Electric Bikes - E-bike for touring?

Is there an e-bike capable of 25 miles per charge, without pedaling, with 1/3 being uphill, 1/3 downhill, and 1/3 level (Calif. coast)???

Reason I ask is, I was planning a tour on a conventional bike. I find myself with a nagging injury, and the regular tour doesn't seem possible.

Now suppose I could pedal-assist for 5 miles per day, would that make my above distances possible?

Optibike, it will go 50 miles+.

I think only one of Optibike's models is street legal without being tagged as a moped.
Optibikes are also so expensive.

25 miles without pedaling is a tall order especially loaded with touring gear.
You could do it with a spare battery on many electric systems though.

Where on the California coast is the proposed tour? Some sections have some pretty substantial climbs that would have a big effect on the range. And 25 miles is a pretty limited distance between suitable stops.

If you can't pedal hardly at all, it probably won't work to use an electric bike. You could get a BOB trailer and fill it with batteries and go 50 miles.

A Crystalyte 5304, or 5305 motor kit with a 48v/20ah battery should easily get you 25mi, as long as you're not screaming along at 30mph the whole way. Those models are designed for higher torque, for hills and hauling lots of goods for touring, etc. The 5304 is a little faster with less low end torque. I wouldn't suggest the 5303 if you want to do any touring, because it is pretty much made just for higher speeds, and very little hill climbing.

Where on the California coast is the proposed tour? Some sections have some pretty substantial climbs that would have a big effect on the range. And 25 miles is a pretty limited distance between suitable stops.


Monterey to San Luis Obispo. I already have the hotels booked, and the average stretch is 25 miles. But the first day is only about 12, and the last day from Cambria is about 37, which is the only one significantly over 25.

The spare battery approach is very interesting. Thanks for the suggestions. Now so far I only know of one e-bike dealer in Calif, in the LA area -- I have to see if they rent and will deliver to Monterey. Alternately, I could get a conversion done at home in New York and have them ship it out.

Then my backup plan is to drive and just rent bikes for some local rides. If I drive, my "cage" is at least gonna be a convertible.

The biggest single climb will be the one out of Big Sur of almost 1000' but the rest of that day has some good ups and downs as well. The last day from Cambria to SLO is pretty populated with a possible intermediate stop in the Morro Bay area if the range is a problem.

I'll be riding down that way for the Great Western Bike Rally on the week before Mem. Day (SF - Capitola - Monterey - Big Sur - San Simeon - Paso Robles). When are you going to do your tour?

I think with a 20 amp hour battery, as long as it's not lead acid, you can pull it off with most 500 watt hub motors. You'd need to pedal assist on the uphills though.

I'll be riding down that way for the Great Western Bike Rally on the week before Mem. Day (SF - Capitola - Monterey - Big Sur - San Simeon - Paso Robles). When are you going to do your tour?

One week earlier.

If you can't pedal hardly at all, it probably won't work to use an electric bike. You could get a BOB trailer and fill it with batteries and go 50 miles.

Yeah.. electric bikes are generally intended for you to pedal alongside for efficiency. That way your batteries will last longer and most systems will hit 25mph easily. The green-cycles bike (http://www.green-cycles.com/bike.htm) in LA could make a good touring bike if you also add panniers so you could store even more stuff if that's what you like to do.