eBike First Ride | Himiway D5 Pro Mid Drive (My Lectric XPeak Replacement)

[@owenoiffer]

What you experience is typical for a mid drive. When your coming to a stop down shift to maybe 3rd gear and pas 2 . When you’re ready to go engage the brake and put some pressure on the pedal and release the brake and you will take off great. From a stop the throttle will perform much better if your in a lower gear. Starting from a stop in a higher gear (6+) will put a lot of stress on the drive train and chain, and you will experience a slow start. I almost never use my throttle. Once you get the right feel and technique you’ll get plenty of torque off a dead start and you will probably see it rear up. Keep in mind with a mid drive you will need to oil your chain a lot more regularly and with a high quality chain oil. ( I use Finish Line Dry but there are better lubes than that) with proper technique, oiling I was able to get 6000 km on my chain without any issues, at the 6000km I was just starting to get a little sloppy shifts. My bike shop suggests changing the chain by 2500 km. Keep riding it will become second nature!

[@mustangzrx]

This video should be titled "Watch a novice e-bike rider learn how to ride a mid-drive e-bike." It's refreshing to know you spent your own money on that rig.

[@southernebiking]

Trying to throttle out on a Middrive and one of the higher gears is like trying to pull out on a straight drive motor in an old truck in about fourth gear with a clutch. Just does not work. Mid drives are very superior and how they operate. But they do have a cost to them. They require a bit more maintenance, and you do have to ride them more like a regular bicycle. If you did not have a motor, you would not wanna try to leave out in eighth gear. Once you get used to it, it’ll be like tying shoes.

[@pedrofernandez8729]

You gotta shift down when you start off with the throttle, this is not a hub motor. Mid drives are not for everyone. I guess it's been a while since you rode a normal bike.

[@EbikeReviews]

I have never tried a mid drive. So what your saying is they start slow? Why? What makes it different?

[@pedrofernandez8729]

@@EbikeReviews A mid drive motor acts like if you have developed Superman legs, but unlike a hub motor that turns the wheel, the mid drive uses the chain like a normal bike to make the wheel turn, so it's like a manual car, you gotta start in a low gear and as you speed up, you shift up. Not ideal for a lot of stop and go traffic, this is why it's not for everyone. You gotta change the way you ride this one.

[@cellsafemode]

also, you will destroy your gears and chain by pushing too much torque thru a mid drive. you have to use the gears so the power you put into the bike isn't multiple times the power any human could do because the parts aren't made for vastly higher forces. it's definitely not a set it and forget it system but it has the opportunity to be much more efficient and have much higher extreme performance at low and top end. the cost is shifting appropriately

[@EbikeReviews]

Makes sense. Its a learning curve but I am getting there. Thanks for the information. @@cellsafemode

[@EbikeReviews]

Yeah I am getting that. I am learning as I go. @@pedrofernandez8729

[@timr31908]

Could you imagine how rich America could be if we got in the e-bike manufacturing business

[@pedrofernandez8729]

Yes, but expect to pay as much as $5 grand for even a simple e bike.

[@RicLevine]

Between what you've gone through, Richard...and a few others...it's clear that mid-drive motors are a whole different kettle of fish and not for everyone. Hope you get the throttle launch problem worked out!!

[@amymaley]

I have 4 e bikes! 3 hub motors and 1 mid drive. Once I learned how to ride it, the mid drive is my favorite. It's the most like riding a non electric bike. Always down shift to stop and start!

[@EbikeReviews]

Thanks, I am learning that...

[@garywillhoit]

Wow you didn’t break the chain. POS 1 gear 1 or 2 to start. 😊

[@EbikeReviews]

I am learning about mid drives. Not sure I like them after all :-)

[@garywillhoit]

My xpremium is what I wanted a bike for. Get in shape and have fun. My previous bike was a 21 speed mountain bike. I do more shifting when riding my mid drive. If peddling is too easy shift up , too hard shift down. I usually use 2 or 3 pos settings and 2-3 gears. There is a learning curve . I start in gear 1 or 2 , pos 1 or 2. Use the throttle until 10 mph then peddle. My throttle gives full power in any pos. Owners manual said not to start in higher gear with throttle. Haven’t had a chain issue in 3200 mi. Like a hub drive , if your tired just throttle. But you still have to shift.

[@turbofan450]

I have an XPremium too. Think i got one of the last ones before they discontinued it. I love it. ​@@garywillhoit

[@extraHERO]

This is the first video of yours where I thought "Oh he's actually going fast"

[@Kolbra2004]

Mid-drive e-bikes should be started out in 1st gear or at least one of the low gears. You had it in 9th gear. That's why it was so slow off the line.

[@EbikeReviews]

Yep, I am re learning to ride again with this one.

[@wramage]

This is my first E bike and I do believe there is a big learning curve. Feature Rich, but a little different to get used to, I feel the same way. As you mentioned in your previous video, I’m wondering why they’re not promoting this one as much. 4:27

[@donnieshirley1050]

Did you downshift prior to hitting the throttle?

[@ramoslopezenterprizes5710]

It's a torque sensor, it requires pedal imput. Just return it and get a hub drive with a cadence sensor instead.

[@Joerides7]

If you want to see what your mid-drive is up against, take a regular bike(or this bike with power turned off), and try to start(pedal) from a stop in high gear.

[@Graphics_tv]

Did you fix your trothle tumb function i am going to buy this bike just for trothle function i hate paddling a lot. But when I watched your video i am also confused why the cadence trootle is not working perfectly 😢

[@jeromewaites5364]

Boy yeah do some checking in all might be a sensitivity thing you can turn up

[@EbikeReviews]

I looked, its not there. Bummer.

[@jeromewaites5364]

@@EbikeReviews yeah I’ll be careful crossing intersections and that is really slow heck the Portola shoot you across there

[@jonlondon74]

Maybe you could ride the Troxus explorer or Ansky more? Then have the Himiway when you want a workout!

[@jasoncaspersen139]

I'm looking for my first eBike. I like your reviews. What would you recommend for a first bike?

[@EbikeReviews]

That's a good question but its hard to answer. Too many unknows and variables. I would for sure suggest a fat tire 4" wide over anything smaller. I would also suggest a minimum 15ah battery because you will want to go further and further. I prefer step thru models for easy on and easy off. 20" tires are a little easier and more nimble to steer over 26" tires. I always suggest a visit to a bike shop to test a few. But, make a plant not to buy on your first visit. Just learn and narrow down your choices. Then research some more.

[@ebikenation]

Great review Richard!

[@quintonhudson6490]

Good video but you're having problems with a few bikes lately 😢but you will get it straight.

[@mikey3239]

get yourself a wired freedom you wont ride anything else it has so much torque i had to lower it. $1999.00 60 v 20 amp battery.

[@EbikeReviews]

I have heard a lot of good things about the wired freedom.

[@mikej.5027]

Wired freedom is a awesome bike and like he said it has a lot of torque

[@bellyacres7846]

@@EbikeReviews a wired a hub drive not a mid drive a very different but yeah on streets a hub drive will get up n go, over heat on grades, but goes fast on flats. a mid drive has low torque so a better hill climber, but think of the transmission as a manual. shift down then go, as it peaks? shift up and go - [repeat] as others mentioned the mid drive uses those gears. so think of it as a manual car & start low. maybe 1st? my truck starts in 2nd or third [thats a choice the driver makes] always start in a low gear & progress as you go. a hub drive is more like an Auto tranny. it powers from center hub to the tire. only you use the gears as you pedal. the hub will start in whatever gear your tranny set to [yup ez pz] I have a couple hub drive ebikes and their good for their purpose of flats to mild grades. they are my "learner" ebikes & im gonna keep 1 of them. but I also want a logging road ebike - for the long grade uphill [a hub overheats on that] so Im thinking to try a mid drive that uses those gears and can climb longer grades and "hopefully" wont overheat. but yeah on the rail trails, the county roads Ill run my hub ebikes - yup like AT, and might just do me fine in the low lands :) I have seen a few vids of hub ebikes on long steep grade [pavement tho] and they do over heat - the riders stop to let them cool and then go again [just need to have a short, stop, step off & enjoy the view as your hub needs the rest time] Ive seen mid drive ebikes and they just keep on going (?) hope its really that way. :)

[@imacmill]

What's the magnet for if you've got a torque sensor?

[@bellyacres7846]

speed sensor - just to monitor the speed for your odometer

[@imacmill]

@@bellyacres7846 Ah, of course. Thanks.

[@Joerides7]

Mid-drives aren't for everyone. It's like a std shift car vs. an automatic. You have to shift, a lot. It's second nature to me because I've only owned mid-drive e-bikes and I have no use for a throttle. Someone like yourself that's used to hub-drives may not like a mid-drive, especially if you use the throttle a lot.

[@EbikeReviews]

I can drive a standard car no problem, but I keep forgetting to down shift the bike.

[@dionnesanders2304]

To bad they don't make a trike too lol

[@EbikeReviews]

Oh just give them a little time. I am sure a lot of these companies have something in the works. They are getting very popular.

[@IMBruceECLECTIC]

Ouch.....