Electric Bikes - This forum is going to get busy.

With gas at $4-$5 a gallon, I have a feeling this forum will start getting a little busier.

I'm one of them, even though I can't afford the motor kit until this fall, I plan on reading up on everything I can before the install, and also use you gurus for lots of wiring advice.

You're right. I just heard from a friend who has an E-Zip and he says that the local Wal-Mart is now carrying them. I went to check and the E-Zips are prominently displayed. As of last week, the local Wal-Mart wasn't carrying them. He also said that many, many more people ask him about the E-Zip every day. One would think a LBS would begin catering to the electric market. However, the local bike shops are probably smarter by allowing big retailers like Wal-mart to carry the bikes so they can get the business when the bikes require service. Of the two local bike shops, one will generally fix the mechanical parts of an electric bike, and the other tries to avoid working on electric bikes altogether. However, the trend to electric bikes and other vehicles is well underway so your prediction is bound to occur. :)

One would think a LBS would begin catering to the electric market.

They will eventually. When they get enough repair work, and the market grows, they'll start carrying higher end conversion kits off the shelf, for people who want more than a cheaper E-zip.

I am proof of this thread topic!

The E-zip is the gateway bike!

Even seeing this forum get created last year is evidence. Before then, I posted about electric bikes in the commuting forums, which got not so enthusiastic responses.

I know here in the GTA just about every dealer is out of stock and some orders are going to take till August before delivery. I think everyone misjudged the market for this year.

I think everyone misjudged the market for this year.

LOL... Whatever gave you that idea?

As long as fuel remains high priced...

This is only the 2nd season that E-bikes were legal in Ontario and demand already started to exceed supply in September and October of last year.

Everyone get off the bandwagon!
Yes eBikes will save you gas, but most people who drive can't use an ebike because it is beyond their range. In my place of work, most people travel more than 50 kms to work. eBikes aren't going to solve that problem because, these people are still living beyond their sustainable means.

They need to change their lifestyles. That's not going to happen until oil reaches $200 a barrel, and it will be a hugely difficult transition for many people. Get ready for a lot of unhappy commuters. Uhappy commuters don't really like you to tell them you're saving a hundred bucks a week by taking a bike.

I'd keep quiet if I were you, and pocket the money

Well with this changing economy I think a lot of people are going to have to rethink their options. And that may include a finding work closer to home or b moving closer to work. This will be the new reality. The suburban commuter will slowly go away.

Its traffic has already picked up. Used to be only one or two new threads a week.

Well with this changing economy I think a lot of people are going to have to rethink their options. And that may include a finding work closer to home or b moving closer to work. This will be the new reality. The suburban commuter will slowly go away.

Maybe in the short term, but I don't see this trend continuing for long. The steady advance of technology will soon make where you live fairly moot as long as work is within a 100 miles. Electric cars exist today that have a 200 mile range. Granted, production needs significant expansion, but it'll come. If GM/Ford/Chrysler want to continue to exist, they'll have to rapidly adapt to this rapidly changing environment. NOW is the time for buying property in suburbia if one has abandoned the high price of gasoline for other alternatives. Even electric motorcycles exist with a good 50 mile range at 50 mph.

Its traffic has already picked up. Used to be only one or two new threads a week.

The same can be said for the bicycles around town and on major roadways.

In my commute from work to home I now pass at least 6 or so hard core riders in my 12.5 mile trip (some going the other way;):lol:)

The trend is showing people are re-thinking the gas commute. The shop Its Electric in Calgary Alberta has this
on its web site since last week:

BL-36 and BD-36 kits is completely out for the summer due exterme high demand. Our distrubutor had 2,000 motors, it was completely sold out in 10 days. We are sorry about the delay and thank you for being patient! - The ItsElectric team


See what I mean??

The trend is showing people are re-thinking the gas commute. The shop Its Electric in Calgary Alberta has this
on its web site since last week:

BL-36 and BD-36 kits is completely out for the summer due exterme high demand. Our distrubutor had 2,000 motors, it was completely sold out in 10 days. We are sorry about the delay and thank you for being patient! - The ItsElectric team


See what I mean??


Oh what a beautiful site that sign is. I hope they can restock before the summer is over so as not to lose the "interest momentum"!!!!!!

All gonna depend on gas prices. If they drop back things will cool. Of course some will stick with it but low gas price will be major buzz killer.

Supply will be tough. Especially with the summer games in China. Have feeling shipping will be slow for a while. At least till fall.

Plug in hybrid cars will compete soon too!

All gonna depend on gas prices. If they drop back things will cool.
Plug in hybrid cars will compete soon too!

I'm surprised there are not more plug-in cars in the market already.

I've been riding ebikes for years now and these brushless motors are wonderful, almost no moving parts to wear. With LIFEPO4 batteries available and getting better by the month, futur's lookin good, no, it's lookin GREAT!

Here in this province the Gov. has an anti EV attitude. They have a misguided protectionist attitude toward the traditional automotive industry. Our e-bikes are the only EV legal in Ontario. We even have a major electric car manufacturer here but they cannot sell them here.

With gas at $4-$5 a gallon, I have a feeling this forum will start getting a little busier.

I'm one of them, even though I can't afford the motor kit until this fall, I plan on reading up on everything I can before the install, and also use you gurus for lots of wiring advice.

Start riding now, and maybe by fall you'll be fit enough not to need an electric motor.

Well with this changing economy I think a lot of people are going to have to rethink their options. And that may include a finding work closer to home or b moving closer to work. This will be the new reality. The suburban commuter will slowly go away.


We certainly saw a decrease from say 1973 to 2008.:rolleyes:

All this stuff was predicted in 1973, and then again in 1979-80. I wouldn't hold my breath.

The reality is that geopolitics are driving oil prices through the roof which in turn is causing consumers like you and I to "Stick it to the man" and invest in other forms of transportation. If oil continues to climb (predictions ranging from $170-$200/barrel by end of year and we're around $140 now), then the trend toward e-bikes, scooters, hybrids, e-cars, etc. will continue. The neat part of all this is that it is driving innovation in areas that the world so desperately needs - solar, wind, geo thermal technology... but the demand needs to continue. As much as I hate to say it (and I work in the auto industry), we need this push. I only hope it doesn't drop off like it did in the 70's. I'll be picking up an E bike shortly. My commute is 22 miles one way.

Start riding now, and maybe by fall you'll be fit enough not to need an electric motor.


No offense, but the days where a fit rider can out speed someone on an electric bike are drawing to a close. I recently beat 5 very fit, ranked bicycle racers on my electric bicycle over a 70 mile race. (average speed: 22 mph) This means that I'll never want to dump the motor! In fact, I would think it would get these guys thinking about adding a motor to their bicycles so that they can augment their already incredible abilities.

Here in this province the Gov. has an anti EV attitude. They have a misguided protectionist attitude toward the traditional automotive industry. Our e-bikes are the only EV legal in Ontario. We even have a major electric car manufacturer here but they cannot sell them here.

Ontario's manufacturing is highly dependant on the auto-pact. The problem with Ontario is they're stuck in the past. Ontario needs to say bye bye to the old auto-based manufacturing and say hello to new technologies. Ontario has the potential to become a world leader in the industry. They just need to embrace change and not try to fight it.

Start riding now, and maybe by fall you'll be fit enough not to need an electric motor.

Fitness has nothing to do with it. So long as people are starting to get out of their cars, I'm happy.

And you should be too. Less cars on the road = more space for you to exercise on your bike.

Your anti-eBike attitude isn't helpful at all. You're going to scare away potential ebikers/bikers back into their SUVs.

Start riding now, and maybe by fall you'll be fit enough not to need an electric motor.

I recently took my regular bike on my 11 mile commute to work. My computer tells me my average speed was 18.2 mph. On the way home it was 18.0mph. No great feat, but I think I'm in Ok shape. I'm not Lance, but I still need an electric bike to get around. The exercise I get from biking is great, but I don't need too much of it and I don't need it all the time.

Ontario's manufacturing is highly dependent on the auto-pact. The problem with Ontario is they're stuck in the past. Ontario needs to say bye bye to the old auto-based manufacturing and say hello to new technologies. Ontario has the potential to become a world leader in the industry. They just need to embrace change and not try to fight it.

With what has been happening in the auto industry lately I think their mind is being made up for them and they will have to engage other technologies and manufacturing if they want any manufacturing industry left in this province. The auto industry cannot be saved by gov. edict.

Fitness has nothing to do with it. So long as people are starting to get out of their cars, I'm happy.

And you should be too. Less cars on the road = more space for you to exercise on your bike.

Your anti-eBike attitude isn't helpful at all. You're going to scare away potential ebikers/bikers back into their SUVs.
I am not anti ebike at all. I just believe they have their place. Their place is for the handicapped. My friend has a clip on gas motor bicycle and a hub motor bike. They are great....for him, he lost a large portion of his quad in Iraq.
But the bicycle is effecient enough that an electric motor is un-needed for healthy people.

No offense, but the days where a fit rider can out speed someone on an electric bike are drawing to a close. I recently beat 5 very fit, ranked bicycle racers on my electric bicycle over a 70 mile race. (average speed: 22 mph) This means that I'll never want to dump the motor! In fact, I would think it would get these guys thinking about adding a motor to their bicycles so that they can augment their already incredible abilities.

I have no doubt that a motor vehicle can out perform a human powered vehicle. That is not the point. For a healthy person, a motor on a bike is redundant.

I have no doubt that a motor vehicle can out perform a human powered vehicle. That is not the point. For a healthy person, a motor on a bike is redundant.


For your needs.
I couldn't haul what I do on a non-motorized bike. I'm not unhealthy, just not an olympic level athlete.


I am not anti ebike at all. I just believe they have their place. Their place is for the handicapped. My friend has a clip on gas motor bicycle and a hub motor bike. They are great....for him, he lost a large portion of his quad in Iraq.
But the bicycle is effecient enough that an electric motor is un-needed for healthy people.

By the way, as someone who has recovered from a rather severe spinal injury, your insistence that ebikes are only suitable for the handicapped, makes you sound like a jack ass.
It implies that you are superior and are using the handicapped as a derogatory reference to shame those who do ride ebikes.

You owe your friend and apology, he gave that leg so you can be smug on the interwebs.

I am not anti ebike at all. I just believe they have their place. Their place is for the handicapped. My friend has a clip on gas motor bicycle and a hub motor bike. They are great....for him, he lost a large portion of his quad in Iraq.
But the bicycle is effecient enough that an electric motor is un-needed for healthy people.

A bicycle by itself won't go anywhere without an engine. An electric motor is 90% efficient. The human body is 20-25% efficient.

I have no doubt that a motor vehicle can out perform a human powered vehicle. That is not the point. For a healthy person, a motor on a bike is redundant.

If the healthy person doesn't pedal, it can be redundant. But the point is to augment not replace human power. Your frame of mind is boxed in the drive or pedal mentality. It's either all human power or all machine power. Step out of that box for a minute and consider a hybrid of the two. If you can buy shoes that can somehow make you run twice as faster, you wouldn't need to be healthy to want or need one. That's exactly what an electric motor on a bike can do to bicycling.

maddyfish - go away. You're not welcome here with that attitude. Your co-workers may not mind if you smell like a locker room but mine do!

maddyfish - go away. You're not welcome here with that attitude. Your co-workers may not mind if you smell like a locker room but mine do!

Hey Maddy, I'm willing to bet you don't smell. Every idea has its place. A vote for McCaine is a vote against veterans, as strange as that may seem. Look as his record. A vote against any kind of progress: economic, international position, environmental..... But, we should all do what we think is right. WE ALL SHOULD THINK A LOT FIRST.
Don

Some people would rather not get to work, in shape or not so fit, covered in sweat. I've seen people in business suits that ride motor assist to their work. I know in my city we have a few wicked hills, and I don't care how "In Shape" you are, 80 degree with a humidex of 95-98 even just walking the bike up hill you will be soaked at the top.

The very idea that any kind of assist on a bike is only for 1 reason, shows the limited ability of thought on the posters part.

Geting people out of cars and onto bikes of all kinds is better for our planet in the long run.

A line of bikes and ebikes at a coffee shop drive through waiting for their cup o Joe is a beautiful 0 for green house gasses......unlike the same people in idle in even small motor gas sippers.

Some people would rather not get to work, in shape or not so fit, covered in sweat. I've seen people in business suits that ride motor assist to their work. I know in my city we have a few wicked hills, and I don't care how "In Shape" you are, 80 degree with a humidex of 95-98 even just walking the bike up hill you will be soaked at the top.

The very idea that any kind of assist on a bike is only for 1 reason, shows the limited ability of thought on the posters part.

Geting people out of cars and onto bikes of all kinds is better for our planet in the long run.

A line of bikes and ebikes at a coffee shop drive through waiting for their cup o Joe is a beautiful 0 for green house gasses......unlike the same people in idle in even small motor gas sippers.

Hey Grey Wolf

Does your back ache some mornings (affected by the the long sleep with the ice) ? Been there. Done that.

I know a great massage therapist, actually, she's my wife, currently not taking on new clients.

For a person of your beliefs, she might, if you came to western New York.

You have to admit those "other people" are entitled to their viewpoint. A person might wish for a volume control.

Don

Hey Grey Wolf

Does your back ache some mornings (affected by the the long sleep with the ice) ? Been there. Done that.

I know a great massage therapist, actually, she's my wife, currently not taking on new clients.

For a person of your beliefs, she might, if you came to western New York.

You have to admit those "other people" are entitled to their viewpoint. A person might wish for a volume control.

Don

Ok I have no idea what my sig has to do with the topic, and I'll pass on having your wife do anything for me thanks. I go by an old Southern saying when it comes to others wifes and gf's........"Never Tree another Hounds Coon!!"

People are very much entitled to what ever opinion they wish, I just pointed out that motor assist on a bike is for "Disability" use only as limited thinking. There is after all a bigger picture as to why Ebikes are growing........

Reduced Cost for Travel to and from Work/School or Social Event
Reduced Green House Gasses

For others a half peddle with motor assist to work is more exercise a person would get then just starting the car and a drive to work.

Also yes for persons of Limited ability, a great way to add to their personal freedom to get around.

My point was not to cut down, but show there is more to think about when saying something like that.

If people are "Bike Purest" human power only.....then why come into and Ebike forum and toss stones at the window?????

Would it not serve the forum better to keep ones self with the other bike purest' and have happy chats with them?

Ok I have no idea what my sig has to do with the topic, and I'll pass on having your wife do anything for me thanks. I go by an old Southern saying when it comes to others wifes and gf's........"Never Tree another Hounds Coon!!"

People are very much entitled to what ever opinion they wish, I just pointed out that motor assist on a bike is for "Disability" use only as limited thinking. There is after all a bigger picture as to why Ebikes are growing........

Reduced Cost for Travel to and from Work/School or Social Event
Reduced Green House Gasses

For others a half peddle with motor assist to work is more exercise a person would get then just starting the car and a drive to work.

Also yes for persons of Limited ability, a great way to add to their personal freedom to get around.

My point was not to cut down, but show there is more to think about when saying something like that.

If people are "Bike Purest" human power only.....then why come into and Ebike forum and toss stones at the window?????

Would it not serve the forum better to keep ones self with the other bike purest' and have happy chats with them?

Greywolf

I think the machines may have failed us. Wait, it was my note before your last two, the first of my entries in this circus that you didn't bother to read. 'guess I won't join these elephants again. Or, slim chance, I screwed up.

My post was mostly about people need to do, what works for them, injuries, war injuries...

Where did that go? I was trying to explain to your correspondent about McCaine the NON Supporter of handicapped Veterans. Where'd that go. And please, please, in the future, be more careful than I was (mistook the company) in references to my wife.
thanks, Don

what are you guys talking about again?

Hi Guys.. I just subscribed to this forum as I intend to get an electric bicycle shortly - although thats only part of the solution to the puzzle, I also just moved way closer to work (10km vs 23 km). Also hoping the bicycle will improve my fitness levels without getting me too sweaty, while reducing my cash flying out the window to the petrol industry

For your needs.

By the way, as someone who has recovered from a rather severe spinal injury, your insistence that ebikes are only suitable for the handicapped, makes you sound like a jack ass.
It implies that you are superior and are using the handicapped as a derogatory reference to shame those who do ride ebikes.


It is no more a shame for a handicapped person to ride an ebike than it is for a handicapped person to use crutches, a wheelchair, or any other form of assistance.
But on the other side, it would be silly for a healthy person to use crutches, a wheel chair,or another for of assistance. I consider an ebike to be a form of assistance.

Electric bikes make perfect sense for anyone who wants to use one. I'll be commuting 22 miles one way to work on mine. Call me what you want, but there's no way I'm doing that without some electric assist. The electric motor saves me time and energy. It's difficult to find more time in the day and although I still have a great deal of energy, it's better spent elsewhere.

It is no more a shame for a handicapped person to ride an ebike than it is for a handicapped person to use crutches, a wheelchair, or any other form of assistance.
But on the other side, it would be silly for a healthy person to use crutches, a wheel chair,or another for of assistance. I consider an ebike to be a form of assistance.

Yes they are, that's their point.
A non motorized bike is also a utensil that facilitates movement in ways the operator would otherwise be unable.
It assists you getting from point A to B at a rate you could not do on your own.

You are still coming off as sanctimonious though.

Maybe we should all just pretend Maddy's not here. We're not going to change him. My mother used to say "act as if it's the wind that you hear".

maddyfish simply likes to stir pot with pious, self-righteous BS. IGNORE the fool...

I am handicapped in the wallet because of the soaring gas prices. Everyone who'd tried my e-bike had a big smile on their face when they rode back to me, how can fun be a handicap?:D

Why does the phrase 'bike nazi' keep running through my head?

Why does the phrase 'bike nazi' keep running through my head?

I was starting to think the same thing.

E.bikes are an absolute boon to someone like myself who lives with a chronic fatigue illness. My tricycle is setup with gearing & etc so that the motor hub helps me out while I'm pedalling so I still get useful exercise without running down my slender energy reserves.
With any species of powered vehicle there always will be those folk who will use it inappropriately in the wrong place, in the wrong direction, without consideration for others or at excessive speed. No doubt there were similiar complaints in ancient times about chariots :rolleyes:
As far as I'm concerned I happen to think that if an e.bike gets folk out of their cars/SUVs/trucks and onto a bicycle saddle then it has to be a good thing. :thumb:

As far as I'm concerned I happen to think that if an e.bike gets folk out of their cars/SUVs/trucks and onto a bicycle saddle then it has to be a good thing. :thumb:Yep, that's what mine did for me!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=rAOHhV1EFe4