I started at 460 pounds and I’m at 390 now Thanks to a Himiway Cruiser. Zero issues in 2,300+ miles. Just upgraded to quad piston brakes cus big guys like me can benefit from better brakes.
This is a great topic. I'm good friends with a heavier rider that WAS almost 350lbs before he starting riding an ebike. He ended up converting a beefy fatbike he built for his weight, but never road due to his weight and overall health. The kit was a BAFANG 1000w mid drive with a 52v battery. It saved his life. He went from a bike ride once every couple months to rides 3-5 times a week, that changed his entire outlook on life. He also dropped 60lbs in a single Summer just getting out at riding around trails. Most of his riding is throttle but he's getting better all the time.
158 kg ? holy shit... your 'good friend'... if you are one really... Genuinely tell him and help him lose the weight... either that... or you will lose your 'good friend' sooner than you might think. Fuck all you said after that... Help your friend.
A lot of my riding was throttle too, at the start! Not overweight (here for my mom... lol) but I was really out of shape and it really built up my leg muscles and stamina/cardio, and for that I'm very happy. I'm comfortable with riding my normal bike longer distances again which is awesome. The way ebikes build your strength and stamina up is just objectively superior to having to judge exactly how far you can go without dying.
@@Cobalt985 Exactly this. My friend came a long way this summer. He's currently a dainty 275lbs this winter and trying hard to stay active. I'm trying to talk him into buying an electric fat bike, but he's resistant to the idea.
As a larger rider I appreciate your bravery in addressing this subject. I would have like to have heard actual recommendations in regards to brand and model, perhaps a top 5 depending on bang for the buck or just best of the best damn the cost... Thanks in any case!
I so happy that us heavier riders are finally getting some love. TY for the video. The one thing I would have mentioned was when you were talking about batteries, you might have wanted to mention voltage and how higher voltage translates to more power which can be important for us portly types getting up hills.
i am 54yrs old 6.3 309lbs and am happy you made this video. has given me more insight. thank you soooooo much. At this point i ordered the lectric XP 2.0 it will be my first ebike and first bike after 28 years.
Thank You. We (the heavy people) are the ones that look to an ebike as a way to get us out into the world our weight has denied us. (I take full responsibility). No blaming or shaming. I really appreciate that you made this TH-cam.
i am a 155kg ( 340 pound ) rider and i break rims, break spokes and bend frames and axles like crazy ! but you cant stop me from riding a bicycle !! i love the things !! i hope that one day they will make bikes for chunky riders like me.
I am HEAVY mainly due to the fact that I have severe spinal problems resulting in early career retirement though I am now 73 years of age. Weight was always a struggle yet I was always fit due to competitive sports and my occupational requirements. After retirement and a number of surgical operations I have severe difficulty walking so had to use a disability scooter, then someone recommended an ebike. I tried out one of those fat tyre bikes and found them unsuitable and then a Raleigh Motus was recommended. I am over the recommended weight limit but the retailer claimed they were so well engineered that the stated weight limit, in his experience, was simply nonsense and personally guaranteed it. He was spot on. Three years down the line a bad crash with a van door with only a dented pedal to show for it (I came off worse with very severe bruising and concussion only being saved from far worse by a good helmet) the bike is still immaculate in every respect. I use it on some dirt roads and canal towpaths but mainly on tarmac. It IS extremely well engineered and does suit heavy riders. The only upgrades I made are a wider saddle, the suspension saddle stem available on the higher end models, better pedals and better tyres. I spend most of my powered riding, about 60%, in ECO mode and the remainder using no power at all. My range using these tactics is about 120 miles (only the 350 watt battery too) though that is in favourable weather conditions. OK it's a £2,000 bike with upgrades but it is well worth the money. It has over 3,000 miles on the clock and is still flawless. I very highly recommend any of you heavier riders consider it but I would also recommend, due to personal experience, the model above mine, the Motus Tour,as you will likely want to upgrade the items I did plus, it comes with and extra gear, bigger battery and more powerful motor. That will e my next bike IF I trade this one in, which is looking rather unlikely at the moment.
@Mr Mr yeah, I dig data-driven evaluation, too, but I’d never expect a cheap bike to carry me safely at- speed, let alone brake downhill without breaking. I’ll buy respected brands, usu secondhand. I’m just grateful he pointed-out potential weak spots here. I don’t expect deep references on YT. WHERE would you expect those stats to be found?
@Mr Mr Have you read his books? How do know "real" research isn't in his books? Calling them pamphlets is a bit dismissive. Not everyone wants to sit through an college lecture in every video.
@@MrMr-bm2oqI think the issue that I would be concerned with would be stressing the motor or wearing the battery out too quickly. I’ve used a $500 mountain bike for over 10 years and it’s still holding super strong. I would imagine that any mountain bike could handle a 300lb rider.
Hi Mika. I've gained a lot of knowledge from your videos and now have converted my old Ridgeback MX5 into an e-bike . After many years and many extra pounds, I thought cycling was a thing of the past for me. I would encourage anyone who is curious about e-bikes to try them out. Thank you for your videos and keep up the great work.
I haven’t really ridden a bike since I was a kid. I turn 50 this year, decided to get an ebike, and didn’t even think about needing a heavy person bike.
Anticipating this issue, I went from 337 down to 300 while waiting 3 mo. for my 1st ebike to arrive. Unfortunately, mine was a poor choice, a commuter with relatively skinny tires, now a parts bike. it did provide incentive to lose more weight, I got down to 240 before the bike disintegrated. My 2nd bike, which cost less than half as much is a mtn bike with a very solid frame the use common place, affordable components. Parts should be a consideration. If one is heavy, one may break stuff. Don't buy an expensive, high end bike that requires model specific parts as a starter ebike. It's gonna be a learning experience. Get something you can afford to replace.
I would also recommend 36 stainless steel spoked wheels. 12 gauge in the rear and either 12 or 13 gauge in the front. Also, finally 26" inch wheels, for 27.5" and 700c wheels I recommend 12 gauge spokes for front and rear wheels. For a seat clamp, you don't want a quick release, but rather a screw or bolt tightened clamp. A single larger bolt is better than 2 smaller bolts. It will take longer to slip. Also, a fixed stem rather than an adjustable stem. If you have a health issue where you can overextend yourself, an e-bike with both assist and throttle is a wise choice. Use the assist feature, start with a higher level of assist, and as you get into better shape, go to a lower level of assist. If your body is saying you are reaching the end, switch to the throttle and head home. I would guess a 750 - 1000 watt motor is best. I'm a 400lb regular bike rider considering an ebike.
I sell one specific model eBike and i can tell you, the bikes you show (talk about) that are for 300+ pound riders, they would not even be able to get on them and/or ride comfortably. Full side frames may be what a larger person needs but they are not 'fat friendly' to actually physically get on for most.
I think one overlooked accessory is the drop post. Usually found on e-MTB, it is a godsend for anyone struggling to mount one of these bikes and with ride comfort. Drop the seat, easy to get in and off then continually adjust the seat height for comfort. I find one height is good for warming up my sore back, and then I gradually raise the seat for efficiency. Drop the seat at intersections. This a must have feature and makes bulky frames more doable with weight, or back/hip pain.
I tried a friends ebike with a small 250w motor. It did well. With my weight, I knew my range and top speed was diminished but actively using the pedal assist compensated for it. Fat tires, fat tubes, larger motors, heavier brakes. I get it. But an introduction to an ebike shouldn't cost you two arms and a leg just to see if you like it. I started on a Swagtron EB-7+ then moved up two more bikes until I found the bike for my riding style, The D-Class Scrambler. Oh, yeah.
That's not street legal in the US. Only up to a 750w motor that doesn't go faster than 26mph is considered street legal for an ebike. It can't be reclassified as a motorcycle either because you wouldn't be allowed on highways.
Great vids as always. I bought an ecotric 26" fat tire e bike in April, and its been great. I'm about 270lbs, and it carries me well. At $850, I think it was a great deal.
As a 270lb (122kg) 6'2" (1.87m) rider, this is nice to have. I'm happy with my Juiced Scrambler, but wish it was a quick change front tire so it was easier to load into the minivan.
im 180 pound in weight and i bought myself a fat tyre folding 20in wheel ebike with 48v 13ah battery with 750w motor so i can kill those hills with power and speed.i live in the uk were the limit is 250w motor and i dont think thats enough power for this job,but dont get me wrong i only use the cycle tracks and if i need to use a road to get to a cycle track i keep one eye peeled for cops.
I am 305 and I can’t get my Rad fat tire bike to go over 10mph during throttle only 😩i even changed the manual setting to be at the fastest throttle speed
At 400+ lbs my Radrover fat wheel bike has been excellent, had to order rear spokes and learn how change them every other month. Bit of a hassle but worth it, also the battery outlasts what my butt can handle which is only 22-25 miles.
An Electric Enduro frame w/ the triple crown forks and the MX seat or the regular saddle mount w/ a wide bike seat, then you could use a 3000w or 5000w QS motor, Kelly controller and 17" dirt bike rims w/ the Enduro street tires....
An E-Fatbike is good for larger people. This is not me trying to joke. Having 4 inch wide tires with a lower air pressure makes the ride alot smoother.
Spokes are a consideration too. I remember when I first bought my bike I kept breaking spokes on the rear wheel. The manufacturer ended up replacing all of the spokes with heavier gauge spokes and I haven’t had any problems since. Albeit it was a fairly cheap bike so if you bought a name brand you’d probably wouldn’t have this problem👍
Do you know what brand and gauge the manufacturer used? I've been driven crazy by cheap Chinese spokes used by the manufacturer. I've had the bike 6 months and have had to have the rear wheel rebuilt twice.
@@blackhawkswincup2010 From memory I think they replaced all of the original 14G J bend 2mm spokes to Sapem Leader 13G, 2.3mm thick. I also run these on my new ebike and I haven't had any problems as of yet. You need to make sure your wheel builder uses the correct nipples for these size spokes to allow for proper fitment in the rim holes, If you don't take this into consideration you could damage your rim by using the incorrect nipples. Also as a side note, spokes are rarely broken by the weight of a rider alone if at all, its usually inferior spoke build quality or incorrect wheel build, spoke tension and mainly wire fatigue. A single spoke usually has a rating of around 110KG, that's just one and depending on the spoke count you have on your wheel there is usually about 6 to 8 under load at any one time in the wheel cycle. Good luck.
@@muddymaker3721 here gauge was mentioned but others mentioned the number of spokes being no less than 36 for heavy riders. Ebikes I assume would add more...
Thank you very much. I weigh 85kg, riding my third self build but I learned so much useful information that I can pass on. Especially to my fat belly mates.
As a dual motor electric scooter rider thinking about moving to an e bike, I've found my way across a few of your videos and found the tips from what motor suits what you want the bike for, to how to extend the life of your drive train through careful shifting. All presented in a simple, minimal way. Quality consumer information. 👍 and a sub, A great full, better informed Englishmen.
There's nothing wrong with using QR hubs. The ACTUAL axle, which supports your weight, just as with 15mm and 20mm standards, is in the hub. That's where the strength comes from.
i unfortunately was duped by a gm of a bike store here in buffalo.. im 360 and he talked me into a trek verve 2 and i regret it. 4 seperate times of a broken or popped spokes and the rear hydraulic brakes seem to weaken. So im now trying to sell that bike to fund a new bike and im looking at an ebike for steep hills and for a sturdier bike. thank you for providiing this info
GREAT TOPIC!!! I was just having a pity party last night because I discovered the bike I wanted only went up to 250 lbs and I'm beyond that. While the Cyrusher you show is more than I can spend right now I am glad to see there are bikes out there for us big guys.
You’re addressing a real market, without judgement. Yeah, pinch flats truly suck; I need MAX pressure on my street bike. I’ve *never been in the “normal” BMI since grade 10, even at fighting-weight. Working now, @ body fat 16%, but I’ll never look like Lance. Only Hulk knows, and I can’t dress like him. While these are good points, I’m putting-in a Bafang kit. Subbed!
I'm a fatass myself and I have two. A Nakto Camel which I use as my daily. I like that it forces me to pedal from time to time up hills, get some exorcise in. And then I have a trike with a 1000w hub motor for snow and grocery runs. Love them both
I bought my first bike 8 months ago without knowing anything, but after 45 years riding street bikes of course I knew it all, well my health is what motivated me and I spent 600$ on a Viribus with 10.4 amp batt, well after I was refunded 200$ because it did not work out of the box and he wanted to get rid of me being x radar design retired it was electrical so I found the fault and fixed it only for my time, then I had to have lights, computer, better seat rear luggage rack, also spare tube, chain etc so now we're up to 500$ now I weigh 270 lbs and the bike rates at 250, but so far it has not failed and I ride the hell out of it! Looking back now I'm ready to build my own bike and still not sure what frame suits me, I wish you did a video on what to look for in used bikes to convert.
I weigh 260 pounds and my first bile was a Lectric XP. It is fine if you ride flat land only, any hills and you will have a hard time climbing and stopping as the brakes are not hydraulic. I highly recommend hydraulic brakes!
Im 66 started at 315 pounds bought a philodo h7 great bike great price $999. 1000 watt motor and 1750 amp hr battery. Been riding now everyday for 45 days im down to 275lbs from 315 pds now and have 20 pounds to go to reach my goal. I dont use peddle assist to much unless im getting really tired then its nice to have.
This and bikes for tall guys is exactly what I need! Since getting a knee replacement I have a hard time making a full rotation with the bad knee(my replacement didn't work) So besides gaining 20 pounds I also have a hard time getting exercise.Thanks for the info.
I just bought a Himiway Zebra step-thru and it's rated at 400 lbs max and is way more than I need, the himiway Crusie is rated at 350 Lbs, and that is good too but the Zebra has so many upgrades too!
I was looking at this one but was worried about the reach or agressive positioning. I have a regular specialized hybrid that is pretty aggressive in positioning and puts a lot of pressure on my hands and back. I was hoping for a more upright right, how does the zebra feel?
@@lali0020 The zebra is a little bit progressive but that is very easy to fix and just ordered an adjustable stem for cheap from Amazon and you can get a stem riser if you need it for cheap, I think all I need is the adjustable stem, also you should be able to get that for your specialized too, they are very commonly used to get the right riding position.
Good question. I've thought about that a little because I like that fature. The big caveat there is regenerative braking is usually paired with direct drive rear hubs, where heavier riders often are preferred to get mid drive or geared rear hub motors. Though I have seen geared hub motors paired with regenerative braking systems, they're fairly uncommon and I'm not aware of any mid drive ebikes with regen.
One thing I didn't see you address in this video is which motor config to utilize: front jub, rear hub, or crank. I would think a rear hub or crank would be better.
Mid drive can be designed with way more torque and power to go uphill. There are mid drives with 160nm of torque on the market now. But rear hub motors can have sufficient torque and power to go uphill. But the heavier you are, it makes sense to get something with 80-90nm of torque, if you want a rear hub motor.
I remember when quick-release axles were only on higher-end bikes. They're also desirable for roof racks for which you're always taking the front wheel off and on. But I get how solid bolt-ons would be stronger.
I'm 62, 6'1",~275, and disabled. Been a bestial MTB rider for 20 years. I built 3 ebikes. 2 have 48v/1000w wheels, the other 1500. 2 are MTB frames/forks, one is a lowrider cruiser frame. I use the full suss MTB (1000w) for most of my riding, including trailering my grandson. The other MTB was set up to do that, because of the 1500w wheel, but it's giving me slight problems up front. The lowrider is coming along slowly, being a bad boy. I might get it on the pavement this coming week. I've had both knees replaced (last year), and pedaling is coming back. When it IS back, I have a full suss MTB with no electrics waiting. I hope to spend a large part of my retirement on 2 wheels.
Bingo! I'm 67 years old 5'11" , 260 lbs and I live in a hilly part of town . I ride my bikes a lot and an electric bike looks like a lot of fun. I was figuring that I'd rapidly burn out the motor and battery on an electric bike riding around my area for it to be of any real use.
My first electric was only 400W! and it definitely had trouble helping me get up even slight grades. Also watch out for battery voltage. On electric, power is a combination of voltage and watts. High watts/low voltage will still be low help.
Great video. The only problem for me, it is hard to find e-bikes like those in some EU countries. They still have lot of outdated e-bikes rebuild from Dutch bikes with rim brakes and fat e-bike almost impossible to find for tall and heavy rider. Many are maxed out at 120 kg and 185 cm. Rad Bikes are leaving Europe this year...
I am 190 pounds and 5ft 10 but still classed as being overweight.I have a fat tyred folding e bike. I am in the uk so only a 250 watt motor. Its got double walled rims puncture protection tyres and a 203 rotor on the front and 180 on the back. Air suspension on the front and a suspension seat post..It's got a samsung battery and it's really comfortable.
For bigger people the strength of a standard diamond frame is a good idea. And power, would look for at least 750 wats and avoid folding bikes as well.
I just started watching your channel I like all your videos you explain things very well especially for some of us that are almost hitting 60 and no nothing about e-bikes so thank you very much for all the information
I'm a Big Meskin!!! I'm 5'10" 307lb!! 58" Chest, I'm 53yrs. Old!! I ride my Mongoose Malus fatbike, 20 miles a day every day!!! Get this, I've had my Malus 4 over 4yrs. Now, and I've never had a problem with it, I tune & do my own maintenance, getting an ebike will defeat the purpose!! So I haven't bought a 1000 watt bafang as of yet? Really don't think it's needed. I subbed and look forward to more of your content. 🙏✌
I love your Channel I'm a ham radio operator also do solar I also lost my house and the campfire been living for two years in my 42 year old RV with 15 solar panels for wind generators in a gas generator for backup my next Endeavor to buy a wonderful Evike I am 350 lb I love camping I've got my eyes set on an e-bike with motors in the front and rear axle as well as two batteries pretty awesome thank you for being there and your channels awesome I hope I win your book on e-bikes
I have the Velotric Nomad 1. Don't know if it's the best or not. I got this one because of my weight. It's rated for 400 pounds. I'm not that heavy. But none of the others could carry that much. I don't have much strength and was afraid to start off riding it. Would I wobble and fall over before I had got going good? I've had it for 3 or 4 months but rode it today March 27th for the first time. I did not peddle afraid that I could not get going fast enough to be stable. So I started off with the motor which on this model you might do the motor, the pedal or both. The motor was quite sufficient to get me going and be stable. So, Don't be afraid and put it off. Now I did take my maiden voyage on the front lawn just in case I fell. That's also good because it provided that little instability so I could get use to steering and stay up right.
I'm 280. I'm also poor so I'm aiming cheaper. Not a good combo I know. Would the Lectric XP 2.0 be alright as a first e-bike for my size? I quite like it. I also like that it's a bit smaller as I live in an apartment. I also want something with a throttle so I can work my way into longer riding or save myself if I need a break.
Great information for bigger people wanting to ride. Very informative and helpful when choosing a bike to guarantee a great experience while starting into the sport/recreation.. thanks for sharing your views and experience…
recently bought a Cullen version4, 2000watt motor, 48v battery, and this hauls my 130kg (280lb) around at 60kph+ not a problem. cos of heart problems went from riding daily for fun to just essential shop trips, now i have this i am out and about everyday, mostly use pedal assist not throttle, gets me off my fat ass in front of computer :)
Interesting, I thought I would be classed as ‘a bigger guy’ 😊 but the weights you gave out, I fall below these … I feel really good now, sort of, slim lol 😂 Interesting, informative, and excellent delivery of content. Much thanks, Steve, Bristol, U.K. 🚴👍🏻😊
Folks need to take a good look at the Riese & Muller range, example the Supercharger with e-14 Rohloff gear hub and gates carbon drive belt, pricey ! but high tech and well built .
My problem is with the seats. That's why i think my best bet would be a recumbent trike with a monster motor. I'm 290lbs. and rode a friends bike with a 1000 watt motor and 72 ah battery and small hills were almost too much. Now we get to the biggest prob, the price. It costs a whole lot more to get a big person on an ebike. There are NO budget bikes for us. Being diabetic and 2 failed spinal surgeries it is very hard to lose weight. I can walk but not far enough to do good before i have to stop. With an ebike i would be able to ride as far as i can and then come back under power or maybe pedal assist the whole time. Unfortunately i don't have 2.5/3 grand to shell out for one. Hopefully one day i can be able to ride a bike like the one in your video. Keep them coming. As always great content my friend.
I've seen your clips on ebikes, and it seems you know you stuff, I'm uncertain what i need since I weigh 245Lbs and have'nt ridden a bike in 20 years. My dilemma is Hub or mid drive. Voltbike makes a 500w 160nm mid drive which is great, but the constant pedalling might kill me, on the hand they also make 750w 80nm hub. As i plan to do some mountain biking (like I did when I was 20) I know the mid drive is going to take me the distance if I pedal all the up (and maybe have a coronary) I don't know that that the 80 nm will take me to the top. Any insight from your experience will be greatly appreciated. I forgot to tell you I live in Canada so no 1000w bikes here. Larry R😅
That middrive has plenty of torque for almost anyone going uphill. If cost or maintenance isn't an issue, that would more than cover you. I'm assuming you mean that that 500w 160nm torque middrive doesn't have a throttle though. If the battery has a big capacity, using the highest pedal assist settings shouldn't have you working too hard. However, I do think a geared hub 750w 80nm torque motor you can throttled should do you good at 245lbs. I'm 320lbs and rode uphill on a motor with the same specs. For my extra weight, I'd look for a 85nm or 90nm torque rear hub motor, but at 75lbs lighter, 80nm is good.
While I don't fall into the heavier rider category, I found your guide informative in picking out a better ebike. While I have an ebike I am going to buy a step through version of the "motorbike" style with the long seat or a cargo ebike. For instance of an informative point, I had never thought about the slotted quick change front wheel and the through axle front wheel in terms of strength or durability. My only thoughts were how much easier it is for someone to remove the front wheel if it is not secured to the frame as part of one's parking secure locking routine. All the points you spoke about I think are a good guide in distinguishing from less or more durable features. Thanks for the video.
Need to make your books available in Kindle format. I don't have room for print books, although I prefer for readability but have gotten use to the Kindle app on my iPad.
I just finished converting my Day 6 Patriot bike with a BBS02 motor and a 48v 20ah battery. It seems to be working well, but I will know more after riding it for a few months.
The beauty of Ebikes! You don’t need to be a 150lb tri-athlete in a skin tight suit to have a blast and get some fresh air, exercise and enjoy the views!
Your channel is a school hopefully you answer questions, I am new to ebikes, I just purchased a addmotor motan m-550 fat tire ebike I like the bike but don’t like the front suspension, one tube makes the suspension rigid the other makes it somewhat springy, I live in a rural area, all hilly dirt roads and the roads are killing me, would like to replace the front suspension but can’t decide what to purchase, any advice? My name is Ken I am 75 and I live in Michigan.
Thank you my husband is a big guy💕 And I just want to make sure it will be okay for him. Something that will cut out the extra work for him to ride a bike
Best thing about this video? Finding out my fat @$$ is not yet considered a "heavy rider" :). Nice video! Good to see coverage for people outside the norm.
I'm in the same boat guys! 250 lbs dressed. Seriously considering an E Bike to help me heal from 2 broken legs and shattered feet back in late 2019. Gained a lot of weight since the accident. LIke gained 45 lbs of weight. Yea, Laying in bed in cast, & rolling around in a wheel chair for 9 month will do that to you.(That Beer Virus Lockdown didn't help much either!) Use to cycle a lot before I retired 12 years ago. Weighed in at 185 then. I'm a big guy, 6'2". Was a solid gym rat way back when. I'm thinking I want one comfortable to ride and get my cardo and fat burning in, and still get me home after my feet give out. One lap around Wal Mart now and I'm done. A lot of titanium in my feet make walking very uncomfortable.Got to do some shopping. And grandson lives 19 miles away through the Country. Thanks
@@FarmerFpv not needed if you get the right one, at least german built ones . I have my 2014 and done 7000 mls and I needed just 1 new battery and coming down from 125 kg to 100 kg
Hi Micah, something that has come up in discussions between myself and friends who want to get way off the beaten path with either E-bikes, quads or trucks/cars is can we use a conventional camp generator to help add range to the battery throughout the day so it would be running and recharging the battery at the same time, even regenerative braking may be a one way operation is why i ask the question.
oh i needed this, i got up to about 280 sadly, am down to around 250 walking and light jogging. am debating starting to bike my 12-13 mile commute (each way) to help lose more thanks for the info! Cyrusher 900, Sondors rockstar, and ariel grizzly. though i want the workout as part of it easy ride to work to not be sweaty then mostly pedal assist low level on the way home
How about motors? lol. I'm fat and have an Ariel Rider Grizzly. Working great so far and with two motors it has no problems moving me around. I peddle a lot. As of now I have only had it about 3 weeks but so far so good. Getting out, losing some weight, and having fun.
i think the reason for the gendering of the bikes is because women wore long dresses and the lowering of the top tube made it easier for women to get on and off of a bike
Perhaps you did hit this point, but I will mention it anyways. I believe, through experience that the freewheels in the ebike, both in the motor and in the hub (not hub motor ebike) should be strong, meaning average or cheap free hubs or the ring gears in the hub body fail readily. This seems to me to be related to rider weight and engagement points in the rachets. The shock load when hammering down the pedals leads to failure. So an expensive rear hub with more engagement points is a must for heavy and/or powerful riders. If you have a mid mount motor ebike with a cheaper rear hub, you may be faced with a fail in the rear hub, this will cause a loss in bike use, and the need for an expensive hub and wheel rebuild, that's at least $500.00 CAD and who knows how long until the shop can get the parts and do the work, or maybe a spare rear wheel and hub, while the original is out of service.
Mid drive are the best all rounder I puncture in 2 years I keep up with traffic and the public love it everywhere I go I get asked how I made it and can you make me one haha
One word CUSH CORE! I'm a heavier set rider just bought my first ebike normal 6k cube 160 action team it's bang in perfect for me tyres magic Mary on front and big Betty on rear fox float 160mm on rear fox 38 170mm on front but know Cush core is the way to go for heavier lads
I started at 460 pounds and I’m at 390 now Thanks to a Himiway Cruiser. Zero issues in 2,300+ miles. Just upgraded to quad piston brakes cus big guys like me can benefit from better brakes.
Great job! Hope you continue shedding weight.
Good work!
Heck yeah. That's awesome! 😎🌎💫
Awesome 👍😎
Awesome 👍😎
This is a great topic. I'm good friends with a heavier rider that WAS almost 350lbs before he starting riding an ebike. He ended up converting a beefy fatbike he built for his weight, but never road due to his weight and overall health. The kit was a BAFANG 1000w mid drive with a 52v battery. It saved his life. He went from a bike ride once every couple months to rides 3-5 times a week, that changed his entire outlook on life. He also dropped 60lbs in a single Summer just getting out at riding around trails. Most of his riding is throttle but he's getting better all the time.
158 kg ? holy shit... your 'good friend'... if you are one really... Genuinely tell him and help him lose the weight... either that... or you will lose your 'good friend' sooner than you might think. Fuck all you said after that...
Help your friend.
A lot of my riding was throttle too, at the start! Not overweight (here for my mom... lol) but I was really out of shape and it really built up my leg muscles and stamina/cardio, and for that I'm very happy. I'm comfortable with riding my normal bike longer distances again which is awesome. The way ebikes build your strength and stamina up is just objectively superior to having to judge exactly how far you can go without dying.
@@Cobalt985 Exactly this. My friend came a long way this summer. He's currently a dainty 275lbs this winter and trying hard to stay active. I'm trying to talk him into buying an electric fat bike, but he's resistant to the idea.
As a larger rider I appreciate your bravery in addressing this subject. I would have like to have heard actual recommendations in regards to brand and model, perhaps a top 5 depending on bang for the buck or just best of the best damn the cost... Thanks in any case!
I so happy that us heavier riders are finally getting some love. TY for the video. The one thing I would have mentioned was when you were talking about batteries, you might have wanted to mention voltage and how higher voltage translates to more power which can be important for us portly types getting up hills.
I have this modle and their 48v 17,5 amphours and their great bikes. I've had 30mph out of it but I'm only 10 stone 👌
@@ianchilds2479 48v is pretty good voltage by current standards. Should do you well.
Higher voltage only increases _speed_ not torque. More power requires more amps.
i am 54yrs old 6.3 309lbs and am happy you made this video. has given me more insight. thank you soooooo much. At this point i ordered the lectric XP 2.0 it will be my first ebike and first bike after 28 years.
I am also thinking of Buying one (Lecteic XP 2.0). Would you like to share your thoughts? Pros and Cons?
@Juan J Vargas. How are you enjoying your Lectric bike?
Thank You. We (the heavy people) are the ones that look to an ebike as a way to get us out into the world our weight has denied us. (I take full responsibility). No blaming or shaming. I really appreciate that you made this TH-cam.
i am a 155kg ( 340 pound ) rider and i break rims, break spokes and bend frames and axles like crazy ! but you cant stop me from riding a bicycle !! i love the things !! i hope that one day they will make bikes for chunky riders like me.
I am HEAVY mainly due to the fact that I have severe spinal problems resulting in early career retirement though I am now 73 years of age. Weight was always a struggle yet I was always fit due to competitive sports and my occupational requirements. After retirement and a number of surgical operations I have severe difficulty walking so had to use a disability scooter, then someone recommended an ebike. I tried out one of those fat tyre bikes and found them unsuitable and then a Raleigh Motus was recommended. I am over the recommended weight limit but the retailer claimed they were so well engineered that the stated weight limit, in his experience, was simply nonsense and personally guaranteed it. He was spot on. Three years down the line a bad crash with a van door with only a dented pedal to show for it (I came off worse with very severe bruising and concussion only being saved from far worse by a good helmet) the bike is still immaculate in every respect. I use it on some dirt roads and canal towpaths but mainly on tarmac. It IS extremely well engineered and does suit heavy riders. The only upgrades I made are a wider saddle, the suspension saddle stem available on the higher end models, better pedals and better tyres. I spend most of my powered riding, about 60%, in ECO mode and the remainder using no power at all. My range using these tactics is about 120 miles (only the 350 watt battery too) though that is in favourable weather conditions. OK it's a £2,000 bike with upgrades but it is well worth the money. It has over 3,000 miles on the clock and is still flawless. I very highly recommend any of you heavier riders consider it but I would also recommend, due to personal experience, the model above mine, the Motus Tour,as you will likely want to upgrade the items I did plus, it comes with and extra gear, bigger battery and more powerful motor. That will e my next bike IF I trade this one in, which is looking rather unlikely at the moment.
As someone who is 335 lbs., this is exactly the type of info I need. Thanks for doing this.
@Mr Mr yeah, I dig data-driven evaluation, too, but I’d never expect a cheap bike to carry me safely at- speed, let alone brake downhill without breaking. I’ll buy respected brands, usu secondhand. I’m just grateful he pointed-out potential weak spots here.
I don’t expect deep references on YT.
WHERE would you expect those stats to be found?
@Mr Mr Have you read his books? How do know "real" research isn't in his books? Calling them pamphlets is a bit dismissive. Not everyone wants to sit through an college lecture in every video.
@@MrMr-bm2oqI think the issue that I would be concerned with would be stressing the motor or wearing the battery out too quickly. I’ve used a $500 mountain bike for over 10 years and it’s still holding super strong. I would imagine that any mountain bike could handle a 300lb rider.
Thanks for the suggestions. And yes, we are still interested in the e-conversion of the little Honda. Be Well.
Bump
Hi Mika. I've gained a lot of knowledge from your videos and now have converted my old Ridgeback MX5 into an e-bike . After many years and many extra pounds, I thought cycling was a thing of the past for me. I would encourage anyone who is curious about e-bikes to try them out. Thank you for your videos and keep up the great work.
I haven’t really ridden a bike since I was a kid. I turn 50 this year, decided to get an ebike, and didn’t even think about needing a heavy person bike.
Anticipating this issue, I went from 337 down to 300 while waiting 3 mo. for my 1st
ebike to arrive. Unfortunately, mine was a poor choice, a commuter with relatively
skinny tires, now a parts bike. it did provide incentive to lose more weight, I got down
to 240 before the bike disintegrated. My 2nd bike, which cost less than half as much
is a mtn bike with a very solid frame the use common place, affordable components.
Parts should be a consideration. If one is heavy, one may break stuff. Don't buy an
expensive, high end bike that requires model specific parts as a starter ebike. It's
gonna be a learning experience. Get something you can afford to replace.
I would also recommend 36 stainless steel spoked wheels. 12 gauge in the rear and either 12 or 13 gauge in the front. Also, finally 26" inch wheels, for 27.5" and 700c wheels I recommend 12 gauge spokes for front and rear wheels. For a seat clamp, you don't want a quick release, but rather a screw or bolt tightened clamp. A single larger bolt is better than 2 smaller bolts. It will take longer to slip. Also, a fixed stem rather than an adjustable stem. If you have a health issue where you can overextend yourself, an e-bike with both assist and throttle is a wise choice. Use the assist feature, start with a higher level of assist, and as you get into better shape, go to a lower level of assist. If your body is saying you are reaching the end, switch to the throttle and head home. I would guess a 750 - 1000 watt motor is best. I'm a 400lb regular bike rider considering an ebike.
I sell one specific model eBike and i can tell you, the bikes you show (talk about) that are for 300+ pound riders, they would not even be able to get on them and/or ride comfortably. Full side frames may be what a larger person needs but they are not 'fat friendly' to actually physically get on for most.
That's why I recommend the Day 6 Samson. Very friendly for this portly rider.
I think one overlooked accessory is the drop post. Usually found on e-MTB, it is a godsend for anyone struggling to mount one of these bikes and with ride comfort. Drop the seat, easy to get in and off then continually adjust the seat height for comfort. I find one height is good for warming up my sore back, and then I gradually raise the seat for efficiency. Drop the seat at intersections. This a must have feature and makes bulky frames more doable with weight, or back/hip pain.
you obviously did not experience a good suspension seatpost yet when even thinking about anything else.
Thank you, this one was long overdue!
I tried a friends ebike with a small 250w motor. It did well. With my weight, I knew my range and top speed was diminished but actively using the pedal assist compensated for it. Fat tires, fat tubes, larger motors, heavier brakes. I get it. But an introduction to an ebike shouldn't cost you two arms and a leg just to see if you like it. I started on a Swagtron EB-7+ then moved up two more bikes until I found the bike for my riding style, The D-Class Scrambler. Oh, yeah.
You would also want a larger motor as well. I am 6'2" 355lbs and I run a 2000 watt bafang motor with 2- 52volt batteries.
@@pacifice-bike5617 it's a modified bafang m620 mid-drive
@@big.lee007 ahh so upgraded mosfits for the ultra motor
Did you buy a ebike and then put a bigger motor on it? What about the battery?
2000 w motor sounds awesome
That's not street legal in the US. Only up to a 750w motor that doesn't go faster than 26mph is considered street legal for an ebike. It can't be reclassified as a motorcycle either because you wouldn't be allowed on highways.
Great vids as always. I bought an ecotric 26" fat tire e bike in April, and its been great. I'm about 270lbs, and it carries me well. At $850, I think it was a great deal.
Most adult ebikes would accommodate you no problem..heavy riders are higher than 280
Where can I purchase an I bought an ecotric 26" fat tire e bike
@@ronkrzeczkowski94 ?
@@AndThenSome71 Where can I buy an ecotric 26" fat tire e bike?
Fat bikes are here to stay..and the tires add to the frame longevity.
As a 270lb (122kg) 6'2" (1.87m) rider, this is nice to have. I'm happy with my Juiced Scrambler, but wish it was a quick change front tire so it was easier to load into the minivan.
Wow ✨️ As a Digial Nomad & part-time VanLifer on the 'thick-side', i need one of these for sure! Thanks for sharing😊
im 180 pound in weight and i bought myself a fat tyre folding 20in wheel ebike with 48v 13ah battery with 750w motor so i can kill those hills with power and speed.i live in the uk were the limit is 250w motor and i dont think thats enough power for this job,but dont get me wrong i only use the cycle tracks and if i need to use a road to get to a cycle track i keep one eye peeled for cops.
I’m 300lbs and my rad mini 4 scoots me along at 25/mph no problem, and I haven’t met a hill that it hasn’t conquered
How many miles does it last? 30miles?
@@justSTUMBLEDupon If you do absolutely no pedaling, it lasts me just over 20 miles. With PAS 3 you're looking at around 40 miles.
@@godnah Good to know. Am 270 and have a job about 7 miles away, have been thinking about an e-bike just for back and forth there.
I am 305 and I can’t get my Rad fat tire bike to go over 10mph during throttle only 😩i even changed the manual setting to be at the fastest throttle speed
Another great video with thoughtful comments on what to look for in a safe e-bike for bigger folks. Thanks, Micah!
At 400+ lbs my Radrover fat wheel bike has been excellent, had to order rear spokes and learn how change them every other month. Bit of a hassle but worth it, also the battery outlasts what my butt can handle which is only 22-25 miles.
Replace the wheel with a triple wall double butted spokes. Never change a spoke again.
@@thelast344 Brand please?
@@Epiha there's many brands that have that but due to shortages they may not be available. So look for those criteria.
Wonder if they have alloy wheels that can fit the Rad Fat Tire?
An Electric Enduro frame w/ the triple crown forks and the MX seat or the regular saddle mount w/ a wide bike seat, then you could use a 3000w or 5000w QS motor, Kelly controller and 17" dirt bike rims w/ the Enduro street tires....
An E-Fatbike is good for larger people. This is not me trying to joke. Having 4 inch wide tires with a lower air pressure makes the ride alot smoother.
A very informative, but seldom talked about important subject! Thank you Micah Toll
Spokes are a consideration too. I remember when I first bought my bike I kept breaking spokes on the rear wheel. The manufacturer ended up replacing all of the spokes with heavier gauge spokes and I haven’t had any problems since. Albeit it was a fairly cheap bike so if you bought a name brand you’d probably wouldn’t have this problem👍
Do you know what brand and gauge the manufacturer used? I've been driven crazy by cheap Chinese spokes used by the manufacturer. I've had the bike 6 months and have had to have the rear wheel rebuilt twice.
@@blackhawkswincup2010 From memory I think they replaced all of the original 14G J bend 2mm spokes to Sapem Leader 13G, 2.3mm thick. I also run these on my new ebike and I haven't had any problems as of yet. You need to make sure your wheel builder uses the correct nipples for these size spokes to allow for proper fitment in the rim holes, If you don't take this into consideration you could damage your rim by using the incorrect nipples.
Also as a side note, spokes are rarely broken by the weight of a rider alone if at all, its usually inferior spoke build quality or incorrect wheel build, spoke tension and mainly wire fatigue. A single spoke usually has a rating of around 110KG, that's just one and depending on the spoke count you have on your wheel there is usually about 6 to 8 under load at any one time in the wheel cycle. Good luck.
@@muddymaker3721 Thank you so much for getting back so fast.
@@muddymaker3721 here gauge was mentioned but others mentioned the number of spokes being no less than 36 for heavy riders. Ebikes I assume would add more...
I'm only 6'5" and a dainty 260 lbs, but I still appreciate this video, so thanks. :)
Regular size in Texas
260 lbs is not dainty
You would murder me with a punch 😂
260 lbs of Maui Wowie? You can haul that much amazing
Punch bowling with Jim Jones
Cant wait for some updates on the little electric truck.
Thank you very much. I weigh 85kg, riding my third self build but I learned so much useful information that I can pass on. Especially to my fat belly mates.
As a dual motor electric scooter rider thinking about moving to an e bike, I've found my way across a few of your videos and found the tips from what motor suits what you want the bike for, to how to extend the life of your drive train through careful shifting. All presented in a simple, minimal way. Quality consumer information. 👍 and a sub, A great full, better informed Englishmen.
There's nothing wrong with using QR hubs. The ACTUAL axle, which supports your weight, just as with 15mm and 20mm standards, is in the hub. That's where the strength comes from.
i unfortunately was duped by a gm of a bike store here in buffalo.. im 360 and he talked me into a trek verve 2 and i regret it. 4 seperate times of a broken or popped spokes and the rear hydraulic brakes seem to weaken. So im now trying to sell that bike to fund a new bike and im looking at an ebike for steep hills and for a sturdier bike. thank you for providiing this info
GREAT TOPIC!!! I was just having a pity party last night because I discovered the bike I wanted only went up to 250 lbs and I'm beyond that. While the Cyrusher you show is more than I can spend right now I am glad to see there are bikes out there for us big guys.
Lose the weight and get the bike you desire. Don't let the weight predict another decision in your life.
I'm 6'1" and weigh around 290. I have been thinking about buying myself a ebike for myself. Thank you for the video.
You’re addressing a real market, without judgement. Yeah, pinch flats truly suck; I need MAX pressure on my street bike.
I’ve *never been in the “normal” BMI since grade 10, even at fighting-weight. Working now, @ body fat 16%, but I’ll never look like Lance.
Only Hulk knows, and I can’t dress like him. While these are good points, I’m putting-in a Bafang kit. Subbed!
Thank you for the breakdown! Me and a friend of mine were brainstorming on a e-bike build for a bigger guy like him.
I'm a fatass myself and I have two. A Nakto Camel which I use as my daily. I like that it forces me to pedal from time to time up hills, get some exorcise in. And then I have a trike with a 1000w hub motor for snow and grocery runs. Love them both
Your videos are always so educational, and you present it so well. Thanks a ton!
any chance of working on the motorbike to e-bike conversion again?
I bought my first bike 8 months ago without knowing anything, but after 45 years riding street bikes of course I knew it all, well my health is what motivated me and I spent 600$ on a Viribus with 10.4 amp batt, well after I was refunded 200$ because it did not work out of the box and he wanted to get rid of me being x radar design retired it was electrical so I found the fault and fixed it only for my time, then I had to have lights, computer, better seat rear luggage rack, also spare tube, chain etc so now we're up to 500$ now I weigh 270 lbs and the bike rates at 250, but so far it has not failed and I ride the hell out of it! Looking back now I'm ready to build my own bike and still not sure what frame suits me, I wish you did a video on what to look for in used bikes to convert.
I weigh 260 pounds and my first bile was a Lectric XP.
It is fine if you ride flat land only, any hills and you will have a hard time climbing and stopping as the brakes are not hydraulic.
I highly recommend hydraulic brakes!
Lectricxp just came out with a mid-drive with hydraulic brakes. 1799.
Yeah, like the guy above me mentioned, the Lectric XP premium is a better option with mid drive motor, double batteries, and hydraulic brakes.
Im 66 started at 315 pounds bought a philodo h7 great bike great price $999. 1000 watt motor and 1750 amp hr battery. Been riding now everyday for 45 days im down to 275lbs from 315 pds now and have 20 pounds to go to reach my goal. I dont use peddle assist to much unless im getting really tired then its nice to have.
I stumbled on your videos while shopping for an electric scooter and I am glad I did!
This is probably the most informational e-bike video I've come across. And exactly what I was looking for.
This and bikes for tall guys is exactly what I need! Since getting a knee replacement I have a hard time making a full rotation with the bad knee(my replacement didn't work) So besides gaining 20 pounds I also have a hard time getting exercise.Thanks for the info.
I just bought a Himiway Zebra step-thru and it's rated at 400 lbs max and is way more than I need, the himiway Crusie is rated at 350 Lbs, and that is good too but the Zebra has so many upgrades too!
I was looking at this one but was worried about the reach or agressive positioning. I have a regular specialized hybrid that is pretty aggressive in positioning and puts a lot of pressure on my hands and back. I was hoping for a more upright right, how does the zebra feel?
@@lali0020 The zebra is a little bit progressive but that is very easy to fix and just ordered an adjustable stem for cheap from Amazon and you can get a stem riser if you need it for cheap, I think all I need is the adjustable stem, also you should be able to get that for your specialized too, they are very commonly used to get the right riding position.
I am surprised you did not discuss torque and power output. These are more relevant than most other areas you discussed.
Wouldn't regen brakes be more useful for increased brake life for heavier riders?
Good question. I've thought about that a little because I like that fature. The big caveat there is regenerative braking is usually paired with direct drive rear hubs, where heavier riders often are preferred to get mid drive or geared rear hub motors.
Though I have seen geared hub motors paired with regenerative braking systems, they're fairly uncommon and I'm not aware of any mid drive ebikes with regen.
One thing I didn't see you address in this video is which motor config to utilize: front jub, rear hub, or crank. I would think a rear hub or crank would be better.
Mid drive can be designed with way more torque and power to go uphill. There are mid drives with 160nm of torque on the market now. But rear hub motors can have sufficient torque and power to go uphill. But the heavier you are, it makes sense to get something with 80-90nm of torque, if you want a rear hub motor.
LOVE ALL THE FACTS AND CONTENT FOR BIGGER GUYS. THINKING ABOUT THIS CYRUSHER ACTUALLY NOW, THANKS
I remember when quick-release axles were only on higher-end bikes. They're also desirable for roof racks for which you're always taking the front wheel off and on. But I get how solid bolt-ons would be stronger.
I'm 62, 6'1",~275, and disabled. Been a bestial MTB rider for 20 years. I built 3 ebikes. 2 have 48v/1000w wheels, the other 1500. 2 are MTB frames/forks, one is a lowrider cruiser frame. I use the full suss MTB (1000w) for most of my riding, including trailering my grandson. The other MTB was set up to do that, because of the 1500w wheel, but it's giving me slight problems up front. The lowrider is coming along slowly, being a bad boy. I might get it on the pavement this coming week.
I've had both knees replaced (last year), and pedaling is coming back. When it IS back, I have a full suss MTB with no electrics waiting.
I hope to spend a large part of my retirement on 2 wheels.
Bingo! I'm 67 years old 5'11" , 260 lbs and I live in a hilly part of town . I ride my bikes a lot and an electric bike looks like a lot of fun. I was figuring that I'd rapidly burn out the motor and battery on an electric bike riding around my area for it to be of any real use.
Heavier riders in hilly areas may want to stay with 500 watts or above.
At least 750! And how bout a masked 1500- labeled “750”?
500w isn't powerful enough.
My first electric was only 400W! and it definitely had trouble helping me get up even slight grades. Also watch out for battery voltage. On electric, power is a combination of voltage and watts. High watts/low voltage will still be low help.
36v 350w bikes are good for under 200lbs and flats only
Great video. The only problem for me, it is hard to find e-bikes like those in some EU countries. They still have lot of outdated e-bikes rebuild from Dutch bikes with rim brakes and fat e-bike almost impossible to find for tall and heavy rider. Many are maxed out at 120 kg and 185 cm. Rad Bikes are leaving Europe this year...
I am 190 pounds and 5ft 10 but still classed as being overweight.I have a fat tyred folding e bike. I am in the uk so only a 250 watt motor. Its got double walled rims puncture protection tyres and a 203 rotor on the front and 180 on the back. Air suspension on the front and a suspension seat post..It's got a samsung battery and it's really comfortable.
beach cruiser style frames are a great option because they put you in a more relaxed upright sitting position
For bigger people the strength of a standard diamond frame is a good idea. And power, would look for at least 750 wats and avoid folding bikes as well.
I just started watching your channel I like all your videos you explain things very well especially for some of us that are almost hitting 60 and no nothing about e-bikes so thank you very much for all the information
I'm a Big Meskin!!! I'm 5'10" 307lb!! 58" Chest, I'm 53yrs. Old!!
I ride my Mongoose Malus fatbike, 20 miles a day every day!!! Get this, I've had my Malus 4 over 4yrs. Now, and I've never had a problem with it, I tune & do my own maintenance, getting an ebike will defeat the purpose!! So I haven't bought a 1000 watt bafang as of yet? Really don't think it's needed. I subbed and look forward to more of your content. 🙏✌
Very good info to keep in my hip pocket for those asking. Now that I have an eBike, I get lots of questions when I’m out!
I love your Channel I'm a ham radio operator also do solar I also lost my house and the campfire been living for two years in my 42 year old RV with 15 solar panels for wind generators in a gas generator for backup my next Endeavor to buy a wonderful Evike I am 350 lb I love camping I've got my eyes set on an e-bike with motors in the front and rear axle as well as two batteries pretty awesome thank you for being there and your channels awesome I hope I win your book on e-bikes
I have the Velotric Nomad 1. Don't know if it's the best or not. I got this one because of my weight. It's rated for 400 pounds. I'm not that heavy. But none of the others could carry that much. I don't have much strength and was afraid to start off riding it. Would I wobble and fall over before I had got going good? I've had it for 3 or 4 months but rode it today March 27th for the first time. I did not peddle afraid that I could not get going fast enough to be stable. So I started off with the motor which on this model you might do the motor, the pedal or both. The motor was quite sufficient to get me going and be stable. So, Don't be afraid and put it off. Now I did take my maiden voyage on the front lawn just in case I fell. That's also good because it provided that little instability so I could get use to steering and stay up right.
I'm looking at the Heybike ranger rated at 330 pounds and I'm 287. So I should be ok. What do you think
I know that I weigh around 260 lbs, however my Emojo ebike says maximum weight of 330 lbs. So I should be good to go.
I'm 280. I'm also poor so I'm aiming cheaper. Not a good combo I know. Would the Lectric XP 2.0 be alright as a first e-bike for my size? I quite like it. I also like that it's a bit smaller as I live in an apartment. I also want something with a throttle so I can work my way into longer riding or save myself if I need a break.
There's several videos on TH-cam with riders even heavier who got the XP 2.0 and like it.
Great information for bigger people wanting to ride. Very informative and helpful when choosing a bike to guarantee a great experience while starting into the sport/recreation.. thanks for sharing your views and experience…
Biking from 300 pounds, 5 years progress now @ 220!!!
Thanks Micah. I'm a heavier rider. This video was really helpful. Thank you so much. I've got lots of tips to go on now.
recently bought a Cullen version4, 2000watt motor, 48v battery, and this hauls my 130kg (280lb) around at 60kph+ not a problem.
cos of heart problems went from riding daily for fun to just essential shop trips, now i have this i am out and about everyday, mostly use pedal assist not throttle, gets me off my fat ass in front of computer :)
Interesting, I thought I would be classed as ‘a bigger guy’ 😊 but the weights you gave out, I fall below these … I feel really good now, sort of, slim lol 😂
Interesting, informative, and excellent delivery of content.
Much thanks, Steve, Bristol, U.K. 🚴👍🏻😊
Folks need to take a good look at the Riese & Muller range, example the Supercharger with e-14 Rohloff gear hub and gates carbon drive belt, pricey ! but high tech and well built .
My problem is with the seats. That's why i think my best bet would be a recumbent trike with a monster motor. I'm 290lbs. and rode a friends bike with a 1000 watt motor and 72 ah battery and small hills were almost too much. Now we get to the biggest prob, the price. It costs a whole lot more to get a big person on an ebike. There are NO budget bikes for us. Being diabetic and 2 failed spinal surgeries it is very hard to lose weight. I can walk but not far enough to do good before i have to stop. With an ebike i would be able to ride as far as i can and then come back under power or maybe pedal assist the whole time. Unfortunately i don't have 2.5/3 grand to shell out for one. Hopefully one day i can be able to ride a bike like the one in your video. Keep them coming. As always great content my friend.
I've seen your clips on ebikes, and it seems you know you stuff, I'm uncertain what i need since I weigh 245Lbs and have'nt ridden a bike in 20 years. My dilemma is Hub or mid drive. Voltbike makes a 500w 160nm mid drive which is great, but the constant pedalling might kill me, on the hand they also make 750w 80nm hub. As i plan to do some mountain biking (like I did when I was 20) I know the mid drive is going to take me the distance if I pedal all the up (and maybe have a coronary) I don't know that that the 80 nm will take me to the top. Any insight from your experience will be greatly appreciated. I forgot to tell you I live in Canada so no 1000w bikes here. Larry R😅
That middrive has plenty of torque for almost anyone going uphill. If cost or maintenance isn't an issue, that would more than cover you.
I'm assuming you mean that that 500w 160nm torque middrive doesn't have a throttle though. If the battery has a big capacity, using the highest pedal assist settings shouldn't have you working too hard.
However, I do think a geared hub 750w 80nm torque motor you can throttled should do you good at 245lbs. I'm 320lbs and rode uphill on a motor with the same specs. For my extra weight, I'd look for a 85nm or 90nm torque rear hub motor, but at 75lbs lighter, 80nm is good.
While I don't fall into the heavier rider category, I found your guide informative in picking out a better ebike. While I have an ebike I am going to buy a step through version of the "motorbike" style with the long seat or a cargo ebike. For instance of an informative point, I had never thought about the slotted quick change front wheel and the through axle front wheel in terms of strength or durability. My only thoughts were how much easier it is for someone to remove the front wheel if it is not secured to the frame as part of one's parking secure locking routine. All the points you spoke about I think are a good guide in distinguishing from less or more durable features. Thanks for the video.
This is good information every single video you have put out has been the best
This video is greatly appreciated. Provided information I didn’t take into consideration before.
Getting closer and closer to 200k. Good luck.
Need to make your books available in Kindle format. I don't have room for print books, although I prefer for readability but have gotten use to the Kindle app on my iPad.
I've been thinking about getting a Day 6 Samson bike and using one of my Bafang BBSHD conversion kits on it.
Well I hope you do channel about it. Sounds interesting.
I just finished converting my Day 6 Patriot bike with a BBS02 motor and a 48v 20ah battery. It seems to be working well, but I will know more after riding it for a few months.
@@hccripe cool, lmk how it works out
The beauty of Ebikes! You don’t need to be a 150lb tri-athlete in a skin tight suit to have a blast and get some fresh air, exercise and enjoy the views!
Your channel is a school hopefully you answer questions, I am new to ebikes, I just purchased a addmotor motan m-550 fat tire ebike I like the bike but don’t like the front suspension, one tube makes the suspension rigid the other makes it somewhat springy, I live in a rural area, all hilly dirt roads and the roads are killing me, would like to replace the front suspension but can’t decide what to purchase, any advice? My name is Ken I am 75 and I live in Michigan.
Thank you my husband is a big guy💕
And I just want to make sure it will be okay for him. Something that will cut out the extra work for him to ride a bike
Best thing about this video? Finding out my fat @$$ is not yet considered a "heavy rider" :). Nice video! Good to see coverage for people outside the norm.
I was thinking the same thing, nice to know I'm not considered a heavy rider, yet.
I'm in the same boat guys! 250 lbs dressed. Seriously considering an E Bike to help me heal from 2 broken legs and shattered feet back in late 2019. Gained a lot of weight since the accident.
LIke gained 45 lbs of weight. Yea, Laying in bed in cast, & rolling around in a wheel chair for 9 month will do that to you.(That Beer Virus Lockdown didn't help much either!)
Use to cycle a lot before I retired 12 years ago. Weighed in at 185 then. I'm a big guy, 6'2". Was a solid gym rat way back when.
I'm thinking I want one comfortable to ride and get my cardo and fat burning in, and still get me home after my feet give out. One lap around Wal Mart now and I'm done. A lot of titanium in my feet make walking very uncomfortable.Got to do some shopping. And grandson lives 19 miles away through the Country.
Thanks
@@CurtisDrew1 Ouch! Doesn't sound fun at all, but glad to hear you're healing and getting around better.
@@FarmerFpv not needed if you get the right one, at least german built ones . I have my 2014 and done 7000 mls and I needed just 1 new battery and coming down from 125 kg to 100 kg
@@CurtisDrew1 That's too bad man - I hope you'll be healing fast and getting back to cycling fun very soon.
Hi Micah, something that has come up in discussions between myself and friends who want to get way off the beaten path with either E-bikes, quads or trucks/cars is can we use a conventional camp generator to help add range to the battery throughout the day so it would be running and recharging the battery at the same time, even regenerative braking may be a one way operation is why i ask the question.
Good breakdown for the heavier riders among us.
oh i needed this, i got up to about 280 sadly, am down to around 250 walking and light jogging. am debating starting to bike my 12-13 mile commute (each way) to help lose more thanks for the info! Cyrusher 900, Sondors rockstar, and ariel grizzly. though i want the workout as part of it easy ride to work to not be sweaty then mostly pedal assist low level on the way home
How about motors? lol. I'm fat and have an Ariel Rider Grizzly. Working great so far and with two motors it has no problems moving me around. I peddle a lot. As of now I have only had it about 3 weeks but so far so good. Getting out, losing some weight, and having fun.
Thanks, Micah, your videos are always helpful!
i think the reason for the gendering of the bikes is because women wore long dresses and the lowering of the top tube made it easier for women to get on and off of a bike
No way... Amazing
Plus biking itself was considered immodest for women by larger society and associated with urbane flappers and suffragettes.
Ridiculous.
Perhaps you did hit this point, but I will mention it anyways. I believe, through experience that the freewheels in the ebike, both in the motor and in the hub (not hub motor ebike)
should be strong, meaning average or cheap free hubs or the ring gears in the hub body fail readily. This seems to me to be related to rider weight and engagement points in the rachets.
The shock load when hammering down the pedals leads to failure. So an expensive rear hub with more engagement points is a must for heavy and/or powerful riders. If you have a mid mount motor ebike with a cheaper rear hub, you may be faced with a fail in the rear hub, this will cause a loss in bike use, and the need for an expensive hub and wheel rebuild, that's at least $500.00 CAD and who knows how long until the shop can get the parts and do the work, or maybe a spare rear wheel and hub, while the original is out of service.
Great advice for my big buddy looking for a bike. I forwarded him the video
Mid drive are the best all rounder I puncture in 2 years I keep up with traffic and the public love it everywhere I go I get asked how I made it and can you make me one haha
One word CUSH CORE! I'm a heavier set rider just bought my first ebike normal 6k cube 160 action team it's bang in perfect for me tyres magic Mary on front and big Betty on rear fox float 160mm on rear fox 38 170mm on front but know Cush core is the way to go for heavier lads
i am 210 pounds and i have been riding a rad runner 1 for two years...totally satisfied.....
DIY electric bike sounds like a fun project
I just got mine running. Its been a fun project and very rewarding when you drive of for the first time!