Ebike for Commuting $3500- $4000

Gladioli on 19/07/2022 - 20:15

Hi folks,

I'm looking to get an electric bike to commute to and from work, plus perhaps the occasional weekend trip around the local area, budget of up to $4000 but always happy to spend less.

Trip to work is only about 10 km (20 km return), with about 150 m elevation gain on the way home (most of which is up only about 1 km of road), so not a long way, but I wouldn't mind being able to do 60 -100 km on weekends to visit local areas.

I've done a little bit of research and found that there's a lot of variety out there and I really don't know what I need. Have been looking at the Giant Roam E+ but it seems to be perpetually out of stock and I don't even know if it is the right bike for me.

What would you recommend? What should I avoid?

Sports & Outdoors

Comments

  • Hybroid on 19/07/2022 - 20:29
    +1

    https://www.leoncycle.com.au/NCM-Prague-Electric-Mountain-Bi…

    or

    https://www.leoncycle.com.au/NCM-Moscow-Electric-Mountain-Bi…

    Every other food delivery person has one of these. So I got an NCM Aspen for off-road trails and absolutely love it.

    • Gladioli on 19/07/2022 - 20:55

      Thanks for the recommendation and I love the idea of looking at what delivery riders are using, makes a lot of sense! Sadly it looks like most of those NCM options are out of stock. Are there other stores selling them?

      • Hybroid on 19/07/2022 - 21:22
        +2

        Leon are the official importers/distributors but yes, NCM bikes are available from tons of local bike shops. Most will even offer you a free test ride to try it out, that's how I got hooked originally.

        You really don't need to spend $4k on a commuting ebike. Half that is a more than sufficient target.

      • jnewau on 20/07/2022 - 09:08
        +1

        I bought an NCM Moscow Plus in Newcastle last week, so far its been great. They mentioned a new model is coming but when I ordered they looked up stock of the existing models and there were still plenty with the distributor, so I'd say they can still be ordered in.

    • Gladioli on 21/07/2022 - 18:27

      So I went to a local bike shop today and it looks like the key difference between these and the more expensive options is hub motor (built into rear wheel) vs mid-drive motor. Mid-drive is generally better for hilly terrain (which is where I live) so I'm going to go that way and not with an NCM.
      Has anyone got experience with Velectrix electric bikes?

  • sharkyoz on 19/07/2022 - 20:55

    try this https://www.cullenebikes.com.au/product/2000w-48v-15ah-hydra…
    I have one and its great, im about 125kg and i do 60kmh on this
    range is dependant upon level of pedal assist, but i do about 30-35k riding at between 30-45kph before recharge

  • forged on 19/07/2022 - 22:38
    +1

    Why do all these ebikes have such huge chunky tyres? Surely the range would be much better with skinny road tyres?

  • Presence on 20/07/2022 - 07:25

    10km is only 30min riding, any particular reason you want an ebike? Is it so you don't turn up sweaty?

    • Gladioli on 20/07/2022 - 09:55
      +1

      It's mainly because I'm currently fairly unfit and need the extra help getting up the hill on the way home. I'm hoping that if it's just that little bit easier I will stick to it and don't just go back to driving to work. I can imagine getting fit over the next 6 months and swapping the electric bike for a regular one, but for now the help is needed.

      • Presence on 20/07/2022 - 10:38

        Fair enough.

      • shaybisc on 20/07/2022 - 16:56
        -1

        "Hills Are NOT Harder Than Cycling On The Flat (Says Science)"

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipENw5mjjSg

        • Gladioli on 20/07/2022 - 17:52

          Clickbait title. You definitely use more energy to go uphill

          • Euphemistic on 21/07/2022 - 18:06

            @Gladioli: But you get a lot of it back going back down the other side.

            • Gladioli on 21/07/2022 - 18:17

              @Euphemistic: Not if your trip ends at the top of the hill

              • Euphemistic on 21/07/2022 - 19:52

                @Gladioli: Then you get to ride down tomorrow.

                My old commute was fairly flat, except for the last few hundred metres getting home - up the hill. Used extra to get home, but got it back the next morning.

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