Quick assembly/ ride-round-the-block review of the Bird ebike that I bought for $1k at Job Lot, and comes with a $500 gift certificate. So $500 net!! Still available! 1/x https://www.oceanstatejoblot.com/birdbike-v-frame-ebike-glacier-white/product/289210
Cons: Front hub arrived free of grease. Front brake is mildly rubbing. Weird clicking in crank/BB/pedal region, I suspect belt alignment. No gears, but with the motor and that single gear being a good around-town 68ish gear-inches, it’s a meh con. No frame-mounts for a front rack (I LOVE frame mounted front racks).
Unique: the min-max seat heights are really low. For a 6-footer like me, I’m uncomfortable riding as is, will swap on a (common) 27.2 longer post. I’ll just have to ride (checks notes) literally any other bike sold in the US.
For a 5-footer, the US bike market has neglected you. This bike gives you a useful range of seat heights, a step-thru frame, and reasonable 26” wheels (not 700c wagon wheels). Consider it! (end)
A few more details:
*There is a larger, top-tubed model offered that’s intended for folks over 5’8”.
*Both it and the step-thru are offered in silver, which I prefer to the white, should have ordered in silver.
*This deal is order-online but ship-to-store only. And Ocean State Job Lot is (AFAIK) a northeast-US-only thing. Other online retailers seem to be selling these Bird Bikes too tho.
https://www.oceanstatejoblot.com/birdbike-a-frame-ebike-gravity-gray/product/287786
PPS: approximately 25” saddle-to-pedal, and 29” saddle-to-ground, with seat post all the way down.
So again, lots of flexibility for shorter riders to get comfortable, though reach to handlebars might be an issue if your saddle has to be that low.
First houseguest-rider of the Bird was an immediate ebike convert.
@bikepedantic
Am I about to impulse buy an ebike???
@DrTCombs do they have Ocean State Job Lot down by you? Cuz I think it’s ship to-store only
@bikepedantic
Oh. Yeah.
The farthest south is PA.
I guess I'm not about to impulse buy an ebike.
That 5-footer comment made my brain fuzzy though. A bike built for people with economy class legs is almost worth a long drive.
@DrTCombs @bikepedantic smaller wheels do make a lower mount much easier. When our kids were little, we had this so called "mom" bike, where the 26" wheels allowed for an extended handlebar so there was enough space between the front child seat and the saddle. For shorter people, 28" is sometimes not ideal.
@DrTCombs @bikepedantic Same - I actually gasped when I read that part.
@bikepedantic
Oh. I...I might have to give that some thought. It's very tempting!
@Lizbon
@bikepedantic @DrTCombs If I were less poor rn, I’d take you up on that.
@bikepedantic I think you just sold one. Please pick up your commission.
@bikepedantic can't they be lowered?
@Marrekoo no - handlebars are a one-piece bespoke stem-bar combo, they can’t be moved or even swapped out
@bikepedantic that is a serious flaw imho.
@bikepedantic @Marrekoo Clever. Is it at least a standard steerer size that you could get a stem and spacers on it? Then of course will the wires and brake cables reach a swept-back bar.
@bikepedantic but if it's *that* low, a kid's sized bike would be more appropriate.
@bikepedantic Probably good that I didn't buy one, as someone too tall for my Rad, but this was the use case I thought of getting one for: houseguests having an ebike available too.
@bikepedantic Silver was sold out in the V-Frame when I bought. I definitely would have gone that route if it was available.
@bikepedantic Note: for talls there is same deal for non-step through https://www.oceanstatejoblot.com/birdbike-a-frame-ebike-stealth-black/product/287784
@SkibuSmith @bikepedantic the step through looks so much better though 😣.
@SkibuSmith @bikepedantic I’m in the middle ground where either one would work, so lucky me.
@bikepedantic great review! Would you be open to allowing me to try it out sometime? I'm considering buying one as part of that deal
@sofio absolutely, that’s what it’s here for!
@bikepedantic I’ll email you to see when you’ll be aval!
Pros: Gates centertrack drivetrain! Smooth pedal-assist! Nice fenders and lights! Straightforward assembly. Classy looking. All things big and little scream $1500 bike, not $500. (2/x)