2020 Explore E+ 4 GTS worth in 2025?

[psychopompusJY]

I found this in almost new condition for 1000 CAD(692.61USD). Would it be worth it for me? It's the first e-bike in my life. any advice? I used to ride a normal road bike before.

 

[E-HP]

Depends on the battery condition. You should usually assume you’ll need to replace it when making a decision, especially after 5 years. Just poking around, looks like a battery goes for around for the asking price of the bike itself.
Knowing that as the seller, I’d probably make the same decision to sell the bike cheap, rather than buy a new battery, if the existing one was getting tired.

 

[psychopompusJY]

Depends on the battery condition. You should usually assume you’ll need to replace it when making a decision, especially after 5 years. Just poking around, looks like a battery goes for around for the asking price of the bike itself.
Knowing that as the seller, I’d probably make the same decision to sell the bike cheap, rather than buy a new battery, if the existing one was getting tired.

the seller told me that last time she made 75km range and still 1 bar left so range about 90km. and she used about 600kms. I am worried about the battery because I have no idea if I could put DIY battery in Giant bike.

 

[E-HP]

So if I were making the decision for myself, and assuming I’d sooner or later be purchasing a replacement battery, and assuming sooner to be conservative, then the question becomes would I buy that bike for $1400? I think based on the super low miles on a 5 year old bike, then it’s probably a fair deal. The Yamaha mid drive has decent performance for a small motor. If the battery is better than expected, then it may be a good deal.
If the 75km ride was recent, then that’s a good sign.

 

[Chalo]

The fact that the battery is probably 6 years old now, and a proprietary shape that might make it tricky to replace, would deter me from buying a bike like that. But I would say the same for the proprietary motor, controller, display, and maybe even charger that the bike uses.

At a minimum, check price and availability for a brand new replacement battery that is guaranteed to work with that bike.

Full disclosure: I work for a shop that deals Giant e-bikes. I wouldn't openly advocate against them while I'm at work there, but when I'm on my own time I'm only too happy to warn people against bikes that trap them into a closed parts ecosystem and leave them at the mercy of a single supplier.

 

[neptronix]

Here's the problem with bikes like that.

Due to all the proprietary parts, and anti-consumer lockouts, they're unlikely to be fixable or upgradable in any way. Unlike a regular DIY build, they don't have standard interfaces for things like the mid drive or battery, so the things you need to swap when they break.. you can't swap.

It may be cheaper than converting a bike but at some point it's value will drop to $0.
I personally wouldn't accept one for free.

 

[E-HP]

The fact that the battery is probably 6 years old now, and a proprietary shape that might make it tricky to replace, would deter me from buying a bike like that.

Looking online, it looks like the battery has 3 prongs, +, -, and a wire that communicates with the charger for their smart charging feature, so less locked down than most proprietary setups, like Specialized, for instance.

 

[Chalo]

Looking online, it looks like the battery has 3 prongs, +, -, and a wire that communicates with the charger for their smart charging feature, so less locked down than most proprietary setups, like Specialized, for instance.

At best, that means a no-longer-available battery would need an elaborate heart transplant to bring it back when it's worn out, or an external battery would have to be strapped on somewhere. Either one is an option (as long as there's no secret electronic handshake involved), but neither is as easy as switching to a new Hailong pack or the like.

 

[E-HP]

At best, that means a no-longer-available battery would need an elaborate heart transplant to bring it back when it's worn out, or an external battery would have to be strapped on somewhere. Either one is an option (as long as there's no secret electronic handshake involved), but neither is as easy as switching to a new Hailong pack or the like.

It looked available at $700. It's a money maker for them.

 

[Chalo]

It looked available at $700. It's a money maker for them.

Hopefully it will stay that way for Giant, or they'll stop making and selling it.

 

[fill]

Fwiw my take:
If you want a bike that will last dont think built in think bolt on. what you loose in a sleek stylish look, you gain in vfm and the ability to fix any issues quickly with readily available generic inexpensive replacements.

The Built in bikes are grand until an issue develops, then parts availability/cost issues can complicate what should be a straight forward fix, and replacement batteries often carry a Huge premium costing 2-3x sometimes even more than what a generic package using quality cells would cost.

The realisation of this did kinda burst my expectation bubble as i did have my heart initially set on the usual built in looks cool e-bike.. Thankfully common sense won out..

However It also opens up all the great value for money 2nd use bikes you can select as a conversion base.. A comfortable bike to ride should convert into a comfortable e-bike..

 

[E-HP]

Hopefully it will stay that way for Giant, or they'll stop making and selling it.

Hefty profit for a 36V battery though.
I think if the seller can be trusted and the 75km (90km estimated?) ride was very recent, then the battery would be in decent shape. That's pretty good range for a battery, if it's the 500Wh version, and better if its the 340Wh version.