The better half and I are looking at Electric Bikes. We have our Mountain bikes and they do a good job. We are getting close to retirement and are looking at electric bikes for campground use and trail riding. She is looking at a regular looking MB but with the extra electric power if we need it. I am concerned about the price and the possibility of theft if we leave them at the campground. We have looked at Specialized bikes but they start at around 2700 for the kind she likes. Any suggestions on brand would be helpful. Most of our bikes have been Specialized so we are kind of partial to them. We will be looking at the other major brands as well. We bought the standard foldup bikes at Camping World and we do not care for them.ThanksRay

I have a Pedego Fat Tire Mountain Bike that I have been pleased with. I wish I would have got a bike with the suspension on both the front and the rear. I have never ran out of battery power on any ride, probably 25-30 mile range and then it charges fairly quick. My bike has allowed me to go places and see things that I would have never been able to with a conventional bike. I try to pedal anywhere I go just for the exercise. Just my two cents worth. JH

I have done some research and Pedego is likely the brand I would choose. Decide what class of bike you want based on where you intend to ride. For example the carriage roads in Acadia National Park only allow class 1 ebikes whereas outside the park it does not matter.

I have a few bikes, a trike, a mtb. And bought a ebike Specialized Vado 5.0 about 2 mos. ago. Now have over 800 miles on it. It is a fantastic tool. You get what you pay for, no way around it, so have to decide what you want and do it. Depreciation on bikes is a bite. I frequent electricbikereview and there is a lot of help and info over there. Good luck.

My wife and I have four electric bikes and have put literally thousands of miles on them in the past few years. Our goal each year is 2000 miles. We have them because, at 80* years of age, we cannot pedal the normal bike like we used to and the electric takes about half the load off.Some comments:electric bikes are much heavier than non-electricYou should have a local dealer that can work on them.Mine's a center mount and DW has a rear hub motor. Pedal assist requires the pedals to be rotated to turn on the motorCruise allows the motor to run without pedaling. Handy at the end of the day.Lithium ion batteries are better than wet cell.Many e-bikes are pegged at 20 mph. Plenty fast for us seniors.

I've been an avid cyclist and part time bike mechanic for decades. I appreciate that E-Bikes keep people biking past a time or a different kind of riding rather than hang it up. They've come a long way. If you are brand loyal, Specialized makes a great bike. My wife has 2 of them. Most of the components are usually the same across your top tier brands so at that point it really does come down to brand loyalty. Many small manufacturers have come in as start ups and do E-bike specific models. However, in buying from a local shop, a familiar brand (like Specialized) offers support you may not get from a smaller start up. I encourage people to buy from local bike shops when possible and you reap rewards in service and support by doing so while helping local economy. As far as theft, well, just like anything else, out of sight, out of mind and lock them up. No different really than any other bike. I have bikes that cost close to $5k. A thief, especially at a CG, likely can't tell it from a $300 wal Mart bike. E bikes are heavier and thus likely more difficult to put in a bin or secured somewhere inside. It's problem with all bikes really. There is a company out of Canada that makes a hitch mounted bike shed of sorts. Pretty cool but pricey. Cheers and keep riding!

Electric Bikes??? | Good Sam Community

44 Replies

Dick_B
Explorer
Jun 25, 2020
My wife and I have four electric bikes and have put literally thousands of miles on them in the past few years. Our goal each year is 2000 miles. We have them because, at 80* years of age, we cannot pedal the normal bike like we used to and the electric takes about half the load off.
Some comments:
electric bikes are much heavier than non-electric
You should have a local dealer that can work on them.
Mine's a center mount and DW has a rear hub motor.
Pedal assist requires the pedals to be rotated to turn on the motor
Cruise allows the motor to run without pedaling. Handy at the end of the day.
Lithium ion batteries are better than wet cell.
Many e-bikes are pegged at 20 mph. Plenty fast for us seniors.
Marcela
Explorer
Jun 25, 2020
I have a few bikes, a trike, a mtb. And bought a ebike Specialized Vado 5.0 about 2 mos. ago. Now have over 800 miles on it. It is a fantastic tool. You get what you pay for, no way around it, so have to decide what you want and do it. Depreciation on bikes is a bite.

I frequent electricbikereview and there is a lot of help and info over there. Good luck.
wtmtnhiker
Explorer
Jun 25, 2020
I have done some research and Pedego is likely the brand I would choose. Decide what class of bike you want based on where you intend to ride. For example the carriage roads in Acadia National Park only allow class 1 ebikes whereas outside the park it does not matter.
micpib1
Explorer
Jun 25, 2020
I have a Pedego Fat Tire Mountain Bike that I have been pleased with. I wish I would have got a bike with the suspension on both the front and the rear. I have never ran out of battery power on any ride, probably 25-30 mile range and then it charges fairly quick. My bike has allowed me to go places and see things that I would have never been able to with a conventional bike. I try to pedal anywhere I go just for the exercise. Just my two cents worth. JH

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Electric Bikes???

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