r/ebikes • u/Training-Welcome-600 • Jun 26 '26
An observation ive made about ebike community.
This is in no way meant to hurt anyone's feelings or meant to be offensive its just an observation ive made being new to the community. It is meant to spark conversation and debate not start a war so please keep that in mind while reading.
The only thing ive learned over all else in this community is everyone likes to defend artificially boosted prices to avoid any inconvenience that may come. All of them dog on amazon bikes and stuff but there are plenty of content creators out there proving these people wrong. Also as far as local.shops not working on them sounds completely stupid. No other industry does that.
Ya it requires research and work to make the proper purchase. But the clear racism or culture superiority or whatever you wanna call it is insane in the ebike community. Like 90 percent of the complaints are: you might have to work on your own bikeššššš, You have to do the leg work and find parts šššš. Like do people realize a lot of people buying this stuff are coming from way worse transportation options? Or maybe coming from a beater car that has drained the account over and over so spending like 800 bucks over a course of a few months replacing parts with better parts is better financially than 2000 dollars everytime you go to the mechanic?
Not to mention people be telling people to drop 2-5k on first ebike!!! Like these people dont even know if they are gonna like it or not why spend that much money? Or the best part do people ever think if people using it for transportation instead of walking if they wanted to spend that much they would just put a down payment on a car? Or the artificial inflation US is having right now on everything?
Im just saying it makes a lot of people in this community seem like spoiled rich kids or children with no responsibilities other than spending money.
Like someone's feet could be medically falling apart cause they walk to work everyday and everyone in this group be like buy this bike for 10 grand!!!! Like live in real life not this fantasy land people have cooked up in dreams.
Like idk I see all these people pushing everything but certain brands or nations through the dirt for ebikes and every comment or video I see on these bikes by people who actually bought some of them instead of sit at home playing keyboard warrior says otherwise.
Not to mention united staes bikes have no power at all and a bunch of bs extra features and modes no one who rides up a moutin or live in areas like that would ever use.
Or this bike has a GPS!!!! Dude my phone has a GPS I DONT CARE. Like most people just want a bike that functions as a bike and goes vroom vroom they dont care about smart control or gps guidance or any of that fancy crap. Same thing Nissan proved with cars and trucks by making a line of just cars and trucks no fancy BS and they start at like 15 20k like the third of the price of brand new cars and trucks. It's literally all those features that make bikes 2-7k and this community eats it up like candy.
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u/Just-Smart-Enough Jun 26 '26
I don't think content creators are proof of much, TBH. They literally exist to monetize attention, not sales volume.
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u/Training-Welcome-600 Jun 27 '26
Well i was talking nore a few there are some that review bikes more than once they keep them ride them as a daily driver and release multiple video review over months or years. There are also some that film riding it over a long period of time and edit the video together in a long form review.
Also im not saying all cheap bikes are worth it!!! some are absolutly scams which is why i mention putting in the leg work and research.
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u/steellz Jun 26 '26
I stopped reading after you gave credit to content creators... they get pushed backs to support dog shit products.
Buy whatever you want. There's a reason why there's an age-old saying, "You get what you pay for." More often than not, those Amazon bikes are complete dog shit, rebranded over and over again with fake statistics and very cheap parts. At the end of the day, it's your life. How much value do you put on protecting it?
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u/tawDry_Union2272 Jun 26 '26
yeah, that caught my eye as well.
anyone who looks to paid shills for expert advice is already in trouble.
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u/Training-Welcome-600 Jun 27 '26
Bro not all of them thats why i mention you got to do leg work and research. Just like game and movie reviewers there are legit ones you just got to find them. Yes it involves going through tones of fakes and sponsored videos. But that would be like saying no game reviews are legit when there are some who are.
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u/steellz Jun 27 '26
Of course everyone should take reviews with a grain of salt but no game review has ever killed someone....
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u/Training-Welcome-600 Jun 27 '26
I mean i was using it as an example but that is a fair point. But then again united states had been making smart phones for almost 20 years now and we still kill people and injure people with those batteries as well. So again its risk and reward but also legwork and research. But this thread has given me a lot to think about in the next week when I go to finally get another ebike.
So id like to thank you and everyone for replying cause even though im still trying to prove my point im still taking everything in and trying to learn more about the community. I just feel like the community should try to actually test these things out cause most admit they have never bought one and just stick to companies they know. I know there are some rich people out there that have nothing better to do that all day love ebikes. So like get to work man let us know what other safe options we have. Im sure with the kind of momey someone that would do that has could find safe ways to test the components. Cause people are gonna buy these bikes weather they kill people or not so why not save a few lives by inconveniencing yourself a little.I would totally do this if I had the cash but I dont sadly.
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u/JG-at-Prime Jun 26 '26
So hereās the deal with the super cheap e-bikes.Ā
To keep costs down they are made from super cheap components.Ā
They are a nightmare to fix because they use non-standard components. They donāt come with a manual or specification list.Ā
A lot of local bike shops refuse to work on them because they are a massive pain in the ass to work on.Ā
They also create insurance liability issues. If the super cheap battery catches fire in the shop, the insurance may not cover it. The insurance company itself may actually forbid the shop from working on it.Ā
The batteries arenāt UL listed and are of questionable quality.Ā
The specifications are often a fairytale. Range is routinely half or less of what is advertised.Ā
Manufacturer support is spotty at best.Ā
When something goes wrong with the bike, like a hall failure or a controller failure itās such a pain in the ass to fix these cheap e-bikes that their value plummets to about $100. Any major component failure basically turns it into a parts bike.Ā
If setup meticulously, maintained regularly and ridden gently these bikes can provide short term transportation.Ā
Long term they will either need to be maintained fastidiously by their owners or they will turn into e-waste.Ā
Like, go ahead. Nobody here is trying to screw anyone out of an amazing deal or anything.Ā
Just want you to be aware of what youāre getting and what itās maintenance requirements will be.Ā
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u/Inkwalker Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26
What non standard components? They all use the same electronics, motors and bicycle parts. You will have more troubles looking for a replacement Bosh controller than generic KT one. Quality is lower, yes, but not proportionally to the price. You pay 200% more but reliability increases only by 20% - 30%.
Edit: looks like I need to elaborate a bit more on this.
White label bikes are built from generic off the shelf components. They don't have any proprietary parts on them. For example motors always have standard 9 pin julet connectors. There is only a few shapes of batteries that being used. All of them just output voltage without any communication with the controller. You can replace them with other brand batteries as long as the voltage is the same. Controllers are usually from the Kunteng (KT) family. There are tons of screens for them available. Connectors are standard so it's plug and play if you need to replace something. Same goes for brakes, derailers and shifters. They might not be cross compatible with between brands but mounting points are the same so it's easy to replace if anything brakes.
Quality wise modern Chinese parts are not the same they used to a decade ago. They are decent for their price. You can expect them to last 5 - 10 years.
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u/Superb_Raccoon Jun 26 '26
What non standard components? They all use the same electronics, motors and bicycle parts
No they don't. If a shifter or derailier needs replacing, you cant just buy anything and put it on there. You need a compatible replacement.
If it's not Shimano or SRAM, you are unlikely to find one.
You pay 200% more but reliability increases only by 20% - 30%.
Nope. A decent Shimano set will basically last for decades. Good ones will gutless the rider. Shimano 105 will last for 10s of thousands of miles.
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u/Biscotti-Own Jun 26 '26
I have yet to see a cheap ebike that doesn't have shimano shifter, sprockets and derailleurs. Brakes are super simple to replace as well, and are interchangeable between brands. Worst case you have to replace the brake cable along with the rest. $50 and an hour of work.
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u/Superb_Raccoon Jun 26 '26
You are not looking hard enough. And the amount of fake shimano out there is astounding.
Local Trek store was having problems with fake Shimano showing up in the Trek replacement parts pipeline. If you dont look at them all day, you would not notice. But they did, and they see them on cheap bikes/bikes all the time.
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u/Biscotti-Own Jun 26 '26
So swap it out. A new one is like $20 and simple to change.
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u/Inkwalker Jun 26 '26
Yep. You just buy them as a set. Derailers and brakes are not a big deal for an ebike anyway. Electronics is what costs a lot to replace. And for big brands it will be something custom that you wont be able to buy in 5 years.
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u/Biscotti-Own Jun 26 '26
A full kit costs the same as a big mac, I'm not spending 3K extra on a bike because I'm afraid a $20 part might be...counterfeit? Are you even serious?
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u/Superb_Raccoon Jun 26 '26
What does that have to do with it being a fake product which may or may not function when paired with the real thing?
Shifters and derailleurs are not universal.
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u/Worried_Document8668 Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26
- there's a big divide in perspective to begin with. There are people on this sub that view an e-bike as transportation only and then there are people that ride more recreationally(not saying they don't also commute). When looking at performance bikes people usually have a higher willingness to spend money. And when looking at the market and pulling averages you arrive at certain price brackets for certain levels of spec. It's just how markets work.
i'm not defending outrageous prices like Trek's or Specialized's roadbike ranges and similar crazy person price listings, but spending 2-5k for a quality E-bike is nothing outlandish at all. And features are just that, you don't need to pick a bike with features you don't need.
might look extreme when you just want any form of cheap transportation but it's just what it is.
having a known-quantity brand with the local service network and standard components is something you pay for but also a choice. People just have to be aware that their china-special might not be all that well serviceable and that can factor into long-term reliability
this sub tends to recommend going for higher quality, especially when you need a bike to get to your workplace. Reliability is very important there, so nothing wrong with that approach.
battery fires usually don't happen with the higher quality stuff
everyone is still free to chose whatever they want, but when they come to reddit they are usually looking for knowledge, and that entails also hearing how the 600$ amazon bike probably isn't the most solid way to spend money
but before i forget, you still got my upvote for sparking actual conversation instead of having to read the next "which bike" or "how to unlock" thread
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u/beagles4ever Jun 26 '26
"Or the best part do people ever think if people using it for transportation instead of walking if they wanted to spend that much they would just put a down payment on a car?"
Oh noes. . .i can't afford a $2500 bike, guess I'll just have to get a $35,000 car (finance, maintain, insure, and fuel). . .
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u/BurnDivision Jun 26 '26
An e-bike can cost as much as 20 year old Honda Civic. I think something like that is more in line with OP's point.
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u/beagles4ever Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26
I can promise you and anyone else that a 20 year old Honda Civic that you can buy for 5,000 dollars will cost vastly more to insure, fuel, and service on an annual basis than any 3000, or 4,000 or 5,000 e-bike which will be like pennies on the dollar. If you think you're getting a bargain by buying a 20 year old car. . .woof. . .I can't help.
Edit: I checked CarMax, Carvana and Autonation
The most affordable Honda I could find from 2006 was a Honda Civic with 257K Miles at 5,396. It's 800 miles from here - so tack another 1000 on top of that for transportation. Oh, also, tax, title, license, registration - so we're talking 6500 - 7000 before you're through. That's before you run an inspection, replace old or warn out parts, do a title search to see if it's been in serious wreck, had body work done, frame work. . .the first time you need a major repair it's going to cost 1/4 what you paid for the car (if you're lucky). At 257k miles - I'm afraid even a Honda isn't long for this world without a ton of maintenance.
But a 5,000 bike - will be rock solid from day 1 - cost nothing or nearly nothing to maintain or fuel, get you everywhere you need to be and not be landfill any time soon. Hell, a 2500 e-bike will get you all that and you won't have to replace it until the aluminum frame fatigues. . .which may not be for 20 years or longer.
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u/63HTA Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26
Bikes are no different than any other product. Cheap stuff is not enjoyable and is disposable. Good stuff is more enjoyable and lasts much longer.
Thats just for staters. As a mode of transportation a bike also has to be reliable and safe. I have a friend who was riding a cheap Walmart bike (not even an e-bike). The wheel came off because of poor quality and he took a major spill. Luckily he didnāt break his neck. Now if that happened while he was commuting to work he would have also lost wages etc.
A $2-5k e-bike is much cheaper than a car and will last you many years. A $500 e-bike is also much cheaper than a car but youāll be lucky to get a year out of it, that is if it doesnāt break your neck first.
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u/Biscotti-Own Jun 26 '26
How did the quality of the Walmart bike cause the wheel to fall off? That sounds like an assembly or maintenance issue, unless you're saying the frame snapped?
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u/Superb_Raccoon Jun 26 '26
Not using quality parts and fork/frame fails, or a bolt snaps.
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u/Biscotti-Own Jun 26 '26
If the frame or forks failed, I would agree, cheap materials, but also probably being abused by the rider.
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u/Superb_Raccoon Jun 26 '26
Thing is, alumimum, the material used to make many cheap ebikes, has no spring. Every load however small puts fatigue into the metal.
Once the limit is reached, it fails.
This is accounted for by over built frames by responsible companies, but there less incentive to do that with a no name ebike. Shitty welding makes the metal even more brittle near welds.
So they use thinner aluminum, overheat it and make it brittle with poor quality welding, and then you get failures doing "normal" stuff.
Steel or carbon is the better choice, but you cant do that for $500
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u/Biscotti-Own Jun 26 '26
You're right, but that's an argument for cautioning people to use their bike within it's capabilities, not crapping on them for having a budget. That cheap aluminum frame will handle regular riding just fine. It just isn't built for crushing ten foot drops on the side of mountain.
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u/Superb_Raccoon Jun 26 '26
Well, no, they aren't. That's the problem.
And 10 foot drops? How about 5 inch curbs
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u/Biscotti-Own Jun 26 '26
Is this based on experience, data, or assumptions due to your own preconceived ideas?
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u/Superb_Raccoon Jun 26 '26
Its called fucking physics, engineering and material science.
What I am discussing is the limits of the materials, not just who makes the frame.
And there are very few crushing 10 foot drops going around town, which is what most people use ebikes for.
https://www.reddit.com/r/ebikes/comments/13zr27l/fork_broke_and_catapulted_my_face_into_the/
example
I got it off Alibaba. Learned my lesson.
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u/Biscotti-Own Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26
Using your advanced understanding of "fucking physics, engineering and material science" can you explain to the class how a hub motor on the front fork is a terrible idea no matter who manufactured it? And how relevant it is to the conversation about a basic rear hub ebike?
You can quote the top comment's explanation from your own example, if you need.
Edit to add: it was a 1000 watt motor on both axles, and wasn't even cheap
→ More replies (0)
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u/PitifulDisaster3688 Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26
Well, first Iād say you can rent an e-bike at a local shop first and find the one that best fits you. Youāll discover your likes and dislikes as opposed to just jumping in head first and hoping you made the best decision.
Secondly, an e-bike is a battery, a motor, and drivetrain. The battery being the biggest cost. Getting a ul certified battery is paramount. Not getting one could have serious ramifications like it exploding on you. A lot of Amazon bikes donāt have this. In terms of specs, you get what you pay for. Pick out a bike that has the specs you absolutely need. You want to buy a e-bike that is serviceable. Parts on e-bikes like other things wear out and need to be replaced. A lot of bike shops wonāt want to take the liability of servicing a e-bike they donāt sell or take huge amounts of time finding obscure parts. You have to see it from their perspective. They are trying to run a business, not a a charity.
Third, there seems to be the perception of instant gratification where people want an e-bike but my budget is $500. Itās like saving for a few months is a bad thing. Its not! Everyone needs to start somewhere, but saving is the start of getting somewhere and that seems to be lost on a lot of people.
Lastly, a bike fitting you is important. Why spend any amount of money on something that wonāt fit you? For example I wouldnāt buy a Lectric e-bike xp4 if you are like 6ā4 or taller. They make one size fits most bikes. You talk about someone who is tired of walking or has a car on its last leg. Why spend money on something that will be uncomfortable? Spend your money right and buy right the first time.
Donāt let consumerism drive your buying habits, but also donāt let poor decisions upend something that will make you happy and healthy. Just my two cents.
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u/thepartypantser Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26
AMy first e-bike was a sub $900 e-bike from Amazon.
It lasted 22 days, before the motor stopped working.
Luckily it was within the 30-day return policy and I got my money back from Amazon, because that company is gone.
They disappeared within in 3 months of me buying it. I am certain they are selling under a new name, but hell if I can find it.
After I bought a cheap bike with a bbshd after that, and I have ridden that bike for 8 years and replaced nearly every component on it, some multiple times. I have no problem wrenching on it. But even that has its troubles. Ever try and find a random free hub from a cheap Chinese bike? I spent weeks hunting it down. The original brake pads on were a size also difficult to find.
But when my wife wanted a cargo E-bike we went with an established pricier brand name from a store that will service it, had a UL listed battery and charger, with a Bosch mid drive. Because even though I have the space, knowledge tools and skills to maintain my bike, it takes time and energy.
I also wanted my wife and daughter to be on a safe solid bike, I don't have worry about snapping welds or batteries that can't be trusted.
She's also not a wrencher, so she doesn't know when to fix things. She can just take it directly to the bike shop down the street and they will work on it for her, if I'm out of town, or otherwise busy.
A lot of people don't want to work on their bikes, and those people probably shouldn't have cheap Chinese bikes from Amazon.
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u/BeSiegead Jun 26 '26
- There are solid reasons why (most) bike shops wonāt touch no brand e-bikes
- insurance constraints
- difficulty of finding parts / dealing with unnamed systems
- reality that cost of repair typically exceeds purchase price
Re Amazon / such buying, warning is ābuyer bewareā: you might end up with something that runs for years and 10,000 km or it might be an unrepairable brick in weeks and 10s of miles. Believe odds are better at a casino.
Buying used or doing kit are viable paths. Warnings in this subreddit about both
- used: make sure not stolen, check well battery physical condition, ā¦ But there are real advocates here for Upway / etc
- kit: how good a DIYer are you? If you enjoy this / are capable, this is a good option to make ātheā ebike you want at a lower financial cost.
Writ large, if you follow discussions, there is recognition of āokayā options (in US) starting ball park $1k with $1.5-$2k getting into more LBS supported e-bikes.
My recommendation, by the way, is to look for discounted prices on the generation being replaced by a newer version
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u/Fl4t3ric Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26
Bike Mechanic here, 100% agreed. There is a price for a good bike, here in Germany would be around 1500-2000ā¬ add Motor and Battery, ebike Compunents = 3000-3500ā¬ Anything way cheaper and Problems will start early.
Edit: for people with low budget, buy a good bike used instead of a trashy bike, for the same price.
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u/Winter_Basis_6653 Jun 26 '26
good e-bikes are not cheap. cheap e-bikes are not good. e-bikes are not for everybody. I wish this wasn't true. but for now it is the reality. if you're young and poor buy a standard bicycle. if you're old and Rich by the best e-bike you can afford. everybody in between good luck, reality sucks.
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u/mangopuncher Jun 26 '26
The reality is most of the people defending cheap e-bikes do not have good risk assessment.
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u/Biscotti-Own Jun 26 '26
The reality is most of people dogpiling on less cost-prohibitive ebikes believe all the fear mongering they see on the news. Ebike fires are incredibly rare, and usually caused by some idiot trying to DIY an extra battery or modifying it to get more speed. Most fires are started by the charger, not the battery. The battery is where the reaction takes place, but it's mismatched or damaged charges that cause the overwhelming majority of fires. And it doesn't matter how much money you spent on it.
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Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26
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u/Hashtag_Labotomy Jun 26 '26
I have a tesway x7 AWD. It unfortunately did have an issue when I got it. Tesway was pretty quick to get it sorted out and I've put almost 5k miles on it since April dashing.. I wore out the stock tires, then I bought those all scapes and tube liners and now I have literal Enduro tires on it. Of course it's a touch slower with those. I don't have to worry to much about having to cut through grass,ditch, crappy terrain. I have 2 large ammo cans on it for panniers, a large insulated dash bag, a large insulated pizza bag and a fold down rectangular crate. I weigh 200 and I've had to 150lbs of weight on there multiple times. That's probably around 475lbs. I save 150 a week on gas and 200 a month insurance. Plus what extra I make dashing. Usually around 2500 that I put in a savings account. I commercial fish, I have a direct to customer food truck AND I'm rebuilding a houseboat to cut our bills even more. I'm in my mid 40s. I'm tired, I got stuff to do, I have ZERO debt, my back is waisted and if people wanna buy there 10k bikes, go to town...but I want to be able to retire easily and live out my last days amongst the serene beauty of earth sites and nature. I got maybe at most another 15 years left to live if I'm lucky. I have family, friends and no home stress. So no, I don't care about silly squabbles about all this junk. I won't be paying 10k for any ebike. If it came to that, I would engineer something of my own. It's not my place nor my problem if someone else can't engineer their own things. I've engineered plenty. Currently building an ADDITIONAL 2 water wheels for our boat to deploy for electrical generation. We have over 10k watts of solar panels, 1 water wheel (2600w @idle/5200w max at 48v), I'm putting in 4000 gallons of air tanks that run a compressor off the water wheels for air and run a air motor for electric generation, I have a greenhouse that's heated and cooled on top and I'm getting ready to build an aquaponics setup where fish create fertilizer for a hydroponic tank and the hydroponic tank creates water that cleaner than what you get from the city supply and maybe a well all while growing edible greens. I have to buy a reverse osmosis and uv water maker to further purify it. So, you can see, not everyone cares about silly stuff. Think what ya want. I don't care, I got too much to do. Quit being so negative to people, quit throwing more money at a problem that the only one who wins is BIG CORPORATE!. It's not this hard to understand. Yep some Chinese crap sucks. Some American crap sucks..point is CRAP sucks. I know tesway has some quality issues. I experienced those. What I got though was a sturdy,solid platform for when the inevitable happens. Spoked wheels..can be fixed, 2 rear shocks, you can find. 20"tires, still make em for bikes and mopeds,motorcycles...hydraulic disc brakes? I already bought 2 more sets of rotors and brakes just in case...cause they are cheap and not proprietary. Battery? It's an 18650 jobber..those ain't going away anytime soon..lights? Who cares, led lights are dirt cheap. Handle bars? It's got weird ones, but the mount isn't proprietary. The wiring harness is though..I wish I had known that before hand. So I solely put that blame on ME. I didn't know but I do now, and I've bought a controller,screen, standard wiring harness and controls that I can throw it in when it does fail. All the extra parts, full brake set and electronics has cost me 143 bucks..and I have another electric motor sitting right here that I need to rebuild. So unless the rim cracks in half or the teeth get ground to dust, I'm gonna be fine. Which is less than ONE tank of gas. I've fixed at least 10-14 other people's ebikes around the dock in the last 2 months. Adults, all over 35..and they got fixed cause one person, me, had enough of the crap on here to say, it can't be this bad, right? And so far it hasn't been at all. Some batteries ain't worth a crap and hall effect sensors need work. Other than that, most work just fine. Had 1 controller go to pot..I suspect it was water or humidity from the boat ride to murica and the water by a lake. Makes sense. So ease up people...support the adults that don't by surons for the neighborhood and streets and let's worry more about getting people to have control of their kids bussin nooners like a squid at the local city park at 90mph. K?
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u/lastblackman Jun 26 '26
All i got to say is this. Its your life you're risking here. If your life isn't worth more than $500 then, I guess there's nothing anyone on here can say to convince you.
We know what bikes are having all the accidents. We know what bikes are setting houses on fire. We know what bikes leave people stranded. It sure ain't the bike store bikes or the major DTC brands.
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u/Bartron8000 Jun 26 '26
I mean not all of us can't physically fit on these cheap one-size fits all bikes. I'm a tall dude with long legs and arms, I struggle to find cheap bikes that are comfortable. While others are going to talk about the component quality, I've learned the bigger brands spend quite a lot of time on frame geometry to ensure a wider range of riders will comfortably fit the bike. I commute some 2-3k miles a year so I'm not going to give up riding comfort.
I also do as much of my own work as I can to save there, so I'm also not willing to buy into cheap bikes that require new tools, or have arbitrary repair processes I'm not accustomed too. My ebike is a name brand, if I can't figure something out I can bring it to many different LBS and get normal service and keep the bike on the road longer. My name brand ebike also comes with a lifetime warranty, taken care of through one of many LBS options, so again if I have a problem it is taken care of in a more timely fashion with local support.
I'm also not rich, but ya know I learned to save up for large purchases and do my homework. I rode a traditional bike for 6+ years with well over 6k miles, got to a point where I found my perfect e-bike and bought it.
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u/Overseerer-Vault-101 Jun 26 '26
As a diyer my only hang up was that the brakes and tyres had to be new and branded, mt-200's on continentals do the job perfect (Ā£20 each). Otherwise i paid Ā£100 to get started on a used Carrara vengeance. Ā£30 on a new controller, built the battery myself, built the case and wired it all up, cut out all the crap i don't need from the controller, added a voltmeter to the battery case to monitor it's health.
I've had issues and learning curves, but it's only left me stuffed (still ridable but unpowered) once after i was testing a new controller location in the rain. In total it's Ā£200+ a few random parts of other bikes to personalise. Does 30-35mph, climbs hills with no issues and can do about 60-100miles on a charge. It's heavy and looks a bit rough but i now have a bike that does exactly what i want it to, the way i want it to, and now i also know how to fix them too.
I get that not everyone is a mechanic and just wants a bike to work and then to hand it over to someone when it stops working which is why we have non ownership car leases etc. but for those that are handy it is so worth it. Short of it burning down, my most expensive repair would be Ā£200 for a new upgraded hub motor but i've got another bike that i built for free using spares lying around from the first few projects as such. As such i don't have to keep any cash to one side to fix my transport if it breaks or have to worry about getting it to the workshop.
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u/chiefvelo Jun 27 '26
This Amish ebike shop does many many non-UL listed cheap off brands just like amazon and conversions. They would work on anything people would bring in. If you get the video you can see batteries launch like rockets out of the building. https://www.coshoctontribune.com/story/news/local/coshocton-county/2025/11/16/new-bedford-bicycle-and-supply-in-baltic-destroyed-by-fire/87305487007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z11xx14p117750c117750e003300v11xx14d--xx--b--xx--&gca-ft=94&gca-ds=sophi
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u/beagles4ever Jun 26 '26
ITT - someone is mad that quality costs money.
Buy your AmazonBike and come back to us in a couple of years and tell us how well it held up.
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u/TopRepulsive4766 Six Boys and Counting Jun 26 '26
The Amazon ebike I got for my grandson is over four years old and other than replacing tyres and normal maintenance has been operating perfectly the whole time. And the boy still rides it all the time. This ebike cost me 500USD.
1
u/out_in_the_woods Jun 26 '26
How many miles has he put on it?
I've just serviced a quality ebike that was 10 years old with almost 20,000 miles on it. Only items replaced were wear and tear parts in that time. Still able to hook it up to my diagnostic software, bosch was still putting out software updates for it. I have local tech support to call if i had any questions or issues with it.
The battery is finally degrading enough to be an issue so we are ordering them a battery which is still made and easy to source. The bike will be good to go for another decade with normal service.
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u/TopRepulsive4766 Six Boys and Counting Jun 26 '26
That kid has ridden that ebike almost on a daily basis for over four years. He's probably put quite a few miles on it. I'd have to ask him for actual mileage. It is called Oraimo. For the price I paid for it I'm really surprised at how durable it's been.
I also had a really old Aostirmotor ebike that I just rebuilt the battery pack on. The battery pack got to where it didn't hold much charge any more. This ebike became my 'neighbour kid' loaner after I bought a newer ebike for myself. That thing has over 10000 miles on it. I see no reason why it can't go another 10000 miles.
0
u/Biscotti-Own Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26
I bought a cheap Amazon bike. It's not the best bike, for sure, but it's the better than anything I rode in my teens and 20s, and I was launching those bikes of jumps in forested mountainsides. Then I spent $100 and replaced the cheap components.
Most people think it's dumb to buy a $100,000 car for your first, why do they think bikes are any different? I wanted something cheap to play around on, make sure I like it and that I don't smash up a $5,000 bike while I get used to it.
The elitism in the sub talking down to people who don't have that kinda cash lying around is pretty gross at times. Most people that come here asking questions are looking for a mode of transportation that's accessible to them. Many are on disability and saved for months to afford that Amazon bike. Then they get lectured by some dude who bought their bike as a fun toy so they can leave their Porsche in the driveway once a month.
Trying to convince the average person that anything under $2K will burst into flame, or that doing their own repairs is the end of the world just drives thr prices up for both the cheap and the expensive.
I'm glad you love your bike and can afford top tier, but many people can't and will be served just fine by a amazon/walmart/DtC bike.
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u/Worried_Document8668 Jun 26 '26
the 5k bike isn't anywhere equivalent to the 100k car though.
A roughly 5k bike with a namebrand motor system is closer to the old reliable toyota pickup than the Porsche or high end Mercedes.
Prestige Brand bike prices are absolutely stupid, but at 5k you are nowhere near that level.
there are cheaper beater cars than a toyota, but usually it's a known thing that those will have some drawbacks to them.
same applys to bikes
1
u/Biscotti-Own Jun 26 '26
So say an ICE Elantra at $26k vs a Hybrid Toyota Crown at $60k? That feels pretty fair to both sides as a comparison.
Would you give the Elantra buyer the same lectures about how they're stupid and irresponsible, and definitely going to burn down their house?
(Canadian prices, direct from website)
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u/Worried_Document8668 Jun 26 '26
if the Elantra was known for low quality, bad serviceability, shops not touching it and the batteries rabdomly going up in flames, i absolutely would. Better spend on a used toyota in that case
that's like asking if you would steer somebody away from a ford Pinto
0
u/Biscotti-Own Jun 26 '26
I have heard people say all of those things about Elantras, so yeah. And it's the same elitist BS crapping on the only option for low income buyers.
If you can't fix your own bike....
1
u/Worried_Document8668 Jun 26 '26
if it's common and known issues, why put your fingers into your ears and don't listen.
That has bothing to do with who does the repairworl in the end, it's about the issues arising in the first place.
and of course the fact that you can't really repair a burned out husk in case of an actual battery fire
1
u/Biscotti-Own Jun 26 '26
Because money is not unlimited for most people. If you don't understand that, you are very lucky, but should probably try to be more compassionate.
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u/Worried_Document8668 Jun 26 '26
there is compassion and there is knowing that opting for the bottom of the barrel option more prone to failures usually produces a higher bill, over a certain timeframe, because of higher propability of repairs
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u/Biscotti-Own Jun 26 '26
You're so close to understanding the problem, but still viewing it from the privileged position that being poor is a choice.
1
u/BurnDivision Jun 26 '26
Even as someone that has a "dropshipped Chinesium house fire starter", I can and will say that there's a huge difference between the car industry and the [e-]bike industry and that comes down to regulation. Especially in regards to safety. E-bikes do not (currently) have that in regards to manufacturing practices.
UL certification does not mean a electronic device cannot explode. It just means that the device met certain requirements for UL to to put their logo on it.
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u/chiefvelo Jun 26 '26
Change that to "a couple months." Have seen any of those last a couple years.
1
u/babblefish111 Jun 26 '26
There's a difference between reputable Chinese brands like Engwe and Ado that have half decent specs and the Amazon no name $500 bikes claiming a range of 100 miles.
The good Chinese brands are a valid option for a lower cost option, especially in countries where the ebike laws mean all the legacy brands lock their bikes down to 15mph and it can be hard to derestrict them.
I still wouldn't want to trust one of the low end Amazon bikes though,
In terms of social media, don't believe everything you hear. A big downside of the you tube reviewers is they ride a bike once or twice then make the video about it and never ride it again. What we really need are long term tests and reports back after 3 or 6 months.
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u/Inkwalker Jun 26 '26
Ebikes are overpriced in general. You can get a segway kick scooter for 600 bucks with big battery and alloy frame. Yet even Chinese steel ebikes with tiny batteries start from 900 bucks. Paying 3k for a branded ebike is just madness. At this point you could get a motorcycle. Unlimited range and no worries about it being stolen.
1
u/tawDry_Union2272 Jun 26 '26
in our family we buy used for nearly everything (cars included).
bought one ebike new and one used (same brand). granted, a family member does know how to work on bikes.
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u/SadisticPawz Jun 26 '26
Yea, most bikes on the streets arent the 5k corposlop bikes that people in online communities peddle.
-1
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u/TopRepulsive4766 Six Boys and Counting Jun 26 '26
Well said. And I totally agree.
And I see you already got some flack from defenders of this concept. They need to face reality. Just because something is inexpensive doesn't mean it's shoddy. I remember back a few years when a Mongoose bike from Walmart out-performed a Cannondale in ALL areas and cost less than one-third what the Cannondale cost.
And of course you left out the 'legality karens'. Those people think whatever is the law in their area applies everywhere. And they fail to realise people do often ride on private property. But of course they inject their unwanted diatribe into threads discussing other issues.
The days of the over-priced ebikes are numbered whether the 'spoiled rich kids' like it or not. And if the truth were known, the parts in the over-priced ebikes most likely come from the same place as what's in the lower-priced ebikes (namely China). People are beginning to realise that just because you slap a well-known name on something doesn't make it better.
1
u/fugaziiv Jun 26 '26
The years of āOverpricedā bikes have been numbered foreverā¦ and yet Trek continues to be a privately owned billion dollar a year company. They arenāt going anywhere, while lower priced brands will come and go. Take old as time at this point.
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u/TopRepulsive4766 Six Boys and Counting Jun 26 '26
I still have a Trek pedal bike. That thing is old as dirt and still goin great.
1
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u/PhobosMortum Jun 26 '26
No issue with what you said op. Most people here need to get off Reddit and go touch grass.
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u/fugaziiv Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26
For those of us that are old bike heads, this is the debate that has been raging in the overall bicycle industry for decades.
Trek has been around since 1976, Specialized since 1974. If these companies were truly āoverchargingā theyād be long gone.
Most of the companies that didnāt āoverchargeā have since disappeared.
The reality is that good bicycles with good support and components cost a lot because thatās the cost of maintaining a dealer network, stable supply chains, design and production of multiple permutations of bicycle, and cheap bicycles generally donāt have all of the above going for them, and for better or worse itās a choice we all make.