Help Me Choose an Electric Bike

March 26, 2019 4:09 PM

I have finally decided to buy an electric bike (after years of saving and researching and renting) and I have found a local shop that sells 2 bikes in my price range. Please help me decide which one I should buy.

After lots of research and soul searching I have decided my price limit is $1500 + accessories (Helmet, lock, basket, and insurance maybe. Should I buy insurance?) absolute maximum for everything $2000

My choices are:
Xtreme Trail Climber Elite Step Through Electric Mountain Bike discounted to $850 assembled (floor model 2018)

or

The Magnum Ui5 list price $1699 but the salesman offered me the floor model from last year for $1499

I tested both bikes with a brief ride around their parking lot and the Magnum is clearly a better bike, but is it twice as good....? I will be riding for fun and exercise only, not commuting to work. Also, the bike will be locked up in my garage for weeks at a time because I travel for work. So I'll use it probably every day in nice weather when I'm home, and it won't get used at all when I am away working in 2-6 week stretches. (Basically I am gone 6 months of the year but not 6 months straight).

Any advice you can share would be greatly appreciated so I can make the best choice possible. Thank you!

posted by pjsky to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (4 answers total)

I can't speak to these bikes or ebikes in general, but as someone who has ridden lots of bikes over the years... fit and comfort are most important. I'd suggest you take each for much longer test rides, and the bike shop should be supportive of this request. This is what I've done when I've bought bikes. I'd say go for at least 15 minutes, and outside of the parking lot.

It's not a question of which bike is better, but which bike fits you better. You won't ride it much if it's terribly uncomfortable.
posted by bluedaisy at 4:50 PM on March 26, 2019 [1 favorite]

Magnum is the better bike of the two. Better materials overall, better battery & motor. However, I don't think it's a good buy. And the other one, despite the name the 'x-treme trail climber' with it's weak motor/battery setup wouldn't do well going up an incline.

Just as background, I researched ebikes for months before deciding to build my own Class 3+ ebike. Then researched again to help friends & family buy new ebikes for themselves.
Sorry but neither of these two bikes named would make my top 20 ebike list in this price range.

The best quick info I can offer is a link to electricbikereview and for you to check out it's forum

You'll want to keep in mind what type of terrain you'll be riding (flat streets, steep hills, etc), and how far you wish to ride. That helps you decide the type of ebike.

Regarding occasional use: Storing the battery at about half charge will make it last longer. Then charge it up the night before you go riding. Do not keep the battery plugged in charging while you are away from home.

Good luck! ebikes are incredibly fun.
posted by artdrectr at 6:00 PM on March 26, 2019 [1 favorite]

Just a warning, you might to check with the local traffic enforcement and state motor vehicle department. The rules for riding a powered bike on public roads are all over the place, and many bike stores won't mention this.
posted by Marky at 10:01 AM on March 27, 2019 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: Thanks everyone, I bought the Magnum bike and I am already enjoying it so much!
posted by pjsky at 1:03 PM on March 28, 2019