eBikes that can go anywhere: pavement, gravel, dirt!

[@Propelbikes]

Hope you guys enjoyed the video!✌ If you're interested in learning more about the bikes featured in this video, feel free to check out the links in the description.🚲

[@DavidMcGavocktools]

One of the most helpful videos I've seen, helping me sort through all the parts and pieces, related to my personal use scenario. I appreciate the approach of, "things to consider", "weigh you most use scenario", pros and cons of choices. Just what I needed.

[@Propelbikes]

Glad it helped!

[@richardharker2775]

A lot to think about there Chris. My wife had one for 4 years whilst I resisted buying one for all manner of reasons. One of the biggest plusses though is the two of us going on picnic rides more frequently since it was easy for her to ride with me. It was just a subconcience from her that she would be holding me up despite me saying otherwise. But we do love our cafe and bakery rides and I have loved the two of us getting out together and enjoying ourselves more and more. Six months ago I went on two 70kilometre test routes with her ebike. The first day without assist and the second full assist. I was blown away that even without assist it could be described as not too bad as long as you didn't want to ride like you were in a race. The second day with full assist blew me away with how easy it was. I was almost just patting the pedals with my feet to the max cut out speed. The next day we went out shopping and we bought two new Bosch powered bikes. Not the most powerful but there hasn't been a hill I cannot ride up easily with these bikes. I had range anxiety initially but my 500Wh battery took me 157Kms over a 3 day flatish ride before it depleted the charge. The fun factor increased immensly with these bikes and they get ridden more, to the point I have reduced my weight by 10% in the six months of ownership but sadly, the other bikes have, well... gathered dust. All in all, I should not have resisted for so long and no regrets.

[@darrenprior6339]

Such great content. If I can just say this. My philosophy is to pay as much as you can for the best you can afford if it's going to be something that you use regularly/daily. I've never been disappointed in applying this principle. My wife and I were in the fortunate position of being able to buy two R&M SuperDelite E-bikes with the GX option, Rohloff hubs, Gates belt drive and Fox Suspension. Expensive? Definitely. Could we have saved some money buying something cheaper? Certainly. Do we regret one moment buying what we did? Absolutely not. There's an old saying "The poor man pays twice". Applies to everything including E-Bikes. If you can afford it get the best. You won't regret it. Thanks again Chris for awesome content.

[@realityblooms]

Alternative view is, don’t get caught up on having the perfect gear for the perfect occasion. It’s very American to always put so much emphasis on comfort. We turn on the AC when it’s a little warm, heater when it’s chilly. Take your hybrid bike on a light gravel road, take your fat tire around the city. It doesn’t really matter as long as you have fun. If anything the inefficiency means you are going to work your body out more, never a bad thing. Unless you’re dirt biking no need to buy a new bike. It reminds me of Americans needing that 4 wheel drive for that one time that they might possibly drive uphill on the snow that one day.

[@carolefell-smith8477]

Great video, thank you :) I've been a cyclist for as long as I can remember.... school commute, work commute, mtb, road, all of it! However, I'm now a cyclist with a knee injury which has given me cycling limitations I never needed to consider before, so an ebike is the way forward for me. I'm learning fast that the ebike world is a very different one, so many different things to consider! Thank you so much for all your videos, I'm finding them really informative and inspiring, I can't wait to get an ebike and get back out there, an xroad I think will be the final choice. If my kids were ten years younger I'd have already ordered a cargo bike! Thanks again, and keep up the good work. (I live in the UK by the way, but your videos are still relevant!)

[@davidbrewster8071]

You, Sir, are one class act ! I wish the very best for your business. Thank you for your consistently excellent advice.

[@mdeberl5872]

Outstanding video Chris, great content. One suggestion I would have is for you to put the make and model on the bottom or corner of the screen of whatever bike is showing at the time. You have some beautiful bikes in this video but it can be difficult to figure out which one it is. Thanks again for a great video!

[@Propelbikes]

That's a great idea! I have to discuss with our creative team, but I'm concerned it might be distracting. I will think of some other ways to get that info, perhaps links in the description

[@PhiLeo7973]

@@Propelbikes Definitely not distracting Chris to highlight the brand & Ebike model, imo too. I wholeheartedly agree with mdeberl's suggestion to discreetly list the bike's Brand and model on the screen while it is being showcased in the video. Often a particular Ebike's lines, form, and function catch our eyes as it displays in the video and I too found myself wondering what make & model it was. I know you took the time to feature an Ebike brand and model that incorporates precisely the features you are discussing in the video. It is also good for potential future sales. Additionally, utilizing "links in the description", imo, is nowhere near as desirable as the real time affirmation of knowing what you just saw and caught your eye, rather than getting to the end of a video, and looking it up later distracted, imo. You have so much to be proud of Chris with your informative and entertaining KZbin video's on Ebikes in general , and the success of your PROPEL Ebike stores on both coasts' in the USA. Ebike's are versatile, practical, a joy, and great for the environment(our "Pale Blue Dot" as the late, & great Dr Carl Sagan once opined). You are truly a renaissance man; articulate, passionate about your craft & business, and eager to share and teach. I wish you, your bride, employees, and friends, all the best during these trying Covid19 pandemic times. Continue to inspire and smile supernova style. I believe Ebikes are the future. Thank you for your military service Chris Nolte. Always be safe, with thanks & admiration, Live Long & Prosper, phil from NYC🇺🇲🍀👍

[@Digital.Done.Right.]

Yeah! Me and my R&M Superdelite are having its 1st birthday and nearly 4000km of which 80% is offroad (gravel, single track) up and over all the hills around. Was a great decision. Yes, a kickstand, fenders, lights in the woods with the mountain bikers gets a lot of looks!

[@bigtoe333333]

You are absolutely right that a buyer needs to consider in great detail what terrain they will be riding, and how much of the time. I made not one but two major purchasing mistakes because I didn't spend enough time thinking that through. I moved onto a canal boat in the UK and gave up my car around 2 months ago, so long distance journeys now involve train travel and my ebike. What I found was that the places to put bikes on trains were usually already full even in moderately busy times/days, and although I haven't been refused entry so far- and you can in theory book a bike spot on some trains- the whole idea and the process feels a bit unreliable, especially in the summer months when I am travelling most often. So I decided I would get a folding ebike. I got carried away by the enthusiasm of Brompton riders in youtube videos, and without really thinking enough about the usage, I bought an electric brompton. Its a beautiful machine, very light for an ebike, and a fantastic ebike option- in certain situations... What had not come across to me in the videos was just how narrow the brompton tyres are. This is very much an urban bike, and of course it excels in that environment. But the second or third time I rode it on a canal towpath I had a pinch flat in the rear tyre after 100 yards. The canal path was unusual, with large sections of stones, but my other ebike covered it a dozen times with no problem at all. I wont go so far as to say I wasted my money, but the Brompton is such a refined and specialised design that you cant even fit fatter tyres on it, to cover rough terrain. I fitted anti-puncture liners (and I also fitted tyres with puncture liners within them), but that won't solve the problem of riding it over muddy/bumpy sections in wet weather, with those narrow tyres. In many cases I have to cover up to a mile or more of very rough and often muddy canal paths before I reach a paved road, and so at the moment I have two bikes. The Brompton is used when I need to go on a train, and the full size MTB style is for general use. I do have another cunning plan, which is to buy a tern BYB. As you know, this folds up small enough to take on a train as luggage, but it has 20 inch wheels that will take 1.75 inch tyres, and it will be ok on the canal paths and the rough, potholed and muddy country lanes. Only problem is the BYB does not come as an electric version. There is the Vectron, but its a bit too heavy for my manual handling, lifting on/off the boat, up through narrow train doors, etc). So I'm currently looking at the idea of fitting a simple ebike kit to a BYB, but I want a nice professional job, so I need to find a bike shop who will take on the project. Sorry for the very long essay, but if saves even one person from making the same mistakes I did, it might be worth it.

[@DilipBanerjee]

Great advice and suggestions. I prefer the geometry of a mountain bike frame, and also its ruggedness. I have gone on multi month tours, simply switching to slicker tires. I just bought my first e-bike and once again decided on a mountain bike, even though I don't do much heavy duty mountain biking. The knobby tires don't bother me on paved roads and are helpful over sand or rougher terrain - I like that versatility. My e-bike is a hardtail with a 500wh battery and 50nm of torque, which, I feel, will meet 90% of my needs. If I decide to go touring with this e-bike, I would definitely put on slicker tires. Really enjoying your evocative videos. 👍🏼

[@andyukh1625]

There’s nothing like a late summer evening ride on your emtb across the fields, taking in the wild life then going home and saying to your wife “ I just had 3 woodpeckers flying in front of me” or “ there were so many rabbits in the hedge row”……………… you go further, you feel fresher, I can’t explain the feeling you get rolling across tracks letting that work stress fade away…………….. marvellous ! ps Ergon saddles are the best…….😊

[@rmkep]

Good video Chris. I purchased my R&M Delite GX extreme rohloff HS after owning several ebikes that didn't quite meet my needs. The Delite GX is very versatile allowing me to confidently go off road as well as riding on paved streets and trails. I ride to excercise and fun and range is an important factor. The dual battery Delite gives me up to 100 miles of range on a single charge provides a nice cushion for my usual 30 - 60 mile rides. The quiet Bosch motor and smooth/fast Rohloff E14 shifting make riding a real pleasure. The Kiosk controller in combination with the ebike connect app gives me all the ride data I need. It is essentially a go anywhere do anything kind of bike and it's perfect for my diverse but regular bike rides.

[@JeremyMcCrearyTechnicalLEGO]

Thanks for yet another thoughtful and comprehensive ebike discussion! Just before I came across it, ordered a 2023 Surface604 V Rook for exactly this kind of riding in San Diego County, where great Class 2-legal dirt trails of all skill levels abound. But the bike will also have to be comfortable enough for daily trips to the beach and the store and frequent long rides up and down the coast on (mostly) paved bike paths. Thankfully, the V Rook checks nearly all your main boxes. But still wondering about the stock tires. Online photos show much shallower treads than the hybrid tread at 9:17. Will definitely check out the Schwalbe Super Moto X as an extra measure of off-road safety. At age 74, just don't bounce back from front wheel washouts like I used to.

[@01orNone]

Been watching your channel and it's been a awesome educational tool when it comes to purchasing a ebike. I finally got my 1st ebike in New Zealand. Made from kiwis so its easy when it comes to any faults or parts. Watching this episode made up my mind what I wanted. I got wattwheels bighorn all terrains. Thank you for the details it helps alot in the purchase & what type I wanted & what I like to add. Thank you Joseph Finau

[@bobk18]

I chuckled at your comment “maybe a bear coming at you”. Where I live there are no maybes about it, at some point you are going to encounter them. You could add bison, moose, elk, wolves, big horn sheep, coyotes and the odd mountain lion. Although by time you see the mountain lion it is usually too late. I truly enjoy your channel and thank you for sharing.

[@mikekearsley2407]

Your videos are absolutely fantastic!! Your decision to do your own videos was good. Keep up the good work. Hi from Seattle.

[@Propelbikes]

Very much appreciate it!

[@mogasm6091]

Another great episode Chris, battery power...i fall into the category as I'd rather have it and not need it than not have it and need it ps Your staff crush it, took care of a blunder on my part and made shipping/return seamless big kudos

[@David_Desco]

Great job on the video’s! Any chance you wil be doing tutorials on e-bikes? Like adding accesories or battery’s? Thanks!

[@toph4814]

OK so I got my centerstand installed on my Multicharger I got from you and this really should simplify removing either wheel for flat fixing. Now I think I will try the Ergon GP5 and see if that could add the option of standing the bike upside down as I had done on some previous mt bikes. Have you heard of this idea?

[@StarEssences]

f Front suspension and a suspension seat post do make long distance bike riding (bike touring) more comfortable. Ebikes with dual battery capability is a bonus too; Take one off for those shorter rides or add one more for those long distance bike touring rides. I would like to see more bicycles that are developed as for a 2-3-n-1 deal; For example I am needing a bicycle that will suit these purposes of mine: 1) Recreational Fitness riding 2) Long distance bike touring (which includes carrying cargo).

[@stoutdog56]

Great and informative video and thorough as usual. I appreciate the index and quick select segments.

[@steve_main]

When I bought my first ebike I was really frustrated by its uses. I bought a step through iGo Discovery Atwater. Its a really nice bike with front suspension but you could feel every single bump. I knew I would like to take the bike down some trails but not off off road. Then I realized I wanted something to commute in the winter and I knew the bike would not cut it. This is when I decided to get a fat tire bike and run it at lower PSI to get a less bumpy ride. I wanted to sell the other bike but my partner tried it once and said "You are NOT selling this awesome thing!!" now we have 2 ebikes and love that she does so we can go on further trips! It is definitely something to think about when buying a bike and I felt pressured because COVID and not many bikes were available and i wanted something to replace our 2nd car. Its a large investment and you really have to think about it!

[@277kne]

Excellent comment Steve. Still is pressure in 2021. Have to order a bike at the bike shop without test riding one. It's been a little frustrating not have the right size available. Also I was thinking about using it on mostly bike/walk paths. And I was thinking maybe I want to go on dirt roads. Specialized Como seeed good but no suspension. The Specialized Vado has front suspension but I didn't like the leaning forward position. Still researching.

[@toddkleinbrook5590]

Hey there. Do you have any info for the bike featured at @ 8:55? I will be moving on from the GSD before long and this bike looks to right up my alley from a styling standpoint.

[@jacobbryant1357]

I bought my E-MTB for commuting and off road but in the end I loved commuting on it so much, I wanted to preserve it so I stuck schwalbe big balloon tyres on it which are awesome, now I’ve got a dedicated E-MTB and my commute bike which is still a much more comfortable, fast, and diverse bike than any analog bike.

[@TheJackDakota]

Great video Chris, full of lots of great information! When I bought my ebike the owner said buy for what you might do! I live in southern Arizona, so I might do some off road trail riding, so I went for a mountain bike, I got a Giant Talon with a extra large frame. I so far have ridden on street but am completely satisfied with the bike! Thanks again for your time and effort in producing these great videos!

[@peterh7824]

I purchased a 2022 Nevo 625ah and plan to return for the homage dual battery. We have a lot of hills and find myself on turbo. I need the extra battery

[@Drnik911]

Great video as always. Enjoy the conversations about e bike from Propel e bike team ,,,,,,,

[@Propelbikes]

Hope you're well Dr. Nik!

[@flossybum]

Mine is opposite: I bought my ebike to commute, then ended up doing lots of rail trails in Victoria (Australia). Never even considered I'd do that kind of thing. But Covid brought such limitations for travel afar, the ebike allowed for travel within.

[@travissierra8519]

One thing to consider if you ride your bike a lot, is Bring some basic tools. I never know from day to day if I’m just gonna make a quick trip to the store or if I decide to go on a long ride incorporating a stop at the store on the way back. Some days I’ll ride into work which is a good 20 miles round-trip. So in my bags that are attached to the rear rack I have a first aid kit and a tool kit with a pump patch kit and spare tube. First aid kit doesn’t get used very much but Murphy’s Law says that if you don’t have it you’ll need it. I carry a raincoat which is very lightweight packable year-round. I also have an extra coat for the winter days. Of course bringing water bottles and some snacks are always good to have. My E bike is like an SUV it’s good on road and good for off-road but not extreme off-road.

[@deancade9682]

R&M Delite GT rohloff HS has to be the Swiss knife of e bikes after riding all types of riding in New Zealand over past 9 months & 4300ks. You'll have to follow up this video with your best performing e bike.

[@snowfalleon7629]

I like using my fat bike for commuting because it's less jarring as compared to my gazelle madeo t10+ with its 2inch tires. I really underestimated how bad some roads are and when i got a new job, new commute, now there's a bad section of road i have to take since there are so many bad roads. I see grass coming up through some of these cracks. Anyway something to keep in mind though I am overall happy with the gazelle. Bosch motors being on the smaller end of the nm spectrum, i do find being more aerodynamic makes it easier to maintain 28mph.

[@Propelbikes]

You should try a suspension seatpost

[@robjackson4597]

Great video Chris. I purchased my Supercharger with the idea of doing some long distance touring. That really hasn't happened yet but I have been pretty impressed with it's off road capabilities with only front suspension and a suspension seat mount. From the top of Vail Mountain to Moab trails and mountain bike trails in Cuyuna MN, I'm really happy I purchased an R&M hard tail. If someone is focused on e-mountain biking, they are going to ride a bike with long travel front suspension and most likely rear suspension.

[@lordfubar1]

I am still shopping for my first eBike. The dual battery models appeal to me. One battery for around town chore rides and dual for planned long exploring rides. I see a lot of eBikes that cheap out on the back rack and make it hard to put on an after-market nice rack for big ass shopping panniers.

[@sgrant9814]

You often mention lights as being important for night driving. I would argue, much like motorized vehicles, drls (daytime running lights) are just as important, maybe more so, on bikes of all types for visibility and safety both for the biker and others sharing the road with a biker. Many states, and countries, mandate lights on bikes, however, sadly, bikes are often sold without lighting and there is not police enforcement of that requirement.

[@Joseph-jy5lz]

Another great video and discussion. Interesting to hear you mention the battery size comment in relation to selecting based on the majority of distance travelled rather than the 'maybe' or 'very occasional' distance. What was the red bike at 13:10?

[@richardl1054]

I believe the red bike is a Moustache Samedi Xroad 5 (full suspension).These Propel links may help you: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZiQiKCjZZ6Uqq8 kzbin.info/www/bejne/hWqUYZWJabmql7M . I live in the UK and have had an XRoad 7 (full suspension) for nearly 3 years. As an older rider, I prefer the more comfortable upright riding position of this hybrid, but as I ride off road for 90% of my riding (about 35 miles/week) all the year round, I have replaced the Hutchinson Python 2 tyres with Schwalbe Nobby Nic 2.25" wide tyres and Tannus liners for added puncture protection.I have found these to be much better in UK muddy conditions.

[@steve_main]

So this week we took our ebikes to a rental cottage with us and also started to use an app call AllTrails that helped us find some pretty cool trails in the area. My partners road bike that's a step through is exactly as they said on video, on the rough trails it was really lacking where my fat tire just chewed through the trails without a care. One thing that drives me nuts that I am hoping other have found a solution to is kickstand rattle and derailleur rattle when ridding in rough terrain. You take nice little bumps and the kickstand bumps down them back up making a clunk and the derailleur same issue. Is there a way to have a quieter ride?

[@goki22]

Thanks for the video, brilliant info, I live in the UK and it is impossible to find an e bike of good quality from a good brand, they are all sold out all the time…

[@josephf5036]

I apologise but that's not possible you have several brands like riese and Müller and Cube that are in stock. Just Google and you will see

[@TechNatureAsh]

When one wants to use with child seats n carry children, low step or mid step is only option . How much shock absorbers are important to ebikes considering urban /city commutes ?

[@JoseGarcia-nq8ik]

I made the mistake of getting gotrax ebe1, it doesn't take me too far the most I've gone was 10miles with one charge. Planning on getting a better one and maybe still keep the ebe1 cause it's a folding bike

[@colincampbell4261]

Get a spare battery, take it with you.

[@funkintonbeardo]

Chris: you might want to get a ebike-mtb crossover in case you want to go off road Me, looking at emtbs because of shit road infrastructure: yeahh off-road babyy

[@Laughsville-si6hf]

I love the RM supercharger. The only reason I do not buy one right now is the 25km/h limit here in Ozzieland. The Rohloff version is worth every one of the 12k dollars (Au) they ask for.

[@iulianlica6796]

Q: what do you think about a flyer go tour 6 Bosch Performance Line. Looking to buy a used one. Any advice?

[@waroncars7782]

Dude - always great videos. It can not be stressed enough how much further one 'normally' cycles with a pedal assist bike (aka Pedalec). Keep it up buddy. BTW - I'm starting to get enough of Shoreline Village, how about Bluff Park or around Belmont Pier or over by Mother's Beach ? :)

[@bobstranzenbach4700]

Nice overview. Thanks.

[@bujin5455]

16:31. Honestly, I think you should get a bigger battery than what you think you need. Beyond the peace of mind of knowing you have the power on hand, there is a very practical, continuous, benefit of having more battery than you need. Mainly, batteries (including lithium batteries) do not like being deeply discharged. The deeper you go past 50% discharge, the more damage/wear you're doing to your battery. A battery that never gets cycled more than 50% - 60% is going to last MUCH longer (5-10x+) than a battery that is routinely cycled 80% - 90%+. This is true of ALL batteries, EV batteries, eBike batteries, phone batteries, laptop batteries, power tool batteries, etc.

[@elpepelucho]

what is the brand/model of the yellow helmet I see you wearing in your videos ?

[@DrDennis]

Awesome review as always!

[@lesteracree1010]

if you had spinal stenosis, a very common ailment, you would want to be as upright as possible, otherwise quickly experience pain!

[@jimnyshredder]

The aerodynamic aspect plays very little as the speed is so low. Leaning forward a couple of degrees will not make as big of a difference as having a stiff and thin tire.

[@peterfernandezjr5914]

Have you ever seen a step thru bike break apart in the middle? (it's weaker point)

[@Propelbikes]

I have, but not the better ones

[@davidmurphy291]

Please consider opening your 3rd store in Denver!

[@davidwiniger3799]

Nope. Carmel Indiana! Seriously. We need you.

[@MoPoppins]

I think they’re currently working on their 3rd store, which is located in New Jersey.

[@carlospoor8014]

Also rear mirror will be great for safety

[@rosecitytid1631]

Idea. Make a low step bike with an arm so once you are on it and want to off road lock the arm in place.

[@godsharry]

Awesome video!! 🙂👍

[@alma175w]

You didn’t actually go over any specific bikes - I appreciate the insight into what does and doesn’t work, though a “and these bikes standout because of these features” section would have been helpful.

[@Sampardhanani]

Enjoyed this video. Thanks, covered a lot in a short Time. Thanks.

[@TechViewOpinions]

Excellent discussion!

[@bertbrogden9662]

i presume a supercharger 3 is on the way , hope so because i'm saving up for one.

[@stephendenagy3396]

This seems so strange to see the variety of bikes for all these uses. I reasoned that my interest in mostly riding in town but with some off road and gravel interest was satisfied by using a full e-Mountain Bike. Yes, my Turbo Levo is heavy. But it’s and eMTB with a huge battery. So I find eco mode can be set to “erase” the bike weight and higher rolling resistance. But the full suspension absolutely saves my back and body! Why people think a hard tail works for potholes? And potholes are increasing, not decreasing. Mountain bike is the way to go in modern America with crappy roads!

[@Propelbikes]

Yes, eMTBs seem logical, but the bikes I am speaking of have the characteristics of a mountain bike with the features of a commuter bike.

[@stephendenagy3396]

@@Propelbikes yes I can see that but at the sacrifice of the rear suspension. I have used suspension posts as well as the full suspension, and I will take the full suspension hands down any day. Of course i have some back problems so I am no doubt more sensitive. Also, if I choose the shock post then I give up my drop post. Again, the dropper is an AMAZING addition to any bike. No longer do I have to tweak my seat height and maybe suffer between adjustments. I simply set the height according to my needs. For back pain sufferers, the seat height adjustment on the fly is a godsend!

[@edwardv54]

Trikes?

[@robertmcknight170]

Interesting topic

[@tomwilson7452]

Cool logo 👍

[@leojonkers3181]

I never mountainbike. The only thing I do not like, even on a "normal" mountainbike.

[@Gerrit65373]

it is better to buy an extra large battery, when you battery is 2 years old they have less power.

[@hgncbdfx]

i like ur mustache, it matches your logo.

[@minniesaab7255]

💚💚💚

[@sidewalkcyclingfooddeliver9499]

Ito ang pangarap kong bike sa pagdedeliver ng pagkain sa mga nagugutom

[@adriansmith3116]

Great vid

[@mxr572]

no they can't! UNDERWATER??????

[@armchairwanderer1287]

😊

[@peterplantec7911]

You do good presentations. But you have the face of a comic and I keep waiting for the punchline…and I mean this is a nice way.

[@ishouldbesleeping1354]

Would love engineers to consider balance assist 😅 in the future. One day I’ll need a trike and those wheels better NOT come off the ground or make me lean too far ❤️‍🩹