this post was submitted on 30 Dec 2023

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micromobility - Ebikes, scooters, longboards: Whatever floats your goat, this is micromobility

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Ebikes, bicycles, scooters, skateboards, longboards, eboards, motorcycles, skates, unicycles: Whatever floats your goat, this is all things micromobility!

"Transportation using lightweight vehicles such as bicycles or scooters, especially electric ones that may be borrowed as part of a self-service rental program in which people rent vehicles for short-term use within a town or city.

micromobility is seen as a potential solution to moving people more efficiently around cities"

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Don't be an asshole or you will be permanently banned.

Respectful debate is totally OK, criticizing a product is fine, but being verbally abusive will not be tolerated.

Focus on discussing the idea, not attacking the person.

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I review ebikes for a living — these are my three favorite ebikes for 2024 (www.tomsguide.com)

submitted 10 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 29 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (2 children)

"I review eBikes for a living" and these are what he chose?

These bikes are all nightmares. Please don't buy those (well, the Yuba is legit, but not the top 3)

These are all consumer direct brands that you buy at department stores. People who put these together are generally not detail oriented. The parts spec (Altus derailleur?) is the cheapest shit possible that was not designed for an eBike application. The weight and torque of the bike is more than the parts are designed for. It will need servicing and the cassette/ chain will be roached every 500 miles or so.

Therein lies the kicker: most mainstream shops won't service these. No name motors (maybe Bafang if you're lucky) and batteries that are prone to catching on fire if you overcharge them means a shop won't take the chance. With all the proprietary parts and propriety firmware for the motor a shop would have a hard time even if they did take them in. I turn these bikes away from my shop every week and a lot of them are built by fly by night companies that fold or don't support the bike 2 years after you buy it.

If you are considering going the eBike route, get something with Bosch, Shimano, Fazua, TQ or similar MID DRIVE motor as opposed to these hub drive bikes. Hub drive bikes have weird cables that you dare not risk ripping out or nicking while taking out the 30lb rear wheel to change a flat and all that weight near the back of the bike makes for a shitty handling one.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Can attest: My rear hub sucks when it comes to tire service and my next bike will definitely be a mid drive. Maybe this guy just reviews cheaper shittier bikes for the most part (or maybe they're getting kickbacks).

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

Which one of those (Bosch, Shimano, Fazua, TQ) provides parts and service manuals to the end user for dyi repair?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago

Opening any of these motors voids the warranty, but most reputable shops have the firmware and diagnostic tools for these motors (as well as the ability to send them back for issues/service)

If you think something like a Super 73 will be serviceable by anyone, go nuts king

[–] [email protected] 12 points 10 months ago (3 children)

I like that cargo bike but damn 6k? That's close to cheap car territory.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 10 months ago

I think that's the manufacturer's thought too, if it's a car replacement with much lower upkeep costs, they should be allowed to charge as much as a cheap car.

[–] Isoprenoid 3 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

Good thing the bike has low ongoing costs compared to a car: no fuel, insurance, and low maintenance costs.

Over a year, a car costs thousands just to operate.

Plus you're comparing a brand new bike, which will go with little maintenance for years, to a cheap car, which will break down next month.

https://youtu.be/rQhzEnWCgHA?t=287

[–] [email protected] 6 points 10 months ago (1 children)

It's still a large upfront cost.

[–] Isoprenoid 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

So is a car.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

No one is saying it's not. Your statement's implication is that because follow up costs are so low that the upfront is negligable, but that's fallacious as it's still significant and potentially out of reach for someone that wasn't planning on spending as much as a car upfront.

[–] Isoprenoid -1 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

Your statement’s implication is ...

I'm gonna say the same thing after my cat wakes up:

"Ooooo big stretch."

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Have a hard time holding conversation past 1 comment?

[–] Isoprenoid -1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

In this case, when I wrote "You got all of that", my statement's implication was that I read your whole comment.

Having a hard time comprehending any comments? Maybe I should type slower for you.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 10 months ago

Sure dude. Whatever you gotta tell yourself to assuage your delicate ego.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Really, how much is new, cheap car?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Citron ami goes for arond 8k in Europe, but I'm sure someone could find cheaper used.

And yeah taxes, fuel, and maintenance are more, but most consumers badly underestimate those costs.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Citron ami

I am 1,95 and would take a cargo bike instead if I had to choose, so I could sit upright, lol.

I’m sure someone could find cheaper used.

Sure but that is not a good argument. Used bikes are cheaper than new ones too.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 10 months ago

Weird picks...

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

I love ebikes but those 3 are so damn fugly! Also, I would recommend buying ebikes from long established bicycle manufacturers in a proper bike shop, instead of ordering online, from weird ebike companies that just popped up like mushrooms during the ebike hype.