My Dad (70m) wants an E-bike.

Posted by sour-queem@reddit | ebikes | View on Reddit | 46 comments

We rented E-bikes for fun, and he is very interested in getting his own. I think it would be great for him; getting him outdoors and low impact exercise. Maybe make some new friends, idk? He liked the cruiser style bike with the cadence sensor and doesn’t need to go over 20mph. (he was a little wobbly at times) And he would prefer a bigger bike, “nothing bmx-looking.” My dad is 70, 6ft tall, maybe 250-260lbs? and not very active.

I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions of bikes we should check out for him. Thank you in advance!! 🫶

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MTBgrandpa@reddit

I wa about that size and bought a specialized turbo Vado 5.0. Love it

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Mindless-Concept8010@reddit

I’m 70 and just went over my handlebars a couple weeks ago. Spent 2 days in the hospital. Can’t wait to get back on.

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Th3HappyCamper@reddit

I don’t know if this is fr but there are countless “I’m 70 and this is why I like my e-bike” posts and comments on Reddit and YouTube videos. But implying that someone who is 70 and falls off their bike that it’s not a big deal is a low.

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Temporary-Film-7374@reddit

I think the comment made it very clear that it *is* a big deal, hence spending a couple days in the hospital...

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Mindless-Concept8010@reddit

Pretty sure I can say anything I want about myself. FO.

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Th3HappyCamper@reddit

Yeah it’s just depressing that that’s where we are at

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El_Guap@reddit

E-bikes and pickleball will be the death of you.

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Overall_Impression27@reddit

I'm 72 and ride my e-bikes all over town. 30 to 50 miles at a time. Streets, bike paths, Coffee runs. My worst crash was in a tile floor during a slow turn around, and a very muddy bike path I should have never been on. No rear shock so almost got thrown off once. I used to race road bikes back in the day. No more legs for that.

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JeremyFromKenosha@reddit

If he's not too proud, how about the Lectric XP Trike 2?

Falling at 70 is no joke, and you said he's wobbly...

I just ordered one for my wife (48), as she has hip issues and is also wobbly. She can't afford to fall and damage her hip again.

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sour-queem@reddit (OP)

turns out he is too proud 😭

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JeremyFromKenosha@reddit

turns out he is too proud 😭

I get it. I'm almost 50 and still find myself contemplating doing things I would have done at 25.

There's a lot of truth in the saying: "Inside the mind of every old man is a young man wondering what happened." Our BODIES get older, but in our mind, we're still young, until we hurt ourselves.

There's a guy in an airgun club I used to go to, he was late 60s. He fell out of a tree trying to do something, broke the hell out of his leg & ankle. Everyone was thinking: "Do you not know you're an obese old man and not a lithe 25 year-old?" and he was like: "In the moment, it seemed doable. In hindsight, it was dumb."

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LeaveMyMonkeyAlone@reddit

OK. Got it. Cool image is a must. Search for a used Lecrtic XP3. Not the sissy Step thru version since he is proud. Get the step over version so he has to lift his leg over the main frame like he used to with not problem at 11 years old. 73 here and have had one for a little over a year. 2 minor falls when getting used to it. 5K miles on it. It will remind him of how cool he looked on the Raleigh chopper bike he had as a kid. Don't tell him the gals will still think he's a square.... Also tell him that wearing a helmet is real cool now.

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badbobtn@reddit

I love my XP3.0 with front and rear baskets. It is 11 miles round trip to the grocery store. I get groceries every 4 or 5 days.

It is the best piece of exercise equipment I have ever owned.

If I go to Starbucks without it, everybody asks where it is. LOL

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badbobtn@reddit

Here is a ride heart rate record from my Aamsung watch.

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Barbarake@reddit

As someone almost your father's age (I'm 65) I highly recommend two things - a throttle and a step through model.

A throttle because you're most unsteady when just starting from a stop. Just a little help getting up to three, four miles an hour is a huge help, especially since e-bikes tend to be heavier.

A step through because I find having some sort of basket on the back to carry things is very helpful. Swinging your leg over not just the bike but the basket too can be hazardous.

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redjmartin@reddit

They're pricy, but look at a lightweight e-bike such as the Specialized Turbo Vado SL. As he ages, he'll find it a lot easier to handle a lighter bike. it's not just riding it, it's everything you also do w the bike when you're not on it.

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Fair-Discipline-1005@reddit

My father have 76,and sometimes stilling my bike...😂

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Tabbbinski@reddit

I just got a Biktrix Juggernaut Duo and I'm 71. It's a whole lot of bike with a definite learning curve. But at 2 weeks in I'm getting pretty comfortable with it. Incidentally, I've been a commuter and distance rider all my life. This has extended both my distance and age range.

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Bored2001@reddit

DO NOT get him a cadence sensor. Those things are jumpy. You should go for the torque sensor.

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Radixx@reddit

I'm 69 and my Specialized Vado has over 6000 miles on it. I prefer torque based v.s. cadence but that's because I've been riding since I was 4 and it's just more natural to me.

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gtr187@reddit

I'd also recommend an Aventon stepthru if he's too proud to get a trike - and if he's not mechanically inclined, look around for a local bike shop so he can get maintenance/etc - a lot of LBS will also do test rides, so he can try out different models.

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Top_Surprise347@reddit

I don’t have a real suggestion for you, but I would throw a trike option at him. I have a bunch bike to haul my kiddo around in and absolutely love the 3 wheels. I know dad won’t be hauling kids (or at least I’m assuming that ha!) but I feel so much steadier on 3 wheels

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Wants-NotNeeds@reddit

Velotric Discover 3

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T2VW@reddit

I just bought a Mokwheel. It fits all of the criteria you are asking for. I wanted a bike to do errands with, instead of always driving. It’s perfect for me. I’m in my mid 60’s.

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mycatisabrat@reddit

I am 78 and bought a three wheel e-trike a couple years ago. I don’t have to worry about stability. Last summer and fall I was biking 20 miles a day with zero incidents.

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cold-corn-dog@reddit

You may want to consider a trike. One fall at that age for a non-active person could be pretty serious.

Here's an example of one:

https://lectricebikes.com/products/xp-trike-grey

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sour-queem@reddit (OP)

i love this but idk if i could talk him into it, i wouldn’t say non-active. he goes to the gym a few times a week but most of his exercise is just gamboling.

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BodSmith54321@reddit

Trikes a much less stable unless you can't balance at all.

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zoolish@reddit

Gamboling aside….a trike can be super useful in addition to fun. Grocery shopping, fishing, whatever. The basket in the back of some is really large. If you do go that route, make sure it has a rear differential so corners aren’t choppy.

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stilldeb@reddit

Yes! I just got one of these for my (70f) birthday and love it. I'm out on it almost every day.

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sculltt@reddit

Some good suggestions in here from people his age group. I personally think that you should find a local bike shop or two that sells and services ebikes. Take a few out on some test rides to see what he likes. Compare prices and warranties. See which ones he can or can't lift up a step or two, because that's likely to have to happen at some point.

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rshetts1@reddit

There are plenty of good options out there. A lot of people love Aventon and Velotric. Myself Im on my second Himiway and it's pretty awesome. At his age ( I am 69 with a disability myself ) I highly recommend a step through. This is my latest e-bike. Its the Himiway D5 2.0 ( Mine is the 20" wheel version, they also make a 26" ) It has both cadence and torque modes, switchable on the fly as well as auto shifting. It also had both front and rear suspension which makes for a very smooth ride. I just got back from a 20 mile trail ride around the Lake St Clair shore line and it was fantastic. If your dad is not interested in a trike, look at something similar to my style of bike. It's incredibly stable, easy to mount and comfortable to ride.

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aph64@reddit

Get him a helmet with the bike!

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borschelrh@reddit

I’m 73 and ride daily on a mountain e-bike around 40 km per day on rough trails with 300 meter vertical hill climbs. I have ridden hard my whole life but when I turned 65 I noticed those hill climbs were kicking my butt. The e-bike makes riding fun again and I mostly need it for climbs. My current bike is a Lankeleisi X3000 pro with dual 1000 watt geared hub motors and a large battery. I very rarely need both motors and generally stay at level 2 rear motor only and with me pedaling normally I can get around 60 km range. This bike is a blast! Yes, it requires work to maintain but I am averaging 5,000 km a year and it hasn’t been abnormally hard to maintain.

He may enjoy this a lot.

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KostyaFedot@reddit

Get one with step through frame. And pedaling geometry. Not a emopeds style.

Not sure if it is available where you are.

This is what I see with older people in Europe. Most are midmotor.

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ChemicalConclusion71@reddit

Engwe E26

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Torrsall@reddit

67 here and l ride a 26" suspension hundreds of miles a month. It makes me feel younger and more independent. I'm pretty sure your dad will love his and my only suggestion is to urge him to lower the assistance every once in awhile and get that heart pumping. Others don't think you get a workout on an e bike but that's up to you! Good luck

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bbqtom1400@reddit

I started my e-bike adventure near the end of Covid. After three fat tire models I settled on my lighter, by 23lbs, Ride1up Lmt'd. I lost around 30lbs pedaling around 40 miles a week. I weighed near 260lbs and 232lbs at the end. I changed my diet in the middle of this and I have lost a few more pounds. The surprising thing I was less hungry and slept much better. The lighter ebike was easier to manage and I wanted to ride it more often. I am in my late 70's and look forward to riding. My only regret is taking as long I did. Buy the lightest one you can afford.

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StillPurple8683@reddit

E-biking is a great non weight bearing exercise that can really change one’s life. I’m 70 and have a Velotric Discover 3 E-bike. I ride between 130-150 miles a week (weather permitting) and couldn’t be happier with the bike. I’ve had both knees replaced and have a bad back so I like the upright riding position the bike has and with medium wide tires it’s pretty stable. The bike also lets you choose between a cadence and torque sensor. I would encourage his desire to get an ebike and highly recommend a Velotric.

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CommercialSignal7301@reddit

The cruiser style bikes that provide a traditional seating position, but also allow for the rider to place their feet flat on the ground would be the most stable, but the trikes, especially the recumbent style, reduce the chance of a tip over accident.

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BugHistorical1614@reddit

Get a torque or dual-selectable sensor. Throttle control is optional. I have a stepthru, about 43# unloaded, ~50# normal riding stuff, 2" width tires and loadable on bus rack and walkable onto lightrail. I am at 170#. Battery is only 10Ahrs but good enough for 20 miles mixed ride. If I know I will ride longer and challenging, I will carry a second battery or charger if we stop for a relaxing lunch. I am one of the younger riders in the ebike group at 76yo.

Be prepared to purchase at least 2 Ebikes before finding the one that best fits.

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sour-queem@reddit (OP)

we live near a few bike trails that are completely paved.