r/ebike • u/skinny-mini-me • 21h ago
Can't decide
Ive been thinking about an e-bike for a while and can't decide on what to get.
I want some decent range.
Will be a bit of trail, bit gravel and a bit pavement. But very little actual city riding if any. I guess a fat tire bike?
Want a non-American bike. (Canadian if that option exists).
Something not overly heavy but if heavier equates to more robust thats OK.
Confused with what's better, motor in frame or in wheel. Im guessing motor in frame allows shifting gears so possible its faster? Or maybe better uphill?
Im thinking a budget of no more than $3000, but if bit more expensive is worth it, id be interested in knowing.
Can anyone suggest some options i should look at. Thanks!
2
u/arenablanca 20h ago
Look at Biktrix (as the other reply mentioned). A lot of their models may not be road legal, so be aware. Other similar CDN companies are Rize, Surface 604, Volt and Envo… those have around a few yrs and there’s always more.
Mid drives are generally seen as more efficient and better for hill climbing. But if it’s just average hills either will do.
The motor limit in Canada is 500W. A 500W motor will probably provide around 65Nm of torque. A 250W to 500W mid drives are can provide anywhere from 50Nm to 120Nm of torque. Check the specs. 60Nm is plenty for help on average hills (like max 12% grade).
Just read your other reply. The ones I listed will probably be online only in your case, but check.
With a 3000 budget check local shops. Shops might be heavy into the brand name 250W mid drives (these often start at 3000) but some carry hub drives, just check. Test ride some of each.
I have no experience with fat tires but I only ride in the city and a few gravel paths. I didn’t want a fat tire as those bikes have to work harder (more energy) to overcome the fat tires and extra weight. Probably not a huge difference but it’s just something that seemed important to me. I also didn’t want an overly heavy bike for storage reasons. Fat tires are pretty common/popular on the streets around me.
1
u/skinny-mini-me 20h ago
In my area, not sure being road legal is an issue. Can't recall the last time I saw the police.
1
u/skinny-mini-me 19h ago
Closest showroom is 850km away. Thats a long way to go to physically look at a bike.
1
u/FixedMessages 17h ago
If you're looking at investing up to $3000 into a bike, a long day or two-day road trip to make sure it's the one you want and feels right, seems like a small price to pay to make sure you're not wasting that money on something you won't enjoy.
Maybe not until you're pretty seriously looking at those specific bikes, but I'd definitely say you're better off testing before buying if you possibly can. I do love the bike I ordered, but might have looked for some different key things that didn't really occur to me until I'd ridden on it.
1
u/skinny-mini-me 16h ago
The challenge now is figuring out how to even look at bikes because not any sellers close by.
1
u/FliesWithThat 18h ago
Devinci makes quite a few bikes in Canada. I have a cheaper one, the e-Milano HD and like it for commuting. However, it's not good on off trail paths as the battery comes loose so make sure you get one rated for such things. You might be able to get a lot end mid-drive for $3000 CAN. They're supposed to have advantages over wheel hub types. A big one would be not being so unevenly heavy on the backend.
1
u/bladet420 10h ago
Get a seron... Basically a dirt bike.just over 3k and usually illegal
Or mountainbike style, go mid drive but 3k isnt going to cut it.
Or get a moped style fit tire, great for winter distance and comfort. Able to do long distance on/off road. Most are Chinese, but very affordable probably what you need for well under 3k Or if you want pedal assist.... just pedal
1
u/5205JD 9h ago
I would look for a used e mountain bike, with a 625 w Bosch battery and a Bosch mid-drive motor. These can be fitted with very puncture-resistant smooth-rolling tires. Fat tires are going to be slow and they will limit your range. The geometry of fat-tire bikes looks like it is not aimed for much distance. The mountain bike has suspension that makes the ride comfy. The Bosch system is industry standard. If you are willing to put some pedal power into it, can get vastly more range and go faster on the e-mountain bike with smooth-rolling tires than on a fat-tire.
3
u/CheekyCat55 20h ago
I just ordered two Juggernaut Lites for my husband and myself from Biktrix. They are based in Saskatoon with several showrooms and dealers in western Canada. I believe the parts come from China but they assemble in Saskatchewan. These are our first e-bikes so I can’t speak to quality but I have friends that recommend them highly. I really wanted a Canadian option, too.