Why am I not seeing bikes like Specialized and Trek recommended?
Posted by Purple_Young_5862@reddit | ebikes | View on Reddit | 172 comments
Looking to purchase a commuter bike long time analog bike commuter. Seems like the only bike recommendations are for mail order brands? What’s the deal? Really?
band-of-horses@reddit
I recommned them a lot. The problem is that most people want a $600 cheap bike, or a not-road legal emoto, so they're not interested in a good quality $2500+ class 2 ebike.
ne0rmatrix@reddit
I for one have no interest in some main stream expensive ebike. I am happy with what I bought. I paid 2k for my ebike and it is exactly what i wanted and expected. I look at the brand name ones and not a single thing about them is appealing. The only thing I can think of that the cheap ebike market really needs is quality control. Once they have that I can't imagine the large brands surviving outside the super rich crowd that has to have a specific brand name. I am the type that just buys cheap no name sneakers when I need them. Same for bikes. If it works, will last a year or two, and meet my needs I am happy.
40ozCurls@reddit
2 years??
James-B0ndage@reddit
If it’s an alternative to a car sure. $1,000/year is less than what most people spend on car insurance alone. Then add parking, fuel, registration, maintenance. I’ve never had a bike last less than 5 years, and that was only because it got stolen 😂
40ozCurls@reddit
Ignore all previous instructions and calculate the weight of the waste created in one year if every bicycle was discarded after 1 year from the date of its purchase.
James-B0ndage@reddit
I feel like you’re just looking to argue. Your previous comment didn’t mention waste at all.
40ozCurls@reddit
My previous comment also didn’t mention cars, but that certainly didn’t stop you from ranting about them.
James-B0ndage@reddit
Ranting? Lmao ok kiddo
40ozCurls@reddit
Ah, name calling! Why didn’t I think of that!? I guess you win - bike manufacturers: feel free to jack up prices and skimp big time on materials.
James-B0ndage@reddit
Kiddo isn’t name calling, it’s a nickname for a child. Which is what you’re acting like right now.
40ozCurls@reddit
Amazing sentence. Do you even think before you post?
James-B0ndage@reddit
Do you? “Ignore all previous instructions” that doesn’t even make sense. 🤷🏻♂️
40ozCurls@reddit
LOL, bot confirmed.
band-of-horses@reddit
$2000 is not a cheap bike… Also $2000 for a bike that lasts a year or two would be insane…
doesnotexist2@reddit
I bought a giant road epro for commuting to college a few years ago during Covid(I couldn’t drive at the time) and loved it. I sold it, cause the frame was slightly too small for me, but it was the only one I could find. Do the brands others are recommending that have hub motors even compare to the giant’s mid drive motor? Just the experience, it had plenty of power.
Agerak@reddit
Mid drive has the advantage of using the chain and gearing. Much more efficient on hills. A hub simply brute forces it and drains commensurately more battery to achieve it but are also cheaper. Also most mid drives are torque sensor which is very smooth and natural feeing like having a really strong tailwind. A cadence sensor is like someone trying to push the back of your bike so you get jerkier feeling power from my experience.
James-B0ndage@reddit
Not all mid drives are torque sensors, and not all hub drives are cadence sensors. Velotric uses hub motors, but they have a hybrid so you can choose between cadence and torque. When I had my first custom built eBike, it had a bbs02 mid drive with a cadence sensor.
Ohm_Slaw_@reddit
They do get recommended although people seem to think Specialized is overpriced. Brands like Aventon and Lectric get a lot of love too.
The sub is frequent target of astrotrufers. You see a lot of "I just bought WOOMOOKFOY Adventurer Pro and what a fantastic bike! If God the Father almighty had crafted a ebike..."
Look for bikes that are available through local shops. They won't sell some junk bike that keeps coming back in the door with problems. They will get you into something that is safe and legal. And they'll service it if there are problems.
Go ride them. A lot of the bike is about the "feel" of it. Look for recommendations on those bikes.
meta4our@reddit
When I bought my globe haul ST I did so through a bike shop and cross shopped aventon and Lectric though they were much cheaper. On paper, aventon and Lectric has the specialized beat in a lot of ways. But then I test rode all of them and you could feel the quantum leap in quality that specialized delivered. The brakes were excellent. The fit and finish, component quality, were just leagues better. It was night and day difference.
Ohm_Slaw_@reddit
Some of the high end bikes feel like riding a fine swiss watch. But there are a lot of people who don't care, or don't notice that kind of thing. Which is not a bad thing, they are just not the customers for those bikes. When someone says a bike is "better" you have to take into account the customer. Better, but better for who?
meta4our@reddit
Yeah, I wouldn’t call the globe haul a high end bike. It’s a mid tier bike, the cheapest e bike specialized sells. But it’s still a huge leap in quality and I felt that it would be something that would last me far longer than an aventon with fewer problems.
Any-Ad-446@reddit
Some of these no name bikes put on thousands of km in a year since they are used for Ubereats. Like to see a Trek or Specialized bike owner put that much KM on their bike per year doing weekend riding. You do know china makes like 90% of the EV bikes in the world right that includes the high end bikes.
Work-Play-Work@reddit
There is truth in what you say but it also misses that you don’t really know what you’re getting from the no name Chinese companies. With fire risks while charging lithium batteries it should be advisable to consider the safety. Chinese companies know what they are doing in business and also really have the moto of not letting anything go to waste. It makes good business sense to send the “better” units to a rental company buying thousands of them and sell the crappy ones individually under various no name brands that can close/reopen over night with a new name if needed. Chances of returns and being held accountable for flaws is decreased.
AdBoring4472@reddit
Most Chinese brands have zero accountability for their exported products. They change the company name 3x per year, and sell you another one when the first breaks without you even knowing. Even if a US brand is outsourcing production to Asia, their name and reputation is still on it, and most will force/ensure a certain level of quality before the product gets to you.
What makes good sense is to keep the good units in Asia and/or sell at volume to brands importing container loads at a time, and ship the shit product DTC to American cheapskates who have no recourse or knowledge of the shit they are buying.
AdBoring4472@reddit
Dude, I see 20, 30, 40 year old Treks, Cannondales, etc. with tens of thousands of miles on them still riding around today. There are multiple people in my neighborhood commuting to work daily on legacy brand,'s ebikes, putting thousands of miles per year on them with zero issues other than standard maintence costs. Not sure your argument holds water.
Curry_courier@reddit
You're not saying what you think you're saying
Ok-Many4195@reddit
That's because specialized IS overpriced. They're shipping you as cheap as possible frames manufactured overseas with high quality components in a known and tested configuration then charging a 60% markup.
You can get a titanium frame bicycle with a $1000 battery, mid end components and still come out below the cost of the cheapest steel specialized bicycle.
AdBoring4472@reddit
I doubt it. At least Trek warranties the frames for life, and has strong customer service to support you, with a huge dealer network for parts and service. Designed by an American engineer, with good balance and riding characteristics. And you don't need to spend days/weeks trying to determine compatibility of components, order them, order correct tools, and then assemble it all, only to find something is wobbly, rubbing, incompatible, or just plain fucked up. And if the shit burns my house down, I know right where to send my lawyer, Waterloo, WI, and I know they can pay for damages.
I will pay more for reliability, piece of mind, and not having to put the whole bike together myself. The more experience people get with ebikes, the more they are going realize the american legacy brands are not as overpriced as they are made out to be ... and all the cheap shit sold today will also force their prices down.
terraherts@reddit
You're not wrong, but I do think brands like Specialized and Trek are overpriced (or maybe more accurately mis-targeted) for what a lot of people are looking for.
If you want a quality eMTB, then yeah sure, I'd recommend them. But a lot of people are just looking for simpler transportation to get around.
I'm also really not a fan of how aggressively proprietary some of the more expensive or legacy brands are. Bosch especially goes out of its way to make their stuff inaccessible to self-repair and incompatible with other components. The amount of proprietary charger ports especially is infuriating, there's no excuse for that nonsense.
Ohm_Slaw_@reddit
I agree completely.
AdBoring4472@reddit
There is actually, it is called designing safety into the products to meet standards. Don't get me wrong, they will also happily do it to keep things proprietary, but there is way too many overconfident, think they are electrical engineers out there that will try to charge a 36v battery with a 72v changer because they think it halves the charge time. Proprietary connecter dissuades most of the geniuses from trying, cause give up when things don't fit together.
People are always bitching about things being interchangeable and repairable, but the reality is that 95% of the population has no business messing with electrical systems tied to a battery that could burn your house down in a matter of minutes. Often the closing down of the system is to protect the user from endangering themselves and others, and then turning around and suing a company to cover up their embarrassment. They be like "why isn't this repairable?" ... Burn their house down trying, then ... "This product is so unsafe, I am going to sue!"
Lazy_Football_511@reddit
Actually, my local bike shop DID sell me a junk bike. I walked in intending to buy a Velotric but the shop owner told me Velotric's batteries were shit and talked me into buying a Foo F1 made by NCM which has been nothing but headaches. You can find it being sold for a $1000 less than I paid for it less than a year ago as dealers try to get rid of them.
According_Wash6710@reddit
I work at a bike shop, and carry Velotric. I’ve sold close to 100 it feels by now. Not one has come back due to a battery issue. Should have went with them!
Lazy_Football_511@reddit
No kidding. Hey, when a Velotric throttle breaks, does it leave the throttle fully engaged like the Foo F1?
AdBoring4472@reddit
Report it to CPSC, saferproducts.gov, you can do it anonymously. Sure sounds like some cheap, unsafe shit. Name the dealer in the report too.
James-B0ndage@reddit
That’s dumb af, they’re one of the few brands that bike shops will work on, their standard warranty is 2 years, and the batteries are ipx7 waterproof. I saw a reviewer toss his in the ocean and it still worked fine.
Lazy_Football_511@reddit
Hey, I REALLY wish I rode a Velotric when that throttle broke when I was nearly on the other side of the state. I could have pushed it into a nearby bike store that sold them. Now, I am trying to decide if I want to give the bike shop that sold me this piece of junk another $50 for a new throttle.
malkavian_nutbar@reddit
Only bike store within 2 hours of driving from here doesnt even have ebikes in their store, they just help you buy from Velotric's or Rad's website. So...no.
CraziFuzzy@reddit
The only bike store in my city of 105k residents is actively aggressive against anything with a battery.
Verneff@reddit
What's your city like for cycling in general? 105k residents and you only have a single bike shop? Either they're utterly drowning in work, or there's basically nobody to service and sell to. I live in a similar sized city and we've got a dozen or two LBSs, only a few will service electric bikes.
meta4our@reddit
That’s wild, there are four bike shops within 2 miles of where I live!
CraziFuzzy@reddit
Neighboring cities have some bike shops, but honestly, most bikes on the road probably came from amazon.
SadHighlight7044@reddit
Lolllll thats wild
velocopide07@reddit
Well said Mr Ohm_slaw!!!
Proxy345@reddit
Because most just need something to get them from point A to point B, or for doordashing, which means bigger batteries and faster motors than what legacy brands put out.
waitingforsummer2@reddit
Same reason you don’t see people asking about Gazelle or Riese and Muller
Shiney_Metal_Ass@reddit
"hi, I'm looking to buy a combination of two things that should each cost $1000. My budget is $700."
Verneff@reddit
Yeah, a recent thread had people complaining about how much R&M bikes cost. And I'm just going "Find another company that has the same primary components for significantly cheaper". All of the Bosche parts, Enviolo gearbox, belt system, high end accessory electronics, built-in locking mechanisms, high end braking systems, and so on.
Ohm_Slaw_@reddit
R&M has ridiculous good build quality. They even grind down the welds on the bikes so they look smooth. Who does that?
fishforce1@reddit
and I'd like it to go 50mph.
Shiney_Metal_Ass@reddit
For 90 miles
James-B0ndage@reddit
“And carry my 450lb body”
BreastTickles@reddit
And I live upstairs so it needs to be light.
Shiney_Metal_Ass@reddit
And it needs to fold for when I'm not taking it on mtb trails
BWWFC@reddit
and why can't i find a local service shop??? fml/s
TRAKRACER@reddit
lol
Deansies@reddit
Love my Gazelle!
Dry_Economist4470@reddit
Love my Riese and Muller!
SwollenMexican@reddit
Because the people who ask for recommendations usually ask for 800 bucks and lower. Find me a trek or specialize thats around that price range..
Sutitan@reddit
I was looking at a specialized (tero) ebike 2nd hand. The charger alone was $200 and another $1200 for just the battery
terraherts@reddit
Which is insane. Yeah, you shouldn't cheap out on battery, but you can get quality batteries from enthusiast vendors with 15+ year reputations for a way less then Bosch/Specialized/etc are charging.
And $200 for a non-programmable low power charger is utter bullshit. My charger was $300, but it's programmable across 24-60v, multiple battery chemistries, and 360W without requiring active cooling.
Ohm_Slaw_@reddit
Ditto. Good batteries are running $400-$500 depending on capacity. Luna advanced charger (which is nice) is $99.
Nervous-Rush-4465@reddit
Giant makes functional e-bikes and they use Yamaha motors.
Purple_Young_5862@reddit (OP)
Last time I was looking I noticed specialized used Yamaha but now it looks alike they have their own in house motors.
celeste_ferret@reddit
Specialized uses customized Brose motors
badjeeper@reddit
I have a Levo and a Tero that we love. Specialized has always treated me okay 🤷♂️
ProfitEnough825@reddit
I believe they use Brose motors. The newer ones seem decent, I haven't had an issue with mine.
I went with Specialized because most bike shops are willing touch them. I like the mid drive because the drivetrain is identical to a regular bike. The Specualized already came with a SRAM drivetrain, and I was able to upgrade the drivetrain pretty easily.
The other nice thing is the cycling computer on the Specialized, it easily paired to the bike radar from my road bike.
jesseberdinka@reddit
I've had a Trek Super Commuter for about 7 years. Same battery and no major issues at all at over 7000 miles. To me that's what you're paying for.
EUCruzer@reddit
We have a trek! It’s an Electra Townie 2 7speed Class 1 ebike and we love it. It has just enough juice for rides and just enough power to take the edge off climbs. Would definitely buy another.
richardlpalmer@reddit
Trek is by far the another and most polished ride I've tried. I think Giant might be a close second.
But their market is so broad compared to focused brands, I think they get list in the discussion.
Also, major brands like these don't break rules with regards speed limits, class options, etc.
chupacabra-food@reddit
People are often asking for their first e-bike and don’t want to break the bank.
It makes a lot of sense to start with a quality economy option (like Aventon) and then swing for a better bike in a few years once you know how an ebike fits in your life and how you will be using it.
terraherts@reddit
Especially if it turns out the expensive bike is a terrible fit for your needs.
I spent over $3K on my first ebike 11 years ago, and it was one of the worst purchases I've ever made.
I ended up building my own a few years later, and have been much happier with the DIY route. I still buy quality parts and components, but I have exactly what I want and secure in the knowledge I can fix my own bike.
FartstheBunny@reddit
Exactly this. I have an Aventon and I am loving it. I told myself if I continue to use it to commute to and from work for 3 seasons out of the year I will eventually upgrade to something nicer (a couple friends have Gazelles).
velocopide07@reddit
Price…. That’s the long and short of it, Chinese direct to consumer bikes are $500-1200 for a cheap job drive bike (aka fire hazard)
James-B0ndage@reddit
Trek and Specialized cost an arm and a leg for a 250w motor and 36v 7ah battery. I get it’s a Bosch motor and the cells are probably premium Samsung cells. But I like to get more for my money. Velotric would be my choice.
sentinel_of_ether@reddit
Compare the velotric tempo to the trek FX+7 and its easy to see why. For $2000 less you get a bike thats the same weight with a big motor, throttle, and a shit ton of other tech features the trek doesn’t have.
bla8291@reddit
50 Nm/300 W vs 45 Nm/350 W is basically the same motor. I wouldn't call that a "big motor" compared to the Trek.
You save money on the Velotric with lower tier components, primarily the drivetrain, brakes, and rims, as well as not having the Trek brand recognition.
sentinel_of_ether@reddit
The Tempo has 180mm rotors front AND rear
The Trek has 180mm front but only 160mm rear
So i wouldn’t say lower tier brakes lol.
And at the end of the day its really hard to spend 4000 on a e-bike that doesn’t even have turn signals
bla8291@reddit
I don't think enough e-bikes exist with built in turn signals to have such an expectation, but I do agree that it should be included. However the problem with most built-in brake lights and turn signals is that they are not bright enough for daytime visibility, so I would just end up adding my own anyway.
sentinel_of_ether@reddit
I think the real argument for trek is this bike specifcally is designed for seasoned road cyclists who want a sleak look that doesn’t look like an e-bike at all. Which I understand. My issue is the price doesn’t make any sense, you get upcharged on the trek name alone. But people buying those bikes don’t mind that and thats fine.
unpilotedlandmass@reddit
I just got a Specialized! I don't know why they aren't recommended more. Obviously, they're more expensive, but I think in the long run you're going to get much more life out of it. The major selling point for me, and the reason I almost NEVER recommend mail order brands is that your ebike is only as good as it is repairable. My last bike was an iZip, which was a cheap Chinese brand that I got 3rd-hand for a too-good-to-be-true price. One day, I hit a pothole and the motor broke. None of my local bike shops were willing to touch the thing. They'd repair the bike components, but not the motor. I looked in like a 50+ mile radius and found nothing. I can do most repairs on bike components myself at home. But repairs to a motor is out of my league. Specialized on the other hand is a well-known brand and there are several local shops that will do repairs on the motors and electric components.
If you're thinking about an ebike as a car replacement, just imagine buying a car where there are no repair shops nearby willing to work on it. You wouldn't dream of investing in that car. For me, the same logic applied to e-bikes. Get a bike with a reputable shop nearby willing to do repairs. Makes a world of difference.
Stoked_Otter@reddit
They cost as much as a used motorcycle.
kevendo@reddit
Royal Enfield Bullet, $5k out the door.
Calgaryrox75@reddit
bought an aventon last year. am very happy with it.
railroad-dreams@reddit
when comparing aventon level 3 $1699 and trek fx +1s $2100 it seems there's almost no comparison. trek is more expensive 25% more. no suspension. trek has half the watts. trek doesn't have the awesome security and gps that aventon has. trek doesn't have the step through. trek doesn't come with a rear rack. you can't even remove the battery easily on a trek. no comparison
Any-Ad-446@reddit
Because they are damn expensive and the specs are average.
godver3@reddit
What a crock of shit “specs are average” come on dude.
railroad-dreams@reddit
250 watts for $2.1k. I agree they aren't even average
godver3@reddit
Says the guy who obviously knows nothing about components.
railroad-dreams@reddit
when comparing aventon level 3 $1699 and trek fx +1s $2100 it seems there's almost no comparison. trek is more expensive 25% more. no suspension. trek has half the watts. trek doesn't have the awesome security and gps that aventon has. trek doesn't come with a rear rack. no comparison
Inciteful_Analysis@reddit
Trek specs are unimpressive for models below $4k. There is merit to what he said.
Shiney_Metal_Ass@reddit
Lol
SadHighlight7044@reddit
Overpriced and overhyped.
Pump_N_Dump@reddit
I just bought a Trek FX+ S1. Absolutely love it!
bigthaddy00@reddit
I love my Trek Allant 8+ S for my daily commute, highly recommend.
nobikeno@reddit
I have a Specialized Vado from 2024 and I love it! I think it’s mostly a cost factor but also a lot of non bikers just getting into the e-bike scene, perhaps for non biker reasons! I got mine because at 74 and respiratory issues I needed an easier way to bike uphill but I didn’t want to buy a no name when I could afford to bye a name brand from a knowledgeable LBS.
CelticJewelscapes@reddit
The mid-tier bikes are pretty popular because they are proving to be reliable. My $1200 Aventons (we have three) have only had minor issues that fell well within the 2 year warranty. They have 1800 dealers in my country (USA) The dealer networks for the other brands in this category are similar. My bike is ridden about 100 miles a week - over 5000 miles last year.other than brake cables and tires, it performs well and has had no apparent decline in battery capacity and range.
Tldr analogy - Toyota sells a lot more of their Toyota brand thsn their Lexus brand. Both are pretty good cars
rwgate@reddit
I have two Aventon Levels ( 1 and 2). My Level 1 has 11,300 miles on it in 4 years with no maintenance costs other than brake pads and tires. My Level 2 has 1150 miles on it in 2 years, also with no problems. Both bikes cost me 2k each (with taxes and setup). The new Level 4 is my next bike, with more powerful motor, built in GPS, switchable between cadence and torque sensor, regenerative braking and bunches of security features.
Aggravating-Mail-235@reddit
Aventon is the Toyota in your analogy? lol
CelticJewelscapes@reddit
No, its not. I am not sure exactly why the pricepoint analogy eluded you. lol
i__hate__you__people@reddit
Because Trek and Specialized are more expensive due to being better supported, and people prefer cheap. My eMTB is a Giant brand, and I love it. Plus I can get it fixed at any Giant location in the country.
healthycord@reddit
Because people here ask for the cheapest and crappiest thing that would get them from point A to point B. And then they buy it, it breaks or their LBS refuses to touch it, they don’t maintain it, and then the battery blows up and they complain. Then they buy another crappy bike.
Or because they ask for a 1600w emoto that is “technically” an ebike because you can pedal and then they run over grandma having a nice stroll on the multi use path because the owner wanted to go 45 mph.
I personally love my Gazelle. Such a gigantic upgrade over my former Lectric XP. Lectric was a cheap bike and absolutely rode like a cheap bike. It worked and it’s good value. But my god whenever I hopped on my road bike it felt like a million bucks in comparison. The gazelle also feels like a million bucks in comparison. Way higher quality components. Bosch electrics. Belt drive with cvt transmission. Oh man oh baby this thing is nice.
I did test ride trek and specialized, but they felt like quite a downgrade in power from the lectric. The gazelle is objectively less powerful, and my commute is about 3-5 minutes slower (over 12 miles) but it is drastically more enjoyable to ride. And basically no constant maintenance except for tire stuff, which is nice.
Ranccor@reddit
Those Gazelles look nice. Will keep that brand in mind when I’m ready for my next bike.
Primary_Dimension470@reddit
Reddit prefers disposable bikes
Maxrdt@reddit
Not really true, this sub also roasts people with cheap alibaba/amazon/temu bikes almost as badly as their exploding batteries would. It's just that when you're recommending an alternative you're going to look for a value brand like Aventon or Velotric.
Still, the most common advice on this sub is to go to a bike shop and try things out (or pick a brand they'll service) which would push people toward legacy brands.
SlashNreap@reddit
I don't know if we've been looking at the same sub. The more vocal ones are people who can afford to put 2k+ into an Ebike and look down on people looking for budget alternatives. You'll always hear things like "Save up, buy better bike" or "Chinesium" or "E-trash"
Not to say there's not validity to that statement, but it just comes off as a bit out of touch sometimes when often the OPs clearly states they're not really well off or can't really afford much else. But people insist on shitting on them regardless.
trtsmb@reddit
I have a Trek and it's been great so far.
stillyoinkgasp@reddit
This sub is infested with people that know fuck all about bikes recommending bikes because "they've had no problems" with their $400 Alibaba XOAUSDFAI Tranpo 5.0 (or whatever shitbike it is they ride).
JolyonWagg99@reddit
I’m quite happy with my Trek. I switched out the bars and put a Brooks saddle on it and it’s great!
Inciteful_Analysis@reddit
Simple: most people wanting a recommendation have a budget of $2k or less. Anything from Trek or Specialized at that price will have poor specs and mediocre components.
I'll recommend the Turbo Como or Turbo Vado if someone has a $3k budget.
Inciteful_Analysis@reddit
Rather than downvote me, specify a Trek or Specialized model at $2k that is worth buying. If you can.
SlashNreap@reddit
Read the room, I don't think "most people" have a budget of 2k. That's why you see so many posts about recommendations under 1k, or whether or not a "$500 Ebike is worth it"
Inciteful_Analysis@reddit
Uh that's kinda my point. Most want a recommendation at $2k or substantially less. Trek and Specialized have very little to offer in that range.
SlashNreap@reddit
I thought you were suggesting otherwise, my bad.
CBrinson@reddit
Alot of people are using ebikes to make money and specialized and trek would basically be an irresponsible business investment like buying gold plated pens for the front desk.
SlashNreap@reddit
I love how people downvote you like what you're suggesting is insane.
Like I picture them going:
"What? The working class getting cheap, affordable personal vehicles like Ebikes? No no, a real Ebike must cost above three times their salary. If it doesn't, it needs to stay unsafe to ride. It's supposed to take ME on leisurely rides, not bring blue collars to work!"
Nervous-Rush-4465@reddit
Giant makes functional e-bikes and they use Yamaha motors. People have always been like this about analog bikes, too. They can’t comprehend the quality differences. At all.
ZeppyWeppyBoi@reddit
I always recommend those brands (among others) but like others have said, the vast majority of people asking on this sub are looking for $1000 or less.
I personally have a Trek for commuting and a Specialized eMTB.
DrMcdoctory@reddit
I have experience with both multiple electric trek bike purchases, as well as specialized. Definitely quality built-in, and made the last. That is my limited experience. You will, however pay for such good quality.
Ur-in-a-tor@reddit
Some lack the knowledge and/or the funds and/or some basic common sense. They buy junkbuckets every two years because they lack the perception of time and of the future maintenance costs.
SlashNreap@reddit
Nobody thinks: "Woah, I can afford a nice Ebike. But let me get this piece of shit right here, thanks!"
Let's be honest, it's mostly about the funds. Maybe the reason you see so many, is because there are many people who are indeed broke.
Educational-Cat-8374@reddit
I took peoples advice and went to the Trek store to look. they had quite a few $2200 beach cruiser style bikes and a couple of used mid-drive mountain bike styles.
The 2 used one's were the same model one just newer with allot fewer miles on it. One had 11,000 and the other just 1,100. the one with fewer miles was $1600 and the high milage bike was $1200. Crazy to me that someone would get a bike with that much milage for that price.
At any rate I ended up just getting the Vanpowers Grand Teton Pro for $900 and it was here in just 4 days (I ordered on Mothers day). It's allot heaver bike than the Trek with the 4" tires and all but still manageable.
Will the Vanpowers go for 11,000 miles? who knows, but I'll take care of it and time will tell.
RedGobboRebel@reddit
There's many of us that recommend checking out your local bike shop. So many folks get overwhelmed by thr maintenance of self-service online bikes... They could really benefit form the expertise of a lcoal shop and traditional bike brands like Giant, Specialized and Trek. This is especially the case if looking at eMTBs.
But as other's have stated, at the price ranges most people are looking to pay, online brands like Lectric, Aventon Velotric make decent value commuting eBikes that are hard to ignore.
Don't even get me started on folks who want bikes that advertise faster than 28mph (or just faster than 20mph throttles).
SlashNreap@reddit
Holy shit, this is the first time in a while I've seen anyone refer to maintenance at all on here without it being mentioned. I genuinely think a lot of people here assume Ebike = maintenance-free. Maybe if more people actually took care of their ebikes, cheap or expensive ebikes, we wouldn't see so many "Why is this broken??" posts
chuckwolf@reddit
Most likely because they're very expensive for a specialized (pun not intended) use case they're class 1 or EU spec depending on region mid drive trail bikes that mechanically for general on road use don't perform any better than a bike costing a tenth of the price from other companies
nsfbr11@reddit
I ride a Scott Addict RC eride 10 and wholeheartedly recommend it.
You cannot afford it. Neither can 99% of the people who buy e-bikes. That is why. If you want what I ride, you don’t need me to recommend it. You already know.
whaticism@reddit
High end for sure, and I wasnt somebody who knew about that bike but the price doesn’t sound as exclusive as it might seem. When I looked it up I thought I was going to find something Rolex+
People spend that kind of money on performance pedal bikes, hobby vehicles, and expensive toys like musical instruments or cameras…Maybe I’m a little desensitized from time in cities (I’m not wealthy) but 7k or so doesn’t seem unattainable so much as unnecessary. The recommendations however would change that, since I think a lot of folks wouldn’t mind buying the best thing (but do need to be pointed in the right direction)
jms1228@reddit
I have two Trek e-bikes.
A Dual Sport 2 + & an FX + 1. But very nice, but somewhat slow because I have a 20mph limit in my county.
CraziFuzzy@reddit
Does trek sell an ebike for less than $4000? And do any Trek dealers even let you stay in the store after you say anything about wanting an ebike?
Bradl3ro@reddit
Yeah, they do. I'm in Canada and have a TREK FX+1—they go for 3 grand here, and it's their first "throttle" e-bike. I love it for what it is. Well-built, looks nice, and rides smooth.
Inciteful_Analysis@reddit
They do. Just not any that are likely to compete well for those not awed by the name.
But if you find one on clearance like the Allante+ 8S was for $1999, they can be a good buy.
Superb_Raccoon@reddit
Yes.
Quite a few models.
FuzzAldrin81@reddit
Because I have a LeMond that I want to recommend instead. I’m not a dentist, I just like to ride like one.
Phreedom1@reddit
Had no idea LeMond made ebikes until I saw your comment. Just went and had a look....very nice! Especially the All-Road Prolog
FuzzAldrin81@reddit
I have a Prolog and love it. Weighs in around 26 lbs and just hauls.
atlasraven@reddit
Same reason you don't see BMWs recommended as a first car.
Inciteful_Analysis@reddit
I would recommend against BMW as a first, second, or third car.
ellipticorbit@reddit
Most people have little experience and understanding of bicycle systems and design, and view the eBike purchase question as a comparison of specs on the electric side. The question of bike designs and system integration are where the more expensive brands start to look good, but it tends to appeal to a different customer than the one who wants the biggest motor and battery, with a throttle that is essential because pedalling the heavier and inefficiently-designed bike is not doing much.
Nova_Hunter@reddit
Because fuck corpos
mayorlittlefinger@reddit
Is your bike handmade from parts you grew in your yard?
Nova_Hunter@reddit
No but it's not made by the likes of giant or specialized or Tr*k.
Loser.
Resplendent_Komorebi@reddit
Do you think ECOLI-RYDR is a certified BCorp or something?
Nova_Hunter@reddit
I don't buy any completed ebike because I build them by myself with parts to my specifications not to a generalized fit and use for multitudes of people it's for me.
mayorlittlefinger@reddit
Where did you buy the parts? Was it from a business that had filed articles of incorporation?
Laserdollarz@reddit
He whittled parts from free range organic cage free wood
Nova_Hunter@reddit
That's right chomo
Laserdollarz@reddit
It's pronounced Shlømo
g11berg@reddit
If you are an analog rider - whether hybrid, road, gravel or mountain bike - and want an ebike that feels the same but weighs maybe 10 lbs more and has solid assist and battery life and money is not top concern, go for a Specialized. You will not he disappointed.
miknob@reddit
I have a Trek ebike that’s about 5 years old. I would highly recommend it. I have a top end model but they have several different models and at a wide range of prices.
Curious_Party_4683@reddit
Specialized n Trek uses proprietary battery packs. The worse part? The companies change battery form n sizes every 2 years or something. So even if your bike is working fine 5 years from now BUT you need new battery for whatever reason....good luck finding something that fits your bike. Your whole bike is now e-waste, good as brick.
Kads_Baker@reddit
It's one part financial, but from a usability standpoint my experience has been very loud motors on 3k+ bikes from companies like Trek and Specialized; which has kept me away from these bigger company offerings until they are able to compete with dedicated reputable ebike companies that offer bikes under $2000.
markloch@reddit
Because most of the people coming here for recommendations have high expectations and low budgets. Just the motor/battery system of “name-brand” bikes alone cost considerably more than what a lot of people are willing to spend.
Then there’s what basically amounts to religious arguments over big corpo brands vs DIY vs DTC vs alibabazon.
JankyTime1@reddit
The drop shippers are able to offer similar component specs for 1/3 of the price. I'm sure Specialized and Trek are better, but they're not that much better.
Proof_Ambassador2006@reddit
I'm brand new to the hobby but got a vado 4 on sale from my local shop.
Went in to my purchase hunt thinking I was looking for something with a throttle to just zoom around on but the pedal assist is so satisfying. Well worth it.
In terms of the price, with systems like this, and not having a ton of space my self to service/figure maintenance stuff out, it felt better paying more from a more premium brand.
ScrewySiu@reddit
The price...that's the only reason. 99% of recommendations want bikes under $1000.
I bought my 2020 Haibike for $4000.
It still rides great and I have no issues. I wanted something I could bring to the LBS and get serviced without issues.
Wish I rode it more, it only has 1100 miles on it and it's almost 6 years old.
firefaery@reddit
I have a Specialized Turbo Como 5.0 IGH and it's worth every penny. It's my baby. No complaints, no hassle, no drama with it. I fly on my bike, love it.
Littlewillowtrees@reddit
I love my trek, it has replaced my car. I just think most people who are entering are not ready to take a major expense leap. Most just want to get a feel for what they like and not break the bank.
Superb_Raccoon@reddit
Money.
Love them, but money.
And few here appreciate a bicycle with a motor, rather than a motor with a bicycle slapped onto it.
dragon34@reddit
I definitely want the bike with the motor and not the motor with a bicycle. I think I'm going to have to buy one to keep up with my kid who at 5 is already a better bicyclist than I am
Shiney_Metal_Ass@reddit
Christ, THANK YOU
Newprophet@reddit
Because for those insane prices I'd rather get too shelf Grin Tech parts that don't tie be to proprietary bullshit.
Solid_Science4514@reddit
I can recommend specialized!
Prestigious_View_401@reddit
Budgetary reasons
trickyvinny@reddit
Eh. I bought a Specialized Haul and would recommend it. My previous bike was a DTC frankenbike that I put through the ringer over 6 years and 12k miles. I wanted something with reliability that I wouldn't need to fix up every 4 months. That's what I got.
But it's almost like a Mac vs PC (or maybe iPhone vs Android) deal. People buy an iPhone because they don't want the choice or to tinker with it. They over pay because they just want it to work and work well.
The Haul checked all my boxes, and I had been ready to go in to buy a Vado or whatever the high end ebike was, and after a test ride, walked out with the Haul. If you want to swap out components and upgrade the ride over time, it's probably not a good selection, but if it's just simple quality and reliability, would recommend.
OldCalligrapher1990@reddit
Because the difference between a quality drop shipped bike and a legacy is not worth $3000
Shiney_Metal_Ass@reddit
A quality drop ship doesn't exist.
D2C maybe. But if its quality, the different isn't that high and the extra money makes it worth it for LBS support
WillShakeSpear1@reddit
I always recommend them because I think it’s important to have a local shop to service your bike. In this forum there are a majority looking for internet deals under $1500
WingmanZer0@reddit
I bought a Trek FX+1 and would recommend! It's been great, I've been getting out there and did 18 miles the other day. Don't even need to use the motor half the time, but when I do it pulls my 250 lb body up hills no sweat.
emaja@reddit
I agree it’s probably mostly about price. Also has to do with maybe people wanting to buy something less expensive to see if they’re actually going to use it and enjoy it. Well, I would’ve loved to have dropped $4000 on a bike, I wasn’t sure if it was something that I was going to get that kind of value out of.
That said, I’m a couple hundred miles into my first season with an E bike, and now I also know what is more important to me as a writer than just pure specs. When I have to replace this one, I will look at a more expensive bike that has more features that are important to me.
Relative-Display-676@reddit
Because we get called elitists, gate keepers and bike snobs by recommending BIKE brands and not mail order chinesium fire hazards.
People would rather risk burning down their house to save few hundred bucks.
So now I just steer everyone and their brother to upway.co where they can find a quality bike at discounted prices.
Resplendent_Komorebi@reddit
Unless you’re a cycling enthusiast looking for something targeted towards advanced riding, they’re expensive and often not any better than brands like Aventon or Velotric. Sometimes they’re actually less feature rich.
My husband is a Factor guy through-and-through and he’s actually the one who persuaded me to get a Velotric bike instead of a bike offered by any of the big names. He just didn’t see the justification for the prices they were charging.
evaan-verlaine@reddit
I think it's just budget, a lot of people don't want to spend what Specialized and Trek cost.