Hi, I’m new. And have questions!

[Bimbleball]

Hi all. I’ve been reading loads on here but thought it was time to join in. Not least because I’m after all your expert advice

I currently have a Trek Marlin 7. I do some general rides, canal paths, trails and green and blue runs

I’ve just started looking at ebikes. I read you need to spend £2k to get a decent one? So I was looking at some Haibikes (I think the hard seven 5) approx 2.5k.

I went to a trail centre today and hired a Trek Powerfly 5. Loved it! It’s a bike that is £3750 brand new.

Thing is, they’re selling the bike as they have new stock. And the price is roughly 2.5k. I think it’s a pretty good bike. But obviously it’s used. They say they rebuild it so it’ll be like riding a new bike and there’s one month warranty.

I think I have more questions to ask, like what the warranty covers, how much life is left in the battery… but what do you think? Worth the better bike even though it’s used?

I’m not bothered about scratches on the frame or anything, just the components (all normal MTB ones and the power side of it).

I assume it’ll have been thrown around a bit being a rental. It’s a small though, up to 5ft 5, maybe it won’t have been used as much as bigger ones ( I’m going to generalise and say there’s maybe more male mountain bikers than female, who are usually taller!). Although maybe it’s been used by teenagers.

What do you think? What would you do?

 

[Mr_Price]

The alternative argument is that demo / rental bikes come with great maintenance records as the shops ensure that they are running smooth every time they go out. It’s lots of bike for that budget. Any idea if there would be any warranty with it?

 

[carlton]

sounds like a good deal to me. As Mr Price said, it's likely to have been well maintained, probably better than you might do so yourself if you owned it. It will at least have been cleaned after each rental. The Bosch system fitted to it is well regarded and should be good for many miles.

It looks like a hardtail so the only question I'd ask yourself is if you want a full suspension bike instead.

 

[Bimbleball]

The alternative argument is that demo / rental bikes come with great maintenance records as the shops ensure that they are running smooth every time they go out. It’s lots of bike for that budget. Any idea if there would be any warranty with it?

There would only be one month warranty.
I think there’s still the question for me of even if it’s a good deal, would a much cheaper bike be suitable. It’s not like I’m a hardcore mountain biker, I don’t need the best of the best. But I do want it to be decent quality and am often of the opinion - “buy cheap, buy twice”.

 

[Bimbleball]

sounds like a good deal to me. As Mr Price said, it's likely to have been well maintained, probably better than you might do so yourself if you owned it. It will at least have been cleaned after each rental. The Bosch system fitted to it is well regarded and should be good for many miles.

It looks like a hardtail so the only question I'd ask yourself is if you want a full suspension bike instead.

Hardtail is fine for me, it’s what I have now. I do blue runs and happy at my level, taking them fairly slowly for fun, I’m not into getting more technical stuff and doing jumps etc. I’ll hurt myself! I spend more time on general iff road riding though, tracks etc. I have considered hybrid but assume I’d rule myself out of doing blues then.

 

[Chris ledger]

Buy the new one if the 2nd hand one dies soon after you get it you are gonna be hit with a whopper of a bill that wont be far off the difference just my opinion

 

[CJaMTB]

I agree with Chris. ebikes are still in relative infancy and so having the full warranty that comes with a new bike could be worth it's weight in gold. A rental bike will have been well maintained, but that won't include the motor and battery, as neither are maintainable by the shop.

 

[Bimbleball]

Hmmm mixed views. I’m happy paying that amount for that bike but am hesitant with it being used and only one month warranty.

 

[Chris ledger]

Have a look for a 2021 bike thats still new my lbs had a focus jam in xl full suspension for 2995 a couple of weeks ago a bargain for someone that was

 

[Mr_Price]

Hmmm mixed views. I’m happy paying that amount for that bike but am hesitant with it being used and only one month warranty.

The only reason that bike is available at that price is because it is used. You will be getting lesser bikes if you apply the same budget to a brand new bike.

The most important question EVERYONE has ignored: is it the right colour?

 

[Bimbleball]

The only reason that bike is available at that price is because it is used. You will be getting lesser bikes if you apply the same budget to a brand new bike.

The most important question EVERYONE has ignored: is it the right colour?

ha even I’ve disregarded colour, and normally that’s a priority of course!

I might ring and ask more questions. I’d be happier with a years warranty but I know they won’t do that.

I guess it’s that it’s the only one I’ve ridden, I know I like it. Anything else might be a gamble and I might be disappointed.

I’m not sure what parts to compromise on for a cheaper ebike. Most things I’ve read says go for the Bosch motor…

My employer has just launched the cycle 2 work scheme so I had high hopes for that but there’s a limit of £2500.

 

[Chris ledger]

Try the green community initiative no limit on that i bought my bike on this scheme

 

[Binhill1]

People paying a lot for top bikes and still have problems , as someone commented Ebikes still in infancy. Had my Levo nearly 3 years now. In the past year I've spent £1200 on maintaining and repairing it 350 of that was posting back for warranty repairs. They are not low cost if you use them a lot and they are addictive and fun. So I wouldn't buy second hand personally. You will probably find you get a lot more adventurous once you find what they are capable of doing.

 

[Bimbleball]

So it’s a 2021 bike, they got it in November 2021, so it’s not too old.
It’s done 1500 miles. They said that’s lower than average for their hire bikes (usually twice that) but the extreme end sizes (small or extra large etc) get less use.

They’ll strip it down and replace any parts as necessary like for like. (He said it will need new parts although hasn’t looked to see what yet). Is that normal to need new parts after just four months? Is it an indicator that it’s had some hammer?
The one month warranty covers the battery and motor (obviously one month isn’t long though).

So it’s a risk like anything secondhand. If I don’t get this I’ll prob get the Haibike Hardseven 5 on the cycle to work scheme, which will mean a big discount. That’s if it’s in stock anywhere that is in the scheme tho.

One bike shop said they have no experience with Haibike and what they’re like with warranty yet they know Trek are great.

 

[Stihldog]

Colour is important but the fastest colour can be subjective .

When I made my first EMTB purchase I looked and visited a few LBS. Sounds like you’re doing your research. The most important thing for me was the after-service and warranty. I first interviewed the local shops (more like an inquisition ) to try and gauge what to expect. That may have been a bit easier when I purchased a few years ago. Regardless you can familiarize yourself with them and educate yourself a bit more at the same time.
I didn’t rent-to-try back then but that doesn’t seem to be an option anymore.

 

[Mitchb]

1500 miles = 150 ten mile rides by a variety of people that may or may not have given a crap about how they treated the bike, some not even knowing what they were doing. If you want to buy a bike that used why not buy one from a private party who has taken care of their bike the whole time?

And a one month warranty is a joke. That indicates to me the seller doesnt have much confidence in what he's selling you.

Im starting to see lots of barely used emtbs in my area for sale, check your local classifieds is my recommendation. Research brands that allow a warranty transfer. I just bought a Yamaha ydx moro with 200 miles and two years left on the warranty .

 

[Bimbleball]

1500 miles = 150 ten mile rides by a variety of people that may or may not have given a crap about how they treated the bike, some not even knowing what they were doing. If you want to buy a bike that used why not buy one from a private party who has taken care of their bike the whole time?

And a one month warranty is a joke. That indicates to me the seller doesnt have much confidence in what he's selling you.

Im starting to see lots of barely used emtbs in my area for sale, check your local classifieds is my recommendation. Research brands that allow a warranty transfer. I just bought a Yamaha ydx moro with 200 miles and two years left on the warranty .

See, I’m a bit more positive about it. 1500 miles in four month averages roughly 90 a week. You can only do a full day hire so likely more miles covered ( I did 30 but I got there late and only had it five hours). So averaging maybe 50 different riders. And yeah that’s the big downside - who knows how they treated it. On the plus side, it’s been regularly serviced and any parts needing replaced are going to be, so some will be brand new.

I too was disappointed with the one month warranty - that’s a bit tight.

At the moment I’m between this and the Hardseven 5 (new) but I’ve read negative things about the chain coming off that and nobody with experience of their customer service.

 

[Chris ledger]

Think somebody earlier said the notor and battery are sealed they cannot be touched so you never know when they could let go you pay yer money you take yer chance

 

[Dago]

People paying a lot for top bikes and still have problems , as someone commented Ebikes still in infancy. Had my Levo nearly 3 years now. In the past year I've spent £1200 on maintaining and repairing it 350 of that was posting back for warranty repairs. They are not low cost if you use them a lot and they are addictive and fun. So I wouldn't buy second hand personally. You will probably find you get a lot more adventurous once you find what they are capable of doing.

I have a 2019 Kenevo that I hacked the motor on for higher cut out, immediately. The bike has been flawless. It seems as though one out of four of the Brose set ups are really good. Sorry about your costs.

 

[Binhill1]

I have a 2019 Kenevo that I hacked the motor on for higher cut out, immediately. The bike has been flawless. It seems as though one out of four of the Brose set ups are really good. Sorry about your costs.

Yes it's the wheel this week getting new hub on warranty from Hope so can't complain it was operator error . I think I'm grudging a lot of stuff now. I retired a year ago reality kicking in now . Good to hear of someone with better luck. Mind you got two motors and a frame on warranty in past year. Call me lucky Jim

 

[dalf83]

I just bought a second hand simplon from the shop. They gave me 5 year warranty the frame (only 9 months old). I had the same headache about wear and tear and battery life.

I have 2 views. Firstly, if you need a better ride and can get it for cheaper, go for it if it means more time riding. Just get a better warranty deal imho.

Secondly, as someone mentioned already. Buy cheap buy twice. I started with an xc from bergamont as my first ebike. I could do anything with it. That is until I tried a full suspension Focus 130mm front and back. My skills and courage (and comfort) increased astronomically. At this point I felt I outgrew the bike and forked out a half fortune for the Simplon.
Now I understand that not everyone can budget like I did. My point is get the bike you need. Try out your friends bikes. Heck rent out a few bikes before you take a decision. I feel the sweat deal has put you in a fomo position. And my humble opinion would be to tale a deep breath and choose the best bike for you ( rather then buy three bikes like I did and make a bigger dent on selling). Hope this helps!

tc

 

[1oldfart]

HAIBIKE. I had one i would by an other but there is no distributor in Canada

 

[Bimbleball]

I just bought a second hand simplon from the shop. They gave me 5 year warranty the frame (only 9 months old). I had the same headache about wear and tear and battery life.

I have 2 views. Firstly, if you need a better ride and can get it for cheaper, go for it if it means more time riding. Just get a better warranty deal imho.

Secondly, as someone mentioned already. Buy cheap buy twice. I started with an xc from bergamont as my first ebike. I could do anything with it. That is until I tried a full suspension Focus 130mm front and back. My skills and courage (and comfort) increased astronomically. At this point I felt I outgrew the bike and forked out a half fortune for the Simplon.
Now I understand that not everyone can budget like I did. My point is get the bike you need. Try out your friends bikes. Heck rent out a few bikes before you take a decision. I feel the sweat deal has put you in a fomo position. And my humble opinion would be to tale a deep breath and choose the best bike for you ( rather then buy three bikes like I did and make a bigger dent on selling). Hope this helps!

tc

thanks, it’s really helped to hear all different views. Ive been taking my time and trying different bikes like you say, and if the Trek sells in the meantime, so be it.
I’ve ruled out some due to size. I’m finding I have limited options not just due to budget, but because of size and minimal womens options. I’m interested in the Liv Tempt E, obviously it’s not in the same category as the Trek, albeit brand new.
A couple of bike shops have recommended I get the used Trek despite it being their job to sell me bikes!

 

[1oldfart]

thanks, it’s really helped to hear all different views. Ive been taking my time and trying different bikes like you say, and if the Trek sells in the meantime, so be it.
I’ve ruled out some due to size. I’m finding I have limited options not just due to budget, but because of size and minimal womens options. I’m interested in the Liv Tempt E, obviously it’s not in the same category as the Trek, albeit brand new.
A couple of bike shops have recommended I get the used Trek despite it being their job to sell me bikes!

I rode a Temt E great or i would say best for the money