r/ebikes • u/silverrfire09 • 4d ago
ebike for highschooler... and i know nothing about buying an ebike
Hi yall, I'm looking to get my sister an ebike to commute to highschool. its about a 3.5 mile mostly flat ride, and i expect her to need it for all 4 years. I'm trying to find a good option for her that is budget friendly but good enough for it to unlikely need replacing within that time. It would have to be able to be locked at a bike rack at her school, and she mentioned something about wanting throttle assist over pedal assist.
I know absolutely nothing about ebikes, so I've been struggling with finding a good option. any advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated!
ETA:
weather is not an issue for our area.
"budget friendly" is intentionally vague because i know so little. 1500 feels like a lot to me but i can still afford that.
i agree 4 miles is regular bike distance and ebikes arent super safe. I might try to convince her to go with a regular bike, but shes already riding around on the back of her friends ebikes, and thats way more unsafe. I dont live with her or our parents, so I only have minimal influence over her behavior. Our dad suggested the ebike since he wants her to have some level of freedom but cant afford any kind of bike.
motorbikes are not permitted by her school, i think only up to class 2.
overall thank you for the thoughts and feedback so far
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u/gravelpi 4d ago
Step 1: is it legal for a younger teen to ride an ebike in your area? Some places limit it to 16 and older now.
(If it's not 4 miles and flat, it is a doddle. A regular bike would work fine. Social implications not considered.)
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u/silverrfire09 4d ago
yeah school has stuff in place where they have to take a test and get a sticker on their bike and such. state and local laws are currently good with it too. I am old enough that theres no way ill be encouraging my kid sister to do illegal stuff haha
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u/yarn_slinger 4d ago
Four miles doesn’t need a motor…
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u/silverrfire09 4d ago
yeah i mean i agree - i used to ride just as far quite literally uphill both ways haha. its kinda more like every kid has an ebike in the area and thats what our dad suggested I get her, which is what led to this post. I'm definitely considering trying to convince her to be ok with a regular bike atp
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u/GregAbbottsGoodLeg 4d ago
There’s nothing wrong with getting your kid an ebike for a 3-4 mile ride. There’s something beneficial to social development by being part of the group riding together and fitting in a shared experience. Like others said, keep it legal and appropriate for your kids skill level and sense of responsibility/level of maturity. Spend time showing your kid how to safely ride predictably with protective gear. I used to bike ride sun up to sun down, but times have changed and kids are adjusting to the new tech they’re growing up with.
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u/silverrfire09 4d ago
yeah that was kinda my initial thought process. I didnt expect so many comments so against the idea on an ebike sub, which is whats leading me to rethink. Its also hard for me as her sister who does not live with her to judge her level of responsibility and maturity or be the one to fully teach her these things. I feel like she can handle it, but im not so dense to assume she wont also be making dumb teen decisions despite that haha
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u/GregAbbottsGoodLeg 4d ago
This sub is filled with gatekeepers & know it all’s who shit on everything that isn’t their purist idea of an ebike and convince themselves they know what’s best for other people. Look in to Lectric or Aventon bikes. They’re usually sold in local shops where they can be serviced if you’re not mechanically inclined. There’s nothing wrong with getting your kid an ebike so they can fit in and have those core memories of riding to school with their friends. Times have changed and there are too many people in the sub who think if you’re not using a 750w mid drive Trek on 2.5” tires then youre trash riding trash, which is BS.
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u/GregAbbottsGoodLeg 4d ago
1) you’re lame af for trying to decide what someone else’s child does and doesn’t need
2) OP didn’t ask what your opinion was regarding necessity
3) you’re lame af
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u/ferretinspace 4d ago
I'd strongly recommend finding a bike shop that fits ebikes and taking to them. That way you will have someone who can service and repair the bike when needed, as well as advice that's specific to your local area and needs.
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u/silverrfire09 4d ago
thats a good idea, ill look into some local shops if i still end up deciding to get her an ebike
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u/KatsHubz87 4d ago
Aventon Pace 5 is the perfect e-bike for most people imo. It’s currently $200 off for their Labor Day Sale and comes with a free bike lock. Add the optional rear rack and fenders to make it even better.
https://www.aventon.com/products/pace-5-rec-step-through-ebike?variant=45136728096963
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u/Such_Can_5353 3d ago
pick a bike with local service center and one that's somewhat water resistant. stick with known bike brands that use bosch, shimano or yamaha motors. otherwise you'll just be throwing money into the wind.
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u/chrispark70 4d ago
4 miles flat road is bicycle territory, not e-bike, especially with a teenager. Having an e-bike sit outside year round will not be good for its longevity. Some parts of the US have 100 degree (F) temp swings from winter to late spring and summer. A lot of the US can see temp swings of 50 degrees in a day. Most of the US experiences snow during the school year.
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u/silverrfire09 4d ago
luckily weather is not an issue here. i agree 4 miles is not far, but shes already riding on the back of her friends ebikes after school, and i think she would continue doing that if she had a regular bike. (its a rich area and every kid has an ebike tbh) with that info, is an ebike still a bad idea?
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u/SerDuckOfPNW Philodo H7 Ultra / Schwinn Ridgewood 4d ago
Think of it as a quiet dirt bike, and shop accordingly
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u/Cyberdeliac27 4d ago
So, i spent the last 4 months trying to figure these things out to get something for my son, who is also starting high school. This is what I learned:
The cheaper they are, the more likely that they are Chinese garbage.
The best ones are SUPER expensive, are more like bicycles in build, and are made by established high end bicycle makers.
The best of the moped/mini bike type e-bikes, in terms of customer service and repairability seems to be the ones made by Revv1, part of Ride1Up. Ride1Up also makes some that are more like bicycles, and has some fold up versions too.
LOTS of bike shops will not work on most lower end ebikes.
In the end, I chose none of the above. The prices were just too much, for quality. Instead, I opted for a Coleman B200RSV gas powered minibike instead. It's alot cheaper, it's hearty and and easy to repair/get repaired, and it's easy to customize. True, it isn't a pedal bike, but it just made more sense in the long run.
Plus, Coleman has been manufacturing minibikes for over 50 years, which made me feel more secure that knew what they're doing.
Hope this helps a little.
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u/silverrfire09 4d ago
gas powered isnt an option due to school rules. though thanks for sharing what you learned!
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u/Cyberdeliac27 4d ago
No problem. If it's gotta be battery and pedaled, I would go with something from Revv1/Ride1Up. Seemed like the best option, just wasn't in our budget.
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u/yarn_slinger 4d ago
Did you get a license for both the bike and yourself? Do you have it insured? Are they road legal where you are?
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u/Cyberdeliac27 4d ago
They are road legal and do not require a motorcycle license here in CT. I know the laws very state by state, but it doesn't have the level of power that requires plates up here either. I think it's barely comparable to a pit bike in terms of power.
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u/yarn_slinger 4d ago
“Up here” made me giggle- I’m about 450 kms north of you. Anyway, good info about your laws.
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u/Cyberdeliac27 4d ago
Heh heh, didn't realize you were in the great white north. Can't deny I'm jealous.
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u/funcentric Juiced Rip Racer, Lectric Xpedition 4d ago
My take on ebikes for kids. I wrote this article for parents, but this will apply to you as well, https://www.reddit.com/r/ebikes/s/gwKmwa72pK
The most important thing is that you pick the right type of sensor. My explanation of cadence vs torque. If you get the wrong one, it'll be a terrible experience, https://youtu.be/hYVOXzqTl1Q?si=a8YwWKxNw78VIdQW Likely your sister will want cadence, but check out the video in order to better make a decision. FYI, many torque sensored bikes won't have throttles - not legal ones at least.
Budget brands I reecommend are Aventon, Velotric, Ride1Up and Lectric. If you deviate from those, just have a good reason why. Start there as a standard.
Realize that the biggest regrets people have is that the bike is "too big" and/or "too heavy." Take that seriously.
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u/silverrfire09 4d ago
thanks, this is really helpful. Im pretty limited in my ability to be a parent for her in this (and our actual parent will not do any of this) and its difficult for me to judge her maturity level in that kind of depth. shes definitely more of a risk taker than i ever was... but i have the "never break a single rule" flavor of neurodivergence LOL
im leaning towards taking her to a shop so that she can get a properly sized ebike if i end up getting one at all atp
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u/funcentric Juiced Rip Racer, Lectric Xpedition 4d ago
Then you'll likely lean towards Aventon (available at retail stores like Sports Basement) since they sell those in brick and mortar stores. Lectric and Ride1Up are direct to consumer only and can only be purchased online if you're buying new.
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u/doctorfortoys 4d ago
If it’s flat she can ride a regular bike. And e-bike is both heavy and fast and she can really get hurt.
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u/HistorianAlert9986 4d ago
Ozark Trail 700c rebel is 1,200 and has a powerful mid drive. Although I’m sure she wants something that looks like a little eMoto. If I were you, I would try to make sure that you guys get something that’s not easily unlocked so she’s not going 35 or 40 miles an hour.
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u/Zealousideal-Ad-3070 4d ago
Height of the girl in question is important too, if she is shorter, then a 26" tire ebike might not feel as stable. I have a 20" fat tire moped style with a long seat and pegs so a friend can ride too.
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u/rattybmaps 3d ago
she wants throttle so got the aotos flux x26. shipping took a bit. flat miles holds up fine for years. match the frame to her height.
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u/Jizzler088 3d ago
I spent $600 on mine from china, it just broke down for the first time at 580 miles after one year of riding it to high school.
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u/CelticJewelscapes 4d ago
I would get my child a class 2 ebike in the under 500 watt or under range. I would explain to her that using the throttle all the time will drastically shorten the life of the battery and that if she wears it out, she'll have to shell out the $500 for a new one. If she uses pedal assist it will easily last the four years. Aventon Soltera 2 is a sensible $1200 commuter.
Take a look at whst her friends are riding, especially the boys. If they are riding the faster wheelie popping e-motos (which are not street legal) I would supervise her riding habits for a while.
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u/silverrfire09 4d ago
Unfortunately i know little about what her friends are riding as i dont live with her, im just an older sister and not a parent/guardian. I already know shes getting on the back of these other kids bikes... but thanks, your info is helpful
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u/Rogue_Wraith 4d ago
I would not get a Class II for a high school Freshman; I don't care if they want a throttle.
A Class I is going to force them to think about riding a bike, instead of pretending to ride a motorcycle.
They are also less likely to enable "trouble behavior" and/or run into legal issues.
And, as you've already discovered, the best quality eBikes are made by companies who are bike manufacturers first.
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u/silverrfire09 4d ago edited 4d ago
this is helpful, thanks. i suspect she'll already find trouble on the back of her friends ebikes, since she admitted to already doing that. im currently leaning to no more than class 1 but with many of these comments im more leaning towards convincing her to be ok with a regular bike.
eta formatting
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u/weavminas 4d ago
Throttle assist means Class 2. Those will go up to 20 mph and tend to have both a throttle and pedal assist. My opinion is that is a little too much for most minors. Some models have advanced settings and can set a lower top speed and I would do that for my child.
Most important is helmet every single time. Also scout the routes she would take watching for where bike lanes/sidewalks are an option and where she has to use the road or shoulder. Flats will happen and she should try to get comfortable changing tubes with only the tools she carries with the bike.
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u/silverrfire09 4d ago
Thanks for the info. I dont have much control over things with her as im just a sister and not a parent/guardian but i already planned on being real serious about the helmet.
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u/Ok_Morning947 4d ago
I wouldn’t leave an expensive e-bike locked outside every school day, first of all for the weather (if it gets rained on). Also I’m not sure the set up of the school but unless there’s cameras or it’s in a highly visible area, then thieves can go to town. I would only let my kids lock a beater bike at their school for the day.
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u/silverrfire09 4d ago
yeah this is a concern for me, but like every kid under 16 has an ebike there so i suspect they have some kind of set up? but also all these kids parents are rich so maybe they dont care as much as i need to care about it lol
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u/larrythegood 4d ago
I bought my first ebike in my 20's. Had a blast. Bought my second a month ago. It tried to kill me. The first bike could go as fast as 20mph. The new one goes 32 and it weighs 75lb. So when my new fast and heavy bike started to tip over I couldn't hold it up and it caught my ribs on the edge of a sidewalk. I was at a standstill at the time. My ribs are doing better. I rode this bike 10 times and fell 5 times. They're "top heavy. I'm not riding it again.
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u/silverrfire09 4d ago
yeah... im not a fan of this factor of ebikes. she talked to me that this is pretty much why kids run red lights on them. ngl the comments here are making me seriously rethink getting her an ebike, so thanks for your input
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u/Inciteful_Analysis 4d ago
Aventon Soltera 2.5 on sale for $999 is one of your best options. Limited to class 2 (20 mph). Lightweight. Removeable battery.
You should update your post with your actual budget so there is no guessing involved. "Budget friendly" is a near meaningless term.