HI everyone. New to the forum. I wanted to introduce myself. I've been thinking about an ebike for a while now. We recently moved and are having a house built. I still work, but just from home. I've got an old trek comfort bike that I took out to my new neighborhood and found that at 66 years old, I just couldn't make some of the hills anymore. I've been thinking about several different bikes. One thing I want is to be able to pop off the front wheel and put it in my outback with seats folded down for going to trails. Here is what I've been thinking:
1) Evelo, Galaxy 500. I liked CVT trans and gates belt drive. My old trek comfort bike external gears although ok, just wasn't what I needed, I rarely used all those gears (like 21 I think). They recommended the new Omega, being I'm at the top of the size range for that bike at 5'10". Both of these are expensive, although I can get the galaxy 500 open box for 3500. The Omega is > 4 grand. I've considered the galaxy SL at much less, with chain drive and CVT manual shifting. Currently less than 3 grand, All of these have a throttle, which I"m not sold on having. No local sales, internet only which is a drag particularly if service is needed.
2) Gazelle, another manufacturer with CVT and gates drive, although very expensive > 4500. I can get one with 5 speed internal gear hub for about 3600. I like the bosh active line plus mid drive motor, no throttle.
3) Didn't go to their shop but toyed around with Pedego bikes, having looked on their website a bunch. Not sure I want a rear hub motor though.
4) Specialized Turbo - a couple of models, on the light side for putting in back of car which is good, but expensive. > 4500.
5) Then I happened to say what the heck I'll go by the Trek store. Saw the Townie 5i. Internal 5 speed hub and bosch active line plus mid drive motor. No gates, but one chain I can live with. < 3,000. It's not much heavier than the lighter options above, the Evelo and specialize turbo como sl 5;0. REI sells this and being a member I get 10% off. So < 2700. I think this one is the winner. I'm going to the trek store today. I have a step over on reserve, but thinking about switching to a step through. This pretty much has the same features and components of the much more expensive Gazelle with the main difference being the chain instead of Gates drive belt. I think I like not having a throttle and staying in the class one ebike category.
Any thoughts and feedback are welcome.
1) Evelo, Galaxy 500. I liked CVT trans and gates belt drive. My old trek comfort bike external gears although ok, just wasn't what I needed, I rarely used all those gears (like 21 I think). They recommended the new Omega, being I'm at the top of the size range for that bike at 5'10". Both of these are expensive, although I can get the galaxy 500 open box for 3500. The Omega is > 4 grand. I've considered the galaxy SL at much less, with chain drive and CVT manual shifting. Currently less than 3 grand, All of these have a throttle, which I"m not sold on having. No local sales, internet only which is a drag particularly if service is needed.
2) Gazelle, another manufacturer with CVT and gates drive, although very expensive > 4500. I can get one with 5 speed internal gear hub for about 3600. I like the bosh active line plus mid drive motor, no throttle.
3) Didn't go to their shop but toyed around with Pedego bikes, having looked on their website a bunch. Not sure I want a rear hub motor though.
4) Specialized Turbo - a couple of models, on the light side for putting in back of car which is good, but expensive. > 4500.
5) Then I happened to say what the heck I'll go by the Trek store. Saw the Townie 5i. Internal 5 speed hub and bosch active line plus mid drive motor. No gates, but one chain I can live with. < 3,000. It's not much heavier than the lighter options above, the Evelo and specialize turbo como sl 5;0. REI sells this and being a member I get 10% off. So < 2700. I think this one is the winner. I'm going to the trek store today. I have a step over on reserve, but thinking about switching to a step through. This pretty much has the same features and components of the much more expensive Gazelle with the main difference being the chain instead of Gates drive belt. I think I like not having a throttle and staying in the class one ebike category.
Any thoughts and feedback are welcome.