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Electric Bikes.....Thoughts?
Last Post 12/10/2014 10:04 AM by Mike Shea. 15 Replies.
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Gonzo Cyclist
Posts:568
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| 12/07/2014 11:30 PM |
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There's been a huge surge in production of these the last couple of years, I'm wondering what are your opinions, or views on these?
In my experience with a few of these is, (we sell the Stromers) the people who buy electric bikes, are usually casual cyclists at best, or some older folks who are kind of sketchy on a bike anyway. If any of you have ridden any of these, they can go way too fast for most people's good, they are prolly as fast, or faster than a scooter. The Stromer can move, I have gotten myself in trouble on one of these messing around on a test ride, it's like riding a bike with a turbo boost with each pedal stroke, and some of these just have a throttle, even more dangerous.
IMHO, these are motorized vehicles and don't belong on a paved trail, and now people are making dual suspension MTB's, which are pretty high end. I have not seen these on any of the trails here, but I imagine it's only a matter of time. I just read that in Moab, they have banned these from their trails, which I think is good.
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 12/08/2014 09:30 AM |
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| How much power do these systems provide? |
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Master50
Posts:340
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| 12/08/2014 10:08 AM |
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I see a lot that don't comply with the rules here.
Max 500 watts and must pedal to make the system work. I have seen many electric scooters that have had the pedals removed. they should not work but they do. In general if I can't keep up to them I don't like them. 
Seen some mods too, like 2 wheel drive or bigger motors. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 12/08/2014 10:32 AM |
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I rode the Specialized Turbo a few months ago....WOW. Massive boost in speed when pedaling. It is only power-assist and not a throttle-style bike, so it avoids any regulations for mopeds, etc.
Thing is definitely a blast to ride, but can easily see where it may get some people over their hedas, very quickly. Somehwere there is a video of some Aussie guy setting PR's on a bunch of Strava segments, but I couldn't find it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSS_-dsNuYU#t=24 |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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ChinookPass
Posts:809
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| 12/08/2014 11:26 AM |
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If they are designed to be durable, they could transform transportation in cities because they remove many of the barriers that people cite for why they don't use bikes for transportation. I'm all for 'em.
I could see my wife getting one so we can do some bike touring. It would even out our huge disparity in abilities.
I heard about the Moab ban and guess that with mtn bikes there is the issue of impact on the land. If these are approaching the power of motorcycles, it is about protecting the environment and compatibility with other users. On paved bike paths,there's already a mix of speeds, so I haven't really seen an additional issue and it's a little eye-opening to be passed by another silent (or nearly silent) trail-user. But at some point, there is a speed where they are not appropriate for MUPs, probably around 25mph in open areas and 15mph in congested zones would be my suggestion. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 12/08/2014 11:47 AM |
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They come in all sorts of variations.
I regularly get passed by a guy who has a high-powered one; on the flat he's about double my speed and barely pedaling. Don't talk about uphill, grrrr. But it beats the guy who put a 2-stroke engine on his MTB, he's fast and stinks.
My parents e-assist bike is more like a regular bike and its assist goes down to zero if you go faster than 27kph. Pretty smart and sensible setup. |
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Keith Richards
Posts:781
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| 12/08/2014 12:45 PM |
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As soon as they can make them a touch more pleasing to the eye adn the $$$ comes down, I think they will catch on.
I would love one for my commute of 13mi on days when I don't want to wear cycling clothes and get all athletic like on the bike. |
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It is his word versus ours. We like our word. We like where we stand and we like our credibility."--Lance Armstrong. |
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jacques_anquetil
Posts:245
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| 12/08/2014 02:35 PM |
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i had a hoot a few weeks back drafting a dude going 35km/hr down the bike path. probably not the best thing to do, but he was fairly respectful of the other path users, despite nearly doubling the official posted path speed limit. that said, get a bunch of these things out there and mix up a bunch of yahoos and it'll probably result in complete bike path anarchy.
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THE SKINNY
Posts:506
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| 12/08/2014 03:37 PM |
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| i see a place for them for like postmen or pedicabs, maybe cargo bikes and for people with bad knees. however walmart bill probably have an orange county chopper version with a 50mph top end for $199 that will ruin the whole vibe. there's a guy in the neighborhood with an electric scooter that seems a lot more functional. |
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| How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. |
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Gonzo Cyclist
Posts:568
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| 12/08/2014 07:02 PM |
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yeah, I can see where they have a place, my courier buddy hauling 250lbs on his trailer, etc.....
Not sure LSD, but some of these things can cook, 25hp maybe?
Check out the Stromers Keith, very nice, best looking version I have seen. http://www.stromerbike.com/en/us
CK, We have this 15 mile climb to the ski area here, 7K elevation to over 10K, I want to take one of these Stromers, and put on a pair of cut off jeans, overalls maybe, and have a cigarette in one hand and a beer in the other, pass the dudes climbing, and video them just to see what their expressions are ;-) |
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longslowdistance
Posts:2881
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| 12/08/2014 08:15 PM |
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GC, a photo will be needed!'
Master 50, how do they do 2 wheel drive?
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Master50
Posts:340
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| 12/08/2014 08:34 PM |
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Posted By Frederick Jones on 12/08/2014 08:15 PM
GC, a photo will be needed!'
Master 50, how do they do 2 wheel drive?
Power assist on the rear wheel with a Copenhagen wheel in front.
I remember a gear cable driven 2 wheel drive bicycle. great traction but weight 20 pounds. |
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Master50
Posts:340
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| 12/08/2014 08:37 PM |
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Posted By Kenny Gonzales on 12/08/2014 07:02 PM
yeah, I can see where they have a place, my courier buddy hauling 250lbs on his trailer, etc.....
Not sure LSD, but some of these things can cook, 25hp maybe?
Check out the Stromers Keith, very nice, best looking version I have seen. http://www.stromerbike.com/en/us
CK, We have this 15 mile climb to the ski area here, 7K elevation to over 10K, I want to take one of these Stromers, and put on a pair of cut off jeans, overalls maybe, and have a cigarette in one hand and a beer in the other, pass the dudes climbing, and video them just to see what their expressions are ;-)
25 hp? you mean for a cargo Bike? No bicycle has a power level above 2 kw never mind 25 HP. this would be a motorbike. The law here limits bicycle to 2/3 HP or 500 watts. More power than that and it is not a bicycle but a motorcycle of some type. No bike lanes and no bike paths. |
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Gonzo Cyclist
Posts:568
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| 12/09/2014 05:47 PM |
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I think the two wheel drive applies to 3 wheelers, which is another scenario, somebody can hardly walk, and then they get in their mind, well, I can do a 3 wheeler electric bike, and then they think they should cost about 300 bucks....
don't have exact numbers master, but is well over 2/3hp, easily. some of these things will roll 25 to 30mph like nothing, it's gotta be way more than 2/3hp
Hope this works LSD, can't remember exactly how to post pics to this site
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Master50
Posts:340
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| 12/10/2014 09:57 AM |
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Posted By Mike Shea on 12/08/2014 08:34 PM
Posted By Frederick Jones on 12/08/2014 08:15 PM
GC, a photo will be needed!'
Master 50, how do they do 2 wheel drive?
Power assist on the rear wheel with a Copenhagen wheel in front.
I remember a gear cable driven 2 wheel drive bicycle. great traction but weight 20 pounds just for the drive parts
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