I’ve been toying with the idea of an E-Bike for a couple months. Talking with friends who have them, researching, etc.

For my price range and local dealer support, came down to Rad and Aventon. Aventon is clearing out the Aventure model now that Aventure 2 is out, down to $1500 from $1800 and including free front cargo basket and rear carrier.

Also $200 off on a second battery. Was going to think about it a few more days and go see one at dealer, but found a discount code for another $150 off so went ahead and jumped on it.

Free shipping and looks like final assembly is simple enough for me to handle myself. Should have it before the end of the month, will post pics and review once it arrives.

Been riding a lot for the past couple years now, over 1500 miles in the past year on my Mtn Bike (which is actually just ridden on pavement and packed gravel trails, not really “Mountain Biking”). Lots of rides in excess of 30 miles and my legs get a bit rubbery towards the end especially with any incline. I rode with a friend Monday and watching how easy he had it getting up some hills at the end of the ride did me in.


Updated pic of my actual bike…

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 911Boss,

After riding a couple of Rads, we decided on buying 2 Trek e-bikes. Our best ride was the Hiawatha Trail near you. After we moved to AZ, we decided a golf cart was more important to us and sold the bikes. They were fun while we had them.

My son and daughter-in-law bought a Rad comuter for a second vehicle in Seattle. They did a lot of research and thought this is the best bang at the time. I took it for a spin, it was a blast!
It blows me away that you can spend upwards of $10,000 on an electric bike!
My spine Dr recommended one of these as part of my PT.


Happy trails!

That's a beefy looking ride.
Congrats.

I haven't ridden on the road in a long time. Just crossed over 2k miles on the Peloton last month.

I bought a very similar looking Biktrix Juggernaut Duo.
It has been great and I have begun using it to commute the 11km to work, something I was not confident doing without the electric boost.

Whay don't e-bikes have the same licensing, registration, parking, and lane/trail/bike/hiking path requirements as motorcycles? 30 MPH is plenty fast enough to hurt someone, both on the bike or on foot, so safety isn't a differentiator. What makes them more sacred than the despised low CC dirt bikes? Oh yeah, they're "electric" and therefore environmentally "friendly." We all are pretty much aware that this is a lie. Why do they get a pass when motorcyclists don't?

quote:

Originally posted by architect:
Whay don't e-bikes have the same licensing, registration, parking, and lane/trail/bike/hiking path requirements as motorcycles? 30 MPH is plenty fast enough to hurt someone, both on the bike or on foot, so safety isn't a differentiator. What makes them more sacred than the despised low CC dirt bikes? Oh yeah, they're "electric" and therefore environmentally "friendly." We all are pretty much aware that this is a lie. Why do they get a pass when motorcyclists don't?

IIRC, in TX, a M endorsement is not required for 'Mopeds'
TX defined a moped as not having multiple gears & being under a certain CC threshold.

From DMV.org

quote:

In Texas, a moped is defined as a motor-driven cycle that:

CANNOT drive faster than 30 MPH.
Has an engine that CANNOT generate more than 5 HP (horsepower).
ADDITIONALLY, if has an internal combustion engine, the piston displacement must NOT exceed 50 CCs, and the power drive system must NOT require the rider to shift gears.
If your vehicle exceeds any of the above criteria, then it’s automatically classified as a motorcycle.

And for Scooters:

quote:

In the state of Texas, motor-assisted scooters are self-propelled devices that have:

At least 2 wheels on the ground while riding.
Working brakes.
An electric or gas motor that doesn't exceed 40 CCs.
A deck where the driver can sit or stand while riding.
The option for human-power operation.

And, e-bikes:

quote:

In Texas, electric bicycles are bicycles that:

Can be powered by either an electric motor alone OR with combined human power.
CANNOT go faster than 28 MPH without applying human power.
No more than 750 watts.
Electric Bicycle Rules
For the most part, the Texas laws and safety requirements for bicycles apply to electric bicycles as well. You must ALWAYS:

Sit on or astride a permanent, fixed seat.
Ride as close as you can to the right side of the road when moving slower than other roadway traffic, unless roadway conditions or hazards make it unsafe to do so, or you are:
Passing a vehicle driving in the same direction.
Preparing to turn left.
Riding in an outside lane that is:
Less than 14 feet wide.
AND
Doesn't have an adjacent designated bicycle lane, or is too narrow for a motor vehicle and a bicycle to be able to ride side by side safely.
Riding side-by-side with another person on a bicycle.
You must NEVER use your bicycle to:

Carry more people than the bike is designed to carry.
Carry anything that could prevent you from riding the bicycle with at least one hand on the handlebars at all times.
Attach it to a vehicle or a streetcar on a roadway.
All bicycles and electric bicycles must have with proper working brakes. If riding at nighttime, your bicycle must have:

A front lamp that projects a white light that can be seen from 500 feet in front of the bicycle.
A rear red reflector that is visible from 50 to 300 feet to the back of the bicycle when directly in front of other vehicles' beams and headlights.
A rear lamp that projects a red light that can be seen from 500 feet away from the back of the bicycle.

Nice EBike! I have been thinking I could use one, but with all the talk of the batteries catching fire cause me worry.

A friend of mine has a RadPower and I was leaning hard that way. Three deciding factors for me between the Aventon and thew RAD were:

Price - Compared to the Rad, equally equipped (Front carrier/Rear rack, extra battery) The Aventure was $535 less than the step over Rad (currently on sale for $1399).

Sizer - I am short (5’7”) with a 28” inseam. The Aventure step over comes in a small frame size good for folks 5’1” - 5’9”. The Rad step over is listed as being for riders with a 30” or more inseam. The Rad step through model is not on sale, so it would potentially be an additional $770 (with tax) over the Aventon for as much as a $1300 increase.

Payload - Aventure is rated for 400lbs compared to 275 for the Rad.


Bikes are otherwise very similar, use same hub motor. Aventure has a slightly larger battery and also a better display/computer.

quote:

Originally posted by TBH:
…
It blows me away that you can spend upwards of $10,000 on an electric bike!

Happy trails!

I was on the trail the other day and chatted with a guy riding a Specialized “S-Works”, carbon fiber frame e-bike. VERY slick, and only $14K

Seeing more and more of these around here. One get has his golf clubs on a rack and uses it quite a bit. The neighbor boy just got one for his birthday to replace his eboard. Cool stuff IMO.

Awesome!! Great deal on that 2nd battery too!

If you have any issues at all shoot me an email and I’ll help you figure it out.

I recently built my second electric mountain bike. They are soooooooooooo much fun.

I average between 30-50 miles a week on mine. For around town errands they often replace my car. I just rode mine up to my local bike shop for some parts.



My first build from spring of last year already has 100 hours of use and 1,500 fun filled miles.

Thought I would post an update…


Bike was originally scheduled to be delivered on 6/21, then FedEx said it would be early and arrive 6/19. Got all excited only to see it sit in Tacoma (50 miles away) for 2 days starting on 6/18 so it was a no show on Monday and arrived on Wed as originally scheduled. That’s on FedEx, not Aventon.

As soon as I opened the box I fished out the charger and once bike was out of the crate I removed battery to get it charging. Bike only took about 35 minutes to get it all put together. VERY easy assembly, put the front wheel on, screw on the pedals, and attach the handlebars. All levers, shifters, headlight, controller were pre-attached. Just put them in the preferred spot and tighten them down.

Once together I did a short check ride without the battery to test brakes, shifting, etc. Everything looked good, so I put the battery in (76% charged after about 45 minutes on the charger) and did a shake down cruise around the neighborhood and pick up a prescription at the local drug store.



I put 13 miles on the bike day 1. Most of it in Pedal Assist mode (PAS) 1 or 0 as mostly flat terrain. I did give the throttle a test on small rises as well as a couple of decent hills in the neighborhood. When I got home I was down to 56% battery. I had no problem riding
13-14 mph on flat terrain unassisted and averaged 14.2 mph over a 9.7 mile ride according to the bike’s app.

Yesterday I did my first "real” ride of substance, 25.28 miles (actual per cycle computer, bike called it as 26.9 miles). I was pretty impressed with the performance. With judicious use of PAS and throttle, I did a lot better than I was expecting. PAS was mostly 1/2 and I think I set top assist speed at 18 (battery conservation in mind).

With 12 miles in I was still at 97% and that included a 1/2 mile hill climb at 12-14% grade with an elevation gain of almost 300'. A little over 20 miles and I was still at 88%. Pulled into my driveway with 25+ miles and a 1289' total elevation gain showing 78% battery charge remaining.

The battery seems to "rebound" or recalculate after periods of little assistance. Biggest swing I noticed was a 5% when it had been down to 78% but returned to 83% after a couple miles of flat in PAS 1 and me doing all the work.



E-Bike is actually more of a workout than I was expecting (when trying to do most the work myself instead of being lazy). My average heart rate on a 20+ mile ride is usually in the 125 range. That is on a 34 lb mountain bike with LOW gearing. I top out at about 19-20 mph all out on the flat in a short burst with a cadence of 80+. My steady rate on on the flats is a cadence of 70-75 in 9th gear for about 15 mph.

Higher gearing on the E-Bike leads to “theoretical” higher top speed, BUT it is 75 pounds, so more than double the weight of my regular bike. It also it has Fat-as-F*@k 4”, knobby, off-road tires (because who ever really has enough rolling resistance?). The shear power it takes to turn the crank on the 1x8 gear train means gears 7 and 8 are downhill only for me.

Best I can do steady rate on flat terrain in 6th is a cadence of about 55-57 and that only gets me to about 14.5 mph. I can manage a cadence of 62-64 in 5th, but that works out to about the same speed so not much difference except a little less load on my knees. I don’t mind the slight drop in speed on flat ground because it is MORE than made up for by maintaining a higher speed on the uphill. With motor assist I am able to keep 10-12 mph up moderate rises that I would slow down to 5-7 mph on riding my regular bike.

The higher gearing/lower cadence/double+ weight combo sent my average HR for yesterday’s ride north of 140. A little higher than I like, so will up the PAS one level and try to shoot for 130 average as a goal.



I did another 25+ mile ride today, this time following the same route I’ve ridden before on my regular bike so I could do an “Apples to Apples” comparison. Feeling good about the battery life after yesterday, and on a much flatter course, I used a little more assist and tried to get my HR closer to what I am used to. Still noticed the rebound thing, but less of a swing - I think going back up 2% was the most I saw today.



Here is the breakdown according to Apple Health for the two workouts:

METRIC - Mtn Bike/E-Bike
Distance 25.65/25.62
Moving Time 1:56/1:42
Active Calories 1154/1207
Elevation Gain 537/506
Avg Speed 13.2 mph/15 mph
Avg HR 125/133
Min HR 82/90
Max HR 156/148
Avg Cadence 66/60
Max Cadence 120/84


Distance/Remaining Charge Yesterday - Today
12.15 miles/97% - 12.21 miles/99%
*Note - This portion of yesterday’s ride included a 1/2 mile, 300’, 14%+ grade hill I throttled all the way up while the first portion of today’s ride included a 60’ elevation loss and much lower grade for the elevation gain it does have

20.19 miles/88% - 20.15 miles/96%
25.28 miles/78% - 25.56 miles/82%


Today’s ride was less than half the elevation gain of yesterday’s. I bumped up to PAS 2(15 mph) for the most part along with occasional short stretches at PAS 3(18 mph). Since I was still showing 96% remaining at the 20 mile point, I decide I would goose it starting at 21 miles. I went to PAS 3 at the 21 mile point and held it there for 3.5 miles, then did the final mile (slight uphill) at PAS 4 (20 mph).

Pretty close to same distance as yesterday, half the elevation gain, more assist and approx 4% less battery use over the ride (78% remaining yesterday, 82% remaining today). All in all I am happy with that performance and it is better than I was expecting. The bike is advertised as having a 45 mile range and they calculate that with a 180 lb rider (I am closer to 220) on a 80% flat/20% hill course. I think I am probably closer to 35% or more uphill.

Understanding the discharge is not going to be linear, I am still hopeful of hitting 60 miles if I stick with PAS 2 and occasional throttle for a little more boost on the steeper uphill spots.



The PAS speeds I should note are what it goes to on the Bike’s display on level ground. If it is going up a grade, it slows down some. Also, the bike’s display (Speedo/ODO only, no “computer” functions) seems to be about 6-6.5% “optimistic” both for speed and mileage registered. When it says 15 mph the Cycle computer (GPS speed) is in the 14.3 range and when the bike says 20, GPS is calling it closer to 18.8.



After about 65 miles, I am starting to get a feel for it. I am feeling a little more burn in my thighs today than I am used to. Not sure if that’s from the lower cadence/higher intensity or just doing two back to back day of 25 mile rides (not the norm for me). I’ll note that my NordicTrack workouts usually tend to be lower cadence/higher intensity/high avg HR than when I ride my Mtn bike. The “feel” of the E-Bike is pretty close to the feel of when I am on the NordicTrack bike.

Good review. I have the Aventon Level Commuter and use it to run back and forth from the pickleball courts in our local community. Great looks on a great riding bike.

https://www.smalltownbikeco.co...EEAMYASAAEgK6tvD_BwE

Here’s a smaller e-bike company, Wisconsin. I don’t have one(yet), reviews are great.

They are also right of center politically, best I can tell.

This thing is addicting!

Nice little 40 mile ride today, Marysville, Everett, Snohomish, Lake Stevens, and back to Marysville. I didn’t charge the battery after yesterday’s 25 mile ride, wanted to run it way down to get an idea of what range I could expect. Used a higher level of assist today, so 65 miles on a single charge with “liberal” assist and came home just under 10%. Feel pretty confident that if needed I could do 75-80 miles on a charge if there isn’t too much elevation gain involved.

Really opens up ride and route options I would have never considered before.

Over 100 miles since getting it Wednesday afternoon. Have a 25 mile group ride tomorrow, then I will be taking Monday off!

Check out: www.ecells.com
2WD E-bikes. My neighbor has one and raves about it. I may jump this winter in hopes there is a sale.

My wife received an Ebike as a Christmas gift last year.

She has some hip issues now that she is 61. She LOVES her E-bike. It provides the assist when she needs it and nothing when she does not.

The Technology is fascinating to me.

E-bikes are addictive as heck! I rode 75 miles last week and another 75 this week.

I’m glad you are enjoying the bike. They really are shocking how much fun you have while riding.

I managed to squeeze 83.3 miles out of one charge on my new e-bike and that was with some high power laps around the neighborhood with minimal to zero pedaling.

I can’t wait to see if I can manage 100+ miles per charge with moderate pedaling.

quote:

Originally posted by stickman428:
E-bikes are addictive as heck! I rode 75 miles last week and another 75 this week.

I’m glad you are enjoying the bike. They really are shocking how much fun you have while riding.

I managed to squeeze 83.3 miles out of one charge on my new e-bike and that was with some high power laps around the neighborhood with minimal to zero pedaling.

I can’t wait to see if I can manage 100+ miles per charge with moderate pedaling.

150 miles in four days! that is a record for me. Taking today off, but was really tempted to squeeze an early morning ride in. 37 miles yesterday and pulled in with 71% remaining.


I am absolutely amazed with this. Wish I had got it a year ago instead of my mountain bike. Love my mountain bike, I just can’t see keeping it at this point and I’ll take at least a $500 loss selling it probably.


Sometime in the next week or two I am going to see who dies first, me or the bike - will shoot for 75-80 miles on the same route I did an 80 miler last year. Will definitely be in battery conservation for the first 40-50% of the ride. Figure I would rather conserve while I am fresh instead of having to conserve towards the end when I am spent and trying to make it home.

Will be interesting to compare data from Apple Health between the two rides over the same route.