Good electric bikes for doordash?
Posted by Usual-Fennel6633@reddit | ebikes | View on Reddit | 19 comments
I live in a nice neighborhood and i just turned 18 so i was looking to get an electric scooter or electric bike to do doordash because im having a hard time finding a job (north park san diego) any recommendations? preferably under 260
xJadusable@reddit
I’d recommend looking into getting a cheap pedal bike to start with until you can build up a higher budget. I started with $70. I got a cheap mountain bike on OfferUp for $30, a delivery backpack for $30, and a $10 phone mount. First day made like $60, first week was like $350 after prop 22 adjustments (California). You could get a nice ebike in a month if you grind it out and save. For $260 you can definitely find a decent used pedal bike or even a cheap new one.
Just a quick glance on Walmart and I saw this: https://www.walmart.com/ip/10303618800?sid=9A766530-8BC7-4E2B-A441-04EE3674CBDA
Not fancy but it’ll get the job done. Could easily make back what it costs in 2-3 days if not faster.
Don’t forget you’ll need an insulated backpack. Something like this will work for starters: https://a.co/d/08a7Hrc4
You’ll also need a phone mount: https://a.co/d/0fxVh0yS
If you insist on getting a cheap ebike, I’d recommend looking into 5th Wheel on Walmart/Amazon. I got the 5th wheel Discover ebike (36v 13ah model) for about $400 and I have over 2400 miles on it with zero issues besides a couple of flats. Made 10x its initial price back doing DoorDash with it.
Lastly, if you could, maybe try financing a bike with Affirm? You could get a good ebike like the $1200 aniioki aq117 pro max with a monster 48v 60ah battery that will last all day doing deliveries. They have em on Amazon. You could easily make $4-500 a week being lazy with that ebike and pay it off in a few weeks before you start paying interest on it.
Either way good luck OP! From one ebike dasher to another.
Dragonraja@reddit
Affirm, Klarna, or other financed bikes are a great tip if you're serious about it. If it were me, I'd probably opt for a used bike and save up for an ebike so I don't pay 1.5-2x the price with financing.
xJadusable@reddit
Yea the goal would be pay it off ASAP so interest isn’t owed. Actually did that with my first ebike. Used affirm, spammed deliveries every day for like 2 weeks (averaging 50-80 a day for just 2-3 hours) and paid it off in full before I even made the first payment.
Dragonraja@reddit
Hell yeah, that's the way to go right there!
The reason I found this post was that I was looking into getting an e-bike for DoorDash myself. I was looking more to something like the aniioki 72v 70ah or the cheaper 60v 80ah. I'm not really concerned with speed, just mileage. I usually have to get the higher priced onces because I'm a fat ass lol.
xJadusable@reddit
I’ve been looking at the aniioki lineup myself! I know there’s a ebike delivery YouTuber named Raspy Rides that uses one and seems to recommend them specifically for delivery folks. Those things can basically go all day lol
rrooaaddiiee@reddit
OP should buy someone's pre-owned gravel bike or cyclocross bike. That Walmart bike is junk. Total and utter junk.
xJadusable@reddit
Literally said it’s not fancy but using it he can make his money back in just a couple of days. Anything after is pure profit. Speaking from actual experience and not conjecture. I started with a shitty Walmart branded bike I got for $30 and it lasted me 3 months of hard riding and I made several thousand bucks on it delivering. Now I have better bikes.
The guy has $200 and you’re recommending cyclocross lol
rrooaaddiiee@reddit
I'm seeing a decent Giant cross bike locally for $250. They're out there. Saves him from constantly fixing a crappy bike... that also looks to be a single speed. It's going to be a work vehicle for him. It has to be reliable.
Dragonraja@reddit
Look on Craigslist for a used but decent road or mountain bike. Then slowly save a % to get an e-bike. If you're not that heavy, you can get one for like 800-1000. However, it's going to be cheap Chinese parts. I'd recommend saving 1500-2k for a medium-tier e-bike. It's still Chinese, but better parts.
DreamsRemain@reddit
Nothing under $260. Chinesium frame bikes go for $600. Your best bet is probably something local like lectric bikes.
Tomj_Oad@reddit
If you have the 💰 The Velotric Tempo Lightweight e bike might be ideal for yo
It's around 1500 bucks and it's worth it
Don't believe me
Check out the YouTube reviews
Velotric is a great company
I just dropped 2500 bucks for a top of the line and I'm very happy
Purple-Designer-8293@reddit
Listen man I have a velotric bike too and I like it, but they are NOT a “great” company, any company that fills there products with proprietary dealer only parts is not good nor are there business practices such as review filtering
Tomj_Oad@reddit
The bikes have been great quality. Customer service is excellent. My LBS is where I get serviced anyway; I'm far from a realechanic. Review editing is minor compared to UL listed parts and waterproofing It actually gets the advertised range with a heavier rider on rough roads. That's a real truth in advertising moment
planegoeswoosh@reddit
Ebikes are a minimum of 800$ used and for delivery, you need a big battery. Use a regular bike with that budget and save for a mid drive conversion kit
Hesallcap@reddit
Look into renting one for the meantime. A decent bike is 1k and up
Life_Instruction1900@reddit
This is best advice. Even if you rent a moped to start with, you'll soon be on a decent cargo bike.
Agreeable-Safe5026@reddit
You might be able to find a free regular mountain bike on Facebook marketplace place. I don't think an electric bike is in your budget just yet, but soon.
Zentransit@reddit
Try to get a job working as a fish monger in a supermarket after learning how to properly fillet fish.
After you've landed that job, save up about $3,000 and buy the Specialized Haul ST utility ebike.
Next, apply at your local community college and study e-vehicle technology.
If the fish monger thing doesn't pan out, then find a roofing company that's willing to train a volunteer or apprentice.
Salemsara@reddit
At $260 you’re mostly looking at scooters, not really decent e-bikes. You can start with one for DoorDash, but range and carrying food kinda sucks, especially if you’re doing more than short runs. If you’re serious about deliveries, I’d honestly save up for a cargo ebike. Way more practical, better range, easier to carry orders.
I’ve got a HovCart for hauling stuff and kids, and it just makes life easier compared to a scooter. Brands like Hovsco, Rad Power, Lectric are all worth a look when your budget allows.