I have been watching your reviews, and i think is great that someone like you do this kind of reviews for us. Thank you for your effort, your reviews are great, and it shows your experience on the issue of electric bikes. I am in the process of buying one for myself and i wanted to buy the Sondors so bad, but it seems that the bike still needs a lot of work. I was wondering if you can recommend me an Ebike that is a good, built to last in the 800 dollars range, i will really appreciate your feedback about it. Again, thank you so much for your effort, keep up the good work.
Have had mine for ten days. So far...awesome! Ordered the LCD panel, which I think will be great. Unique looking bike, and rides nice. Great job Storm!
This is such an excellent and thorough review of this e-bike. When I have bought bicycles new I always get them delivered straight to my house. But I am a bicycle geek and I love mucking about with them. I do think that many people might not realise that there is quite a lot to ensuring a bicycle or e-bike is safely assembled. You noticed that your spokes needed tensioning, but I think someone new to this might not have noticed that. I am glad you mentioned the Efneo in the review. I haven't heard of that one and it is a most interesting chainwheel gearing system. I'm a big fan of the Schlumpf but that would probably cost more than the Sondors Indiegogo. I don't know if there is a price for the Efneo yet judging from their website it is not yet in production.
brighton dude Thanks for the compliments! Glad you enjoyed the review, I spent extra time on it because I know a lot of people are excited to get theirs and see what to expect. My friend did a great job building the bike and I'm glad we were able to get footage of assembly but I hope it wasn't too long :P I agree that the Efneo is very cool, I hope it's compatible with the longer bottom bracket on the Sondors, I'm not really sure? From what I remember, I think it's going to cost ~$250 and the team that created it is very friendly and cool, I got to speak with them on the phone earlier this year :)
I enjoyed that footage of the ebike being assembled, but it reminded me of that scene at the beginning of one of the Breaking Bad episodes where they cut up the young boy's motorcycle to dissolve it in acid :)
The bike is being delivered, no need to bash it because doesn't make the up to 50 miles, anyone with common sense knows that maybe that would be possible with any eBike down hill ! I have seen very little reviews that put the bikes through the test that you put this one through, that i consider was a good think. On other reviews you seem less critical. But anyway, I appreciate that you took the time and shared your thoughts with the world.
BMW Fan Thanks, glad you enjoyed it and I respect your feedback. I did scrutinize this ebike more because I actually bought it and had more time with it. Usually I just borrow bikes from shops or visit manufacturers in person to test their new models. I spent more time with the Sondors because I realize there are a lot of people who are new to electric bikes watching this one. I was aggressive at parts because I feel that the Sondors team willfully mislead people, just look at the weight, it's way off and they are still advertising 45 lbs on their website when even without the battery this thing weighs ~53. Maybe 8 lbs doesn't sound like a big deal but it's the principal at stake and it extends to range, power, delivery time and brake size. Even if more knowledgeable folks recognize that the 50 mph estimate is a bit inflated and refer to the asterisk or 30 to 50 estimate (which weren't there when the campaign began), newbies might not get it and I think it's hurtful to mislead with marketing in this way. It hurts the spirit of crowd funding because people might stop trusting and offering to back a product when they feel like they were lied to. That's definitely how I feel. So even though I like the end product and appreciate the price, decent quality and quick turnaround... I just feel mislead unnecessarily and I don't feel comfortable looking the other way about it or letting it go unmentioned because other brands might do the same thing. It's my job to be real about this stuff and to measure claims against reality when I can, I do my best to hit that mark while remaining open to feedback from others who own or have reviewed a product.
Thanks for the review. I ordered a couple of these bikes and am excited to get them. I am completely new to ebikes. I am wondering, I see that it has a variable speed controller. I am wondering, if you got 15 miles while running it full blast all of the time? Theoretically, if I were to only use it at 1/2 throttle, would it get double the mileage?
OneWayofLiving I mostly used the throttle at full and did some little hills and went on packed dirt (but I also pedaled). My guess is that you could get 20 miles on flats by riding at lower speeds, accelerating slower and pedaling a bit more (especially to help it get up to speed). On the flip side, I'm pretty light weight and wasn't carrying much gear (just a small Camelbak with a tool and Gopro mounts :)
ElectricBikeReview.com Thanks for the reply. Wondering is the battery and motor always assisting you? Is there an option only to have it on while hitting the throttle when you need it?
I've ridden this bike on the super flat land of Florida using 30 lbs in the tires and with the 5 speed computer...over 60 miles. I was not "energy greedy" so rode with shut-offs too. Had a bar energy left but the red light was flickering. I'm 77.
My Sondors Ebike is just fantastic! I ordered it back in November of 2015 but got cold feet when I read too many negative reviews and cancelled my order. It arrived in late January of 2016 anyway so I thought I would build it up and sell it. After my first ride, I decided to keep it for myself. The bike had a lot more power than I thought and a lot more than the reviews said it would. The bike's handling was a dream, the ride is cushy with the fat tires and I could ride "no hands" right away. It climbs reasonably well, even with a single speed it climbed up my 18% driveway. Overall, the bike is well worth the money and I would recommend it to anyone. Edward N Price
If there's some small hills where you live, will using the pedal assist work the same as full electric or will it be easier?P.S. I love your videos yu actually know what you are doing unlike most people!
I'm glad they've started shipping them. While I personally prefer more power and speed, it seems like a decent bike given the price. I just really wish they had been honest about the specs. Their claims of a 50 mile range with a 36v ~8ah battery and such made me lose all faith and trust in them. Had they simply been honest I may have purchased one for myself.
+74orangebeetle The 50 mile claimed range was always with pedal assist, with that said a member of the owners group did 53 miles on a range test @ 10 mph with pedal assist. The average rider should expect to get around 20 to 25 miles with mild assist. There is a Federal limit on power and speed which this bike meets, adding the optional LCD control, you can unlock the speed limiter and go faster.
Bruce TheSniper Yeah, until there is a standard for how to rate things like this, some shady company can come along and make range claims that aren't equal to those of better products because the rider has to do more of the work. Ultimately these just aren't ready for prime time except as a toy. I mean as transportation, it's quite expensive for the limitations of speed, range, limited access highways, endurance, etc. Granted, a lot of people who would opt for a commuter style eBike don't need to go 50 miles, but the tech is still held back in the application by needing higher energy density and lower cost batteries... the same as always. In a way it's funny how the internet gets momentum going on bad ideas because products are selectively marketed to people who don't know the tech well enough to realize the down sides. A lot of important work in eBIke refinement has happened but the battery is a thorn in its heel that will really let the products excel once that obstacle is removed. I keep thinking FUEL CELL, but somehow greenies have a mental block about it as if batteries are inherently better, failing to recognize that fuel can be a renewable resource and in fact is if we focus on doing so instead of only making it as cheap as possible, which is mitigated by only having to power an eBike and rider instead of thousands of pounds of motor vehicle. Oh wait, they already have something like that called a scooter. Funny how the best solutions for things *given current tech* are the most popular globally without that extra marketing push.
Excellent review. Thank you. It's important to know that the tires and tubes can run $200 + when you need to replace them, which is about what it will cost to replace the battery as well. Buying one is just the beginning of costs. It's the tire prices that really kill you. I was able to get 2 nice tires for my eBike for $42 for the pair at Walmart. No, they're not high end, but they're perfectly fine, and are nice and big. I saw my first RadRover bike today, and it is really big. Almost motorcycle like. It looks like it has a stretched wheelbase, which is good for stability. but overall the bike looks like what it is, a motorized bike. Might have trouble from the cops on that one. It also weighs 10 lbs more than the Sondors at 55 lb vs 65 lb. Add a water bottle, a rear rack, a heavy U lock and slime in the tires and the RadRover will be at 75-80 lbs, which is a lot of weight for any eBike. What isn't mentioned in the video is that the Sondors is actually faster, 20 mph vs 22, but of course the acceleration of 750 watts will get you up to speed faster than a 350 watt motor. It's really an unfair comparison in many ways, Don't get me wrong, the features and build are better on the RadRover, but I would probably not buy either of these. My cheap $600 Ancheer will do 20 mph too, and has been dead reliable. For more than twice the price, I would expect more than either of these two bikes delivers.
Awesome review Court. Looks fun! 15 miles with what seems like a lot of pedaling... Not bad for 8.8ah on a geared hub @ 36V. I would say its a great errand bike for around town! Always look forward to your reviews :)
Cutler Cycles Hey! Thanks, definitely spent some time on this review (and all of the videos and conversations leading up to it). I enjoyed the bike overall and hope the other backers get theirs soon and don't have any issues. How is your electric bike project going? I got a call from an interested customer this morning asking about it.
ElectricBikeReview.com Yes that's why I like your reviews they are very thorough and unbiased. The Fusion ebike project is going great we are moving into the production stage very soon. Its has had tons of improvements since your review including 2500w upgrade, Front disc, integrate lighting system and USB charger. You can always send them to the website. Igg.me/at/fusionebike Thanks Court I look forward to your next review.
Thank you Court! I think this is good entering level e-bike for people who don't have much money. But you are right in your conclusions about specs promissed and real life tests..
Artur Ragulskyi Thanks Artur, I've had fun with this bike (even though it's heavier... and doesn't go as far as expected... and arrived late...) those things don't actually upset me, it's more the sense that the Sondors team knowingly lied about them, even after we weighed the demo bike and gave them feedback... their live ads and even the website still say it weighs 45 lbs and gets 30 to 50 miles per charge... Even without the battery in, the bike I got weighs ~53 and even with some pedaling I only got 15 miles.
This bike is a great first e-bike. I have ridden over 200 miles within Potapsco Park. It is a life changer. I have upgraded the pedals and the tires but these changes are not necessary. Get an extra battery period.
+daniel hedrick Great feedback Daniel, thanks! I just ordered the new version which is being sold through Kickstarter... went with the narrower wheels and got a suspension fork upgrade along with the display so I can dig deeper in the next review.
Been thinking about purchasing the Storm....speaking of storms we get a lot if rain out here in lost coast! How reliable is it? Can we purchase extended warranties??
nerdexproject Glad you enjoyed it! The kids were stoked... they rode the Sondors and then my friend let them ride his e-fat bike which has a 500 watt motor and 48 volt battery, they were floored ;)
Awesome man! :) 500 Watt you say? Where are the legal limits in America? Here in Europe you said it's 250 (not that I'd care too much... ;) ) but I am curious if some of your states even have any limits in terms of Watt.
nerdexproject Yeah, our limits are set at the national level but can be adjusted by state. For US it's 750 watt with top speed of 20 mph unassisted. If you're in California that raises to 1,000 watts and if you pedal along the bike can go to higher speeds, many hit ~28 mph and are called speed pedelecs: electricbikereview.com/tag/speed/
Great video! I understand that it's common to mod out these bikes. Do you know what upgrades I would have to do to this bike for it to have a real-world 100 mile range with 250 pounds (including me) of cargo? Extra batteries are fine, though I'd like to minimize how many I'd have to carry lol...
This is the best electric bike review I have seen this far :) It gave me answers to pretty much everything I wanted to know. I am thinking about buying a 250w/(350w short term like up short hills) legal pedal assist bike and was afraid it would struggle uphill and the range might be to short with those fat tires. Here 250w continuous effect is max allowed without registering it as a motorcycle.
joseph de poop Thanks Joseph, I spent more time on this one (and the follow up video for pedal assist). My time is often limited and usually I don't purchase the bikes (just test at shops) so full rides aren't possible. It was a fun day out there, glad you enjoyed and thanks for the props ;)
are there any other budget ebikes that you'd reccomend in this or possibly a larger/stronger form factor? I ask as a heavier dude who wants to get back into biking but i'm having the issue of range. i'm hoping an ebike can help break things up and make going longer distances alot easier. know of any decent bikes under 1000? and what would you say the weight limit on this bike is?
RadRover. Jerry Barnucles ( former Microsoft software dev). had two videos about that ebike. It seems very solid, but the price is 1500 bucks USD not including shipping.
Very nice bike! Could you tell me what is the top speed you can reach on this bike? I am looking for my first bike thats affordable way of commuting to work (11 miles each way, suburban roads).
Does the bike has like a generator built in that regenerates charge when you pedal? or once the 15miles are up, that’s it? I’d love a bike like this that I can commute with, both manually and electrically. There’s electric scooters that recharge with manual use so... any tips?
Thanks for the review, Court! I was waiting to check on this bike! You did a good job, but as now I'm a proud owner of Alation 500 (as you've recommended) I am not really impressed with this. Marketing here is more than a bike unfortunately, but looks fun anyway! Cheers and good luck on your next reviews! Waiting for a new videos. -Olexandr
***** Thanks Olexandr! I'm glad you're enjoying the Alation 500, it's a sweet bike (also good value and nice looks). The marketing for the Sondors has been a little frustrating but my hope is that the people who got it enjoy it. More reviews on the way :D
ElectricBikeReview.com Court as a reviewer you are giving the public knowledge on what they should and shouldn't buy. Can you review the SkyFly wheel and make sure to interview all the customers that have yet to get the product sent to them. Thats part of the review.....ordering the product and actually receiving should be important factor in buying a $1,200 product......
Randy Turner Yeah, I assume you're talking about the FlyKly that I reviewed a while back? That was one of the first crowd funded products I've covered and I'm aware that it and the Copenhagen Wheel haven't delivered on their claims and that my reviews don't include this important information. I've taken this experience and feedback like you're giving me here into account and am trying to find a balance because some projects (like the YikeBike, Faraday Porteur and Dillenger) hit their mark and people want to see the review before they even decide to back the project. It's a tricky balance but I hear you and am doing my best. I realize it isn't fair and I can't choose when a company will succeed or drop the ball. This is why I have an open forum and comments, I rarely kick people off (primarily for personal attacks) and this is meant to hold companies and products accountable.
Hi, thank you for your excellent reviews. I just bought a fat tire Sondors, and am very disappointed at how useless the motor is on hills. Is that just the way it is on these hub motors with 36v batteries?
Pretty good reviews from EBR. Really gives you a feel for what you are getting into. Thanks EBR! This bike is pretty awesome for the price. I have seen a few e bikes that where in the $3000 range that felt and looked very similar. This bike does have peddle assist built in and also has the throttle. As of just recently, all the bikes sold by Sondors comes with the LCD screen. This gives you 5 levels of assist. I personally bought two fat boys and couldn't be happier. One for me, and one for my wife. We love the range an e bike gives you while still getting a work out. Plus after several knee surgeries, hard core riding is a thing of the past.
Sondors offers a display for this bike which allows you to select levels of assist. I'm thinking since your bike doesn't have one your sensor wire remained disconected and assist levels non operable. What do you think or know about this?
Hi, I saw your video and bought an ebike the same but second hand. Now I get error 03 on the screen, I don't know if you can help me solve it. Thank you, I wait for your answer.
So I am new to this okay so my question is I'm approximately 240 lb and I'm looking for a bike with speed so what size motor should I be looking for? I'm not sure on the wattage that I should be looking for if you could please advise I would appreciate it thank you
Eh, would I be able to customize this bike even more? like put in front suspension, add a more powerful battery/add another battery (same) to add more range?
I paid for the bike plus international shipping and got nothing. They stopped responding to mails and closed down their sites. Turns out Storm, the founder, took the money and ran. A little research showed that he's previously been involved in a similar scandal with a toy company. They've started another campaign on Kickstarter trying to screw over another batch of people. I did come away with a valuable lesson though: never do crowdfunding.
Great electric bike reviews! If I wanted to buy a backup electric charger, is there one I could buy online somewhere that is compatible to the sondors electric charger! Mahalos from HB
Did I understand EBR correctly? About 15 miles total and the battery was done? If one could order this bike without the cheesy motor and battery and put in a quality larger motor and some 18650 batteries,then that would be ok. Thanks to EBR for such a great review.
Braden Schlimme Great question Braden, for most ebikes I test there's an instruction booklet with warnings and stuff that say you'll void your warranty and could cause a fire or personal injury. The Sondors didn't include anything other than the stock instructions for the charger. On the one hand, this is a machine that was engineered by some other person and there's no reason you couldn't engineer something yourself! On the other hand, I cannot recommend that you tamper with the system. It would be best to consult an expert and someone with insurance if you planned to modify the bike. Sorry for the corporate response :/
larmarbev I was really hoping to review that bike... I think they're similar but the advertising and specs for the Wave seem a lot more accurate, less controversial and misleading than the Storm/Sondors. Maybe I'll get to check it out later this year ;)
Can someone tell me how to enable the throttle to be used without PAS having to be used on a C600 Display. Right now I have to use the 4mph cruise control button to start off or use the PAS
This has nothing to do with the most current video you posted, but I have some questions regarding e-books kits in general. My bicycle has been my primary mode of transportation for the last four years and a secondary mode fire much of my life before that. I just recently took my first bicycle vacation in which I loaded up my camping gear into my little trailer that I mostly use for errands around town such as grocery shopping. It was only 60 miles to the lake, but with the hilly terrain found in Oklahoma and the combined weight of about 375 pounds, I found myself thinking of adding an e-books kit to reduce or eliminate to up hill parts of the trek in which I pushed the bike with its 150 pounds of cargo. Off on on during the week since returning from my vacation I have been reading about kits. As there are very few people in north Texas that I know who ride a bike, there isn't anyone with experience in the various products to bounce questions off of. I am hoping for some guidance regarding types of electric assist kits. many of the reviews I have read hardly address the issue of larger weights. the ones that do, often say that one wouldn't be able to pull that kind of bondage up many hills I might have to deal with in the region I am most likely to travel. I was so excited about my trip that I want to do it again, but perhaps farther, taking a few days rather than one to arrive at my destination. Without a motor, I would more likely pack lighter as if I were hiking. However, I would probably end up raising the weight back up by adding a solar panel and power bank to recharge the bike battery during the trip. I have read that I should not consider less than a 750 watt motor, but have found nothing yet that informs me of advantages or disadvantages of geared front or rear. front wheel seems easier to install. I would appreciate any thoughts that might help guide my research. . . thanks
What a perfect place to ride those fat wheels with the beach and the aqueducts! That's in the Los Angeles area I believe? Interesting at least one company is trying to bring down the unit price of these insanely priced electric bike market. If I got one of these Sondors Indiegogo bikes, I'd try to request one *without* the included cheap and weak Lithium-ion pack. It''ll undoubtedly voltage sag out on any substantial amp draw and then die within a few months. Then use the saved money in part to buy any regular RC 8-cell Lithium Polymer pack! It'd be a different bike especially on hill climbs and accelerations.
Rotormatic Yeah, very close to LA! Do you live around here or have you visited in the past? Also, where do you usually look for aftermarket batteries like the one you're describing, Lithium Polymer?
ElectricBikeReview.com I'm in the SF Bay Area. I see you were in my area in your previous review! :) You can get low output (10C), medium output (25C) and high output (35C+) LIPO batteries from RC places HobbyKing which has US warehouses -- stick with US to avoid issues as Lithium air transport is prone to restrictions. I also like the Glacier LIPO brand from USA based BuddyRC. There are many brands also with various grades and honesty levels in advertising of specs of course. I can send you some of my recommendations for e-bikes. As you probably know, even a "low output" 10C Lithium Polymer will far exceed Lithium Ion's pitiful 2C output. As an example, I've ridden my 1000W bike with a small $80 12-cell 3Ah 25C pack and it handled all hills with ease. That is a great demonstration of high output LIPO. Its good for like 5 mile range for local shopping.
Rotormatic Thanks for the tips! Yeah, if you've got some advice about upgrading batteries and you want to share (especially if you've got some pictures or guides) you can post to the forums, the Sondors section might be good since a lot of people there are getting this exact bike: electricbikereview.com/community/forums/sondors/
Please correct your misleading comments regarding no pedal assist. There is definitely pedal assist. The cable you describe as disconnected is for a soon to be available display/control that will allow you to select other pedal assist levels rather than the default level. Thanks for the otherwise thorough review
Lon McClure From campaign updates: Pedal Assist: All Sondors eBikes will have a pedalassist feature included. Pedal Assist ensures easy start if you choose pedals instead of electric power. Also adds another pleasant way to ride the bike with extra help from battery and motor. In Storm’s words:“I enjoyed this new feature very much and hope everyone else will appreciate it also.” and ** Add-Ons **LCD Display: There will be an LCD Displayavailable for purchase as an add-on soon. It will be similar to the one we showed in the battery test, but will be specifically built to be compatible with yourSondors eBike. More information to come.Fender: There will be a fender available for purchase as an add-on soon. It will be specifically built to be compatible for your Sondors eBike. More information to come.
Lon McClure Awesome, thanks for the info Lon! I was getting bits of feedback about this from some other users as well. I wasn't completely up to date with this info before the review and didn't see anything in the included instructions about it. Would you mind linking to the live resource with the quote you pasted so I can follow up and add an annotation?
www.indiegogo.com/projects/sondors-electric-bike/x/4920472#/updates You'll have to "Show more" and search for "pedal assist" and (separately) "add-ons" as they were about three months ago
Lon McClure Thanks for the info Lon, no hurt feelings here. I did my best and appreciate you chiming in! I added an annotation to the video and also posted in the forums about it. I'll add your note and reference link if that's alright :)
+scully I'm not sure? Great question... perhaps someone in the forums will have feedback. Unfortunately I don't get to use the bikes very long before traveling for more reviews electricbikereview.com/community/forums/sondors/
Buy a cheaply Walmart bike and get the rear wheel ebike conversion kit for $200 bucks and you will be set. However I see they have a upgraded-battery and a pedal assist readout LED display that may allow you to go even faster and further. Hmmm.
As for the geared hub, it's better than the demo bike that was rated 250/350w, this one was designed for this application and is rated 200-500w @ 36/48v, so the controller can be factory programmed, in the US it's set to 20 mph throttle only and in PAS can go faster. Still waiting for EU customers to get theirs and see if the controller is set to their standards.
Bruce TheSniper I'm curious about the EU setup as well, sounds like they've been delivering in batches by color in the US. Have any international customers received theres so far that you know of? I definitely liked the motor on the bike I got, the did a good job selecting parts for this bike all around.
I don t buy into the idea of ordering the whole stuff like this from abroad. D o things first hand with real people, the concessionaire if there is one next to my door. I already have a 26 inch silver back double scoop fatty 32 lbs ,and thinking of converting it to an e-bike . E-bay have 6000 watt hub motors. But I dont know what other components should go with it. any body help me please!! please?
Hey... Your missing one big detail in all the reviews I have seen so far... Charging it... How Long it takes & can you charge it easily if your traveling from point A to B to C... Caring the plug with you... I want to bike 50 miles to wherever charge it then bike back... Please include this important detail...
+Nic Olas Thanks for the feedback! I sometimes include info about the charger (weight and size) and try to write about it in the full review but often times I skip it to keep videos on track or because I don't have time to actually drain and then recharge the battery.
John Prince Hi John! It would probably be really fun and work alright if you pedaled along. The fat tires are designed to work well in softer terrain (like sand/snow) but I'd recommend deflating the tires a bit to ~10 psi which will require more energy and slow the bike down so range will suffer. Here's a ride test I did with a fat ebike in snow last year: electricbikereview.com/felt/outfitter/ scroll down for the video ;)
Bruce TheSniper Nice, thanks for adding this Bruce! I was wondering about the extra parts and wasn't aware of the optional display, can you link to this or has it been announced? I'm not a member of the owners group and haven't been following the gosondors blog as closely because I'm traveling right now.
This bike has been made for urban show & parade, not for going fast nor far. The fact that they lie, yes this is exact term, about performances it a good indicator of a slower and less durable machine. The major mistake is not putting shock absorbers. A minor error is not putting more battery (because it it hidden you can put an ugly squared more efficient one) It seems a good bike, the question is will it last and then how much you want to pay knowing these performances ? 800 bucks seems too much for me.
Yeah, in my opinion the advertising is optimistic and misleading in some cases... their messaging has changed over time, getting less extreme. If you use the pedal assist mode (which felt pretty weak to me) you might get the full range. the weight is one big area where it felt misleading and then they said it was "without the battery" but that didn't even line up with my own measurements. It's still a good value and a decent bike, I don't know why they felt they had to inflate the specs
tekis0 hahaha intern... reminds me of the movie Nightcrawler where Jake Gyllenhaal gets convinces a kid to be his “intern” while he does illegal and risky journalism. Great movie.
For all the negativity / all the naysayers / all the doubters / all the trolls - YES THIS BIKE IS REAL. Yes they're making international deliveries, yes it performs admirably (especially given the price point), yes the quality of the build is excellent, and yes the specs changed marginally (some for the better). Bottom line is this - show me a better bike for less $ - you cannot which means the Sondors E-bike is a complete success and will only get better from here on.
Jay Pase Fair enough! For ~$700 it's a solid offering and I'm thrilled it arrived. The biggest concerns for me have been misleading marketing and questionable business practices. I've taken a cautious (but hopefully very fair) approach and tried to be objective about the bike. Feel free to share your thoughts on how I could improve for covering future products like this. I think I'll be checking out the Rad Rover soon for example.
ElectricBikeReview.com Because you have such a breadth of experience in the field and have EXTENSIVE product knowledge re: E-bikes I think at some point during each review (perhaps at end) you should compare the stats, performance, build-quality, customer support, and price of the E-bike you're reviewing against it's competitors that you've previously reviewed.
ElectricBikeReview.com after interviewing Storm Sondors, I learned a lot about how the IGG campaign was handled, or should I say mishandled by the advertising agency. Will be writing a full story about this soon.
For what it's worth I'm still riding my SOFTY (Sondors Original Fat Tire Yellow) today and it's operating admirably. Two years ago I had an owner of a VERY high end cycle shop tell me the Panasonic battery in the Sondors wouldn't last a season - and he was obviously wrong entirely as the battery has not degraded by my estimation and still performs well. I still get lots of thumbs up and approving glances as I ride to work Monday to Friday (weather permitting).
+montwolfman Probably close to 4.5 hours for a full charge but if you're near empty and just need a half charge that might only take an hour and a half because the cells aren't being balanced at the lower charge levels :)
I have been watching your reviews, and i think is great that someone like you do this kind of reviews for us. Thank you for your effort, your reviews are great, and it shows your experience on the issue of electric bikes. I am in the process of buying one for myself and i wanted to buy the Sondors so bad, but it seems that the bike still needs a lot of work.
I was wondering if you can recommend me an Ebike that is a good, built to last in the 800 dollars range, i will really appreciate your feedback about it.
Again, thank you so much for your effort, keep up the good work.
Have had mine for ten days. So far...awesome! Ordered the LCD panel, which I think will be great. Unique looking bike, and rides nice. Great job Storm!
Anshei Shalom Nice! I'm excited to hear what people think of the display panel. Glad you're loving the bike! Ride safe :)
This is such an excellent and thorough review of this e-bike.
When I have bought bicycles new I always get them delivered straight to my house. But I am a bicycle geek and I love mucking about with them. I do think that many people might not realise that there is quite a lot to ensuring a bicycle or e-bike is safely assembled. You noticed that your spokes needed tensioning, but I think someone new to this might not have noticed that.
I am glad you mentioned the Efneo in the review. I haven't heard of that one and it is a most interesting chainwheel gearing system. I'm a big fan of the Schlumpf but that would probably cost more than the Sondors Indiegogo. I don't know if there is a price for the Efneo yet judging from their website it is not yet in production.
brighton dude Thanks for the compliments! Glad you enjoyed the review, I spent extra time on it because I know a lot of people are excited to get theirs and see what to expect. My friend did a great job building the bike and I'm glad we were able to get footage of assembly but I hope it wasn't too long :P I agree that the Efneo is very cool, I hope it's compatible with the longer bottom bracket on the Sondors, I'm not really sure? From what I remember, I think it's going to cost ~$250 and the team that created it is very friendly and cool, I got to speak with them on the phone earlier this year :)
I enjoyed that footage of the ebike being assembled, but it reminded me of that scene at the beginning of one of the Breaking Bad episodes where they cut up the young boy's motorcycle to dissolve it in acid :)
brighton dude Oh man, I remember that... they also dissolved a person once too right?!
Yes they did. If I ever take an Alka-Seltzer it reminds me of Breaking Bad.
Come join the Sondors Storm Upgraders Group on Facebook! facebook.com/groups/103170603368320/
The bike is being delivered, no need to bash it because doesn't make the up to 50 miles, anyone with common sense knows that maybe that would be possible with any eBike down hill ! I have seen very little reviews that put the bikes through the test that you put this one through, that i consider was a good think. On other reviews you seem less critical. But anyway, I appreciate that you took the time and shared your thoughts with the world.
BMW Fan Thanks, glad you enjoyed it and I respect your feedback. I did scrutinize this ebike more because I actually bought it and had more time with it. Usually I just borrow bikes from shops or visit manufacturers in person to test their new models. I spent more time with the Sondors because I realize there are a lot of people who are new to electric bikes watching this one. I was aggressive at parts because I feel that the Sondors team willfully mislead people, just look at the weight, it's way off and they are still advertising 45 lbs on their website when even without the battery this thing weighs ~53. Maybe 8 lbs doesn't sound like a big deal but it's the principal at stake and it extends to range, power, delivery time and brake size. Even if more knowledgeable folks recognize that the 50 mph estimate is a bit inflated and refer to the asterisk or 30 to 50 estimate (which weren't there when the campaign began), newbies might not get it and I think it's hurtful to mislead with marketing in this way. It hurts the spirit of crowd funding because people might stop trusting and offering to back a product when they feel like they were lied to. That's definitely how I feel. So even though I like the end product and appreciate the price, decent quality and quick turnaround... I just feel mislead unnecessarily and I don't feel comfortable looking the other way about it or letting it go unmentioned because other brands might do the same thing. It's my job to be real about this stuff and to measure claims against reality when I can, I do my best to hit that mark while remaining open to feedback from others who own or have reviewed a product.
Thanks for the review. I ordered a couple of these bikes and am excited to get them. I am completely new to ebikes. I am wondering, I see that it has a variable speed controller. I am wondering, if you got 15 miles while running it full blast all of the time? Theoretically, if I were to only use it at 1/2 throttle, would it get double the mileage?
OneWayofLiving I mostly used the throttle at full and did some little hills and went on packed dirt (but I also pedaled). My guess is that you could get 20 miles on flats by riding at lower speeds, accelerating slower and pedaling a bit more (especially to help it get up to speed). On the flip side, I'm pretty light weight and wasn't carrying much gear (just a small Camelbak with a tool and Gopro mounts :)
ElectricBikeReview.com Thanks for the reply. Wondering is the battery and motor always assisting you? Is there an option only to have it on while hitting the throttle when you need it?
I've asked Sondors several questions via their website and they always respond. As soon as I run out of questions I'm buying one for myself!
I've ridden this bike on the super flat land of Florida using 30 lbs in the tires and with the 5 speed computer...over 60 miles. I was not "energy greedy" so rode with shut-offs too. Had a bar energy left but the red light was flickering. I'm 77.
My Sondors Ebike is just fantastic! I ordered it back in November of 2015 but got cold feet when I read too many negative reviews and cancelled my order. It arrived in late January of 2016 anyway so I thought I would build it up and sell it. After my first ride, I decided to keep it for myself. The bike had a lot more power than I thought and a lot more than the reviews said it would. The bike's handling was a dream, the ride is cushy with the fat tires and I could ride "no hands" right away. It climbs reasonably well, even with a single speed it climbed up my 18% driveway. Overall, the bike is well worth the money and I would recommend it to anyone. Edward N Price
It's been 5 months since your comment. Any updates would be much appreciated! Cheers!
Edward Price Hi! Any update since your first experience?
thanks for showing the unwrapping and assembly. fun
If there's some small hills where you live, will using the pedal assist work the same as full electric or will it be easier?P.S. I love your videos yu actually know what you are doing unlike most people!
I'm glad they've started shipping them. While I personally prefer more power and speed, it seems like a decent bike given the price. I just really wish they had been honest about the specs. Their claims of a 50 mile range with a 36v ~8ah battery and such made me lose all faith and trust in them. Had they simply been honest I may have purchased one for myself.
74orangebeetle I feel the same way :/
+ElectricBikeReview.com yep = Me too.
+74orangebeetle Is it possible that their range included that you have to be peddling?
+74orangebeetle The 50 mile claimed range was always with pedal assist, with that said a member of the owners group did 53 miles on a range test @ 10 mph with pedal assist. The average rider should expect to get around 20 to 25 miles with mild assist. There is a Federal limit on power and speed which this bike meets, adding the optional LCD control, you can unlock the speed limiter and go faster.
Bruce TheSniper
Yeah, until there is a standard for how to rate things like this, some shady company can come along and make range claims that aren't equal to those of better products because the rider has to do more of the work.
Ultimately these just aren't ready for prime time except as a toy. I mean as transportation, it's quite expensive for the limitations of speed, range, limited access highways, endurance, etc.
Granted, a lot of people who would opt for a commuter style eBike don't need to go 50 miles, but the tech is still held back in the application by needing higher energy density and lower cost batteries... the same as always. In a way it's funny how the internet gets momentum going on bad ideas because products are selectively marketed to people who don't know the tech well enough to realize the down sides.
A lot of important work in eBIke refinement has happened but the battery is a thorn in its heel that will really let the products excel once that obstacle is removed. I keep thinking FUEL CELL, but somehow greenies have a mental block about it as if batteries are inherently better, failing to recognize that fuel can be a renewable resource and in fact is if we focus on doing so instead of only making it as cheap as possible, which is mitigated by only having to power an eBike and rider instead of thousands of pounds of motor vehicle.
Oh wait, they already have something like that called a scooter. Funny how the best solutions for things *given current tech* are the most popular globally without that extra marketing push.
Excellent review. Thank you. It's important to know that the tires and tubes can run $200 + when you need to replace them, which is about what it will cost to replace the battery as well. Buying one is just the beginning of costs. It's the tire prices that really kill you. I was able to get 2 nice tires for my eBike for $42 for the pair at Walmart. No, they're not high end, but they're perfectly fine, and are nice and big.
I saw my first RadRover bike today, and it is really big. Almost motorcycle like. It looks like it has a stretched wheelbase, which is good for stability. but overall the bike looks like what it is, a motorized bike. Might have trouble from the cops on that one. It also weighs 10 lbs more than the Sondors at 55 lb vs 65 lb. Add a water bottle, a rear rack, a heavy U lock and slime in the tires and the RadRover will be at 75-80 lbs, which is a lot of weight for any eBike.
What isn't mentioned in the video is that the Sondors is actually faster, 20 mph vs 22, but of course the acceleration of 750 watts will get you up to speed faster than a 350 watt motor.
It's really an unfair comparison in many ways, Don't get me wrong, the features and build are better on the RadRover, but I would probably not buy either of these. My cheap $600 Ancheer will do 20 mph too, and has been dead reliable. For more than twice the price, I would expect more than either of these two bikes delivers.
Awesome review Court. Looks fun! 15 miles with what seems like a lot of pedaling... Not bad for 8.8ah on a geared hub @ 36V. I would say its a great errand bike for around town! Always look forward to your reviews :)
Cutler Cycles Hey! Thanks, definitely spent some time on this review (and all of the videos and conversations leading up to it). I enjoyed the bike overall and hope the other backers get theirs soon and don't have any issues. How is your electric bike project going? I got a call from an interested customer this morning asking about it.
ElectricBikeReview.com Yes that's why I like your reviews they are very thorough and unbiased. The Fusion ebike project is going great we are moving into the production stage very soon. Its has had tons of improvements since your review including 2500w upgrade, Front disc, integrate lighting system and USB charger. You can always send them to the website. Igg.me/at/fusionebike Thanks Court I look forward to your next review.
Thank you Court! I think this is good entering level e-bike for people who don't have much money. But you are right in your conclusions about specs promissed and real life tests..
Artur Ragulskyi Thanks Artur, I've had fun with this bike (even though it's heavier... and doesn't go as far as expected... and arrived late...) those things don't actually upset me, it's more the sense that the Sondors team knowingly lied about them, even after we weighed the demo bike and gave them feedback... their live ads and even the website still say it weighs 45 lbs and gets 30 to 50 miles per charge... Even without the battery in, the bike I got weighs ~53 and even with some pedaling I only got 15 miles.
Can these bike operate manually using the pedals without turning it on like a normal bike? Or do they only function when turned ON?
This bike is a great first e-bike. I have ridden over 200 miles within Potapsco Park. It is a life changer. I have upgraded the pedals and the tires but these changes are not necessary. Get an extra battery period.
+daniel hedrick Great feedback Daniel, thanks! I just ordered the new version which is being sold through Kickstarter... went with the narrower wheels and got a suspension fork upgrade along with the display so I can dig deeper in the next review.
Been thinking about purchasing the Storm....speaking of storms we get a lot if rain out here in lost coast! How reliable is it? Can we purchase extended warranties??
Another thorough review.
Thank You.
Mike.
Very solid review of a bike I'd probably never buy. And I liked how you let the kids ride it. :)
nerdexproject Glad you enjoyed it! The kids were stoked... they rode the Sondors and then my friend let them ride his e-fat bike which has a 500 watt motor and 48 volt battery, they were floored ;)
Awesome man! :)
500 Watt you say? Where are the legal limits in America? Here in Europe you said it's 250 (not that I'd care too much... ;) ) but I am curious if some of your states even have any limits in terms of Watt.
nerdexproject Yeah, our limits are set at the national level but can be adjusted by state. For US it's 750 watt with top speed of 20 mph unassisted. If you're in California that raises to 1,000 watts and if you pedal along the bike can go to higher speeds, many hit ~28 mph and are called speed pedelecs: electricbikereview.com/tag/speed/
Very interesting! Thank you!
Great video! I understand that it's common to mod out these bikes. Do you know what upgrades I would have to do to this bike for it to have a real-world 100 mile range with 250 pounds (including me) of cargo? Extra batteries are fine, though I'd like to minimize how many I'd have to carry lol...
This is the best electric bike review I have seen this far :) It gave me answers to pretty much everything I wanted to know.
I am thinking about buying a 250w/(350w short term like up short hills) legal pedal assist bike and was afraid it would struggle uphill and the range might be to short with those fat tires. Here 250w continuous effect is max allowed without registering it as a motorcycle.
YOU dont need to register any thing ! what will the police do / nothing !!..relax and ride ..
Best ebike review video and channel !!
joseph de poop Thanks Joseph, I spent more time on this one (and the follow up video for pedal assist). My time is often limited and usually I don't purchase the bikes (just test at shops) so full rides aren't possible. It was a fun day out there, glad you enjoyed and thanks for the props ;)
are there any other budget ebikes that you'd reccomend in this or possibly a larger/stronger form factor? I ask as a heavier dude who wants to get back into biking but i'm having the issue of range. i'm hoping an ebike can help break things up and make going longer distances alot easier. know of any decent bikes under 1000? and what would you say the weight limit on this bike is?
RadRover. Jerry Barnucles ( former Microsoft software dev). had two videos about that ebike. It seems very solid, but the price is 1500 bucks USD not including shipping.
Very nice bike! Could you tell me what is the top speed you can reach on this bike? I am looking for my first bike thats affordable way of commuting to work (11 miles each way, suburban roads).
Does the bike has like a generator built in that regenerates charge when you pedal? or once the 15miles are up, that’s it? I’d love a bike like this that I can commute with, both manually and electrically. There’s electric scooters that recharge with manual use so... any tips?
For the price it looks like it would be a good commuter and some trail riding. As always Court a great review.
good review! May I ask how tall you are...lm 6 1 and a bit worried this bike would be 2 small
Great review, very concise and enjoyable to watch the build.
Thanks Ken! Did my best here, was excited to see how good the bike was given the price and some of the hype around it :)
Thanks for the review, Court! I was waiting to check on this bike! You did a good job, but as now I'm a proud owner of Alation 500 (as you've recommended) I am not really impressed with this. Marketing here is more than a bike unfortunately, but looks fun anyway!
Cheers and good luck on your next reviews! Waiting for a new videos.
-Olexandr
***** Thanks Olexandr! I'm glad you're enjoying the Alation 500, it's a sweet bike (also good value and nice looks). The marketing for the Sondors has been a little frustrating but my hope is that the people who got it enjoy it. More reviews on the way :D
ElectricBikeReview.com Court as a reviewer you are giving the public knowledge on what they should and shouldn't buy. Can you review the SkyFly wheel and make sure to interview all the customers that have yet to get the product sent to them. Thats part of the review.....ordering the product and actually receiving should be important factor in buying a $1,200 product......
Randy Turner Yeah, I assume you're talking about the FlyKly that I reviewed a while back? That was one of the first crowd funded products I've covered and I'm aware that it and the Copenhagen Wheel haven't delivered on their claims and that my reviews don't include this important information. I've taken this experience and feedback like you're giving me here into account and am trying to find a balance because some projects (like the YikeBike, Faraday Porteur and Dillenger) hit their mark and people want to see the review before they even decide to back the project. It's a tricky balance but I hear you and am doing my best. I realize it isn't fair and I can't choose when a company will succeed or drop the ball. This is why I have an open forum and comments, I rarely kick people off (primarily for personal attacks) and this is meant to hold companies and products accountable.
Hi, thank you for your excellent reviews. I just bought a fat tire Sondors, and am very disappointed at how useless the motor is on hills. Is that just the way it is on these hub motors with 36v batteries?
something you didnt mention was you can buy several upgrades including a bigger battery. whats the best bike for the value?
Pretty good reviews from EBR. Really gives you a feel for what you are getting into. Thanks EBR! This bike is pretty awesome for the price. I have seen a few e bikes that where in the $3000 range that felt and looked very similar. This bike does have peddle assist built in and also has the throttle. As of just recently, all the bikes sold by Sondors comes with the LCD screen. This gives you 5 levels of assist. I personally bought two fat boys and couldn't be happier. One for me, and one for my wife. We love the range an e bike gives you while still getting a work out. Plus after several knee surgeries, hard core riding is a thing of the past.
Sondors offers a display for this bike which allows you to select levels of assist. I'm thinking since your bike doesn't have one your sensor wire remained disconected and assist levels non operable. What do you think or know about this?
What cells did they use in the battery? I think from this review the read rover is a better buy.
Hi, I saw your video and bought an ebike the same but second hand. Now I get error 03 on the screen, I don't know if you can help me solve it. Thank you, I wait for your answer.
So I am new to this okay so my question is I'm approximately 240 lb and I'm looking for a bike with speed so what size motor should I be looking for? I'm not sure on the wattage that I should be looking for if you could please advise I would appreciate it thank you
Can you charge it with a solar panel ? It's to bad you couldn't charge just by peddling .
I live in the UK.Right now 2017 how much is this particular bike the first Sonders one at this moment in time with shipping.
looks cool and for the price its decent but my question how do u lock up this bike on a pole or bike rack ? theres no place to put u lock or chain.
Eh, would I be able to customize this bike even more? like put in front suspension, add a more powerful battery/add another battery (same) to add more range?
+mace FTL yes you can, you can go to aliexpress website and look for passion ebikes account they sell stuff to upgrade this bike
I paid for the bike plus international shipping and got nothing. They stopped responding to mails and closed down their sites. Turns out Storm, the founder, took the money and ran. A little research showed that he's previously been involved in a similar scandal with a toy company. They've started another campaign on Kickstarter trying to screw over another batch of people. I did come away with a valuable lesson though: never do crowdfunding.
gna104191 Just wondering if you ever got your bike
@@markwiles7594he just said he got nothing💀
Awesome video. Greatest review on a product ever
I have two questions Where can I buy this bikeIs thee no cheaper way to have it shipped Thanks
What is the white e-bike your buddy was riding??
Great electric bike reviews! If I wanted to buy a backup electric charger, is there one I could buy online somewhere that is compatible to the sondors electric charger! Mahalos from HB
Will water go in battery on a rainy day ?
Did I understand EBR correctly? About 15 miles total and the battery was done?
If one could order this bike without the cheesy motor and battery and put in a quality larger motor and some 18650 batteries,then that would be ok.
Thanks to EBR for such a great review.
Is it safe or ok for the bike if someone makes me a different 42 volt 23 amp hrs battery?? Thanks!!
Braden Schlimme Great question Braden, for most ebikes I test there's an instruction booklet with warnings and stuff that say you'll void your warranty and could cause a fire or personal injury. The Sondors didn't include anything other than the stock instructions for the charger. On the one hand, this is a machine that was engineered by some other person and there's no reason you couldn't engineer something yourself! On the other hand, I cannot recommend that you tamper with the system. It would be best to consult an expert and someone with insurance if you planned to modify the bike. Sorry for the corporate response :/
I destroy aluminum rims when riding are there heavy duty battle front rims?
have you seen the wave ebike that's on Indiegogo now? and how do they compair
larmarbev I was really hoping to review that bike... I think they're similar but the advertising and specs for the Wave seem a lot more accurate, less controversial and misleading than the Storm/Sondors. Maybe I'll get to check it out later this year ;)
So did your bike really come with out peddle assist?
Can someone tell me how to enable the throttle to be used without PAS having to be used on a C600 Display. Right now I have to use the 4mph cruise control button to start off or use the PAS
Can you put a bigger battery in it to get more m
Power o just got one from my buddy for $100
This has nothing to do with the most current video you posted, but I have some questions regarding e-books kits in general. My bicycle has been my primary mode of transportation for the last four years and a secondary mode fire much of my life before that. I just recently took my first bicycle vacation in which I loaded up my camping gear into my little trailer that I mostly use for errands around town such as grocery shopping. It was only 60 miles to the lake, but with the hilly terrain found in Oklahoma and the combined weight of about 375 pounds, I found myself thinking of adding an e-books kit to reduce or eliminate to up hill parts of the trek in which I pushed the bike with its 150 pounds of cargo. Off on on during the week since returning from my vacation I have been reading about kits. As there are very few people in north Texas that I know who ride a bike, there isn't anyone with experience in the various products to bounce questions off of. I am hoping for some guidance regarding types of electric assist kits. many of the reviews I have read hardly address the issue of larger weights. the ones that do, often say that one wouldn't be able to pull that kind of bondage up many hills I might have to deal with in the region I am most likely to travel. I was so excited about my trip that I want to do it again, but perhaps farther, taking a few days rather than one to arrive at my destination. Without a motor, I would more likely pack lighter as if I were hiking. However, I would probably end up raising the weight back up by adding a solar panel and power bank to recharge the bike battery during the trip. I have read that I should not consider less than a 750 watt motor, but have found nothing yet that informs me of advantages or disadvantages of geared front or rear. front wheel seems easier to install. I would appreciate any thoughts that might help guide my research. . . thanks
I paid in full (bike and international shipping) in Feb 2015. As yet I have no bike and no refund. Is this a scam?
What do you mean?
I got a full refund on the bike eventually
What a perfect place to ride those fat wheels with the beach and the aqueducts! That's in the Los Angeles area I believe?
Interesting at least one company is trying to bring down the unit price of these insanely priced electric bike market. If I got one of these Sondors Indiegogo bikes, I'd try to request one *without* the included cheap and weak Lithium-ion pack. It''ll undoubtedly voltage sag out on any substantial amp draw and then die within a few months. Then use the saved money in part to buy any regular RC 8-cell Lithium Polymer pack! It'd be a different bike especially on hill climbs and accelerations.
Rotormatic Yeah, very close to LA! Do you live around here or have you visited in the past? Also, where do you usually look for aftermarket batteries like the one you're describing, Lithium Polymer?
ElectricBikeReview.com I'm in the SF Bay Area. I see you were in my area in your previous review! :)
You can get low output (10C), medium output (25C) and high output (35C+) LIPO batteries from RC places HobbyKing which has US warehouses -- stick with US to avoid issues as Lithium air transport is prone to restrictions. I also like the Glacier LIPO brand from USA based BuddyRC. There are many brands also with various grades and honesty levels in advertising of specs of course. I can send you some of my recommendations for e-bikes.
As you probably know, even a "low output" 10C Lithium Polymer will far exceed Lithium Ion's pitiful 2C output. As an example, I've ridden my 1000W bike with a small $80 12-cell 3Ah 25C pack and it handled all hills with ease. That is a great demonstration of high output LIPO. Its good for like 5 mile range for local shopping.
Rotormatic Thanks for the tips! Yeah, if you've got some advice about upgrading batteries and you want to share (especially if you've got some pictures or guides) you can post to the forums, the Sondors section might be good since a lot of people there are getting this exact bike: electricbikereview.com/community/forums/sondors/
Your reviews are excellent!
Question: suggestions for replacing aggressive tread tires 27.5x3 for sympatico urban skins (SONDORS Mxs)
Thanks
I would love to know which suspension fork you selected... please do tell.
Please correct your misleading comments regarding no pedal assist. There is definitely pedal assist. The cable you describe as disconnected is for a soon to be available display/control that will allow you to select other pedal assist levels rather than the default level.
Thanks for the otherwise thorough review
Lon McClure From campaign updates:
Pedal Assist: All Sondors eBikes will have a pedalassist feature included. Pedal Assist ensures easy start if you choose pedals instead of electric power. Also adds another pleasant way to ride the bike with extra help from battery and motor. In Storm’s words:“I enjoyed this new feature very much and hope everyone else will appreciate it also.”
and
** Add-Ons **LCD Display: There will be an LCD Displayavailable for purchase as an add-on soon. It will be similar to the one we showed in the battery test, but will be specifically built to be compatible with yourSondors eBike. More information to come.Fender: There will be a fender available for purchase as an add-on soon. It will be specifically built to be compatible for your Sondors eBike. More information to come.
Lon McClure Awesome, thanks for the info Lon! I was getting bits of feedback about this from some other users as well. I wasn't completely up to date with this info before the review and didn't see anything in the included instructions about it. Would you mind linking to the live resource with the quote you pasted so I can follow up and add an annotation?
www.indiegogo.com/projects/sondors-electric-bike/x/4920472#/updates
You'll have to "Show more" and search for "pedal assist" and (separately) "add-ons" as they were about three months ago
Lon McClure Court does not mislead... ever. Shysters in contrast do.
Lon McClure Thanks for the info Lon, no hurt feelings here. I did my best and appreciate you chiming in! I added an annotation to the video and also posted in the forums about it. I'll add your note and reference link if that's alright :)
I ordered one black / black fat with aluminum upgrade I've heard the tubes aren't all that good , is that true ? Should I change them out ?
+scully I'm not sure? Great question... perhaps someone in the forums will have feedback. Unfortunately I don't get to use the bikes very long before traveling for more reviews electricbikereview.com/community/forums/sondors/
Thanks
Can i do only pedal assist sometimes with this bike?
The tires marking recommend 20 psi versus the literature that mentions 30 psi. What pressure should be used?
Buy a cheaply Walmart bike and get the rear wheel ebike conversion kit for $200 bucks and you will be set. However I see they have a upgraded-battery and a pedal assist readout LED display that may allow you to go even faster and further. Hmmm.
As for the geared hub, it's better than the demo bike that was rated 250/350w, this one was designed for this application and is rated 200-500w @ 36/48v, so the controller can be factory programmed, in the US it's set to 20 mph throttle only and in PAS can go faster. Still waiting for EU customers to get theirs and see if the controller is set to their standards.
Bruce TheSniper I'm curious about the EU setup as well, sounds like they've been delivering in batches by color in the US. Have any international customers received theres so far that you know of? I definitely liked the motor on the bike I got, the did a good job selecting parts for this bike all around.
I don t buy into the idea of ordering the whole stuff like this from abroad. D o things first hand with real people, the concessionaire if there is one next to my door. I already have a 26 inch silver back double scoop fatty 32 lbs ,and thinking of converting it to an e-bike . E-bay have 6000 watt hub motors. But I dont know what other components should go with it. any body help me please!! please?
Thanks for the review. Won’t be buying this. Co lies way too much.
Where we can buy it
I seen another video with Mark Sparks with this ebike having problem with the spokes popping at 240 lb must have some skinny spokes
Court, you mentioned you were going to sell this. Could you do a follow up with the buyer and see how it's held up?
Hey... Your missing one big detail in all the reviews I have seen so far... Charging it... How Long it takes & can you charge it easily if your traveling from point A to B to C... Caring the plug with you... I want to bike 50 miles to wherever charge it then bike back... Please include this important detail...
+Nic Olas Thanks for the feedback! I sometimes include info about the charger (weight and size) and try to write about it in the full review but often times I skip it to keep videos on track or because I don't have time to actually drain and then recharge the battery.
So which one is better? This one or the RadRover?
how wide are the tires? towice as the usual tires?
any idea how it would work on light or packed down snow ?
John Prince Hi John! It would probably be really fun and work alright if you pedaled along. The fat tires are designed to work well in softer terrain (like sand/snow) but I'd recommend deflating the tires a bit to ~10 psi which will require more energy and slow the bike down so range will suffer. Here's a ride test I did with a fat ebike in snow last year: electricbikereview.com/felt/outfitter/ scroll down for the video ;)
Sorry but the bike does have working PAS, that connector you pointed out is for the optional display that is to be released at a later date.
Bruce TheSniper Nice, thanks for adding this Bruce! I was wondering about the extra parts and wasn't aware of the optional display, can you link to this or has it been announced? I'm not a member of the owners group and haven't been following the gosondors blog as closely because I'm traveling right now.
How fast does that bike go how long is battery life
So is this bike still around? And if so can you post a link
Sorry but you can tell me about sondore bicycle in ( jeddah) Saudi Arabia please I am sure you can tell me
On the beach is this all of Power?
This bike has been made for urban show & parade, not for going fast nor far. The fact that they lie, yes this is exact term, about performances it a good indicator of a slower and less durable machine. The major mistake is not putting shock absorbers. A minor error is not putting more battery (because it it hidden you can put an ugly squared more efficient one)
It seems a good bike, the question is will it last and then how much you want to pay knowing these performances ? 800 bucks seems too much for me.
lol,4 years later Mark Sparks is still cruisin around Brooklyn on his!
We're you using a DJI Osmo to film this?
at the end of the video you basically said the bike doesnt perfom as advertised, right?
Yeah, in my opinion the advertising is optimistic and misleading in some cases... their messaging has changed over time, getting less extreme. If you use the pedal assist mode (which felt pretty weak to me) you might get the full range. the weight is one big area where it felt misleading and then they said it was "without the battery" but that didn't even line up with my own measurements. It's still a good value and a decent bike, I don't know why they felt they had to inflate the specs
ElectricBikeReview.com I think you know "why".. it was to sell. thanks!
Fantastic review thanks!
Are these fine in rain?
Super Hashu yes
How much is it?
please let me know
was this video shot at Huntington beach
Nice review, Thank you.
very nice camera action
Dude: I love your reviews, but please get an intern or employee to hold the camera while you do the presentation. Thanks.
+tekis0 agree....what's with all the hand/arm waving in the shot? Very annoying
tekis0 hahaha intern... reminds me of the movie Nightcrawler where Jake Gyllenhaal gets convinces a kid to be his “intern” while he does illegal and risky journalism. Great movie.
That's cool! Steel > Alu
does it use a key?
Good review man, thanks!
When purchasing the bike you can also get upgrades like front suspension shamano 7 speed shifters and a LCD screen
For all the negativity / all the naysayers / all the doubters / all the trolls - YES THIS BIKE IS REAL. Yes they're making international deliveries, yes it performs admirably (especially given the price point), yes the quality of the build is excellent, and yes the specs changed marginally (some for the better). Bottom line is this - show me a better bike for less $ - you cannot which means the Sondors E-bike is a complete success and will only get better from here on.
Jay Pase Fair enough! For ~$700 it's a solid offering and I'm thrilled it arrived. The biggest concerns for me have been misleading marketing and questionable business practices. I've taken a cautious (but hopefully very fair) approach and tried to be objective about the bike. Feel free to share your thoughts on how I could improve for covering future products like this. I think I'll be checking out the Rad Rover soon for example.
ElectricBikeReview.com Because you have such a breadth of experience in the field and have EXTENSIVE product knowledge re: E-bikes I think at some point during each review (perhaps at end) you should compare the stats, performance, build-quality, customer support, and price of the E-bike you're reviewing against it's competitors that you've previously reviewed.
ElectricBikeReview.com after interviewing Storm Sondors, I learned a lot about how the IGG campaign was handled, or should I say mishandled by the advertising agency. Will be writing a full story about this soon.
For what it's worth I'm still riding my SOFTY (Sondors Original Fat Tire Yellow) today and it's operating admirably. Two years ago I had an owner of a VERY high end cycle shop tell me the Panasonic battery in the Sondors wouldn't last a season - and he was obviously wrong entirely as the battery has not degraded by my estimation and still performs well. I still get lots of thumbs up and approving glances as I ride to work Monday to Friday (weather permitting).
My 1st new bike weighed 45 lbs. and it had one speed I provided.
I got it and its amazing to ride it greetings from Hamburg city germany ✌🏽🌎💯❗️
Curious how long it takes to charge....
+montwolfman Probably close to 4.5 hours for a full charge but if you're near empty and just need a half charge that might only take an hour and a half because the cells aren't being balanced at the lower charge levels :)
I'd like to think the assembly was in real time as you were excited it arrived.
Nice review.
Why are you flailing your arms so much when you're not in frame?
Do they sell a kit. I would add this to my fat boy.