Todd
1 W
Good Day Everyone,
I'm looking for your thoughts and experience to help with this issue. It just may not be as rare as I think it is.
I'm using the term “upside-down" in reference to the cash spent on the wrong E bike.
A little back story: I was contacted by a friend asking if I would talk with a gentleman about his e-bike. According to my friend, “he's wondering if it could be adjusted.” This is not the first time this has happened over the years.
Thinking this would be a Q&A session, I gave him a call and met with him and his e-bike in town. We live in Brattleboro Vermont, USA 05301 (42.8503° N, 72.5613° W), a hilly, little New England town with a small E bike movement, having two LBS's selling kits and manufactured e bikes. Now to be clear, their knowledge is brochure/manufactured sales rep-based (for good, or bad; no real “I read online...” talk). In a short time, it was apparent he had recently purchased an e-bike that looked nice.... though would not serve his needs.
His need, as with most in the community, was and is commuting/recreation while overcoming Vermont hills. He's a slender, 6' tall man in his mid- to late-50s. He likes the looks and the bike overall, though not the reality that the brochure must have been speaking to those riding on level ground, “Providing the power, durability and performance you have come to expect from American-built ProdecTech e Bikes, the Rebel X9 is truly in a class all its own.” Yeah, enough said.
The BIKE: ProdecTech: Rebel X9-- $2,999.00+tax --https://www.prodecotech.com/electric-bikes/rebel-x9/
The issues:
1. “ProdecTech: Rebel X9”....36v-front hub motor / 600w on a bike weighing in at around 70lbs. I n Brattleboro, Vermont, this combo does not level hills, or even shorten them. The assist on level ground is but a tease before the next hill.
2. The purchase of a second battery to increase range. Ride time was greatly reduced with throttle at max most all of the time. Cost with tax, approximately $660.00.
The total: He says around $3,500.00. My math equals closer to $3,800.00.
My thought was to sell the bike and extra battery outright, then I would build him a bike that would fit his needs. I would do this for the the love of e bikes, he would be taking a pretty good hit anyways and I'm not looking to take more of his money. What does that look like? We pick up an inexpensive Fat Bike from Bikes Direct or the like (other than the Avid Guide 4 Piston Hydraulic Disc Brakes and the NuVinci N380 Speed Hub it's really nothing special), 1000 watt HD Mid Drive kit – 52volt /13ah pack, internal rear hub, decent mountain front hub, upgrade the disc brakes to BB7's and call it a day, or a weekend. All for around $2,400-$2,500. Now like I said earlier, HE LIKES the bike.
He's asking, “Can I keep the bike, sell the batteries and hub motor to pay the cost of the mid drive and battery? I don't hink this will come close to paying for the new set-up, the parts just don't seem to add up to what is needed. $150.00 for the hub motor, $50 for the BB, crank and chain ring, and then there's the two integrated down tube batteries, unless we were to find someone wanting, or in need of those two integrated down tube batteries that only secure to a few bikes, what can they be worth? $1000?
Now don't get me wrong, all those cells would make a nice 52v 17amph pack, but hell that's a lot of work. Really more than I have time for if he's to ride before..say.. Autumn.
So any other ideas??
Thank you in advance
I'm looking for your thoughts and experience to help with this issue. It just may not be as rare as I think it is.
I'm using the term “upside-down" in reference to the cash spent on the wrong E bike.
A little back story: I was contacted by a friend asking if I would talk with a gentleman about his e-bike. According to my friend, “he's wondering if it could be adjusted.” This is not the first time this has happened over the years.
Thinking this would be a Q&A session, I gave him a call and met with him and his e-bike in town. We live in Brattleboro Vermont, USA 05301 (42.8503° N, 72.5613° W), a hilly, little New England town with a small E bike movement, having two LBS's selling kits and manufactured e bikes. Now to be clear, their knowledge is brochure/manufactured sales rep-based (for good, or bad; no real “I read online...” talk). In a short time, it was apparent he had recently purchased an e-bike that looked nice.... though would not serve his needs.
His need, as with most in the community, was and is commuting/recreation while overcoming Vermont hills. He's a slender, 6' tall man in his mid- to late-50s. He likes the looks and the bike overall, though not the reality that the brochure must have been speaking to those riding on level ground, “Providing the power, durability and performance you have come to expect from American-built ProdecTech e Bikes, the Rebel X9 is truly in a class all its own.” Yeah, enough said.
The BIKE: ProdecTech: Rebel X9-- $2,999.00+tax --https://www.prodecotech.com/electric-bikes/rebel-x9/
The issues:
1. “ProdecTech: Rebel X9”....36v-front hub motor / 600w on a bike weighing in at around 70lbs. I n Brattleboro, Vermont, this combo does not level hills, or even shorten them. The assist on level ground is but a tease before the next hill.
2. The purchase of a second battery to increase range. Ride time was greatly reduced with throttle at max most all of the time. Cost with tax, approximately $660.00.
The total: He says around $3,500.00. My math equals closer to $3,800.00.
My thought was to sell the bike and extra battery outright, then I would build him a bike that would fit his needs. I would do this for the the love of e bikes, he would be taking a pretty good hit anyways and I'm not looking to take more of his money. What does that look like? We pick up an inexpensive Fat Bike from Bikes Direct or the like (other than the Avid Guide 4 Piston Hydraulic Disc Brakes and the NuVinci N380 Speed Hub it's really nothing special), 1000 watt HD Mid Drive kit – 52volt /13ah pack, internal rear hub, decent mountain front hub, upgrade the disc brakes to BB7's and call it a day, or a weekend. All for around $2,400-$2,500. Now like I said earlier, HE LIKES the bike.
He's asking, “Can I keep the bike, sell the batteries and hub motor to pay the cost of the mid drive and battery? I don't hink this will come close to paying for the new set-up, the parts just don't seem to add up to what is needed. $150.00 for the hub motor, $50 for the BB, crank and chain ring, and then there's the two integrated down tube batteries, unless we were to find someone wanting, or in need of those two integrated down tube batteries that only secure to a few bikes, what can they be worth? $1000?
Now don't get me wrong, all those cells would make a nice 52v 17amph pack, but hell that's a lot of work. Really more than I have time for if he's to ride before..say.. Autumn.
So any other ideas??
Thank you in advance