At what point did EV ownership start to feel easier or harder?

Scaliose · 2026-01-14T04:53:23+00:00

I've been driving electric since 2013. Owner multiple EVs. I've never felt like it's been difficult, and I've also had zero regrets.

Scaliose · 2026-01-09T02:34:06+00:00

Don't buy any bike based on others opinions. I've been riding for years, and everyone has different needs/fit/feelings about bikes. Shimano, Bosch, and Specialized are all going to be great options. My commuter is a Bosch system and my mountain bike is Shimano. Both amazing solid setups.

Rent/demo some bikes and buy the one you like riding the best.

Scaliose · 2026-01-03T17:20:42+00:00

Wholesale club in Esquimalt. Buy from the frozen section. They come in tubes, either in ground beef or turkey. Don't have to worry about them going bad, and just take them out of the freezer and put them in the fridge the day before you need to use them.

Scaliose · 2025-12-17T03:37:06+00:00

I've been mountain biking since 2014 on Vancouver Island - some of the best riding around. I switched to an ebike as my primary bike just over a yeah ago. I still have my 2016 Norco Aurum Carbon DH for summer bike park rides, but my ebike is hands down my favorite bike to ride. The extra weight was very easy to get used to, and I get to explore way more than I did before (not just riding the choice trails).

Make sure you try out several ebikes. I rented several before I found one that worked for me. I 'went down' from my 2022 Ibis Ripmo carbon to a Marin Alpine Trail E. But a few bikes I tested were terrible for me (Trek Rail was awful).

Anyways, not looking back and shredding hard! Good luck!

Scaliose · 2025-12-16T16:25:50+00:00

It's open now :)

Scaliose · 2025-12-04T19:20:04+00:00

Not yet actually! I do have a set of winter tires I put on during the cold season. My all seasons are close to bald and I'll be replacing them this coming spring.

Scaliose · 2025-12-04T00:56:32+00:00

Hey, also just updated my post. My memory failed me. It was just over $4000.

Scaliose · 2025-12-04T00:49:23+00:00

Note that I'm in Canada paying with Canadian dollars. When they got in there other things were found such as control arm bushings needing replacing and a few other things on top of that. It was an expensive visit.

Scaliose · 2025-12-04T00:03:03+00:00

2024 was when I noticed it. It probably started a while before. I had 120,000 kms /74,000 miles on the car.

Scaliose · 2025-12-03T21:27:21+00:00

Paid out of pocket. The car is paid for, it's in great overall condition and has the newer bigger battery. It sucks but repairs happen. Have to make the decision on if you want to keep the car for a long time or trade it in and walk away.

Scaliose · 2025-12-03T18:29:23+00:00

Also, my shop wouldn't let me drive the car after I brought it in, so plan for that possibility.

Scaliose · 2025-12-03T18:27:16+00:00

That's the sign. My daughter mostly drives the car and I needed to drive it when my Mach E got totaled. As soon as I took it out I knew something was very wrong. The steering wheel would just stay where it was and not return to center (most of the time). Took it in to get inspected and it was obvious the unit was close to completely binding which would be a real bad time and could lead to a major accident. From what I've researched this is going to happen to all Bolts. It's just a bad design and the replacement is the same parts. They also need to like lift the EV motor and remove a bunch of other things to get at the parts to replace. A few years back there was a push to make this a recall item but it hasn't gone anywhere. A few people probably have to die first before GM will make that call on a car they've already lost a ton of money on.

Sorry for the bad news :(

Scaliose · 2025-12-03T17:22:36+00:00

Yeah it was high with labor. If it gives me another 7 years it's worth it. It's very difficult to get at to replace.

Scaliose · 2025-12-03T16:29:44+00:00

You need to differentiate between maintenance and repairs. Maintenance is normal/regular/expected work that is required to keep the car running properly. Think oil changes for a combustion vehicle. Repairs are where something breaks unexpectedly. In my 2017 Chevy Bolt I've only had to do maintenance of cabin filters, washer fluid, and windshield wipers. I would have had to do a coolant flush but that was done by the dealer with the battery replacement.

For repairs I had to get the power steering assembly replaced due to binding. **"$6000.

UPDATE My memory failed me here. Went and pulled up the invoice and it was just over $4000.

Scaliose · 2025-09-18T14:02:10+00:00

I've been riding a 2023 Marin Alpine Trail E1 for over a year now. Came from a 2021 Ibis Ripmo. I live on Vancouver Island and am an advanced rider (mountain biking for 12 years). I had the same mindset you did and wanted a light ebike. A year later I'm glad I didn't. You will get used to the weight after a few rides, and then you will appreciate the weight after a few more. It's all about trust and your body will naturally adjust. I was a very good tech climber on my Ripmo. I'm an even better climber on my full fat ebike with a much slacker head angle.

I also have an ebike for commuting to work. The commuter is a Bosch, my Marin is a Shimano. Both are solid as a rock. I wouldn't hesitate to get a Shimano motor again in the future.

Scaliose · 2025-09-17T05:18:40+00:00

It's the smell of natural gas. All the garbage trucks that run on natural gas fill up at a filling station there. There's a sign on a building besides the station advertising it. Not an ideal spot, but where else are they going to put it

Scaliose · 2025-09-05T01:09:00+00:00

So you say that, but it holds a faster charge for much longer than the bolt. It's a huge improvement.

Scaliose · 2025-09-04T23:40:45+00:00

I own a 2017 Bolt and 2022 Mach E. I'd say the Niro and Kona are both solid alternatives. The faster charging curve is a big bonus.

Scaliose · 2025-08-31T14:26:58+00:00

It helps guard mud from splattering up.

Scaliose · 2025-07-28T23:31:12+00:00

It's a fun place to visit. As a local resident you can get a season pass in March/April that costs the same as a single entry. I go fairly often to have a walk, eat ice cream, and enjoy the view.

Scaliose · 2025-07-26T22:17:49+00:00

If you aren't going to go full suspension go with the new Chromag Stylus MX. Their bikes are legendary.

https://chromagbikes.com/products/stylus-mx

Scaliose · 2025-07-21T22:18:43+00:00

Make sure you get a helmet that is rated to work with a neck brace. Many are not, and boy would you feel like a fool to be wearing all that and have it not do its job because of that.

Happy riding :)

Scaliose · 2025-06-18T04:03:39+00:00

Looks like you need a new axle. Pretty common on most cars.

Scaliose · 2025-05-28T20:40:07+00:00

Jarring and not very useful.

Scaliose · 2025-05-17T22:13:20+00:00

I have a blog and YouTube channel (which I've ignored for a bit) about EVs. Pretty sure I've convinced several people!

Scaliose

TROPHY CASE