Lesson learned: Buy your e-bike from a reputable brand — not some ghost company off Amazon.
Posted by Zyoneatslyons@reddit | ebikes | View on Reddit | 207 comments
After going through four bikes, I ended up buying the “ZDZa” e-bike on Amazon. And here’s the hard-earned truth I learned:
Those glowing YouTube reviews of cheap Chinese e-bikes? Take them with a grain of salt. These reviewers are usually getting the bikes for free, and by the time you’re watching their video, they’re already riding their next freebie from another mystery brand. Meanwhile, you’re stuck with a product that has no real support.
The manufacturer of my bike is basically a ghost — they set up some slick-looking product images, slap together a basic Instagram account, and vanish. It took me spending $700 just to dig up a contact email for the “warranty” (which, of course, no one has responded to).
The battery on mine turned out to be faulty. Thankfully, Amazon gave me a one-time courtesy refund — even they couldn’t get in touch with the manufacturer. So now I’ve got a glorified mountain bike that weighs a ton.
A few things I learned: • Don’t trust influencer hype. If they got the bike for free, they’re not going to deal with long-term problems like you will. • Buy from a reputable company — one that actually exists and offers real customer support. • Faulty battery? Will I might be able to get it rebuilt at a battery repair shop? Has anyone had experience looking for local shops? Are Some batteries cross-compatible!
At the end of the day, I learned my lesson. Cheap upfront often means expensive later. Stick with known brands — you’ll save yourself the headache.
BeardRub@reddit
This was really annoying as I embarked on my ebike research. The actually good bikes, like the really good bikes, are not surfaced when searching for e-bike reviews online. Presumably because those brands don't need to send free bikes around for publicity, nor do they seem to invest into online ranking boosting.
There are seemingly endless channels entirely dedicated to reviewing bikes and making lists of them, and the same few brands seem to be represented over and over. Yet very few of them can be purchased from any bike shops in my area. And even the "youtube" brands are only sold by one dedicated "ebike" shop. The other shops only carry mainstream bike brands and their e-bike variants.
Once I actually bought a couple of bikes and began using them a lot I finally understood the importance of bike design experience over the stats of the electrical equipment. Especially at high speeds and while managing rough terrain.
Also worth noting that a ton of the bikes sold online are not entirely legal in a lot of places, especially on trails. Huge potential to snake prospective buyers with the lure of less expensive versions of a major purchase. It's basically a massive, virtual used car lot.
killerdeathman@reddit
What brands which are really good but aren't in online reviews are you talking about?
BeardRub@reddit
Big bike brands, as the person below said. Trek, Specialized, Giant, Santa Cruz, Canyon, Cannondale.
Amerpol@reddit
Yeah I was trying to do that with my local bike shop and really wanted a made in USA .Local shop had Trek made in Vietnam for 6k asked about something made here to gonna be 14 k .I went with Wired haven't really put any miles on due to weather I have my fingers crossed on how it works out
TeamADW@reddit
Look for a used Cannondale, made in PA from Alco aluminum. Ive seen several listed locally for under $1k
Amerpol@reddit
Thanks for the information
Bryan_TheEditor@reddit
There is no such thing as "made in usa" ebikes. Even from the big brands. They don't make things in the US, at best they assemble
Amerpol@reddit
Well as a Union Building Trades worker I try to by Made In America. Local bike shop owner said 14 k for made in USA .Just saying, don't kill the messenger
Subject-Toe9731@reddit
The Electric bike company sources globally and assembles in CA. If you are looking for a “comfort” e-bike I would look there if made in the USA is a must.
Virtual_Product_5595@reddit
Good news... the Vietnam bike will probably likely soon cost more than the US made one.
Jambe-du-Bois@reddit
It is not about whether it is made in the US, very few are, but rather if the company is a US company. Trek and Specialized are US companies that employ thousands of workers in the US, and most of their products are designed by engineers here in the US. A US assembled ebike is going to be stupid expensive, with minimal quality improvement. The most important part is that the people who design and are responsible for the product are located in the US.
BeardRub@reddit
I don't want to weigh in on the macroeconomics of it all, but I did want an American brand. Though some of these companies pretend to be USA based when it's really just an address they ship Chinese products to.
Aventon Founder:
"As a student, he resold Chinese-made goods with the help of e-commerce to support study. And gradually pivoted into assembling customized bicycles for local community of customers who were connected online. Afterwards, Zhang started sourcing products through another factory, though that did not work properly and eventually ended up setting up his own plant in China and distribution network throughout the USA."
Jambe-du-Bois@reddit
Also, Trek is based out of Waterloo, WI ..... Specialized out of Mountainview, CA .... Cannondale out of Connecticut, I believe. Yes, most of the parts, frames, etc. are still from Asia, and most of their models are assembled there, but the design, customer service, quality teams, etc., etc. are all US-based.
Trek used to assemble more bikes in the US than any other mfg. and that was as of like 2020 ..... although that was mostly the highest-end models and I am not sure if it is still true. They also used to lay-up carbon frames, wheels, etc. in Waterloo, but again, that was all the high-end.
But you are right, many of the value brands (Lectric, Rad Power, Aventon, etc.) are mostly just import companies, with minimal operations in the US, certainly not any design/engineering. Even Giant is a Taiwanese company, and most of their operations are in Taichung, TW or Kunshan, China for ebikes, although they do have decent quality and customer service to support the US.
Jambe-du-Bois@reddit
Aventon is funded Chinese venture capital and subsidies from the PRC, so not even close to US-based. Maybe when he was making bespoke single speeds, but then he took the handouts from the communist party. Dont get me wrong, they are one of the better budget ebikes out there, I surely would not go much lower tier, but also dont confuse them as anything close to American.
Amerpol@reddit
It is to me
Jambe-du-Bois@reddit
.... and that is totally OK. You are just going to pay heavily for it, because labor is so much more expensive here ..... and ultimately, most of the components are going to be the same anyways, since Shimano, SRAM, Etc,. are all made in the same places regardless of where the bicycle is assembled.
Amerpol@reddit
Exactly,
UT07@reddit
Sounds like you were looking for a reason not to spend 6k
Amerpol@reddit
Really it was 7000 for a bike without fenders Made in Vietnam. And I got 2 Wired Freedoms for less then 4500
youandican@reddit
Yeah, because we all have 6K just burning a hole in our pockets
ZucchiniAlert2582@reddit
Nothing in the bicycle realm is manufactured at scale in the U.S. You can get a bespoke frame (just the frame) hand built in USA at double the cost of a nice complete bike made in Taiwan($2k ballpark). There are some niche components made in USA: Paul, Phil Wood, Velocity etc. once again, these cost many times more than the competing stuff made overseas. Everyone says they want made in the USA. Extremely few are willing to pony up and pay for it.
mtnfreek@reddit
Add Gazelle, Orbea and Reise and Mueller to that list.
beachbum818@reddit
Brands that make bikes..... not just slap their name on a generic product.
band-of-horses@reddit
Legitimate bicycle brands. You will find these youtubers review a lot of bike brands you've never heard of, but will never have a single review of an ebike from Trek, Specialized, Giant, Canyon, Cannondale, etc etc.
Fearless_Resolve_738@reddit
Rad Bikes
UT07@reddit
Lol no
WaterIsGolden@reddit
Influencer is just a shady way of pronouncing advertiser.
Wise_Instruction_899@reddit
Salespeople.
DaddyMoneyBucks@reddit
On point to that
comparmentaliser@reddit
I’ve always only ever regarded them as salespeople, which is rarely synonymous with trustworthiness across any industry.
zenware@reddit
Influencer used to just mean “someone who is influential”, often meaning wildly rich, but could mean any number of things… Famous actor, industry thought leader, etc. and then, IMO largely because of the Halo effect, people would be interested in their choices and opinions about things like e-bikes or clothing or food, or whatever. And companies would try to take advantage of that to sell more products, as well they should.
It’s been weird to watch “the concept of being influential” itself be converted into some sort of cottage industry where folks (kids especially) basically try to make a career from being a brand affiliate to literally any brand that will give them money or samples. Especially without first doing the three decades of work it takes to become influential.
SereneRiot@reddit
Can you share the 3-4 really good ebikes you came across?
BeardRub@reddit
Sure, my favorite was the Specialized, I'm gonna go buy one this week once I sell my Aventon. The Santa Cruz, Trek, and Giant bikes were also really good. I didn't get to check out any of the other major bike brands.
Disclaimer: I'm a bit of an ogre, so I need a bike that accommodates a 6'3" person that's over 200 lbs, and not all models work for that.
I'm currently deciding between a Turbo Tero 3.0 hard tail or going all the way with a Turbo Levo 5.0 Carbon. I got my wife the Haul ST (also called the globe, I guess) and that thing is awesome for a little city commuter. Cannot praise that bike enough if you like that style. The rack holds almost 80 lbs, MIK rack, toss a Kid Seat on there for my Daughter, she LOVES it. Gonna go get footpegs for it soon as well. I got it for a little less than the website shows, was on sale for like 1800 at the time, like a month ago.
Just saw that Giant is having a "clearance" sale that it seems most manufacturers are currently having. I haven't followed prices enough to know if it's a real sale or not.
Giant Sale
SereneRiot@reddit
Thank you!
twisted_kilt@reddit
Just bought the wife and Myself a pair of Turbo Tero x 6’s. Still waiting on mine to get shipped and built but the wifes is pretty amazing so far.
PrestigiousAdagio849@reddit
Rip, I wish I was smarted when looking for my first bike lol… I always preach doing your research and then bought a gotrax 🤣
PrestigiousAdagio849@reddit
*smarter
BoringBob84@reddit
I read and watched many reviews at Electric Bike Review and made my purchasing decision based on their advice - both good and bad.
Everything they told me turned out to be accurate, so I would definitely go back again if I was looking for another ebike.
Disclaimer: I have no financial interest in this business. I am just a satisfied customer.
TeamADW@reddit
That should be anything you buy. Stop buying from these "scam" brands.
GTFU-Already@reddit
Even buying from a "name" company based here in the States is no guarantee. I bought from Juiced a couple of years ago and now they are out of business. It's a great bike but now I have no support, no parts, no future. I'll keep it maintained as best I can and ride it until something major breaks (it'll probably be the controller) and then try to part it out.
Definitely buy from a well known and well-established company.
Vader0228@reddit
Also buy bikes with REAL names. How do you even say ZDZa. That the gist sign to me that a bike is bad.
No-Caregiver-7887@reddit
Alphabet soup ass company names
Appropriate_Weekend9@reddit
I saw one Chinese eBay called the silverfish
Blindicus@reddit
Lectric’s customer support is A+ and their products are good quality for the price.
recorecat@reddit
Bought a shitty chinese bike from a local bike shop with a dead manufacturer. not even 6 months later I bought a super. never buy shit that people don't know about.
novabynature@reddit
Okay, I have a question regarding the Driftslide J1 which is all over the Tikkity Tok rt. now. I just need a bike for my son to ride to work which is 2 miles from home. Can anyone offer a real review on this bike? I cannot afford a super expensive bike rt now.
Vedicstudent108@reddit
Defiantly buy from a company that offers service, especially if you have no mechanical skills !
On the other hand if you have some skills, buying a e bike that has a great price is worth it.
I bought a kit that all in cost $600 goes 31 mph,50 plus miles, super programmable and the joy of doing it myself !
dkerton@reddit
There are three categories of ebikes, segmented by quality, support, and price:
1) Specialized, Giant, Tern, etc
You know these ones. You see them at good bike stores. They cost a lot, but you will get support from the LBS. And they will be able to find parts. None of this will be cheap, but you won't waste your time, it'll work well, and you are not taking any risks. You're buying a bike, and "insurance".
2) Rad Power, Lectric, Ride1Up
These brands are mostly store-free, but may have a few retail locations. They drop ship the bike to you, and often you need to assemble a bit. You're gonna save money compared to the first category, but take on additional risk, but at a tolerable level. These brands are not "fly by night", they have been around a while, and have parts. But support is harder to get a hold of, repair parts can be shipped to you, but it's on you to get them installed. Your LBS may refuse to work on it for a handful of reasons. Buy from this category ONLY if savings is a priority, and you are comfortable doing some repair work yourself. I find that this is my personal sweet spot: a top bike from this middle category, say $2k-$2.5k.
3) No name crap, Amazon Bikes, Department Store bikes
The best of these are the Department store kind, cuz at least you can take it back for a refund and it probably has a certified battery. But wally-mart won't provide you any service, nor repair parts, so you're still in this category. The worst of these are the weird name bikes on Amazon or online shops. They are the cheapest, but still not worth it for anybody. The quality of the bike is too low, the ride is bad, the brakes suck, every component is the cheapest they could find to slap a Frankenbike together. You may need to do all your own service, cuz an LBS may or may not refuse to service your bike. Parts will be tricky to find. But the worst is the dubious battery. It could be uncertified for safety, or even have fake certification stickers. Bad ebike batteries can start fires, usually in one of three situations: when banged or dropped, while being used hard (like an uphill climb), or while charging (like unattended in your garage.) You want none of that risk.
Yes, there is some overlap between the groups. Aventon, for example, fits a bit in 1 and 2. Some department store bikes might have a good name brand and support. But basically, all fit this categorization pretty well.
If you are buying an ebike, make an informed choice between 1 and 2, and DO NOT buy 3.
dkerton@reddit
If it weren't for the battery component, I'd disagree with you. But you're right.
The thing is, people who fix their own stuff, who are handy, can save a lot of money buying bikes and stuff with no support. You just have to understand that you'll have to find parts, and do your own service. For me, I plan on doing that anyway, since I don't like the job of driving my bike to a shop, waiting, then driving again and paying. I enjoy the act of fixing stuff, so I just do it in my garage.
Buuuut, we've learned about ebikes that we just cannot trust no-name, cheaply made batteries with no UL or CE certifications (or fake ones.) The incredibly huge risk these pose is simply not worth the cost of saving a few bucks. It's one thing to have a cheap pedal bearings that you need to replace cuz they add friction and noise, and a totally different to have your house burn down cuz your battery overheated on charge.
In conclusion: a cheap bike is a fine choice for certain people, a cheap battery is never a good choice.
VisualVeterinarian45@reddit
All bike brands including Giant, Specialized make their bikes out of China. The difference is the approach to marketing, sales channels, customer service, etc and who they hire to run these (US v remote China based employees). Buy from a reputable brand like Aventon or Lectric.
PippoKPax@reddit
Thank you for posting this! So many folks in this sub come here and post “Check out my new “!SWGIE XC 43 &@“ or whatever made up name the drop shipper has come up with. I always hope it works out for them but I know it won’t!
Take OP’s advice. Do your research and buy from a name brand that is established!
HighwayInternal9145@reddit
I've had my $4,500 w folding dual motor $1,000 ebike for over a month and I haven't had any issues. Surprisingly came with high quality components like Shimano hydraulic disc brakes. Everyone's experience is different
PippoKPax@reddit
Best of luck! The last place to skimp is brakes so those look good. Unfortunately from my experience there’s no free lunch out there, so they probably skimped somewhere (battery cells or construction, derailleur, etc) but I hope it works out for you long term!
danasf@reddit
Recommendations for trustworthy Companies / Brands that are not obvious?
We all know Trek, Santa Cruz, Specialized, etc. - what do redditors recommend apart from the big brands?
I'll start - Ride1up has been great! Owned 2 bikes, gotten above and beyond support from them when needed. Very good california based company selling bikes manufactured in China (I think).
STANKWORMJIMMY@reddit
I don't feel bad for you at all. You Fucked up! It's like falling for a scam call. You fucked up!
plorraine@reddit
There are a number of e-bike sellers who show up on Amazon and will have 200 or so glowing reviews almost immediately. Fake reviews are a big problem on Amazon. Be suspicious. This doesn't mean you can't buy a good bike off of Amazon, but the glowing reviews do not necessarily mean something.
A lot of direct-to-consumer e-bike companies have weak after-sales support. If you can do the work yourself, you can likely keep it running - brakes, tires, accessories, gear components, saddles, etc are easy to self-service. Motors, batteries, and electronics are a little more complicated. A model supported by a local bike shop will have less frustration.
greg_keller@reddit
Dude, just looked at this bike on Amazon, oh jesus, what an abortion! You get what you pay for!!!
Revolutionary-Half-3@reddit
This is the reason I bought from Lectric. They're not full size mountain bikes, but they're as cheap as you can get with a US based company for warranty service.
Everything I've heard about their service has been great, and they promptly answered my question about exactly what cells were used in my battery.
AbiesEast4671@reddit
I spent about four months researching eBikes and I couldn't believe the hype I read not to mention the sheer numbers of companies who claim to be making them. Their like the pop ups on Facebook. For $19.00 it might look like a great shirt and then when they don't fit when you get them you realize there are no 800 numbers and if push hard enough they might give you your money back but it's on you to return the shirt to China. Good luck with the translation never mind getting a check. For a while I thought Aventon was the way to go but then when I started to research their dealer network, while it might be legit, It's not like they have a ton of parts laying around. They have to import the parts and mark them up. They have rent and have to pay for things like electricity. I get it. The thing with most of the eBikes with less than stellar names is they know the sweet spot. They know if they can offer a bike for less than $800.00 that has certain features you don't find unless you pay a minimum of 1,200- 1,500, they know you're going to keep watching, and hopefully order.
Tricky_Garden_8041@reddit
Yeah Even the e motorcycle suppliers off alibaba are questionable. Instead I'm gonna buy separate parts and convert a old gpz 550 to electric. my ebay e bike conversion kit came with out any warranty. So far no real problems other than right sizing the battery pack. The manual says I can use a 16 amp hr battery. My research tells me I need closer to 30 amp/hr. I got 35 mph from a 1500 watt hub motor on flat and level, but don't try any hills unless you like to walk... Hope the repaired/up sized battery pack fixes the problem.
Existing_Bat_2354@reddit
Yep, all these reviewers over hype everything! Look at some fragrance influencers. Everything is "it's the best," "it's my favorite," "my top 3 frags ever" it's all B.S. so you buy stuff! I'm not rich, bike prices are out of control like everything else. I have been buying used bikes since covid and never looked back. I upgrade every 2-3 years. Currently riding a 2022 Giant Reign E +3. You get some good deal on the market my bike came with upgraded Sram wireless shifting and rockshock Zeb fork. Another bit of advice stick with the big brands like Giant, specialized, cannondale, trek. They have been around for decades and use real standards and quality parts from reputable companies like shimano and sram. Nothing custom like those no-name Chinese brands. My friend has a Chinese no-name bike and his disc brakes rotor were nothing like mine. He is gonna have proble
tactech@reddit
Imagine having a complex combination of new and old technology no idea how it works. Order a manual and expecting nothing to be wrong because you have absolutely nobody to help me.
UnderstandingNo6746@reddit
I just looked at the zdza and can see in 1 second flat it's a heap of junk, literally nothing anyone could say about it could sway me on that instant impression. Everything about it is rubbish. Tyres, wheels, stem, headset, forks all an instant steer clear, then it's a rear hub also rubbish, I can't inspect the frame but I bet its as strong as a wet digestive biscuit. Like seriously what were you thinking 🤔 Do yourself a massive favour as you got refunded, use that money and look for something used but that has: Leading brand suspension. A mid drive motor. With those 2 points the bike you get will be something you enjoy riding alot for along time.
Sir-Buzz92@reddit
Most ebikes are Chinese made. In fact, most things are made in China. My ebike is Chinese made, and it's bloody brilliant.. just the case of yet another person that thinks they know best.
stormdelta@reddit
The problem isn't so much "made in china" as it is "was this made to actual quality"? Bottom line is, if it looks sketchy and is sold through sketchy fronts like social media, it probably is sketchy. Especially if the price looks too good to be true.
DoubleOwl7777@reddit
there is a difference between made on a budget and made well though. these two things usually dont mix.
SwervinThru@reddit
yeah, same for electric scooters, most made in china. I guess they think BDDY cars are China trash? china makes some good products, but also makes some bad. you think you can't find trash made by USA manufacturers??
LakeSuperiorIsMyPond@reddit
I would say it's not necessarily a "don't buy Chinese ebikes off amazon" necessarily, I would research the company first. My #1 rule is, do they ONLY sell on Amazon or can you buy direct? This tells me if they are a pop-up and gone on Amazon or if they are sticking around. I bought an IsInWheel and I'll tell you why. you CAN buy replacement parts on their website, they have been in business since 2018 and whois dns records can confirm it. They aren't here today and gone tomorrow. They have support in Plano, Texas and it's NOT A PO BOX.
That's my requirement for making an expensive purchase on Amazon. Is the seller a pop-up shop or not? If they are, you're basically no better off than you are on TEMU!
blackhawk00001@reddit
Most are junk, but some are rebranding and selling legit decent bikes from China factories. Some have good support but those are fewer. I did a ton of research and decided on an ebycco eb10 for a commuter less expensive than my race bikes. Welds on the rack are off so it’s a little crooked, but overall the bike is surprisingly better quality than expected. Brakes are good with 180mm rotors. I’ve put over 200 miles on it in the 3 weeks of ownership and replaced the snow tires with better moped type tires. I needed the power for road commuting. I have a class 3 trek but it’s more toy and exercise machine than a vehicle replacement.
They seem super responsive to questions and issues of myself and others. They do however have the same issue of stretching the description as other sellers. One reviewer discovered the battery isn’t as large as listed but they claim it was only an issue with early shipments. I had a random free battery and charger show up after I pushed the topic with them so who knows. I haven’t discharged below 50% with my 30 mile commute at 30mph with some 15mph pedaling on shared paths, some steep 300ft climbs. It will go faster but voltage sag hits hard. I plan to parallel a second battery when I figure out how to mount it.
I do my own maintenance and am familiar with complex electrical systems which is key. Not sure a bike shop would touch it. I won’t let just anyone ride it because it’s too powerful for most to safely handle. I would stay away from the full suspension models, too many potential issues and most are not good enough quality (bushings instead of bearings, fake shocks with too small a spring)
AffectionateEar2035@reddit
On the other hand stay away from higher speed bikes with NO suspension such as my Juiced RipRacer. I have been thrown from that thing more than once after hitting a bump in the road or just plain rough road.
blackhawk00001@reddit
I could only imagine, my trek is full rigid and sometimes wish it had a fork. I installed mountain bike screw platform pedals and wear shoes to match. Have still had a few almost bad experiences when not expecting it.
AffectionateEar2035@reddit
Yeah, Been in the hospital 4 times over that bike. On 4 different occasions broke each clavicle along with ribs (2), fractured my pubis bone (ow x100, felt like I had my boys ripped off), finally just going off a curb onto a wet street, fractured my left pelvis. All except the pubis bone required surgery. I’m not riding it anymore, anybody want to buy a used Juiced RipRacer for $400. Yes, it works just fine.
Wild_Mountain1780@reddit
Get a Kinekt or Redshift ShockStop suspension stem. I have the Kinekt on my e-gravel bike and really like it. There are other brands out there. The two I mentioned are expensive but very high quality.
I will admit that I wouldn't mind a full suspension fork.
beeblebr0x@reddit
I'm getting nauseated by the amount of times I have to say this, but: BUY FROM YOUR LOCAL BIKE SHOP.
Even if there isn't one nearby, find the closest one online and call them up. Talk to a professional. Have a plan for if you need work done on your bike. Even if this bike wasn't a lemon, I doubt many (if any) LBS would work on it.
Seriously.... these companies are successful because of this gotta find the cheapest flashiest thing mindset.
FreshSetOfBatteries@reddit
It's not a matter of cheapest, the local bike store models are often 2x as expensive. It's not economically feasible for some.
beeblebr0x@reddit
And yet, the vast majority of bike shops - that I've been to anyways - sell ebikes from incredibly reputable brands. Take Tern for example. Their bikes are everywhere and they are such solid, reliable bikes. Are they more expensive than $700? Sure. But you get what you pay for. OP said he's bought 4 ebikes now online. Let's assume they've all been $700. If he had just saved that he could buy a Tern Quick Haul D8 for $2,500, and still have some money left over for accessories.
Oak_Redstart@reddit
I went to my local bike shop and saw they finally had an ebike on the floor. I asked about it and it was 6 grand. If the local bike shop was the only option the message might as well be - you can’t afford an electric bike so just give up the idea of getting one.
beeblebr0x@reddit
With the nature of ebikes, the sad truth is that unless you know you can reliably work on the bike yourself, it may be the case that it is out of your range at this time. Doesn't mean that will always be the case, however. Better to buy a reliable acoustic bike from a reputable local bike shop than to buy any sketchy ebike online.
FreshSetOfBatteries@reddit
Gatekeeping.
beeblebr0x@reddit
But it's not though. I'm saying people shouldn't be buying cheap unreliable crap that they're just going to replace in a year. If you look through OPs comments, he says he's made this mistake 4 times now. Imagine if he had just saved that money and bought 1 more reliable bike instead of 4 cheaper ones. It's not gatekeeping, it's common sense.
GRF999999999@reddit
Yeah, but then you got to deal with surly underpaid shop workers who did more coke the previous weekend then you've done in your entire life.
IgnoranceIsAVirus@reddit
Veelfella and paselec , cheep and zero service
Building my own now
HighwayInternal9145@reddit
I'm happy with my dual motor folding 4500W $1,000 Chinese e-bike from Amazon.
OhHenrylll@reddit
I got a hoovermax thru Walmart 500 dollars no problem “reputable” brands are 5k f that I will buy a motorcycle for that.
trtsmb@reddit
I have a reputable brand and I didn't pay $5k.
OhHenrylll@reddit
Ya not really sure what reputable means most all bikes are cheap Chinese bikes guess there are ghost companies but you probably find that with any business.
trtsmb@reddit
You put 'reputable' in quotes and then implied reputable brands are at least $5k. I bought my bike at a reputable LBS that actually gets high marks in the cycling community when it comes to maintaining both regular and e-bikes.
OhHenrylll@reddit
According to the LBS website bikes range between 3,750 to 5500 sure there a good bike however that’s the price of a decent used car or new jap motorcycle. Honda rebel is 4600. It’s a rich man’s hobby us poor people buy 500 dollar Walmart special.
trtsmb@reddit
Which LBS bike site are you looking at? My local Trek LBS has quite a few options between $1200 and $2500.
The Honda Rebel 300 is around $4800. The Rebel 1100 is over $10k.
OhHenrylll@reddit
Was talking about 250 rebel
trtsmb@reddit
2016 was the last year for the Rebel 250 in the US. If you're paying $4600 for an 11 year old motorcycle, you're way overpaying.
OhHenrylll@reddit
Must have been a 300 I seen then. Dax gram trail Honda are less expensive than what lbs website states. Point being is ya can get something better for the same or even less money. Petal electric are 5k with a max speed of 37 sure a 125 trail will go faster gas cost extra but you can go as far as you feed it. All bikes and motorcycles are fun it’s all in what you can afford.
trtsmb@reddit
Sounds like you ought to buy a motorcycle since you're convinced that you can't buy a Trek/Specialized/Giant/etc e-bike for around $2000.
OhHenrylll@reddit
Apparently you missed the part about being poor I have a Hoovermax 750 watt no complaints also a Kawasaki mean streak 1600 until inflation matches pay I won’t be buying no 2k bicycle hope it works out for ya.. even at 2k that’s 4 to 5 Walmart specials of course I am shure other brands are better but are they 4 to 10 times better doubtful.
trtsmb@reddit
You call yourself poor but have multiple bikes? I remember being actually poor where buying any sort of bike was out of the question but you do you.
OhHenrylll@reddit
I am resourceful and have good credit make good choices with my money. Work 60 plus hours a week. My wage is lower than average hence being lower income never said I was destitute.the bike is the cheapest 750 watt I found the motorcycle is 20 years old and I also own my own house in the ghetto. Yes if I really wanted a 2k plus bicycle I could get it but seems a better idea to get a 500 dollar one and use the 1500 or more on other life expenses.
i__hate__you__people@reddit
I bought a Giant eBike even though it cost a bit more specifically because there are local Giant stores I can go into and get it repaired. Parts are available.
Buying from somewhere you can physically walk into and get it serviced is WELL worth the extra $$.
Bryan_TheEditor@reddit
This. It's less about the China of it all and more about the support you get in your country
SereneRiot@reddit
Can you share which Giant ebike you ended up buying? How do you like it so far?
ParkLane1984@reddit
Got the roam. Took it for first spin today and very happy
SereneRiot@reddit
Thank you!
Coral-Poe@reddit
After riding for a while, I found that Chinese electric bicycles are not that bad. For example, Lectirc is a very good brand.
There seem to be some famous electric bicycle factories in Hong Kong. It is the right thing to do to do research and read more reviews before buying.
canned_pho@reddit
So I saw ZDZa ebike on amazon, and it looks like it's just using a easily replaceable shark type battery back.
If you don't want it to be a glorified heavy MTB or paper weight, just replace the battery with any standard 48-volt shark battery pack, WITH the right pins as well. There's not many variations of the pin layout. It's usually 4 or 5-pin layout.
Soggy-Beach1403@reddit
You should buy from a local shop unless you know or plan to learn how to do repairs.
Repulsive_Vanilla383@reddit
The "buy from your local bike shop" isn't for everybody. I did some shopping around at brick and mortar and they wanted three times the price for 1/3 of the battery capacity. So I bought some cheap Chinese Amazon brands after some research. I don't regret it, but I'm also capable of doing my own troubleshooting and repairs.
reelznfeelz@reddit
Eh, yeah but it’s not all about “specs”. My bike has a 540wh pack and is good for damn near all day. Because it’s an efficient, reasonably light, high end bike. I feel like something like Giant or Aventon is the cheapest you can to without getting junk. Even better get a used one of those and you’re spending less than an Amazon bike potentially.
Wild_Mountain1780@reddit
But were the stats on your cheap Chinese brand real or was range overestimated? I have a Yamaha Wabash RT and my actual range is very close to the advertised range. Also the name brands seem to be able to give you more range with less battery power. I get 50 miles in the standard assist mode on my Yamaha and could manage to get quite a bit more if I used the two lower assist modes, though I do think the lowest assist is pretty much unusable. I'd rather ride my analog bike than use the lowest assist. The next one up is decent though and will give you close to 75 miles on flat land.
Repulsive_Vanilla383@reddit
Oh for me personally, I don't even bother looking at the advertised range of the knockoff Chinese e-bikes. Because I know it's going to be over exaggerated. But I will look at the battery capacity. And I'll take the case apart and pull the part number off the cells and look them up to see if the capacity matches the advertised capacity.
YaBoyTheGrimReaper@reddit
I agree, though you always have to pay for it one way or another.
You buy cheap and you spend more time performing maintenance and repairs and eventually it will break beyond repair. You buy expensive and you lose money in exchange for your time and longevity.
Which do you value more, your time or your money? Hopefully that is the choice you make because its the worst when you spend allot and still have to spend much of your time on it i.e. a lemon.
Repulsive_Vanilla383@reddit
I understand your theory. But from my own experience, the only repairs I've had to do so far were a set of brake pads on the "name brand" Super 73. Out of my five e-bikes the one with the most miles on it is an old second hand Jetson that I got for free. It's been really reliable considering it's been driven hard by teenagers for a thousand miles. All that one has needed is tubes in the tires.
Electrical_Style8094@reddit
And every single bike on the market will have to change brake pads eventually it's called ongoing cost of keeping the bike roadworthy you can't categorise it as a repair because nothing was broke
YaBoyTheGrimReaper@reddit
always leave room for the holy grail, cheap and reliable. rare but certainly not impossible as it seems to be in your case.
slirpo@reddit
I'm surprised Amazon was willing to give you a refund for the full bike without having you return it. That's actually pretty awesome. I'd use that money to buy a new battery for the bike, and you basically got a whole ebike for the price of the battery.
putitinthetraslol@reddit
Stop buying shit on Amazon.
Go to a local bike shop and work with a human person to get a decent bike from a local business.
reelznfeelz@reddit
For sure. Yeah I’ll buy a small item sometime on there although I know I shouldn’t. But an e-bike? Nah fuck that noise. They’re literally all Chinese garbage with ad pages that make them look super slick.
Get a user name brand or whatever you can get from a local bike shop. It’s a literal waste of money to buy a $800 Amazon e-bike from China.
Dirt_Bike_Zero@reddit
100% They will actually put tools and time into something they sell.
Try that with Amazon.
xiaopigu@reddit
Just make sure to buy on credit and charge back
Tiffany2022@reddit
Sorry man . My advice is get one from a bike shop and have them do the fitting as well, aside from getting the bike you can see the quality
cjop@reddit
Thanks for posting. There is so much trash out there. I love the posts regarding some no name brand and are they any good. Here the answer. No!
girllygire45643@reddit
Lectric makes a great bike. U,S. made. There are man other great bikes out there to find one with good support,
UltrasoneGG@reddit
Lectric is a US company that sells Made in China e-bikes. No bike can be made at budget price in the US.
girllygire45643@reddit
Actuly according to Lectrics website the final assembly of the bike is done in Phonex Arizona. they also service the bikes that they sell here in the US
BodSmith54321@reddit
But I have 10,000 miles on my ghost company e-bike with zero problems. /s
Xxmeow123@reddit
"faulty battery" could also cost you a burnt down house.
EchoScary6355@reddit
Amazon reviewers are fake. They are just somebody hitting an icon for votes.
No_Carpet_1772@reddit
You could hotwire a rack mount battery and look into having the battery you have rebuilt. I went through Alibaba for an extra battery for my g-force t42 and accidentally ordered the wrong size case, but they took it back and built one for me. They even sent a video of it being assembled.
I almost bought a ZDZA from temu because it had a 1500w motor, but I figured it would have low-grade accessories for the $700 price.
FaithlessnessOk3883@reddit
Why I got a super 73 used off Facebook marketplace. People buy these and then realize they will never use them.
It’s a fine process of buying bicycles of all sorts. Patience is key
Dull_Introduction183@reddit
Just buy a good bike that fit your needs and convert it with GrinTechnologies aka ebikes.com
master2uall@reddit
I trust the YouTube people that are doing reviews of bikes and that's how I came across my goat power bikes which I've had for over 2 years and are still kicking ass
Electrical_Style8094@reddit
You guys have no clue , should be able to buy second hand battery on Facebook marketplace for 50-100 , even if different connector it cost less than $5 to order same connector or you can Wire straight to battery for free, Main takeaway from this whole post is if you have no clue about e-bikes or have no desire to learn any wiring or electronics stick with popular brands and retail stores
roughtimes@reddit
Sounds like OP had some hassle, but scored a free bike.
Mundus_Vult_Decipi@reddit
Build one yourself for $2500ish. Don't pay $5000+ for a name brand. (That said, I really want that $8000 Tern).
B1ack_1c3@reddit
Yeah check out ebikeling. Out of Chicago
oxymoronqueen@reddit
After losing my last in a car accident, I looked into a new ebike knowing that I was probably going to have to do most of the repairs myself. But I also know where to find local bike shops that are willing to work on bikes that they don't sell. And I made sure to get the additional year warranty including accidents protection from the website. I bought mine secondhand from upway, it's a buzz centris folding bike, and I've only had it for like 2 months but it's my only form of transportation. It's doing great so far, but I know it's on the lower end for bikes. Thankfully, my mom is huge on making sure that her kids know how to take care of themselves, so she's jumped right in time helping me figure out the bike repairs so I don't get stranded. And I have been able to reach out to buzz bikes and they were happy to help by either giving me part numbers or specs to replace, or telling me when a local bike shop would be the better option.
That being said if I didn't have these resources, I definitely would've preferred a bike from a local shop. I don't think I would've ever looked at Amazon without heavily looking into it further(but that could just be because I'm used to quadruple checking anyone selling online).
jerm1777@reddit
I bought a cheap Luckeep branded bike a little over a year ago on Amazon to see what the ebike hype was all about and it just quit turning on back in January after using it almost daily. Their support is pretty responsive, but they told me to check the controller connection and if it wasn't that the display needs replaced. I ended up trying a cheaper 40 dollar display from Amazon and it still won't turn on. They kinda told me sorry it's out of warranty. My next bike will be a known name brand that I can get parts for easily.
Chr0n1ck1lla@reddit
I got 2 heybikes, 1 for me and for wife and we have put quite a few miles on them already, everything I’ve read says their customer support is shit, but I got in touch with them, and they sent me a second battery for one of them( thought the battery was faulty) ended up not being faulty, so now I have 2 batteries for 1 of the bikes lol, I like them so far though, hey bike ranger for my wife and a Heybike ranger s for me.
DiscussionOk6355@reddit
Stop buying usa brands. That includes amazon
junon@reddit
I bought a Radio Flyer M880... it had an issue out of warranty that I messaged them about to see if they could at least point me in the right direction from a troubleshooting perspective. They ended up offering me a brand new bike for free.
I can't overstate how good their support is. I will never go with some no name ali express seller for a purchase this big.
OttOttOttStuff@reddit
Buy it from a local dealer who does repair.. Or order online and know there are repair shops locally. I was told by a few shops they will not even allow the junk amazons into their store for insurance reasons.
hwwty4@reddit
100%. Looked at a couple brands and went to a local shop that also does repairs on all their models. Wife and I walked out with AIMA Big Sur Sports based off their recommendation.
Few_Math2653@reddit
Buying from a local dealer is key. I bought from a decent website that offered a discount for employees of my employer and no local shop had the right parts to repair my bike, it was a pain.
dragon7507@reddit
Haven’t jumped into the ebike realm yet but this is the way. When I bought my last bike they let me test an e-bike while there and I was talking to them about it. They only worked on e-bikes they sold as then it wouldn’t create liability for random junk bikes coming in
Zyoneatslyons@reddit (OP)
KBO any good? Been hearing good things about them.
mjangle1985@reddit
lol you literally did not take the advice of your own post.
Like a dog to vomit.
hegenious@reddit
Good things from whom? A YouTuber?
beeblebr0x@reddit
Dude, what did he just say? Go to your local dealer!
TheMelonpanDorobo@reddit
My first ebike was a no name dime a dozen bike from Amazon for 800 dollars. dual suspension, 1000 w, 24 x 4 in fat tires. I rode it more than 1000 miles through snow, and rain, only had one or two minor issues of parts dying like my cadence sensor but company would send me free replacements. It was a great bike. Been through 2 decent crashes with it getting doored but it still runs fine. I think Amazon is a perfectly good place to start for an entry level bike. Now my main is a lectric 3.0 which I love but when ever I get a flat tire I switch over to my first bike and it never fails me. The advantage of a cheaper Amazon bike is you can abuse it, without worrying about every little scratch, and blemish.
Pipeargill@reddit
I may be speaking to the wrong crowd here, but I love my super cheap aliexpress bike, but after replacing the entire drivetrain. I have an electronics background, but these are simple enough that I encourage anyone with interest in tinkering to pick one up and hotrod it.
I spend $250 for a 400w 14in folding bike shipped to my door. It went like 12mph stock. If I were smart I would have pulled all the main drive components (hub motor, controller, battery, and throttle/key) and sold them as a kit or something, but I just upgraded as I broke bottlenecks. I have high risk tolerance and I seem to fit in with the minibike community a bit more, but I appreciate anyone's build if they are having fun doing it and they're being safe when riding near anyone.
Ebikes are just components, and for my style of using them I prefer cheaper bikes with less proprietary systems that I can modify. I don't like or use PAS, I don't care about a display at all, I only want volts, amps, and motor/battery temps on my dash.
My current build is a $250 14in folding bike with a $50 controller, and a nice 30ah 48v battery I found on ebay that I don't think was used much from the new condition it seemed to be in. I'm going to pick up a 100a VESC controller while I still can easily and that will probably be it for this build since it gets scary around 30-35mph, but I love the extra power for towing and being overbuilt for reliability/longevity. I'm still well under $1000 and this replaces a car for me.
geckoguy2704@reddit
its not going to be that cheap but you might be able to salvage your bike by basically converting it with DIY ebike parts.
Zyoneatslyons@reddit (OP)
Might as well. Amazon refunded me the $700 and told me to keep it 🤷
blazethatnugget@reddit
If it's just the battery... might be worth checking out r/18650masterrace or similar for some basic info on diagnosing lithium battery issues, how to diy a new battery, or just harvesting the battery cells for a different project.... Problem could be as simple as a loose wire, bad charger, etc. or more complex, but maybe a local shop could rebuild it? I wanted to build a Frankenbike, but due to lack of spare time, I ended up getting a UL listed battery/bike ( but also limits the fire risk for piece of mind). Hope you wrote an honest review on Amazon to warn others!
Zyoneatslyons@reddit (OP)
Thank you, and definitely did leave a review.
Sleepdeprived111@reddit
My ebike is off temu I paid around 600 and other than a unplugged wire I easily plugged in and the battery issue. I've had no issues the company that makes the bike were very helpful in both cases especially considering I bought it from a 3rd party website
Late-Management7279@reddit
I would say if you're in the UK look up the company on companies house, research the company, if they have a phone number give it a call and speak to them, if they have a shop or workshop, go and meet the people you want to buy the bike from. See if the business has a face and a legal paper trail as a company.
With my company (L E-Bikes) I pride myself on trust and building a reputation, my company is visible online, posting regularly and has a face to put to the brand/business as well as a visible legal trail.
It's sad that so many people are still getting scammed at this point as some are seeing a deal that looks too good to be true and turns out to be just that... It boils my blood that these companies in the main can also get away with it and we've had customers who we've helped, but sadly they've told the same story of getting conned then finding us (and being thankful that they did) but the fact is that they'd been conned elsewhere.
tanglin5@reddit
Sorry, but if I'm looking to buy something online, then it's definitely not so that I can look up a company's, drive yo where ever they're based, and waste time interviewing them.
I'm buying a product, not applying for a job.
Sleepdeprived111@reddit
Usually ebike batteries are either 4 or 4 pin at the basic then you have to hope the shape of the battery is compatible with your battery mount trust me I went through the aggregation of replacing a battery and ended up with 2 I couldn't use for more than a mobile charger for my phone
theystolemystory@reddit
Vvolt,....Vvolt ...Vvolt
arbinhoo@reddit
Bought an 900$ Ebike on Amazon last year and now I am at 3000 km, so far no reparation needed everything is good! My brother bought an Ebike the same day at a local store for 1.700$… and he already had to change the tires and some other stuff.
DangerousAd1731@reddit
Amazon is terrible for bikes
Electrical_Room5091@reddit
I was told by a bike person that you should expect to pay ~$2,000 on a electric mountain bike minimum if it is to last.
Ro-54@reddit
This is very true and I’ve learned YouTube reviewers are mostly garbage. They’ll say anything for a click
MadAss5@reddit
I disagree about spending 5X as much for a known brand name. These large companies have fewer people working on ebikes than the start ups. They also love to limit products to 20 or even less MPH. Plenty of the bike name junk bikes sitting around broken with no service/support or if its available its ridiculously expensive.
1320Fastback@reddit
Buy cheap, buy twice.
VincebusMaximus@reddit
Buy once, cry once!
Zyoneatslyons@reddit (OP)
Or 4 times in my case :(
RobotsGoneWild@reddit
I bought a $600 ebike off Amazon 5 years ago. I gave it a 2 star review because it just wasn't as good as it was advertised to be and had some issues I was able to fix on my own. The seller offered me a 100% refund and to keep the bike to take my review down.
You know they are doing this with all reviews probably.
ralphiooo0@reddit
First e-bike I bought was a cheap no brand. It had the cheapest components on it and would constantly have issues.
The main thing that annoyed me actually was the brakes! They were shit and dangerous downhill.
The only upside is I learnt a lot about bike repair 🫠
lol_camis@reddit
Ghost is a reputable brand..
InfluenceEfficient77@reddit
Just get a replacement battery and splice the connector if you need to. Sounds like you got a pretty good deal
Ok_Needleworker5476@reddit
Bros complaining but got a refund, a new battery and kept the bike. Pretty good deal indeed
InfluenceEfficient77@reddit
Battery probly has a loose solder connection would take 20 mins to fix and have a free spare battery
trtsmb@reddit
If the grammar in a description is atrocious, run as fast as you can in the other direction.
np0x@reddit
I’ve been burned by Raleigh which has stopped selling e-bikes in United States and my battery has a BMS that has a canbus interface to the motor. Totally proprietary, totally broken due to circuit board failure…ostensibly i bought a brand name bike… :-/
ShannonN95@reddit
I think Lectric has some models that are around $700 I love mine but it’s model is a little more expensive than that
Starrider543@reddit
Lectric also has great technical support. I got the new XPEdition 2.0 this year and the torque sensor was faulty. So they shipped me a new torque sensor and the wrench needed to get it out for free.
Outrageous-Scene-160@reddit
Bought a bike on Alibaba, read reviews, etc. 1000$ 22Ah batteries x2. 1000W 3 years, 3700km,all good.
Only problems? I changed the tires at 3200km and the front light then break pads every 4-6 months.
Amazon marketplace? They buy stuff in China then sell it 10x the price, pay for fake reviews etc...
caniusethebathroom@reddit
Yeah just buy a XxX from Luna and call it a day
Imaginary-Candy7216@reddit
Got the best reviewer ever. Bought a bike from the local shop but sold it to my neighbours brother a couple months later when money was a bit tight. He's been riding it for everyday to work for two years with not a single problem. Bought the same bike three months ago . The car will be going this time if things get tight again.
Repulsive_Vanilla383@reddit
That happy tail reviewer on YouTube seems to be pretty honest and balanced. I understand he gets the bikes for free, but he does a pretty good shakedown on them. But yes, any overseas e-bike from eBay or Amazon you have to be prepared to be on your own for service and repairs.
sanjosethrower@reddit
Honest except for all the pretending the electric mopeds/motorcycles he reviews are actually electric bicycles. So perhaps not very honest.
SwervinThru@reddit
sanjoe if they aren't electric bicycles, what are they? the pedals do work.....
sanjosethrower@reddit
In California they would be mopeds or motorcycles. Most will be difficult to register as a motorcycle as the sellers don’t provide the documentation that makes that straightforward. Some can not be registered for road use as they are sold as off-road vehicles and California doesn’t allow retrofitting such bikes for road use. Some could be registered as a moped, but that classification has limits on power and maximum speed.
Repulsive_Vanilla383@reddit
I watched a few of his videos and I don't think I've ever seen him try to misrepresent the thing he's riding on. Can you link to the video where he tries to manipulate the definition?
sanjosethrower@reddit
Like the bike makers; he will not say it specifically as that puts him in clear legal liability. Instead he will demonstrate the bike being used places it shouldn’t be being used or in ways that are inappropriate for that place.
His anti-social influencing is one of the examples I have heard from both parents at community meetings and congressional aides when the update to California’s electric bicycle law was being worked on.
Repulsive_Vanilla383@reddit
Well I guess I didn't know Reddit hated the guy. Now I know.
sanjosethrower@reddit
Many on this subreddit love him. Just like many on this subreddit are scofflaws that claim they aren’t. But many of us that show up to keep electric bicycles legal as many places as possible find him highly annoying.
Repulsive_Vanilla383@reddit
As a judgment of safety I can understand. But as a reviewer I think his information is valuable. It's nice having a large collection of reviews all from one person, and that he actually rides the bikes. Tests, hills, brakes, distance and speed claims. He just gives the information without acting like a salesman trying to convince you of a specific model like other YouTube reviewers.
BoringBob84@reddit
I agree. Young and inexperienced people ride them carelessly on non-motorized paths, they frighten or collide with pedestrians, and ebikes get banned for all of us.
Repulsive_Vanilla383@reddit
We went from product review to a judgment of character real fast in this thread.
sanjosethrower@reddit
He has been cited by parents in community meetings I’ve been to as the reason they believed the school electric motorcycle they bought their child was appropriate.
Expert-Rutabaga505@reddit
Learned the same lesson. So many E-bikes that offer great specs at good pricing but have 0 support and shops won't work on them. I personally love my Tesgo brand E-bike, but I can't find anyone to work on it here yet in Boston for a seized up back brake.
Electrical_Style8094@reddit
Honestly get a hex set and change your brakes it's not rocket science
Expert-Rutabaga505@reddit
That's cool.
TheFlightlessDragon@reddit
Here’s another thing about YouTube reviews: they usually only ride the bike a few times
Even the more thorough reviews only ride for maybe 10-20 miles
godzillabobber@reddit
The best bang for your buck today is a well known name brand used. Many have less than 200 miles on them which is essentially new. The typical seller is someone in their 60s that tried it and didn't like it.
menezzy@reddit
Are Koolux E-bikes any good?
lntw0@reddit
I'll throw this out for those looking for an e conversion option. I went with Swytch - they're out of England. It's a front-wheel hub drive Class I. A great option if you have a solid acoustic bike gathering dust.
existentialcupnoodle@reddit
Had a similar experience buying a hiboy p6 from Amazon last year. Overall works great, but the brakes are crap, wore out within 500 km (changing out the pads did nothing). Luckily I reached out to hiboy and they sent me brake pad housings, so I swapped put the bad brakes from newer versions of the bad brakes. I expect to get another 400 km before I need to revisit the problem.
Most likey will buy a new set of hydronic 2 pin/ 4 piston brakes for a full swapp in a month. I love the speed of it, as it's limited to 45k/h whereas my local laws have 32km/h. I like that extra 13km/h speed boost for my commutes
ImAllBS13@reddit
This is why I bought from REI. Good return policy and adjustments for two years. I also bought a close out for under $1600.
alphawolf29@reddit
anytime you buy a cheap chinese brand you have to realize youre buying a DIY kit, this goes for pretty much any product.
BoringBob84@reddit
It was smart of you to buy from a retailer with a presence in your country. It helps me to remember that Chinese law only applies in China. Chinese producers can deceive and defraud foreign customers all they want, as long as they don't do it to people in China. And when they get a bad reputation, then they just change their names.
mysmarthouse@reddit
I was looking for my first electric bike and I watch Instagram reels pretty often. Here's the brands for all the ads I received within a week, if you represent one of these brands and I spelled your name wrong, I don't care. Anyways we went some Aventon Level 2 Bikes off of marketplace and couldn't be happier:
Recent-Winner-9805@reddit
Most intelligent people don't need to be told this.
artguydeluxe@reddit
I always just figured the reviews were written by AI bots. They are mostly really generic.
Blues-Daddy@reddit
I would not insist that you buy it at a local shop, as I bought my bikes from Wired. My local shop understands that these are very different from the cheap ebikes on Amazon.
Phaeton40@reddit
I went to two local bike shops, rode their offerings, then bought from them. Before buying I used UTube to review the two brands.
Romulox69420@reddit
I bought a cheap Amazon bike because I couldn't afford one from a local shop. But I would like my next ebike to be from a local dealer.