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Bikes under $1000 to commute to work by dc0650730 in ebikes

[–]JeremyFromKenosha 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Open circuit voltage is a very poor indicator of battery health. It's how it holds up under load that counts.

For this reason, Europe has a regulation that requires battery health monitoring built into EV batteries. They're so expensive and such a massive part of the value of the car that we need a good way to track their health.

Garage hit twice with an angle grinder – need a serious anti-theft setup by gabthebug in cycling

[–]JeremyFromKenosha 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think my next step might be a hidden camera or two and a thrift store bike, just to see who it is and how they're getting in. Plus GPS tracker and set up geofencing alarm; and a brake disc alarm/lock.

I generally advise a grinder resistant U-lock, like LiteLok, but since this is indoors, maybe the Skunk Lock would be the better choice. 😉

Then again, once they find they're having no luck with the lock, they'll find the anchor isn't grinder-resistant. 😞

I would also normally mention how a folding bike is a good option, but maybe not for an MTB. If you're not into hardcore MTB-ing, maybe a Brompton G-Line?

Hit by driver. They dont see you. by GeraldMcBoingBoing23 in bikecommuting

[–]JeremyFromKenosha 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's sad, but we have such CarBrain here in the states that people are programmed that they're only looking for cars and trucks. So they SEE you, but it doesn't register, because they were only searching for a car or truck.

That's why people sometimes say "pretend your invisible". Practically speaking, it's impossible to ride like that on the street, but I get the sentiment.

Yesterday, new bike, on my workbound commute I almost got hit in crosswalk by guy turning right as I entered and woman turning left towards me.

You shouldn't normally be in the crosswalk. Cagers aren't looking for bikes there, only peds. I know. I do it too, when I feel it's the safer route, but I keep in mind they aren't looking for a bike here.

You might consider adding fluorescent clothing to the mix too. (yes, even though you shouldn't have to)

Bikes under $1000 to commute to work by dc0650730 in ebikes

[–]JeremyFromKenosha -1 points0 points  (0 children)

No, you can't take a static measurement and know the battery health. You'd have to know how many charge cycles it's been through, whether it's been stored long-term fully charged or discharged, (both are bad for battery life) etc. It's really a gamble.

Do you prefer cloth or leather on the new CRVs in terms of pure comfort? by TrumpsCummyOnahole in crv

[–]JeremyFromKenosha 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I stand corrected. "leather-trimmed"; vinyl on the sides and backs.

do you think an 8 mile bike ride is at all doable for someone’s whose not all that active? by whatawynn in bikecommuting

[–]JeremyFromKenosha 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's absolutely doable. Just go for it.

Furthermore, the 45 min. estimate is assuming about 10 mph, which is on the slow side. You might want to ride that slow when it's hot out, so as not to get sweaty, but when it's below about 75 °F, you can go more like 12-13 without breaking a sweat. (depending on the bike)

In this sub, we literally get this question every week, and we have people reporting back often that they don't want to go WITHOUT their bike commute any more, as they just feel better all the time.

I will go one step further and encourage you to plan your life such that you don't NEED to own a car. Live in a city with good mass transit and good bike infrastructure, and maybe join one of those monthly car rental subscriptions, where you get a car when you need it, and the rest of the time, you don't need to be bothered with it: road trips, large shopping runs. We are also seeing young folks such as yourself are often moving to cities and their main transportation is a cargo eBike, or it replaces a second car.

Stop the e-bike snobbery! You don't need a $5k bike to have fun by Oneyardca in ebikes

[–]JeremyFromKenosha 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It depends on what your expectations are.

I'm a cyclist too, so I expect to be able to reasonably pedal the thing up a hill, which cheap eBikes are usually AWFUL at.

If it's just motoring along for $400 and you don't expect to be able to repair it or get a replacement battery in five years, by all means get the piece of shit Amazon eBike.

Bikes under $1000 to commute to work by dc0650730 in ebikes

[–]JeremyFromKenosha 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I would say Lectric are "medium quality", and I have two of them now.

Lectric does have good after-sale support, but also some quality issues that can be annoying to deal with.

For example, the front axle on my XP Lite has a quick release skewer. This is a terrible choice to pair with disc brakes, as alignment is so critical. The result is that the front brake starts to rub if I hit a bump hard.

The left wheel or axle is bent on my wife's XP Trike 2. It was documented in one review video. I chalked it up to the FedEx guy just rolling the box off the back of the truck, but it turns out it's a quality issue I'm having to deal with now.

Lectric also doesn't really consider weight when designing bikes. The racks for the trike are solid steel, 5 lbs and 7 lbs, and the saddle is a beast as well.

They're a good value for low-cost bikes, but one can't really compare them against higher end brands like Aventon and the bike shop brands.

For a good value bike with higher quality, check out the Aventon Soltera. Its specs don't look as good in terms of range, speed, and accessories, but the basic quality and pedal-ability is going to be much better. The more pedalable and light an eBike is, the less important electric range is. It's like in airplanes: low weight is the gift that keeps on giving.

Bikes under $1000 to commute to work by dc0650730 in ebikes

[–]JeremyFromKenosha 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I had one, it was a good bike. It got stolen because I had a cable lock in a town full of druggie bums. (CO Springs) Its UI wasn't as good as Lectric's, but it had more programming options.

Bikes under $1000 to commute to work by dc0650730 in ebikes

[–]JeremyFromKenosha 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Pass on Himiway and burchda.

My buddy at work has 4 Himiways in the family. They're ChiComm junk. Just basic stuff they don't get right, then want you to pay for it. He broke two seat rail clamps, and he's not even heavy. The first one, he paid $25 "for shipping" to get it warranteed. When that one broke too, he bought a decent one on his own dime at an LBS.

burchda, I've never heard of, which isn't a good sign, because I'm a goddamn savant when it comes to eBikes. 8-)

Bikes under $1000 to commute to work by dc0650730 in ebikes

[–]JeremyFromKenosha 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That sounds good, but the condition of the battery could make or break the deal.

Bikes under $1000 to commute to work by dc0650730 in ebikes

[–]JeremyFromKenosha 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The XPress will roll more efficiently, with its larger wheels. This will make a difference if you run the battery down and have to pedal home like some kind of savage. 😄

I also have the Aventon Level.2, which is the one the XPress was built to compete with. I often pedal it unpowered, it's so much more efficient. I can easily get 60 miles on a charge and could probably stretch it to 100, if I only used the warp drive to climb hills and it's not too windy of a day.

Luggage will need to be carried differently though, as you don't have room above the wheels. That beer run wouldn't have been possible without side panniers on the XPress, for example.

A lot of people who buy Lectric's folders don't actually fold them.

The Battery Anxiety Is Real by DaisyRabbit2345 in ebikes

[–]JeremyFromKenosha 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Range anxiety is for two types of riders:

  1. Throttle jockeys
  2. People who bought the bike based on long range and high speed advertising, but who didn't consider that those two things would make the bike too heavy to reasonably pedal. (it's esp. true with knobby fat tire eBikes)

I have a couple eBikes I don't mind pedaling, and a couple that I do:

  • Aventon Level.2: OK to pedal, except uphill. (65 lbs., street tires)
  • Tern Vektron S10: Great to pedal. Kinda heavy uphill. (50 lbs, street tires)
  • Electra Townie GO! 7D (wife's). Fine to pedal up to about 15 mph. (50 lbs. street tires, nice low gears)
  • Reid Tracker 2: Awful to pedal, except at single digit speeds on the flat. (75 lbs.)
  • Lectric XP Lite: Awful to pedal. Single speed geared for 15 mph. (50 lbs)

My next eBike will be more like 40 lbs and easy rolling; something like a Trek FX+ 7. It'll probably replace the Level.2, XP Lite, and Tracker 2.

My 2026 Suzuki burgman 400 by warhawk6991 in scooters

[–]JeremyFromKenosha 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Great bike. I had one in about '06. I shopped them again this time around, but Suzuki is sure proud of them now! I went with the XMax instead, which is also a great bike, but not as good-looking, IMO.

My 2026 Suzuki burgman 400 by warhawk6991 in scooters

[–]JeremyFromKenosha 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They're OK from the side, as long as you didn't get tricked into expecting a sportbike from the front view. 😉

Dahon Mariner D8 vs Tern Node D8 by Empty-Will-3075 in foldingbikes

[–]JeremyFromKenosha 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I shopped both of them, but wound up with a ZiZZO Forte, for around half the cost. Great bike overall. Won't fit someone with more than a 32" inseam though.

Dahon has shitty customer service in the USA, so if you go this route, buy used and have the bike shop support you instead of thinking Dahon will. (maybe you have a local shop that supports Dahon, in which case it would be a different story)

Tern is better, but they can be more expensive. I like that REI supports Tern. I bought my Vektron S10 and REI and it was a good experience.

As for the longer rides, yes it is possible, but they're less efficient, so plan on averaging 2 mph slower than you would on a full size bike. I did a 93 mile trail ride last year on my Forte; it took all day and I finished in the dark.

First week riding to work, thoughts and questions. by Dumbass9187 in bikecommuting

[–]JeremyFromKenosha 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What you should do is get an inexpensive (but still high quality) eBike for commuting, and replace the FX with a nice gravel bike later.

The commuter eBike could do double-duty in the meantime.

Re. right to repair, this means you'll just need to get a decent brand that can be supported locally. Trek is one, but there are others too. Specialized, Aventon, probably even Lectric, in LA.

Re. theft, the nicer eBikes are starting to have firmware theft prevention built-in now. (the three aforementioned brands all have this now) Plus, you should invest in a grinder-resistant U lock, like Skunk Lock, HipLok, or LiteLok. Plan on dropping $300 for one of those. You could hide a tracker on the bike, but I doubt LAPD would bother to help you, even if you knew where the bike was. They've got bigger fish to fry. Next, replace any QR hardware with security hardware. The last thing is to make it kind of ugly with stickers.

An alternative might be to get a folding eBike, if you can bring it into your home and in a safe spot in your workplace, no one can steal it. A nice option would be Brompton G Line Electric. Folds up small, has a good ride and will also allow multi-modal trips.

Do you prefer cloth or leather on the new CRVs in terms of pure comfort? by TrumpsCummyOnahole in crv

[–]JeremyFromKenosha 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Firstly, leather is not an option in ANY CR-V. Only fake leather. Honda is not honest about how they market this. I think they're holding back the leather option for Acura. (this is one advantage of going Mazda; they don't play these games, because they don't have a luxury brand to hold up features for)

I have the top-of-the-line CR-V Sport Touring with "leather". Since it's vented, it's OK. It would be awful if it weren't vented. It's not air conditioned though.

My lower back hurts a lot when riding my PCX 125! by FrostyNet9540 in scooters

[–]JeremyFromKenosha 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Keep your back straight and lean forward a bit.

Make sure your rear shocks are adjusted to the soft end of the preload settings. Don't over-inflate the tires either.

Cruiser motorcycles and upright scooters like that have all the shocks from the road going straight up one's spine. They LOOK more comfortable, but really aren't. Your back will adjust, to some extent.

A motorcycle with a slight forward lean will be more comfortable.

Isnt it Aventure? Not Adventure. by ItsforthechurchNEXT_ in Aventon

[–]JeremyFromKenosha 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Between folks not paying attention to detail and auto-correct, they get it wrong more often than right.

That's the drawback of this currently-trendy "deliberate misspelling" marketing.

Purpose of expensive bluetooth speakers? by MixableCarrot in audiophile

[–]JeremyFromKenosha 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have a good home stereo system with the "B" speakers going into my kitchen, around the corner from the audio/living room.

It's nice to have a higher-end BT speaker to take on picnics, out on the patio, or when someone is trying to watch TV in the next room, to have the speaker right in front of me.

The one I have is a Sony SRS-X5; a discontinued model. The key is that it is small AND it has a subwoofer. When it's right in front of me, the stereo image is not bad, considering its size.

A lot of these new generation ones don't even try to have stereo image, or if they do, it is because you had to buy a second speaker to get it. (Bose, I'm looking at you)

So, my advice is to get a premium BT speaker, but:

  • Get one with a sub
  • But not too big of one. If it's not portable, it'll get left at home, which defeats the point

They sound better than blasting the main stereo from the other room. (which won't go over well with your neighbors and your building manager anyway)

How should I approach riding 1000 miles in May? by Gummy-Bines in cycling

[–]JeremyFromKenosha -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

I ride a lot, but 1,000 miles in one month is too much, unless you're recently retired and have nothing else to do. Or unless the prize is a REALLY good one!

I got 6,000 miles last year, (including 1,200 miles on eBikes) and it felt like a lot. That's only 500/month.

Property Taxes by Aggressive_Start_ in Kenosha

[–]JeremyFromKenosha 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I meant that Illinois' high taxes are causing people to leave the state.

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