You are 100% right on target. I'm 72 and bought an Ariel Rider X-Class step-through, so that I could get out ride the trails and enjoy the outdoors. I though that part of my life was past me. I don't have the strength or flexibility to pedal a regal bike. Really enjoying your channel, and getting out and riding often.

Bought an Aventon Aventure through a local dealer and absolutely love it. It's 73 lbs and is the step thru model that I ride everyday. I am 80 years old and so far have had no problem riding it. Thru the Aventon App I was able to upgrade the software which changed it from a Class 2 to a Class 3 bike. Rode Harley's for years and definitely loved the speed boost the upgrade gave me.

I purchased a Specialized Turbo Creo "e-assist" bike in March in time for my 65th birthday. While I still ride regularly, I have always struggled going up hills. This bike was a game changer! You must pedal to get any assist at all. I find when riding in a group, I use the lowest level of assist (about 30%), or turn it off altogether. The assist kicks out at 32 kph (20 mph), so while you can go any speed your legs can take you, above 32 kph, it is all "you". There is absolutely no motor drag with the assist turned off, so if you drain the battery on a ride, it is not a problem to simply ride hoe under your own steam. That being said, I have found I get over 100 km range in low assist, about 70 km in medium, and about 50 km in the high (turbo) assist. Even after the 50 km in turbo assist, the battery is at about 20%, where it lowers output to about 30%. I have never completely drained my battery. The bike version I got was the aluminum frame. It weighs in at about 33 pounds, but you pay for that. The bike before tax came to about $6700 CAN. The bike is very well designed, and built. While 95% of my riding is on road, it can accommodate tires as wide as 700X42, so gravel is no issue. It even includes a spring incorporated into the headset for a bit of suspension. A gravel version with flat bars and a dropper seat can also be purchased at the same cost.

By far, yours is the most informational, educational, and encouraging video site for ebike riders and those considering the purchase of a bike. Thanks for all the time and care you put into doing these. So very helpful!

CC, thank the bike gods for you. I’ve learned so much about how to fix, maintain, upgrade and improve my E-bike watching you over the last year or so. You know your bikes and you certainly know your audience. Regards from the UK from a 45+ guy, out on the green trails and away from Netflix and mobile phones.

Most off the pitfalls mentioned are the result of the direct to consumer eBike business model. I don't think I will buy another eBike that I can't test ride at a local bike shop. I'll even drive several hours for a test ride if need be.

Great information! 71 years old and thinking about e-bikes.

A great and informative video. My wife and I went with the Lectric XP 2.0 step through after watching a bunch of videos. I'm in my mid 60's and she's in her late 50's so they seemed like the best choice for us.

You definitely know the key market for the growth of ebikes! It's us older folks! We want to still get out, walk, run, ride, what-ever but we do not have the strength or conditioning that we would love to have but our perceptions of what we can do, do not reflect, what we can do! So, eBikes are a route we can take advantage of! Great analysis and presentation! Thanks!

I've been in the market for an e-bike for awhile now and your channel has been amazing in helping me make an informed decision. Keep up the great work!

Most of the major complaints can be reduced by going with a NON-FAT TIRE ebike. If you want the comfort still, just make sure to get tires that are 2 in or thinner, with front suspension, and a suspension seat post. With non-fat tire ebikes, the frames can be thinner, motors smaller, less dead weight to have to move around, longer battery range on a smaller & lighter weight battery. Most ebike importers make bigger profits on the fat tires, but a few are starting to sell product lines that is more efficient (much more popular in Europe & Asia).

The main problem is the lack of research before buying.

I have an Aventon Aventure I bought from my local dealer last month. The one advantage that I had when buying locally was that I was able to try out my bike and make sure it fit perfectly as I initially had questions on how I would fit on it. I found that in the end that it did fit me perfectly and I've been enjoying it since. As for battery range, I'm only able to get about 25 to 30 miles out of it per charge. That is less than what Aventon advertises on their website. Of course, there are factors involve that make the range vary. One factor is my weight. I'm 300 lbs and the weight of the rider I believe is a big factor in battery range. Another factor is that I ride at pedal assist level 4. That helps me maintain a speed of around 20 mph. The higher pedal assist levels use more power, so I can understand why I'm not getting 40 miles out of my battery. I'm actually trying to train my legs to get used to riding again as I haven't been on a bike in 7 years. I'm hoping I may step down to PA2 or PA3 when my legs get stronger. Aside from all that, I'm happy that this bike can take me wherever I want to go around the city I live in and still have plenty of power left to see me home.

This is a really helpful video. I got into this last year, and now have 2 escooters and an ebike, and my wife has an ebike. After a year of experience I can say your video is spot on. The ones that really hit home were power and portability. My first scooter had a 500 watt moter which turned out to be not nearly enough to get me up the local hills (I weigh around 230). As a result it wasn't serving my purpose so I ordered my 2nd one, a dual motor 2000 watt beast that chews up hills and spits them out. My ebike which I just got is 750 watts and 1000 watt peak. It needs help on our largest hills, but I just engage my 2nd motor (my legs) and it gets up no problem. Portability is another issue. The scooter no problem. It folds up and while it's heavy (around 75 lbs), it's not awkward so it's pretty easy to get into the back of the SUV. My wife's ebike is another story. It folds, and it's lighter than the scooter, but it's a big awkward mess trying to muscle the thing into the SUV. And my new one is even heavier and doesn't fold, so I have no delusions about getting it into the back. Honestly, if you get one of these and want to transport it, plan on getting a bike rack. I'm looking into those now as I'm fed up with dealing with my wifes, and I want to be able to use mine other than just around home.

I'd like to tell you that I really enjoyed this video and thank you for helping us all out here to decide maybe what bike to go for I'm 65 years old and you're showing in this video the complaint but the solutions and I appreciate that so much

Thank you!! This was a real eye opener! I’m watching videos for a month or two and even though I know I need a light bike, no one has made weight an issue like you have! Why? Because most YT guys are trying to sell the bike they are demonstrating. Thank you for your honesty!!

Thank you for all your efforts helping folks with the ebikes. I have never owned an ebike so this video is just super outstanding and very helpful for me. Thanks again, Jeff.

Great video!!! Your extra suggestion of service was probably the most important. Our local bike shop is gracious enough to do normal bike maintenance but as far as controller, battery, wiring, or motor is concerned you are on your own. That is why buying from your local bike shop is so important. Again, excellent video!

Hi CC !! Just to let you know I really have enjoyed your EBIKE videos, and you were part of the reason I chose Cyrusher when I finally bought mine. I don't think you want the LONG story, so I will give you the condensed version. My biggest problem was a new term I learned called "AXLE SPINOUT". If you don't know what it is (but I'll bet you do) It is when the torque of the rear motor is so great (from a standstill - slight incline - no pedaling - throttle only programming - 200 lb male) that the axle of the rear wheel spins itself out of the fork and becomes dislodged. When this happens the bike is no longer functional, the slot in the fork becomes "chewed" and repeated attempts to drive it in this state are useless only causing more damage. Let's fast forward - to returning the bike (Cyrusher finally agreed) - getting the next model up (XF800) (for a very slight price increase). I stuck with them, because I did love the bike in every other way. I know you have all of their models. The problem re-occured with the new model, and I posted this problem many times on KZfaq. One very helpful You Tube friend said - Oh, that's Axle Spinout - get this device on Amazon and it will prevent it from happening again. Whoever he was - God Bless Him!! It looks like no photos are allowed here, so will give everyone the name of this great anchor. Grin Technologies Universal Rear Ebike Torque Arm - Thick 1/4" Stainless Steel (Made in Canada). EXCELLENT REVIEWS !!! I bought it, I mounted it, and this problem went away 100% !!!!! There are cheaper offerings, but I strongly suggest this one. I have no affiliation with this company whatsoever. 1200 miles later - I am smiling (and confident) on every ride !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey Citizen, in my observation you really know who watches your channel & what they want from e-bikes. As a result you are 100% on-message with great practical advice. Thanks for that! My personal complaint relates to the more I research, the more I realise many local shops are just selling (identical or nearly identical - but differently branded) products I could order on-line for more economical prices. The sell the same stuff, falsely market it as if they designed it themselves, and put a huge premium on it because I can see it in person before I buy it. Even products from some well-known brands seem to be also marketed on-line under lesser-known branding. It is frustrating as a consumer who tries to be informed before I make a purchase.

I can also confirm that accessibility and range are my two biggest gripes with ebikes. The EMX Xtreme (dual 750 watt motors) is the closest I've found to being just what I've been looking for. Even then I had to cut about 2" off the seat post to enable me to plant my feet firmly on the ground when stopped. The hefty weight would be my third gripe. It would be pretty hard to peddle them like a regular bike if you ran out of juice a fair distance from home. I also wish more ebike manufacturers would add regenerative braking to charge up your battery a bit each time you apply the brakes. Finally, YES, the local bike shops don't want to touch them. You're definitely on your own if you need a repair. BTW, great video's Citizen. Keep 'em coming.

You are so right about us old people buying these ebikes. I'm 68 an bought a Juiced Scorpion X. Love it. Granted there aren't really hills in Tampa but this thing goes plenty fast for me with no effort. And it weighs 100lbs. My friend has a 26 inch and it's a monster. 20 inch is just fine for me, even at 6 ft tall. Only complaint would be the brakes, which work fine but squeak very loud.. I was impressed at how in touch you are with your audience and how we ride. Thanks.

Excellent video - cutting right to the chase about folk's outstanding concerns. The two last ones especially that were discussed, seemed the most interesting, i.e the weight, and the paucity of customer service and repair. Issues like build quality, range, power, etc. are pretty straight forward obvious, and would determine one's choice of brand. But weight and repair! Some folks - even if they could - might not want to bother repairing more than for annual checkups, etc. But if you are not a body builder or weight lifter (or just not young and strong) many of us could have big problems with the weight issue. "Fat four inch tires" pet peeve: a lot of weight could be saved with narrower rims and tire sizes. 3 inch tires should be plenty adequate. Whatever. So, "caveat emptor" you'all, and thanks for the good and helpful video.

Great build! That’s what I’d call a sleeper!! Looks like a cruiser you wouldn’t expect that to zip by at over 35 mph. Nice going there!!! Awesome

Great overview on what I'll call "stuff to consider and be aware of" when buying an ebike. My wife and I are in our 60's and while we still enjoy our traditional road bikes we have found ourselves getting too tired on some rides. We also have an RV and always take our bikes with us. Last year we decided to get ebikes. The only local dealer was a Pedego store. The bikes seemed nice and all but were also $$$. After some online research and cruising the forums we settled on Juiced RipCurrent S models. 26x4 fat tires. 20Ah batteries. About 80lbs each. I'm pretty handy with bike repair and electrical stuff so the bikes were fun (and challenging!) in that area. I also ended up purchasing a hitch mount dual dirt bike carrier. Other bike racks just seemed marginal even when they stated they were rated at xxx pounds. When we tow the RV the bike rack goes on a front hitch on our Ram 1500. I take the batteries and seats off, loosen and turn down the handlebars, and winterize the bikes with some clear wrap. Bike without battery and seat is still about 65lbs. So far so good... We have had some great fun running fire roads in New Hampshire, rail trails just about everywhere and even some sandy beach trails down in Florida state parks. Cool that you modded up your own ride!

12:32 I'm a 20 year old who's about to buy an ebike to commute to and from work. I don't have a car, don't know how to drive, and I don't want a car. I'm just tired of having to take 40-1 hour bus trips to get to and from work. Work is already tiring enough, there's no way I'm riding a non electric bike both ways every day too. For me my ebike is going to be my car replacement. It'll be cheaper to maintain and I won't need to pay $120 parking/month fees to keep it. On top of that, I pay about $120/month in bus fairs right now. If I can skip using the bus entirely I think it'll pay for its self. Here in Minnesota the local government will be providing financial assistance up to $1500 for buying an ebike starting July 2024. I'm waiting for that date to buy an ebike. I've heard of some other younger people who are getting ebikes for similar reasons. For me this isn't about going green or getting out, it's about the cheapest means of transportation. I love your videos, they're very informative. Just wanted to let you know work commuters exist

My local bike shop will work on mechanical issues but nothing to do with electric components.

Great video! The last point regarding repair is so important. I’m considering a Gazelle c380 because it is more trouble-free w Gates belt drive and cvt trans. And, of course, Gazelles build quality. Thank you!

I appreciate this video. I have been watching numerous videos and taking notes. I am 5'2 woman and that is one thing I was afraid of was the height.I have only ridden a RAD step through that I rented but want to buy one. I'm going to look at some of the bikes you mentioned. I love your videos and they are always full of great information.

I bought Aventon sinch from a local bIke shop, was not my 1st pick, but the weight of the bike to lift on and off bike rack was just right. Best Buy ever, no regrets I’m 6 months in and I really enjoy every single ride, and especially beach rides. It’s my travel buddy. Aventon is a quality built ebike. Side note, 1 up bike rack with expansion kit for fat tires makes travel complete.

Buy from a bike dealer/shop.....not the internet. You can see what you are getting, you can test ride before buying and the personnel staff can answer any question you may have about ebikes or accessories. I just purchased a step through, 36 volt / 250 watt motor / top speed of 20 mph / range 20 to 50 miles / disc brakes / electric horn / and has both pedal assist and throttle that is equipped with a boost control for extra power. Headlamp and tail light are automatic. Also came with fenders and luggage rack and a free annual tune up for life, $1799 but was on sale for $1599, so far I love this bike as I am 79...the wind and hills no longer a challenge for me, my Cannondale and Fuji have just been retired. Been riding bikes for about 40 years now.

I love my Rad Mini 2 Step thru. I am 5'7 it is perfect size for me. I have upgraded with the 35 amp and the 750 watt Bafang. (thanks for the helpful videos) so now the power is good but I am hoping to do a switchable two battery set up and I am so confused on how to do it. Do you have any thoughts? I wanted to mention the awesomeness of the Vee speedster tires. Thanks for all of your videos.

Very good post, TY. For build quality I would MOST CERTAINLY INCLUDE AVENTON! I am 65 years old going on 2 back operations so, an electric bike is the only possibility for me getting back into the saddle as I did in my younger years when I used to ride a road bike. There isn't ANYTHING that I do not like about this Aventon Aventure. The build quality is OUTSTANDING!

My bike was a custom build, orginally with a front hub motor, then switched to Luna Cycle BBS02. The motor was an improvement, but for an extra $200, I should have purchased a BBSHD (more power, more speed). I like your setup with dual motors!

Glad I found your channel. I just started my search for an e-bike and this particular video was important for me to watch. You're right, service is a very important issue. I live close to a major city where there are several bike shops that sell e-bikes. It makes sense for me to talk to them about what bikes they will service. Thank you for the advice.

Thank You for this Awesome Video. I learned a lot from this. I am 73, bought an Electric Bike last year, still learning, but your video answered a lot of questions that I had. I live in NH, I wish I had the paths here that you rode on. I actually had a mishap on my bike last year while camping. I missed judged while coasting at 5 mph, a turn, ended up in a ditch that had rocks in it. 5 broken ribs, broken arm, 2 surgeries , but, I am going to get on the horse when the weather breaks, with my e-bike, and kick some ass. And your video helped me, Thanks.

I bought mine at a local shop. They let me test drive any model I wanted so got the right bike. They even added a stem extender to one to help me choose.

As our English friends might say, "Spot on" with this video! Related to the bonus complaint is shipping damage. We've bought 3 ebikes direct to consumer and all three had some shipping damage issue that needed to be addressed, either by us fixing it in one case after being instructed what to do over the phone, or taking the bikes into a shop in the other two cases. The company did send us the parts and did pay the relatively modest repair bill, but what a giant chore with our brand-new bikes. And as you say, initially, and long term, the big surprise, and the challenge is, as you note, weight! My wife and I settled on a somewhat lighter weight model that is only 54 pounds with the battery. Still heavy, but significantly easier to mount and handle than the 62-pound "light weight" models we first ordered - and still have sitting around and collecting dust. I'm coming from many years of two-wheeled acoustic and more recently a tadpole recumbent trike. All of those cycles, even the trike, are half the weight of the ebikes. One pet peeve I developed in this experience is an objection to marketing ebikes to senior citizens as some easy solution to aging. I found them more challenging than any other type of cycle experience and although once you get going you can move faster with less effort, putting that over everything else is like the blind men looking at the elephant.

The vibe in these videos is just great :) Learning a lot, thanks again. I'm about to start upgrading my Radwagon 4... E bikes have been a huge net-positive for my family (7years old daughter and 15 year old son). Big believer in what these objects add to our day to day moments and some fresh air in our lungs. Happy Thanksgiving from Vermont.

Thanks for caring and helping so much appreciated

I am an almost 78 year old male and have been looking at these for about a year now I think I'm going to go ahead and take the plunge, even though I am almost 78 I'm in pretty good shape and I'm going ahead with this, your video was very helpful keep up the good work, I have subscribed and I'll let you know how an old man gets along on one of these. I like the Lectric 2.0, any commentsThanks again. 🚴‍♀🚴‍♀🚴‍♀🚴‍♀🚴‍♀🚴‍♀🚴‍♀🚴‍♀

I have an Evelo Galaxy 500, and it is a small bike for short women. The frame also seems smaller and fits me. I had a Lectric XP, which was just too big for me (It fit my over 6 ft. nephew quite well. The Evelo Galaxy allows me to sit up, like Dutch style, and it is so comfortable. Also it is rather lightweight. I believe it is around 56 lbs without the battery.

Good afternoon. I just found this topic that you're talking about. For me, the reason why most people don't/won't bring up customer service - especially for 1 particular company is threats of not having the warranty honored. Even under warranty, the company sends broken or non functioning parts & threatens you that if you bring it up - it's criminal!

Thanks for the info in this broadcast. I looked at the Euphree CITY Robin bike you mentioned that was a good build and the lightest weight at 58 lbs and really like it and am strongly considering buying it. I did notice that the 750 watt motor has a peak of only 850 and you mentioned to get something with at least 1000-1200. Should I reconsider or based on that one item that was below what you recommended?

I’d like to comment on weight. If that’s a concern, buy one that has an easily removable battery. Batteries are pretty heavy by itself and removing makes it 20-25 lbs lighter. Also more convenient for for lighting the bike itself. I bought mine because it’s foldable and fits in my little four seat airplane for when I travel and I just remove the battery before folding and storing in the plane.

Love the content, keep it up! I am one of those weirdos that got an ebike for commuting and have even gone to the effort of calculating my CO2 impact for extra nerd points. Like so many of the complaints that you saw, finding a bike that didn't weigh a ton was hard. What I ended up doing was buying an entry level name brand (read decent quality starting bike) 29er hardtail mountain bike and adding a mid-drive motor to it. With the motor and battery it's a little over 50lb compared to even the lightweight bike you list as over 60 lb. Since it's an aftermarket kit, I can buy all kinds of aftermarket "generic" batteries for replacement and not have to worry about sourcing proprietary batteries. I talked with the local bike shop about what I was going to do to the bike before I bought it and they said they would work on the regular bike stuff but wouldn't touch any of the ebike stuff if I converted it over. Having the middrive is great because that means the only thing that isn't regular bike stuff is the motor/battery itself. All my wheels can be quick disconnected and worked on normally in the event of a flat, and they are standard size wheels, not fat tires. The downside to the middrive though of course is that I will have more maintenance on the chain/sprockets because I'm putting inhuman amounts of force through them.

You hit the nail on the head in the "Power" segment. When we vacation in the St. Pete/Clearwater area, our whole family rents ebikes (Electric Spinz - great people!) and hit the Pinellas Trail. It's so much fun!! I'm 62. Peace.

Excellent video. I would tell anyone who's shopping for an ebike to watch this. Nice reccs on the brands. I saw people talk about Biktrix in comments and bought a Stunner LT5 on sale. It has a 20 amp hour battery. That's all I use for my DIY builds. You get more than 40 miles of range when you put a 20ah battery on a 2" tire bike. I thought about putting a second battery & motor kit on my Stunner to get it past 30mph (only hits 26 on a fresh battery full pedaling in 7th gear, and it has an 8th gear I don't use) and seeing your dual motor setup is really eye opening. Great job on your setup. You've hit the sweet spot for what that frame, tires, and brakes can handle, giving yourself usable speed. I run errands using the bags on my Stuner. I call it the BUV - Bike Utility Vehicle. Perfect as a golf cart on the disc golf course. I can swing my leg over the side and hop off when I pull up to my disc!

I'm a shorter person a bought one of the heybike explores. I found I was able to make it work by switching out the seat post to get the seat a couple inches lower. If you're short and still feel like you can do it, get one without the suspension seat. After doing that I could get my toes reliably on the ground and it was fine. The thing is a tank though. A car might hurt me, but this bike will destroy their car lol.

The bike is so heavy that using your front and or back racks, make the bike is so top heavy it is easy to lose balance upon stopping. I have a beautiful Aventon step through, red and cream

Thanks for a great vid and really helpful. I've just received a new fat tyre bike, most things are fine but there is one problem that I'm unsure how to fix. Power from the throttle works fine but when I use just peddling the power comes on and off intermittently. I contacted the supplier and they are sending me two new brake cables to fix it but I'm not sure that they will make any difference. What are your thoughts?

Great channel, very informative. Thank you for the research you do.I’m looking to get a wired freedom bike. Any suggestions? I’m 6’ 250lbs.

As far as battery life is concerned, it is what you make of it. I have aventon aventure and I did 40 miles on it and was still at 70% battery. I still like to use my bicycle as my primary source of cardio so I usually only use the electric to get momentum. I start pedaling harder than what the motor is trying to give and eventually the battery motor contribution is far less than my own physical torque. Thus saving battery throughout the day. If you want more range, pedal harder.

Hey Citizen One of the most important things when buying an ebike: If the company does not offer the ability to purchase a spare battery, I would say stay away. A few of the companies you mentioned have zero batteries for sale on their website. And don’t let them tell you that you can purchase a spare from any old company, because if you look at their warranty, they totally null and void their obligation to fix your bike if you use aftermarket parts. Buyer beware!

I have a second battery I put on my rack then change out mid ride. I bought 2 different e-bikes from same company and my spouse rides very little so I just pack her’s with me. That was the method to my madness also. For e-bike work I notice if you have part already stores will more likely install without a long labor warranty and no warranty on the parts of course. It also helps to explain this also, that way it;s just a cash grab for them. I do this with my cars also, I call around till I find a shop who will install an aftermarket part. Then I order my part before the appointment. It also helps to watch a Citizen Cycle video on how to fix an item before you ask the shop that way you can make sure they know. Mostly just watch Citizen Cycle and you will learn what you need, thanks a ton for your videos!🙏

VERY HELPFUL ! ! ! THANK YOU SO MUCH ! ! 🙂😎👍 If you have the time - what do you think about the Letricbike 2.0 ???

Pedego makes excellent ebikes, and their shops service them completely. Great combo!

1. Best ebike channel out there . 2. Im 5'8" , ive tried about half dozen step thrus and they all had too high of standover height . Ive only got a 30" inseam and none of them lets me sit on the seat and still be flat footed on the ground . Seems like the cyrusher kommoda is the only one that seems like its low enough , just sayin

I purchased my e bike through a dealer and love the customer service. Free tune up for the life of my bike , 60 mile battery . It’s flawless . 🌺🌺🌺❤❤❤❤❤

Great vid and excellent points raised from the perspective of a consumer purchasing a brand ebike. From the other side of the platform - the DIY builder perspective, as you know very well with soldering, cable routing, matching controllers to batteries etc., my first gripe is that there is no real standard for matching components, especially battery mounts, KT or SW display & controller, so we pick one and stick with that permanently. FWIW, you use the same standard SW900 & DP-6 polly 5-pin battery as I do with all my builds. Second issue - finding good quality disc-mount steel fork lowers. I dont consider weight to be a determining factor for ebikes when compared to pedal, and selecting a donor bike, I purposefully seek out those with steel dropouts at the rear to assist the torque arms preventing axle wallow, yet for front motor installs, steel forks are usually limited to those low-end big box Walmart types (your vid on busted out alloy fork dropouts perfectly demonstrated that concern.) Remembering that front motor forces on fork dropouts is not limited to axle torque reaction wallow but also that the front wheel is always wanting to run away, so there is always a load on the front two teeth. With steel fork dropouts there is some redundancy yet with alloy, well, you showed us what happens!

It really is a big bike, I was shocked when I got my cruiser. And could totally relate to the mobility issue with stepping thru. Had to switch to big dog step thru.

I would like to add my own experience with my current ebike to the fray. I ride a E-cells Monarch which I do loved dearly and as my primary 'about town' transportation here in Washington. I will address my own comments to the five topics listed. I will judge all along the 1 to 10 scale too. 1) Build Quality As with 89-90% of the ebikes in the US market, it came from China. My bike's quality is excellent and the company which sells it ensured all the components were of high quality and the fittings were excellent. Of cos it was send to me via NV in a large full size bed carton as this is a full size ebike! I would give this a scale of 9. 2) Battery Range Well, seeing that this is a dual battery, dual motor bike, I could easily ride pretty much throttle only for 50+ miles, switching from using only one motor to another or using both motors to climb hills; and there are many hills up and down around Seattle! Much of the time, I would cruise along on my local roads closer to their speed limits on the bus/bicycle lane; on level ground, I have been clocked at 38 mph! One benefit of this dual battery arrangement strict from the factory was the fact that I could charge them individually or I could simply plug my charger onto the frame plug and charges BOTH battery at the same time; as I rarely use up my batteries, it would usually take 3-4 hours with the provided fast charger to full recharge. In this case, I would give this a mark of 10. 3)Accessibility This is a tough one, yes, my Monarch is a 26x4.5 very fat tire bike and yes, I have to LEARN to get on it by tilting the bike partially to get on it... pretty much I'd consider it to be similar to getting on a horse; with the very sturdy included rear carrier and an after market carrier top bag, my leg would catch onto the bag often if it was fill. Yes, climbing on and off is a hassle and I simply have to get into the habit and a routine of mounting and dismounting from it. It is a BIG and yes, very heavy bike!!! With both batteries and motors, along with the bags and lights and separate batteries for them, my bike is near 100 lbs. I could trust it with even the usual ebike carrier on my car so I ordered a dirt bike motorcycle rack with ramp to haul this camouflage, yes factory camouflage monster about. Again, because of the massive size, I have to give this an 8 then. I strongly suggested most potential buyers should check out step thru models with small diameter tires unless they are will to learn and put up with climbing on a big 26" fat tire bike! 4) Lack of Power This is a no brainer for me, a total score of 10 because of the two massive batteries this bike came with; one battery was part of the frame while the second one was underneath as part of the rear rack... which I guess, added the extra height to the rear carrier rack. Oh well. And as this video stated, you will pretty much have to do most if not ALL your own maintenance and repair on most brands of ebikes. I would be lucky if I purchased an RAD brand as it was based in Seattle but alas, my E-cells wasn't it. BUT the customer service has been extremely, extremely helpful and the owner even talked with me on the phone to address some maintenance issues before. The staff in E-cells were exceptional too, especially the office manager Rachel; she has been extremely responsive to all my questions and inquires. I also take my ebike to the local bike shop Harvy in Lynwood, WA and they have done excellent services on my bike except the electrical components. Most regular bike shops would not even attempt to deal with a motorcycle size and weight bike and when you do find one, establish good rapport with it and stick with it like your favorite barber or doctor. On a side note, I worn out three sets of Kendra tires on my first ebike before it was stolen. The set of V-Rubber Bulldozer 26x4.5 that came with my Monarch lasted me nearly 3,000 miles!!! Wow. I have just ordered a new set from E-cells because they were extremely hard to find (and yes, kind pricey compare to the average Kendra) but hey, if they would last another 3,000 miles, I'd considered money well spend! Overall, I give my ebike a 9 in terms of reaching my expectation and needs. I am now just waiting for new developments on battery technology and maybe E-cells would make a newer models base on them then.

The best introduction video to electric bikes period! Well presented, thank you, spot on! SkipRay, Ireland.

Thanks for the info and all you older riders help me make up my mind im63 years young and was thinking this was for kids and younger adult now i can't wait to get one!

Thanks bud. I already got that these things are heavy, like a bag of concrete only awkward. My main takeaway today is that 20" is not a kids bike. In my bike riding days, 20" ers were the banana bikes. You could pop a wheelie and ride it forever. Well done, well thought out video, succinct and to the point. Thank you!

I got mine (Radrunner) to commute 36 miles round trip back in 2019. The motorcycle style kick stand was very useful on the metro to avoid having to stand and hold my bike. Now my commute is 1.5 miles. It's a workhorse several years later. I use it to take my child to school and as a grocery getter. I even have taken the wife to and from the car repair shop since we only have one car. It is great biking pass the pump. 8000+ miles on it. Hardest thing for me is finding and changing the 20x4 fat tires. So difficult to mount.

Very very imformative ,thanks...what do you think of M2S bikes like the ST 24X4

I am glad you mention these bikes are not really bikes. The best term I guess is a moped. To solve some of the complaints you might have suggested the obvious solution-go to an honest-to-god bicycle shop. There are much lighter bikes. And…they have access to service technicians. I wouldn’t buy a Lectric or similar as there is no shop in my town that will service it for liability reasons. The lightest bike is probably a Specialized version (the Vado I think) that comes in at 30 pounds. Taking a “bicycle” on a walk/bike path is just crazy. For the others. Fun for you.

Brian, great video. Here is another suggestion for people trying to decide on what bike to buy. Pick a bike that uses very generic components. Especially when is comes to the batteries. Although the newer in the frame designs are really cool looking. Trying to find a generic replacement for them might be impossible as time goes by. Brakes, shifters, gearing are pretty much available everywhere, or exchangeable with something else. Motors and controllers are another issue although some brands like my Himiway have motors that are swappable with Bafang motors as it turns out. This is one of the main reasons I bought a Himiway Cruiser. 😄

I have a suggestion for people who want more power: buy an extra battery, when the first one goes dead/week, swap the batteries out. My suggestion for weight would be to get a 20 inch wheel bike that folds, making it easier to load/unload. Always remove the battery before lifting your bike, that makes a big difference. If the battery cannot be easily removed, don’t buy the bike. I own two E bikes, I did have a rad rover, but sold it when I moved. I had to get a bike rack for my car for the red rover, the other two bikes I still own are folding bikes. I carry one in my RV, the other one fits in the trunk of my Toyota Avalon. People who have never owned an E bike should rent/borrow an E bike that they are considering. Personally, I like to carry the bike in my vehicle, travel to where I want to go. When I want to explore a city neighborhood or rural area, I use my E bike. I get tremendous satisfaction and joy from my E bikes.

We live in the same state. I understand what you said about bike shops. But here in Greensboro there's one bike shop that I've used since I was in college, recycles. They've made changes they don't really sell a whole lot of bikes anymore they do a lot of repair work but the last time I went in with my commuter, light trail bike they were putting together any bike for a kid. Was a kid I mean somebody in college:-) the person there seems understand the market has changed. He's not locked into a brand anymore. I haven't talked to him since that time but I'm considering either electric bike, electric bike conversion, or less likely getting a fully-equipped and having him put it together. I think half of this I could do myself do myself or learn. But I'm at a point right now where I don't have a car. From watching videos the last 2 weeks I know what I don't need. I don't need a rear wheel driven EV. They're great for casual Riders. I ride aggressively. If I had a car I'd be looking for an old-school hard-ass trail bike. And even though your bike is extremely cold my funds are limited I can't afford to have a bike that driven both in the front and the rear. So from what I've seen a center driven electric bike would be the best choice for me. And if I don't convert my current bike that I can take it on a trailer beat the hell out of it. So if you have the time I'm looking for some input. I can't tell you over last 2 months how many times 40 MI on my bike Old school pedaling and it's not even a great bike! It's a Schwinn made in China. It's a decent bike but if I took it all the trail I would destroy it. And since it's my Transportation I'm not going to do that and if it was electric there's no way in hell I would do that. One you should consider support for people that electric bikes if they're a local bike manufacturer won't support them then maybe they can't pay you either a monthly or yearly fee kind of like Insurance. They're so responsible for the parts but you do the labor and they get your expertise. The other thing is you have any feedback on recycles in Greensboro I was impressed with the job they were doing on this Young Person's bike. But it was the first time I'd really seen an electric bicycle up close. And it was obvious the person didn't have a clue because when I ask them is it really hard to Pedal what you're not in electric mode and he just repeated some stuff he read online the one thing I know is that guy was going to put that bike together correctly! How much you charge I don't know it's none of my business. I can't afford a standing bike rack is not the right word put that piece of equipment you guys hook the bike up to to work on it. Also battery! I understand what you're saying about V and amperage and how to get around us regulations. But what about the possibility of a battery blowing during charge? I lost my home but before that happened I always had an expensive for my computers and other electronics. Would you recommend the same and would you recommend being careful on battery brand not just battery statistics. Like I said I don't want to have to throttle. I do want to have a throttle. I've seen some of those rear driven bikes that don't have throttles or have semi throttles. Not for me if I'm going to do this it's an alternative to having a moped. And then later on I can get a light truck but still I would use the bike as much as you evenly possible. I used to ride a motorcycle used to ride a motorcycle in New York-New Jersey area but at the end of the last decade I decided you know what it's time to get rid of that because people are looking at things in their hand rather than the road and that doesn't change that much with the bike except you're going slower. And now the people on the bikes are looking at their Electronics as well as the people in their cars:-) WTF? I've thrown a lot out yet at you and if you want to respond to any of it I would be grateful. I know I can probably go to certain parts of Greensboro and ride their particular electric bike. I know I have to put a deposit down and I had no concern with that because I can handle a bike. And I also need a bike that I can my groceries on. I have to go pretty far to get groceries and I hate using public transportation. I'm not stopped it just sucks in this town. If Greensboro was a more modernized Town it wouldn't be a problem Derek I hope to hear from you. Like I said One battery is enough for me and I don't want it in the rear what it in the rear of the bike. I don't want to have a fire where I live and have the battery blow up. As it happens with the best EV cars. That often but it happens. Although my ex went through to Toyota Priuses and never had a problem. So I realize this is rare realize this is rare but I want to avoid it and I would appreciate any input but anything I've mentioned. It's kind of hard to put together a document after watching a KZfaq video and dictating into the little box on my cell phone so cut me a little slack and if you have the time get back to me with whatever pertinent information you think of. Obviously you're not in this for the money. Looking at your collection on other videos I don't think money to this year for you but it is for a lot of us. So if you were to do something like pay me ex number of dollars a year and I'll be your bikes doctor. You would make a hell of a lot of money if you did a good job a good job and have no doubt you would. Well like a famous man said that's all I have to say about that:-) thank you for your time if you got through this

I really enjoyed this video. Great information. I'm suprised not many complaints about brakes.

Number #1 Price 😂

Ok I have a 2018 rad rover. How do you feel or what do you know about the death wobble with the steering and the front fork when you take your hands off the bars for 2 seconds to zip up your coat ?

Last point was #1 for me!! If you think about it from a bike shops perspective it makes sense for a lot of those other reasons, weight, size, goofy parts adapted, etc. I think people see an ebike like a motorcycle or car, where it is really more of a hobby and learning what to do yourself is best.

Having to fix it your self - that brings back memories. Forty years ago, fixing bicycles myself because the bike shop was too expensive. I did just about everything - fixing flats, new chain links, trueing rims, new brake lines and pads, etc. So I will take care of my e-bike myself. I have solar panels and a voltage booster to charge my battery when out on the range.

Very informative video thanks for your expertise. I'm in the market for an Ebike and this was very helpful. Your bike is really something. Good build.

I'm about 5'7 and I own a himiway cruiser and absolutely love it!! I must admit afte i purchased a suspension seat post it's a little bit more challenging to get on and off. With my stock seat it was better but I've had it for about a year and 2months I've grown comfortable riding my cruiser. Just gotta get the bike suitable for you thoroughly research. These bikes are huge!! It's like a motorcycle and a standard bike had a baby lol

This video is extremely helpful. I haven't bought my ebike yet and am glad I didn't until I look into it more. Thankyou

I agree with everything. Except for one thing. I want fat tires because Mitsubishi said it "Wider is Better". I feel even on a commute, it's safer because it gives more grip.

I suggested this video to 2 people today that saw my WIRED FREEDOM and want a ebike. You keep it clear and to the point.

Hands down the best e-bike channel on the net. One thing I can add from 10,000 + miles of ebike riding, look for either a two-battery bike or buy an extra battery for the bike you like. I find that most rides will only require one battery, but when I want to ride 80 + miles I put my extra battery on the back rack and switch it out before it too low. This way, most of your rides will be on a relatively light bike. Switching back and forth on batteries somehow seems to extend both their ride time and their life. Two 13 - 15 amp batteries work great for almost everything I've done and I've had quite a few 100-mile + days.

Great answers to all those questions. I bought a Beecool ebile in 2020 . When I opened it I noticed of all things the throttle control lever was Broken. 😡 But costumer service was great they mailed to me and I was able to install it myself in about an hour. The bike itself is everything they said it was range ,power and build quality 10. But yes it weighs 80lbs I atleat.

I appreciate the information in this video. My son has an e-bike already, with my mobility limitations I am shopping for an e-trike. I can tell that a lot of this information is great advise for someone shopping for an e-trike as well.

Awesome video & advice 👍🚴 many thanks & will definitely help us decide on our future e bike purchase. ⚾️

My personal opinion....if you can't wrench a bike or change electronics on a bike, don't buy direct. Even though most parts are plug and play, you still need to be able to take bikes components apart to get to them, and you wear out parts faster. I have learnt so much having a ebikes (Kristall). I look after my family and friends ebikes imported from China. I have changed chains, brake pads, peddle sensor, upgraded brake calipers, replaced controller, LCD screen, replaced spokes (we know hub moors are prone for doing that). I bought a spot welder and soldering station, as I am building a battery pack. The key thing is make sure before buying a bike the parts manufacturers are known, to enable you to buy parts (e.g controller and LCD brand). Thanks for the video.

Looking at an aventon level 2 and the aerial rider kepler. The kepler has a lot more power but is 10-12 lbs heavier and has a cadence sensor as opposed to the level 2 torque sensor. Any advice? I've also heard aerial rider has spotty customer service and they don't offer warranty options which aventon does

Always very helpful thanks

Bought a Overfly Hummer-S and it is built like a tank. Just took it to Turkey Mountain and hit some muddy trails. The 20x4 Kenda Champion tires grip really well. I do suggest if you get a ebike, either get one that comes with hydraulic brakes or upgrade the breaks to hydraulic. After running some trails I rode pavement trails for about 20 miles and had 1 bar to spare when I got back to my car. I am looking at upgrading the tubes to contain tannus puncture proof liners.

Looking to start riding again. This video will help when i finally decide which one to get.

Great video. I find every KZfaq video and every e-bike website is inadequate or will never answer the obvious question. How much power and torque is necessary to climb 2km of steep 30degrees uphill, without pedal assist, carrying a 40kg backpack, starting at 50% charge. On grassy to loose rubble terrain? An easy ride around the flat neighbourhood just won’t answer the standard needed for the uphill task. At the moment they just satisfy the speed thrills for regular streets, and they don’t seem suited to tackle offroad.

Finally subscribed I realized I watch your video content every time you release one so there it is haha

Hi, Great video very informative but i live in the UK and unfortunately we don’t have the selection you in the States have i don’t know if you are familiar with the UK or the EU market would you have an E-bike you could recommend, Thanks,

You are right on the mark on these complaints. I am 5' 11" with 31" pants inseam and my 26" X 4" ebike (Mokwheel Upland Plus) is just too damn tall! It's like you say...these 26" fat tire bikes are HUGE! Here's what I have done that has helped: 1) I wear boots with 3/4" heels, plus 1-1/4" lift shoe inserts (from Amazon) adding a total of 2" to my leg length, 2) I wear an athletic supporter to keep the "boys" high and away from that "evil" top bar, 3) I lowered the seat a bit lower than it should be for proper pedaling - not good for the knees, but helps keep control when stopped (understand, I didn't move the seat low enough for my feet to touch the ground at stops, just to shorten the distance from being seated to standing flat footed on the ground), 4) I treat left hand turns like a pedestrian would - that is, I stay in the right land and cross the cross street, then I stop and turn my bike to cross the street I was just riding down also in the right lane (I found the biggest problem with control of the bike is when I'm in that left turn lane and feeling pressured by the traffic in front and behind me). The size of the bike is really not that much of a problem when you're riding - it's when you're stopped. Number ONE: unless you are 6' 4" or so...GET A STEP-THROUGH BIKE, NOT A STEP-OVER (like my Mokwheel Upland Plus). Number TWO: IMHO, the ebike companies should IMMEDIATELY STOP making these 26" fat time bikes...at the very least, they should go down to a 24" wheel - I think that would make a huge difference! I'm definitely having buyer's remorse on my Mokwheel Upland Plus - trust me, this is a solid, powerful, well-built bike...but it is just TOO DAMN BIG, and the top bar of the step-over frame is just too high for comfortable control when I am stopped. I bought the step-over because it was $100 cheaper than the step-through version (Mokwheel Mesa Plus ST), but that would have been $100 WELL SPENT! Oh, one other thing: when I purchased the step-over model, I thought (like probably a lot of others) that I could just lean the bike over a bit to make it easy enough to throw a leg over. Well, I thought wrong - you have to lean it WAY OVER and it is STILL not easy to throw that leg over! And FYI, I'm 72, 5' 11", 220 pounds and in somewhat better shape than average for someone my age.

Lots of great advice here. Thanks for making this video!

Very good point at the end about local bike shops refusing to work on your ebike.

Subscribed and thumbs up. Great rambling video and comments. I hope I remember to watch again once I'm ready to buy.

Do you have a favorite Bike or one you think is the most fun to be on in terms of comfort, speed and control? I tried my first e-bike today, the Aventon Aventure fat tire and I am not really sold on Fat tire bikes after riding it, was not really that fun to ride. I then tried the Aventon Level and though it uses most of the same parts it was a lot more fun to ride with normal tires and felt like an actual bike.

How do you manage to control your custom-built AWD bike with two throttles? It seems to me there could be issues with one motor trying to run faster than the other leading to possible motor/control system overheating. Or, do the control systems somehow compensate for this? My wife and I both have non-electric bikes. I have a Cannondale Scalpel 29 Carbon 3 MTB and she has a Cannondale Adventure 1. We might be looking at purchasing ebikes in the near future.

Excellent video with much appreciated big boy dose of reality! Thanks