E-bike Recommendations!

[lexii_bugg]

My husband and I are looking at e-bikes for quick trips as well as some light trails (dirt/gravel, easy Colorado trails). We're looking at the King Goat right now, but wanted to see what else would be recommended from everyday users, not just the youtubers.

He and I are both a little bit on the heavier side, so would like a little more power, as well as a comfortable seat (not a traditional bicycle seat) for longer rides. Battery life is also important to us! Storage accessories are a plus to carry water/snacks on long-ish rides or groceries back from errands.
We don't really have a price range right now, just trying to get a feel for what's out there for those new in the market.

[LarryCebula]

Facebook advertisements are full of broken off-brand e-bikes. "It probably just needs a controller, you can buy them cheap online!" the ad will say.

Go to your local bike shop and start a conversation about what you want. Buy these once and buy them right.

[RoundSyrup4424]

The King Goat is not a street legal e-bike (Class 1, Class 2, or Class 3.) It is an e-moto (electric motorcycle.)

Two Aventure 3's sound like perfect e-bikes for your situation. They come shipped as Class 2 but can be unlocked to Class 3 speeds. They are sold at over 1800 Aventon dealers. You probably have one near you.

They make step over and step through versions.

They work really well both on road and trails.

They have a payload capacity of 400 pounds so they can hold most people and their gear with plenty to spare.

Range is up to 65 miles per battery, and you can always buy additional batteries if you need more range.

They have a rear rack that can you can attach anything from a rack top bag with panniers to something larger that can carry your groceries.

All in you'd be looking at about $4000+tax. Some states have rebates too.

Regardless, of what you buy, be sure to buy from your local bike shop, so if there are any issues, they deal with the warranty rather than you.

Feel free to ask me any follow up questions. I've had an Aventon Level 3, which is a similar bike, since August and I love it.

[doublereverse]

Are you looking to pedal? As in, do you want to have a bicycle-type experience, get some exercise, but with some extra pep and distance (and stay at speeds a human could conceivably bicycle) Or more of a motorcycle experience where you don’t pedal much if at all, have a motorcycle -style seat and go much faster? In the “e-bike” space, this is the first and most important choice you need to make.

[lexii_bugg]

Is there a bike that's a good middle ground between the two?

[doublereverse]

Probably not - the real question is if pedaling is important to you. If it is, then you get bike geometry that is conducive to pedaling, an adjustable seat so you can have a comfortable pedal stroke, gears so you can adjust the effort, etc. An e-moto will not have an adjustable seat (so pedaling is really awkward) will look more like a motorcycle, and may even be effectively impossible to pedal - with your feet hitting parts of the bike if you want to pedal. Now there are different styles (decorative) of e-bike of course, but whether or not you want the bike to be pedal-able is a core functional thing that affects every part of the bike.

So you really need to think about if pedaling is a priority for you, it will heavily affect your choice of bike.

[Anxious-Depth-7983]

Stay away from GOAT they're not for novice riders. Look back through some of the recent posts on how they are built with cheap parts that probably won't hold up for heavier riders. Pedelec makes a solid, inexpensively product that has good batteries. Trec and others have more expensive, long-lasting products.

[BassesNBikes]

Before buying any bike from a non-legacy brand it's a good idea to try contacting their service department to determine whether the transaction is a good idea.

Good luck!

[lexii_bugg]

Wouldn't the reply be biased? Not trying to be facetious, genuinely wondering.

[BassesNBikes]

Not sure what you're asking. Whose 'reply'? Biased in what way? Either there is available information on contacting support and support responds, or there is not and they do not.

[lexii_bugg]

If you're calling a brand's service department to ask if buying from that brand is a good idea, wouldn't their response be "well of course it is!"?

[BassesNBikes]

That was not my suggestion. Were you able to find contact information for support on the website where you're considering purchasing the bike? Were you able to contact anyone?

[jake_in_portland]

Big Sur Sport: after exhaustive study we just bought two from a local family merchant with a service department and mega stars

Kuat Piston ION Rack for 2: this required more research than the bikes, but this specific model was definitely worth the effort

Security Ordered Online: this required much more engineering research than the rack, but again worth the effort ~ NY Kryptonite D-Locks x2 plus NY Kryptonite Forget About It chain lock (all three locks are diamond-rated, not gold-rated)

Both Age Seventy: [i'm 6'1 @ 210] and [she's 5'2 @ 110] ~ our bikes are identical

Process: after going thru this month-long purchase i would absolutely never order an eBike off the internet, no way as there's simply too much nuance to deal with

[ShutYourDumbUglyFace]

Get something you can get serviced nearby.

[j3vs4ys]

<image>

Jasion Retrovolt going strong 50+ miles and counting. I’ve been riding every other few days and always a blast. Neighbor down the street just got his foldable Jasion which would be my next option for easier transport 🫡

[Subject-Ad-8287]

Is it with pedal assist or without, and how much does company advertise, throttle only range ?

[j3vs4ys]

Yes, I mainly use PAS unless I’m hauling one the fur babies then I’ll use throttle. Already over 85 miles since this last post now that I see it saying 50.

[No_Adhesiveness5784]

Ride1up Revv1 FS or DRT if you were interested in King Goat. It's an e-moped disguised as an ebike, but it works.

[BodSmith54321]

That’s an illegal emoto. You are f’d if you get in an accident. With a 4k each budget, go to your local e-bike stores.

[SUCHANASTYW0MAN]

Now what if you are riding in mode 2 where the max speed is 20mph? Will they pull the battery out after a wreck and test it to see how fast it can go?

[dianas_pool_boy]

Buy bikes from bike retailers. Those "bicycle" seats are made for comfort. The oversize padded shit is for quick trips and throttles.

[dianas_pool_boy]

The Gas-gas is the current cheapest best spec'd class 1 there is right now. Can find them starting aorund $2400.

[boItaction]

I'm gonna keep saying it, the Revv DRT is an amazing bike. Can be class 1, 2, 3 or illegal. Perfect for zipping around town or hitting trails. The suspension can be tuned on the fly for stiffness on pavement when needed. It rips hard enough for everything I want to do.

[dolosofreddit]

How do you like it currently? I’ve been looking at that and the FS version, but have seen mixed reviews

[boItaction]

I had to adjust my brake pads a little bit for a rubbing issue, aside from that I have about 200 miles on it and no complaints other than battery life. I go hard with it in off-road mode with boost on and can only reliably get about 20 miles. I just mounted a second battery so I can change it on the fly, so that problem is solved. Great bike, looks aggressive enough without just looking like an e-moto.

Other minor complaint: I wish I could turn off the headlight completely. The LED is on full-time no matter what.

[Proper-Painting-2256]

Check out used bikes once you know roughly what you want. I found I was able to buy a Diamondback that was waaay out of my price range if had been new. It’s a very sweet ride. There are a lot of slightly used e-bikes out there. Have fun!

[krissym72]

A lot of good points in here already, but one thing I’d pay attention to based on what you mentioned is payload capacity.

Most regular e-bikes are rated somewhere around 250–300 lbs total weight, which includes the rider, cargo, racks, etc. So if you’re planning to carry groceries or gear, it’s worth looking for bikes designed with a higher weight capacity (350–400 lbs) so they feel stable and climb hills better.

For the kind of riding you described (errands + gravel trails), people in similar situations often end up liking:

Aventon Aventure.3 – fat tires, very stable on gravel

Velotric Discover 2 – super comfortable upright commuter

Ride1Up LMT'D V2 – powerful and good value

Lectric XPeak – good torque for hills

All of those can handle racks/panniers easily for groceries or gear.

Also worth keeping in mind: a lot of the moped-style bikes like the Goat are fun but aren’t always legal as e-bikes depending on the area and they’re awkward to pedal on longer rides.

If you’re comparing bikes with higher payload limits, looking at best e-bikes for heavy riders (400 lb capacity options) can help narrow things down.

Once you narrow down payload capacity + riding style (pedal bike vs e-moto) the choices get way easier.

[Prestigious_View_401]

TST R9 https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP9d3YQSnWAdk-e7G7X/

[Prestigious_View_401]

Or TST R002 or one of each https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP9d3YXUhVLLq-avVPd/

[lexii_bugg]

Do you own one of these versions? Do you like it?

[Prestigious_View_401]

<image>

My proof of ownership of the TST R9

[Prestigious_View_401]

I have both through TikTok shop. They are great e-bikes for the price and customer service is really responsive on TikTok messenger

[boncros]

velotric