Ebike Without Pedal Assist

alexlinn

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Connecticut
I’m looking to buy my first inexpensive ebike. It’s a city/commuter type with 26” diameter by 2inch thick wheel with a 500wh hub motor.

It’s small frame and about 50lbs, which I think is on the light side for an ebike. It would be used for mild casual use on street, mostly level and a little bit incline here and there.

I’m interested in knowing how strenuous it is to pedal on level ground without any battery assistance at all…..as a regular bike.

Of course at times I will use the battery but when not in use or battery dead, what is the difficulty level compared to a regular bike?

I read a lot of mixed reviews where some say easy and others say difficult. I’d like to poll more users with a similar ebike or can add any additional information.

Thanks in advance for any feedback you can offer!
 
If the bike is light, and has narrow higher pressure tires, it is not too bad, especially for mid-drive bikes.
Geared hub motors can have a bit of drag. Low pressure tires makes it even tougher. A heavy bike will add to the effort as well.

I have an eBike that tips the scales (with my normal commuting load-out) at about 120 pounds.
It would not be an enjoyable experience, even in the lowest gear.
 
I have a Ride1Up 700-series, step thru.
I often pedal it with out PA.
The part that require the most effort is starting from a stop, once the bike gets rolling it is easy to ride without PA.
They are easy to find in my area for under $900 used.
I bought mine used for $650 with 500 miles on the odometer.
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If the bike is light, and has narrow higher pressure tires, it is not too bad, especially for mid-drive bikes.
Geared hub motors can have a bit of drag. Low pressure tires makes it even tougher. A heavy bike will add to the effort as well.

I have an eBike that tips the scales (with my normal commuting load-out) at about 120 pounds.
It would not be an enjoyable experience, even in the lowest gear.
 
Thanks Adder and "A" for your replies. i will purchase the one i'm interested in and THINK i'll do fine without PA,,,,,of course if not, then will use.
BTW - i saw a youtube video somewhere (can't find it now of course) but it said the mid drive was heavier and gear hub woul be more like normal.
i'm new to this stuff so i'll beleive anything i'm told. lol
 
Really comes down to your budget.
Hub motor will always be less expensive, require less drivetrain maintenance and doesn't require a functional drivetrain to operate.
Mid-drive will always cost more and doesn't always perform better than hub motor;
they have their advantages, just not necessarily worthwhile for casual riding or commuting.
With a less expensive ebike, I don't worry as much about theft if I leave my bike unattended when I walk in to a store just for few minutes.
 
The Utopia e-bike is designed to be light and easy to pedal even when the motor isn’t on. It’s made with carbon fiber, which are strong but don’t add much weight. The battery is designed to be slim and built into the frame, which helps keep the bike light.
 
Really comes down to your budget.
Hub motor will always be less expensive, require less drivetrain maintenance and doesn't require a functional drivetrain to operate.
Mid-drive will always cost more and doesn't always perform better than hub motor;
they have their advantages, just not necessarily worthwhile for casual riding or commuting.
With a less expensive ebike, I don't worry as much about theft if I leave my bike unattended when I walk in to a store just for few minutes.
Good info! Appreciate you taking the time to reply! I just made the purchase. Will see how it goes but I’m excited for when it arrives
 
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