Originally Posted by
thiocyclist
Well, I ended up just buying the pre-fab Public Bionx bike that is based on their D8i frame with a 7-speed derailleur system. It was (seemingly) on sale at $1700.
Good for you thio.
I think that is a good bang for the buck choice and a nice first step into the world of e-bikes. The chainring is small enough that you will be able to work well with the motor to climb hills and cruise unassisted. By experimenting you will see how much power you want to use on your commute - I hope that it works well for you.
It is hard to go wrong with Bionx, the main knock being that they are so costly, but in your case you got good value in the package.
The Public bike that you bought would be a very useful bike someday you decide to separate it from the bionx and use it or sell it. Many e-bikes don't seem to make the transition to life after electricity very well.