🚲 High Powered Ebikes Are Stupid And A Waste Of Money
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- čas přidán 5. 08. 2024
- This is arguably a pretty hot take (depending on who you ask)
Speed is expensive.
Let's talk about air, it's the crap you breathe and while it may look transparent from your perspective it's actually quite girthy and gelatinous, and it's also the enemy of speed. Physics are cool bro, push on a thing and you feel it pushing back at you, that's actually how you can feel anything at all, things give you resistance and your nerves pick that up as something happening and through magical interpretive electrical signals in your head you can feel things. Well, air also does that, it just also doesn't seem that way because you're usually not moving fast enough. Who here in class has ever stuck their hand out the window of their car on the freeway? It was quite a different feeling than waving your arm while sitting in your office chair at work. The faster you go the more air or wind resistance there is. The faster you go the more money you need to spend to overcome that resistance. You're essentially subscribing to the onlyfans of air and simping for each extra mph you achieve, you're being a paypig to molecules that you can't even see. Pathetic.
Here is something I learned quickly when I first got into DIY ebikes. 0-40mph is quite nice, not a whole lot of wind resistance, sure there is some but it's mild. Once you hit 40 things start getting harder and harder for you, the amount of power you need to go even marginally faster after 40mph gets exponentially more difficult (nature's speed limit, if you will).
It is of my experienced opinion that the sweet spot for ebikes that are using traditional bicycle frames is: 1500W, that's still a lot of watts but there are a lot of unique properties of this wattage that are economically very attractive. For one, a 1500W kit is quite common now, and can be had for very cheap. Secondly you don't need a crazy battery to push for 1500W, 48V will get you there easily, no need for expensive, larger heavier 72V packs. Thirdly this will get very close to the 40mph threshold but not exceed it.
--------------------------[ MAGICAL GRAPH(IC) ACTION ]-------------------------
Here are some real world numbers from my own experience.
$200 1000W hub motor kit @ 48V will roughly get you to 27mph
$250 1500W hub motor kit @ 48V will roughly get you to 34mph
$600 3000W hub motor kit @ 72V will roughly get you to 45mph
$800 5000W hub motor kit @ 72V will roughly get you to 54mph
---------------------------------------[ WOW ]----------------------------
Do you notice anything peculiar here? To go from 1500W to 3000W it's more than double the cost, but it's not a double speed increase, not even close. To go from 1500W to 5000W that is a near triple the cost but not even close to doubling the speed, I hope this drives my point across.
Going 40mph on a bicycle is very fast, and quite scary, the difference between 20 and 40 is much more dramatic than say 40 and 50, yet you'll have to pay most of the increase in cost to go that extra 10mph. It's simply not worth it economically.
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⛧ \\ Table of Contents: \\ ⛧
00:00 - Intro \ Disclaimers
01:59 - Speed is expensive
04:14 - Contrarian arguments (batteries)
05:48 - Physics and why it's more expensive
11:17 - Someone make it make sense!
13:47 - Another alternative view
15:17 - Conclusion
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Great video and valuable observation. ))) I didn’t think about it, even though I have 2 electric bikes with 250 and 1500 W. Thanks for the valuable thought ! )))
Awesome man! Thanks for watching. Do you feel you enjoy the 1500W more, or is it for a different application?
@@hightech-lowlife I believe that 1500 W is intended for quiet trips over long distances, when 250 W is optimal for short ones. 3000 W and more are suitable for off-road and fast driving.
the problem with E bikes is that they are heavier than a regular bike of which makes it hard to pedal it even with the pedal asset , we are forced to use the full throttle because it's just too heavy ...
They don't have to be much heavier, there are so many different ebike styles and sizes. I have a few that feel exactly the same as pedaling a non-powered bike 👍
I live in the mountains and weigh 300 lb. A 1500 watt motor won't pull me over up hill without over heading and that's with me pedaling. 1000w motors just give up. The 8k motor won't even get worm. lol
That's true, and I agree. I think if the weight is really up there, it could be more of a justification for higher power 👍
I'm about 250lb (with my backback on) and will be in a position where I would like to continuously ride up a steep grade at 25mph. I suspect speed/power numbers you posted are on flat ground? I'm looking for a rough estimate on what those numbers should look like in my situation. I'm also assuming those numbers are for a mid-drive?
I'd love to do a hub motor, but I suspect a direct drive hub motor is probably not gonna cut it.
Yes flat ground, but they are for hub motor! Since you are on the heavier side and also going up hills a lot, I still think 1500W would be good enough for 25mph (as ideal conditions are 34mph). You may be in a scenario where 3KW or more may be what you're looking for, however I would test it out first. See if you can rent or borrow a 1500W bike first and make a more informed purchase for your specific use case 👍
@@hightech-lowlife Awesome. Thanks for your input! I did try a friends DIY 750w hub motor bike (unknown battery) which he mostly uses for pedal assist and 750w was definitely not enough. I though I was going to overheat the motor or something!
@@RK-kn1ud Yes. 500/750W is pretty anemic, even 1000W feels underpowered to me (but I am biased), 1500W is good, 3-5KW is almost too much. 👍
My primary bike is a 48 volt 1500 watt direct drive rear hub motor. I power it with a Hailond triangle Panasonic 22700 cell 20ah 1600watt battery . there is one hill I climb on my return trip that is 1 mile long and roughly 30 degree grade I do it in pedal assist level 2 and travel around 17 to 20 mph no problem levels 3,4 and 5 are insanely fast level 5 I do 40+ mph on the flat and 27 on that hill. this is a standard mountain bike frame with the Voila Mart 1500 hub motor conversion kit built the whole thing for around $775.00. I weigh in at 200lbs and carry a backpack everywhere in case of flats or road side repairs to it weighs around 10 lbs on it's own the bike weighs 75 lbs.
You mentioned (and illustrated) riding on sidewalks. Is that legal where you live?
There are no universal rules for my state, but in my city it is legal to ride on the sidewalk. However, even if it were not I am not endangering my life riding where I don't feel safe, just because some law forces you to do so. I'll take a ticket and an argument with an enforcer any day over a death or injury.
I see where you’re coming from but I also have witnessed multiple interactions on sidewalks between cyclists and peds, and the results always mirror bike vs auto on the road. Around here the sidewalk riders (illegal) are the most entitled bunch, they’ll demand and expect the ped to give way. I’ve never owned any powered vehicle and have always walked, cycled, bussed or gotten a lift here in town, but have just purchased a little 50cc Vespa. I drive for a living and mostly know what I’m getting into, but we’ll see…@@hightech-lowlife
My ariel rider kepler felt like the most balanced power ebike. My legs felt useful even at higher speeds I could pedal hard and get to 35-36mph. Then I got addicted to power. Now I'm building a dual motor wired Cruiser monstrosity.
Awesome man, the power is definitely addicting 😂 Cruisers are the best in my opinion, I'll have to check it out!
I'm a heavier rider and have a sturdy rack on my bike to carry things because I commute to and from work every day, that along with my backpack with laptop and everything I need for work. Do you think 1500w would have the power to go 35-40? My bike currently peaks at about 1200w and it gets to about 26ish mph under motor power alone, but it feels like in some situations I need it to be more powerful (more for acceleration than top speed) when merging in and out of traffic and stuff!
If you're only getting 26mph @ 1200W then you may be in a scenario where 3KW is more of what you want (if you wanted to go faster). There are some 2KW kits that you can push to 4-5KW that aren't that costly, however you will have to pay more moving up to the 72V system in terms of a battery 👍
@@hightech-lowlife The fastest I've ever gotten on flat ground was 29.3 and that was with me tucking and pedaling to help the bike, and also before I had the heavier rack! So to get it up around the 35-40mph mark, you think I'd have to go all the way to 3kw??
@@bbllrstv13 I think you may need to move up to 3KW if you want to hit 40+ it's really up to you though. If you can build your own pack you can save some $ but that is time consuming and you do need some tools to do it (can also be dangerous if you're unfamiliar).
@@hightech-lowlife yeah I probably could build my own pack, but that isn't a risk I'm willing to take right now! 😅 Do you know if it's safe to push 2-3 Kw through a 750w nominal bafang hub motor? I've read that they can handle significantly more than their nominal rating, but wasn't sure how much more!
@@bbllrstv13 Yes, only attempt if you feel ready 👍 I'm pretty ok with electronics and it's still a bit spooky to me. Maybe 1500W but 2-3KW? I don't think it's designed to handle that power, maybe in bursts but not sustained.
Bro suggest me :
I want to build an ev super bike that can do above 100kmph in Reasonable budget is it feasible? Main interest is more speed while keeping in mind the petrol prices in my country.
Or
Should i go with a petrol engine and enjoy? (Because petrol engine have more prower?
Ok i got my answer at 14:00 😅
@@BLUE-uy3fb For ebikes, getting to 60mph is expensive, getting to 40 is pretty cheap. You have to pay a lot for that extra 20mph. Gas bikes also have a huge advantage for going fast as they are designed to do that for a long amount of time (freeway riding).
If you run an ebike at highway speeds, even the production ev motorcycles like Zero Motorcycles your ev range drops considerably when going those speeds for any length of time. Same for EV cars going high speeds, towing, etc. EVs are better for slower, stop and go usage like city driving.
I currently commute with a motorcycle and I'd love to switch to an ebike but the only thing stopping me is the safety of the roads in my area. (South Seattle) I want the full headlight/ taillight/turn signal suite and on some of these roads with fast traffic and no shoulder I don't think I would feel safe without the speed and power of a full blown motorcycle. At that speed I feel like I'd want weather proof armor and a full face helmet anyways so why bother.
Yes, it is possible to get something similar, but it will be expensive. If you are enjoying your gas bike then it's probably better to keep it, although if you have the opportunity to try an electric motorcycle (rent, borrow, etc) that would be a worthy endeavor. Cheers 🍻
Great video. I built a 2000 Watt 72V ebike. Total waste of money and time. Part of it was my fault for not figuring into the design the weight, battery size and overall engineering. I had to modify the bike too many times to accomodate all of the parts and controller. In the end, buying a motorcycle would have been far better. I still have my 28 mph legal ebike and it's far better for general use. So much lighter and trouble free. But like you said, it you have some special application, that would be the exception.
Thanks man, I'm sorry to hear you didn't have a good experience with your more expensive ebike. I think this is part of the journey though, figuring out what you like/need over time and by trying stuff out. These types of bikes do have their niche application, however I think for most people they're not ideal. Thanks for your insights! 🍻
Nicely said. Could also extend to Sur Ron modding. Yes I get it, but internet makes it appear to be mandatory. They are good little trail bikes straight from the box.
Thanks man! True, I feel like the sur rons are more for trail/off road, so this may be a scenario where you do want more power and could justify it more.
Gotta 52v on a 1500watt ebike, and for me, thats the sweet spot. Good torque, and enough speed to keep up with traffic, also enough range too take me where i want
100% I fully agree! Thanks! 🍻
In Europe they want to introduce a 15miles 250w limit on ebikes and anything over will have to have insurance.
Yes, more places will start to implement this as a way to collect more taxes.
Which is bullahit for people who wamted it as an affordable option
Insurance would start cheap but then get stupid overtime sith bike thieft
We have enough irresponsible hooligan riders that there are some legal proposals of having to have a license, and insurance for ebikes. We also have many illegal ebikes here over the 750 watt limit. They are fine for off-road or private road use. Some have been impounded for illegal street riding. It is the disrespectful riders who are going to make all other riders pay for their atrocious ways. Class 2 ebikes (those with hand throttles) are limited to 20 mph. I was riding along an ebike in my car and found that I was actually keeping up with him on city streets. Of course he would blow right through stop signs and some signals. Just imagine someone getting into a very light fender bender or ripping off someone's side view mirror. Most do not have any liability insurance to cover the cost of the dent, scratch, or replacement parts. That is why insurance may be mandated. Thanks for the great video.
@@SilverShadow2LWB Maybe in America you are right but most ebike owners here in Europe are people going to work that can't afford a second car but have a long commute.
The insurance on scooters has reached insane amounts and job security isent a thing for poor people.
Yes rich kids will ruin a way out for the poor man once again.
People always make the comparison of a used sport bike to a new electric bike. but the used sport bike market has always been a strange place. Most motorsport segments have gone incredibly expensive in the last few years. UTV's, jet skis, and even some dirt bikes break 10k and some 40k (surely anyone could get a small used 4x4 SUV for cheaper.) but my point is new tech is going to cost more, a 2023 bike will cost more than a 2020, 2010, 2000. However a brand new Stark Varg comes in at 13,900 and a KTM 450 SX-F Factory edition at 12,099. The price is so close its worth looking into. I bought my Alibaba special Stealth bomber a little over a year ago for $3k. I have 12kw 72v 21" motorcycle tires and I ride everywhere, and the price is even cheaper today.
A 60mph ebike with a Zoom fork?
@@FightFilms KKE 34's feel good at 40-50 but a little hairy at 60+ but for my style riding I'm rarely any faster than 40. Its like trails you think your driving crazy but your average is 15mph.
I agree that used sport bikes have gone up in price over the past few years, however I can also argue that everything has gone up in price over the past few years. Most people who want to go fast for less are not going to be looking at brand new bikes as they are very expensive, and at that point it comes down to more what technology makes more sense (gas vs electric).
You did say that you rarely go over 40, which does align with my thoughts on people that ride higher powered ebikes 👍
@@hightech-lowlife To be fair, my e-bike has gone down in price since I bought it. We also have the covid bubble that drove prices for everything through the roof. Demand for everything from MTB, Ebikes and just anything outdoors spiked for 2 years. its busting now and a lot of MTB shops and companies are closing due to old inventory and overproduction. I think there's a big dip in used sport bikes for many reasons, first is skill. a lot of people can't shift or even balance a 400lb beast. A lot of bikes sold also have been crashed or dropped by the former rider or ridden like it was stolen. They are sold for cheap cause they aren't in good condition to begin with and the market for new organ donor is small. I feel like my ebike falls somewhere into 125-250 dirt bike performance. Honestly I don't wanna go faster on knobby tires. But I also hate having a e-bicycle stuck at 25mph. its too dangerous driving on canyons or holding back traffic on highways.
@@tacticooldennis Yes, all these points are correct. I think we will see a crash in prices for a lot of things in the coming year. A lot of people do not have the skills to ride a motorcycle it's true, something about shifting to them just throws everything off. Most Americans cannot drive a stick shift car either for the same reason.
Knobbies on the street can be sketchy so just be careful. 25 is not as fun as 35 for sure, it's a big jump in speed 👍
My pedal AWD S tops out at 35 mph. It's sweet to go those speeds but there aren't many desirable places where I can. At low speeds it just jerks forward its not vey ped friendly. Bittersweet purchase, makes me agree very much with your talking points.
Thanks man, is it possible to adjust the controller so it's a bit easier at lower speeds? How do you like the AWD setup?
I went with conversion to mid motor ebike. 750W and 25-30mph is enough for me. Bike and conversion parts including battery cost me below 1k(~800$).
Do i wanna go faster? Doesn't make sense for me. There are better tools for a job.
Yes, I also have a motorcycle, and a motorcycle does a much better job if you want to go fast.
Thanks man, I appreciate your insight and I fully agree that this is the way to go. 🍻
I just started watching this video. And I got thrown back through a loop because I was like yo. Where is the guy at and I was like? Yeah, he's in downtown San Jose right now. I live there. That's a trip.
Cheers man 🍻
I do see your point…….ok, gone ride, see ya!
Thank you! Cheers man, enjoy your riding 🍻
YOUR NEXT BUILD:
Inner-city 25mph , less than 10 miles EA way to work battery capacity(could even charge at work), super light weight, and able to take into the building. Spend the money on weight savings, not speed
I think a folder or bmx would be nice for that, wouldn't need too much battery power, especially with smaller wheels. 👍
@@hightech-lowlife Small wheels will unsurprisingly need more RPM to reach the speed. It was a trap I fell into when making my cargo fatbike, and now I'm stuck with rather underpowered motor on it. (Like, small geared hub motor, is too small.) It's way heavy with my heavy ass and added cargo to move quickly and not be tiring without power.
So you should probably revise your power estimate up by say 50%...
You can get more RPM by upping the voltage@@AstralS7orm
I'm assuming you have 20" wheels? What's your top speed? Wattage? Voltage?
Biggest criticisms I've seen with this video are "I'm big and heavy" and "hills" which are valid, but I still question "how fast do you really need to go?"
This was more of a take for people who are new to ebikes thinking they need 10KW+ and spending (wasting) 60% of their budget on speeds they will never feel comfortable riding at. If someone wants to spend nearly double the cost to go another 10MPH up a hill, that may be something they deem worth it, of course everything is subjective at the end of the day. 🍻
@@hightech-lowlife Oh yes, 10 kW is way too much (like half of a weaker gas powered motorcycle), but 3 kW might even still be useful if you want to go fast, because field weakening exists.
Silly 250W or 500W restrictions are way too low. I get to live with one of these and 48V limit.
The high voltage is generally higher RPM and slightly higher efficiency. The extra $400 on the controller and battery may be worth it, even if the power stays the same.
But a better controller is just a better controller...
@@AstralS7orm 3KW can still be made for less money, but will require 72V. I agree 250 and 500W is not enough for smiles. A good controller is worth it as it will let you adjust things to your liking a lot more than a cheapo controller 👍
hehehe iam about to build my 2. high power ebike batt. made with 120 21700 samsung cells ! i have build 48v batt for 2kw motor and my customers love it ! my personal bike is in the sweet spot ! 1 kw motor peaks at 1500w. on a light frame.
and my custom 3kw stealth clone is peaking at 4,2 KW good sweetspot too
That's awesome man, looks like you have a good idea of what you're doing 🍻🍻 I'm currently building a 160 cell battery and it's a lot of cells 😂
My bike cost just under $2k in total and does have a crazy top speed but I built it for 30 everywhere :) I feel lucky be considered into that top 1% of the 0.1% and to have not spent 6k in parts at the same time haha 😅 average cost for a 1500w build with a second hand bike in the UK for me is $630-750 and I managed to build a 10-14kw ebike for around or less 3x the price, a good ratio considering it (can) do 5-7x the power of my old bike, double to triple the mileage (40-60 compared to 15-20(52v 18ah), it can now go uphill 3x the speed too I done 45 up a super steep hill. 70-80mph? Idk I haven't went past 60 and not past 50 since then.. I laughed my ass off when you mentioned how scetchy it can be 😂 I kept burning out motors on steep hills going 10-15mph, I now have 3 old 1500w hub motors that can be fixed becuase it's likely in 2 of them the hall sensors burned out before the coil windings, but that's what got me thinking "with all the money I've spent on these cheapo hubs I could've made that 5000w one I've been eyeing up" that's where it started lool, and ofcourse to get under that 2k price I had to build a battery, it's a 72v 36ah 12p pack.
It's at the point where I'm happy where it is. Only upgrade I can see it needing is some sealed bearings that can handle 30mph for the long term.
Overall it's a beast for the money and can see it being way more reliable than a 1500w hub, but that's only because I live in the countryside and have alot of hills around and in hindsight those shunt mods will only work if you live in flat road areas too lol. Yes I know..😅 The regen brakes save me the pads but you are right in pretty much everything you said here. The car license is next before a bike in my situation, I would like to drive shielded out of the rain sometimes lol.
Is your 60-80kw build going to have a qs180?
Yes, if you're on r/ebikes a lot of riders tend to think you need spend at least 4k on a bike otherwise it will fall apart and you'll get injured, which is nonsense.
I don't live in a place with many hills so I can't comment on my personal experience, but if you're burning out motors, I'd be curious if it's the motors or the controllers that is getting fried? If you're going to push your stuff, I would avoid shunt mods, as I speculate your motors are probably ok, it's the mosfets in the controllers that are toasting. Basically heat is the enemy of electronics 👍
My idea is that a lot of people are overspending and overspec'ing for what they are actually using their bikes for, but of course everyone's use case is slightly different.
What controller/motor/ and battery amp output are you running? Sometimes it's safer just to take a car, especially if you're going somewhere far/dangerous or if it's wet out.
The QS180 is rated for 20KW peak, could probably push 40? It weighs 45lbs, the motor I'm using is 65lbs and peaks at 80KW, and it's also water cooled so could probably go even more. It's not a QS motor as they only go up to 96V and my monster bike will be 144V 🍻
Yes; your title caught my attention, but I couldn't call it clickbait because it wasn't misleading ;) You make some good points, and how far do we go before it just becomes better to get a real motorcycle? I've only been into e-bikes a few years, but have been working on high voltage motors since I was in grade school. I do know lots of people with over the top builds, and the guy with the 91mph Spark Cycleworks Bandit is a personal friend, but I have no desire to go that Fast! My own goals were excellent hill climbing and towing capacity, but on a bike that still looks stock and gets smiles and waves from park rangers. Oh, and it has to fold and fit in my trunk.
I wound up with a RadMini running dual Tesla batteries through a Phaserunner to a modified G062. Though the default mode is 750 watts and 20mph, when unlocked it will peak at 3,200 watts and 40mph. That's fine by me, as the stock tires get squirmy above 40 anyways. I often ride in parks and shared paths, and sometimes I never take it out of default mode. It will never be a motorcycle and I don't want it to be, but it does make a decent moped in a pinch. I was on the first gas/electric moped group ride in the country (at least that's what I was told!), and I have to say that on the winding climb to the scenic overlook over the city, the better electric bikes dominated the gas bikes with ease. Thanks for the video!
The beauty of a standard e-bike is you can ride where ever it is legal to ride a bicycle but some think they can ride those monster e-bikes the same, Most folks are not happy to see something that looks like a moped or motorcycle sharing the sidewalk with them. Surons e-bikes are mini e-motorcycles I don't care if you still have bicycle pedals and chain.
Thanks man! I'll admit my title and thumbnail are a bit clickbaity/inflammatory compared to the info presented, so if you called me out on that I would not be offended. I agree with you and it seems like you found a solution that works best for you, which at the end of the day is ultimately what I am going for. I just see a lot of people wanting to go faster and faster, and I didn't think a lot of people realize that it's not as worth it as it may seem. Thanks for your insights, cheers 🍻
This is also a good point, thanks man 🍻
I agree 100%. I have two go to bikes, one electric and one gas. I use my DIY ebike for the trails and I seldom exceed 15mph. My ebike is 1000w 48volt gearless hub motor. Plenty fast for me but I do need more torque for climbing hills. I am 70 yrs old and have COPD. I love my ebike because it makes it possible for me to still be able to ride. My DIY gas bike is for the road. It has the smallest Harbor Freight Predator motor on it with direct friction drive. It's plenty fast but I seldom go over 25mph and hills are no problem. No range anxiety with the gas bike either. I hear it gets about 150mpg and it holds 1/2gal gas so I don't think I will ever ride 75 miles and since it's a 4stroke I can stop at any gas station if needed. There's a fellow named Jarrod D on CZcams who road his Predator gas bike 4500miles from Florida to California and back on a bike like mine. In fact I used his tutorial to build mine. Keep the shiny side up folks. 🚴💥💨💨💨
That's awesome! You're 70 and rock a predator bike? I salute you ma'am. I appreciate your insights, thank you. I wish you the very best and safe journey on your rides. 🍻🍻
I love this perspective 7:00. 😂
Thanks 🍻
I have an Ariel Rider Grizzly 52v that has dual motors, batteries & full suspension. Before purchasing the Grizzly I test rode cheaper no thrill e bikes but they left me wanting more. I went ahead and spent the extra money for a Grizzly & have no regrets. I can climb hills, keep up with traffic & still enjoy the bike paths.🙌
Awesome man, informed and did not regret the purchase that's what I like to see 👍 Cheers
In the UK there are riders who want to increase the legal limit from 15.5 to 20 mph. We all know if the speed is increased that will never be enough. Riders get used to riding fast and will push for more.
This is very true, speed is addicting and you quickly normalize a higher speed and end up wanting more 👍🍻
I have to agree with you on all points! I started off wanting to counter argue but literally everything you mentioned fits into my own rider and builder ideology. Great upload!
I think it's the title and thumbnail, it's a bit inflammatory and sparking a lot of defensiveness (which I can understand) but my perspective is really one that is hopefully helpful or beneficial to some people who haven't had as many bikes as I have and are maybe dreaming of a super fast bike. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment, cheers man! 🍻
I have been building my e-bikes for some 7 years, And yes over time they got faster and heavier and less bicycle and more Moped/scooter or even motorcycle. But I fast realized that these are bicycles and they are not designed to go the speed they were traveling and stopping began to become the next battle. The spirit of the e-bike was lost over time. I found that when I rode one of my builds that was a bicycle with something like 500 to 1000 watts hub motor I could ride anywhere a bicycle could and no one would say Boo! But I had a few front wheel hub motors laying around and built what is all the world an Electric duel motor motorcycle which is rocket fast and folks don't like seeing it rolling towards them on a side walk unlike the standard e-bikes I generally ride. I really like the fact a regular bike frame e-bike allows me to ride on street, trail and sidewalk without hassle or threatening pedestrians. But in all the time I have been riding e-bikes I only ever had "Cyclist" get their nose out of joint about them. Had one guy and his woman ride up to me and tell me I was cheating! Too which I replied . "Sir I assure you I do not know your wife."
Thanks for your insight man, and I would agree that there are a lot of benefits towards a more bicycle type ebike than a more motorcycle style. They are more covert and will draw less attention (good or bad). I've yet to run into anyone scoffing at me on my ebike, however I've heard a lot of stories so it's bound to happen sometime. Hahaha, that's a good comeback! Cheers man 🍻
I say 2k watts 52volts is affordable. I paid 280$ and 290$ for kit n battery n got to 40mph
2K is still affordable yes 👍 Thanks!
I've got over $11,000 into my sur ron It goes about 65 miles an hour. The only thing that stock on the bike is the frame and the motor. It's pretty and it's fun and And has a lot of torque And I'm only running 60 volt I'm 63 years old I don't think I need to go any faster than that I can do willie's at 45 miles an hour. And that's a bad idea But crazy fun. Have fun with your bike. But get ready to spend some money.
Thanks for your experience, if you have the money (as in my disclaimer section) it is fine if you want to spend on a high powered ebike. If you check my channel I have made many 👍 and will make more. I never got into sur rons (my friend got two in 2017 and I had a lot of experience with them). Cheers and safe riding 🍻
Dollars per mile. Which is more cost effective, a motor scooter or electric bicycle? Start with something like a Honda Ruckus or Metropolitan. Then select any larger motorcycle of your choice for the comparison. Longevity should be part of the calculation.
I built a gasoline motorized bicycle and used it for about 8000 miles. The only benefits were the light weight and not insuring it. The light weight allowed me to bring it upstairs and lock it to a guard rail at night. It required lots of adjusting and work to fix things that kept breaking. Spokes were the most annoying things to replace. It went through at least four different engine kits. It would have been much simpler, easier, and fun to buy a 49 cc scooter and pay for the insurance. Full coverage insurance back then was about $120 a year. I already had a motorcycle license.
I would own an e-bike if the controllers would not fail. They can't handle water, condensation, or extreme cold temperatures. They aren't good for those who live in the north.
I suppose it depends, I've seen a lot of long term comparisons of EV cars and Gas cars and economically it is more efficient to go with gas still (at least in 2023). Once we get solid state batteries things will change, even for ebikes. Cost will go down and performance will go up.
True, I haven't messed with the gas engine bicycles but I do know smaller engines typically are more fickle. Gas scooters are really nice though, and quite reliable. I had a Yamaha scooter 50cc that was indestructible.
I think in your case you would have to do extra precautions for weatherproofing your stuff, I do know a lot of users ride in the snow, but maybe where you are it is severe. Cheers man 🍻
E-bikes aren't capable of operating below 10°F. Lots of batteries are limited to 32°F. The central parts of the USA have nights and mornings that are lower than 10°F even if the daytime high is above freezing. Which prevents them from being used throughout the winter. Some northern parts of the USA can have high temperatures between ten and twenty degrees for weeks at a time.
It would be great if battery technology improved AND could handle the cold. Still, the controllers would need to be made to handle the temperature swings too. I doubt anybody is working on such technology.@@hightech-lowlife
Wasting money while having fun and believing we are somehow doing good is a God given American right…almost a tradition. You’re right, but you might want to be careful about going around speaking truths and bursting people’s bubbles. A very famous person’s birthday is coming up on December 25 and look what he got for doing that!
I'm not telling anyone they can't do what they want with their money 😂 👍 Just a gathering of thoughts and a perspective from building a lot of bikes. Thanks man I appreciate it, and that's true, people would rather see the shadows than the sun 🍻
We have to explore the boundaries of each medium. Hopefully we'll see some "wind management" items start to come out in bike sizes. I'm fine with the speed of my stock bike, but I enjoy watching others engage in this sort of insanity from the sidelines. I think others filming their crazy bikes helps me to NOT DO IT, the opposite of muckbang. :)
I like this take, thanks man! It's true, I think aerodynamics can play a big role in upping the efficiency across all spectrums. I'm glad to hear that witnessing the craziness has the opposite reaction for you, I also hope that others also share that same reasonable outlook. Cheers 🍻
High Powered Ebikes are cool and a lot of fun, i have built a 3000W 72V 60mph mtb Ebike for $1500 cad, bike included, so it's not that expensive.
That's true, they are fun. Yeah there are a lot of variables involved and if it makes sense to you economically then maybe going with a faster ebike is the way 👍
Indeed.@@hightech-lowlife
Spoken like a man who rides for an entire 16 minute video and never encounters a single hill. Try visiting a mountainous area, then update this video.
Hill is near the end, did you not see? How many watts do you need for a hill?
wow im still using 500w/750w motors. Super cheap to replace motors, controllers, and baterries (300-600$ roughly) and I'm just lucky thats all I need. Nice video.
That's awesome man, if that fits your application then to me it makes the most sense! Thank you! 🍻🍻
That bike is cool. I love it. I would ride that all day. What are you going to call it the free bike? If this bike had full suspension, it would kill it in the shops. I do remember your super fast bmx. I know you can make quick stuff, so I hear you. That's why I'm still here following you, pluss you funny 😁 😂
Thanks man! I don't have a name for it, I just call it my "cargo" ebike because it's the only one I have that can haul anything really. True, it does need a full suspension, however it's actually pretty comfortable due to the cushy seat. I will be making another stupid fast ebmx sometime soon. Thanks brother! 🍻
I agree with you. The one other gray area is a guy like me , that can’t get a license for 2 more years and rely on my 72 volt 45 amp controller hard tail MTB to get to work. When I can I’m getting a $ 1000 marketplace rice burner that can go 120mph and have unlimited range lol.
Thanks man! Yes, I would say if you have an outlier scenario like this then I would say you fall into an exception here. If you want to go fast and cannot get a license, then high powered ebike may be the option. I think you'll enjoy the motorcycle more though 🍻
Mine can go 50kph but I locked it to 25kph with a 48v 50ah, I love the range over the speed
Awesome man, range is also very good! 🍻
I agree mostly, I guess I am the 1% though. My 5t QS205 at 60v 40ah stealth bomber is made for trails, its like taking a chainsaw to mud and feels faster off road than on road. I use it to release stress and get back to nature away from the town. It opens up your world which has spurred me on to get a petrol adventure motorbike to tour the UK and hopefully the world. Different bikes for different applications
100%, there will be some applications where having a high powered ebike makes sense, and I would say an off road/trail bike is one of them (of course if you want to spend the money). I don't think there is one bike for all applications, but I do think for most casual riders 1500W is the best price/performance out there (at least for now). Cheers man! 🍻
brilliant as always my friend! i enjoyed this more than the toque arm lecture!)
😂 thanks man! 🍻🍻
Bro you make no sense
How do you mean?
I ride my stealth bomber clone on the road about 30 miles a day. 16kw with supermoto tires. I use it to commute to work long as it's not raining.
What is your battery setup? What would you say you're average speed is?
Currently a Chinese nbpower 72v nominal 84v 40ah battery from Amazon. My cyberwerks battery is being built right now. I average about 50mph on the way to work and 35-40mph on long rides. Bike weighs 155 lbs and I'm 220. Fastest I've had it was 72mph
This guy is a Karen.
😂 Explain?
Almost nobody would build those if the laws were enforced.
This is true 👍
Funny you should say that I've just ordered a 36v e-mountain bike it is very legal my car is always legal so why fo I want an elegal bike on the road I like to ride and take in my surroundings and you can't do that going 40mph 36 is enough in the uk I've ordered a Vitus E-Escarpe full suspension mountain bike for comfort with mid-drive motor 😉 its a very good bike.
That's very sensible man and I think that thinking this way will benefit you and your wallet will thank you! That sounds like a really nice bike, I hope you enjoy it. 🍻
Honestly 1000w on each wheel with 2000ah 36v and 12.55v or 14.55 lipo in series... It is plenty enough😅... At the red light in the hood no cars could keep up with you🤣point A to point B that's all we're trying to do😁...( one of these days I'm going to ride up by you🤣you were couple blocks away from my house🤙BaArRrrRt)...yAa totally get you stop measuring pee pee size and get back to work🤣
Yes totally enough! If people want to spend a ton to go a little bit faster that's their prerogative, as long as they know they're paying a lot for not much more, then it's all good. Oh yeah? I didn't know you were in the area, I rarely go out so I don't know if you'll catch me but if you do say hello. Cheers brother 🍻
He must live on flat ground without rolling hills to climb?
1500W should be plenty of power to climb a hill, and you may want to pedal as well to assist. If you need to go 40MPH uphill then by all means spend the thousands to get yourself there 👍
Gas powered still makes more economical sense if you are needing to go very fast up steep hills.
@@hightech-lowlife won't you agree if someone wants an E bike that can go up to 40 MPH at that point they better buy a motorcycle helmet & not that stupid E bike Helmet ? I think going super fast on an E bike is very dangerous cause they shift speed so very fast & so suddenly that a car going at the same speed can't keep up with the agility of the e Bike. I lived in San Fran most E bikes in my opinion can't handle the hills on a daily bases & trying to use pedal assist is still very hard because those E bikes are so much heavier than a regular Bike so it takes more work to pedal even with the assist , & plus Bicycles /E bikes are not designed to go super fast at faster speeds.. unlike a a Harley that comes in at like 480 to 500 pounds; the physics of going super fast on a E bike is not supported ;the laws of physics will take out the rider .. more dangerous than riding a motorcycle at super higher speeds.. just my opinion..