Hi from Central New York! Ebike newb.

[Whendric]

Hello Forum, Hello EMTB.

Know very little about Ebikes and there are several choices. But it is getting to get closer to a practicably now. Also I'm finding $1000 bikes that look something you'd spot in the Wal-mart bike aisle. So the market is at least saturated in that manner.

Already know some of the shortcomings of using batteries in other devices in general and want to avoid some of those shortcomings with something that would normally function without external PWR. Want to be able to revert to Full pedal PWR if the batteries are drained while I'm several miles from a PWR source. Ideally anyway....

Is is just me or do a lot of ebike models out there in the wild have poorly designed frames/weird. As if the bike design was an afterthought. Or one model I saw that look it was designed more as a frame for the battery with no regard for user comfort, much less other factors. Wouldn't it make sense to make a frame that is sturdy and lightweight to use less power?

My biggest apprehension to pulling the trigger for an EMTB is where can I get it fixed?
There is less bike shops where I live and I need to find out who can help me with what ever model I'd pick out. Second biggest is the inflated figures for range and recharge time. What if I'm say planning a 60m trip to the next recharge station? Is there any methods to keeping a longer battery life to avoid having to buy that replacement as often?

Also I don't know the laws in my state and region. Would like something that can be used legally on proper bike trails, on the streets and roads for miles and in the woods. Much like the MTB hybrid street friendly one I pedal now.

Then when I narrow down the choices, the battery questions will pop up again. Can I carry a spare in my backpack and swap it out. How much more weight would that be? Etc.
And what bikes I can pedal without power. Worst Case Scenario.

Drive trains pros and cons. what system is best. Should I get a kit for what I'm using now? More Pros and cons.

My dream EMTB would have the one positive of the rental Limebike I tested out. They were airless (foam) tires so I didn't have to be bothered with punctures. So whatever is the best offering for a no-worries tire would be a plus to worry free bike travel (I hope anyway).

Well I've rambled on enough for a Hi message. Hope to hear from you!

 

[MadsB]

If you can, go to a bike shop and try out a few models. Also decide how much you are willing to spend. I wouldn’t get worried about range and battery problems at this stage, most decent bikes now have batteries 500wh or more. A lot now come with 625wh or more. I have a Whyte with a Bosch motor and 625wh battery. Have done 50m rides and still had battery left. If you are in the states Trek is a good brand and the Rails are great and have the latest bosh motor and 625wh batteries. Happy bike hunting!

 

[Whendric]

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction @MadsB . Trek might be local enough in my town for most bike shops to help me. So I can contact them and see where they can help me. (But feel free to tell me what you like about Whyte setup. )

Still totally open to other input from anybody here about other brands, advice or where to start. Or any clarity for that matter.

Also if anybody can tell me the Pro's cons of ebike upgrades, If I do go for the cheaper option and say use my existing Giant MTB.

 

[MadsB]

The Whyte is my first emtb, so don’t have a lot to compare against, but have tried a generic bafang hard tail that was not great. I ordered my bike when we went into lock down so couldn’t try any bikes. Wanted a Trek rail 5 but when I went to my LBS they told me it would be a few months wait. They could get my the Whyte in a week so increased my budget by another £1000. But I have no regrets at all. It’s nimble, playful, low centre of gravity means you feel so stable and glued to the ground. It’s rock solid and I’ve done about 1200 miles in 3 months. Great quality, nothing has gone wrong and the LBS is great. It’s a beast of a bike that just makes you smile when you’re on it!

I haven’t really upgraded anything yet, but will probably upgrade the fork, not that it needs it but a new damper and it becomes a RS Lyrik instead of the Yari. The Bosch is great and the battery is big so no range anxiety at all. In terms of upgrades I will most likely wait until parts are worn out. My other half now has the E150S 29er on order and will get it in about 2 weeks.

My advice is buy from a local bike shop, so if anything does go wrong you can easily get it sorted. If you want full suspension you probably need to spend about £4000/5000 range for a decent bike, although there are Cube’s that are very good value for money.
What is your budget? Full sus or hardtail?

If you want to use parts from your Giant then just make sure they fit and are suitable.

Good luck!

 

[Whendric]

What is your budget? Full sus or hardtail?

To be determined. But probably would settle for a hard tail, especially if that helps with weight.
An EMTB that can be upgraded over time when the old parts wear out would be a plus. Swappable batteries would get me to buy 2 battery packs for my bike for all the PWR choices. I do intend to do some sort of bike touring/backpacking about 60m to the next PWR UP at some point.

If you want to use parts from your Giant then just make sure they fit and are suitable.

Yea, I was thinking about my hardtail 29er with a hub or front moter or the other dozen ebike kit options out there.
Will check with my local bike shops and the one electric bike shop and their capabilities, price and brands.