Electric Bikes - Electric bikes

I was surfin' Ebay and saw a couple of electric bikes. One weighed 80 pounds! And had one speed. If you are lit enuff, and the hills are flat enuff, and the omni-directional wind is calm, you can go a blistering 18 mph!!! But think of all the extension cords you would have to buy... Any one here have any experience with an electric?

I haven't tried one yet, but in Japan, they are really getting popular.

The Japanese are pretty sharp. If electric bikes are popular in Japan, then electric bikes are probably pretty functional.

Here in the States, bicycling is primarily recreational. Obviously, electric bikes don't offer much in terms of recreation - especially when there are high powered gas engine alternatives for recreation.

It will be interesting to see how they fair in other countries where bicycles are used more practically. I have seen them in China as well, but not really prominant yet.

You make a good point Mike about how bikes are more functional overseas whereas in the US they are more of a sport or recreation. I saw an electric car--it looked like an oversized golf cart, very utilitarian, and going about 35 mph. It was silent and of course clean smelling. Let's not kid ourselves, fellow bike enthusiasts, the average citizen is not gonna become a pedal pusher. The answer is electric. But personally, I will be happy to spin until my knees weld up!:D

my ebike is my main mode of transport around sydney,most trips it beats city traffic these are very popular they are not kiddies toys no more lol.some are very fast,some are built to go slow too for legal reasons.