Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

This year I plan to purchase an e-bike. Some of the backroads here in PA have no shoulder and as I drive through the countryside I often see things I would like to photograph and simply can't because there is no place to pull over and park. On very very backroads where traffic is almost zero, I'll stop in the middle of the road as long as there are good sight lines in front and behind that would allow me to see oncoming vehicles, and shoot through my window. Other times there is light but steady traffic and it is not possible to stop even for thirty seconds. I think an e-bike makes sense to get some of these shots. I'm sure someone will suggest a regular bike but with a bad knee, it would only work on flat ground. The pressure of going up hills would not work. So far it looks like two bikes are well reviewed and are affordable: espin bikes and Hemiway bikes. They are both around 1500.00. The Hemiway has a more powerful 750 watt motor but weighs 72 lbs. The espin has a 500 watt motor and weighs less. Does anyone have experience with e-bikes? I would like to hear your experiences.
Thanks in advance for anyone who responds,
Mike

Country Boy Loc: Beckley, WV

Consumer magazine featured them a month or two back. My friend is looking to get one to play with but the range and ability to do up hill without assist is a concern. I thing they are neat but would rather have a scooter.

Country Boy Loc: Beckley, WV

Consumer magazine featured them a month or two back. My friend is looking to get one to play with but the range and ability to do up hill without assist is a concern. I thing they are neat but would rather have a scooter.

xt2 Loc: British Columbia, Canada

We use two Pedago and love them!

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Mike, I would suggest a 3 wheel electric bike if they make them.

berchman Loc: South Central PA

A number of companies make electric recumbent trikes. I own one made by ICE. They are all quite expensive.

berchman Loc: South Central PA

If you have a bad knee, does that mean you are unable to pedal a bike? If so, then you will need an e-bike with a throttle not a pedelec. A throttle means you can move without pedaling. A pedelec requires that you pedal and assists you in pedaling. You will be endangering yourself by stopping a bike on a road with no shoulder or no place to pull off entirely. I ride such roads here in Pennsylvania on a recumbent e-trike. Even without a shoulder, it is sometimes possible to pull over onto a grassy field.

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

I'm a member of a camping group - some of the folks have RAD Power Bikes and swear by them - they offer step through bikes which they love as they are easy to get on and off. One member says his is good for 40 miles running around the back roads in MO. He has the folding model so it fits in his vehicle in a bag that he made for it.

Ready to ride


Ready to load

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

No, not a problem pedaling, just the arthritis causes pain if the knee is overly exerted. Flat and slight hills are no problem, but long steep hills are. I want one of the bikes that have 5 to 7 levels of assist where I can do most of the pedaling on mostly flat ground, but can be adjusted to a higher level of assist when the hills become too much.

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

Rad was my first look into e-bikes but the assembly is more than for the two bikes I mentioned and I don't like that they only have a 90 day warranty. I'm also considering buying local but the price for a comparable model is 25% higher. Another bike that people seem to like is made by Raleigh. Canon makes a good bike but the bottom model on that is around 2500 with some models going for as much as 6000.

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

RAD updated their warranty October 19, 2020 - 1 year: https://www.radpowerbikes.com/pages/warranty

I watched the assembly video - about as difficult as setting up my lighting umbrellas -

petrochemist Loc: UK

It's an option I've been considering partly due to couple of views I see on the way to work, when there is early morning mist. Neither spot is suitable for parking, but wouldn't be a problem for a two wheeled vehicle pulling in to the side of the road.
I realised those misty mornings views are not things I'd catch if I had an e-bike/moped but there are many other spots where it might prove equally useful so I've not ruled the idea out entirely.
I could take a camera out on my push bike, but I'm not fit enough to cover enough distance to find the best spots.

wallied

E-bikes are not some one who has mobility problems. The electric bike feature is just
an assist to the peddler. Going up hills will use up the battery pretty quickly. You just
have to know when to go home while you have power available. Generally the e-bikes
have instrumentation to keep you well informed on many of it's features. Bottom-line
is that e-bikes perform excellent on level ground and boardwalks. But up-hill down-hill
it will challenge your physical well being. Regardless what the manufacturer claims, 10
miles is is about the limit you can get out of one charge. Restoring charge to the battery
takes considerable time, so be prepared to wait for that second ride. Don't forget that
whatever bike you choose will require routine maintenance. The electronics is very
complicated not for the novice to play with. Make sure that service is readily available
because you will need it. I would strongly suggest that you look into obtaining a three
wheel e-scooter. The range for a scooter is about the same as a e-bike. Good luck and
have fun. Oh, by the way I had/have both the e-bike and the e-scooter. The E-bike electronics
failed after about 10 years but the e-scooter is still going strong after more than 20 years,
I've had to replace batteries a few times but that is to be expected.

IDguy Loc: Idaho

I bought the espin Nero. Ordered it in August and it finally arrived in December. Assembly was mostly a snap...although it took me a few tries to get the routing of the cables through the front rack right. (I was trying to complicate it.)

Despite cool weather I have gotten to ride it a few times so far. It is awesome. The motor is more than adequate. Still learning best combinations of chain and motor gears. 30 mi one day with plenty of leftover power.

When ordered in August it was $999. Price rose to $1,499 in September and then back down by $250 on Jan 1. I know that because I waited to order a Nesta for my wife. The Nero was for her actually but turned out to be too big for her. So I helped out.

The Nesta is supposed to arrive next month but I won’t hold my breath.

IDguy Loc: Idaho

espin Nesta is the same. Wifi’s supposed to arrive next month.