Hey friends! I'm looking for lightweight, light-duty #ebikes for a pair of semi-nomadic septuagenarians with dodgy knees.
Mainly for recreation. Affordability (theft potential is high), ease of use (old people), and batteries that won't go boom (obviously) are the main needs.
Any suggestions out there?
Thank you!!!
@mack505
I've been secretly lusting over those but we are sadly too far away.
@DrTCombs
I’ve been looking at a few folding Ebike options from Lectric and Ride1up. Around 65 lbs. for the Portola and a decent price.
@DrTCombs https://www.roodog.co.uk/product/bliss-folding-electric-bike-2/
I have one of these and love it. It folds for easy storage (I don't have a garage) but is a bit awkward to carry when folded.
@divclassbutton @DrTCombs most folding e-bikes are going to be awkward to carry folded, since they get rather wide. The ones with a center handle can be more easily carried by folding just the handlebar, like to carry it up stairs, but then you still have a long package.
@DrTCombs could get a couple swytch wheels on some acoustic bikes.
@jcriecke @DrTCombs caveat the power to weight ratio difference between a 120lb and 200lb rider, if knees are an issue and slopes are steeper. A crank drive that can downshift with your gears can save knee pressure at any speed while the hub might require walking if you can't keep the speed up within its efficient range (though it could push the bike in walk mode with the rider weight removed.)
@DrTCombs @jcriecke I haven't tried the tsdz2, but that or the photon are probably the lightest crank drives available. Not sure who makes a bike with one or if you could diy on a used bike. Hub drives will generally be simpler and can be geared down, or in 20in wheel you lose some top speed but gain leverage. Day6 has some nice options with bbs02 drive. Brompton with swytch is slightly spendy but you take it in and keep it close. A 3sp hub belt drive bike with retrofit tsdz2 maybe.
@DrTCombs
We have a cargo ebike so it wouldn't be good for your needs, but the brand (Aventon) has lots of models. Our bike was cheaper than most other cargo bikes, has low maintenance, and we don't need to charge the battery all that often. It's what drew us to the brand in the first place.
@DrTCombs
Lectric is coming out with a "Lite" folding model that has a belt drive option, lower weight. UL- listed batteries. https://lectricebikes.com/products/xp-lite-arctic-white
@ordinoides oooooh thank you! this looks really promising.
@DrTCombs Given the age of the users, I would highly recommend buying from a local dealer. While there are good prices to be had from direct mail companies, I try not to recommend these to people who do not have the physical capability and skills of performing their own bicycle maintenance. If you decide to go mail order, go with one of the more established brands. Also bear in mind that there really isn't such a thing as a "lightweight" ebike. My RadMission is 48.5 lbs bare of accessories.
@DrTCombs Ocean State Job Lot has a trio of Bird 500w ebikes for $799 with $400 back in a gift card. I've been tempted myself but haven't taken the plunge.
https://www.oceanstatejoblot.com/electric-bikes/birdbike-a-frame-ebike-stealth-black/287784