How much money have you spent on ebikes?
- Thread starter broloch
- Start date
Zoot Katz
100 kW
Around twice as much as I'd initially planned.
So I spent it in one chunk and built a bike that still blows my mind.
What I wanted to most avoid was "buyers' remorse" so I bought from a reputable local dealer. http://www.ebikes.ca
The next bike could be lighter and less expensive but I'm afraid that I might already be hooked on the power of the X5 motors.
So I spent it in one chunk and built a bike that still blows my mind.
What I wanted to most avoid was "buyers' remorse" so I bought from a reputable local dealer. http://www.ebikes.ca
The next bike could be lighter and less expensive but I'm afraid that I might already be hooked on the power of the X5 motors.
Reid Welch
1 MW
Have had only two ebikes: a Currie Mongoose Retro Cruiser a couple of years ago (see my early posts here)
It was bomb-proof, heavy as hell, and noisy and SLA and cheap to purchase and full of bugs.
Now it is scrapped.
The present bike cost 200 bucks, plus about five bills for the 36/20 Ping pack and $750 for the sedate yet reliable and strong eZee, plus maybe a hundred bucks more for odds and ends, narrow chain, tools, Bontrager Big Hanks (re-used from the Currie). Also have Justin's 12LED 1Watt flood headlight:
always on, a "see me" light barely adequate for nighttime 20mph running. It's just so simple and stealth,
that light, powered from the Ezee controller, always full brightness.
I see super-duper factory bikes for two and three thousand dollars that run no faster than mine, for sale at the LBC.
They are proprietary-parts and complex with gee-gaws, and slick looking, and look eminently steal-able.
My bike looks like nothing; just what I want, and it cost half the price of a top-quality factory bike.
Plus, it will run submerged in water. You just watch for that stunt. Having fun,
R.
It was bomb-proof, heavy as hell, and noisy and SLA and cheap to purchase and full of bugs.
Now it is scrapped.
The present bike cost 200 bucks, plus about five bills for the 36/20 Ping pack and $750 for the sedate yet reliable and strong eZee, plus maybe a hundred bucks more for odds and ends, narrow chain, tools, Bontrager Big Hanks (re-used from the Currie). Also have Justin's 12LED 1Watt flood headlight:
always on, a "see me" light barely adequate for nighttime 20mph running. It's just so simple and stealth,
that light, powered from the Ezee controller, always full brightness.
I see super-duper factory bikes for two and three thousand dollars that run no faster than mine, for sale at the LBC.
They are proprietary-parts and complex with gee-gaws, and slick looking, and look eminently steal-able.
My bike looks like nothing; just what I want, and it cost half the price of a top-quality factory bike.
Plus, it will run submerged in water. You just watch for that stunt. Having fun,
R.
biohazardman
100 kW
Lets see now there are near $1500 worth of Dewalts and other Lifepo4 batteries, three motor kits $1300 and a motor that is still broke $350, three bikes $1225. Had six wheels built up by the bike shop then tore four of them apart and did them over myself $500, a few extra controllers $230. Various other tidbits like carbon fiber, electrical contactors, four bike racks and various other upgrades ect $500+. I don't think I have enough fingers for that much. Please someone tell me again how much money I am supposed to be saving by doing this. That's basically three whole bikes though so really not as much as it looks like but it is twice what I spent on my car. I have managed to ride 2500+ miles thus far but that’s not going to put much of a dent in the overall cost as yet. Just another costly addiction that may be worth it if I live long enough to get the better share of the fun factor out of it which I fully intend to do. ;^) Such a deal. Should all be worth it by summers end though as I expect to ride loads of fun out of these things and then some.
dogman dan
1 PW
Don't even go there. I have $900 in what is on my commuter bike at this time. I have $1150 in what is on my beach cruiser at this time. All the fried stuff, the 10 garage sale bikes I bought for one part off them, the fried motors, fried controller, many fried chargers, sla's and worn out tires were entertainment budget. 8) As entertainment, the ebikes have been a lot cheaper than a hot air balloon. 
The balloon costs $200 a week to not fly it. Double that if you get it out of the garage.
The balloon costs $200 a week to not fly it. Double that if you get it out of the garage.Just one build so far for me:
$729 Electric Rider Roadrunner kit (included 48v10ah SLA & upgrade to 48v40a Cylte controller)
$700 Ping 48v20ah v1
$15 cheap EBay fenders
$30 front & rear lights
$20 speedo
$60 WattsUp meter
$25 replacement rigid chromoly fork
$150 original cheap bike
TOTAL $1,729
Bill
$729 Electric Rider Roadrunner kit (included 48v10ah SLA & upgrade to 48v40a Cylte controller)
$700 Ping 48v20ah v1
$15 cheap EBay fenders
$30 front & rear lights
$20 speedo
$60 WattsUp meter
$25 replacement rigid chromoly fork
$150 original cheap bike
TOTAL $1,729
Bill
Russell
1 MW
I prefer not to add up the cost of my addictions. 
-R
-R
A
Anonymous
Guest
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Drunkskunk
100 GW
First bike.. to much. it got scrapped to build
The second bike.. too much. But its the ideal bike for me.
The third bike. $203. And its better than the first bike.
The second bike.. too much. But its the ideal bike for me.
The third bike. $203. And its better than the first bike.
Ypedal
100 TW
Ouf... it's completely impossible to nail down a solid number, but a rough conservative guesstimate over the last 4 years would be 25,000$ +
Regrets ? nope. :wink:
Regrets ? nope. :wink:
all these guys have money to blow...now me for example...I built my whole bike for about $500 and it goes 31 mph. I got a discounted Forsen hub motor from cycle9.com and then bought 5 12v lead acid for $75. I already had the bike. And then I bought two new 60 PSI Kenda Kross for $20. About $500 total and it's pretty fast. ONly problem is that it only goes about 9 miles tops. 5 miles full throttle but it's really fast.
dogman dan
1 PW
Dammn Ypedal! That's about as expensive as hot air ballooning. I agree about the no regrets though, We sank about 10 grand a year into ballooning and as soon as we catch up on some bills, we're going flying some more. If you love it enough, ya just find the money.
I agree about the no regrets though, We sank about 10 grand a year into ballooning and as soon as we catch up on some bills, we're going flying some more. If you love it enough, ya just find the money.I've spent... oh, I think I calculated it to be $1800 last time I checked which seems like a silly amount for a tiny metallic object that can barely eek out 30 mph. Still, the car costed me at least $1700 per year just to own and costed me an average $1500 more just to run(including the average crash rate cost calculations, tickets and gas costs, winterization, oil changes, etc.) and at least $1000/year more in depreciation(Let's see... Owned it for two years and sold the car for $2000 less than I initially paid for. Sounds about right!), so I can positively say that my ebike has saved me a bundle of cash as a car replacement thus far. Also, the car seemed to encourage "going out to eat" and other secondary costs that I can't quite directly compare(Like spontaneous trips across the state where I spent money to enjoy a con or just to check out a campus.), so I'd put an estimate on my annual car costs at 1700+1500= 3200 minimum with at least $4000 which includes depreciation(Compare the average annual cost for owning a car is 7800 according to http://www.boston.com/cars/news/articles/2006/04/23/annual_car_cost_hits_7834/, and my depreciation was about 3000 less, so my figure is probably "about accurate"). Now, my total foray into electric vehicles... hmmmm... let's make that $2300 since last May. Scooter($70)+upgrades($80)+motor($100)+controller($200)+a123s($230) = $680 more.
I've also become healthier since getting rid of the car which seems to have magically made me avoid the "<insert family's last name>'s curse" which is basically the belly-fattening of males as they enter into their 20s in my extended family's lineage. I really have to wonder what the total impact on my health-care costs will be if I didn't replace the car. I'd probably still get fatter but, then again, I wonder if the bike might be causing irreparable harm to my back which sounds like it'd be costlier than a little fattening. In that regard, I'm planning on eventually changing to a "townie" set up which would help out in the posture department. I might even add a backing to my seat like the kind a recumbent has, haha.
By the ways, $2000 can get you some awesome batteries and range. I think ping is asking for $/wh now for his 3c batteries, so 2000 can get you 2 kwH = 6 kW continuous and 10 kW, 20 second "bursts". That's some serious range and power for an ebike - Even at a ridiculous estimate of 40 wH / mi. (Possible if you're cruising at 33-40 mph), you'd have to truck 50 miles to deplete it. But, I'd have to add my own electronics to monitor the battery since he doesn't make packs of that size and I trust my own electronics more since I understand them and I'd know "what's up" with my cells instead of having these disastrous mysterious failures. On the other hand, I'd say Headway's cells are a pretty damn good deal at roughly .66/wH in bulk so you could get ~ 3 kwh = 12 kW continuous(At my suggestion of 4C continuous) which can get you 75 mph+ speeds and a 75 mile @ 33-40mph range. That's sounding really practical! If the pack lasts you for 5 years as far as your needs go, that's only $400 / year as opposed to the average $500 people pay *just* for gas (on a motorcycle, estimating. Even more if you compare it to replacing a car).
Scooter($70)+upgrades($80)+motor($100)+controller($200)+a123s($230) = $680 more.I've also become healthier since getting rid of the car which seems to have magically made me avoid the "<insert family's last name>'s curse" which is basically the belly-fattening of males as they enter into their 20s in my extended family's lineage. I really have to wonder what the total impact on my health-care costs will be if I didn't replace the car. I'd probably still get fatter but, then again, I wonder if the bike might be causing irreparable harm to my back which sounds like it'd be costlier than a little fattening. In that regard, I'm planning on eventually changing to a "townie" set up which would help out in the posture department. I might even add a backing to my seat like the kind a recumbent has, haha.
By the ways, $2000 can get you some awesome batteries and range. I think ping is asking for $/wh now for his 3c batteries, so 2000 can get you 2 kwH = 6 kW continuous and 10 kW, 20 second "bursts". That's some serious range and power for an ebike - Even at a ridiculous estimate of 40 wH / mi. (Possible if you're cruising at 33-40 mph), you'd have to truck 50 miles to deplete it. But, I'd have to add my own electronics to monitor the battery since he doesn't make packs of that size and I trust my own electronics more since I understand them and I'd know "what's up" with my cells instead of having these disastrous mysterious failures. On the other hand, I'd say Headway's cells are a pretty damn good deal at roughly .66/wH in bulk so you could get ~ 3 kwh = 12 kW continuous(At my suggestion of 4C continuous) which can get you 75 mph+ speeds and a 75 mile @ 33-40mph range. That's sounding really practical! If the pack lasts you for 5 years as far as your needs go, that's only $400 / year as opposed to the average $500 people pay *just* for gas (on a motorcycle, estimating. Even more if you compare it to replacing a car).
Doctorbass
100 GW
I probably spent over 8000$ for my battery lab equipment and around 4000$ for all my electric bike parts + electrical parts and charger and connections
.. some will spend 14000$ on their Harley Davidson with alot of chrome and will only use it once a month...
Doc
.. some will spend 14000$ on their Harley Davidson with alot of chrome and will only use it once a month...
Doc
Fishmasterdan
100 W
Hmm;
First of all is every one doing this for commuting or hobby??
I am doing it for Hobby.
I have at least 2000$ in the first bike.
The second bike I did for 600$.
The big ticket items are batteries. If you use SLA stuff you can cut your costs down by 2/3.
First of all is every one doing this for commuting or hobby??
I am doing it for Hobby.
I have at least 2000$ in the first bike.
The second bike I did for 600$.
The big ticket items are batteries. If you use SLA stuff you can cut your costs down by 2/3.
dogman dan
1 PW
Started out a hobby, turned into serious transportation, but the hobby aspect is still there for sure. Hence the entertainment budget classification for anything that broke. The second bike is hobby, but can get me to work if the commuter is down.
johnrobholmes
10 MW
Both hobby and commuting for me. On all my projects, batteries, and new welder to build a new frame I am right at $10k. Even my first pink bike build I had over $600 in electronics on a $5 bike.
oatnet
1 MW
I don't know the total amount spent, but I have kept the tally in a spreadsheet since the beginning, adding what I bought stuff for, and subtracting what I sold stuff for. The current balance is (42,562.20) and I have a huge pile of stuff in storage to show for it.
I haven't bought anything since December 2008, but then I have spent @ 15k on the VW Bus conversion and the Comuta-Car.
It is more a hobby for me, although I left my sporstcar in the garage and commuted via ebike for a year and a half. I could have bought an Aptera and an Optibike but I wouldn't have learned so much about how little I know
-JD
I haven't bought anything since December 2008, but then I have spent @ 15k on the VW Bus conversion and the Comuta-Car.
It is more a hobby for me, although I left my sporstcar in the garage and commuted via ebike for a year and a half. I could have bought an Aptera and an Optibike but I wouldn't have learned so much about how little I know
-JD
JinbaIttai
100 W
I do it to save gas money and wear on the car.
I think I've spent about $1500.
But I've saved about $75 so far.
By this time next year I will have saved maybe $300.
I think I've spent about $1500.
But I've saved about $75 so far.
By this time next year I will have saved maybe $300.
pat_smtih
1 mW
I use mine for commuting. Excluding the cost of the commuter bike I already had, I've spent $350 so far but will spend another couple hundred on a battery upgrade when the SLAs finally go.
Link
1 MW
Like...$1000 for one bike. Mebbe $400 for the other.
Then mebbe $200 on some parts I have extra. And I have a $300 order of batteries on hold.
And around $400 of equipment that I could have sort of gotten by with without. Plus some miscellany which I could ballpark at $200.
Soooo...$2,500+. So far. Over a third of what I make in a year. :|
Then mebbe $200 on some parts I have extra. And I have a $300 order of batteries on hold.
And around $400 of equipment that I could have sort of gotten by with without. Plus some miscellany which I could ballpark at $200.
Soooo...$2,500+. So far. Over a third of what I make in a year. :|
zukster
1 kW
Hahahahahahahahahahahhaahahhaahhahahahahahhhahahahahahahahahaahhahahahahaahhaha.
Well over 2000 now. If you add in the 4:1 shrink tube I just had to order - it gets worse.
Well over 2000 now. If you add in the 4:1 shrink tube I just had to order - it gets worse.
