Originally Posted by
shed
Budget: ~$2K (but will go to $3K if it's perfect).
Use: Mainly recreational and tooling around (motsly paved, maybe some light gravel), but other uses like shopping/commute is possible
Requirments (in rough order of importance)
1. Ideal Geometry/looks, like a hybrid, think Trek DS, and not an e-bike
- Throttle (Class II/III)
- 50lbs max (ideally ~40lbs)
- 50+ mile range
- Torque Sensor
- Hydraulic brakes
- Reliable
- Own Display (i.e. don't need my phone)
- Easy to get serviced at local bike shop
My ideal would be like a Aventon Soltera II (but better specs and lighter)
Any and all advice appreciated, including that what I'm asking may not exist, and what I have to compromise on.
I am curious as to how you came up with this very specific list of druthers given that you, by your own admission, don't really know that much about the market. When I was in the market, just before Covid, a bike like what you want would easily be over $4k. They've got to be even more than that now. The Trek Allant 8s was my dream e-bike and Raleigh's and Giant's (Quick E+) offering were the runners up. The Trek was $4.5K and the Raleigh was $3.5K and if e-bikes are cheaper now it is at the cost of something. Most (all?) lighter e-bikes are rigid front end. Rear hub drives will be more affordable. Aventon, Juiced Bikes, Dash, and a couple others have new bikes that tick several of your boxes but your insistence on throttle will limit your options. Throttle is kind of a bad word in this sector of the market. You are supposed to WANT to pedal. And you can get just about any e-bike serviced at a LBS because all LBS's now sell e-bikes. An e-bike is still a bike. If anything goes wrong with the 'e' part of it, the place to take it is the place you bought it!! Anything else, and you really should be doing it yourself, but, not judging, just saying. Bike co-op's are where I go if I can't do it myself.