Best ebike between $1-2k for hilly San Francisco?
Posted by thebestmodesty@reddit | ebikes | View on Reddit | 10 comments
Just getting into the search, and overwhelmed by options. Looking to bike around, mostly on road, but might also need to take it up to my 2nd floor apartment home. Any quick recommendations?
funcentric@reddit
Aventon Soltera variant or similar stealth bike. You don’t want to be carrying extra weight up stairs.
Lighter weight bikes require less power to propel. So don’t underestimate low specs of a lighter weight bike. The bigger the battery, the heavier and the less efficient.
These days some scooter do well on hills for fractions of the cost of an email. Better value, lower maintenance, easier to transport and store. If 15-20mi and 20mph works for you, consider an escooter.
maxs507@reddit
Powerful enough to climb steep hills and lightweight enough to carry up the stairs are unfortunately difficult to pit against each other..
Would you consider getting a bike that rides the way you need it to - Powerful 500W or 750W motor for the hills (so on the heavier end), and then an angle-grinder proof lock like the Hiplok D1000 or Litelok X1/X3, so you can leave it securely outside?
If that is the case, I'd recommend the Lectric XPress or XP4, the Aventon Level3, or HeyBike Ranger 3 Pro.
If you need to carry it up the stairs, I have found that not only is the weight of an e-bike annoying, it's the handlebars. Getting a bike with handlebars that fold down makes a HUGE difference!
How much spare room do you have to store it inside anyway? I know SF real estate is crazy expensive.
TitaniumKneecap@reddit
Honestly for a city like that, if you want power range and portability you should looked at EUCs. Even the cheapest ones could handle SF hills better than an eBike
InfluenceEfficient77@reddit
Lectric has sales right now. No issue going up hills except where there is no bike lane, like up Saratoga road.etc
maxs507@reddit
Lectric's sales are perpetual, so it's really just marketing. The variances between sales are how many/what what accessories you get for free. But the cost of the accessories is much higher than what anyone would pay anywhere else, and you might get accessories bundled with it you never use.
I have a Lectric XP 3.0 and totally recommend this person look into getting a Lectric bike, but just wanted to provide the nuance that the sales don't mean so much.
BodSmith54321@reddit
What's more important to you. 1) easier to get up hills or 2) taking it up a flight of stairs.
I would prioritize hills and get a bike with a slow walk mode for going up stairs.
arenablanca@reddit
Keep an eye on Upway for used. They had this Gazelle on for just under 2000.
A bit heavy though at 64lbs.
Similar built ebikes normally come in around 50lbs (not sure why that one is so heavy though it does have internal gearing).
Zentransit@reddit
Lectric One Specialized Haul ST
Inciteful_Analysis@reddit
Ride1up Prodigy V2 mid-drive for $1795. Has very respectable 90Nm torque. Not light at 58 lbs but one of the better torque to weight ratios under $2k. The ebikes under 45lbs are going to be underpowered for SF.
You might want to upgrade the cassette to something like an 11-46t and downsize the chainring for better hill climbing. You can do this for under $100.
https://ride1up.com/product/prodigy-v2/
whattteva@reddit
You'd probably want the lightweight stealth ebikes that is easy to carry around.
Look at stuff like Ride1UP Roadster V3, FL Baby maker, Velotric T1, Tenways CGO600 Pro