Ebikes for hunting watch before you buy

[@CareAgainFishing]

Dude! You read my mind! I've been looking into picking up one of these for a while. Great input!

[@underdogoutdoors]

Thanks Brother! Two buddies just purchased the Ariel Kepler Rider, and love it, has power and is under $2k.

[@fisheyeguy]

This is one of the most intuitive reviews I’ve seen about e-bikes. I was torn between a dual hub motor bike, or mid-drive. I went with a dual hub motor bike, and it blew my mind with how well it climbs hills. I really love the bike, but I may give a mid drive bike a try next time I’m in the market for one.

[@underdogoutdoors]

Appreciate the feedback! I haven't tried a duel hub yet!

[@pjlabrec]

@xibowhunter, what did you decide to go with? I purchased a Rambo Savage a couple years back which is 750 Mid-drive, and when I go turkey hunting there's one hill that I go up that absolutely destroys me, I have to pedal my arse off, and the bike has no power. Was looking at a dual hub as well, but read they can overheat going up hills.

[@underdogoutdoors]

@@pjlabrec I can get up most hills with my 750W mid drive, some of them I do have to pedal but still not putting in much effort.

[@aeestep77]

Which dual hub ebike do you have? I have the krusader and it’s not so good on hills

[@underdogoutdoors]

@@aeestep77 This ebike is not a dual hub, it's a mid drive bafang 750 ultra motor & it is excellent on hills.

[@hoobeydoobey1267]

Thanks to this video, I called Swatara Outfitters, spoke to Jeff, and will make the drive from SE Va to their store to pick one of the single speed 20" tire mid-drive bike's up.

[@underdogoutdoors]

Glad I could help. This is going to be my third season using it- with no issues. Best of luck!

[@claverton]

Really good vid, some food for thought. I like the idea of the smaller format on the second bike, most ebikes marketed as hunting bikes are way too big and heavy in my opinion

[@bakcou]

Thanks for the great and honest reviews.. Keep up the great work and lets us know if you need anything. Good luck this next season.

[@bucktalesoutdoors7566]

Both look like great options Andy. Definitely a big help for getting back in public land without making a lot of noise or wearing yourself out and getting sweated up. I sweat a lot ! 😂. The further back you can get away from the roads, the less pressure you’ll have to deal with. Good review buddy, good luck hunting this year.

[@underdogoutdoors]

Thanks Don, appreciate it!

[@BranDon-zt7bm]

Illegal on public land in most states

[@cordelmar]

I was planning on getting one these bikes for hunting, I usually go for 3 to 4 miles to the camp area and hunt in for another 1 to 2 miles, the thing is the bike has to handle my weight and the backpack with rifle, about 250lb total I don't know if the small bike can handle it, so I m looking at the 24 inch bikes. What do you think.?

[@underdogoutdoors]

That's about my weight, both these bikes handle it easily, however, if there's steep hills, I'd go with a mid drive, although mid drive is much more expensive. On flat ground, hub drive (the motor is in the back wheel) is much more cost effective. I recently bought a "Lectric 3.0" folding ebike for $1000 which is only a 500 watt hub drive & it is small but so far gets me everywhere surprisingly well. My buddy bought an Ariel Kepler Rider step through model for $1200 & it's a hub drive that is powerful enough for most hills.

[@creekriseoutdoors]

These things look awesome. Thanks for sharing your perspective on the e-bikes. I need one for sure.

[@underdogoutdoors]

To get way back in quiet, loving the ebikes. Two of my buddies purchased the Ariel Kepler Rider, kind of an unknown brand, for $1800, for the money, likely best option, I will do a review on this & compare to the ones I have. Thanks for checking out my video.

[@rrabenold758]

I'm considering an ebike. Very helpful thank you.

[@HuntingCarterHill]

Pretty cool, never saw something like this for hunting!

[@underdogoutdoors]

Thank You! After using it a few times on actual hunts, I love it, very useful.

[@mountainbuck]

Really good info Andy! I was wondering about ebikes and the hills I have here. Looks like the mid-drive is definitely the way to go for my terrain 👍🏻

[@underdogoutdoors]

For steep hills, yes! They are awesome!

[@ScreamPotato]

Hey great video and good thoughts and tips, really like the idea of no gears or shifters on that small bike... one less thing to fail.

[@underdogoutdoors]

Thank you! My third archery season using the one speed, it's great.

[@brianclevenger5521]

I may take the cassette and derailer from my hub drive and just go simple.

[@underdogoutdoors]

You can always put it back, if the derailer is getting busted or tangled, it's a good option, just leave in the gear best for power for hills when you need to pedal.

[@steveranelli3992]

Looking at e-bikes now and hunt hilly terrain. Thanks for this informative video!

[@steveranelli3992]

Forgot to ask where I can buy the mid smaller bike.

[@underdogoutdoors]

Swatara Creek Archery in Annesville PA, owners name is Kyle, he's been the pioneer in ebikes for hunting hill country. I don't know him & only met him on the day I picked up the bike, so not advertising for him. Builds them himself to his standards, mine is a beast, has stood up to some abuse with no issues.

[@steveranelli3992]

@@underdogoutdoors thanks

[@whitetailsdeerhunting7159]

Great review. I am not much into e-bikes, but may need to seriously considerate for starting hunts out west in the next few years.

[@underdogoutdoors]

I have a regular mountain bike, an escooter, & two ebikes, all purchased the same year- I went a little nuts after using for the first time. You should try it, expensive but worth it. You can reach out to me in the comments if you have any questions on types or brands, I've been researching for a while.

[@whitetailsdeerhunting7159]

@@underdogoutdoors Awesome. TY so much. I think my next big purchase has to be a newer camera. I just have a Canon Vixia now.

[@weareallamericans7358]

Thanks for sharing a wealth of knowledge 😎👍

[@underdogoutdoors]

Your welcome! Appreciate it!

[@gto61bigG]

Love it… they will not ship this bike… not at all… was wanting but in central Oregon… can’t find similar online

[@BillTolbert]

Thank you for so much information about what I’m learning since getting one for Father’s Day. Where or who built the smaller one for you. It’s like bullet proof in my mind. Not sure why the big companies don’t build like he did. Thank you for the info.

[@underdogoutdoors]

Yes, I agree Bill! The smaller one is built by Swatara Creek Outfitters in Anneville Pennsylvania. Built by a guy in his archery shop who was one of the pioneers of using ebikes for hunting.

[@mikeemmons1079]

I am not sure how long it will be before the sound of that electric motor becomes a warning sound for animals. They are not as quiet as you think, you just cant hear the noises they are making. Dogs can, and some of them flip right out about it.

[@underdogoutdoors]

Definitely makes a sound, mid drive louder than hub drive, so far it hasn't been an issue.

[@mikeemmons1079]

@@underdogoutdoors No. It is also making sounds you cant hear, the frequency is too high. Like a dog whistle, or that sound they play to ward off teenagers.

[@michaelcarbo9356]

❤ Thanks for the info! I’ll get one soon

[@ThailandOutdoors]

I have never considered an Ebike, but maybe I should, they are better than I expected.

[@underdogoutdoors]

Yes, they have capabilities I didn't expect from an ebike.

[@Silverado2021]

You need to cover the fire wood . Bottom wood will never dry. My Wired Freedom is the best.. it will go over anything

[@underdogoutdoors]

Thanks!

[@SciencePotli]

12 👍👍 Great upload friend 💐💐💐

[@robertmiller9142]

I like the 20 inch e bike and if it could be outfitted with a rear cassette For gears also it would be perfect for me I am wondering how much this bike costs and if a diy version can be made also. I am a fairly large person my self at 5 foot 10 in he's tall and weighing around 240 lbs I need a bike that not only has power in lower gears for getting g up hills with a small lite weight but sturdy trailor for hauling game and equipment to and from the woods but Also for speed when needed.

[@underdogoutdoors]

The 20 inch bike is from a bow shop in central PA, (see in the description), Kyle the owner, sources the parts and puts it all together himself, he had a tractor trailer load of bike frames when I was there. I'm sure you can find the parts & DIY yourself, I didn't have the motivation to try. I paid $4k which I feel is a fair price, saved me the trial & error & time, if I went with one of the big names, Bakcou, or Quiet Kat, would have been much more expensive. I'm 240 lbs, and carry about 25lbs of climbing gear plus a bow, no problem on hills with the one gear, flat ground max's out at 18mph which is fast enough for me. The one gear / no shifting/ no cassette is intentional, it's what sold me the bike. He designed it after years of experience hunting in PA hills with an ebike, tweaked the design over & over- what I also like is he keeps it legal, with wattage & bike weight, so no one can bust your chops on whether it's legal or not.

[@privatecitizen8909]

Does pedaling interfere with the motor driving the chain? What if you pedal slower than the motor is turning the sprocket, or vice versa, pedaling faster than the motor is moving?

[@underdogoutdoors]

If the motor is moving faster than your peddling it doesn't do anything, if slower, peddle assist kicks in and powers the bike to move.

[@gaelewis6623]

Love your video on the bikes!My question is are they affordable cause a lot of us deer hunter are poor and can't afford a $1,200-$7,000 bike I love the smaller bike cause my terrain is mostly smooth and hardly no hills.Also I'm not going a lot of Miles so the smaller bike would be perfect for me.

[@underdogoutdoors]

If you have no hills, just about any ebike will work. I also have a Lectric 3.0 folding ebike that I use- it was $1000 brand new and could easily be used for hunting, only 500Watts but it's plenty powerful.

[@michaelbattle7477]

What about cold weathers influence on the battery?

[@underdogoutdoors]

So far, weather hasn't been an issue. Hunted in the 20 degrees, some say to warm the battery inside your jacket for 15 minutes, if it's extremely cold.

[@MissionOffRoad]

awesome!

[@gaelewis6623]

Cool how do I get in contact with maker of the bikes or link to buy the smaller bike you have?

[@underdogoutdoors]

Here's his website www.swataracreekoutfitters.com , the owner Kyle builds them himself.

[@freightdawg6762]

Great vid thanks👍 where did you get those pants?

[@underdogoutdoors]

CQR brand tactical pants, from Amazon. They changed the design & the new version has shallower pockets, things fall out sometimes. I like tactical pants, lots of pockets, but looking for a new brand now.

[@freightdawg6762]

@@underdogoutdoors thx, how are they for ridin bikes?

[@djt6753]

Which do you like better? MTR or Bakcou. If you were to only keep 1 to use. Many thanks!

[@underdogoutdoors]

It depends where I intend to use it. If there are lots of hills, I'd keep the mid drive MTR. If there's mostly flat ground, the Bakcou.

[@normanphair8488]

Does it have a throttle we cannot have a throttle on Management areas

[@underdogoutdoors]

Yes, the bike can be used with a throttle or set to use peddle with power assist.

[@jayn9559]

Can you haul any logs with the bike? If you were hauling something to support it

[@underdogoutdoors]

Definitely, can haul a deer out of the woods with a deer cart, so the occasional log should be ok.

[@curtiskitchens2233]

Who makes the ebike with the center motor?

[@underdogoutdoors]

A guy named Kyle, custom builds them at his archery shop, Swatara Creek Outfitters in Annville Pennsylvania. He is extremely knowledgeable and has been building ebikes for hunting for years now.

[@kevinkiernanoutdoors3413]

I’m thinking of getting one. I’m just afraid of their reputation for fires??

[@underdogoutdoors]

Far as I know, the higher end batteries don't have these issues. I was concerned about this as well, & only charged under my supervision in a safe spot.

[@stefanok3652]

If you don’t mind me asking, how much did the MTR mid drive bike run you?

[@Samuel....]

Looks like an awesome idea thumb 👍 might have to buy one when fishing season returns! Just one question what is your strategy when you down a big ol buck, do you drag it behind or just walk it? Just curious, never even considered using one of these bikes. Great video, lots of nice shots!

[@underdogoutdoors]

Thanks Sam. Hopefully I find out soon how to get a buck out. One guy who's been using ebikes for hunting for years told me to attach any deer cart to the back rack using bungee's or gear ties, and it will pull the deer, likely what I will do if it's far from the truck. There's carts you can buy that bolt to ebikes from Bakcou, Rambo, Quiet Kat etc.. but I will use the cart I have for now.

[@Samuel....]

@@underdogoutdoors awesome, thanks for the reply; good luck this season!

[@duanehensley8835]

I haven't seen you answer the question... What does the custom E-Bike cost?

[@underdogoutdoors]

Three years ago, I paid $4k even. Any decent bike shop can put one together for you, built around the bafang ultra 750w mid drive motor. Swatara Creek Outfitters in Annesville Pennsylvania is where I purchased this one.

[@duanehensley8835]

@@underdogoutdoors Thta's about what I thought. Great bike!

[@keithkemp9660]

Can you give me the name of the guy who builds the smaller bike thanks

[@underdogoutdoors]

The name of the bike builder is Kyle, who owns Swatara creek outfitters which is mainly an archery pro shop in Annville Pennsylvania, his phone # is [phone]. I didn't know him until I met him, he was recommended by someone who I trust & purchased one from him last year. He's one of the first to legally use an ebike in Pennsylvania & has years of experience actually using them to hunt, and perfecting the bikes. I drove a few hours to get this one, & after a full season of use, it's been a beast, zero complaints.

[@keithkemp9660]

@@underdogoutdoors Thanks I live near Reading Pa so I will call him most appreciate the reference

[@dannynelson1840]

I went to the website and they don't show the bike like the one in the video. I just want something slow and pulls hills good with preferably one sprocket on the rear (like the one in the video).

[@reedkoester8402]

How fast will a single gear go?

[@underdogoutdoors]

Top speed is 18mph.

[@Crayz919]

How they holding up now 2024

[@underdogoutdoors]

Absolutely perfect, batteries still good, holding up to rugged use and so far no issues.

[@cherndon85]

How do you carry a deer out?

[@underdogoutdoors]

Easily, I use the Hawke Crawler game cart, bunjee it to the rear rack- can haul a deer no problem.

[@OutdoorsInMaryland]

If I was still hunting public land, this is something i would look into. But I just have to walk across the street and climb in my ladder stand. Lol this old guy is getting lazy

[@underdogoutdoors]

If I didn't have to go so far in, however, it's lots of fun Sam- I'm old & lazy until it comes to chasing big bucks, something has to give.

[@DTD-no7wl]

ELECTRIC JUNK