American vs European ELECTRIC bikes: Which are better?
Вставка
- Опубліковано 28 лип 2024
- My book "DIY Lithium Batteries" on sale at amzn.to/2jbxvzS
My book "Ultimate DIY eBike Guide" on sale at: amzn.to/2BGx4Fn
Ampler Bike tour: electrek.co/2022/07/11/ampler...
The gear I use to make my videos:
Camera - Sony A6600: amzn.to/33twRHW
Lens - Sony 16-55mm F2.8: amzn.to/3K8X6nR
Thermal camera for iPhone/Android: amzn.to/2FikWvW
Drone for "follow me" filming: amzn.to/2UFOds5
Camera for invisible selfie stick shots: amzn.to/2Vb9D0r
Here are some of the products I use:
Bafang BBS01 kit: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/N0sm1W1w
Bafang BBS02 kit: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/EcGPWXRE
Bafang BBSHD kit: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/MMNrZUC0
250W complete e-bike kit: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/cQzxxhpm
500W complete e-bike kit: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/o6rnMv1q
1,000W complete e-bike kit: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/NGZvnq3Q
36V 15Ah Hailong (shark) battery: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/CAEvhRSY
48V 15 Ah triangle battery: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/234OZ5Kg
52V 20 Ah triangle battery: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/m0huJ2PI
All ebike batteries: goo.gl/7pAi9Z
All 18650 cells: goo.gl/hYWnwU
100W Flexible solar panel: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/DurJQaTe
100W Folding solar panel: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/C9raRNuM
Cycle Analyst: goo.gl/RsmE3N
The parts that I use for building batteries:
18650 cells: goo.gl/aEabAQ
18650 positive insulating washer: goo.gl/HBVOuc
Nickel strip: goo.gl/VIrNQq
Spot welder: goo.gl/KN3Uaw
BMSs: goo.gl/S6gSQx
Silicone wire: goo.gl/xmpbKD
Black 18650 cell spacers: goo.gl/hQxWF6
Vruzend cell spacers: goo.gl/5ReLqA
Large heat shrink tubing: goo.gl/6v1ow9
Small heat shrink tubing: goo.gl/OU3Z6u
Foam sheet for protecting battery: goo.gl/5e71tE
Kapton tape: goo.gl/D6BT57
Chargers: goo.gl/js0T0V
**Question response book giveaway rules**
When you guys asks questions in the comments of my videos, I'll try to answer them. If there are questions that I think would make a good video response, I'll choose them to do a longer segment. If I choose your question for a video response, you'll win a copy of my book The Ultimate DIY Ebike Guide (the paperback or the ebook), or my book DIY Lithium Batteries.
Here are some things that UA-cam makes me say: This contest is not sponsored by UA-cam and UA-cam isn't affiliated with it. I'm supposed to provide a link to the community guidelines for UA-cam (ua-cam.com/users/tcommunity_gu.... UA-cam is not a sponsor of this "contest" and by participating, you are releasing UA-cam from any potential liability, whatever that might be. Privacy notice: I won't steal your info. If you do win, you can choose to send me your address so I can mail you a paperback copy of the book (or some other prize if that changes) or you can send me an email address and I'll send you a copy of the ebook. I will do everything in my power to immediately forget your personal information afterwards.
Outro Music: BenSounds
I have a 15mph ebike in the UK and thought it would be rubbish but man its so enjoyable. I get to sit back enjoy a ride instead of zooming past and missing the beauty of life, you can talk to another person without being out of breath.
I live in England and in March I bought a KTM Macina 291 E-mountain bike (50nm) it is a fantastic tool for riding the country lanes around where I live. With 4 different power modes and 9 gears all hills are made easy work. The 500 WH battery gives me an assisted 60 mile range. Very good bit of kit that I love riding instead of the motorbike for a quiet countryside ride.
Thats all you need if you don't want to sit on your arse and put no effort in
It’s worth mentioning (unless I missed it) that in the UK at least, e bikes are pedal assist only. Throttles are illegal (as are escooters) on public highways. Some people still have and ride these in public areas, but you do run the risk of having them seized by the police and destroyed.
Isn't Big Brother great? 🤔
@@awo1fman See if you can get a US bike insured, Mr Free Market.
Recognize the real cost and assume it.
Actually the throttles are not illegal in uk, now we’re out of the eu you can buy them, with a road legal certificate, from Wisper , woosh and others
@@whazzat8015 but we can get a bike insured here
I'm not sure what's going on since Brexit, But last time I knew, You can run a throttle on your ebike as long as it's limited to 6kph.. This rule was put in place for those that need assisted start-up for health reasons or whatever.
Trust me there are plenty of faster bikes in Europe....We just don't shout it from the rooftops. Also the faster ones come with "speed selector switches often called German Switch. (that switch limits the bike to 15.5mph)
Makes sense. Btw, if you're riding you should wear an nta helmet like xnito or bern hudson, or even a full face helmet, I see a lot of people wearing cpsc helmets, those don't really protect you
Same in the U.S. we have some people riding around at 50mph (80kph) My bike personally will hit 35mph (56kph) , but as things break they will be upgraded .
And when you use them without registering it's legally the same like driving an unregistered and uninsured car. High fines, guilty in case of an accident. It's not worth it.
Well said regarding the use cases being different between the EU and USA, and I agree it mostly comes down to the urban design and infrastructure discrepancies between the two. In dense urban environments in the US for instance I think the lower power and speed of an EU electric bike is preferable. I certainly wouldn't want to be flying through Manhattan in NYC or Center City in Philly at 30mph, that's just asking for a collision with pedestrians/cars/other bikes.
Or being hit from behind by a car in the street.
Agree with others here: slower speeds work better around congested areas with other pedestrians and cyclists, higher speeds work better in traffic next to cars. If there was better biking infrastructure in the US 15mph makes sense, but on the road, I'd rather keep up with car traffic.
Sadly, all too often I see cyclists electric powered or not, running red lights, going too fast next to pedestrians and just ruining it for everyone else.
You americans arent known as people who care about others
@@dextew69 Not surprised, but know that some of us care, and it pains us to be neighbors, coworkers, even family members to those who do not. Please be careful not to generalize. 🖖
@@Svid1701D i agree that generalization shouldnt be done but also consider that being cautious and discriminatory is what abled our species to be successful and put us on top. Cant be too careful when dealing with people from a country who has 'good samaritan' law
Worth pointing out that these bikes (in both cases) are NOT speed limited. The electric assistance ceases at the advertised speed, but keep pedalling and you'll go faster. For most of my journeys, my average speed is higher than 25Kph simply because I'm not afraid of pushing on.
Also the sensor can be moved to fool it to go faster
@@MaximusJohal This seems to be physical nonsense
As an expat living in a European country, I truly wish I could get an American spec'd Ebike. The cost for such a low speed Ebike is outrageous.
And not only that, they expect the rider to pay for it!
You can. get cheap stuff in the US, only problem is it falls apart, is unserviceable, and bursts into flame every now and then.
It's called assuming the true cost.
Get a kit off Ali, that's what I did :) buy a battery in Europe though
Agree. I think most the comments justifying the ludicrous low European speed limit is cope.
@@vgamedude12 i got 3kw ebike in europe, its illegal but i never had any problem with police, even riding it everyday to work. But after some time i limited it to 25km/h by myself because slow ride is just pleasure. I dont want to shake my brain going back from work or going for shopping. I want to go slow, rest and chill while being in open space. Thats whole idea of bicycle.
@@bobikbobikowy5458 I can go over 25kph and still be very chill. Many cyclist can average much more than that without even an ebike.
Excellent perspective, and I was unaware that EU bikes are under-reporting power levels! It reminds me of US muscle cars in the 1960's, with all the manufacturers claiming "425 horsepower" because of insurance regulations. A lot of US companies have "adequate" quality, but there is stiff price competition. I have to say the results are more than adequate though, and I frequently ride with far more expensive bikes that are less capable. I do think that US e-bikes can be more versatile despite the quality gap. I can still ride gently through forests or blend in with city traffic, but if needed I can ride technical MBT's and do group rides with gas mopeds. Thank you for the video!
I live in the UK and unfortunately both my bike have the bafang mid-drive motors one is the 1000w bbshd and the mountain bike is the bbs02 and I've never got stopped once but I do ride them Conservatively and that's OK for me on the road 👍🏾✌️
Nice and informative video thanks for highlighting the differences, I’m soon retiring to rural France and looking forward to some cycling on near deserted roads at a pleasurable 15.5mph.
Great overview, an important distinction is that ebikes are considerably more expensive in Europe as well, when compared to cost of living which justifies then being a car replacer
Love this channel! Thanks for sharing the knowledge
Speed limit will always be the best choice. This way cargo bikes that can haul kids and groceries will be fittingly powered and not fear hills. Excellent video there is a vast difference in neighborhood infrastructure so the use case is different. Thanks Micah
Thanks for the video. I enjoyed hearing the differences as well as how culture defines affects the importance of ebike features. Ct from SF/CA.
Just found your videos, and appreciate the straightforward info on all aspects of ebikes. Thanks!
I build all my E-bikes and I live in Georgia, Go Dawgs! Here we can have 1000w motors and I do. But you are 100% right about taking it easy on E-bikes sometimes you forget you are on a bicycle doing 40 mph a wreck is nasty. I live in a metro environment and enjoy the fact I can ride to the store or to the park and ride the tow path. but having the power to get me back up hill with little to no effort is sweet. in fact got two 1500 watt full suspension bikes on the rack now, looking forward to my vacation so I can build them. great video!
Cool comparison. Enjoy your trip!
I always look forward to seeing your videos pop up in my sub list.
Thanks, LLoose! Glad you keep watching! :-D
Great video as always!
Bravo👍! Putting these explanations, in basic average understandable terms.
I rather learn to use the mid-drive motors, by down shifting, to risk wear & tear with the torque. As an e-bike newbie, (getting it setup, as we speak), my goal using it as a tool (point A to B, transportation). Just found your vlog channel, and would like more sound suggestions pertaining to e-bikes, on various continents. Thank You!
I have been living in Italy the past five months and seen a lot of ebikes out there and I agree.....speed isn't as important here. Not to mention the cobble stone streets are deadly at high speed on a bike! Ha!
I really like your blogs there very informative
Fantastic video about watt and Nm.
The Ampler e-bike is stunning. The deep putty green and blacked out color scheme is elegant and understated. I'm in love. My only reservation about e-bikes is reliability. VanMoof makes gorgeous bikes too but they are riddled with problems.
Dude love how you bring the message across, one day hopefully i would be a winner
Hi Micah. Great video. I'd love to get more out of my ebike. Would you please consider doing a video on programmable speed controllers? Thanks in advance.
How do people with mid drives keep from tearing out their freewheel if they use all the low gears to climb with a powerful electric motor instead of leg power ?
Interesting stuff, again …. 😊
Much thanks 🙏👍🏻🚴
There is something to be said about going at a slower pace, more peaceful for sure. Thanks for the great videos.
@🆆hatsapp me:+①⑨②⑨⑤⑧⑨③⑧⑧⓪ no thanks scammer!
would be nice if they tweaked the rules a bit in the UK to 500w and 20mph and allowed bikes to be sold from the shop with a throttle.
get a speed-pedelec and your wishes are granted 🙂
Not really EU specific Ebike's motors are governed to 15.5Mph and cut out above this speed.
Now they plan to legalise scooters, which can only work with a throttle, surely there is no argument to ban throttles on an ebike?
@@tom.jacobs But you are restricted more on where you can ride them.
@@markepps3511 I agree.
Shocked that you did not mention that you have to pedal for the motor to work
Great video!
Good comparison, thanks! 😀👍
For me, the bigger difference is the geometry and suspension that seem to go along with the more powerful motors. You don't see too many Bafang Ultra mid drive motors mounted on road bike frames. So if you prefer full suspension, powerful disc brakes, mid fat or fat tires, and a more upright riding position (more of an eMTB geometry), those things seem to go hand-in-hand with more power.
Um , moto suspension, brakes and geometry for motos.
Bikes with assist, not so much
Great information
In my city there are electric bicycles from the municipality with deposit and charging stations distributed throughout the city for 20€ a year as it is mountainous and there is a lot of love for cycling many people who do mountain biking have ebikes
Amazing new look
Love your videos
Interesting take on euro vs US marketed e-bikes. 👌
I enjoy every video you share with us,and am always learning something new.Thank you.Btw;"Anything you like".😉
Great video
Got Yosepower bike kit after watching your video. I do food deliveries on bike for living, changing my bike to electric helping me a lot and it's very cheap at around $500 with tax. It paid for itself in a week.
That's so cool! Glad to hear it is working out well for you. Ride safe, brother!
Could you make a video?!
On which ebikes have the best range and why.
Hi Micah, Could you give your 2 cents on the use of/ need for torque arms for front mounted hub motors? Are they necessary or even useful? Thanks
I Have A Fucare Gemini. I put an 11/34 freewheel on it and use it to commute 30 miles a day. I run pedal assist 3 and average 20 to 25 mph. I ride a mix of steep hills and long flat valleys. It's heavy but it's comfortable for my 6'4" 225 lbs 50 year old self. In heavy traffic I kick it to level five and run 30 mph . I haul rain gear, my lunch and a battery charger so I have a fair amount of added weight.
Though they're almost non-existent in the U.S, I've been lucky enough to loan a Stromer for my commute to College, which has made the 15 mile trip there only about 45 minutes versus a regular bike's hour and a half. It's so liberating to be out of a car, and I can tell e-bikes are only going to grow as an alternative to them in the future.
I like the balanced opinion. Tnx micha
I think the major difference is our bike infrastructure... I have a normal bike, and I usually slow down to ~15-20km/h within city centers. here, you often don't bike on the "car roads" but rather on dedicated bicycle lanes which are usually placed on pedestrian streets. It would be extremely inconsiderate and dangerous to go above 25km/h... So the limit is really there to make it safer for the intended infrastructure. That's why we have registered mopeds that drive on roads alongside cars instead... Generally I would consider bikes to be the more pleasant and safe alternative as you don't interact much at all with car traffic. Even when going between cities. If I travel to my partner, 25km from my city, or my mother 45km away. I literally travel on bicycle motorways, which have great, smooth asphalt as well as a lot of greenery alongside them to shelter from wind and the sun.
Even here in the U.S. it seems like kind of a two tiered system. When I visit my brother in Rhode Island and ride one of his Radrovers they seem like all the power I need on the narrow roads and busy bike paths of Newport. But when I am at home in Missouri I appreciate being able to use modified ebikes that can go 35-40 mph off just the throttle.
Not mentioned is that the distance travelled tends to be more in the USA than in Europe.
I think anything under 30mph shouldn't be regulated at all.
It's personal responsibility of people not to injure other people. If they do they can be sued for damages. Horses could go up to 25-30mph and weigh 660 pounds, up to even 1200 pounds, and people were *fine.*
At any rate, I would much rather be hit by a bike, even at 30 mph, than a car at 40mph.
In fact, recently I was walking on a sidewalk and someone on a non-Ebike accidentally hit me lightly.
In a car it would have been a big deal- on a bike it's almost always no big deal. It's almost always a short hospital trip at the very worst (of course there are publicized outliers though.)
Now maybe I could get behind reckless ebike riding laws to stop people who, for example, choose to zoom dangerously close to pedestrians at 30mph. But all the laws that try to regulate bikes are just silly, irrationally limiting, criminalizing, and straight-up insulting to people I think... Though I know that isn't the intent of the laws.
A few points to add. In EU having a throttle classifies it as a moped so that's not allowed on a 25km ebike.
Also, in EU, no helmet it required for bikes limited to 25kms. This makes them ideal for transport as you don't need to carry a helmet with you once you get off. I personally love the convenience of not wearing a helmet and prefer it to going 32kms. And yes, riding in EU is normally safety then North America because there is great cycle infrastructure here.
Unless you're in the UK where the cycling infrastructure is "fuck you. good luck"
In the EU the manufactures don't illegaly go over 250W. Its just legal.
A 250W electric motor is rated for 250W *continuous* power without any technical restrictons (overheating etc).
A 250W continuous motor it totally allowed to peak over 1000 Watts for seconds or minutes.
Thats why TESLAs have in German vehicle registration papers only 69 kW written but output up to 750 kW.
yep, they're 250w continuous but can go up to 1k peak power, so when you need really need that power it can be there
In Canada the speed limit is 32 Km/h with no limit on the motor size. The plated and insured with a motorcycle license version is limited to 72 Km/h, but can't go on bike paths.
I go 25 Km/h when I'm not in rush or want to go very far (40-50Km), and about 37 Km/h when not concerned about power usage. I removed the speed limit and can do 45 Km/h if need be.
Canadians make the best ebike motors in the world.
I am in the USA, I have gone the DIY route because I like tinkering. I have a Bafang BBSHD in both of them, My electric mountain bike has a 58v23Amp battery and my recumbent solar trike has two 58v20Amp batteries and a 175watt solar canopy. Both cycles I ride similarly, going through the gears (NJ and Pa where I live are kind of hilly) and I rarely go faster then 15mph. I enjoy a comfortable cruise on the bike paths and since I am disabled from a spinal cord injury, going fast is not my way any more.... It is good to have power when you need it like shooting across a busy intersection.
If you a "shooting across intersection"s
your transportation system is not working
@@whazzat8015 huh?
@@derykmacleod4979 If you need to "shoot" across intersection , you are in an unsafe situation. Building ebikes to that standard makes other problems arise . That is a failure of the entire system of transportation , not fixed by hot rodding ebikes. duh
@@whazzat8015 Going through an intersection quickly does not mean it's unsafe. It's often safer as cars often don't see cyclists.
@@Andrew-it7fb They more probably never see cyclists. Higher injury/death levels reflect this. Yes it's timing, but if speed is a dominant factor the system is a fail. it's like going faster if you are lost. Only works SOME time.
Good one
When are they coming out with lithium iron batteries for e-bikes?
I'm a Canadian who has just moved from an American-market e-bike to a European one. I think you missed some important generalities on the differences. Euro-style bikes, because they're considered tools for transportation more than toys for sport/recreation, are designed to be more comfortable and lower maintenance. As such they're more likely to have an upright geometry, internal gear hubs, mudguards, racks or baskets for cargo, integrated high intensity lighting, they will tend to be more suited to roads than trails, and will often have a clean low-maintenance carbon belt drive. North America is full of wide-tire full-suspension or hardtail high-power bikes, but those aren't great for year-round transportation.
Yeah, but hardtails are kinda essential when you're stuck riding on roads in the US. Lol. Cars are brutal on cement. And wider tires are useful for slick conditions since you can deflate them and run them semi-flat for increased traction. That said, I love my IGH and belt drive and am really glad to not have to deal with a chain any more on my commuter bike.
Thanks
1:30 so cool from you to put the independent Catalonian flag :) For the rest of viewers, we're still part of Spain, and old city streets from Barcelona are quite the opposite of US 4 lane "Streets"
I'm moving to Spain in the next 3-6 months. I'm going to sell my car and was thinking of buying an ebike here before I move. Not too much to choose from at 250w, but REI is selling Co-op Cycles CTY e2.1 Electric Bike for $1,400 and the Co-op Cycles CTY e2.2 for $2,100, both mid-drive with 40 and 60Nm. But the speed is 20 MPH which is over the 25 KPH limit. Any advise?
Does he have a video on bike packing with an ebike?
Terrific commentary... comparing & contrasting pros n' cons... roads n' rules.
My comment:
((( DUDE!!! HELMET!!! SERIOUSLY!!! )))
i need one of your books
I think there are misunderstandings about Watts of an electric motor. In Austria the regulations say that a maximum of 250 Watt continuous output is allowed. When you "start" an electric motor the resistance is almost 0 Ohms (only the wire resistance) so it will take the maximum current (Amps) that the battery/controller delivers. This means at the start it easily exceeds the 250 Watt. And manufacturer can legally set a bigger Watt/Amps setting at a lower speed so that you can start pedaling at a steep hill without problems.
But after some time the motor must be regulated down by the controller to 250 Watt.
Anyway it doesn't matter because at least here in Austria the police is not able to even measure the output of an motor. They even can't legally measure the max speed when they stop you on the street because measuring equipment is only suitable for anything with a throttle only (no pedals) equals Motorbikes only
You can change a setting on the bike and it can run fine in both places.
After eating it badly at 32mph (road rash scars for life) I don't need the power I have and keeping it under 20mph has become my norm.. so I'd be fine with the lower power bikes over there.
if you go that fast you definitely need some protection
The new Bafabg M625 100mm BB motor is NOT a kit to buy on a whim. I have yet to find a bike I can install it on. I bought a Gravity Fatbike and the motor hits the frame preventing me from installing it. The only way to fit it on this bike is to either cut a section of the frame out which is impossible or grind a slot in the motor which is impossible. If anyone has a bike that it will fit i'd love to hear it.
250W is the maximum continuous power, peak power isn't capped at 250W.
ah, that would make a little more sense
🚲Would absolutely appreciate your comment! I loved your video about EU vs USA E-Bikes, great job. I'm about to move to Germany and was thinking about shipping two of the prodigy bikes. Do you think it's a good value if shipping is free? Or any other bike you would suggest? I don't want to spend an arm and a leg on it. 😅
My impression is that a lot of americans really want a moped( maybe i am mistaken) whereas in europe, japan etc... it is more about a power assisted bicycle.
I got a 72v 8000w ebike that I use as my main transportation when its not raining. I want the power when I need it but most of the time I do the speed limit which is between 30 to 45 mph
There is a certain freedom amd elegance that comes from a lighter, less powerful bike that relies on the gear train. It is easier to handle and fits in better around pedestrians. It doesn't necessarily look like an ebike and blends in better. It can be more affordable too.
One thing not mentioned in this video about the EU is that 30km/h would match car speeds in most residential and downtown areas, so an increase in the speed of ebikes from 25km/h to to 30km/h could allow for more fluid integration between bikes and cars and perhaps improve safety.
For context, I live in Canada.
Some of the new pedal assisted road bikes are made of lightweight carbon, have lightweight components. With that kind of setup you'll do fine with 250w or 60 NM motor. Much of the time you'll find yourself only switching on the power to get up a hill or in a head wind.
Carbon and electric power?
Just look at how it dominates the market.
Really makes sense to have light low power assist, but find one.
@@whazzat8015 yep, I hear you. They are hard to get. Wait times are ridiculous. I have on on order. Won't see it until the end of January.
.. Cheers to you.
THANK U I REALLY NEEDED TO KNOW THIS , I CHOOSE THE EUROPE E BIKE since I am not the cowboy rodeo type rider
Better to have and not need than to need and not have . I definitely would like more power within reason .
Micah, are you contacting winners of a Delfast bike? Legit or scam?
well what i think what is the biggest diffrent is that a E-bike in the usa most of the time have a none pedals... its a moped... and here u need a drivers licence to ride that thing.... since they can go over 30 km/h its a moped but if it have pedals they mostly are signed as a speed pedelec (atleast this is true for the netherlands.) since the rules here are more strict then somewhere else i believe. we still arent allowed to ride a LEV...
High Hp bike with high torque seems good combo 😛 anyways really like your videos. Posting this comment to see my luck if i can get your free book. Ps. My fav video of yours was the chinese electric truck thingy looking forward for a update on that 💙
Idk how to write to you back but really thanks for selecting me as winner. I wish you luck for your further future publications and also these intresting ebike videos. I am from India and it'll really become hectic for you to send the book i was just randomly testing my luck really thanks alot it means so much that you even pay attention to comments section and hear the voice of people looking forward for more and more videos from you on youtube 🥰💙✌🏻 peace
As a newcomer to e-bikes, I am alarmed at how much I hear on UA-cam about the top speed of e-bikes. Bicycles are simply not safe at high speeds: You not only have no protection in a crash, but you are balancing on two narrow tires. 20 MPH is the maximum safe speed for a bicycle in most conditions. Remember that kinetic energy increases by the square of velocity: Crashing at 20 MPH is going to hurt four times more than crashing at 10 MPH. Crashing at 30 MPH is even worse, whether you are on an e-bike or a road bicycle.
Thanks, interesting video. Something I don’t understand, when I bought a bicycle (third bike) they said that when the pedal is at its lowest position my leg should have only just a slight bend at the knee, it looks like almost all American e-bikes have you sitting very low. My first bicycle I found along the side of the road for free, the seat was very low and my knees were bent a lot, it was very hard to pedal. Really I don’t think that American e-bikes are intended to be used for peddling at all, I really would like to get a European style bike where you can actually pedal it.
"American" ebikes are often just chinese ones dropshipped. They be shorter folk, as a rule.
What size bike frame do you use? You are prolly not 5'3"
@@whazzat8015 They look like they’re for you for even shorter than people that are 5’ 3” look like they are really specifically only just “cool” (fat tire) electric mini bikes, people that buy them have absolutely no intention of doing ANY pedaling. This is the thing when I look at electric bicycles they all have fat tires, I thought the purpose of having skinny tires under high pressure was to “reduce rolling resistance“ can’t comprehend why that is not a criteria even for electric bicycles to conserve limited battery capacity. I don’t see anything like the European bicycles for sale here I want to get one imported from Europe with skinny tires but with 1000 W motor (it’s kind of hilly here) so I can hook a trailer to it and get my groceries.
@@williamwixon With 1000 w you can climb phone poles. Weight cost and range penalty. Fat tires are a suspension element for rigid frames. My "250w" hub hauls well. Trailer attachment on rear ehubs may be a challenge and Travoy style seat post mounted trailers are narrow and prone to flip, so speed is best approached with care. Bikes are bikes. Motos are motos. ebikes are tools with specific uses, and often expectations require a lot of judgement. to assure fit.
If you even think you might have to pedal it, know what it is like without power. Ebikes are often hugely oversold for what is real use.
@@whazzat8015 I repurposed a kids trailer, I wish I could send you photos I’m very proud of it, TIG welded steel and aluminum, the kids trailer had a axle mounted attachment point. ShopRite is 8 miles from me and I would pedal 30 pounds of groceries up hills, it was hard and strenuous but I was very proud of myself that my legs were strong enough to do 8 miles (16 RT) in hilly terrain with a trailer attached. I’ve seen other cargo E bikes with 1000 W, that was my reference, I really have no idea how many watts I would need, and I am fat now, I stopped riding my bike a couple years ago. My bike has a rigid frame (“hybrid”)and it doesn’t have fat tires, i’ve never had a suspension on any of my bicycles, I don’t need it. I thought skinny tires were for “reduced rolling resistance“. I’m 62 years old I’m not in the least bit interested in speed, it would be great though to get some assistance in bringing my groceries home. Up steep hills.
I repurposed a kids trailer, I wish I could send you photos I’m very proud of it, TIG welded steel and aluminum, the kids trailer had a axle mounted attachment point. ShopRite is 8 miles from me and I would pedal 30 pounds of groceries up hills, it was hard and strenuous but I was very proud of myself that my legs were strong enough to do 8 miles (16 RT) in hilly terrain with a trailer attached. I’ve seen other cargo E bikes with 1000 W, that was my reference, I really have no idea how many watts I would need, and I am fat now, I stopped riding my bike a couple years ago. My bike has a rigid frame (“hybrid”)and it doesn’t have fat tires, i’ve never had a suspension on any of my bicycles, I don’t need it. I thought skinny tires were for “reduced rolling resistance“. I’m 62 years old I’m not in the least bit interested in speed, it would be great though to get some assistance in bringing my groceries home. Up steep hills.
Micah, do Europeans tend to have shorter commute distances?
250 watts?? What is that? 2.08amps @ 120v? My Black and Decker sander uses more than that!
Very easy to tell where most cyclists live, and where bicycles are essential transportation, not recreation. I'm glad I bought a class 1 Dutch ebike. Class 1 are the only ebikes legal in USA national parks.
In Europe, bikes are for basic fitness too. You know, you "met your goal" going into work etc. Personally, I want e-bike only to help me with pedal assist into hills, because it's tedius. And 250W bafang or something on lighter gear ratio is more than enough.
So the thing in my mind is perhaps commutes and daily travel would account for the speed difference between the u.s. and the E.U. ...
in switzerland it's 500w limit because of mountain maybe ?!
Switzerland is not a member of the EU.
I guess in a country where people are allowed to carry guns, 28mph and 750w seems pretty safe! Here in UK where looking at someone a bit funny can cause offence, 15mph and 250w is living on the edge!
eBikes are for wimps. My eScooter has a 1200w motor in each wheel. Don't even get me started on electric unicycle. The 2500w Veteran Sherman still lugs my 300# around at 42+ MPH. 😉
Seriously our real danger isn't vehicle power, it's drivers in cars who don't see you no matter how bright your clothes or lights because their faces are in their cellphones. I got hit twice before I gave up.
A lot of hunters are starting to use ebikes. So ya, ebikes and guns go together nicely.
Since we don’t have usable bike infrastructure I have to “ share the road “. I need a bike that can keep up with traffic so I don’t get run over. 15 MPH would not work. Also don’t need an E bike that is slower that what I can do on a pedal bike. Still thanks for the information.
It has been my experience that keeping up with traffic can actually be dangerous, because it creates a disparity between what motorists expect vs reality. Motorists will behave in a way that assumes you will have piss poor acceleration and speed. If you are going faster than they realize, they might miscalculate and create a dangerous situation. I've had this happen before on numerous occasions and my take on the situation is that it would be significantly safer to ride a motorcycle (even an electric one) if you want to go the speed of traffic. At least then the other people on the road will have realistic expectations of what your vehicle is capable of.
I see the bike has Continental contact urbans. Man of culture right here folks!
They have a slower more relaxed life than us. They get three months off work every year for holiday “” On top of vacation time and most don’t work 5 days a week. Work it to live there and here loving is to work.
cool!
I'm a fan of slower limit, it is overall safer w other non car users on a path, w less speed differentials. Also worth mentioning above 15 mph, it takes a lot more power to overcome wind. So range would be higher for a given battery size also. I wish I could limit my full throttle to 15.5 mph vs current 20 mph, I would be able to go farther and safer. Keeping up with traffic is a car centric view, instead should just stay away from cars & streets is the safest.
You can limit your full throttle to 15.5 mph with a Cycle Analyst.
@@sammiller6631 And EVERONE I know has a CA, and programs it for HPV space.
@@whazzat8015 programs it for Human Papillomavirus Virus?
@@sammiller6631 people with exposure to the industry use the term Human Powered Vehicles to distinguish them from motos.
You can ride as slow as you want, just don't come and dictate that nanny behavior to others and justify the draconian nightmare state that the EU is evolving to.
"Anything you'd like!"
There, "I said it!"
That's very interesting. I didn't realize that the EU limits their e-bikes to only 250 Watts. My add on e-bike motor is only 250 watts. It's the one that you recommended, several years ago, that we not buy.
I got an email saying that I won a book, but how do I reply?
Enough said!
🤜🏽
I live in SW France and have a French ebike. Mid drive motor and average speed is around 17 mph. It would be difficult on our roads to go faster, avoiding tractors and narrow country lanes. I love mine. i use it to go see friends, nipping down to the shops for bread etc. It is very hilly here and the joy of cruising up hills is wonderful.
This bike was really easy to assemble ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxMesz3KOGEmwmvyKQfLfrRSUXLFzfVHZA and required very few adjustments out of the box. The wheels did not require any truing/adjustments. The frame had some small scratches, but nothing major.I did replace the seat though - the seat it came with was very uncomfortable. The tires need to be re-inflated every 4-5 days, but this appears to be quite common for the narrow 700x25 tires.Overall, in my opinion, this bike looks and rides like a much more expensive bike.
I now commute with a $1,000 750 watt, 14amp hr Ariel Rider hub drive bike. The savings in gasoline mean the bike has paid for itself. It is basic but has held up well. The video didn’t mention that a european bike with similar power and range would cost close to three times as much. Also not mentioned was that mid drive bikes cause much more wear to the cassette and chain. I can easily reach 25 mph which is much safer because I can cruise along with traffic instead of being an obstacle. Lastly, there is a high likelihood the bike will be stolen. People with a $3,000 Gazelle that gets stolen will be weeping, me not so much. And finally, who wants to ride alone all the time? Three Gazelles could run you $9,000 for a family of three while three bikes like mine would run only $3,000. I agree that a Gazelle is better in a few aspects but it is pretty elitist to write off chinese bikes that work great for people of more moderate means.