What should I choose for my first bike?
Posted by roythread02@reddit | ebikes | View on Reddit | 15 comments
Hey everyone,
I’ve been going back and forth on this for a while and finally decided to ask here because I’m getting a bit overwhelmed by all the options. Figured I’d get some advice before I overthink it even more and make the decision harder than it needs to be.
I’m trying to choose an e-bike that I’ll mainly use for daily city commuting. I live in a pretty busy city and want something I can rely on for getting to work, quick grocery runs, and occasionally carrying slightly larger loads than a regular bike can handle. I’m not a total beginner when it comes to bikes, but I’m not an expert either somewhere in the middle. My budget is around $4000, and I’m trying to stay within that without sacrificing reliability.
I’ve been looking at both long-tail cargo bikes and more standard commuter e-bikes with racks, but I’m not sure what actually makes more sense long-term. I don’t have kids or anything like that, but I do like the idea of being able to haul heavier stuff when needed. Most of my rides are pretty short, but I do them almost every day, so durability matters a lot. I also don’t want something that feels too bulky if I go the cargo route. At the same time, I’m worried a regular e-bike might feel limiting down the line if I start using it more. There are just so many opinions and models out there that it’s getting a bit overwhelming.
So I guess I’m trying to figure out what’s better for this kind of mixed use either a lighter cargo setup or a solid commuter e-bike. I’d really appreciate any real-world experiences or regrets from people who made this choice, because I don’t want to mess it up and end up needing to replace it in a year or two.
Lucidlie@reddit
I don't ride my E bike anymore but the Lectric xp4 is what I used to use. They have decent customer service and was able to get my bike repaired at a local shop. The thing is not all ebike shops will fix just any bike they may need to be licensed to even accept your ebike. So my biggest advice is check your local shops see what brands they're willing to work on. Then get an inmotion p6 because ebikes just don't cut it.
roythread02@reddit (OP)
Thanks for your reply. That's really helpful advice, I hadn't even thought of that.
chrispark70@reddit
Don't buy a Lectric. See my other reply.
X0dium@reddit
Why? You didn’t actually explain why not to buy Lectric. They are suggested here pretty much every day.
chrispark70@reddit
As a compromise cheap e-bike, not as reliable drive to work bike. Lectrics may be one of the better cheaply made bikes, but they are cheaply made bikes.
If he already bicycles with a regular bike, it is almost certainly not a fat bike. I put in my other comment that by far the best option for anyone already biking is an electric version of what they are riding now.
X0dium@reddit
Understood. I’ve been looking to upgrade my fat tire to a reasonable ebike but all my LBS carry are Trek and Specialized and their cheapest e-bikes are 3-6x the price of Lectric.
chrispark70@reddit
Yes, money is often an issue. If you don't have multiple thousands, this tends to put us (I'm one of them without multiple thousands for an e-bike) in a lower tier. But if you have the money already budgeted, spending more will get you a much better bike.
I got very lucky in that I happened to find two very inexpensive but OK quality e-bikes. The first one, which I really liked was a Vitesse Flare. 260USD shipped (Kevcentral on youtube had a review and discount code which brought the price down so low) . The second one, after the first one got stolen was a Vitesse Signal at 315USD shipped. But they are both class 1 ebikes, but were in a hybrid style which I've been riding since the mid 90s. They still have the Signal but jacked the price way up.
Danube11424@reddit
check out Upway.com, they sell used e-bikes. Focus on Gazelle mid-drive models like T-10 Medeo….
Humble_Key_4259@reddit
If you want maximum enjoyment (and functionality) from your bike I would recommend NOT getting a cargo bike. They work well for carrying items and children but aren't as fun to ride as a regular style of bike.
I would recommend a decent mid drive commuter style bike and plan to pull a trailer if you need to haul more stuff than the bike can carry. That way you have the best of both worlds.
Personally I'd go with a Bulls Iconic S (Bulls has other models too) as it has a decent size battery, good power and gear selection, suspension fork for rough spots, tires that aren't super skinny so you can cover more varying terrain, and decent brakes for good stopping power.
There are single wheel bike trailers (narrower profile) for tighter areas and two wheel trailers for heavier loads and they tend to be cheaper than single wheel.
Correct-Lab-2164@reddit
I really like my new Urtopia Fusion. It has a strong Carbon fiber frame and good rack for saddle bags. Components are good, front shocks, needs a seat post shock, 750 or 1500 W torque sensor hub motors, 29 inch wheels, 8 speeds, well designed and proportioned, throttle for getting started with heavy loads, intermediate width tires good for road or trails, step through, adjustable handle bars, a little rear heavy but rides light, well within your budget. No issues so far after 400 miles, but if so my local shop works on anything.
nightride963@reddit
For daily city use, I’ve really liked the Ferla Zip. it’s compact enough for urban riding (traffic, parking), but still has solid carrying capacity for groceries and the occasional heavier load.
If you’re on the fence, I wouldn’t go too small regular commuter e-bikes start to feel limiting pretty quickly once you actually begin using them every day.
Comfortable-Fly5797@reddit
You have a really good budget. I recommend going to a local bike shop and trying out some bikes. A lot will come down to fit and personal preference.
Do you want a throttle or not? Rear hub or mid drive (only rear hub have throttle)? Personally I hate the feeling of rear hub bikes but lots of people don't mind.
I have a Specialized turbo Vado 3. It's a great bike and specialized has a really good warranty. I can carry a lot of groceries with 2 big panniers and basket on top of my rack. You could get a trailer if you occasionally need more room. You might want to consider the Vado 4 for a bit more power and range if you'll be carrying a lot of cargo up hills.
If you want to go with a cargo bike, Tern is definitely one of the most popular brands. I've heard they're very well made and my co-worker that uses one for kid hauling seem to love it. I don't think a cargo bike is necessary from what you're describing though.
chrispark70@reddit
If you already bicycle, by far the best choice is an electric version of what you already ride.
4 grand will get you a good to great quality e-bike.
If have the room for a cargo bike, then you have the room for a trailer. I would HIGHLY recommend an electric bike and trailer over a cargo bike. The problem with a cargo bike is that it is always a cargo bike. When you are going to the store for a gallon of milk, it's still a cargo bike and with all of the downsides of a cargo bike. When all you need is a gallon of milk, you can leave the trailer home and you have a normal bike to ride. An e-bike and trailer will be substantially cheaper. You can get decent trailers for 100 bucks new.
Another advantage of a trailer over a cargo bike is weight distribution. Having a bunch of cargo weight on the bike itself dramatically changes the characteristics of the bike ride. A trailer with a lot weight will also change it a little, but more like you feel like being pushed and pulled when you brake or accelerate respectively. High center weight makes the bike feel like it wants to tip.
DarkVoid42@reddit
gazelle c380
lNuggyl@reddit
Tst makes good bikes