I don't fully agree with the "they're all the same, buy the cheapest one" mindset for one reason: They're all cheap. Let me explain, because I don't want to sound like you need an expensive ebike to get outside, because on the contrary, I am of the mindset that *anything* that gets you active and outside is a great buy. Rather, I'd say do your research and find a couple brands that have good *customer service* and *then* pick whatever is cheapest or looks the best or w/e fits your personal criteria. The reason behind that is, if the bike is cheap and something breaks, you're going to either be left on your own, paying out of pocket to fix whatever broke, *or* the company is going to do their best to help to sort it out. So yes, they're essentially all the same, but I'd still pick a name with people backing it over a one-person drop-shipped no-name company.
I fully agree with this, having worked at a bike shop in the past, customers have come in with these types of e bikes and an electrical problem. The shop had a policy that we don't touch them unless its something that we can actually run a diagnostic on, e.g shimano, bosch. Alot of these customers couldn't contact the manufacturer because the manufacturers were either unresponsive or didn't seem to exist anymore.
That's why you buy the really inexpensive cheap one, not the $2,000 cheap one. If you buy a Walmart Hyper E ebike for $600 + $60 3-year protection plan, you've got solid protection on your purchase for 3 years, and you haven't paid a ton for some company's marketing efforts. I interpreted this as the point of the video: don't overpay for cheap bikes. That said, I fully agree that if someone is seriously considering an ebike, the buy-once-cry-once approach is best. You'll be much happier with the purchase.
@@bradleyland Thanks for this, I have been wanting an E-Bike but I don't make a lot and can't afford anything fancy, and I also immediately think "What happens if it breaks?"
I was thinking same. It's almost never the actual hardware. I don't care if it's a car, a computer, a phone, or an e-bike. It's always the same... It's the back-end support.
I've had 3 E-bikes over the last few years. The first one was just under $1500 It was decent enough for gravel roads, pavement or light trails and fun rides. The next two cost between $2200 & $2400 and there is quite a difference in them and the fifteen hundred dollar bike. Overall build quality is better with nicely finished welded joints and solid feeling frames. Here are some things that are lacking in the cheaper bike that most bikes over two thousand dollars include. *hydraulic brakes - - much better stopping power for heavy e-bikes, with less effort. *high quality name brand lithium cells --Panasonic or Samsung *name brand high quality tires *higher quality digital display with a wider range of information and brighter screen. *a warranty that you can actually use, especially if bought at a bike shop. I'm retired and ride my bike at least 8 or 10 miles a day, weather permitting. If you're going to ride a lot you might save enough money on gas to pay for the bike.
Thanks for your comment. I’m retired and have a very short radius of travel for things like basic essentials. These comments are helping me very much as I try to decide what I’m going to get.
Velowave Ranger has been excellent so far. I like the small screen, hydraulic brakes, large battery, thumb throttle. Best value of the 'cheap' bikes if you ask me.
this is what everyone says on every review for all these bikes. yeah they work fine for now but will break down the line and local shops wont service them
I looked at E-bikes for years. My bike shop only carried $5-6k bikes and up! Absolutely would not even think about it! Not when I buy good used trucks for less than that for my work. I finally researched online and settled on a Magicycle. Very solid build, great customer service. A fantastic bike for my mixed riding of pavement, dirt roads, light trail riding, hills, etc. At the time, less than $1500. I love this bike and have a blast. I understand the need for the mid drive high end bikes for serious MTN bikers. But at 67 years old, that is not my game. Bottom line, I have a blast and get out riding much more than I used to. And I get 35-40 miles on a charge! I live in foothills of Teton Valley, and anywhere I go from my house ends up taking me 5-6 miles downhill. My Magicycle helps me to get back home without killing myself. So, bottom line, I disagree with most of your points. You are the guy at the bike shop who holds his nose up at you, when you can't consider his $5k and up bikes. Biking can be a real elitist game. The majority of riders want some fun, and good transportation without bankrupting themselves.
Fully agree that not everyone can, needs or wants an expensive (E)bike and the use benefits and fun can be had with as well with good quality less expensive brands.
Like all technology, e-bikes are constantly and incrementally evolving. What would have been considered king of the hill 2 years ago, is eclipsed by much more affordable bikes. Tomorrow my new bike arrives. It has two 1000W motors, a 48v 22.4 Amp-hour (AH) battery pack (Panasonic Batteries), Hydraulic brakes, front and rear suspension. It has a 35 MPH speed plus cruise control. The ability to switch off the front wheel to save on battery power. It also has a color LCD display, a mount for a phone with charger, twist throttle, etc.... You are correct there are multiple companies all producing the same bike (with cosmetic differences or changed-up features). With taxes, shipping and a two-year extended warranty, it was 1710 out the door. I did pony up to buy another 48v 22.4 AH battery. I will either use it to swap out the existing battery or convert it to dual battery. I remember what the price was like on far less capable bikes just two years ago. The landscape has definitely changed over the past few years. I can't wait to see where it goes next.
I also do not fully agree, but he is also correct in the same sentence. with this video, everyone should become educated, you should know your components, know your variations in battery sizes and requirements for your needs. Do not buy the cheapest because they are not all the same, although very very similar. It's a fine line but educating yourself you will learn that line.
I agree most of the "Unknown" brand ebikes are very similar in quality, as they all use similar components, motors, batteries, and the specs are often very similar. But the more notable brands offer customer support, and provide upgraded components where they matter most, instead of blinging the bikes out with cheap add-ons. There is a wide disparity in quality among bikes in the $1,500-$2,000 sweet spot that most first-timers are looking to spend. In my painstaking research, I can absolutely say an Aventon Aventure is not a clone of an Ariel Rider Kepler , an Addmotor M-560, a RadRover 6, or a Himiway Zebra, even though the prices are all around $1,800. Do your research and watch lots of videos. Also, you should decide what is most important to you. If you ride a lot of hills, you will want a more powerful motor (750W is the most powerful "bike trail legal" motor in most states). If you want to go on long rides, battery capacity will top your list (Volts X AmpHours = capacity) and you can easily get by with a 500W motor if the rides are flat. If you want to haul things (groceries, recreational gear, etc.) you need a beefy frame and big cargo racks/baskets. Every bike maximizes certain features while making concessions in other areas to hit their price point. Therefore, each bike in this price range offers slightly different combinations of motor, battery, component quality, and utility. I want to be able to enjoy half-day rides and full-day rides in as many scenic locations as possible, covering 20-50 miles in a trip. Chicago's lakeshore bike trails, The Il Prairie Path along the Fox River, and trips all over the midwest and beyond (such as while on vacation). Ebikes can give you access to so many things you cannot see by car of if you are walking. Riding a traditional bike can be difficult when it is hilly, hot, and humid. The ebike is the ultimate equalizer against these issues, and can take you almost anywhere. Break as much or as little of a sweat as you wish. Personally, my favorite ebike in this price range is the Ariel Rider Kepler because it has the most powerful motor (1000 Watts nominal, 1,800 Watts peak) and a massive battery (52V20Wh). Unfortunately, the motor exceeds 750 Watts, so it will not be legal on most public bike trails, so the risk of not having access to many areas is real. Therefore, my top picks are between the Addmotor M-560 and the Himiway Zebra. They have the ideal combination of power, battery life, and utility I seek. The choice comes down to which one looks better and is more comfortable fit for my body, to ride 30 miles or more on a trip though scenic areas.
The two most basic types of e-bikes are those with 20” wheels and those with 26” wheels. After that, it is full or front only suspension. (almost all 20” bikes are full suspension but more for comfort than performance). Then there is rear or two wheel drive. The wattage of the motor, amps of the controller and voltage of the battery are the next series of considerations to make based on interests in acceleration torque, top speed and range.
Indeed. But when buying these bikes online , It's rare they tell you what power the controller is rated. And it's common they don't even tell you what true rating the motor is (although that's getting less common now). You''ll basically get "1000w ebike" and a 1000w sticker on the motor, But no doubt that motor is simply a 500w bafang or sutton (bafang sister company), and no clue what the bike is pumping out at the normal or peak end. Asking the vendor is always an option, And hope they just don't give you the same generic answer "it's 1000w sir" lol
Thank you 😊. You have gained a subscriber for not being yet another "show girl" reciting the specs off the box. I was recently asking the same question 😂.
It's an oversimplification, and it sounds like you come in contact with a lot of e-bikes, without actually riding them much. Even among similar bikes there are significant differences, and among different "brands" there are huge differences in support. The Trek recommendation is odd. On the group rides I do around the country, I'm careful not to be behind them on hills. Yes, it's a brand name and they have a mid drive, but a good hub drive can outperform them easily. By the way, the responsiveness of mid drives is not due to the motor at all, but rather to the pedal assist sensor type and the controller programming.
i've been pretty much house bound for years due to schizophrenia / bipolar / autism.. i bought a sheng mi lo mx05 fat bike.. and it's actually making me leave my house, it's fast, and has a half throttle, it's stoopid fun :D when i used to have to actually put a lot of effort in to riding a normal bike.. not fun.. i've got two hernias, a groin hernia and an abdominal hernia.. they are huge.. so putting 0% effort in to riding.. it's a life saver
bought a near new-2023 edikani 48volt e-bike,,,5 modes,twin discs,,,does near 30mph,,,battery life is phenonanel,,love it,,have about 500 into it,,,basically all i will need
Mountain bike snob is coping with other people enjoying ebikes. And yes, even off road, the experience is fantastic. There is a big difference between brands.
You just gotta do some good research and check the reviews before buying one. I recently bought one called the Lankeleisi mg740, it looks very similar to the fat bikes but has 2000w from having front and rear motors, easily reaches 38mph, long battery life (can go full throttle for atleast 25 miles, 100 miles if just using pedal assist) and was a similar price (1700). Best purchade ive made so far
Great video Josh, I just wanted to say that Aventon is a legit brand, they have been around for longer than a few years, and I hear their bikes are pretty decent! Also, could *cough* Giant *cough* be one of those specific Taiwanese bike frame brands? My relatives live in Taiwan and we usually go there once a year (except during the pandemic), so I might have to ask about that! Edit: Oh, and Lectric is also a known, legit company, they’re known for their pretty affordable folding fat tire E-bikes!
I have an Aventon Level and really like it... but while not from one of those same few companies its a similar story. Aventon makes their own frames and the quality you get in that frame is very very good (its why I bought one knowing and owning some high end bikes), but the rest is off the shelf parts from other manufacturers. the fit an finish is better and their support is head and shoulders over some ship to consumer products, and the customer support is better than most from what i read online (no issues with min in 8 months and 3k miles)
@@g00fysmiley Aventon also has hundreds of dealers across the country where you can go and test ride the bike before you buy. (Plus you have a repair shop handy if you need it.)
@@mikebronicki8264 Have they upped their customer service? Because a few months ago their own website was riddled with bad reviews for their CS. It immediately turned me off from Aventon and haven't been back there since. Even taking into consideration the tendency to write a bad review when something goes wrong and no review when all is right, I found it alarming.
@@charlienyc1 I haven't any issues with our 2 Solteras, mine has over 200 miles and the wife's is still under 100. But if anything came up I would just call the dealer I bought them from. He operates a mobile service so I wouldn't even have to take them in. You can't beat in person service. Oh and by the way, the dealers assemble and tune them for free.
Gonna be honest…I do get envious when I see ‘reviewers’ being GIVEN free e-bikes when I…like most folk…have to save hard and think even harder about forking out near 2 Grand on a bicycle. I know why they do it…advertising, but it does grind my gears! I bought Cyrusher XF800 750w (£2200) it was great, but I found it hard to get my stumpy legs over saddle..and in UK the motor was illegal which can get you a fine in the thousands and licence points…So having sold it, I now purchased a Cyrusher Kommoda step through…with a motor which purports to be UK legal spec (we can’t have any kind of hand throttle either…motor has to work only when peddled😠). Cyrusher do seem well built machines, but yeah…they have that ubiquitous chunky rear hub motor with the ‘standard’ 7 speed Shimano Tourney gears….The Kommoda is now just £1400. Prices fluctuate with the Yen!
Your right big mark up , if you can wait for a deal like the pre Black Friday deals like the rad rover 6 for 1299.00 is a great deal on a1900.00 bike, the most recent sale they had on them were 1499.00 during Black Friday, hopefully they have more good deals coming
As I am in the market for an eBike myself, I see thousands upon thousands of happy owners of 'cheap' ebikes who have traveled thousands of miles on them. They are not all the same. Some have hydraulic brakes/suspension; others don't. Display quality and sizes vary greatly. Features, weight, Pedal-assist capabilities, Motor sizes, speed, and range all vary. Reviews are all different. Some have much higher satisfaction ratings than others. Expensive eBikes in retail stores have some of the same problems. They get their parts from Taiwan, China, etc.. I would not be surprised if the drop-ship eBikes don't have greater variety in quality, consistency, and materials than the retail store ebikes due to the sheer volume of manufacturers/marketers. This is not like the old days when you bought a Schwinn bike at a store and could depend on replacement parts. The technology is always changing and thus so are the electronic components, etc.. The risk is just as great at a retail store of having something break and then not being able to get a replacement for it right away. Technology is not stagnant. There will always be newer, better models that use more advanced batteries and electronic components. Bottom line: eBikes give you more bang for the buck and are a much safer investment.
Congrats, you've just described most manufactured products....people see others making money and everyone jumps in. There are always variables just like in cars....trim levels with relative upgrades which cost a little more.
I am an e-bike expert and I have to say that all e-bikes are not built the same and it does matter what bike you buy. I have seen higher quality Taiwanese bikes and I have seen lower quality Taiwanese bikes and if you buy the wrong one you could end up with a bike with inadequate wiring inadequate battery cells. I hate to put this guy on blast but don't follow his instructions It could cost you money and it could get you hurt.
You've got a lot to learn too bud: FYI, hub motors are just fine, all depends on individual preferences.. Do your own research folks, don't rely on rando you-tuber dudes advice.
I've done business with overseas manufacturers. The shipping often costs twice the price of the product. That's with small items. The shipping for large items is even higher. No one is getting rich at this point.
I got a cheap Chinese bike for about $1000 and it has a 1000 w rear and 750 w front motor. The thing is almost the same mountain bike as in the video - but better. This cheapy cost me almost half of what others cost. The parts are all pretty much the same. Go for a bike that has quality parts and not a big commercial brand that wants to reach in your pockets.
If in the market for these rear hub bikes, Look for one with the Bafang G62 motor. It is an upgrade to the G60. You can tell by the physical appearance
There's nothing wrong with hub-drives, but Chineese bicycles that come with them simply are substandard in most cases. I converted a Milwaukee Gravel bike with a 350w e-hub and its a rocket. It can't compete in the chunk, and there's a lot of that in Spain so I repeated that on my new Made in China Trek Marlin 4 - that now has dropbars and SRAM X0 goodies with Rival shifters. Using an existing groupset, under $1000, not including the Canyon S15 carbon seatpost and SMP Hybrid saddle.
I was just looking on Alibaba and found an exact replica of the Ariel Rider Grizzly V2 for $1,200! compared to $3,299 from AR. That's the biggest secret about ebikes.
Proof of the “they’re all the same” argument: anytime I comparison shop for an e-bike, I get retargeted on Facebook ads from dozens of other e-bike companies that I didn’t consult. They’re not only sharing manufacturing, they’re sharing ad data.
Best Review I have ever seen and I have never seen your video. Everything you said was truthful and I love it. Am subscribing you and keep on doing good work sir.😊
I’ve had a “Rich-bit 1000w 48v” bike for 2 years now. I must have seen the exact same bike with a totally different name 10 times! But you know what I don’t really care. The bike has not let me down, It’s good for at least 20 miles, I use it daily but only charge it once a week, I’ve never done a like of maintenance on it aside from topping the air in the tires up and it’s still like new order the dirt. So I couldn’t disagree more. As for them all being the same unless you’re an professional cyclist you are looking for differences like size, weight, cargo capacity, riding position, general looks.
I own a samebike lo26 mach 2. It's a great bike. Only thing a dont like which I replaced is tyres tyres are crap. Got a puncture on my first day out on it..also no cable connector on rear hub to remove wheel from frame so you have to do the work on wheel from side
I had my old mountain bike electrified. They use decent components, I'm used to it, and it's getting me up hills that at 74 I have been able to do for a little while now.
Spend $600 for a totguard. It’s a fun starter and as someone who’s 300lbs, the torque still pulls me quickly and the bike is well made. Don’t drop thousands, as the video poster mentioned. It’s pointless and a waste.
Definitely get one with a front suspension because they are heavy and the bumps will jar you even with a suspension. So yeah pay a bit more or you will pine or buy an after market front fork which is work and more money
And just how different is this from the regular mountain bike market? Most all low to mid range models from the “name brand” manufacturers are made by Giant. As you say, a few tweaks to the frames, a little different component mix and that’s all folks!
I bought these bikes last November and it has been a total nightmare. Customer service has been responsive in the fact that they have given me a couple of laundry lists of things to do in order to fix the problem I have (bike won't power up), none of which have worked. They have sent me a couple of parts to swap out but that hasn't fixed it either. I know it's a product issue and not an assembly matter. I took the bike in the box to my local bike shop for assembly since I didn't want any issues and thought a pro would be the best way to go. I purchased 2 of these bikes and although one has worked perfectly, one hasn't been able to be fixed. Over three months in and I have yet to be able to ride this thing. Very disappointed! I purchased these bikes and the Hollywood rack for my motorhome to use while on vacation so we wouldn't have to have a car. That would have been a good plan had it worked.
Finally got my 2nd EBike. After my research, I can say that what you're saying is true, partially true, I chose an EBike priced a little over 2k. Lower price does indeed mean lower quality components. Motor manufacturers offers different grades under the same brand, and cheap no name plastic casing batteries that make up a battery pack along with a minimal electronics power controller and charger, are just a waist of money, e-bikes are much heavier and faster so to me hydraulic brakes are a must! How an EBike senses the riders out put onto the pedals plays a big role. I can go on, but buyers beware if you're buying a cheap bike, you're buying a throw-away bike.. my 2nd bike would and should have been cheaper if I done it right the first time., i.e. not buying that cheaper bike first.
This seems to be a business model for Asian OEM’s of consumer goods. They sell these through multiple channels at different profit margins. They probably get better margins from small Amazon and e-commerce resellers than partners like Wal-Mart or Target. Plus, they can dictate things like pay terms and how warranties are handled.
The Likebike Lander S (see link in my previous note) has a ULc approved battery, also. (and fenders, rear bike-rack)...very well equipped. And, no...I am not connected with 'Likebike'. Perhaps you should do a review of this machine...it's kind of a 'game-changer' as far as price and standard equipment.
I search for hours online for the best entry level budget bike and ride1up core 5 pretty much hit every box at $1200. The only thing this bike could use is front suspension and more torque. It's has 60nw with rear hub motor, but 80nw to 100nw would of made this perfect everyday riding bike for me.
Actually no. Components aren't the same. Demand a 9 speed rear free hub setup. Upscale disks, dual mechanical or hydraulic, 1500 watts, 15AH battery or more, folding if you need it, lights, heavy rack, roadable tires, a decent seat for your ass not your crotch.
Generally the bikes under 2k are the same. There are hub drive ebikes that use a torque sensor, they sense the riders effort and apply assist in a very natural way. They tend to cost a lot more, 3k and up over 5k. Stromer, Orbea, BH and others have these systems. They are lightweight and offer minimal assist. Stromer is a heavyweight and offers some serious speed though. All of the ads for cheap ebikes are as you said..... cheap. I wouldn't want to e on one at significant speed.
This really helps me choosing a new bike . Buy the cheapest , especially that . They are basically all the same , so im thinking to buy one of rhe cheaper ones and make it to my own taste . Im looking into a heybike cityrun . Thar bikes is beautiful and cheap . I do my own repairs and maintenance. Later on i think im going to swap the drivetrain for something like Deore . And shimano disc brakes . Since i save a lot of money, i can save it for upgrades :).
After a tad over a week of researching this, I was thinking the same thing. They might look different but all have the same parts (just on a different frame), except for a good crank ... (I assume you're talking about mid-drive) ... thanks for clearing this up!
Hi there. I'm a fat lazy baby boomer weighing in at over 400 pounds. I can't remember the last time I rode a push bike, but these new e-bikes have captured my interest and I have plenty of cash to throw at one. What you recommend?
Point 1- if you’re not a serious mountain biker, buy the cheapest because they are all the same! Point 2- mid drive drive bikes must be far superior and far more expensive!?
yea, they are basically the same but each has a different customer service. and some have different components. many come with a cheap drivetrain but you can replace them when they ware out with a better one. for riding on paved trails they are great. i have an ecotric hammer with the 1000 wat motor ,got it for $1500 i have over 6,900 miles on mine i have had for 3 years and i need a new drive train but i still ride with the worn out one and it works good enough. lol. good tires are pricy.
Couldn’t be more wrong. I sell auto parts. All of them are made in Asia, different parts of china, Taiwan, Indonesia, you name it. They all have different degrees of quality and control. To say all e-bikes the same is just inherently wrong. Have you visited the factories over seas that make these? It’s just incorrect on so many levels.
@@BN99239 and even on that actually depends on the torque sensor used, some use shitty models that end up with a comparable response time to a well tuned bafang motor(yes you can tune it, not like that shitty bosh motors, and +your bike wont cost as a fucking motorbike)
You earned a downvote for promoting Specialized or Trek to people who just want to ride a n ebike. Simply put your information is just plain wrong, do better than spewing biased opinions based on your little knowledge of electric bikes and electric bike technology.
Right on! Picked up my $1500 Magicycle this year and absolutely having a blast. Great bike, great customer support. Super power and a 35-40 mile range.
Ok like the message here but here are a few corrections IMHO. The overwhelming number of e Bikes are made in China not Taiwan. The better name brand bikes Specialized and Trek are from Taiwan. They are not crank driven e Bikes, they are called Mid Drive systems. The major issue with all these non name brand e Bikes is they are generally sold online only and after sale and warranty repairs becomes a real issue. If you are handy with tools try to buy the most generic components including batteries, stay away from the slick builtin look as you will have issues replacing in the future. While on the subject of batteries insist on Samsung or LG cells anything not listed will be cheaper Chinese cells.
I have an Aventon and another weird-named brand for my wife. My Aventon is heads and shoulders above the no-name bike. Nothing wrong with the cheapy, but I'm constantly adjusting things, brake, pedal, wheel-truing. gear select, etc. The Aventon was nearly perfect and has been for two years with only basic maintenance: chain lubing and cleaning. It just feels way more solid.
I agree.. My 4600 Cannondale is like a 'Cadillac' comparing to Co-Op have priced from REI.. I say, it's not even brand.. that too.. but in the end.. you get what you pay..
Not only that goes for ebikes. I am a bike mechanic and last week my boss came with " something i would like , it just needed some love " . There was a BMC mtb . This bike was partly eaten by his goats . The plastic stuff ar least . After all these years in the barn , the derailleur still worked perfectly, like new ! . Shifting like going through butter . Ive seen cheap mtb s in a far better state with worse shifting .
i am looking at buying an aventon for my wife as well. i personally have a velotric, put over 900 miles on it in a month. how is your aventon holding up after 3 years? still going strong or did it crap the bed?
I have an Aventon Adventure 2.0 and it’s been fantastic. I’ve unlocked the motor and it hits 28mph with pedaling no problem, and this is a heavier fat tire bike.
Totally disagree with this video…. Practically the only thing you got right was that e-bikes in that price range have cheap drivetrains and are made out of aluminum… You know the aluminum like most bikes that aren’t carbon fiber and don’t cost a fortune are made from. At least learn some basics about E-bikes before making a video about them. Crank driven? $500? Really? Please don’t take this guy’s advice. Do some research regardless of what bike you’re buying and don’t just buy the cheapest one because someone says “they’re all the same”…
I couldn't disagree more. Look at components - some are 1 or 2 steps up from entry level. Look at gearing, some offer seven speeds, others 8, or 9. Look at grips - some are "ergo", but use cheap faux leather that grows very slippery as you sweat; others use real rubber and feature grip locks. Compare the UI - some are simple, others offer customization features. Look carefully at those Bafang hub motors (regardless of specified wattage) because some 750 watt motors are spec'd as 750 watt peak while others are spec'd 750 watt continuous (with peak outputs between 1130 and 1300 (depending on the controller output and the battery voltage.) There are a TON of differences between these bikes that you are dismissing out of hand but which actually changes the value proposition greatly. And, maybe most important, look at years in business and customer support. That last item may make ALL the difference.
In tires alone, those fat bikes tires are not just beefy tires they are heavy, they are hard to pedal with, and eat amps to go forwards and stress and ware the drivetrain, there is no substitute for a good suspension and normal tires.
I completely agree. Lumping in all ebikes below 2k into one basket it a total injustice. I just purchased an Ariel Rider Kepler for $1799. It's a great ebike. 1000 watt Bafang motor, Tectro hydraulic brakes....
customer support is clutch. I couldn't even get rad to tell me the size of the bolt I needed for my chain tensioner. They would only offer to sell me an entire new chain tensioner assembly for over 30 dollars. I only needed a new bolt because the one it came with was basically made of cheese and stripped out on initial assembly. I ended up cutting a groove with small saw which damaged the finish on part of the frame. THANKS RAD
I think its important to note hub motors are mechanically much simpler than mid-drive and because they don't provide their power through the drivetrain they massively extend drivetrain life. Some of the cheap ebikes can be very reliable and they use open standard components so with a little electrical knowledge you can replace parts easily. It's not like a Bosch mid-drive motor where they fill their batteries with glue to prevent you re-using the BMS and make it so the Bosch motor only recognises Bosch batteries. They also restrict the supply of parts. Some of these cheap ebikes use pretty much useless suspension systems which will not last and have basic drivetrains but not all. There are still cheap ebikes with good basic quality components and with rigid frames and forks which are fine for road and gravel and very light trails. However for an e-mountain bike really it needs to be mid-drive because of the way power is scaled through the gears. However I personally wouldn't ever use a mid-drive for general ebike commuting. A great video below for serious advice about the different ebike systems. Many bike shops give out completely false information because they are trying to push high cost ebikes even for basic road commuting. Remember many youtube vloggers may not be using a ebike like you and may be sponsored by firms who are trying to push you to spend big money. It's important to get the right tool for the job. It would be madness to get a super expensive highly proprietary ebike that massively increases drivetrain wear and uses high end drivetrain components for general commuting and high mileage applications. Such motor systems could have nylon gears and even belts that wear fairly quickly and a PCB that could be vulnerable to water ingress and repairs could cost $1000s and many repairs become uneconomic and then the bike is just scrap because its designed for that motor system. ua-cam.com/video/xnhuoUrwhIw/v-deo.html
mid-drive is a superior system over hubdrive - just maintain your stuff. bafang middrive accepts batts from all sorts of manufacturers and tons of people make replacement parts. I got the whole 1000W kit for $1500 + my old bike.
@edwong3 Yes part of the superior performance is that electric mid-drive mount motors is that the typical mid-drive electric motor driven bike also comes with a gear shift sensor(helps to ease up pressure on chain when shifting) and with some brand name ones; some even have a torque sensor that allows one to dynamically adjust on the fly more precisely and accurately how much dynamic assistance that one actually receives based on the actual pressure being applied on the pedals at a given time; the really good mid-drive electric bikes may even have a half twist throttle but that is usually not as common to see. I personally also would actually drive a mid-mount electric drive bicycle because it is generally overall much smoother and less jerky as well as being a much more pleasant biking experience especially when one finds oneself going up hills it feels much more like one is doing more of the pedaling effort as opposed to the bikes electric motor doing most of the work; as this generally usually leads to greater amounts of energy being conserved also as well.
@@profdleeucc Torque sensors are not exclusive to mid-drive you can have them with hub motors as well so power is scaled through pedalling. You can have this and still have hugely reduced drivetrain wear, extra reliability and no risk of chain snap.
All I know is 3900 trouble free miles on an Aventon Level 1 for $ 1,899. Wouldn’t change a damn thing on it, including the cadence sensing. 2 Yr warranty and 2 free dealer provided tuneups. I commute 12 miles a day and once a week go on a 40 miler on the stock seat. I did need an adjustable stem, and a mustache handlebar for comfort. 69 yrs old 6 ft 170 lbs.
genius here may as well go buy 100-200-300 bikes and get in or he could build them and start a company...or... he could just shut up. there are distinct differences and learn them and then buy. take a hike dude.
I bought a dirt cheap E-Bike from Walmart. Hyper 29" with a 250 watt motor. Then I noticed they also have a step-through model with the exact same drive train, Same hub motor, same battery. The manufacturer is responsible to Walmart, not to me. If too many come back. Walmart will discontinue the line. They will take them off the shelves and send them all back. One has to think the drive train is going to be reasonably well built and should hold up fairly well under normal conditions. They make hundreds of thousands of these bikes, and make a profit. The after market parts suppliers are ripe for these many bikes because they are all the same. That is a benefit, not a failing. If I buy a 2000 - 3000 dollar bike with the newest innovations, will it last 3 times as long? Will I be able to get parts for it considering they change so much over 2 or 4 or 5 years. I am very new to the E-Bike world, but not to business policy of the box stores. Professional Bike stores tend to look down their noses at box store bikes, which is never a good practice, especially if they believe that I might want to buy something better - next year.
Thanks for the video, but don't agree with you..To state $1-$2k ebikes have cheaper components than a specialized or trek is not a secret but there are differences between these brands. A brand like Aventon with a dealer network or Rad Power Bikes which is growing their brick & mortar presence are two examples of affordable ebike companies with decent customer service. I think you're also assuming everyone can afford or wants to spend $5-10k on a bike and furthermore for some individuals, spending $1k on an ebike (as cheap as it it) could change their life (ex: if someone is walking to work or riding an analog bike these affordable ebikes could give them an extra 1-2 hours per day to be at home). Rant over
What I got out of the video is pick the one you think is the prettiest for a price point that let’s you sleep at night, and go for it. For me, it was the Aventon Level
My E-CELLS Wuper Monarch Crown (yeah, a mouthful) is 2 wheel drive, dual Rock Shoks suspension with 2 Samsung batteries and good components like Shimano Deore gear set. It was $5,100. with tax but well worth it for the quality.
Wait, what? I saw no indication in this video that all folks can or should spends massive amounts on an eBike. On the contrary, he is simply saying that some overseas manufacturers are massive eBike "mills" that will produce similar bikes on the cheap to be sold worldwide and implies immense profits are involved. He even allows that some affordable bikes are reasonable ok or somewhat good, I do not believe importance of post-sale customer service is mentioned nor is the importance of getting an eBike with a quality battery pack. The latter being the majority of the cost of producing an eBike. Replacing your battery can be a major investment and if only a few years down the road can have a huge impact on your finances.
I put over 17,000km on my cheap ebike using it year round in Canada(harsh winter) with lots of jumps and offroad use. Only repairs that cost money were replacing the cassette, chain and chainring.
Thats one of the issues i have with these cheap bikes , its 99 % equipped with Shimano tourney or altus . These groupsets cant handle rough terrain .they are fine for commuting but not off road . You need Shimano deore or higher .
I don't understand his point. Of COURSE many E-bikes are going to look and be similar. There's only so many component companies out there. This video was five minutes of mindless drivel.
I replaced my Raptobike Recumbent that I didn't ride with a Cannondale Synapse that I didn't ride with a Fiido D4s electric folding bike that cost less than each of my previous bikes, and I now look forward to commuting on it every day. I've had it two weeks and my average on the bike is 5.1 minutes per mile during April vs 7.3 by car. I can lean on the motor just enough particularly on the last couple of miles to enable me to wear my work clothes as there's no shower in work, so I leave at the same time as I used to when I drove. On Sunday I checked out a longer, quieter route using cycle paths on my day off. As far as I'm concerned, my cheap e-bike is achieving what I've been trying to for 10 years on regular bikes - using it for transport regularly. If you're not motivationally challenged like me your mileage may vary, but I think it's the best thing I've ever purchased.
I get the spirit of this video, but I don't necessarily agree with it.. Saying that all sub $2k e-bikes are the same and might as well just get the cheaper one because they're all the same is pretty bad advice IMO.. You still get something better by paying more than just $500 like a larger/branded battery, more powerful motor, hydraulic disc brakes, better frame, better fork, better customer service etc., these are all extra features that even those who know nothing about e-bikes would appreciate to have.. This video dictates such an elitist mindset that more or less says that anything under $2k is trash so just get the cheapest e-bike because they're all trash anyway lol.. I ride a $6k e-bike and while it's great and I can appreciate what it has to offer, most people aren't nerdy enough like me to want to spend that much on an e-bike.. Also while rear hub drive motors look inferior at face value.. They're actually better in some ways and is actually the motor type I would recommend to people who have little experience with riding and maintaining bicycles..
Well said. Elitism has taken over most outdoor sports, where I live, skiing and biking. I have a blast on my $1500 Magicycle. The build quality is rock solid, great acceleration and climbing power, and super 24hr customer service.
E bikes are going the same way as motorcycles as far as Elitism go's . why pay £12,000 for a Harley davidson when a £4000 Royal Enfield is the same performence uses less gass( a lot less ) ,costs a quarter the price for a service and has better relibility. I dont understand peoples logic They seem willing to pay for the sticker on the side of gass tank for an inferior product .
@@johnsshed995 While I'm not really a fan of Harley, I wouldn't want to own an RE either mostly because of the looks.. I can usually find beauty in any motorcycle, even scooters, RE just looks really off to me and they look worse the longer I look at them..
I researched a bunch of ebikes during the height of Covid and finally settled on Ride1Up Lmt'd. I chose it because I didn't want to be stuck with a "commuter" looking bike or a fat tire 70+lb monstrosity. I didn't even consider a fold-able version. The Lmt'd looks more like a hard tail mountain / trail bike, which is what I wanted. Good enough to go on some single tracks and comfortable enough to go 25+ mile ride using a mix of assistance and throttle. It also has some pretty decent components and the company is based in SoCal. Very happy with my choice.
I've got the Ride1Up Turris, and just got the Cafe Cruiser today. Comfort and better stability are what wider tires get you. The quality/price ratio is great for Ride1Up bikes. The key observation with these E-bikes is to observe terrain and wind conditions on your ride. Conserve battery power for headwinds or uphill. Set power and gearing to optimize exercise and power usage.
Well, that's one way to stop getting all those distributor requests to review the cheap E-bikes.
Haha and yet I bet they'll keep coming!
Lol
I bet they will still send him bikes.
@@robertmansfield7844 They can send me one if they want
@@gazgaz2824 I to would like free E-bikes that cost thousands
I don't fully agree with the "they're all the same, buy the cheapest one" mindset for one reason: They're all cheap. Let me explain, because I don't want to sound like you need an expensive ebike to get outside, because on the contrary, I am of the mindset that *anything* that gets you active and outside is a great buy. Rather, I'd say do your research and find a couple brands that have good *customer service* and *then* pick whatever is cheapest or looks the best or w/e fits your personal criteria. The reason behind that is, if the bike is cheap and something breaks, you're going to either be left on your own, paying out of pocket to fix whatever broke, *or* the company is going to do their best to help to sort it out. So yes, they're essentially all the same, but I'd still pick a name with people backing it over a one-person drop-shipped no-name company.
I fully agree with this, having worked at a bike shop in the past, customers have come in with these types of e bikes and an electrical problem. The shop had a policy that we don't touch them unless its something that we can actually run a diagnostic on, e.g shimano, bosch. Alot of these customers couldn't contact the manufacturer because the manufacturers were either unresponsive or didn't seem to exist anymore.
That's why you buy the really inexpensive cheap one, not the $2,000 cheap one. If you buy a Walmart Hyper E ebike for $600 + $60 3-year protection plan, you've got solid protection on your purchase for 3 years, and you haven't paid a ton for some company's marketing efforts. I interpreted this as the point of the video: don't overpay for cheap bikes.
That said, I fully agree that if someone is seriously considering an ebike, the buy-once-cry-once approach is best. You'll be much happier with the purchase.
@@bradleyland Thanks for this, I have been wanting an E-Bike but I don't make a lot and can't afford anything fancy, and I also immediately think "What happens if it breaks?"
I was thinking same. It's almost never the actual hardware. I don't care if it's a car, a computer, a phone, or an e-bike. It's always the same... It's the back-end support.
@@nightmarefanatic1819 Build your own is a good solution. It's not super hard, but not for a total noob either.
I've had 3 E-bikes over the last few years. The first one was just under $1500 It was decent enough for gravel roads, pavement or light trails and fun rides. The next two cost between $2200 & $2400 and there is quite a difference in them and the fifteen hundred dollar bike. Overall build quality is better with nicely finished welded joints and solid feeling frames.
Here are some things that are lacking in the cheaper bike that most bikes over two thousand dollars include.
*hydraulic brakes - - much better stopping power for heavy e-bikes, with less effort.
*high quality name brand lithium cells --Panasonic or Samsung
*name brand high quality tires
*higher quality digital display with a wider range of information and brighter screen.
*a warranty that you can actually use, especially if bought at a bike shop.
I'm retired and ride my bike at least 8 or 10 miles a day, weather permitting. If you're going to ride a lot you might save enough money on gas to pay for the bike.
A conversion kit + battery would be like 600-700. You guys have way too much money.
@@imarchello not everyone want's to diy these things. when your cheap battery catches fire and the house burns down your out alot more money
.....I mean I got a radmini 4 for under 1000 cad and it has almost all of those things minus the brakes
Thanks for your comment. I’m retired and have a very short radius of travel for things like basic essentials. These comments are helping me very much as I try to decide what I’m going to get.
You spent $7400 on bicycles - yikes
Velowave Ranger has been excellent so far. I like the small screen, hydraulic brakes, large battery, thumb throttle. Best value of the 'cheap' bikes if you ask me.
this is what everyone says on every review for all these bikes. yeah they work fine for now but will break down the line and local shops wont service them
@@mikec4308 Oh no, lord forbid you have to maintain something you purchased!
I looked at E-bikes for years. My bike shop only carried $5-6k bikes and up! Absolutely would not even think about it! Not when I buy good used trucks for less than that for my work. I finally researched online and settled on a Magicycle. Very solid build, great customer service. A fantastic bike for my mixed riding of pavement, dirt roads, light trail riding, hills, etc. At the time, less than $1500. I love this bike and have a blast. I understand the need for the mid drive high end bikes for serious MTN bikers. But at 67 years old, that is not my game. Bottom line, I have a blast and get out riding much more than I used to. And I get 35-40 miles on a charge! I live in foothills of Teton Valley, and anywhere I go from my house ends up taking me 5-6 miles downhill. My Magicycle helps me to get back home without killing myself. So, bottom line, I disagree with most of your points. You are the guy at the bike shop who holds his nose up at you, when you can't consider his $5k and up bikes. Biking can be a real elitist game. The majority of riders want some fun, and good transportation without bankrupting themselves.
Spot on reply 👌
@@Borgodz Thanks Nazar! Hope I wasn’t too heavy for this thread!
Awesome, I just ordered 2 Magicycle for me and the Mrs.
Excellent comment to this video.. Thank you
Fully agree that not everyone can, needs or wants an expensive (E)bike and the use benefits and fun can be had with as well with good quality less expensive brands.
Like all technology, e-bikes are constantly and incrementally evolving. What would have been considered king of the hill 2 years ago, is eclipsed by much more affordable bikes.
Tomorrow my new bike arrives. It has two 1000W motors, a 48v 22.4 Amp-hour (AH) battery pack (Panasonic Batteries), Hydraulic brakes, front and rear suspension. It has a 35 MPH speed plus cruise control. The ability to switch off the front wheel to save on battery power. It also has a color LCD display, a mount for a phone with charger, twist throttle, etc....
You are correct there are multiple companies all producing the same bike (with cosmetic differences or changed-up features).
With taxes, shipping and a two-year extended warranty, it was 1710 out the door. I did pony up to buy another 48v 22.4 AH battery. I will either use it to swap out the existing battery or convert it to dual battery. I remember what the price was like on far less capable bikes just two years ago. The landscape has definitely changed over the past few years. I can't wait to see where it goes next.
I also do not fully agree, but he is also correct in the same sentence. with this video, everyone should become educated, you should know your components, know your variations in battery sizes and requirements for your needs. Do not buy the cheapest because they are not all the same, although very very similar. It's a fine line but educating yourself you will learn that line.
I agree most of the "Unknown" brand ebikes are very similar in quality, as they all use similar components, motors, batteries, and the specs are often very similar. But the more notable brands offer customer support, and provide upgraded components where they matter most, instead of blinging the bikes out with cheap add-ons. There is a wide disparity in quality among bikes in the $1,500-$2,000 sweet spot that most first-timers are looking to spend.
In my painstaking research, I can absolutely say an Aventon Aventure is not a clone of an Ariel Rider Kepler , an Addmotor M-560, a RadRover 6, or a Himiway Zebra, even though the prices are all around $1,800. Do your research and watch lots of videos.
Also, you should decide what is most important to you. If you ride a lot of hills, you will want a more powerful motor (750W is the most powerful "bike trail legal" motor in most states). If you want to go on long rides, battery capacity will top your list (Volts X AmpHours = capacity) and you can easily get by with a 500W motor if the rides are flat. If you want to haul things (groceries, recreational gear, etc.) you need a beefy frame and big cargo racks/baskets. Every bike maximizes certain features while making concessions in other areas to hit their price point. Therefore, each bike in this price range offers slightly different combinations of motor, battery, component quality, and utility.
I want to be able to enjoy half-day rides and full-day rides in as many scenic locations as possible, covering 20-50 miles in a trip. Chicago's lakeshore bike trails, The Il Prairie Path along the Fox River, and trips all over the midwest and beyond (such as while on vacation). Ebikes can give you access to so many things you cannot see by car of if you are walking. Riding a traditional bike can be difficult when it is hilly, hot, and humid. The ebike is the ultimate equalizer against these issues, and can take you almost anywhere. Break as much or as little of a sweat as you wish.
Personally, my favorite ebike in this price range is the Ariel Rider Kepler because it has the most powerful motor (1000 Watts nominal, 1,800 Watts peak) and a massive battery (52V20Wh). Unfortunately, the motor exceeds 750 Watts, so it will not be legal on most public bike trails, so the risk of not having access to many areas is real. Therefore, my top picks are between the Addmotor M-560 and the Himiway Zebra. They have the ideal combination of power, battery life, and utility I seek. The choice comes down to which one looks better and is more comfortable fit for my body, to ride 30 miles or more on a trip though scenic areas.
The two most basic types of e-bikes are those with 20” wheels and those with 26” wheels. After that, it is full or front only suspension. (almost all 20” bikes are full suspension but more for comfort than performance). Then there is rear or two wheel drive. The wattage of the motor, amps of the controller and voltage of the battery are the next series of considerations to make based on interests in acceleration torque, top speed and range.
Indeed. But when buying these bikes online , It's rare they tell you what power the controller is rated. And it's common they don't even tell you what true rating the motor is (although that's getting less common now). You''ll basically get "1000w ebike" and a 1000w sticker on the motor, But no doubt that motor is simply a 500w bafang or sutton (bafang sister company), and no clue what the bike is pumping out at the normal or peak end. Asking the vendor is always an option, And hope they just don't give you the same generic answer "it's 1000w sir" lol
Thank you 😊. You have gained a subscriber for not being yet another "show girl" reciting the specs off the box. I was recently asking the same question 😂.
I literally learned nothing from this video 😖
Agreed. He's full of it
It's an oversimplification, and it sounds like you come in contact with a lot of e-bikes, without actually riding them much. Even among similar bikes there are significant differences, and among different "brands" there are huge differences in support. The Trek recommendation is odd. On the group rides I do around the country, I'm careful not to be behind them on hills. Yes, it's a brand name and they have a mid drive, but a good hub drive can outperform them easily. By the way, the responsiveness of mid drives is not due to the motor at all, but rather to the pedal assist sensor type and the controller programming.
i've been pretty much house bound for years due to schizophrenia / bipolar / autism.. i bought a sheng mi lo mx05 fat bike.. and it's actually making me leave my house, it's fast, and has a half throttle, it's stoopid fun :D when i used to have to actually put a lot of effort in to riding a normal bike.. not fun.. i've got two hernias, a groin hernia and an abdominal hernia.. they are huge.. so putting 0% effort in to riding.. it's a life saver
bought a near new-2023 edikani 48volt e-bike,,,5 modes,twin discs,,,does near 30mph,,,battery life is phenonanel,,love it,,have about 500 into it,,,basically all i will need
Mountain bike snob is coping with other people enjoying ebikes. And yes, even off road, the experience is fantastic. There is a big difference between brands.
Even though you didn't rush the info, you still didn't drag it out. These were 5 minutes well spent by me. Thank you, I appreciate it.
I have this type of bike and I love it. Use it all Winter also down to -35 C and lot of snow and its a beast.
Best buy I have done :)
You just described the process for almost all consumer goods.
Exactly… Common sense
You just gotta do some good research and check the reviews before buying one. I recently bought one called the Lankeleisi mg740, it looks very similar to the fat bikes but has 2000w from having front and rear motors, easily reaches 38mph, long battery life (can go full throttle for atleast 25 miles, 100 miles if just using pedal assist) and was a similar price (1700).
Best purchade ive made so far
Ive been rocking the ride 1 up roadster as my daily commuter. Mostly because it looked the coolest lol
The same thing can be said with bicycles. Depending on price point you have a hand full of manufacturing companies making group sets. components.
Great video Josh, I just wanted to say that Aventon is a legit brand, they have been around for longer than a few years, and I hear their bikes are pretty decent! Also, could *cough* Giant *cough* be one of those specific Taiwanese bike frame brands? My relatives live in Taiwan and we usually go there once a year (except during the pandemic), so I might have to ask about that!
Edit: Oh, and Lectric is also a known, legit company, they’re known for their pretty affordable folding fat tire E-bikes!
I have an Aventon Level and really like it... but while not from one of those same few companies its a similar story. Aventon makes their own frames and the quality you get in that frame is very very good (its why I bought one knowing and owning some high end bikes), but the rest is off the shelf parts from other manufacturers. the fit an finish is better and their support is head and shoulders over some ship to consumer products, and the customer support is better than most from what i read online (no issues with min in 8 months and 3k miles)
@@g00fysmiley Aventon also has hundreds of dealers across the country where you can go and test ride the bike before you buy. (Plus you have a repair shop handy if you need it.)
@@mikebronicki8264 Have they upped their customer service? Because a few months ago their own website was riddled with bad reviews for their CS. It immediately turned me off from Aventon and haven't been back there since. Even taking into consideration the tendency to write a bad review when something goes wrong and no review when all is right, I found it alarming.
@@charlienyc1 I haven't any issues with our 2 Solteras, mine has over 200 miles and the wife's is still under 100. But if anything came up I would just call the dealer I bought them from. He operates a mobile service so I wouldn't even have to take them in. You can't beat in person service. Oh and by the way, the dealers assemble and tune them for free.
@@mikebronicki8264 You bring up a good point..Dealer support is definitely a good thing.
Gonna be honest…I do get envious when I see ‘reviewers’ being GIVEN free e-bikes when I…like most folk…have to save hard and think even harder about forking out near 2 Grand on a bicycle. I know why they do it…advertising, but it does grind my gears!
I bought Cyrusher XF800 750w (£2200) it was great, but I found it hard to get my stumpy legs over saddle..and in UK the motor was illegal which can get you a fine in the thousands and licence points…So having sold it, I now purchased a Cyrusher Kommoda step through…with a motor which purports to be UK legal spec (we can’t have any kind of hand throttle either…motor has to work only when peddled😠). Cyrusher do seem well built machines, but yeah…they have that ubiquitous chunky rear hub motor with the ‘standard’ 7 speed Shimano Tourney gears….The Kommoda is now just £1400. Prices fluctuate with the Yen!
Your right big mark up , if you can wait for a deal like the pre Black Friday deals like the rad rover 6 for 1299.00 is a great deal on a1900.00 bike, the most recent sale they had on them were 1499.00 during Black Friday, hopefully they have more good deals coming
As I am in the market for an eBike myself, I see thousands upon thousands of happy owners of 'cheap' ebikes who have traveled thousands of miles on them. They are not all the same. Some have hydraulic brakes/suspension; others don't. Display quality and sizes vary greatly. Features, weight, Pedal-assist capabilities, Motor sizes, speed, and range all vary. Reviews are all different. Some have much higher satisfaction ratings than others. Expensive eBikes in retail stores have some of the same problems. They get their parts from Taiwan, China, etc.. I would not be surprised if the drop-ship eBikes don't have greater variety in quality, consistency, and materials than the retail store ebikes due to the sheer volume of manufacturers/marketers. This is not like the old days when you bought a Schwinn bike at a store and could depend on replacement parts. The technology is always changing and thus so are the electronic components, etc.. The risk is just as great at a retail store of having something break and then not being able to get a replacement for it right away. Technology is not stagnant. There will always be newer, better models that use more advanced batteries and electronic components.
Bottom line: eBikes give you more bang for the buck and are a much safer investment.
Congrats, you've just described most manufactured products....people see others making money and everyone jumps in. There are always variables just like in cars....trim levels with relative upgrades which cost a little more.
I am an e-bike expert and I have to say that all e-bikes are not built the same and it does matter what bike you buy. I have seen higher quality Taiwanese bikes and I have seen lower quality Taiwanese bikes and if you buy the wrong one you could end up with a bike with inadequate wiring inadequate battery cells.
I hate to put this guy on blast but don't follow his instructions It could cost you money and it could get you hurt.
You've got a lot to learn too bud: FYI, hub motors are just fine, all depends on individual preferences.. Do your own research folks, don't rely on rando you-tuber dudes advice.
I just ride my 1908 Indian gas bike around…..100 mpg and great fun. Ride it to work every day as long as it’s over 30 degrees
I've done business with overseas manufacturers. The shipping often costs twice the price of the product. That's with small items. The shipping for large items is even higher. No one is getting rich at this point.
Hmmm, a "crank driven motor" is called a mid-drive and Aventon is actually a very quality company.
Aventon is a great company
I'm not going to spend several thousand dollars on a brand name... who cares if they're all the same if I'm saving myself 3 grand or more.
I got a cheap Chinese bike for about $1000 and it has a 1000 w rear and 750 w front motor. The thing is almost the same mountain bike as in the video - but better. This cheapy cost me almost half of what others cost. The parts are all pretty much the same. Go for a bike that has quality parts and not a big commercial brand that wants to reach in your pockets.
If in the market for these rear hub bikes, Look for one with the Bafang G62 motor. It is an upgrade to the G60. You can tell by the physical appearance
I will take a Bafang hub drive over a mid drive any day!! Fat tires suck unless you ride in sand, snow, gravel or mud
There's nothing wrong with hub-drives, but Chineese bicycles that come with them simply are substandard in most cases. I converted a Milwaukee Gravel bike with a 350w e-hub and its a rocket. It can't compete in the chunk, and there's a lot of that in Spain so I repeated that on my new Made in China Trek Marlin 4 - that now has dropbars and SRAM X0 goodies with Rival shifters. Using an existing groupset, under $1000, not including the Canyon S15 carbon seatpost and SMP Hybrid saddle.
I was just looking on Alibaba and found an exact replica of the Ariel Rider Grizzly V2 for $1,200! compared to $3,299 from AR. That's the biggest secret about ebikes.
Proof of the “they’re all the same” argument: anytime I comparison shop for an e-bike, I get retargeted on Facebook ads from dozens of other e-bike companies that I didn’t consult. They’re not only sharing manufacturing, they’re sharing ad data.
Best Review I have ever seen and I have never seen your video. Everything you said was truthful and I love it. Am subscribing you and keep on doing good work sir.😊
I’ve had a “Rich-bit 1000w 48v” bike for 2 years now. I must have seen the exact same bike with a totally different name 10 times! But you know what I don’t really care. The bike has not let me down, It’s good for at least 20 miles, I use it daily but only charge it once a week, I’ve never done a like of maintenance on it aside from topping the air in the tires up and it’s still like new order the dirt. So I couldn’t disagree more. As for them all being the same unless you’re an professional cyclist you are looking for differences like size, weight, cargo capacity, riding position, general looks.
I own a samebike lo26 mach 2. It's a great bike. Only thing a dont like which I replaced is tyres tyres are crap. Got a puncture on my first day out on it..also no cable connector on rear hub to remove wheel from frame so you have to do the work on wheel from side
I had my old mountain bike electrified. They use decent components, I'm used to it, and it's getting me up hills that at 74 I have been able to do for a little while now.
It's hard to justify any electric bike over 2500.
Torque sensor is a big feature to look for to sort these out
But whats gonna be the differences between the fat tires and the skinny tires?
Spend $600 for a totguard. It’s a fun starter and as someone who’s 300lbs, the torque still pulls me quickly and the bike is well made. Don’t drop thousands, as the video poster mentioned. It’s pointless and a waste.
My E-Bike is different. It has two drive motors. One of the front wheel and one on the back wheel making it a 4 wheel drive. 😁
Velowave after sending him an ebike: ""I can't believe you've done this"
I bought a Himiway bike they are really nice and make their own frame and designs and I got one of their higher end models for 2500$ so I can’t wait!
Definitely get one with a front suspension because they are heavy and the bumps will jar you even with a suspension. So yeah pay a bit more or you will pine or buy an after market front fork which is work and more money
And just how different is this from the regular mountain bike market? Most all low to mid range models from the “name brand” manufacturers are made by Giant. As you say, a few tweaks to the frames, a little different component mix and that’s all folks!
I bought these bikes last November and it has been a total nightmare. Customer service has been responsive in the fact that they have given me a couple of laundry lists of things to do in order to fix the problem I have (bike won't power up), none of which have worked. They have sent me a couple of parts to swap out but that hasn't fixed it either. I know it's a product issue and not an assembly matter. I took the bike in the box to my local bike shop for assembly since I didn't want any issues and thought a pro would be the best way to go. I purchased 2 of these bikes and although one has worked perfectly, one hasn't been able to be fixed. Over three months in and I have yet to be able to ride this thing. Very disappointed! I purchased these bikes and the Hollywood rack for my motorhome to use while on vacation so we wouldn't have to have a car. That would have been a good plan had it worked.
Finally got my 2nd EBike. After my research, I can say that what you're saying is true, partially true, I chose an EBike priced a little over 2k. Lower price does indeed mean lower quality components. Motor manufacturers offers different grades under the same brand, and cheap no name plastic casing batteries that make up a battery pack along with a minimal electronics power controller and charger, are just a waist of money, e-bikes are much heavier and faster so to me hydraulic brakes are a must! How an EBike senses the riders out put onto the pedals plays a big role. I can go on, but buyers beware if you're buying a cheap bike, you're buying a throw-away bike.. my 2nd bike would and should have been cheaper if I done it right the first time., i.e. not buying that cheaper bike first.
This seems to be a business model for Asian OEM’s of consumer goods. They sell these through multiple channels at different profit margins. They probably get better margins from small Amazon and e-commerce resellers than partners like Wal-Mart or Target. Plus, they can dictate things like pay terms and how warranties are handled.
The Likebike Lander S (see link in my previous note) has a ULc approved battery, also. (and fenders, rear bike-rack)...very well equipped. And, no...I am not connected with 'Likebike'. Perhaps you should do a review of this machine...it's kind of a 'game-changer' as far as price and standard equipment.
Gets a free bike to review. Breaks the company apart. Love it. Subscribing
I search for hours online for the best entry level budget bike and ride1up core 5 pretty much hit every box at $1200. The only thing this bike could use is front suspension and more torque. It's has 60nw with rear hub motor, but 80nw to 100nw would of made this perfect everyday riding bike for me.
Actually no. Components aren't the same. Demand a 9 speed rear free hub setup. Upscale disks, dual mechanical or hydraulic, 1500 watts, 15AH battery or more, folding if you need it, lights, heavy rack, roadable tires, a decent seat for your ass not your crotch.
"Absolutely send it my way" !........lol
great info. I think im buying a used sinch aventon half price. Looks in good shape....we will see
Generally the bikes under 2k are the same. There are hub drive ebikes that use a torque sensor, they sense the riders effort and apply assist in a very natural way. They tend to cost a lot more, 3k and up over 5k. Stromer, Orbea, BH and others have these systems. They are lightweight and offer minimal assist. Stromer is a heavyweight and offers some serious speed though.
All of the ads for cheap ebikes are as you said..... cheap. I wouldn't want to e on one at significant speed.
Lots of truth here because I have an older electro lite sun bike that’s in new condition and it’s absolutely incredible !!!!
Thanks for this. I'm trying to find something that will get me back and forth from work easily but I have all these choices.
How in holy hell is a $2000 bike cheap?
If you don’t wanna answer question about bikes why do bike reviews i came here looking for insight but got something else
I can’t put my finger on
2:13 casually shows a dark figure standing in the background. 💀
This really helps me choosing a new bike .
Buy the cheapest , especially that .
They are basically all the same , so im thinking to buy one of rhe cheaper ones and make it to my own taste .
Im looking into a heybike cityrun .
Thar bikes is beautiful and cheap .
I do my own repairs and maintenance.
Later on i think im going to swap the drivetrain for something like Deore . And shimano disc brakes . Since i save a lot of money, i can save it for upgrades :).
After a tad over a week of researching this, I was thinking the same thing. They might look different but all have the same parts (just on a different frame), except for a good crank ... (I assume you're talking about mid-drive) ... thanks for clearing this up!
I brought a Fiido T1 for my commute and I love it
That’s the most useful info I’ve gotten about e-bikes! Thanks
I don't disagree with what you're saying but I do have that e-bike (Velowave Ranger) and it's a solid ride. Looking forward to your review.
Hi there. I'm a fat lazy baby boomer weighing in at over 400 pounds. I can't remember the last time I rode a push bike, but these new e-bikes have captured my interest and I have plenty of cash to throw at one. What you recommend?
I'm happy to take 6 and try them as a fleet rental...
I have a fat Ebike with Cost 1700 dollar and ride it in cold winter and work perfect. Surprising for me.
And dont want to buy a very expensive
Point 1- if you’re not a serious mountain biker, buy the cheapest because they are all the same! Point 2- mid drive drive bikes must be far superior and far more expensive!?
yea, they are basically the same but each has a different customer service. and some have different components. many come with a cheap drivetrain but you can replace them when they ware out with a better one. for riding on paved trails they are great. i have an ecotric hammer with the 1000 wat motor ,got it for $1500 i have over 6,900 miles on mine i have had for 3 years and i need a new drive train but i still ride with the worn out one and it works good enough. lol. good tires are pricy.
I ride every day and am only 62 so I don't really need one... perhaps when I get too old to pedal... perhaps in 30 years
Why do so many of these insist on going straight to fat tire? Seems a bit gimmicky
Couldn’t be more wrong. I sell auto parts. All of them are made in Asia, different parts of china, Taiwan, Indonesia, you name it. They all have different degrees of quality and control. To say all e-bikes the same is just inherently wrong. Have you visited the factories over seas that make these? It’s just incorrect on so many levels.
Lol thanks for my new ebike company name
That's it I thought he was going to teach you how to ride one what kind of throttle does it have where's the throttle located
Well my rear hub motor ebike works fantastic! No delay and very powerful. 750 watt Bafang motor. I love it.
you won't know that there is no delay unless you compare it with a mid drive, torque sensor ebike.
Agreed, I have the same on my Velowave Ranger & find the peddle assist very fast response - fast enough for me, that's for sure.
@@BN99239 and even on that actually depends on the torque sensor used, some use shitty models that end up with a comparable response time to a well tuned bafang motor(yes you can tune it, not like that shitty bosh motors, and +your bike wont cost as a fucking motorbike)
You earned a downvote for promoting Specialized or Trek to people who just want to ride a n ebike.
Simply put your information is just plain wrong, do better than spewing biased opinions based on your little knowledge of electric bikes and electric bike technology.
Right on! Picked up my $1500 Magicycle this year and absolutely having a blast. Great bike, great customer support. Super power and a 35-40 mile range.
Ok like the message here but here are a few corrections IMHO. The overwhelming number of e Bikes are made in China not Taiwan. The better name brand bikes Specialized and Trek are from Taiwan.
They are not crank driven e Bikes, they are called Mid Drive systems.
The major issue with all these non name brand e Bikes is they are generally sold online only and after sale and warranty repairs becomes a real issue. If you are handy with tools try to buy the
most generic components including batteries, stay away from the slick builtin look as you will have issues replacing in the future. While on the subject of batteries insist on Samsung or LG cells anything not listed will be cheaper Chinese cells.
I have an Aventon and another weird-named brand for my wife. My Aventon is heads and shoulders above the no-name bike. Nothing wrong with the cheapy, but I'm constantly adjusting things, brake, pedal, wheel-truing. gear select, etc. The Aventon was nearly perfect and has been for two years with only basic maintenance: chain lubing and cleaning. It just feels way more solid.
I agree.. My 4600 Cannondale is like a 'Cadillac' comparing to Co-Op have priced from REI.. I say, it's not even brand.. that too.. but in the end.. you get what you pay..
Not only that goes for ebikes. I am a bike mechanic and last week my boss came with " something i would like , it just needed some love " . There was a BMC mtb . This bike was partly eaten by his goats . The plastic stuff ar least .
After all these years in the barn , the derailleur still worked perfectly, like new ! . Shifting like going through butter .
Ive seen cheap mtb s in a far better state with worse shifting .
i am looking at buying an aventon for my wife as well. i personally have a velotric, put over 900 miles on it in a month.
how is your aventon holding up after 3 years? still going strong or did it crap the bed?
I have an Aventon Adventure 2.0 and it’s been fantastic.
I’ve unlocked the motor and it hits 28mph with pedaling no problem, and this is a heavier fat tire bike.
Totally disagree with this video…. Practically the only thing you got right was that e-bikes in that price range have cheap drivetrains and are made out of aluminum… You know the aluminum like most bikes that aren’t carbon fiber and don’t cost a fortune are made from.
At least learn some basics about E-bikes before making a video about them. Crank driven? $500? Really?
Please don’t take this guy’s advice. Do some research regardless of what bike you’re buying and don’t just buy the cheapest one because someone says “they’re all the same”…
I couldn't disagree more. Look at components - some are 1 or 2 steps up from entry level. Look at gearing, some offer seven speeds, others 8, or 9. Look at grips - some are "ergo", but use cheap faux leather that grows very slippery as you sweat; others use real rubber and feature grip locks. Compare the UI - some are simple, others offer customization features. Look carefully at those Bafang hub motors (regardless of specified wattage) because some 750 watt motors are spec'd as 750 watt peak while others are spec'd 750 watt continuous (with peak outputs between 1130 and 1300 (depending on the controller output and the battery voltage.) There are a TON of differences between these bikes that you are dismissing out of hand but which actually changes the value proposition greatly. And, maybe most important, look at years in business and customer support. That last item may make ALL the difference.
In tires alone, those fat bikes tires are not just beefy tires they are heavy, they are hard to pedal with, and eat amps to go forwards and stress and ware the drivetrain, there is no substitute for a good suspension and normal tires.
I completely agree. Lumping in all ebikes below 2k into one basket it a total injustice. I just purchased an Ariel Rider Kepler for $1799. It's a great ebike. 1000 watt Bafang motor, Tectro hydraulic brakes....
customer support is clutch. I couldn't even get rad to tell me the size of the bolt I needed for my chain tensioner. They would only offer to sell me an entire new chain tensioner assembly for over 30 dollars. I only needed a new bolt because the one it came with was basically made of cheese and stripped out on initial assembly. I ended up cutting a groove with small saw which damaged the finish on part of the frame. THANKS RAD
@@dragonskunkstudio7582 wear vs ware
I think its important to note hub motors are mechanically much simpler than mid-drive and because they don't provide their power through the drivetrain they massively extend drivetrain life. Some of the cheap ebikes can be very reliable and they use open standard components so with a little electrical knowledge you can replace parts easily. It's not like a Bosch mid-drive motor where they fill their batteries with glue to prevent you re-using the BMS and make it so the Bosch motor only recognises Bosch batteries. They also restrict the supply of parts.
Some of these cheap ebikes use pretty much useless suspension systems which will not last and have basic drivetrains but not all. There are still cheap ebikes with good basic quality components and with rigid frames and forks which are fine for road and gravel and very light trails.
However for an e-mountain bike really it needs to be mid-drive because of the way power is scaled through the gears. However I personally wouldn't ever use a mid-drive for general ebike commuting. A great video below for serious advice about the different ebike systems. Many bike shops give out completely false information because they are trying to push high cost ebikes even for basic road commuting. Remember many youtube vloggers may not be using a ebike like you and may be sponsored by firms who are trying to push you to spend big money. It's important to get the right tool for the job. It would be madness to get a super expensive highly proprietary ebike that massively increases drivetrain wear and uses high end drivetrain components for general commuting and high mileage applications. Such motor systems could have nylon gears and even belts that wear fairly quickly and a PCB that could be vulnerable to water ingress and repairs could cost $1000s and many repairs become uneconomic and then the bike is just scrap because its designed for that motor system.
ua-cam.com/video/xnhuoUrwhIw/v-deo.html
mid-drive is a superior system over hubdrive - just maintain your stuff. bafang middrive accepts batts from all sorts of manufacturers and tons of people make replacement parts. I got the whole 1000W kit for $1500 + my old bike.
Bafang mid-drive conversion for my old MTB
@edwong3 Yes part of the superior performance is that electric mid-drive mount motors is that the typical mid-drive electric motor driven bike also comes with a gear shift sensor(helps to ease up pressure on chain when shifting) and with some brand name ones; some even have a torque sensor that allows one to dynamically adjust on the fly more precisely and accurately how much dynamic assistance that one actually receives based on the actual pressure being applied on the pedals at a given time; the really good mid-drive electric bikes may even have a half twist throttle but that is usually not as common to see. I personally also would actually drive a mid-mount electric drive bicycle because it is generally overall much smoother and less jerky as well as being a much more pleasant biking experience especially when one finds oneself going up hills it feels much more like one is doing more of the pedaling effort as opposed to the bikes electric motor doing most of the work; as this generally usually leads to greater amounts of energy being conserved also as well.
@@profdleeucc Torque sensors are not exclusive to mid-drive you can have them with hub motors as well so power is scaled through pedalling. You can have this and still have hugely reduced drivetrain wear, extra reliability and no risk of chain snap.
@@af4237 Truth!
1 note: the new Bafang M series uses a proprietary Bafang battery. Only work around is to swap the controller.
All I know is 3900 trouble free miles on an Aventon Level 1 for $ 1,899. Wouldn’t change a damn thing on it, including the cadence sensing. 2 Yr warranty and 2 free dealer provided tuneups. I commute 12 miles a day and once a week go on a 40 miler on the stock seat. I did need an adjustable stem, and a mustache handlebar for comfort. 69 yrs old 6 ft 170 lbs.
genius here may as well go buy 100-200-300 bikes and get in or he could build them and start a company...or... he could just shut up. there are distinct differences and learn them and then buy. take a hike dude.
They are all the same. Good to see you back!
Thanks man, great to be back!
Except for Components and bearings
I bought a dirt cheap E-Bike from Walmart. Hyper 29" with a 250 watt motor. Then I noticed they also have a step-through model with the exact same drive train, Same hub motor, same battery. The manufacturer is responsible to Walmart, not to me. If too many come back. Walmart will discontinue the line. They will take them off the shelves and send them all back. One has to think the drive train is going to be reasonably well built and should hold up fairly well under normal conditions. They make hundreds of thousands of these bikes, and make a profit. The after market parts suppliers are ripe for these many bikes because they are all the same. That is a benefit, not a failing.
If I buy a 2000 - 3000 dollar bike with the newest innovations, will it last 3 times as long? Will I be able to get parts for it considering they change so much over 2 or 4 or 5 years.
I am very new to the E-Bike world, but not to business policy of the box stores.
Professional Bike stores tend to look down their noses at box store bikes, which is never a good practice, especially if they believe that I might want to buy something better - next year.
Thanks for the video, but don't agree with you..To state $1-$2k ebikes have cheaper components than a specialized or trek is not a secret but there are differences between these brands. A brand like Aventon with a dealer network or Rad Power Bikes which is growing their brick & mortar presence are two examples of affordable ebike companies with decent customer service. I think you're also assuming everyone can afford or wants to spend $5-10k on a bike and furthermore for some individuals, spending $1k on an ebike (as cheap as it it) could change their life (ex: if someone is walking to work or riding an analog bike these affordable ebikes could give them an extra 1-2 hours per day to be at home). Rant over
Thank you. Saved me typing the exact sentiment.
What I got out of the video is pick the one you think is the prettiest for a price point that let’s you sleep at night, and go for it. For me, it was the Aventon
Level
My E-CELLS Wuper Monarch Crown (yeah, a mouthful) is 2 wheel drive, dual Rock Shoks suspension with 2 Samsung batteries and good components like Shimano Deore gear set. It was $5,100. with tax but well worth it for the quality.
Wait, what? I saw no indication in this video that all folks can or should spends massive amounts on an eBike. On the contrary, he is simply saying that some overseas manufacturers are massive eBike "mills" that will produce similar bikes on the cheap to be sold worldwide and implies immense profits are involved. He even allows that some affordable bikes are reasonable ok or somewhat good,
I do not believe importance of post-sale customer service is mentioned nor is the importance of getting an eBike with a quality battery pack. The latter being the majority of the cost of producing an eBike. Replacing your battery can be a major investment and if only a few years down the road can have a huge impact on your finances.
I put over 17,000km on my cheap ebike using it year round in Canada(harsh winter) with lots of jumps and offroad use. Only repairs that cost money were replacing the cassette, chain and chainring.
What make model e bike did you get,
💩
Eunorau defender S is the best investment ever.
@@SherlockHomeless223 That's like 3 grand. What does it have over the bikes offered by Ariel Rider and Aventon in the same or lower price range?
Thats one of the issues i have with these cheap bikes , its 99 % equipped with Shimano tourney or altus . These groupsets cant handle rough terrain .they are fine for commuting but not off road . You need Shimano deore or higher .
He rambles on for like 3:45 for 20 secs worth of info. Thanks though. Hitting those youtube metrics is tuff
I don't understand his point. Of COURSE many E-bikes are going to look and be similar. There's only so many component companies out there.
This video was five minutes of mindless drivel.
I replaced my Raptobike Recumbent that I didn't ride with a Cannondale Synapse that I didn't ride with a Fiido D4s electric folding bike that cost less than each of my previous bikes, and I now look forward to commuting on it every day.
I've had it two weeks and my average on the bike is 5.1 minutes per mile during April vs 7.3 by car.
I can lean on the motor just enough particularly on the last couple of miles to enable me to wear my work clothes as there's no shower in work, so I leave at the same time as I used to when I drove.
On Sunday I checked out a longer, quieter route using cycle paths on my day off.
As far as I'm concerned, my cheap e-bike is achieving what I've been trying to for 10 years on regular bikes - using it for transport regularly.
If you're not motivationally challenged like me your mileage may vary, but I think it's the best thing I've ever purchased.
We’re more harping on the bikes being sold as off road bikes with parts that will fail and be a safety issue on down hill tracks.
I love the "motivationally challenged", I can relate haha.
I get the spirit of this video, but I don't necessarily agree with it.. Saying that all sub $2k e-bikes are the same and might as well just get the cheaper one because they're all the same is pretty bad advice IMO.. You still get something better by paying more than just $500 like a larger/branded battery, more powerful motor, hydraulic disc brakes, better frame, better fork, better customer service etc., these are all extra features that even those who know nothing about e-bikes would appreciate to have.. This video dictates such an elitist mindset that more or less says that anything under $2k is trash so just get the cheapest e-bike because they're all trash anyway lol.. I ride a $6k e-bike and while it's great and I can appreciate what it has to offer, most people aren't nerdy enough like me to want to spend that much on an e-bike..
Also while rear hub drive motors look inferior at face value.. They're actually better in some ways and is actually the motor type I would recommend to people who have little experience with riding and maintaining bicycles..
Well said. Elitism has taken over most outdoor sports, where I live, skiing and biking. I have a blast on my $1500 Magicycle. The build quality is rock solid, great acceleration and climbing power, and super 24hr customer service.
You couldn’t have said it any better. Spot on.. I appreciate your response because I was thinking EXACTLY the same thing.. Thank you
E bikes are going the same way as motorcycles as far as Elitism go's . why pay £12,000 for a Harley davidson when a £4000 Royal Enfield is the same performence uses less gass( a lot less ) ,costs a quarter the price for a service and has better relibility. I dont understand peoples logic They seem willing to pay for the sticker on the side of gass tank for an inferior product .
@@johnsshed995 While I'm not really a fan of Harley, I wouldn't want to own an RE either mostly because of the looks.. I can usually find beauty in any motorcycle, even scooters, RE just looks really off to me and they look worse the longer I look at them..
I researched a bunch of ebikes during the height of Covid and finally settled on Ride1Up Lmt'd. I chose it because I didn't want to be stuck with a "commuter" looking bike or a fat tire 70+lb monstrosity. I didn't even consider a fold-able version.
The Lmt'd looks more like a hard tail mountain / trail bike, which is what I wanted. Good enough to go on some single tracks and comfortable enough to go 25+ mile ride using a mix of assistance and throttle.
It also has some pretty decent components and the company is based in SoCal. Very happy with my choice.
The only problem I can see with Ride1Up is the terribly low range of the bikes. 25 miles is nothing for me
I've got the Ride1Up Turris, and just got the Cafe Cruiser today. Comfort and better stability are what wider tires get you. The quality/price ratio is great for Ride1Up bikes.
The key observation with these E-bikes is to observe terrain and wind conditions on your ride. Conserve battery power for headwinds or uphill. Set power and gearing to optimize exercise and power usage.
They all have two wheels, so, buy the cheapest one, and head out cross country.