type of electric lift to do the job well and not some swinging jungle gym contraption to get it off the ground. This is my only negative about EBikes! My Waterford I put on my Park Stand and go to work.

So… the Aventure 2 gets an A- in my book.