Anybody Own and Ride an e-bike?

[Grogu]

Looking for any practical advice from people who own and ride an electric bicycle. Riding tips, benefits, safety, general advice.

I had right hip replacement surgery last June and left knee replacement in December. Walking long distances gets the muscles and tissue around my artificial joints sore. I had to wear dress shoes Saturday, and the heels did a number on my knee. Riding a stationary bike in rehab helped me a ton for flexibility and strength, and I want to make riding a bike a part of my everyday routine.

I have a traditional Schwinn Crisscross bicycle, but it needs some tires and tubes and a tune-up, which I’ll eventually get. I also want an e-bike for the pedal assist so I get the range of motion without too much of the muscle strain until I’m good with the Schwinn again.

So I ordered a Lectric XPress 750 High-Step eBike. I also invested in a new helmet, a Bontrager Starvos Wavecel helmet. The bike won’t be delivered until next week, so that’s why I’m asking for tips and advice from any eBike veterans. Thanks in advance!

 

[RF667799]

Wind therapy is almost always good. Just my observation on motorized bikes in general.

 

[Loulit01]

Years ago I bought an inexpensive e-bike to see if I would like it.


I figured if I liked riding it, when it died I'd get a good one. It's still running. I ride it as much as I can... lots of fun. If I want to do some light shopping I wear my backpack. It had pedals and I pedal from dead stops and up hills to help the battery out. It's good for me.

 

[Grogu]

Years ago I bought an inexpensive e-bike to see if I would like it.
View attachment 67579908

I figured if I liked riding it, when it died I'd get a good one. It's still running. I ride it as much as I can... lots of fun. If I want to do some light shopping I wear my backpack. It had pedals and I pedal from dead stops and up hills to help the battery out. It's good for me.

Thanks for your input and experience. Much appreciated!

 

[Trumpetman]

Looking for any practical advice from people who own and ride an electric bicycle. Riding tips, benefits, safety, general advice.

I owned one for quite a while and own several regular bikes. My wife takes her ebike to commute to work but that's only a couple miles. They're lots of fun.

General advice is wear a helmet even if not required, I'm a big fan of rear view mirrors and lastly don't go too fast. If you take it on any multi-use trails realize that many people will likely not be welcoming so when there go slow. When people are walking, jogging and riding bikes on trails where they hope to avoid motorized vehicles and someone comes barreling along at 28 mph on a bike that weighs 75lbs or more, that is threatening to them. 10-15 mph might seem "boring" but that's the speed of most cyclists under human power.

I had right hip replacement surgery last June and left knee replacement in December. Walking long distances gets the muscles and tissue around my artificial joints sore. I had to wear dress shoes Saturday, and the heels did a number on my knee. Riding a stationary bike in rehab helped me a ton for flexibility and strength, and I want to make riding a bike a part of my everyday routine.

I have a traditional Schwinn Crisscross bicycle, but it needs some tires and tubes and a tune-up, which I’ll eventually get. I also want an e-bike for the pedal assist so I get the range of motion without too much of the muscle strain until I’m good with the Schwinn again.

So I ordered a Lectric XPress 750 High-Step eBike. I also invested in a new helmet, a Bontrager Starvos Wavecel helmet. The bike won’t be delivered until next week, so that’s why I’m asking for tips and advice from any eBike veterans. Thanks in advance!

Did you get the step-thru variation of the bike? I ask because you mentioned the hip replacement and swinging that leg high to get over the top tube may or may not work well for you.

XP4 750w Step-Thru White Long-Range Electric Bike | Lectric eBikes®

Shop the XP4 750 Step-Thru in Stratus White. Features a 750w motor, 17.5Ah battery, and a step-thru frame for easy long-range rides.

lectricebikes.com

Wife and I had bikes that looked like that and were foldable. Maybe they didn't look as "cool" but transporting these bikes to where you might want to ride them is sometimes an issue and I could simply fold them up and put them in the bed of my truck easily.



I don't know your age or level of mobility but that photo and review on the site echos my sentiments. The person loves the bike but wishes they had gotten the step-thru and they can easily transport it to the cool places they want to ride in their Rav4.

Enjoy your bike and I hope it and you get many miles in.

 

[Grogu]

I owned one for quite a while and own several regular bikes. My wife takes her ebike to commute to work but that's only a couple miles. They're lots of fun.

General advice is wear a helmet even if not required, I'm a big fan of rear view mirrors and lastly don't go too fast. If you take it on any multi-use trails realize that many people will likely not be welcoming so when there go slow. When people are walking, jogging and riding bikes on trails where they hope to avoid motorized vehicles and someone comes barreling along at 28 mph on a bike that weighs 75lbs or more, that is threatening to them. 10-15 mph might seem "boring" but that's the speed of most cyclists under human power.

Exactly the advice I was looking for. Thank you. I’m planning on keeping it on paved trails. Also, I’m not planning on changing the settings to override the maximum speed from 20 mph to 28 mph. Speed isn’t my purpose- pedal assist is, to keep my legs moving. Besides, I have no Evel Knievel tendencies in me at this age. I’m fairly certain one of my first accessories will be mirrors.

Did you get the step-thru variation of the bike? I ask because you mentioned the hip replacement and swinging that leg high to get over the top tube may or may not work well for you.

Nope, I got the high-step version. I can still get on my Schwinn Crisscross comfortably. Plus, my range of motion for my hip is fine- I just need the reps and working of the soft tissues to build up better strength. But I understand your point. The one thing the step-through model has is a unique set of adjustable handlebars. Oh well, no buyer’s remorse from me…

XP4 750w Step-Thru White Long-Range Electric Bike | Lectric eBikes®

Shop the XP4 750 Step-Thru in Stratus White. Features a 750w motor, 17.5Ah battery, and a step-thru frame for easy long-range rides.

lectricebikes.com

Wife and I had bikes that looked like that and were foldable. Maybe they didn't look as "cool" but transporting these bikes to where you might want to ride them is sometimes an issue and I could simply fold them up and put them in the bed of my truck easily.

View attachment 67579915

I don't know your age or level of mobility but that photo and review on the site echos my sentiments. The person loves the bike but wishes they had gotten the step-thru and they can easily transport it to the cool places they want to ride in their Rav4.

Enjoy your bike and I hope it and you get many miles in.

I have plenty of access nearby to many miles of paved trails, so transporting the bike wasn’t a priority. Perhaps I may have a different opinion if my wife ever decides to get one, but right now she’s still working and she is generally fearful of e-bikes. I will need to get her on it in due time to see if it’s something we both can do.

Thanks again for your valuable input and opinions on this subject. I appreciate it.

 

[Grogu]

The model I ordered is this one:

XPress 750 Electric Commuter Bike | High-Step | Lectric eBikes

Commute with ease on the top torque sensor eBike! The XPress 750 High-Step eBike combines effortless mounting with a timeless step-through frame. Shop now!

lectricebikes.com

 

[Threegoofs]

Got a Specialized Vado- wanted an ebike that had local shops and service, and the only real options at the time were Trek and Specialized.

It has three levels of pedal assist- I ride 90% of the time on the lowest one,reserving the others for riding directly into the wind (I’m on Lake Michigan, so it’s often a very brisk wind) or the occasional hill/ramp.

Super nice to have assist when you get too anmbitious and go too far- the way back is much easier! Be aware if you’re battery goes out, the bike weighs a ton and takes effort to ride.

Always wear a helmet and I wear padded gloves as my hands go numb after longer rides,.

All the bikes have weird stuff and quirks for each model- you can go to https://forums.electricbikereview.com/ and check out their forums and ask other owners for answers to specific questions- it’s really helpful.

 

[Taylor]

Seem to be very popular in my area. All ages, too.

 

[NWRatCon]

I have an ebike as well. A Rad. I was an avid cyclist for years but had to give up my best bike because 1) I injured both hands (nerves) from overpressure and 2) the ergonomics were tough on both hands and back. When deciding to get a comfort- style bike, I went for an ebike and don't regret it. First, it lets me warm up before putting pressure on my knees (another injury, there). I live in the middle of a hill. Second, it avoids too much stress on them on hills. I can turn off the assist on flats or go all electric if I need to rest.

Cons: they're heavy. Getting it on a rack or carrying it is difficult. Kickstand is a must. Store it where you can access it without l lifting it. I actually injured my elbow lifting it over my head, thinking I'm younger than I am. Be aware of that weight, especially when cruising downhill.

Don't forget to charge it. Mine rarely needs it, but I'm limited to relatively short distances at present. You don't want to be out for a ride and run out of juice. Riding it without pedal-assist is much harder than a regular bike, especially on hills. I went from 18 speeds to one. I should have gone for more speeds.

The best part, though, is it got me back on the road. Wind therapy is real.

 

[Grogu]

Got a Specialized Vado- wanted an ebike that had local shops and service, and the only real options at the time were Trek and Specialized.

It has three levels of pedal assist- I ride 90% of the time on the lowest one,reserving the others for riding directly into the wind (I’m on Lake Michigan, so it’s often a very brisk wind) or the occasional hill/ramp.

Super nice to have assist when you get too anmbitious and go too far- the way back is much easier! Be aware if you’re battery goes out, the bike weighs a ton and takes effort to ride.

Always wear a helmet and I wear padded gloves as my hands go numb after longer rides,.

All the bikes have weird stuff and quirks for each model- you can go to https://forums.electricbikereview.com/ and check out their forums and ask other owners for answers to specific questions- it’s really helpful.

Thank you for the great advice. I never thought of using gloves- that’s a good one. Especially riding every day. I’ve already got my new helmet.

My intention is to use the low settings on the pedal assist. I imagine I’ll figure out pretty quickly which settings to use and how far I can typically ride before the battery gets too low. I contemplated getting a second battery, but it’s going to take some time (probably next year) before I ride far enough to possibly need one.

Also, thanks for the link. I’ll dig into that this evening. Oh, and I thought long and hard about buying local for service. But the local shops carry premium e-bikes at prices I didn’t want to pay. Even though you generally get what you pay for, I’ve been intrigued by Lectric for some time, and the money won’t hurt if it fails down the road. I don’t think my wife would have been so receptive of my purchase if it had been a $3,000 or $4,000 Trek.

 

[j brown's body]

I like the ebike, whuch I bought fir my knees. I can cover a lot of miles, which many people I ride with like to do, but I can ride casually, which I like to do.

Since it propels you forward, take note of stopping. One could fly over the handle bars.

 

[Grogu]

I have an ebike as well. A Rad. I was an avid cyclist for years but had to give up my best bike because 1) I injured both hands (nerves) from overpressure and 2) the ergonomics were tough on both hands and back. When deciding to get a comfort- style bike, I went for an ebike and don't regret it. First, it lets me warm up before putting pressure on my knees (another injury, there). I live in the middle of a hill. Second, it avoids too much stress on them on hills. I can turn off the assist on flats or go all electric if I need to rest.

Cons: they're heavy. Getting it on a rack or carrying it is difficult. Kickstand is a must. Store it where you can access it without l lifting it. I actually injured my elbow lifting it over my head, thinking I'm younger than I am. Be aware of that weight, especially when cruising downhill.

Don't forget to charge it. Mine rarely needs it, but I'm limited to relatively short distances at present. You don't want to be out for a ride and run out of juice. Riding it without pedal-assist is much harder than a regular bike, especially on hills. I went from 18 speeds to one. I should have gone for more speeds.

The best part, though, is it got me back on the road. Wind therapy is real.

I appreciate you passing along your wise experiences. Your reasons for owning one are similar to mine- less stress on my cobalt-chromium and polyethylene prosthetics, but still getting the movement.

I won’t be lifting it. Like hardly ever. I believe it’s about 62 pounds with the battery. I’ll probably store it in the basement in the winter, but I can take off the wheels and battery to help out with that. I’m decent sized, so I’ll keep in mind your point about the weight and traveling downhill. Mine comes with a kickstand, and it will be in my garage, but not hanging.

My e-bike will have a 7-speed shifter to go along with the hub motor and torque converter, so I anticipate a pretty smooth experience once I get used to it.

Thanks again for your valuable input. I appreciate it.

 

[ModernDiogenes]

Looking for any practical advice from people who own and ride an electric bicycle. Riding tips, benefits, safety, general advice.

I had right hip replacement surgery last June and left knee replacement in December. Walking long distances gets the muscles and tissue around my artificial joints sore. I had to wear dress shoes Saturday, and the heels did a number on my knee. Riding a stationary bike in rehab helped me a ton for flexibility and strength, and I want to make riding a bike a part of my everyday routine.

I have a traditional Schwinn Crisscross bicycle, but it needs some tires and tubes and a tune-up, which I’ll eventually get. I also want an e-bike for the pedal assist so I get the range of motion without too much of the muscle strain until I’m good with the Schwinn again.

So I ordered a Lectric XPress 750 High-Step eBike. I also invested in a new helmet, a Bontrager Starvos Wavecel helmet. The bike won’t be delivered until next week, so that’s why I’m asking for tips and advice from any eBike veterans. Thanks in advance!

Riding an e-bike isn’t like riding a regular bike. The pedals are there for backup if the power dips. You couldn’t likely pedal fast enough to assist with the actual transport BUT

Byar Volta is a shaft-driven e-bike that might never need charging

Test-riding Byar’s chainless electric bike with all-in-one hub motor and integrated lock

www.theverge.com

There is a new e-bike that claims that back peddling has been engaged on this bike so it recharges the battery while you’re moving forward. They claim you can vastly extend the distance this bike can go with this recharging while moving.

It’s been around for a bit and I have no idea if it’s legit.

 

[Grogu]

I like the ebike, whuch I bought fir my knees. I can cover a lot of miles, which many people I ride with like to do, but I can ride casually, which I like to do.

Since it propels you forward, take note of stopping. One could fly over the handle bars.

Will do. When I was buying my new helmet, the salesman and I got into talking about head protection. I had the notion that going over the handlebars would be a more likely outcome of an accident, but he said actually the most common type of accident is going over sideways and tumbling.

Anyway, disc brakes will be new to me, so I’m really going to have to learn and work on braking without flying over the handlebars. Thanks for your advice.

 

[RF667799]

I have a question. Do these bikes have a variable speed control, or is the current just switched on and off to the electric drive motor like a kid's Powerwheel toy?

 

[Grogu]

Riding an e-bike isn’t like riding a regular bike. The pedals are there for backup if the power dips. You couldn’t likely pedal fast enough to assist with the actual transport BUT

Byar Volta is a shaft-driven e-bike that might never need charging

Test-riding Byar’s chainless electric bike with all-in-one hub motor and integrated lock

www.theverge.com

There is a new e-bike that claims that back peddling has been engaged on this bike so it recharges the battery while you’re moving forward. They claim you can vastly extend the distance this bike can go with this recharging while moving.

I checked out many YouTube videos of reviewers with the exact e-bike I’m getting. In a couple of them, the guys reprogrammed the e-bike to get it to the 28 mph level. The pedal assist is the only way to get to that speed. Supposedly, you can’t get there with the motor throttle only.

Not that I’ll ever do that, nor is my plan to ride with the throttle only. Naturally, that drains the battery much quicker. I’m in it for the motion of my hips and knees (and ankles) through pedaling, so with a 7-speed shifter/derailleur along with a 1-5 pedal assist adjustment range, I should be able to find a perfect combination.

Thanks for your post. As technology changes, perhaps all e-bikes will be able to “charge on the go” in the future. That would be quite a feature.

 

[Threegoofs]

Riding an e-bike isn’t like riding a regular bike. The pedals are there for backup if the power dips. You couldn’t likely pedal fast enough to assist with the actual transport BUT

No - most ebikes have pedal assist - not just a throttle. Thats a different type of ebike, a type 2 (full throttle - 20mph max) or 3 (full throttle, 28 mph max) , and those are often resticted in some areas, like bike paths.

The most common ebikes only have pedal assist - meaning they just make pedaling easier, but on the lowest setting, its mostly pedal power that propels you.

 

[longview]

I built an electric Trik about 10 years ago, and found out that a 1000 watt motor on a trik is SCARY to ride.
Even with the speed limited to 19 mph, it seemed too fast.
I have since moved the wheel and controls to a tandem bike, that seems safer at the maximum speed,
I also upgraded the battery to a 14 AH lithium from the older 20 AH lead acid in the trik, smaller and lighter.
I am currently looking at adding a sidecar to support a solar roof made with flexible solar panels.
The bike is fun to ride!