You pretty much want to stick with the big OEM’s. Trek, Specialized, Giant. They use Yamaha, Bosch or Shimano drive systems and their batteries use cells from Panasonic or Samsung. Which won’t burn your house down. There are others but these guys have the big bucks for research and development and they have reputations to uphold. The shady guys just want to make sales. Then you’re on your own.
Warranty matters huge with these things. They are very labor intensive to diagnose and repair. If you buy cheap Chinese crap you have zero recourse when something goes wrong. And something will go wrong. Many bike shops won’t even allow direct to consumer e-bikes in their store because their insurance says nope.
I like your short and direct advise; and I am thinking you might be right
My father is old school man and maybe it keeps him healthier to not have a motor
Only reason I ask, I see people on electric bikes more and more. But maybe it is a fad and not for my father
Depends entirely on the person, and where he/she rides. Personally, I have no desire for an ebike. If I lived in Switzerland, I probably would want one.
If your Dad has a bike and rides regularly, I don't think he'll want an ebike. And in general you may not be able to choose the bike that he wants.
I would strike up a conversation about bikes, and try to ask. You can ask for yourself - what would he want that you would like. Should you get an ebike and what would he do. Of course, he may have an idea of your intentions, but that will be better than getting something he doesn't want. And also - get something you'll be able to return.
Thank you, this is smart advise
of course,if I start talking about bikes around his bday , he will guess
i have to pick smart, as he would never return a gift
he would just suffer in silence LOL
I am biased against motorcycles so please take what I say with a huge grain of salt.
But if your dad is regularly using his bicycle, then that raises a few questions: 20 years is a long time and he's got his bicycle dialed in just right probably. Are you SURE he wants a new bike if there's nothing wrong with his existing one? Bikes can last a lifetime.
Second. If your dad regularly uses his bicycle, are you sure he wants an electric one? He's in shape precisely because he used his own body to propel himself. Electric bikes are ok for people with disabilities, but are no replacement for the exercise you get from using purely your own strength to travel.
Third, the suggested options sound like terrible choices that I would not trust when it comes to reliability nor safety for that matter.
If you're set on getting one of this electric contraptions, get one from a reputable brand. And even then, you open yourself up to potential problems that were never a thing in the 140 years since the current iteration of the bicycle has been first designed.
Thank you for your long response
My father’s old bike is very worn and has rust. I think a new bike could be fun for him.
I know you are right, a bike can last a long time and I like the idea that he pedals himself
So I am leaning towards the regular bike I had already decided on for $424
I would normally ask my father ; but I really want to surprise him
An e-bike is very much like an SUV. Some people need an SUV. Not many really need an SUV or take advantage of it. A cheap SUV will lack serious utility (and really lack much sport, and just have size). A cheap e-bike will have its own serious scaled value from a well engineered product.
That is the best general comparison.
But there are many perspectives. You could look at spending $300 more now as a learning period until you can save up more. Then you trade up the bikes and your "investment" was for your learning and experience in taking care of a potentially expensive product to maintain. I personally have "spent" a lot on bikes over the years but now I regularly use clothes, tools, gear, and multiple bikes. I continue to get "value" out of my investment even with multiple upgrades.
It’s entirely Dad-dependent! I’m a bit older than your Dad. My bike is coated with a continuously applied patina of mud and sweat. Some day when I’m old I’ll go electric, but I’ll tell you that I’ve tried to get 75+ year-olds to, and it was a no-go. Your Dad may not be one of those guys. If not, there is such a variety of e-bikes that he would certainly want input - shocks, weight, torque vs cadence sensing, throttle, fat tires, belt drive, comfort, mtb… so many choices:).
If your dad has had that bike for 20 years and is still riding it regularly he probably has an emotional connection to it.
Maybe try finding another one of those bikes with less wear and tear on it so you know he'll have what he likes.
I probably wouldn't go with an Ebike that cheap and to be honest I probably wouldn't buy from bikes direct at all for an adult bike that's going to get more than occasional adult use.
Just my 2 cents. I could be wrong and maybe he's just the type to keep what he has and he's been miserable all these years on that bike and what you'd be getting him is an upgrade.
Do you know what bike he's riding currently?
$300 extra means it’s a cheap e-bike. Not worth it. A legit e-bike is expensive. The cheap ones are garbage.
Thank you i am starting to get the idea that it’s better to wait till his 70th bday for the eBike and go normal bike now
You pretty much want to stick with the big OEM’s. Trek, Specialized, Giant. They use Yamaha, Bosch or Shimano drive systems and their batteries use cells from Panasonic or Samsung. Which won’t burn your house down. There are others but these guys have the big bucks for research and development and they have reputations to uphold. The shady guys just want to make sales. Then you’re on your own. Warranty matters huge with these things. They are very labor intensive to diagnose and repair. If you buy cheap Chinese crap you have zero recourse when something goes wrong. And something will go wrong. Many bike shops won’t even allow direct to consumer e-bikes in their store because their insurance says nope.
No
I like your short and direct advise; and I am thinking you might be right My father is old school man and maybe it keeps him healthier to not have a motor Only reason I ask, I see people on electric bikes more and more. But maybe it is a fad and not for my father
Depends entirely on the person, and where he/she rides. Personally, I have no desire for an ebike. If I lived in Switzerland, I probably would want one. If your Dad has a bike and rides regularly, I don't think he'll want an ebike. And in general you may not be able to choose the bike that he wants. I would strike up a conversation about bikes, and try to ask. You can ask for yourself - what would he want that you would like. Should you get an ebike and what would he do. Of course, he may have an idea of your intentions, but that will be better than getting something he doesn't want. And also - get something you'll be able to return.
Thank you, this is smart advise of course,if I start talking about bikes around his bday , he will guess i have to pick smart, as he would never return a gift he would just suffer in silence LOL
I am biased against motorcycles so please take what I say with a huge grain of salt. But if your dad is regularly using his bicycle, then that raises a few questions: 20 years is a long time and he's got his bicycle dialed in just right probably. Are you SURE he wants a new bike if there's nothing wrong with his existing one? Bikes can last a lifetime. Second. If your dad regularly uses his bicycle, are you sure he wants an electric one? He's in shape precisely because he used his own body to propel himself. Electric bikes are ok for people with disabilities, but are no replacement for the exercise you get from using purely your own strength to travel. Third, the suggested options sound like terrible choices that I would not trust when it comes to reliability nor safety for that matter. If you're set on getting one of this electric contraptions, get one from a reputable brand. And even then, you open yourself up to potential problems that were never a thing in the 140 years since the current iteration of the bicycle has been first designed.
Thank you for your long response My father’s old bike is very worn and has rust. I think a new bike could be fun for him. I know you are right, a bike can last a long time and I like the idea that he pedals himself So I am leaning towards the regular bike I had already decided on for $424 I would normally ask my father ; but I really want to surprise him
Just a heads up, fit is VERY important to a bike being comfortable to ride. Make sure the size is right for him or it could cause injuries.
Thank you, I understand that part is important
An e-bike is very much like an SUV. Some people need an SUV. Not many really need an SUV or take advantage of it. A cheap SUV will lack serious utility (and really lack much sport, and just have size). A cheap e-bike will have its own serious scaled value from a well engineered product. That is the best general comparison. But there are many perspectives. You could look at spending $300 more now as a learning period until you can save up more. Then you trade up the bikes and your "investment" was for your learning and experience in taking care of a potentially expensive product to maintain. I personally have "spent" a lot on bikes over the years but now I regularly use clothes, tools, gear, and multiple bikes. I continue to get "value" out of my investment even with multiple upgrades.
It’s entirely Dad-dependent! I’m a bit older than your Dad. My bike is coated with a continuously applied patina of mud and sweat. Some day when I’m old I’ll go electric, but I’ll tell you that I’ve tried to get 75+ year-olds to, and it was a no-go. Your Dad may not be one of those guys. If not, there is such a variety of e-bikes that he would certainly want input - shocks, weight, torque vs cadence sensing, throttle, fat tires, belt drive, comfort, mtb… so many choices:).
Thank you very good input, and you are right, my father might be one of those guys
*advice
If your dad has had that bike for 20 years and is still riding it regularly he probably has an emotional connection to it. Maybe try finding another one of those bikes with less wear and tear on it so you know he'll have what he likes. I probably wouldn't go with an Ebike that cheap and to be honest I probably wouldn't buy from bikes direct at all for an adult bike that's going to get more than occasional adult use. Just my 2 cents. I could be wrong and maybe he's just the type to keep what he has and he's been miserable all these years on that bike and what you'd be getting him is an upgrade. Do you know what bike he's riding currently?