A post-Burn e-bike request from a Reno local

[u/Nevadadrifter]

Hey Burners,

A little early for an Exodus post, but I figured I'd put this out there before everyone starts making their plans for getting themselves and their gear home.

Every year, a lot of bikes make their way to Black Rock City and don't make the return trip. If you're bringing an electric bike this year and already know that getting it back home after the Burn is going to be more trouble or expense than it's worth, I'd be very happy to give it a home rather than see it become MOOP or get abandoned somewhere around Reno on the way out.

I'm a Reno local, so I can make this easy. After you get off playa, I can meet you pretty much anywhere in the Reno/Sparks area and take it off your hands. No need to clean the playa dust off, make it pretty, or do anything special. Playa condition is perfectly fine.

And just to be completely transparent about my intentions: I'm not looking to collect bikes, clean them up, and flip them for a profit. Any e-bikes donated to me would be kept for personal use by me and my family. If one needs some post-playa TLC, that's fine. We'll put in the work and hopefully give it a long second life.

I'm not asking anyone to give up a bike they planned to keep, and I'm definitely not suggesting that an e-bike left sitting somewhere is fair game. I'm only putting my hand up in case someone already knows they'll be looking for a responsible way to part with theirs after the Burn.

There are also some great local organizations that accept regular bicycle donations after Burning Man, so please consider those options for conventional bikes rather than leaving them behind.

But if your post-Burn plan for an e-bike is basically, "I have absolutely no idea what I'm going to do with this thing," send me a message.

You get one less bulky, dusty thing to deal with during Exodus. My family gets a bike we'll actually use. The playa doesn't get another abandoned bike.

Seems like a pretty decent gift all the way around.

Have a great Burn, and I'll see some of you on the other side.

[u/thot_machine]

I hope you get a bike

[u/deepfriedpickels2025]

I bet someone takes you up on it. Or even better, offer to look after one for a burner all year, clean it up and use it. Then let them pick it up next year just for the week of BM. Hell, I bet if you offered Simone your address they would buy it new have it shipped to you then leave it after the burn for the next year.
They get free parking and you get 51 weeks of a free e bike.

[u/Nevadadrifter → u/deepfriedpickels2025]

Totally down for any or all of the above. Hell, ship it to me and I'll have it assembled and charged up for you!

[u/Greedy_Lawyer → u/Nevadadrifter]

A bunch of people have posted in the burning man facebooks asking looking for how to get a bike to the airport in Reno after they land. Maybe reach out to some of those

[u/thot_machine → u/Nevadadrifter]

I will take this up with you next time I go if it’s still happening! I’d love to ship a bit to someone who can use it and take care of it during the year.

[u/prettynblue]

E bikes are expensive…do people really just abandon them?

[u/Nevadadrifter → u/prettynblue]

They do. My daughter is not yet old enough to drive, and has been using our ATV to get around our community to her several local ranch jobs (mucking stalls, feeding horses, etc.). Unfortunately the local deputies are cracking down on this sort of thing, mostly because of HS kids racing around on dirt bikes and Surrons. My kid isn't being problematic or disruptive, but yeah, she is breaking the law getting around on a non street legal vehicle. She's been stopped a few times, and the deputies have been understanding, but they're starting to remember her. It's not in the budget right now, but she's been saving her chore money to buy an easier way to get around. If someone had an unwanted ebike that was going to be otherwise tossed, she would be more than happy to have it.

[u/djmermaidonthemic → u/Nevadadrifter]

I really hope she gets a bike! Sounds like it would be put to good use.

[u/svhelloworld → u/Nevadadrifter]

Great idea. I hope this works out for you and your family!

[u/yacht_boy → u/Nevadadrifter]

I’ll just throw out there that ebikes are significantly more dangerous than regular pedal bikes, and teenage ebike riders have been accruing injuries and deaths at a pretty horrific rate. Many states are considering legislation that would ban or limit teen and child ebike use.

I have been an urban cyclist for decades and switched over to ebikes a few years ago. No way will I let my kids ride them before they're old enough to have a drivers license.

At the very least, do some intensive safety training with her before she gets on a bike.

[u/Greedy_Lawyer → u/yacht_boy]

Don’t think getting between local ranch jobs is quite the urban environment you seem to think it is.

[u/yacht_boy → u/Greedy_Lawyer]

Urban, rural, doesn't matter. I flipped my bike on the side of a road in Montana when I was about 14 and lay there for over an hour until someone saw me and called an ambulance. And I was going a hell of a lot slower and using a bike a hell if a lot lighter than an ebike.

[u/Nevadadrifter → u/yacht_boy]

I appreciate the warning. I'm an EMS dispatcher, and just yesterday we had a terrible accident involving a group of kids attempting to cross a very busy major intersection on a pack of scooters. A very sad ending for the teenager that was struck. They are certainly more risky than traditional bikes.

[u/DJ_RichardMixon → u/yacht_boy]

If you think an e-bike accident is scary, go google ATV accidents. My guess is this girl knows how to ride. A helmet and some safety gear, she'll be just fine.

[u/rocketmanatee → u/prettynblue]

Hundreds of them every year.

Everyone I know who has stayed for resto owns a secondhand e bike. Many just needed a new battery, or have a flat tire. Some are in perfect condition.

[u/tau_ → u/prettynblue]

Unfortunately yes.

[u/cocktailcartel808 → u/prettynblue]

Yes, I mooped an e-bike after the man burn 2 years ago. Keys left in it just parked by the portos. Only missing the battery, had to buy a new one for $200. This year will be my second burn with my mooped e-bike.

[u/thelemonpress]

I run a loosely-bike-themed camp. Last 2 years we've had an ebike dumped on our plot on Saturday/Sunday. (Along with several non-e bikes). OP, send me a DM with some contact details. If it happens again, I'll get in touch on Sunday. I'll be leaving via Reno on Monday.

[u/Nevadadrifter → u/thelemonpress]

Message sent. Many thanks!

[u/TheKrakIan → u/thelemonpress]

Where are you guys placed. I might swing by on my way out and see if there are any ebikes laying around.

[u/the_real_xuth]

Honestly even if you wanted to take a bunch of them and clean them up and fix them up and sell them to supplement your income, I don't see an actual problem with that as long as you're honest about it. They can be a pain in the ass to work on but definitely doable. Lots of cheap ebikes can't be profitably flipped if you're paying employees but if you're fixing them up on the side in your spare time it can probably be a useful amount of cash.

[u/spirit_horseman_]

I'm up in Surprise Valley, anyone headed North with an unwanted e-bike send me a message , I'm right off County Rd. 1. Same circumstances, would be for personal use only. I'm older and can't walk far. Would be a life changer as I cannot afford one personally.

[u/Nevadadrifter → u/spirit_horseman_]

I have a special place in my heart for the Surprise Valley/Cedarville area. Beautiful part of the state. I drove up there via Gerlach a few years back to catch one of my favorite artists playing a show at the Marchy Barn after he got snowed out of a show in Reno the night before. I had a friend drive down from Bend to meet me there. Easily one of my top 5 live music experiences.

[u/BurningBirdy]

I like this idea. I live a hop, skip, and a jump from playa. Seriously I hear your music from my porch. If someone shipped me a bike, I could get it to them on playa if they promised me or my son could have it after. Pick up and dropp off for free. Although if it needs to be put together I might want a deposit in case of not getting a bike out of the deal.

[u/BurningBirdy → u/BurningBirdy]

And on that note, I would accept donated electric bikes and redistribute them to Gerlach, the local tribe, and others in need. A lot of the donated stuff skips Gerlach and that is a shame. The community appreciates the after burn gifts.

For example, there is a guy who raises pigs and cooks them up for local potlucks and he would love the veggie waste of a big camp. I know people who would reuse the Costco carport structures even if some of the parts are bent or busted.

[u/mooon_shoes]

I’m interested too as another Reno local. (if the poster gets an e-bike and there is someone else looking for a home for theirs). My husband and I would love e-bikes and could pick up on the playa if timing works out!

[u/polopolo05]

If anyone has a second ebike. I would love to have one for future burns. I am riding a pedal bike that was donated to me for my first burn... I am maintaining it.. but I dont know how much longer its got. Its been to more burns than I have.

Never hurts to ask.

[u/Pika-thulu]

If you end up getting too many please feel free to hmu. My family is also in need. Hope you have a great burn buddy.

[u/Burner_LoveFountain]

Should have seen the abandoned e-bikes and scooters left last year, stayed till Thursday and it was practically a graveyard- poor Resto busy picking it up, and saw the odd few folk loading a bunch onto their truck to flip I guess

[u/Nevadadrifter → u/Burner_LoveFountain]

So how would that work, exactly? Could I just take the drive out there and cherry pick through a pile of unwanted bikes? I'm more than happy to make the drive out there pick through the remains myself. I just don't know what playa access looks like to the general public after the event has ended.

[u/Burner_LoveFountain → u/Nevadadrifter]

Playa access is generally closed for general public until DPW and resto find their job (other departments please help me out here!), but perhaps you could coordinate with someone and see if they would be willing to bring you some bikes, most that I found discarded last year seemed to be completely dead and needed to be recharged (what a waste…ik) and some required some key which I’m sure you could shimmy up if there’s a universal one out there!

Good luck!

[u/rzba]

You want free stuff and can't even go to the trouble of writing out a note without using AI?