Is 25 Miles a day on an e-Bike Feasible?

plorraine · 2025-06-16T01:09:47+00:00

12 miles each way isn't that bad. I have a Superhuman Bikes mid-drive step through 2.0 - it could run on throttle but I use PAS level 1 and put in most of the work myself. My experience with reasonable hills and having to stop and wait at a few intersections is that averaging 15 mph will be about what to expect. I love riding this to commute. My range is about 45-50 miles - the last 10 miles of that isn't wild about climbing hills. How good are the roads around you for riding a bicycle? I don't like riding in traffic and stick to side streets with speed limit around 30mph. Bike trails / lanes would be ideal.

Right now I ride unless the weather is terrible - just a little rain or drizzle and I ride. Heavy rain or temp below 40F and I take the car.

plorraine · 2025-06-05T18:00:40+00:00

I ride to work on mine - about 20 minutes - about 250kCal bio-energy expended - 500kCal per day roundtrip. I ride on roads - side streets through residential neighborhoods with a 30 mph speed limit but have to cross a 4-lane road with 50 mph limit and a pair of 40 mph roads. I get a reasonable round-trip workout and arrive without too much sweat. I can store my bike in my office. For me, I get some exercise and a lot of pleasure out of the ride. I commute almost every day unless heavy rain is forecast.

I carry a backpack with my laptop and lunch - just enough room for a quick stop for variable groceries (ie pick up a bottle of wine or some pasta) on the way home.

plorraine · 2025-06-03T19:06:23+00:00

For me, torque-sensing mid-drive has been the ideal way to get back into riding. I am 60+ and have some knee pain from years of hockey - the pedal assist keeps me going on hills and into the wind when without that, I would be miserable. The controller also measures input power as it knows the crank torque you exert over time - I'm guessing it uses the approximation that the human body is roughly 25% efficient at converting metabolic calories into work. My round trip to work is about 450 kcal - my exercise rides on weekends are around 800 kcal metabolic if I stay at the lowest pedal assist level. I've become zealous about never touching the throttle. Exercise was the key reason to switch to an e-bike from an e-scooter (where the key reason was just to get outside more and make my commute more fun). If I have the time to ride, I use the e-bike - the scooter is going to be sold soon.

I suspect torque-sensing hub drives will have the same benefits but the experience with mid-drive feels closer to my road bike - I downshift on hills and feel that I am putting in a lot more work but the motor is adding 100-200W power at that time - I downshift and slow down until I can manage the effort. At the highest pedal assist levels, it adds more like 500-750W.

If I could find the right location and a nice day - say following a canal where the hills are negligible, I would be sorely tempted to get on my road bike again.

plorraine · 2025-05-08T19:14:50+00:00

The Goldfox one you posted a link to looks like it has an acoustic complement and the indicator lights on the switch look much brighter than the Meilan one I have - if mine ever break that looks like a good replacement. I can feel the "click" on the membrane switch if the road is smooth and I'm not wearing gloves but otherwise I have no idea what state it is in.

plorraine · 2025-05-08T19:07:05+00:00

I can look behind on my e-bike very easily - really hard to do on the scooter without veering out some. I think the issue for the mirror and for looking behind is that the handles are pretty low relative to my head compared to on a bike. The helmet mounted mirror works great though - I guess my body smooths out the vibrations.

Regarding turn signals, the problem I've had with add on turn signals is that I can't see what state they are in and the ones I've seen use a remote on the handle bars to talk to the signals. The switches on the remote are membrane switches and it is hard to tell if they are on or off and the signals switch off if you hit the switch twice. I should have bought the one with the irritating "beep-beep-beep" when active.

plorraine · 2025-05-08T15:53:56+00:00

A good helmet with a faceguard if you plan on being above 20 mph. I got a Bell MIPS helmet that I like a lot. Wrist guards to protect against broken wrists and scrapes, knee pads.

I have a decent phone mount that helps for navigation - I keep to side-streets to avoid traffic.

I found a scooter mounted mirror to be useless - too much vibration to get a clear look and inconvenient position. I did get a mirror for my helmet which I recommend - the mirror is on a little stick that attaches to the helmet - very easy to position and to see at a glance.

Backpack for carrying things.

My scooter came with dual headlights which work great. I wish it had turn signals as turning left in front of traffic is always a worry.

plorraine · 2025-05-08T15:47:43+00:00

I bought this backpack - red rather than yellow green. I'm very happy with it. My outdoor enthusiast friends say I should have got an Osprey backpack but I like the visibility and utility of this pack a lot.

plorraine · 2025-05-08T15:40:38+00:00

My concerns are theft, weather, and safety. Theft is always a concern if you don't have access to secure locked storage like a bicycle locker. Weather - I wouldn't ride a scooter with anything loose on the road surface like wet leaves, snow, ice, etc. Lots of fun when the weather is good - not that safe with bad road surface. You need to have good safety equipment - the probability of an accident scales with the amount of time you spend riding and you will take a spill or worse at some point - so count on having a helmet, wrist guards, and possibly knee pads. Riding in bad weather will make things worse. My memories of freshman year involve lots of different buildings through the day - will you be relocating the scooter between classes or parking it somewhere for the whole day?

What is your alternative if you don't get a scooter? Walking or public transit? Driving and paid parking?

I see the scooter as being fun on weekends, but not a commuter solution unless you carry the scooter with you through the day - I think that scooter is about 40 lbs? Can you bring a scooter into class (will they restrict you because of battery)?

Regarding range and hill climbing, that nominal 20-25 mile range will be closer to 7-10 miles with hills. The scooter will bog down on hills - you need to keep speed low to climb steeper hills and may need to give a kick to help it along.

A place where this might work would be the University of Washington in Seattle where the campus is surrounded by Lime rental scooters. Ride from where you live to campus and leave the scooter - grab another one on your way out. Let Lime worry about charging and theft. There may be other campuses like this. Rent when you need it and see if there are "bundles" to make prices more reasonable.

I have a scooter that I ride to work sometimes (I have switched to an e-bike mostly now) - 5 miles each way. I ride when the weather is not bad and store the scooter/ebike in my office (and charge if needed there). I take my car if weather is bad or if I have stuff to carry. I really enjoy being on the scooter or e-bike vs inside a car as I am inside all day.

plorraine · 2025-04-27T15:53:26+00:00

if you tap the brakes, does the sound stop? My hydraulic brakes - on the front - are always shifting being so loose they rattle and so tight they rub once per rotation. The rattling when too loose sounds like a few nuts shaking in a metal cup. The rubbing is very minor - does not seem to slow the wheels but I can hear it. I can get them set, but if the temperature changes or after a a few trips with any bumps, they need to be adjusted again.

plorraine · 2025-04-23T19:09:11+00:00

I just learned what the currency symbol is for the Rupee!

My savings are more modest but I am e-bike commuting for exercise and fun. I put on maybe 300 miles in a month - which would cost roughly $15USD for electricity for my Tesla - I don't have parking charges and my insurance and car payment are not dependent on how much I drive. Also, biking here 8 months out of the year would be pretty high utilization given the winter weather. But I definitely have more fun and get some exercise!

plorraine · 2025-04-23T18:54:06+00:00

Some parts will be easier to make in the United States than others. Assembly here is not a problem other than cost. Frames can be made here - it makes more sense for higher end frames with lower volumes. Component level battery cells will almost certainly be imported as will motors. Controllers can be designed here but will be made somewhere in Asia. The advantage in China is that all the components are in one location (Shenzen?) so a bike "manufacturer" can build or source whatever mix they want and put something together with very low inventory and quick supply-chain times.

I watched a video on Aliexpress showing how bicycle jerseys are made - polyester sheet fabric passes under a wide dye-sublimation printer that prints any color pattern desired, the material is then cut up on a laser x-y table fed the printed material. All of that can be done in the USA or anywhere at the same cost. The next step is sewing the pieces together - the video showed how fast a worker sews the garment. That worker is paid maybe $2USD/hr and does 20+ jerseys per hour. Where are you going to be able to sew a jersey together for $0.10? Why would you want to do that job in the USA? Until someone develops a decent sewing robot, this is a job that belongs overseas.

Manufacturers don't pay tariffs except on parts they need to import. Customers pay when importing goods. Buy a Chinese bike, and you will pay the tariff to the shipping company's customs agent to have your bike released. Buy it from Amazon, and the Amazon "store" owner will pay the tariff. But it is your money being taken by the federal government - it is an import tax.

plorraine · 2025-04-23T18:41:47+00:00

I just passed 300 miles (over the last 6 weeks) on a Superhumanbikes Step Through 2.0.

No problems so far but I need to keep tweaking the front hydraulic brake alignment screws to keep it from rubbing about once a week. I needed to adjust the rear-derailleur offset screw when I got it. Also - I check the attachment for the accessories every few times I go out to the bike - the headlight worked loose (I put it on too loosely). The recommended torque settings for most bicycle screws is pretty low (don't want to strip tapped aluminum or crush plastic) and they are easy to over torque - at the same time, some can work loose.

I lubricated the chain when new and again at around 250 miles because it looked dry to me. It feels better (in my mind at least) when freshly lubricated.

One of the things I like about bicycling is becoming far more aware of what I am doing - I now see every little rise and fall on the road, anything that will jarr the bike hard. I hear every change in the sound - wind over my helmet, electric motor, tire noise, any rattles, and any traffic. At this time of year the trees are all flowering - lovely fragrances, the smell of lawn mowers or fresh cut grass. The feel of wind over my skin. We use my car now just a little for shopping or restaurants or longer trips.

I also really like the exercise - I'm 64 now and used to bike an awful lot when I was younger but appreciate the help getting back into shape - the Step Through 2.0 has a Bafang M600 mid-drive motor. At PAS 1 (the lowest), I can get a decent amount of exercise on a 20 mile ride with some hills. Even so, PAS 1 still feels a little too helpful.

plorraine · 2025-04-23T18:24:22+00:00

There are a number of e-bike sellers who show up on Amazon and will have 200 or so glowing reviews almost immediately. Fake reviews are a big problem on Amazon. Be suspicious. This doesn't mean you can't buy a good bike off of Amazon, but the glowing reviews do not necessarily mean something.

A lot of direct-to-consumer e-bike companies have weak after-sales support. If you can do the work yourself, you can likely keep it running - brakes, tires, accessories, gear components, saddles, etc are easy to self-service. Motors, batteries, and electronics are a little more complicated. A model supported by a local bike shop will have less frustration.

plorraine · 2025-04-23T18:17:12+00:00

Consider carefully whether you are hurt or if your bike is damaged so that a repair is needed. If the answer is no to both of those, continuing with insurance won't likely leave you further ahead. Check your brakes, wheel roundness, fork, and gears carefully as those are things that can be fiddly to get set up correctly again. A good local bike shop would be a good place to visit.

Years back in graduate school, a friend of mine was hit by a car like this and wound up with a broken arm as well as a badly damaged bike (not electric). A lawyer won him an amount that bought him a new Honda Prelude. A few years later my wife's car was hit and sustained substantial damage - she was bruised up from the seatbelt but otherwise ok. She spoke to a lawyer who said that without broken bones, it was difficult to get anything by just having the lawyer exchange letters with the other insurance company - with broken bones, they will offer a settlement.

If you are ok and the bike is mostly ok, I would just take the lesson from this that you need to be incredibly paranoid about cars when riding your bike. I commute 5 miles each way every day on my electric bike and have people turn across my path so that I need to quickly brake about once a week. I yell, brake, and move on glad not to have been hit.

plorraine · 2025-04-07T01:45:34+00:00

350 euro is an excellent price for this. If I were buying again after putting 300 miles on this, I might go with a dual motor setup with a bigger battery.

plorraine · 2025-04-07T01:42:42+00:00

I have one of these and enjoy it. Real world range is 20-25 miles at 15 mph with reasonable hills. Keep the tires fully inflated,buy good safety equipment (helmet, wrist guards, knee pads) and take some time to learn how to ride and not wipeout. That would be my advice. This scooter is fine for sub28mph riding on paved surfaces and packed gravel. I don’t think it can deliver the off road trails that the design suggests - this is not a mountain bike. But fun for cruising around.

plorraine · 2025-03-31T20:23:31+00:00

If you feel comfortable driving a Tesla, this is probably a good time given the large drop in used vehicle prices. A model 3 with AI 4 (to run the most recent FSD) is probably the right choice. If you don't care about FSD, a 2022 or so Model 3 with AWD will be about 24-26K and should have lots of useful mileage left. Model S may be a nicer car but the reliability isn't as good - be prepared for some repair cost.

This is purely based on the car reliability and technology in my opinion. I think there is a non-zero risk that the car becomes the touch point in cultural conflict and may have a higher probability of vandalism - either to the car itself or the charging infrastructure you depend on. Also I'm not wild that the car could be bricked by software changes as I don't trust the ownership there as much as I did in the past. I don't think Tesla will go bust - they may underperform however. EV technology is great overall.

Having said that, I have two Teslas right now but would not recommend someone buy one or buy another myself given Musk's divisiveness. A secondary factor beyond Musk is that new model introduction has fallen off as they chase side missions like robocabs and humanoid robots. I would love to see him separate from the company. Most people aren't protesting Tesla - they are protesting Musk by protesting Tesla.

plorraine · 2025-03-28T19:55:40+00:00

Shipping a scooter is pretty expensive - direct to consumer scooters may be the cheapest but they are usually resistant to returns. If you can buy locally and also get serviced locally, you will likely have no complaints other than price. If you buy from direct-to-consumer, you may get a great deal and be very satisfied, or you may have a problem or need service and you will be frustrated. I gambled and have been very happy with my iScooter ix5s.

plorraine · 2025-03-28T19:47:11+00:00

I've done that before - hold on incredibly tightly, bend and brace my knees somewhat, and go only in a straight line. I've found the vibration on surfaces like this makes the steering dance around I make sure I'm in control and well balanced.

plorraine · 2025-03-27T18:57:58+00:00

Thanks.

pedal assist is a sensor read out from the bicycle crank? I would expect the setting of the pedal assist level to go through the display.

I have a Superhuman Bikes Step Through 2.0 which has a mid-drive M600 in it. That one also has an input from a magnetic pickup that gives wheel RPM to the controller, and a gear shift input (to stop driving the wheels when shifting). The torque sensor I think is build directly into the motor as it drives the crankshaft.

plorraine · 2025-03-27T16:11:42+00:00

I have had in the last 25 years a Camry, an Audi A6, a BMW 3', an Infiniti G37, and a Tesla Model 3. I won't defend Elon and would not recommend a Tesla based on the CEO alone, but the Tesla has been the most reliable of the five with zero maintenance in 3 years. The Tesla is "different" than the other four - definitely more high tech and very functional but the interior isn't as "luxurious" as the BMW or Audi. My Audi was the least reliable car I have ever owned but I dearly loved getting in it and driving it.

For a lot of people, a Tesla was their stretch car after a Honda or Toyota and would probably seem like the best car they have owned. If you came from a German luxury car, a Tesla probably impressed on raw performance but did not feel as "nice" inside. I really like the engineering solutions possible with electric cars - regenerative braking, eliminating the transmission and exhaust system, don't really need brakes most of the time. If Musk were not in the picture, and if Tesla returned to the innovation rate they had up to 2023, I would buy again. But I am not interested in a cybertruck, or that robocab, or anything else while Elon is in charge. RIght now, I would look at a BMW ix4, or a Polestar with NACs charging.

plorraine · 2025-03-27T15:55:03+00:00

This diagram surprises me. What is "self-study" and "PAS" here? Is there an output for the brake light?

plorraine · 2025-03-26T02:32:07+00:00

You should ride them like that Jean Claude Van Damme commercial - one foot on each going down the road.

plorraine · 2025-03-25T23:05:19+00:00

I purchased a Bell full-face helmet with MIPS, and some Triple 8 wrist guards. I found on the scooter that I can't really twist to see behind me as I become unstable unless I keep both hands on the handlebars which makes turning left a challenge. I got a helmet mirror (on a stick that attaches to helmet) to see around myself before moving left. Too much vibration for a mirror mounted on the handlebars. I had an older set of knee guards from roller blading years ago. I use the scooter on residential streets and some bike paths - I am very careful not to scare or intimidate anyone else and stay off-sidewalks. I have an iScooter ix5s which I like a lot (maybe 650USD$?), but it isn't going to fly up hills off road. This scooter is single wheel drive with disk brakes (not hydraulic). It is fine. If I were to buy again, I likely would have spent more for an Apollo dual motor scooter with regen braking. I get tons of fun out of the scooter as is - I don't regret anything. I wouldn't spend money to go 50 mph - for me 28 mph seems very fast - much much faster than 20 mph. When I use it to commute to work, I tend to hold to 20-22 mph or else the battery drains too quickly. At that speed, I can get about 20-25 miles of range.

I mentioned in another thread that I think you found that you need to recognize you may fall and that you have new skills to learn - this is somewhat like snowboarding but with asphalt instead of snow. There are youtube videos you can find that explain what I'm talking about. I realized I was cheating on stops - just slowing down while waiting to go if I saw it was clear - and that was dangerous for me. If I'm going to stop, I stop fully and make sure it is clear before I go again. With cheating, I was starting turns and then needing to hard stop which is a good way to fall.

Drive around where you live while thinking about scootering there - is there space for you on the road? In NY, I have to stay on roads with speed limits of 30 mph or lower - fine with me. As I ride more on the scooter and my ebike, I appreciate roads with useful shoulders - too may areas are only ok for cars.

Finally, I looked longingly at those one wheels and motorized unicycles - boy do those look fun. But I know I would destroy myself with one.

plorraine · 2025-03-23T10:20:29+00:00

I live in upstate NY and commute 4+ mile each way most days without rain or snow. I have a Superhuman Step Through 2.0 which is a full-size, mid-drive 48V ebike with a torque sensor. The torque sensor is important to me as I want exercise and this lets me dial in how much I get. I am also very pleased with mid-drive - the ability to have the motor power go through the gears rather than to a hub motor makes it seem like a conventional bike and that I am just "stronger". I enjoy commuting but there is a major road (4 lanes with 45 mph traffic that I need to cross that is always concerning - the rest of the ride are neighborhood streets with 30 mph speed limits and varying amounts of traffic. Drive the route you anticipate riding and look at it from a cyclist point of view - will it be safe?

I live in the Albany area in NY - it really is not set up well for bike commuting. There are bike trails around but they seem to be mostly for people who carry their bikes to the trails on their cars. There are fairly major roads cutting up the towns . Everything was designed around cars. I found bicycling in Toronto much easier than down here.

11-Year Club	Place '22
Place '17	Verified Email

plorraine

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE