Is A $500 E-Bike Worth Buying? And Lightweight E-Bikes for Apartments? | The Weekly Recharge Ep. 3

In this episode we discuss whether or not $500 e-bikes you can buy from Walmart or Amazon are worth it? We also get into different types of e-bikes that work best for apartments where you have to carry them up flights of stairs.

More new e-bikes coming soon as well, what are they?

We also highlight the Trail of the Coeur d'Alene's this week, an awesome trail located in Northern Idaho.

Follow us on social and tag us in pictures of your rides and bikes to be featured on future episodes!

Deal links:

Recent Reviews:

00:33 - Cool Ebike Finds
05:06 - News Of The Week
9:09 - Currently Testing & Recent Reviews
13:06 - Ebike Trail Systems
15:19 - Questions & Comments
20:41 - Deals Of The Week
23:20 - Rider Highlight
24:46 - Wrap Up

[louisesumrell]

A few weeks ago I bought a Vivi C26UL online from Walmart. It cost me $500, $533 including tax. It's solid, easy to put together, and I'm extremely pleased with it.
It's only a 500 watt moter with a 48 volt battery that is more than big enough for me. It goes 22 mph, which is fast enough for me, only traveling a few miles at a time, in city. Beautiful finish and fit.
I truthfully wasn't expecting it to so good. I remain pleasantly surprised...

[Rick-id]

Thanks for the recognition - I look forward to watching this show now more than 60 mins. Marked as safe in S.W. Ohio after 8, 107 on the roads.

[InfiniteMishaps]

Love it! Keep these vids up. It’s exactly what the channel needed.

Would love you guys to film some team competitions or excursions. Similar to what Rocky Mountain does with their challenges.

[jackwozniak]

Guys, I’m so glad to hear you’re reviewing the RadKick belt! Thanks!

[Billlakeview]

I’m guessing that you have decided not to cover conversions for all kinds of valid reasons. But I have gone the conversion route for these reasons: lower cost, upgradibility, generic batteries that can be purchased at a more reasonable price(a big deal if you put lots of miles per year….I have been doing 7000 miles per year for the last 6 years), much lower weight( my BikeFriday conversion is under 40lbs), you might have a bike you fit and already love, and there are so many acoustic bikes that can be recycled instead of trashed. I have ridden front hub motors, rear hub motors, and mid-drives. I have been surprised at how well the front hub motor works for me and the paved surfaces I ride most of the time. The big plus with the front hub motor is how easy it is to install. In my experience, the only hassle for this, and the rear hub as well, is the installation of whatever PAS system. Not really hard but it is fiddly and it seems each installation takes patience and sometimes ingenuity.

[karlInSanDiego]

I think you guys missed that the Brompton in Spain was the new G Line 20" wheel model, big change for Brompton to offer it. It's bigger, with wider bars and tries harder to be less Brompton, more regular bike, while still being extremely compact when folded. Also now has disk brakes, which was painfully missing on their previous, pricey folders. It's not offered in electric form in the USA, yet, TMK. Stay tuned.

[derekhart]

Another great weekly update. Thanks for putting in the work. Custom fenders for the Jackrabbit OG are coming along. Will definitely send a pick along when installed.

[junyer]

Still on the fence, between the Euphree Stella Falcon-$2099, or the Lectric Xpress 750, both are on sale for BF. They have a great deal for the 750, $1299 with 5 accessories.

[johnstevens]

I love this format of your show. John S. Prescott, AZ

[extrasallee]

I liked when you talked about lightweight bikes. Do you have an episode or a report where you highlight those? I am shopping for Ebikes. I need something that I can lift myself to get in my car, or if battery runs out, is not too heavy to ride w/o battery help.

[ForbinColossus]

@17:41 Great answer to the lighter weight question — thanks for reading it!

[danhall]

Excellent lightweight bikes all under 40 lbs & under $1, 500: Propella V7 (38 lbs, now on sale for $699), Velotric T1 (42 lbs), Propella C9 Pro V2 (44 lbs - my personal bike & highly recommended), Aveton Soltera2 (44 lbs). If you can go up to $2, 300 there the Trek FX at 38lbs .

[karlInSanDiego]

I like the opening round idea, but instead of reacting like you're tic-tok viewers, maybe figure out what all of it is ahead of time. There's cool stories behind a lot of these, and it wouldn't take long to explain each in a few sentences.

[lfbscs]

All Chinese crap, grabbing parts and just build a bike and sell it to anyone