What I learned from buying and riding my first electric bike 

I think for me the best is the range, the battery life. I don't want to put my bike on charge after each ride. Thanks for this awesome video 😄

@@diyargungor yeah I was hoping for a total miles on a full charge with minimal pedaling number

Great video! I've been riding folding bikes for 15 years, and love the convenience it gives. I'm happy to see there are solid electric folding bikes like this one. The Rad Power Mini is a quality folding bike. I just wish they had more than 4-5 levels of power assist. I've seen people say that 2 is not enough and 3 is too much, etc. Find a stereo or stairmaster with only 5 levels! I'm surprised they haven't fixed that after all these years.

First thing to know - don't buy a helmet that makes you look like a total dweeb!

For me as I live in a small apartment San Francisco - portability is important as I have to carry it upstairs, I like class 3 - as I can enjoy the throttle but also get some exercise by pedalling. Also range is attractive as I can do some fun trips to Baker beach and back

Captain Ron I hope I’m doing the same when I’m that age!

I always wondered when have a pup bike with you how do you not run it over because ive had experience were my pup goes in front of the bike

@@ismaellopez-qe3bo I apologize for the late reply. Like everything else regarding dogs, it requires some training work. Your best bet is to engage an personal trainer (for you and your dog). If you can't do that, there's lots of good info on RU-vid. To safely bike with your dog, first you should train it to walk beside you on leash. Your dog shouldn't be pulling. Once you've done this, walk your dog beside you on one side and take your bike along with you (still walking). That way the dog gets used to the bike. You then progress to riding your bike, with your dog on the leash but be sure not to wrap the leash around your hands. The leash should be loose enough so that if your dog suddenly pulls, you can let go of the leash. If you want to bike with your dog off-leash, you should first ensure that he will respond to a "re-call" or "come" command. I use a "by me" command for when I'm walking or riding. This is like a "heel" command but not so strict. I wave my left arm up and down while I'm saying "by me". Once the dog gets beside me, I give him a treat. It is important that you release him from the "by me" command. I use the word "free". This command can be taught easily while walking. You should be relatively comfortable on your bike. If you're not, it's probably not a good idea to bike with your dog. I know this sounds complicate but it's like anything else with dog-training. It takes time, patience and consistency. I find it well worth the effort. A well-trained dog is a happier dog. Cheers.

I purchased the RadRover Step-Thru. I love it, although it is a HUGE bike. I'm 5'9". Feels almost like I am riding a horse. lol

Yeah, isn't it fantastic that no-one paid for marketing their products and still almost all the bikes in the footage are from Rad Power? What a coincidence..

Get letric bike 899. More powerful. At least watch a video not.

You didn't feel like you were watching a paid add? ...,good luck with that.

Henry Carter which bike did you get

Wow, how has the battery changed over those 10 years?

@@JuanDavidOrjuela i was wondering the same thing on the batttery.. I got battery from golden motor (36v 400watt hour approx) and i only was able to get about 200 cycles before it started to severely lose range. Since then i have leanred alot about batteries and I am investing in two important pieces of gear that don't come with most ebikes.. a high quality battery charger (Cycle Satiator) and a Cycle Analyst. the battery charger that came with the battery. This way i can better control how much charge i put into the battery, such as being able to limit the total charge to 80 percent or 90 percent and also see exactly how much of a charge is in the battery (kind of like an iphone). And with the cycle analyst i can see how much i have used of the battery charge when i am riding it and can see important additional things like battery temp and also i can monitor the number of cycles of the battery ( i can do that with the cycle satiator too). I haven't gotten them yet but hope to be getting them soon. they are a bit pricey.. about $300 for the Cycle Satiator and about $130 for the Cycle Analyst. I am hoping to eventually build my own batteries to save money and also to be able to do my own repair and maintenance on the batteries with the help of the cycle satiator and a spot welder. WHat i have learned is that sometimes a single cell can go low and if this happens.. it can cause the bMS to not fully charge the battery. If i can build a battery that allows me to take a closer look at cellsI can identify cells that have gotten low.. I have also heard there are much better BMS units for bicycle batteries now than the one that came with my bicycle battery. And some newer ones, you can pair to a phone to monitor the state of the battery. Now, come to think of it, this is an opportunity for some company to improve technology including an AI backend, such as the iphones have to better monitor and charge the battery to a person's lifestyle.. by keeping it at 80 percent max charge most of the time but also knowing when the person needs a full charge and charge it fully during those times to extend range and also to extend the lifetime of the battery. the battery could also use the phones lock and unlock features such as face unlock to add a level of security to the battery. Also it can diminish the batteries theft value, such as was added to iphones..

Wow 10 year old Ebike - that's amazing! What brand of Ebike was it? Did it need a lot of repair?

@@chinmaymalaviya9457 Hi, the bike is a Wisper 905SE Sport. The only repairs the bike has had or brakes, tires, and a new battery. It rides as good today as when I first bought it. Too bad the company is no longer in business.

They’re gonna reply when he mentions he’s doing a review on it for a major site like CNET

Next time I buy an ebike I'm gonna say I'm a Kazakh journalist...

I have a Blix Aveny and converse on the Blix web page. Most all of us have been very satisfied with Tech support from Blix.

That’s true. I brought a different brand and the derailleur was also bent. 1st gear rubbed the back tire. The company did sent a replacement but wouldn’t pay to get it installed. I went back and forth regarding that issue and another came up. An error code. They sent a replacement part for that issue also….but I’m not any type of mechanic so…. Long story short, I returned the bike altogether. Yeah he wanted an issue over that too but that was not going to work. Got a full refund.

I bought the e-moped instead (Vespa looking type) no registration in Canada at 500w (Disconnect the limiter) now its like a 750w. They have lock steering with alarm ,weight 200 lbs and hard to steal so you do not have to lock it to a post ever single stop, plus it can carry a lot of stuff without a wearing backpack all the time. And the wide soft seat does not try to impregnate you. Mind does 50 km range on a charge and it goes as fast as a young person on a 10 speed petaling his guts out. I did buy the optional $700 20ah LifepO4 battery 5 years ago . Im buying the 30ah next time then im good for 70km. I love mine.

Meh, common sense or experience should make it obvious that the chain has to track straight and if it comes off, should be easy to see why. Frankly I would have just bent (or adjusted might be possible too) the piece back straight, not burden the manufacturer with replacement nor myself with taking it to a bike shop. On the other hand if you don't know what you're doing and it is an assembly issue or a critical safety issue like the brakes, do play it safe and have a pro inspect it to be sure it isn't dangerous to ride, especially the higher class of ebike which can go faster.

that is a brilliant idea.. and the panniers lock or semi lock to the wire of the carts. It just occurred to me that a nice added accessory that panniers could add is a shoulder strap mounts on the packs. The packs i have don't have should straps. I think they only have a small hand grip which is really designed for unlocking the pannier from the rack.

👍

@TJ Thunder yeah anything under 500 Watts will have you doing more walking than riding.

I've had my RAD Mini for 2.5 years and still makes me smile every time I ride it. When it's 105 degrees here and I'm riding home from work, I pretty much just do full electric lol.

@@PottersWork I ride full throttle most of the time, but even with little pedaling, I have dropped 20 lbs since I got it. It's not the workout you get with a regular bike but with the hardtail I liken it to riding a horse.

@@RLowVaughn1 Also what people don't consider is that sure e bikes aren't the same workout but the fact non bikers are actually riding them and riding them often and far means it's a far better workout than the bike that just sits and gets used by the avg joe maybe once a month for relatively short rides when it is finally taken out.

I want an off-road ebike and this one looks amazing. Can you experienced people answer a couple questions for me please? 1. How fast can they go? 2. Is it comfortable to pedal and use without the motor? 3. Any drawbacks when using it in the city (where a radrunner might be better)? 4. Are the pedal assist, throttle good for going up a very steep mountain? 5. How is the maintenance? I’m thinking of importing and there is no RadPowerbikes here.

Spark Cycleworks good one! Another analogy I like is “pedal assist” feels like when you were a kid learning to ride a bike, and your parent pushes you from behind to get you going.

For me, the assist is like getting a little push from my dad when I was learning to ride and need a little extra speed to keep going.

Laurdeezy1 Thanks! I definitely get more interested questions than snarky comments and couldn’t agree more about upgrading the seat. Going to do that ASAP. Maybe I’ll make a video about it!

Yep. Suspension is a w e s o m e. I’m going to try to find a place to test the Rad Mini. I’ll want to put it inside my Prius and if I like it, I’ll be adding the seat suspension for sure. Yessiree! Very noticeably less tired, more fun.

You meant to say months instead not mos

@@sherrimoquin5553 'mos' is an abbreviation of 'months'.

Master0fHyrule wow what bike is it?

40 miles in a day is amazing - was it a pedal-assit or throttle?

Hi!,,How fast do they go?

Still great or needs service after a year??:)

Wait, holy. Master Hyrule you’re here?

which size tires did you get and where did you get them and how much did they cost?

lol, for real. I get the same treatment from the MAMIL crowd as I pass them, because they think cycling is about them and their quest for swole thighs in lycra.

I have also occasionally heard that same comment in my 10 years of riding 3 different ebikes. The best reply to that comment is, "How can it be cheating if I'm not in a race? That usually leaves them looking confused and searching for a cleaver come back.

@mountaincam Clever, I love it.

Too slow for the street , too fast for sidewalks and pedestrianways. I guess acting like a jerk makes you think you're cool.

@@whazzat8015 dude you can adjust the pedal assist. Most ebike owners don't go full speed in bike lanes.

Ha! I know that feeling. Don't let anyone suppress your fun though!

u ever soak ur clothes or ur top in water? feels real good

Thinking of getting the same one. Is it any good on gravel tracks.

Dang, that's 'rode', not road.

Could have had larger battery (17ah versus 14ah), and folding for same price: RIZE BOLT.

PSYCHO You should totally get one! Never considered myself a very athletic person, but it’s amazing how far I can ride and how many calories I burn without feeling too tired.

You should definitely get one I’m thinking about it too

If you already have a regular bike, you can just buy a conversion kit. I did that and save a lot of money.

Which brand you looking for? I know a couple of good ones and happy to help

@@chinmaymalaviya9457 Any brand suggestions? I'm new to the world of bikes.

That's the only issue I have with Rad. Their batteries aren't terrible. I think it comes out to like 692 kwh? Or something like that it's not bad, but they decided to go with a proprietary connector to keep their customers who don't know how to make modifications from ever getting different batteries.

If you can afford it, look into the Tern HSD or Tern GSD

Is the battery easy enough to take out and charge at work? I want bike to work but it's about 30 miles. I would want to be able to charge while I was at work. Thoughts??

@@michiganicepops3455 Yes the battery is very easy to take out and charge on the go. The battery charger isn't too big or bulky either. The only thing is that the battery is heavy, about 13 pounds. It also takes up to 4 hours or so to fully charge from 0 to 100%. Otherwise, charging at work should be very easy!

@@michiganicepops3455 Also, depending on how you use the bike you may even be able to make it to work and back on a single charge. The less power you use on your commute, the longer it will last.

Perfect for the public transit commuters trying to avoid corona.

Great for anyone else on the road with the drunkard as well!!

Yeah , only kills the driver, most times.

kp awesome! Hopefully this video helps convince you like other YT videos convinced me. 😀

Yes and you save on homeowners insurance, since it's not covered.

Glenn Lovatt Thanks Glenn! Should we review more e-bikes on our channel?

Absolutely!

Yup that's why I'm getting the folding RadMini. The key doesn't stay in the battery. It's only to remove and remount it.

Just bring it upstairs with you. Plenty safe inside. unless it's charging

You know one can get theft insurance for your Ebike? I can connect you if you'd like

@@chinmaymalaviya9457 Best estimate I saw was $35 a month several approached $90/m. If 1% have coverage , I would be surprised. Not covered by most Home/renter/car/rv policies. If you hit a pedestrian the ins considers it an uncovered MV, unless specified. Not the kind of thing to leave on the street, so you needto bring a 50-60+ pound bike inside or a garage . Great brochure, product not so much. Ins sites make a good point of what's NOT covered on these expensive toys. Umbrella policy, yeah right, maybe the trust bums.

Do the bikes clock mileage ?

Good explanation. Not too detailed. Gave us options , plus and minus. Credible and genuine

@@rolandor.moreno7498 Thanks Rolando! It was only my second time hosting a video, so I extra appreciate the kind words. :)

Great job Logan! I Had a blast speaking with you and enjoyed the video a lot, thanks for sharing your experience with us... definitely some good learnings in there. Nice helmet btw :D

Sell it and trade it in for the super 73 RX

SmackxDaddy I’m honestly considering it! 😂

Damn that’s a pricy bike. Do you use it to commute?

I thought I was the only one who saw that

Um no. Reminds of people who buy telescoping fishing rods.

Especially seeing that he already had a small car, why didn't he buy a folding E bike? It would have been more convenient!

@@davidgarcia9308 Because racks exist. One friend has a Mate that he folds and fits perfectly in the back of his Mini Cooper, the other has the same bike, never folds it, because he has a Civic sedan and a Yakima trunk rack that's infinitely easier to utilize than stuffing Friend A's Mate-X into the Cooper. The only time I fold mine is to get the battery out. It would be damn near impossible to get it up those apartment complex stairs when folded.

@Redrum I sold my roadrunner after I went to the Pacific Northwest and realize that even in my van it takes up too much space. I'm getting a lectric bike for traveling and just a better deal

About 8 of 10 folding bike owners I have talked to tell me they have never folded it. They are harder to move and wrestle around folded than they are when ridable.

Might be a good idea to make it a matched set of 4, because efficiency. Also bargaining re maintenance stuff, etc GL

My delivery was almost that smooth. The FedEx driver knocked to make sure we were home, took the box off the truck on a dolly, and we slid it right into the house!

Just bought the super 73. Love it

Just purchased a lectric xp too. July arrival. Whats been your experience thus far?

I bought a lectric xp (white) that should be shipping within 1-2 weeks. I kept switching from lectric to rad but ended up going with lectric due to price and customer service. When I had questions, lectric actually responded with a real answer. Rad took several days and just sent me a link that really did not answer my question. I've also read some reviews about theft and Rad bikes. I didn't want to spend over $1000 to have my bike stolen a week later.

@@user-ce8ez4xn2p ur just tryna sell letric

Well he is a MAN, so it's in his nature to be able to problem solve.

Good eye! Love that thing!

It depends on how much assist you use and how much you ride uphill. Furthest I’ve gone so far is 30 miles and have still had more than half the battery left.

That’s a video in itself . Distance depends on the following The size of the battery and motor At what assist do you ride at how much do you weigh how much does the bike weigh wind speed . hills how much effort are you putting into pedaling tire pressure outside temp.

@@siriosstar4789 Agreed! Multiple people have suggested I do a video about exactly that! I think an experiment is in my future, as soon as I fix a flat tire.

Sirios Star terrain also is a factor

I have a Biktrix LT Stunner, it has the smallest battery they offer (15aH, they rate at 30 miles) and I weigh 300lbs, btw this was a mistake I cheaped out on the battery size and shouldn't have. My 4 mile commute to work is hilly but not insanely so. I get 24 miles in between charges and could squeeze more out but would never make it to work and back so I charge after the third trip. As another commentor said, there are so many factors that determine range. You do start to adjust your ride for energy management though. For instance, I change the pedal assist to 1 when downhilling for energy conservation.

They'll be Reliable , insurable, safer and lighter, by then , too

I had no idea what it was!

The bike he was riding wasn't actually an eBike, it was an electric motorcyle. The bike in question had a 60mph speed range. California state law dictates that ebikes must be limited to 28mph otherwise it is classed as a moped or motorcycle.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 me in buying 1 after it .my next door neighbour has bought one I had a go they are brilliant

TheDuckClock The Shelby cobra electric bike has speed range of 36mph

He was riding a SWIND eb01. Cost twenty thousand dollars.