ronniebellie
Member
- Local time
- 8:42 AM
- Joined
- Jul 21, 2022
- Messages
- 75
- Points
- 18
Got my new Priority Current on October 12 via the Costco Next program which meant I purchased it via the Priority site but got 20% off plus free shipping as a Costco member, which amounted to about an $800 discount ($700 plus the normal $100 shipping fee). My build was the medium size (charcoal color) one with the enviolo hub. The bike was shipped via FedEx from the East Coast to my home in eastern Washington. Unfortunately, there was some damage during shipping. The display was cracked and the front brake rotor was slightly bent, which at first was barely noticeable. Priority support immediately sent out a free replacement display which came 2 days ago and was easy to install. I didn't really notice the bent brake rotor until a couple of days later. It was an easy fix by a mechanic at my local bike shop for only $15. Priority said I could send them the receipt for a refund, but I didn't bother since it was hardly anything.
I've put about 120 miles on the bike already in the first week with most of that from two trips @24 miles each and one longer trip of 41.3 miles (more info on those trips below). Since it's my first ebike and my first bike with a continuous variable transmission (CVT), it took some getting used to at first. The shifiting with the CVT is so different, and then there's the electrification part of it, which takes some time to get used to as well. Finally, there's the weight of the bike (52 lbs) which is a lot heavier than what I'm used to. So overall the feel and experience is much much different than my old bike. But so far, I’m getting used to it and I'm starting to like it a lot.
The cool features include not only the CVT, but the carbon fiber belt (instead of a traditional chain), both of which make the ride super smooth. Even riding with the pedal assist set at zero is a pretty smooth experience. Then there's the hydraulic disk brakes which are much better than the tradition rubber pad brakes I've used all my life. (I think I've been riding a bike for 60 years starting at about age 5 in Montana.)
Regarding the battery range, which is advertised as "20-50 miles based on pedal assist mode (Class 1)," I've done three test rides. For my first 24 mile ride a few days ago on a fairly flat route, I used the electric assist about 60% of the time, occasionally at its highest level (there are 5 levels of electric assist). What's interesting is that with my old bike pushing myself on the same route which I've done many times before, I would average 11-12 mph. With the new Current, with about the same exertion rate, I averaged 15.66 mph. When if finished the ride, I had about a 20-25% charge remaining on the battery.
Then a couple of days later, I rode another brisk 24 miles on a different route which was very hilly, and I used pedal assist probably 70-75% of the time, and in level 4 or 5 about 10-15% of the time. The battery charge was on nearly zero at the end of my ride. I'm pretty sure this was due to the hilly nature of the route.
Finally, on October 19 I did another a battery range test going on a 41-mile ride keeping it mostly at level 1 assist. The route was mostly flat, but there were a few places with some short 4-5% uphill grades, and in those cases, I had it in level 2 assist. What was surprising is that when I finished the ride I still had about a 35% charge remaining on the battery.
My wife and I are about ready to retire and we plan to take a couple a months a year and ride some of the longer rails-to-trails routes around the country, starting first with the 222-mile long Katy Trail across the state of Missouri. We'll likely get her the Current as well. Along this trail are dozens of small towns of German or Amish history and culture. We'll stay in AirBB places along the way.
One final note. Priority support (via mostly text but telephone a couple of times) has been excellent and very responsive. I'm not a mechanic type guy and I need clear instructions on how to do the simplest things. They provide excellent video instructions for assembly and various other things. Very happy with that support so far.
I've put about 120 miles on the bike already in the first week with most of that from two trips @24 miles each and one longer trip of 41.3 miles (more info on those trips below). Since it's my first ebike and my first bike with a continuous variable transmission (CVT), it took some getting used to at first. The shifiting with the CVT is so different, and then there's the electrification part of it, which takes some time to get used to as well. Finally, there's the weight of the bike (52 lbs) which is a lot heavier than what I'm used to. So overall the feel and experience is much much different than my old bike. But so far, I’m getting used to it and I'm starting to like it a lot.
The cool features include not only the CVT, but the carbon fiber belt (instead of a traditional chain), both of which make the ride super smooth. Even riding with the pedal assist set at zero is a pretty smooth experience. Then there's the hydraulic disk brakes which are much better than the tradition rubber pad brakes I've used all my life. (I think I've been riding a bike for 60 years starting at about age 5 in Montana.)
Regarding the battery range, which is advertised as "20-50 miles based on pedal assist mode (Class 1)," I've done three test rides. For my first 24 mile ride a few days ago on a fairly flat route, I used the electric assist about 60% of the time, occasionally at its highest level (there are 5 levels of electric assist). What's interesting is that with my old bike pushing myself on the same route which I've done many times before, I would average 11-12 mph. With the new Current, with about the same exertion rate, I averaged 15.66 mph. When if finished the ride, I had about a 20-25% charge remaining on the battery.
Then a couple of days later, I rode another brisk 24 miles on a different route which was very hilly, and I used pedal assist probably 70-75% of the time, and in level 4 or 5 about 10-15% of the time. The battery charge was on nearly zero at the end of my ride. I'm pretty sure this was due to the hilly nature of the route.
Finally, on October 19 I did another a battery range test going on a 41-mile ride keeping it mostly at level 1 assist. The route was mostly flat, but there were a few places with some short 4-5% uphill grades, and in those cases, I had it in level 2 assist. What was surprising is that when I finished the ride I still had about a 35% charge remaining on the battery.
My wife and I are about ready to retire and we plan to take a couple a months a year and ride some of the longer rails-to-trails routes around the country, starting first with the 222-mile long Katy Trail across the state of Missouri. We'll likely get her the Current as well. Along this trail are dozens of small towns of German or Amish history and culture. We'll stay in AirBB places along the way.
One final note. Priority support (via mostly text but telephone a couple of times) has been excellent and very responsive. I'm not a mechanic type guy and I need clear instructions on how to do the simplest things. They provide excellent video instructions for assembly and various other things. Very happy with that support so far.
