So...WHAT'S UP with those E-BIKES anyway? A 20 minute RANT while fixing up a TRUSTY old Trek Hybrid!

BIKE FARMER BREAKS HIS SILENCE - in spectacularly boring fashion! I've remained pretty quiet here about ebikes because it feels like it's really hard to talk about them without alienating people. After my video about my new Golf E-Bike, which I love very much, BTW, I got so many different comments, many of them so passionately ANTI-EBIKE (for no good reason but one's own fragile ego), I decided to come clean and just start the conversation, my way, from my point of view. Apparently, now that I'm a big time public figure, I'm an authority, so expressing my personal opinions is somehow valuable, which is great for me financially, but super annoying too, because no matter how hard I try, no matter what I say, I'm going to offend someone out there. So here I am, saying it all!
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[@tonyjuliano1]

Electric bikes saved my life. After a serious motorcycle accident seven years ago left me wondering of if I would ever walk again (leg broken in eight places, broken hip, shattered arm) I fell into deep despair. Many surgeries and a months long stay in rehab hospital followed, I thought my days of two wheeled freedom were over. I gained a ton of weight during recovery, becoming diabetic in the process. Two years after I decided to try something different. A full powered e-bike, with throttle got me back on the road again, and encouraged more. In a bit, my strength increased enabling me to transition to a model with a torque sensor (no throttle) that only operated depending on some level of user input. And this is what ultimately led to my fitness increasing to the point where fully analog bicycling was possible again. The weight came off, my fitness returned - I ride every day now and have a life again.

[@IdahoFatTireBikeFun]

EXCELLENT!

[@garyseckel295]

250W torque-sensing Hase Lepus here. No balance limited-mobility 70yo handicapper here. On/Off Lepus from wheelchair and dual forearm crutches! 25-inch-high, slide-onto seat height!!! Rohloff gearbox. No more cassette shifting here. 250W bicycle path LEGAL E-assist for this NFL-sized rider! Bicycle path laws being changed by communities because high Watt E-bikes/trikes are turning Bicycle Paths INTO Bicycle Expressways!!! NOT GOOD!!! NOT GOOD!!! NOT GOOD!!! Many imported bikes/trikes being sold for less as non-UL-Approved battery packs (fire hazard) are becoming illegal to sell in America! Love family/cargo bikes/trikes that haul families and are 2nd cars for many users! Additionally, my speed is 7-12mph. My self-imposed max speed is 17mph, even if downhill!!!!!!

[@maximiliangutmann]

THIS IS JUST GREAT!

[@rickh6963]

@@garyseckel295 And if you plug in a non-UL listed E-Bike and it burns your house to the ground you homeowners insurance will walk away from you and you get to eat the total loss. Of course you can go to China and sue the manufacturer ...... good luck with that.

[@felixortiz9330]

Congratulations man, that’s great! Don’t waste your time with cyclist, they are think they are special because they can power a bike on their all, they think they are a rare breed…😂 Let them be!

[@davidstewart3868]

I grew up in the 1970’s during the bicycle boom. I have always enjoyed riding for the exercise and joy. I have no problem with e-bikes it’s the crazy riders not following the rules of the road much like the crap I experience driving today… it’s not the machine it’s the driver/rider. I really enjoy your channel. Keep up the great work!

[@judymc4213]

yep

[@edwardgh57]

It’s way to easy for a e-bike rider that lacks bike handling skills, to get in over their head. Gonna be a bad outcome of crashing an e-bike at 18- 28 mph😢, when most analog speed are 10-13 mph.That said , love my specialized turbo Vado.

[@brockjennings]

The cancer treatment I am undergoing has practically eliminated my testosterone. As a result, energy loss, muscle mass melting away and weight gain are my new challenges. Not to mention the emotional the toll it takes. My e-bike keeps me on the mountain roads on my route. Knowing I have a helping hand of my e-bike (if needed) keeps me motivated to continually turning the pedals to keep the physical fight going.

[@dogie1070]

E-viagra

[@peterbedford2610]

Hopefully, they'll help us get improved infrastructure

[@daniellarson3068]

It seems like the infrastructure you speak of would take a lot of cars off the road. Parking lots could be smaller too.

[@StebrasNotHorses]

It isn;'t the bike, it's the rider. I've been mute-passed by ten times more acoustic riding chamois-sniffing pathletes than e-bikers. Just ride responsibly.

[@litz13]

Don't forget the Strava screaming at them out loud to pedal harder

[@fallenshallrise]

For real. Ask yourself whether it's ok for your ego for any other rider to pass you on the hills from time to time. Then ask yourself if it matters whether that person passing you is a lady on an ebike or a 20-something guy in lycra on a plastic racing bike.

[@tomcollen462]

There's sumgai in my bicycle club who brags that his self-souped up 55 pound ebike can reach 34 mph, so his bike is essentially a moped. And he's afraid of roads so he only rides the multi-use trails. He's the sort of maniac who gives ebikes a bad reputation.

[@grumpy9478]

what's the difference between a modern e-bike & a classic moped? electricity & about 80 yrs.

[@Kattbirb]

@tomcollen462 Sounds like his bike is literally a Moped. Nothing wrong with that in and of itself, but Sumgai here needs to respect the trail and the folks that use it.

[@stevemcfate1961]

@@tomcollen462 agree 💯

[@jaylozier4083]

@@grumpy9478 Maybe it is about the trails that say no motorized vehicles and the e-bikers who circumvent those rules?

[@williammrdeza9445]

Thanks for the honest conversation around this topic. People can choose to be polarized around a particular topic or just simply do what speaks to them without the drama. Sounds like you have adopted the latter, healthier approach. By the way, where did you get your shop apron? That looks like a quality piece of gear.

[@haqitman]

YOU ARE TRAFFIC!! Thank you for saying that!

[@EricDye]

My Ebike was my gateway into biking. I went from not biking at all 2 years ago to selling my car earlier this year and making my daily commute to work on my bike. I can totally understand the issue with servicing, and many of my local bike shops won't service e-bikes unless they were purchased there. That's actually why I started watching videos on bike maintenence so I can learn to do maintenence on my own! (replacing disc brake pads this weekend!) In the future I want to get a non-ebike and a "nice" e-bike or cargo bike, and I can't imagine I would have committed to a bike-centered life if they weren't so accessible.

[@jele5116]

The e-bike was your gateway to riding a motorcycle

[@EricDye]

@@jele5116 go on

[@Hoosier_cycling-mz4je]

e-bikes are just a new tool, ride what you want. My problem is with the ones that are more like electric motorcycles that just rip. Keep those off the greenways and everyone will be just fine.

[@cheezst8ke]

like the Suron ebikes that look more like a motocross dirt bike than a pedal bike with a battery attached.

[@GeoffreyMeredith]

Getting my wife to go for a bike ride with me used to be very hard. She felt that she was holding me back. About 12 years ago, she bought a cheap Costco e-bike that turned her into a serious commuter. We live in a large Metro area, and she loves the fact that she doesn't have to look for parking or deal with traffic. Door-to-door transit times are usually faster on an e-bike than on a car. That bike is excellent for Costco trips, and it's been a great donkey for short bikepacking trips. Personally, I don't feel a need for an e-bike as I ride primarily for exercise, and I don't commute. If I was doing a long commute, I would consider it. There are lots of cyclists and e-bikes in our area. As in any group, we see a few people behaving badly on bikes, but generally, the cyclists I see are at least as well-mannered as car drivers.

[@IdahoFatTireBikeFun]

@@GeoffreyMeredith ebikes are almost marriage savers in my experience. My wife can pedal on comfortably on her fat tad etrike and I can effectively pedal so hard I almost puke for an awesome workout, and we can be on the same ride. Before my wife would get winded by about 20% of my maximum output. She was miserable and I didn't get a good workout. With an ebike she had a lot of fun as my coach and I had a lot of fun pushing my limits on a ☕ ride.

[@JPBVideo]

I love cycling. Been doing it for many, many years. But geez, nothing has gatekeepers like the cycling community. I remember sitting in a bike club meeting 30 years ago listening to someone drone on about how dedicated bicycle paths and lanes were a bad idea because it "ghettoized" bicycling. Now, even those early gatekeepers have taken to using these same paths on their own multi-day rides and admitting to their utility as a safe respite from dodging road traffic. Suffice to say that here we are 30 years later arguing about e-bikes. And some of the arguments see only black and white, e-bikes good/e-bikes bad which has always been a naive way to see anything new. This class of vehicle wouldn't have come along if it didn't provide some utility to someone. In my mind, e-bikes that you have to pedal to sustain any kind of ride are a good evolution for cycling, especially for those of us who really want to continue to ride deep into our 80s and 90s. But yeah, we are also producing lower powered motorcycles too and we should probably be calling those out for what they are, as motorcycles, not e-bikes. Vehicles that can zip along at near 30mph or faster without any pedaling really don't belong on the same paths as acoustic bicycles or worse, with people pushing strollers and walking dogs. That's just common sense. So let's just not classify anything that doesn't need pedaling as a bicycle. However, that's not to say that these vehicles should be banned outright. They serve a purpose, particularly for delivery services. What's needed is a well thought out plan for roads and paths that can handle different speeds of traffic appropriately. In short, it ain't the bikes that's the problem, it's the infrastructure we should be planning more carefully. Regardless, these are good problems to have. It means more people are getting outside and using vehicles that are somewhat less polluting than cars. I'm hopeful our views on e-bikes/low powered motorcycles can evolve into something more nuanced than just e-bikes good/e-bikes bad.

[@garyseckel295]

"Class 1" I have modified onto one of my Lepus' can be throttled. STILL however, Class 1 for this senior handicapper! Factory bought Hase Lepus has Pedal-Only Class 1! Class 1 on bicycle paths is good. Most family/cargo bikes/trikes however, are higher than Class 1 250Watt. Love seeing a family on bicycles/tricycles!!!

[@jackhorsley3912]

I have a co worker who is nearly 60 (im 26) and we both commute to work by bicycle. He was riding his old hybrid to work but couldn't manage the steep hill the way we both ride home every day and he would get off and push or sometimes drive to work because we are on our feet all day and its super tiring. ( I know this because i ride my non electric steel bike to work every day) He recently got a good quality bosch powered e bike and even when I set off 2 minutes before him he now races up past me on the hill without even trying, he rides it every day rain or shine. Personally they aren't for me at the moment, but as someone who plans on being a lifelong cyclist I can definitely see one in my hopefully distant future if im lucky enough to get old. Here in England the throttle is illegal and they only pedal assist you up to 15mph which really helps the safety side of things. All though you do get the occasional jack ass using a modified one with a throttle doing like 50mph on the sidewalk, I hate those people so much.

[@ATHIP12]

This is an example of a good e-bike use. He's using it as transportation. I recently visited London (From California), that's exactly how e-bikes should be integrated with society! A 15mph pedal assist limit is a very reasonable compromise. In CA we have 12 year old kids doing wheelies down the middle of the street on 40mph e-bikes. It's pure insanity!

[@jameshisself7375]

So the answer you give is "My insurance company won't allow me to work on e-bikes due to the liability risks".

[@garyseckel295]

100% LOGIC AND COMMON-SENSE LIMITATION!

[@lawrencelibby3607]

It does no good to hate on hardware. My problem with ebikes is the people who ride them, and have power beyond their bike handling capabilities and are too new to understand basic bike courtesy. That said, I also saw a pretty legit-sounding survey that says ebike riders, on average get, MORE exercise than regular bike riders because they go out more often and stay out longer. (Yes, I know, we are not "on average" bike riders here.)

[@shauncasey8295]

Those surveys are misleading. If someone on regular bike goes out more often and for longer, who's getting more exercise?

[@ytube777]

The main issue is ass e-bikers on the multi-use paths. I've had a personal altercation when an e-biker came flying around a corner and my partner had to swerve and go off the lip of path and then crashed to ground (he was an older guy but he was "ok" thankfully for the soft ground) to avoid the dumb ass with his 10 ton e-bike. He did stop & apologize, but shit like this is why. You see it all the time. e-bikers just zooming around the paths, not paying attention, on their cell phones. There's a couple that hooked up a boombox so they can play music while they ride. This shit gives "e-bikers" a bad name. I am at the point that if you have a throttle and/or non-pedal assist, it should be banned on the multi-use paths. full stop. I really don't care about compromise at this point.

[@elwynanderson9947]

You are spot on! I’ve had the same experience. I am 73. Never ride a moped. There is no E-bike. A bike is pedaled by a person. An electric motor cycle is motorized.

[@christianb.1028]

Non-pedal assist ebikes are already illegal here in Germany for non-road use, but the cops don't really care. You can get them directly from China without any speed limiter, which is illegal as well, and some people are going 20-30 mph on shared bike/pedestrian paths or on forrest trails. It's so dangerous.

[@not-a-raccoon]

Im in favor of ebikes because they get more people riding. That being said.. I'd never own one. I dont need electrical circuitry on my blissfully simple transportation.

[@zwicker5585]

Agreed. Its great for some people. That some is not me. I dont even want indexed shifting on my bike let alone batteries and computers 😂

[@manysnakes]

It really doesn't need to be any more complicated than this. I'd rather deal with an occasional jerk doing 35 mph down the bike path than to take all the e-bikes off the road and see all those riders put back into single occupancy automobiles.

[@IdahoFatTireBikeFun]

​@@zwicker5585It's odd sometimes how we, including me, enthusiastically endorse ebikes and electronic gadgets and carbon fiber frames for others but would never use them ourselves. My 🚲 technology preferences probably ended in the 90s.

[@zwicker5585]

@@IdahoFatTireBikeFun yeah I’m in the same boat. I’m even a huge tech guy when it comes to other products, but I find the utility and ease peaked in the late 80s early 90s

[@garyseckel295]

@@manysnakes Totally understand your view, but totally SEPARATE safety issues!

[@mytwocoins]

Golf is fun. The idea of an e-bike to haul clubs is pretty cool.

[@tommyvan4609]

I do not own an e-bike, however I do LOVE when I see anyone on a bike. E bike or not, I just enjoy seeing others out enjoying the trails! If an ebike is the way to get someone out of the house, hells yes more power to you! I ride with a big group of friends every Wednesday night, some of them are on a pedal assist bike, lots of the really nice Rocky Mountain power play rigs, most of them are older and had really struggled to get up the big climbs. Now they can ride everywhere that they used to ride before injury and Father Time degrades joints. Some will say “it’s not fair they are cheating” if you feel that way, why don’t you just go get a similar rig so you can scream up the hills as well? My point is that if a bike or e bike gets you out of your home, then it’s a good thing!

[@haqitman]

I'm 100% pro ebike, even when some jerk blows past me on his w/o pedaling and smoking a cig. I converted my 89 Cannondale to a mid drive Bafang and commute every day to work on it, really too far for me to do easily on an acoustic bike. I've lost 20 pounds, my blood pressure is down, mood is better and I don't have to sit in f-ing traffic ever. I've seen a lot more people on bikes since e-bikes have become a thing, and more people on bikes is a good thing in general.

[@fredrappley6960]

"Acoustic bike", love it.

[@almiller5682]

Im 67 years old, been mountain biking since the clunker days. I bought a 750 watt middrive motor and mounted it on my 35 year old cannondale i put almost 1000 miles on it since march, i havnt had to do anything to it other than adding a shift sensor which was an option i should have added when i put it on. As long as i can get my leg over the seat im riding, moving those big muscles in my legs is good for me even if it is "easy"

[@Theexplorographer]

I have a similar setup on my Trek Dual Sport. As for the easy pedaling thing, I think a lot of people don't understand how pedal assist works and think we just run around all day in throttle mode. I am pedaling all the time on my bike. Usually leave it in 0 or 1 PAS. Kick it up to 5-7 for crossing busy roads for a boost and up steep trails where I don't want to shift or work too hard. Low impact of ebikes is a great thing. I've talked with my doc about it and he was basically like, "If it gets you out there, it's a good thing:.

[@williamfrench9973]

I bought Aventon… yes they are direct to consumer, but they also sell through stores and I bought mine at my local bike shop run by a bunch of hippies (like many excellent bike shops are). Key for me is this shop services them.

[@daneish96]

Same, bought me Aventon level through my local shop. Has been a great work commuter with over 1,200 miles so far👍

[@daneish96]

But yes, taking the rear wheel off when I had a gnarly puncture was a pain lol

[@cmmartti]

​​@@daneish96 How much of a pain is it? I have a regular bike with a Gates belt drive, Shimano Alfine 8 internal gear hub, and disc brakes, and it's slightly more work to take the rear wheel off, but it only takes a minute. It's absolutely worth never having to deal with a chain, a derailleur, or rim brakes ever again. I can't imagine an e-bike is much more complicated. First is loosening the 15mm axle nuts, same as any normal bike. Because the horizontal dropouts are rear-facing, I have to remove the brake caliper (two easy-to-access 5mm bolts). The belt drive means I have to back off the two 3mm tensioner screws a few turns to get the belt off the pulley. And the internal gear hub takes a 2mm stick (spare spoke or an Allen key) to release tension on the shifter cable in order to disconnect it. The first time was a learning process, but it's not hard at all.

[@MrTaxidriver50005]

Me and wife got our pedelec emtb's 4 years ago during covid, now done over 6500 miles. I've never enjoyed cycling till we got these, here in Europe bike with a throttle are illegal and must only be peddle assisted and I think this is a good system. We are also limited to 15.5mph of assistance after that it's down to Rider, this is also a good thing for other footpath user's as it stops people zooming past others on full throttle.

[@MumfordJim]

From the US, but currently in the Netherlands riding a Ebike on a tour. We are loving it. Europe has it all right! 25 KM Max is perfect. I never use a throttle even in the US.

[@garyseckel295]

AMEN. You described my German-made Hasa E-assist Lepus,' which I SO love!

[@ethanswanson9209]

We really enjoy our ebikes. Have a radwagon cargo bike. Fortunate enough that multiple mechanics in town will do mechanical work, just not electrical. Grateful when I don't have the time or when I'm really up a creek and don't have the ability. I pay whatever bill without arguing and buy other supplies from them so hopefully that helps. I've had a couple electrical problems with my Rad over the last year. It is frustrating to not have a professional to diagnose it. Instead you're online reading forums, or the company page. Eventually might get to being online with customer service. Obviously it's hard to diagnose a problem over the phone/chat window. So go through a period of guess, wait for them to send you something, then see if it works. I tell people about that when the inquire about what ebike they should buy. My bike has been great for hauling my kids around town and getting large grocery loads. I wouldn't do it without the e-assist. I mostly use the trails and city side streets. I simply don't feel safe in traffic with kids, too many speeders and careless drivers. I do slow down around pedestrians, signal my approach, and find e-assist means I don't mind slowing down because it's so easy to speed back up. If things are really packed for a bit with strollers or dogs, I'll just go out in the grass if possible. Again, thank you e-assist. My wife has a Tern cargo bike from a store in town. It's definitely a nicer bike in so many ways. Makes me wish we had started with one, but the price was just too much for someone who had never spent more than $100 bucks on a bike. The first one though helped us come to the conclusion that if you can afford something from a local dealer, you definitely should. I think that there's going to be a ton of discarded Chinese ebikes down the road in a few years. Not sure if there's a business opportunity to get some running again, but maybe a volunteer organization could find a place. I found your discussion and viewpoint really mature, especially compared to all the stuff I read out there. The NYT should watch your video.

[@almico123]

On multi use bike paths, it’s not whether it’s an E bike or not, it’s just the speed. Somebody riding a human powered bicycle at 25 miles an hour where people are walking their dogs and pushing strollers is equally dangerous. Bike paths should have speed limit limits.

[@BikemanSuperfast]

They do have speed limits, for the most part. When someone drives a Hellcat 160mph through a residential area and kills bystanders, people don't go talking about banning high powered cars and putting 85mph speed limiters. The general public will say "I need to speed for my own safety!" or "that inexperienced driver earned the money for his car!" but when ebikes get brought up the script flips.

[@Theexplorographer]

Most do, most don't bother to read. We generally ride at around 15mph. When we approach humans and wildlife, we slow to 10mph (or less) vocalizing which side we are passing on. Yesterday on a bike path, this idiot on a regular bike and his tween son on an ebike went by me at 25mph with no warning. My wife who was behind me said he split between her as she was passing pedestrians on the path with no warning either. Not only was he a toolbag, but he was also teaching his son to be one on an ebike as well. People like this are the reason we have all of these dumbass restrictions. Only thinking of themselves because that is their "right" for "FREEDOM" or some bullshit.

[@JosefMarc]

Yep. Show respect for moms and babies, pedestrians, and anybody who can't "take the lane." Slow down. Talk to them.

[@oculed1101]

It's not technically as dangerous because non-electric bikes aren't 80 pound tanks being haphazardly piloted by non-cyclists, but i get what you're saying, roadies riding full sprint through people because they don't want to lose there strava speed are irresponsible and annoying and i see it all too often. Also bike paths do have speed limits but they're really just suggestions for a safe speed as there is obviously no way to enforce them and in most situations outside of very busy days there wouldn't be a reason to follow them anyway.

[@TheQuietPartisLoud]

Seconding that it's 15 MPH here on Denver multi use trails. Most ebikes out here max out at 20. It's been nothing but easy peasy to drop the pedal assist level, save some battery, and cruise at 15 or lower. It's already a shorter trip than a car because of traffic, and costs me nothing to slow down and save some battery, and enjoy the ride.

[@godfellas483]

Thanks for breaking your silence, Bike Farmer..! Now can you do a rant on those people at Walmart in those electric shopping carts?? lol! Right now, I use conventional bikes for exercise while I still can...maybe an e-bike is in my future...I see young kids whipping around the streets on those things, drinking a cup of coffer or, an energy drink and not pedaling at all.(I know!) I wonder if we are promoting a generation of sedentary bike consumers.

[@ethanswanson9209]

Fair. I love my throttle for getting going from a stop, especially with my kids on the back. I like it for instant speed when I have to be in traffic. But yeah. A lot of times I wish throttles cut out at 10mph or something.

[@uniquenamegoeshere2263]

E-bikes are extending the lives of many people who would otherwise not get exercise because of mobility issues.

[@FuchsHorst]

but riding a regular bike would extending the lives even more. People get knee pain from riding a regular bike the wrong way, not because they have Arthritis.

[@wades4253]

I'm 66, fat, and have wonky knees. Riding my pedal bike on multi-use trails is the one activity where my knees feel great. Most of these trails are flat or low grade. Adjust your seat to the right height and it's not that tough.

[@georgemartinez1720]

What excersse try riding A Bike against the wind on a regular Bike . And the legs do the Work How is pedeking With your Hand on the throttle excersise I use to have a Moped it's the same thing You know how many Over weight People I seen on EBikes

[@kristidubois8400]

@@FuchsHorst Ha, ha you obviously don't have bad arthritis! I have ridden bikes for decades. My knees only hurt when the arthritis got bad when I got older. Same bikes, older age, worse knees. If I lived someplace flat I wouldn't need an ebike, but we have 9% grade hills around here or worse. I inherited my arthritis, not much to be done other than get along with it. Have a good day.

[@letsgoOs1002]

Electric cargo bikes are the best!!! Great way to get around for errands and haul the kids as well. I still have a smile everytime i am on one of my ebikes. A tern gsd is just such a great way to get around and easily can replace a car. A belt and internal gear hub is just a math made in heaven for an ebike.

[@fallenshallrise]

Agreed. eBikes are great car replacements and the people who say that ebikes should be banned are often getting groceries in their truck, running errands in their truck, commuting in their truck and driving their MTB or gravel bike to the trailhead and don't see the irony in that.

[@scootnyinzer]

I'm 65 years old and I use my e-bike for commuting. Taking off from a stop light under throttle and easily maintaining 20-30 mph in traffic greatly reduces road rage among car drivers. If you set your PAS on 1 or 2, your 60 lb eBike feels like a 25 lb hybrid and you will be able to achieve 15-20 mph with similar effort. I often go to the grocery store and load my cargo bike with 100lbs of groceries pedaling uphill on a hot day. The objective is to ride with fast cadence and low torque. Easier on my old joints and still provides cardio.

[@terrycruise-zd5tw]

cargo bikes are expensive, wouldnt it be cheaper and more practical to just buy a cargo trailer for a regular ebike?

[@SnoopyReads]

Itd be cheaper but good luck pedaling up a steep hill with 100lbs of groceries. Ebikes make it easier for older and overweight folks to get into fitness, not one thing wrong with that, it's their money​@@terrycruise-zd5tw

[@MHH3180]

​​@@terrycruise-zd5twI tend to go your way, but I can tell you that a loaded cargo bike handles better than hauling a trailer behind a traditional bike and most can haul more, better balanced, than the trailers available to us. Heavy-duty trailers, that can haul more than 100#'s, cost more than the difference in price of a cargo bike.

[@Adventures4vida]

30 mph under throttle is 100 percent illegal and just like seat belts, those laws will be enforced some day.

[@SnoopyReads]

@@Adventures4vida it's not illegal if you're on the street and you're going below the speed limit

[@lucastoritto1133]

My issue with E bikes is the fact that they give people that have zero bike control skills the ability to go very fast. People who haven’t touched a bike since they were a kid are all the sudden going 30+ in the bike lane. It’s not safe

[@ChrisB...]

I use my DIY eBike with Vicinta saddle bags to get groceries about 95% of the time. It works beautifully, and Aldi even lets me park inside the store! YMMV, ask them if it's okay first.

[@robertbernardo783]

In Metro Manila, Philippines, e-bikes, at least the cheap ones, have become popular. These vehicles are very useful for getting around neighborhoods with little or no cars or other motor vehicles. E-bikes are prohibited from operating on major highways. I think the problem with e-bikes, particularly in the Metro, are the drivers who are undisciplined and don't care about pedestrians and cars. They put their lives and other people in danger. To many people, however, e-bikes are the answer to their mobility. Because of their rising popularity, there are new laws now for the safety of both riders, pedestrians and cars.

[@funkyfreshanalog3043]

Hello from France, e-bike have their share of hate for good reasons, sometimes for stupid reasons, most of it came from people who don't (want to) understand the rules of bike paths. I like fat bikes, boomers on hub motor, cheap folding, fat bikes on the other hand no so much. E-bikes help people to commute, go shopping and many times it's faster than public transport and an be cheapper. Many old timers, can ride and group ride, this help their social life and fight old people solitude. Cyclists, no one care if u pass an e-bike, it's pathetic, please don't look at the display to see the speed it's even more pathetic. For reference i worked on old bikes and commuters bike for a while, was a Zoomo mechanic, and now riding an electric cargo bike fixing cycle logistic cargo bikes. I love Surly Bikes and building wheels, ride save

[@nolowputts]

I didn't ride my bike for years because I live in a hilly area and I do not find riding up steep hills to be fun. Sure the exertion is good for you, but the reward wasn't worth it for me, so my bike collected dust. I managed to get a job that is close to home, close enough that it didn't make sense to drive, but too far to reasonably walk, but of course have significant hills between. I looked into ebikes and saw all the cheap Chinese ones out there, started doing research and which actually were "good" and then found out about DIY ebike conversions. That was just the ticket. I added a motor to my old bike and it has worked great. It got me back in the saddle and riding up hills is just like riding on flats for the most part. Any maintenance I do on it is just normal bike maintenance with standard bike parts. I still have my truck, but I now have to gas it up like once every two months. My bike has the throttle available, and could probably do like 33 MPH, but I always keep it in the low pedal assist setting. I do want to get SOME exercise on it still!

[@brianchudzik7829]

The problem I have is people that do not know the rules of riding whipping around on their ebikes. On a really wide trail, coming real close to my dog. Who let them know the error of their ways in no uncertain terms. And kids on ebikes, really? That's just lazy.

[@johnbuffett5650]

E-bikes allow non athletic senior citizens to fly up hills in headwinds with the full Joy of childhood.

[@noisepuppet]

Shout-out to your Timex T80. I don't see them with the three link bracelet these days.

[@Mr050278]

The biggest issue is venue. Most bike riders dont want motorized vehicles on non motorized vehicles trails or paths

[@miketatreau2347]

I’ve been a fairly serious cyclist since 1987, but I've never ridden competitively. I live in Arizona, and my style of riding has always been a mixture of dirt roads, trails, and paved roads. I have two titanium bikes; a Salsa Fargo, and a Why Cycles El Jefe set up as a singlespeed. My wife wanted to join me on my rides back in 2020, so I got her a Trek Powerfly 5. It has been the perfect bike for her. It only provides varying degrees of pedal assist up to 21 mph. She can keep up with me most of the time, but she often kicks my butt on the big hills. I’m 64, and I intend to keep riding a traditional bike for as long as I can. But the day may come when I will need to get an ebike for myself. In fact, I wouldn’t mind getting a couple of fat ebikes so my wife and I can explore some of the sandy washes in our area.

[@Adventures4vida]

I just tell people that none of the wholesalers like JBI and QBP don't sell the electronics that these DTC bikes use. Plus someone that buys a 800 dollar ebike isn't gonna want to pay the money I'm gonna charge to fix their electronics.

[@edithmaverickfolger4014]

I bought an e-bike from a local shop, hoping to replace the car for short trips, and get in better shape (I am a boomer at 62). My city is hilly. Let me translate that for Midwesterners. My city is mountainous. After 40 years off a bike, I needed help to just get started again. I bought a pedal assist bike that looks like a regular bike. It rides better than my 70's10-speed without power. I now watch your channel, which I never would have before, installed fenders, seat and bike rack, and am actually lubing the chain with one-step (didn't do that as a teenager . . .). Yesterday I achieved my first e-bike fantasy -- rode to Walgreens, picked up 2 large packs of adult pull-on's, and pedaled my way to my mom's house with those suckers sticking out of my pannier.

[@mplsdan]

Thank you for another thoughtful video. After five years of mountain biking and about 18 months of convincing from my girlfriend, I finally rented an e-mountain bike. I thought I would find it too easy, offering little challenge or exercise, but I was wrong. Renting that e-MTB was a great decision, and I bought one shortly thereafter. Taking trails at a higher speed adds a new kind of fun and challenge to riding. My bike handling has improved significantly, and the skills carry over to my main mountain bike. The thing that really surprised me was how much more cardio exercise I get than before, both overall and on a per-ride basis. Since you're not having do the bursts of all out effort that can come with trail riding, you have more endurance and you stay out longer. You also ride more often, because when you're on the fence on whether or not you want to go, especially when you're tired from the day before, you end up riding. It's a stunning piece of engineering that is an absolute joy to ride.

[@KandidKanuck]

Boomer here and a life long cycling enthusiast. I waited till 40 to have kids; within 5 years I was hardly cycling... until I retired in my early 60's. That's when I got myself a Giant e-mountain bike and it's awesome. It's fairly light, has no throttle, and I choose to ride on a low battery assist mostly. Last year I did a 100+km trail and rode with the battery off for a bit so I would have assist at the end, should I need it. I have no interest in a throttle for now, and I steer clear of inexpensive bikes made in China because I don't want my house to go up in flames. The batteries from reputable companies like Giant seem to be more reliable. By the way, I love watching your show because the bikes you work on are the types of bikes I used for my long-distance tours in my heyday. I toured all over Europe for many years on a Trek mountain bike with slick tires. I liked the fit and sturdiness of the frame because without Google maps, I often found myself off-road on pretty rutted trails or on cobblestone streets in tiny villages.

[@robertheim352]

When I grew up in the 60's my bicycle was freedom and fun. I loved exploring the city streets and parks, trekking to the waterfront to fish and doing some ad hoc street rally races with time trials. I have noticed that children are less inclined to ride bicycles now. I suspect the reasons are parental safety concerns, traffic tolerance and opportunity. Now I see children on motor scooters, motor boards and cheap electric bikes more often than a bicycle. Soon we won't need legs!

[@banana122049]

14:21 i agree with this so much. People get so weird about e-bikes and it's funny to me, more butts on bikes is cool to me! I think where they get bothersome is e bikes FLYING by pedestrians and making me (just a dude on a bike) hated by pedestrians just by association. And as a trail builder we have to deal with the whole class 1 or class 2 situation and the e bike snowball effect we're experiencing by letting them on our trails. "If he can bring that e bike then i can bring my surron right?" So they can be bothersome absolutely. But if someone's only problem is that e bikes are passing them then they gotta look in a mirror😂 at the end of the day they get people outside that would otherwise not be outside and that's a great thing!

[@jppac8815]

Couldn’t agree more with this video. I have a normal trek dual sport that I love. I also have a trek e bike that I use as a car replacement and for fun. I started with an Aventon, which tbh was fine and I had a dealer near me to service it. An e-bike allowed me and wife to go from two cars to one. I am more considerate around others and can see the frustration around people who just don’t care. But that’s not an e-bike problem that’s the person and people doing. Think you hit the nail on head. Don’t listen to all those people who are negative. Big fan of the channel!

[@nicksfishroom915]

Bikes are awesome. I think this is the second golden age of the bicycle. They changed the world when the "safety bicycle" came along. This era is making a bike accessible to so many more people. That does come with down sides, and some people shouldn't be riding a bike on public roads, period...but this is a great era for the bicycle. My trucks battery needs to be disconnected as my high end diy ebikes have become the daily drivers. It dies slowly from inactivity and voltage drain. I enjoy wrenching on them as well. I've rebuilt the mid drive motors I use, and can fix anything on my rides. Decades of bike handling skills come in handy on a high end E bike.

[@JimmyB463DP]

Walkers with AirPods or Beats are more dangerous (to themselves) than e-bikers. These people get into their own world and become oblivious to anything else around them. They don’t hear bike bells or the courteous “On your left!” And then get all pissy because they get scared by a bike rider (e-bike or not) and blame e-bikes!

[@rickgordongordonellissteel3761]

I've cycled most of my life since I was a kid. Now I am in my late 60's and last year I switched from a Scott road bike to an electric road touring bike (Eleglide T1). It is purely pedal assist (no throttle) and is fully road legal here in the UK. It has been a game changer for me and I am not sure I would be enjoying my cycling so much, or even cycling at all, if I hadn't bought it. I do mostly cycle touring on a mix of roads and gravel trails, up to around 30 to 40 miles in a day and do lots of multi-day rides staying at B&B's overnight. It has given me a new lease of life and a renewed enjoyment of cycling and I am cycling more with this bike than I was with my previous one, which I believe is quite common with e-bike riders. If electric bikes are used correctly they can be a real benefit for many people who perhaps wouldn't otherwise cycle.

[@ethanswanson9209]

Talked my mother in law into a pedal assist bike and she loves it. Lots of hills in town but now she's biking like she did 15 years ago.

[@ATHIP12]

You are who e-bikes are for. You have experience so you aren't stupid. You're over 65 and could use some muscle help. You don't want to fall, so you'll be safe. Your story is a perfect use for e-bikes.

[@richardchaney6990]

Wife and I are 75 and 76. In reasonably good shape. Been riding regular bikes for years and now also e-bikes. Great fun as it allows us more freedom to ride longer distance, not fight headwinds, carry picnic lunch, etc. HOWEVER…..riding a e-bike safely requires a different mindset. Much Like a motorcycle. Be mindful of faster speed, longer stopping distances, bike weight, Rear flat repair complexity, and most importantly your own physical limitations. Great topic! Thanks, Key West Rick

[@manbidge]

Well said! My wife and I are long time analog mountain bikers and ebike commuters and we really love the benefits of both platforms... We have had emtbs also and enjoyed ripping around the trails but I gave them up due to the intense maintenance and depreciation. MTB fills our physical challenge and social cups while our commuters allow us to cover great distance in the fresh air, in reasonable time and without significant exertion... I'd have ALL the bikes if I could... Love your work Mr B Farmer - keep it up!

[@mitchypooK-6]

I liked the golf e bike video. I don’t golf but I thought it was pretty cool that ppl use e bikes on the course; I didn’t even think about that. Side note, I think a reasonable mind will find your position on e-bikes sound & reasonable tbh; I wouldn’t pay much attention to ppl who are incapable of having thoughtful conversations on a nuanced topic lol

[@cablemodem]

Personally I think ebikes are a blast to ride and they are a game changer for my dad who is well into his 70s. But I think that pedal assist ebikes need to actually be pedal assist ebikes. A lot of them have throttles and the speed limiters can be trivially bypassed. People going 30mph on their 80 pounds electric mopeds need to do so on the street. Where I live there's sometimes speed limits posted on bike lanes, but I've never heard of these speed limits being enforced. Otherwise it is merely suggested to use the street if going faster than 20mph, but its not a requirement, and obviously not enforced.

[@sagehiker]

Well done monologue on the machines, from consumer to small independent bike shop owner. From someone who re-entered bike world late in life, the stark culture wars within is stunning. I have had fellow Boomers on e-bikes diss my pedal power bike on a rail trail this spring that I could not possibly enjoy my own powering around. BTW, the 720 prop. I see an e-cargo bike in my near future

[@georgeadams-mb6yd]

r Please note that in the very early 1900's there was 20 horses to 1 automobile on the roads in the USA. Things change over time. My local bicycle shop works on my ebikes mechanicals but not the electrical power side. That's cool with me. I'm only asked to remove the battery when I bring it in for service.

[@cup_and_cone]

eBikes have their purpose, but like all things, there's a time and a place. There are also too many electric motorcycles (Surrons) being passed off as eBikes.

[@stddef]

I Just discovered your channel. Great job! My wife and I took up casual bike riding when we turned 40. We mostly ride in the Grand Teton park and could make 20 miles max. The hills are certainly a challenge and we would have to walk our bikes at times. We our now 60 years old. We purchased our ebikes two years ago and it has been a game changer. We have class 3 Priority Currents. No throttle. No more walking on the hills and we can make 30 miles comfortably. It is unfortunate that some folks are biased against ebikes. When you are riding, one will find bad trail etiquette regardless of the mode of travel. Difference in speed and weight is the issue. Our ebikes our no faster than the serious cyclists on the trail, but they do weigh more. The Current is on the lighter side for the torque it has. Lots of hills in the Tetons. Given the weight and speed a certain skill level is required to operate them. For myself, a long time motocrosser, it was not a big deal for me. For my wife, she is still learning and she has been riding bicycles regularly for 20 years. We have over 400 miles on our ebikes. Generally ride at 15 Mph with a max of 20. We have a bell and announce ourselves when passing. We also only ride single file on the correct side of the bike path and wear a proper certified ebike helmet.

[@DeeWaske]

At 71 yrs. old I went from motorcycles to a 750 W. ebike. I pedal almost all the time and my fitness level has shot a way up. It is a Chinese hub motor bike with a throttle which I use to maintain an even pedaling cadence. Now I have started riding my unassisted mtb and enjoying the feeling of propelling along under my own power. I just racked up over 6,000 kilometers on the ebike and I do my own maintenance . I have replaced the tires once, the chain three times and the disc brake pads four times. There's not much flat country where I live, so its hard on brakes. I have had to fix a rear flat at the side of the road and it was totally doable. I carry tools, spare tube and a rechargeable tire pump. I turned 74 this year. The ebike has been a life changer for me.

[@JeffDavis771]

Andy, you're awesome man. I appreciate your videos and your willingness to share your genuine opinions on all sorts of stuff.

[@davecroft2991]

So I got a pair of cargo ebikes. The wife and I consider them mopeds, and they are fun. We put the kids on the back as well. They have their purpose and it got the wife back on a "bike" and it brought back the joy she had as a kid. I see now that I could buy an affordable lightweight bikes thanks to your channel. Another KZbinr, Johnny Nerd Out, has diy options I'm considering for future ebikes that would allow me to service them myself. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and knowledge. I love you channel.

[@fallenshallrise]

When I used to commute 5 days a week 100% during the tour dudes are out there in a race that no one else knows that they are in and pass you in inappropriate places or draft you like a 2 person peloton (and then pull in front and slow way down because they stupidly didn't notice a massive headwind). All these posers are now being crushed on the commute by boomers and parents on cargo bikes with their kids on the back and their egos can't take it so they turn to the youtube comments.

[@waterboxer87]

I resisted e-bikes until age 72. I need to keep my heart rate within a safe range. I ride dirt and gravel roads exclusively. I noticed my heart rate rising into the danger zone when climbing. I relented and bought two e-bikes, a gravel bike and a mountain bike. Oh man! I can tackle the most difficult portions of my rides with gusto while keeping my heart rate in a safe range. I have not given up my "push" bikes. I used these bikes regularly but on trails that do not adversely affect my heart rate. I have built bikes from scratch and have experience working with electrical circuits, so I am not intimidated by having to diagnose and repair my e-bikes. My e-bikes allow me to ride vigorously while keeping my healthy.

[@marcomcdowell8861]

E-Bikes are cool. I've ridden a few and they are fun, but they need to be classified. They are not push bikes and shouldn't be considered in the same category. They're motorized vehicles and shouldn't be on standard bicycle trails or sidewalks. I don't feel you need to be licensed...yet, but I expect the speeds and ranges to increase and they'll eventually be grouped in with motorbikes and mopeds. The biggest issue is that since they have the same freedoms as a regular bike, the e-bikers treat them as so, but don't realize that the speeds and weights of the things cause them to respond differently. I've seen clowns doing 28, weaving through crowds and knocking cyclists over in bike lanes. Pretty sure after a few e-bike related deaths, governments will crack down or implement some ordnance laying out usage.

[@chriscoddington5610]

As a bike rider with both electric and human only powered I love both. They both have their place in my life. I'm gradually passing out my car is in town, and that would be a lot less successful without my electric bike.

[@Thecrazyvaclav]

I’m a mobile bike mechanic in the UK, my liability insurance is currently £600 pa, if I want to work on e-bikes it goes up to £2200pa, so I’m sticking to non e-bikes for the time being.

[@whazzat8015]

Your e-bike premium is too low, given the risk of fire alone.

[@Thecrazyvaclav]

@@whazzat8015 statistics from uk fire brigades and insurance companies say it’s a 0.003% or 1 in 30,000 chance of Ebike fires in the uk, that’s very small, anything else you want to be wrong about ?

[@whazzat8015]

​@@Thecrazyvaclav As BF says, the liability especially in the bikes predominantly dominating the import market, outweighs benefits. 3.5x premium over standard bikes is light. Not sure what you make per visit, but at 3.5x it, it would probably make a lot of ebikes disposable. Look at service charges by factory certified shops , for a better perspective on risk calculation. Lithium bats require knowledgeable care, not low bid manufacture by workers whose other career options are as organ donors. Sony and Samsung struggled with it . Try taking one on a plane. Look at the NYC experience. Insurance actuarial "logic" is just a horoscope with numbers , anyway.

[@Thecrazyvaclav]

@@whazzat8015 the insurance is weighted as BF says, if I touch it and it goes wrong it’s up to me to fix, or fight them via insurance because they claim I fixed it wrong,I’m not paying out an extra £40+ a week for the hassle, I’m Bosch, Fazua, Yamaha and shimano trained, got the certificates just not fixing them, if I go back to a shop I’ll fix them, if someone else pays the insurance

[@brianjay1317]

huge advocate for ebikes. have a cargo ebikes that's fun and replaces so many car trips. live near a multi use trail that i use for dog walks, runs, and bike rides. have noticed a lot more ebikes, but they have not caused any problems. certainly no more problems than regular bikes. it is always nice to see people on the trail would otherwise would not be using it. they tend to stick to a leisurely pace, too. i use my bell a lot on blind curves and tunnels. think they are perfectly safe as long as people are reasonably considerate, which they have been in my experience. only concern would be younger kids who seem more reckless and tend to ride at night. but overall, i love ebikes and hope to see the continued growth and use of them. (would definitely prefer more dedicated bike infrastructure, but that is a different conversation. one that may be more salient with the prevalence of ebikes).

[@deanh7190]

Peaceful coexistence is possible for e-bikes and classic bicycles the same way that ICE vehicles share the road with hybrids and electrics. We own 2 e-bikes and agree with everything the Bike Farmer has shared concerning the subject. When in a congested area, we slow down and match the speed of the other bikers the same way you do in traffic with your vehicles but do pass when it is safe to do so. Ours are full suspension, fat tire machines that allow 2 senior citizens to get back on the trails with the help they need. State Park roads typically posted at 25 mph are ideal for these bikes as well as the desert trails & sandy beaches they have visited. btw Our Park bike stand handles them well since they are only 58 lbs sans 12 lb battery. We travel via RV and do our own service.

[@MikeConner88]

I disagree with no ebikes on bike paths, maybe class 3 ebikes. I have seen road bikes running faster than ebikes on those paths. If it weren't for our Hyper Eride City bikes, my wife and I wouldn't be able to enjoy biking together. Ebikes help people who normally wouldn't ride get out and enjoy it. I ride mine to work 6 miles everyday as often as I can! I also believe many who judge ebikes have also never ridden one! LOL

[@garyseckel295]

Class 1 E-assist here. Bike Path legal too!!!

[@whitefluffydogs9278]

I live in a city and got a pedal-assist to eventually replace my car. I live in the foothills and now I am able to go up the steep hills in my neighborhood. I had stopped biking during college and now I ride for fun, too!

[@jstar1000]

I've been a bike riding and wrenching fool for a good 40 years now. I've owned 100s of bikes in my life, was a huge flipper back in the early 2000s. I've always had at least 10 bikes at any given point in time. Anyway, I've had several ebikes now, have three right now. I built up a 2003 Gary Fischer disc brake bike and put a $1000 ebike mid drive kit on it and its a beast. Love it for hitting hard stuff I'm too old to do now, it makes it possible and is fun AF. I also bought a hard used Chinese rear hub ebike and pretty much rebuilt it and installed two broken spokes. I took the rear hub apart and the plastic gears were worn out and I found them on Alibaba, replaced them and greased the hub motor and all was good with that. I also replaced the screen, the controller as well as the rear derailleur and throttle. All that stuff is really pretty easy and its all accessible for purchase. I had a good $1000 into the bike once I was done and ended up getting lucky and sold it to a guy for that amount so I broke even but learned a ton for free. Oh I also replaced the folding telescoping stem as it was worn out from use. They are not that difficult to service in my opinion they are just a little different. Its the future, ebikes are not going away so if you want to not go there I get it but its a revenue source your not going to have so someone else will take that slot for you I'm sure.

[@38andyp]

I have a electric hardtail mountain bike from ghost they R a German company they also have a sister company cube .the bike is amazing

[@Kay0Bot]

Ebikes are here to stay and bike shop are adapting. One of my local bike shops now accepts ebike for repairs.

[@tombain5220]

I live in southern Utah. I been riding MTB for thirty years. Built trails ,maintenanced trails and work and repair all my bikes. My family and I own a lot of bikes. I am 64 now and I got a Trek exe this spring and love it. I'm riding twice the miles a week and multiple laps on trails I used to ride one lap on, You nailed this with the ego issue of bikers not liking getting passed or lapped. I have never had an issue with people passing me. it;s not a race. If you want a real race, enter a real race. I get more saddle time and I run mine in eco mode. I love being able to adjust my power levels and use the wattage meter and see how much power I am putting out with the motor vs me. Never knew the wattage I was producing. It allows you to stay in a high aerobic level much longer without killing yourself. Now when a ride my regular bikes, I'm faster too and it feels easier.

[@whazzat8015]

So maybe limit them to Handicapped and over 65?

[@CharlesThomson-i2e]

I am a e-bike tech with 40 years of experience it is a learning curve and they are very dangerous so to all you e-bike purchasers be aware they will hurt you

[@F3udF1st]

You should get into motorcycling!

[@terrycruise-zd5tw]

also its easier, cheaper and better to convert your own regular bike into an ebike. as long as you source your reputable parts from a reputable dealer like lunacycles for example then you can easily repair them yourself. never buy ebike motors or batteries directly from amazon or aliexpress

[@garyseckel295]

YUP! Also look up Grin Technologies!

[@laserbrain7774]

28-32mm is the perfect width for 700C tires, but 35 is better than 23. And electric bikes that have throttles are mopeds and should be regulated as such.

[@haraldthi]

I have a throttle but have set it for walking speeds only, and I think that should be legal. I use it for camping, hauling heavy loads up steep hills, and when I walk my bicycle up some trail that's too rocky to ride. But for anything faster than you could walk, I'll agree.

[@escgoogle3865]

US regulators gave away too much. Japanese and EU regs are more sane. A 20mph throttled ebike is bonkers when e-mopeds are capped at 28mph

[@zoominbc]

Thanks for putting your thoughts together so well. Right on the money.

[@cbyron9308]

This is the same argument I heard when snowboarders started using hills or the skate skiers the trails.

[@MHH3180]

There is no such thing as a motor, controller or throttle that is meant to be throttle ridden. Not one. Yes, there are bikes made that way, but not their motors. First you go through a throttle, then a controller and by then you have over heated the motor enough that magnets begin to drop out. The only things that make more money for our shop than replacing controllers are torque sensing mid-drive conversions and fat tire flats (thinnest rubber of all tires). I should explain that e-bikes are 85% of my shop's business. Ours is the only shop that will service DTC bikes. We are listed as warrenty service for most major brands outside of Trek, Giant and Specialized and their subsidiaries (all of which are awesome bikes, BTW). All that said, if we had a fully funded and functioning CPSC, like we had in The 70's, almost all e-bikes would be banned. You are so right, the junk is nothing short of shocking. One major brand has trouble with split rims. Another has never had a model without a major safety issue. Fat tire e-bikes are particularly dangerous, but absurdly popular (I would stock them and sell all I could get if they made any sense at all). A hub drive rests on short spokes that are barely crossed and never laced. They are thick and stiff, so instead of acting as a suspension, as they should, they just poke up into the tire and loosen constantly. On the positive side, getting $100 to relace a new one is really easy money. All the motors massive weight, most of your weight, the weight of the bike and everything you carry are all sitting on those awful spokes. Anyone can become a bike mfg. Go to Alibaba, buy 12 and they'll private label them. Buy a container and you can choose your frame and components. Because these are not cyclists, they get everything they think looks "cool" and then save money by ordering the cheapest components possible because few know the difference. If your bike has components you see st Walmart, it's probably junk.

[@cablemodem]

Thank you for your comment, hearing about people who work on them is interesting.

[@whazzat8015]

AGREE ! Moto's is motos. Regulate, License Insure

[@MHH3180]

@@whazzat8015 no, don't bring them in, in the first place and there will be no need for those things.

[@whazzat8015]

@@MHH3180 Inspection like we mandate for car safety CPSC and UL approval would be a start. If insurance and licensing was mandated, that would get it done. It works for other motor vehicles.

[@stevemcfate1961]

I don't like them, for disabled folks or very elderly I understand. For the guys in their 20s I see blasting away at 30mph on the bike bath, blasting music, no ear buds, smoking cigarettes, and even drinking, no, these are dangerous and detrimental to biking. E bikes aren't bicycles, they are motor driven cycles

[@wmcrosbyesq]

Ebikes allowed this (now) 70-year-old former road cyclist, bike commuter to keep riding particularly as I was edging up on a righ knee TKR. I can't wait to have sufficient flexion to be back on the Ebike and hybrid, and ultimately the road bike.

[@andyj7296]

Sounds like the issue is servicing an eBike. Maybe we should work on fixing the problems servicing e-bikes. Ie liability, legislation to ban cheep dangerous eBike.

[@garyseckel295]

Imported bike batteries already in America on sale. Illegal in near future for NON UL-Registered batteries, bicycles! Non UL battery can burn houses down!!!

[@bkefrmr]

UL batteries have burned down homes too. EU has different standards too. It’s not that simple.

[@bbanzai444]

e-bike are good, except for when they aren't. the 'aren't' reasons can, and should be addressed with out attacking the concept as a whole.

[@garyseckel295]

Comes down to TOO high speeds on bicycle paths/trails.

[@bbanzai444]

@@garyseckel295 I ride trails a lot on a manual bike and have passed more ebikes than have passed me, and I am not an exceptionally fast rider. Also been passed by more manual bikes than ebikes. I've also seen slower bike riders of all types create more risky situations for pedestrians and others than faster riders... So really not sure what your post has to do with ebikes, tbh... And don't agree that speed is the most important factor is risk...

[@garyseckel295]

@@bbanzai444 Just about everybody passes me.

[@bbanzai444]

@@garyseckel295 nothing wrong with that. ​ i been the slow guy but been working into better shape last few years. none more so than this year where I got a lightweight e-bike that made riding more fun and ended up with me riding more _unassisted_ miles than I ever have. when i have used assist I really don't go any faster, especially in terms on peak speed, i just get up to speed faster & easier, and can take a break without stopping on a hot day. which is part of why I push back on broad generalizations about e-bikes... hope all your rides are great ones, no matter the speed!

[@bypassadventures]

Great video. Like I said in our last conversation, I've realized it's the trail manners around my area THATS my trigger, not the E-bike. And it's funny we have friends coming to visit, and they want to rent E-bikes and ride some of the Lake tahoe bike paths. So hear i go trying an E-bike on paths just like you talked about 😢😅.

[@ethanswanson9209]

A person can be rude/dangerous on any bike and the weight difference isn't that big when you come down to it. E-bikes certainly allow people to get dangerous more easily, but not exclusively. I agree on trail manners to the point I've started calling out people who are ignoring them. Though sometimes it just a loud "Jesus Christ"

[@TheQuietPartisLoud]

We gotta get school gym programs going where students learn about local rules and skills for cycling!

[@Euniceiscool]

Just wanted to say hub motor e-bikes aren't all that bad. The other week I was doing a 50km commute home at 3am and my chain broke because I was down shifting on a hill. I was able to get home because I could use my hub motor independently from the drive train. On a mid-drive you can't do that. There are also some differences between geared hub motors and direct drive hub motors which are to be considered when picking one, but hub motors and mid-drives are all good for different reasons. I agree that multi-use pathways are terrible for e-bikes. I've been using them a bit because I'm exploring different routes, but I absolutely do not feel safe going fast on them, and it surprises me when other people ride recklessly. I think the infrastructure should be re-designed. The reality is if I am trying to go somewhere, I want to go fast and be on the road like cars, but I don't want to be with cars. If I am riding recreationally, then I can understand the appeal of a multi-use pathway, because I don't care about my speed.

[@waltk7624]

E-bikes are the most fun ever , the whole mountain bike is uncomfortable awkward and painful. I first bought kits to make my own e-bike with power to get up hills. Never ever going back

[@MaryAnnBollinger]

Added a badang motor to a trek Marlin 4. Have 2000 miles with no issues. Wish for stronger braking as the bike is heavy and big. With throttle this is a safe urban bike. Still enjoy my road bike since riding with friends is hard with the electric-can not match speeds all the time.

[@Adventures4vida]

I've lost 60 pounds this year on my Bosch powered ebike.

[@gnufoo8478]

You have to switch that thing on ! 😂

[@toth.42]

>Electric cars start fires too yep, so does gas cars - at a way higher rate :) In the United States, EVs caught fire at a rate of 25 per 100,000 sold compared with 1,529 per 100,000 gas cars sold

[@toth.42]

My eMTB has been a blessing for me - I used to have riding buddies on normal bikes, but when they got tired of climbing challenging trails in the woods, I found it hard to stay motivated to go out alone time and time again. I bit the lemon after a few years and bought an electric, not expecting the enormous advantage. My average HR is maybe 10bpm lower on a ride, but I go three times as far and stay out double the time. So for me, it's actually increased my excercise level substantially. I still use my normal trail bike, and always take it when I ride with buddies(or even offer them the ebike if their not quite as in shape).

[@mateobarnstone1591]

Got an e-bike and sold my car - one less car on the road, one less car/insurance/maintenance/registration for me. And I'm biking again after a 20 years of not. . .what's not to like? Luckily - I have three LBS within 2 miles of me that work on e-bikes. Most of the service I do at home (in fact, that's how I came to this channel, thank you Bike Farmer for showing me how!). I do go on trails, but I behave appropriately for the trails. Fast on the streets, slow and respectfully on the trails.

[@garyseckel295]

No longer drive anymore here either. My Class 1 Hase Lepus is everything to me now!

[@jimwildasin4464]

I love bicycles, always have. At one point I worked on everyones in the neighborhood, about 50 years ago. Currently have a e-assist specialized and love it, still ride my '97 Trek 2100, still love it. Hat class 3 scooters, most times I see many flying on them while peddling 1 RPD. Rotation per Day !! Still looking for a small frame Cannondale M800, Beast of The East from the late 80's was my dream bike and couldn't afford one back then. Love your channels and most times you opinion, Keep up the great channel

[@JohnnytheBikeGuySLC]

I agree with a lot and strongly disagree with a lot of what you said. Also I am enjoying 70% ebike service these days from all the idiots at shops that make these ridiculous excuses. I will happily work on ANY ebike. Your liability fears are 100% false. Good for a laugh tho farmer

[@garyseckel295]

Respect BOTH opinions!

[@judymc4213]

I'm a cyclist that has had a lifelong struggle with obesity. Yup. Overweight. But, I ride and ride. I am in the process of researching an e-bike because I'm approaching 69. I will keep my pedal bikes [ Specialized x2 and Electra Townie]but an e-bike will keep me riding vs driving my car. I most likely will buy an Aventon from a local shop who is not afraid to service the bike.

[@litz13]

I will say this ... I have a 3-4 year old e-bike; it's basically hardtail just like this one, with a hub motor, from a large major manufacturer. It truly is an awesome bike; great for commuter riding. And it's built with all Shimano components, very easy to find parts. But I can totally see your standpoint as a shopowner; especially the liability question. For myself, I pride myself on being able to service and fix anything I own. I just like working with tools with my hands. My current "stable" is an early 90s Trek 930, and this commuter e-bike. Each has their places. And both are fun.

[@Musical_Man_Guitar]

This is odd, if I get too old to pedal hard I will get an e-bike. It just allows you to enjoy yourself on a bike for longer. I do think lazy sod when a 20 year old passes me though, sorry, it just pops into my head.....lol

[@MHH3180]

That 20 something is probably commuting. They are replacing their cars where I live. That's something we all talked about from 70-2k's on our traditional bikes, but never really did. I'm a Boomer myself, but I am kind of proud of the younger generation's willingness to pass on car culture.

[@MrHoustonismydog]

I have 5 bikes, 2 are e-bikes. I love riding both peddle and e-bikes. The e-bikes I ride to pickleball in the summer in SWFL when it’s 90+ degrees out and they’re great. They’re fun and honestly I don’t give a shit what anyone thinks. I’m a safe and polite rider on either bike. “Enjoy, we’ll all be dead soon ( Ricky Gervais)”

[@whazzat8015]

Fine. Regulate, License, Insure. Problem is with abuse, not the tool. Might as well ask for gun reform. Untrained, uncourteous fools with more power than skill, and more ego than brains are the problem. Totally agree with your perspective and issue. Too many poorly made, poorly designed to be a generalist. Too much to go wrong too many traps. I've been building and on EndlessSphere for a decade