Father Kit Cool Gun Garth Posted March 12 Share Posted March 12 Ann & I are considering purchasing an E-Bike for each of us. We would primarily use it for exercise by pedaling same on various trips; however, the notion of a power source somewhere in the trip should we get tired or need to return more quickly than we could pedal sounds like a good option. Anyone have one? Anyone considered one and checked out the pros and cons? Any suggestions for brand? As always any input is appreciated. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShadowCatcher Posted March 12 Share Posted March 12 I have just converted my regular bicycle to an e-bike by adding a center mounted motor. I chose the Bafang 750 Watt motor and 48V battery. The battery typically is almost half the total cost. This gives me the most legal power for US street use (1 HP) and a maximum speed of about 20 mph. Mine is a petal torque assist, meaning it senses torque on the petals and boosts power as needed. There are other power assist schemes, so you need to make your own call based on personal preference and riding style. It also has a thumb throttle if I want to boost it more. So far I like it, and for some of the really rude hills we have in our area it makes it possible to ride from the house to town and back while staying on the paved trails rather than having to go out on the road. I haven't done an endurance test but it seems like I should be able to get 25-35 miles per charge, and with the battery off or dead it pedals like it always did. My wife has been a reluctant bicyclist until now due to some of these hills, but she wants one on her bike too, so it has that added benefit. By doing an add on my total cost including professional installation was about $1000. If you have a bike you really like it might make more sense to modify it, and the motor can always be removed and re-hosted on a different bike in the future. My conversion, chain guard has since been added and battery goes on the luggage rack; 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yul Lose Posted March 12 Share Posted March 12 My daughter over in Sedona got one a couple of years ago for Christmas and she loves it. Says she’s got nearly 2K miles on it, she rides a lot since her foot injury she got while running. Says she’s never ran out of battery power and some of the trails she rides over there are long and steep. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crooked River Pete, SASS 43485 Posted March 12 Share Posted March 12 My buddy had one for him and his wife, she never got the hang of it and he sold them. There are a lot of bike trails local, one shop rents them, you should see if that's the case near you, Rent before you buy. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Riot Posted March 12 Share Posted March 12 I have no info on these bikes except that I never considered one until last year during turkey season. I was heading back to my truck when I heard something and turned and there was a guy on an E-bike heading the same direction as I on the path. He stopped and we talked a bit. What impressed me was how quiet the bike was. It had fat tires with aggressive tread. What surprised me was the cost for this bike. I think he said he’d paid over 2 grand for it. I stead of hiking to his hunting site, he rode his bike. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yul Lose Posted March 12 Share Posted March 12 One thing to keep in mind is some locals don’t allow e-bikes on a lot of their bike trails and you’re forced to ride them on busy roadways and such, that’s the way it is out where we live anyway. Seems the bicycle purists don’t like e-bikes. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Riot Posted March 12 Share Posted March 12 1 hour ago, Yul Lose said: One thing to keep in mind is some locals don’t allow e-bikes on a lot of their bike trails and you’re forced to ride them on busy roadways and such, that’s the way it is out where we live anyway. Seems the bicycle purists don’t like e-bikes. Isn’t that some weird irony? Weird. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpo Posted March 12 Share Posted March 12 Makes perfect sense to me. It has a motor. That makes it a motorcycle. Does not matter whether the motor is internal combustion or electric. It's still a motorcycle. And motorcycles are not allowed on bike paths. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yul Lose Posted March 12 Share Posted March 12 49 minutes ago, Pat Riot said: Isn’t that some weird irony? Weird. They call it another form of elitism out here. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rip Snorter Posted March 12 Share Posted March 12 My best and oldest friend, in his late 70's is absolutely taken with them. He was a bicycle enthusiast as was I in younger days as well as a motorcycle enthusiast. He has been trying to talk me into one for years. Sold his other bicycles and all but one light motorcycle. Tempted, but have so far managed not to test ride one. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Father Kit Cool Gun Garth Posted March 12 Author Share Posted March 12 2 hours ago, Alpo said: Makes perfect sense to me. It has a motor. That makes it a motorcycle. Does not matter whether the motor is internal combustion or electric. It's still a motorcycle. And motorcycles are not allowed on bike paths. Some of what I've uncovered so far. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yul Lose Posted March 12 Share Posted March 12 A couple of people I shoot CAS with bought a couple of the e-trikes and he built gun carts for them. They worked out really well at EOT. They were camped away from the main EOT location and didn’t have to recharge them while they were at EOT. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Father Kit Cool Gun Garth Posted March 13 Author Share Posted March 13 @Yul Lose, You're awesome Pard! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeaconKC Posted March 13 Share Posted March 13 They look really great [I especially love those trike guncarts!]. However, there have been some brands that have caught fire while being charged. Check the reports on the ones you are looking at. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Gauntlet , SASS 60619 Posted March 13 Share Posted March 13 I have a 92-year-old friend who bought an e-trike a year ago and it has been a huge thing for him. In the good weather he has sometimes gone 20 miles per day around town. He's an unusual 90+ year-old. Very healthy; physically more like a 72-year-old. Anyway, it's been a big life-enhancer for him. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShadowCatcher Posted March 13 Share Posted March 13 REI has a pretty good intro to e-bike choices. https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/how-to-choose-an-ebike.html There are many web sites dedicated to telling you all you can stand to know, and more. My next bike will probably be a trike like the old fashioned market bikes. I met a guy who lives about 60 miles away who had just peddled into town on his trike with two batteries. He gets almost 100 miles range on total charge, and carries all his camping gear and food to go on a road trip for a few days. Sounds like a pleasant way to travel. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdeacon Joe Posted March 13 Share Posted March 13 13 minutes ago, Yul Lose said: A couple of people I shoot CAS with bought a couple of the e-trikes and he built gun carts for them. They worked out really well at EOT. They were camped away from the main EOT location and didn’t have to recharge them while they were at EOT. Would have been great to make those coffin shape, what with the name on the lid. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 Posted March 13 Share Posted March 13 4 hours ago, Yul Lose said: Seems the bicycle purists don’t like e-bikes. 3 hours ago, Pat Riot said: Isn’t that some weird irony? Weird. Hey, Kalifornia. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yul Lose Posted March 13 Share Posted March 13 The e-trikes fold also and they’re pretty easy for him to load in his truck. The 2 trikes and the gun carts and other camping gear fit in the back of his F150. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abilene Slim SASS 81783 Posted March 13 Share Posted March 13 Our area is lousy with them. Never seen anyone pedaling. They ride them at motor scooter speeds on sidewalks and paths. They aren’t bicycles, they’re mopeds, like the Hondas of 1960s. Never saw anyone pedal those either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpo Posted March 13 Share Posted March 13 Have they changed the rules when I wasn't looking, or have I been confused all these years? Neither that rifle nor that shotgun has the action open. I thought that was a requirement when guns were in gun carts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yul Lose Posted March 13 Share Posted March 13 29 minutes ago, Alpo said: Have they changed the rules when I wasn't looking, or have I been confused all these years? Neither that rifle nor that shotgun has the action open. I thought that was a requirement when guns were in gun carts. Not with the door closed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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