In Jun '09 I picked up a couple of Currie eZip bikes for the wife and I
to ride. eZip bikes are at the "entry level" end of the e-bike spectrum,
and come basically assembled. There are kits which will allow you to
fit motors (generally hub-mounted), batteries and speed controllers on
existing bikes but they traditionally cost 2-3x as much, do not include
the bicycle, and may not include the battery. So the ready-to-go eZip was a good fit for us.
pulling the trigger
Last time I was in the ebike mood, all the kits were in the "thousands of dollars" range or required serious "fab" (ie, fabrication) skills. I had neither. Then I saw some youtube reviews of a $400 entry level ebike made by Currie: the eZip Trailz Mountain bike. Last year's model was being dumped at a few places online for $300, and target.com had them for $299 and free shipping. And I had some unused Target gift cards laying around. Ok, I get it. The universe is sending me a message. I ordered it.
While waiting on the box to arrive I checked craigslist to see if anyone had extra battery packs or anything like that. There was a fellow selling his used (and somewhat abused) eZip Trailz ladies bike bike for $120, which is about what the battery itself goes for. I bought it for a parts donor as it uses the same batts, motor, and other running gear as mine. When I got it home I learned it needed less help than I thought so I repaired it and gave it to the Dear Wife.
assembling the bike
The wife's Trailz was bought used and so was already assembled. My Trailz Mountain came in a crate. The front wheel, handlebar, and pedals had to be installed. The handlebar was already wired up; it just had to be installed. It took about 30mins to unpack the box and remove all the packing material (!) and about 30mins to assemble the bike. No big deal, even for hardware dummies like me.
life with an e-bike
So what's it like in real life?
pro
fun, and has us riding regularly
more range than we need; we ride 3-6 miles at a time together. I ride 6-8 miles when riding alone
the electric assist makes a HUGE difference when you are tired or slogging up a hill
con
heavy. You can't toss the bikes around absent-mindedly when moving them around. Because the motor/battery makes it rear-end heavy, the easiest way to turn it around is hold the rear brake, "wheelie" the bike and pivot it on the rear tire.
SLA batteries need to be charged after riding. This is second nature to me anyhow but I mentioned it in case you are not familiar with rechargeable batteries.
The motors are not silent.
origins of my interest in powered bikes
There are several historical pieces that fit together and finally culminate in my current ownership of an electric bicycle:
When I was in grade school I saw a fellow in Carrollton blasting up a hill on a 10-speed with an enclosed propeller mounted on the rear rack. I believe it was driven by a chainsaw motor, and looked completely dangerous and cool. Very loud.
I had a Raleigh 10-speed that might parents bought for my (birthday? Christmas?) present in 6th or 7th grade. I rode the snot out of that bike up until I got my license in 1982. I averaged 1200 miles a year on the 10-speed.
I have always enjoyed the simplicity, efficiency, frugality, and physics of bicycle riding. But as I got older and less fit I found myself taking the car more often.
why not...
Why not a decent road bike instead? I already own a decent hybrid road bike.
Why not an electric scooter? Because I want to be able to pedal home if I kill the batts, and I like bicycles.
Why not a motorcycle? I already own a motorcycle.