E-bike vs e scooter
Posted by WideEagle@reddit | ebikes | View on Reddit | 17 comments
Hey everyone,
Looking for advice , I’m stuck between an e-scooter (Ninebot F3 Pro) and an e-bike (Fiido M1 Pro) for a mix of daily commuting and weekend nature rides. Budget is around €1,500, which I already know: is pretty low.
Main issues with the e-bike: theft risk, weight (30kg, 1st floor, small apartment, \~20 steps), and I’m not sure about Fiido’s reliability and support reviews are all over the place.
The scooter seems more practical and the reviews are better, but I’d lose the exercise and nature rides.
Is a sub-€2k e-bike even worth it? Any brands worth considering in this price range, or should I just save up?
Open to alternatives too.
Thanks!
Hiking_euro@reddit
I use a scooter for my daily commute, but it’s only 10 minutes. Honestly it’s brilliant. If it’s warm I’m not sweating. Just enjoying the breeze. If it’s raining I have a poncho in my bag.
rledesma530@reddit
I was in a similar situation a couple of weeks ago and decided to go with a Segway Max G2. I drive a sedan and it’s impossible to fit an e-bike in my car. I went with the scooter due to its portability, and to be quite honest, it’s done wonders for my mental health. Being able to easily put my scooter in a trunk and ride different places has been such a cool experience.
thephotoman@reddit
There are good sub-2000€ bikes out there. However, your use case is probably better for an electric scooter.
No, it doesn’t provide exercise. But it’s gonna be a lot easier to haul up stairs.
wizardnumbernext2@reddit
Brompton. It is tricky fold. Weights less then 20kg including battery
RichTrifle1785@reddit
There’s also that new bike from Engwe I’ve heard about that’s supposed to compete with the Brompton. All the reviews of it right now have been kind of meddled by them though.
SilentIyAwake@reddit
Having recently bought an e-bike after being a long time scooter rider, I like it much more for many reasons.
Unlimited range, since you can pedal if the battery dies.
More electric range per euro or dollar, I easily get 60 miles, or 96km with the pedal assist. My similarly priced scooter gets half of that.
Better at climbing hills since you are helping it.
You stay in better shape.
They are easier to repair, since it's just a bicycle with a motor and battery.
Much better ride quality over bumpy terrain
More capable off-road, even if it's not some MTB.
At least here in Canada, people aren't as annoyed with you, if that matters to you.
Relating to #1, you can use it as a normal bicycle.
The only downside might be less speed, depending on the regulations where you live.
However, when I go to the gym, which is down a narrow hallway with a flight of stairs, I obviously take my scooter.
Humble_Key_4259@reddit
I'd buy the Ninebot 7 days a week over any folding bike. Folding bikes seem like a great idea until you own one (strange handling, geometry, less rigid, not very easy to actually fold, etc). That being said the F3 is NOT a light scooter so carrying up stairs is doable but not the easiest. About weight. Bicycle weight "can" be less awkward than scooter weight if the scooter is large like the F3.
If you want the exercise/nature ride experience I'd go with a commuter style ebike. If you have an Aventon dealer near you I'd try that or look for a used Trek, Cannondale, Specialized commuter. Any of those will give you a better "biking" experience and aren't terribly hard to get up some stairs as if you are physically competent.
Bottom line: If you are able to try both, please do so. Everybody has their own preferences.
Soft_Yellow1757@reddit
I have a folding non ebike (so standard bike) and i agree that it is the weirdest thing to ride around, and the folding is not as easy as you would think it would be. It is likely low end- i bought it for about 20 bucks at a garage sale to toy aorund with as my 4th bike option- but i never use it since even after 20 minutes on it, it is still the weirdest thing i have ever riden.
Ur-in-a-tor@reddit
30kg is morbidly obese ebike in my books, double the weight of my ride.
If you are European I recommend checking out the Italian brand Noko. Their lightest bike NOKOLIGHT is sub 13kg and in your budget, https://youtu.be/QaXi9AzEVsU?is=b8PkSZxtLTqH9FQj.
I have had their Urban ebike for a year now and could not possibly be happier with the bike and the company and their after sales support.
kashuntr188@reddit
13kg really is light!
kashuntr188@reddit
I can answer this. I own an escooter. They are NOT light. They are NOT small. Just go look at the specs of the Ninebot to check, especially since you are getting one with suspension will be heavy. They take up almost just as much floor space as a bike, they are smaller but we've been sold this image that you are gonna zip around town in between traffic and then get to your destination, fold up the damn thing and carry it up stairs and hide it under your desk at work. That WILL NOT work. If you want to do that then you need to look at getting a lighter scooter. My colleague has a Niu Air or something, it is much lighter than my Kukirin G2 Max, but also not as fast or long distance. Still can't hide it under the desk, you would need an even smaller one.
You mention exercise, my heart gets pumping, but I get no exercise standing on my scooter. And yea...standing. i go on 1 or 2 hour long rides and that means standing the whole damn time. They make scooters LOOK like you can take them off road, which you can, but most really aren't built for that. There is like maybe 1 inch of travel in the suspension, if that, and the small tires makes everything bumpy. Plus you need to learn a completely different way of riding if you already know how to ride a bike. In a scooter, you need to lean back/crouch down when you want to make a quick stop of you'll go over the handle bars, I never had to do that with a bike.
A bike probably has more points you can lock it up with, and you can take the battery with you. Scooters are harder to lock properly, and you can't take the battery with you. There are a few models with removable batteries, but most don't.
If you used a bike as a kid, then ebike should be similar to what you are thinking. A scooter is pretty different than what most people have in their minds.
Going up and down stairs with either a bike or scooter won't be the easiest, especially if you need to round corners. I would say watch reviews to get a sense of the size and shape of the thing. Then imagine how you would maneuver it when you do your stairs.
Inciteful_Analysis@reddit
If you are going less than 2 miles on paved surfaces and aren't on the ground floor, an escooter probably makes more sense.
An ebike is safer and offers more support and comfort when you are dealing with distances more than 5 miles at a time.
DarkVoid42@reddit
no. get the scooter. if you had a bigger budget i would get a carbo model x and it would have the same weight as the scooter.
present_love@reddit
Have you considered the emove roadrunner series? They’ve got some new ones coming out this year and they look pretty fun. Might be a good middle ground
BadluckyKamy@reddit
I've got both and the e-scooter is way better for climbing up stairs even if it's heavier than my E-Mtb, but way less range (about 30max) even if Segway announced more range
NoAssumption4122@reddit
After buying a scooter first then an e bike later I'd say it could be the way to go. For the money, time and the skills it takes. though you could be a seasoned rider so what do I know but at the very least carry a scooter up the stairs for a month then decide.
And I love how I can work on my bike at my own pace and just ride for fun. The scooter gets me to work and is super low profile but my favorite part is at less than 4 hundred I can comfortably replace it if needed, but I could also switch to the bike in an emergency.
Hopeful-Driver-3945@reddit
Regardless of the choice. I couldn't imagine dragging my e-bike up 20 stairs everyday. There are bikes that weigh a bit less.