What makes an e-bike good? (survey with prize)

[vlac]

Hello Everyone,

I am currently developing a new electric bike, and there are still some open points I would like to ask you, to help me decide how much effort should be taken into different aspects (make it silent, weight, price, etc..).
What makes an e-bike/pedelec good?
To help you motivate a bit for filling up the survey you can participate in a draw where you can win 40 EUR (~43USD). Survey will be open till 21th of July.

Please let me know if you have any notes/suggestions!
Thank you!
vlac

 

[Az.]

1. Repairability (no proprietary technology).
2. Enough power to climb steepest hills.
3. Attractive price.
4. Sound - the quieter the better.
5. Compliance with local law.

PS If you have spare money, please donate to the forum.

 

[Chalo]

For me, what makes an e-bike good is understanding it fully. Also it's good if it fits my body, my intent for it, my taste, and my budget. Components don't have to be fancy but workmanship must be excellent. It can't be good if it's not easily maintainable and reconfigurable.

Put all these factors together, and I can't have a good e-bike unless I build it myself. To me, this isn't something you can buy off the rack and get a good one, unless as a rider you're so generic or so indifferent that some hustler's business vision works perfectly for you. (In which case you're already a fully committed car driver.)

 

[docw009]

What makes my ebikes good?
-Light weight,
-Runs on any battery with XT60 connectors, and also without a battery if necessary,
-Uncomplicated. No apps.
-Low cost, If it disappears, I can't claim on insurance because it's hardly any more than my deductible,

What would make them better?
-Batteries that don't explode,

 

[99t4]

Puts a big smile on my face every time I ride it.

 

[Chalo]

Puts a big smile on my face every time I ride it.

I wish I could say that about my own e-bikes, but I must usually ride them in proximity to car and useless-truck drivers. That results in negative smiles which often cancel out the positive ones.

 

[slaphappygamer]

+1 for no apps. #softwarekillshardware

 

[E-HP]

What makes an ebike good?
A company where both the leadership and employees are avid ebike riders, and have a passion and priority for making ebikes available/accessible to everyone. Leadership that when faced with a decision to spend that extra dollar on improving the riding experience or putting it in their pocket as profit, decides in favor of the rider. A company that doesn't use integration as a way of locking riders into expensive servicing or discourage riders from making changes or modifications to suit their situations; keeping drive train components separate from accessories such as lights, horns, alarms, etc., by creating non-integrated subsystems.

 

[gromike]

I'm in the build your own camp and haven't ridden any quality production ebikes yet. But first for me would be fitment, second would be handling, Then it would be implementation of the motor and its pedal feel. I can do everything at under 500w with a proper bike, but I definitely do want a throttle (and 30+mph!)

 

[marty]

For me. I have some strange obsession with service manuals. I collect PDF files in my computer. I refuse to buy anything that costs a $1000 of more if the manufacturer does not share service manuals. I have a hard time figuring out how to fix stuff if I have no instructions in a service manual. Also do we need software to modify, repair something? if the manufacturer does not share software. I am not buying it.

Also simple easy to navigate website where I can find service manuals and software.

 

[marty]

Lights! White light on the front. Red light on the rear. A electric bicycle without electric lights is stupid. Reflectors as needed are also good.

 

[marty]

Duh. Almost forgot. USB port.

Cup holder on a bicycle is silly.

Also I would like a simple display. All I care about is battery fuel gauge and how fast am I going? MPH.

My brain is full of data. Please don't show me Volts, Amp,s Watts, Watt hours, Amp hours, Horsepower, or anything to do with numbers.

 

[vlac]

Thank you All for your inputs!

If somebody would like to fill out the survey there are still some days left. Of course the discussion/opinions here can go on

 

[sysrq]

Duh. Almost forgot. USB port.

Cup holder on a bicycle is silly.

Also I would like a simple display. All I care about is battery fuel gauge and how fast am I going? MPH.

My brain is full of data. Please don't show me Volts, Amp,s Watts, Watt hours, Amp hours, Horsepower, or anything to do with numbers.

Seems like current and voltage sag graphical curves whic gives you a lot of information at a glance (increased safety) in real time aren't implemented too often without resoring to wiring clutter (dobious Chinese wattmeters with external shunts).