What would your doctor say about exercising your knee? The fact that it is weak seems like a reason to do it, unless it is somehow harmful. I can't walk but a few hundred feet, but I can ride for hours, so I ride to get exercise I so desperately need. I use a stationary bike most of the time, especially before I got the ebike, but now I use the ebike if I can. My doctor likes for me to exercise but I don't have a replacement knee, just one that hurts a lot.
I hope they add an option to add a throttle button. I'm also a bicycle purist, with a bad knee. I've had a couple trips that I barely made back because I couldn't pedal on one side anymore.
Thanks Russ for another great review. It is interesting what you said about the torque sensor. I bought a class 3 bike without a throttle (intentional) and it has a torque sensor. I don’t have a bad knee so it doesn’t affect me. I’ve often heard that the cadence sensors are not as smooth and natural feeling and that there is a slight delay with them too. From what you’re saying I guess it is easier to get going with the cadence sensor? The reason I bought my commuter bike without a throttle, was to not be tempted to use throttle only and to get in better shape (I’m 60 years old and walk regularly but needed some aerobic exercise), but have the option of pedal assist, especially when you are more tired at the end of a ride. There have been a couple times I wished I had a throttle. If I put my bike on level two assist, with very little effort, I’ll be going 15 to 20 miles an hour on flat land. (I’m in Florida). I hardly ever use level three or four. Unless I’m on a long straightaway on a commute or a long ride down the trail or have a strong headwind, then I’ll use level three just to get there quicker. Glad you’re weather is improving and we get ride videos again!
Hi Russ. This E Bike is like my sons' e bike except he only has one gear. His is a class one also with no suspension and the battery is in the frame with cadence sensor with 5 assist modes. He usually never uses the assist modes unless on a hill, he likes to pedal on zero assist but he's young, 28. On a sad note: I decided to buy a 1st Aid Kit for my e bike after my son and I rode pass and saw elderly lady about 75-80sh on the ground with blood from her head and sad thing, she was NOT wearing a helmet, her bike was on the road. I stopped, put on my emergency lights to let the traffic know, many people came to her rescue too, the ambulance came within a few minutes after it was called, at least she was still conscious. I just hope and pray she will be ok, I have my 1st aid from the Red Cross but no 1st aid treatment stuff on my bike, that's why I ordered a kit yesterday. Another Good Video Bro :)
I have found that slight indexing adjustment (derailleur) was necessary on an e-bike that was shipped to me. It was no big deal to tweak the barrel adjuster so that it would slip into first gear and stay there. I suspect that the tension on the derailleur cable changed from factory set-up to being partially dismantled for shipment and then re-assembled at my end. I commented on this in my review that the manufacturer asked me to post. That review never saw the light of day (was never posted). They certainly don't want anyone suggesting that they send out products that need adjustment at the delivery end. I wasn't bothered as I knew what to do regarding indexing (which was the only derailleur adjustment I needed to do) and high/low set (which for mine was fine out of the box). Even things like aligning the brake pad spacing to the rotor is an activity I expect to have to make. Manufacturers/retailers certainly don't want that reality to be mentioned. I have an e-bike with cadence sensor and one with a torque sensor. I agree with you that cadence is preferred if you have any knee/leg issues. I have a sore knee and while I can pedal with some gusto, the cadence sensor is nicer to my knee than the torque sensor. Thankfully I have throttles on both bikes, so I start up with the throttle. That is a limitation of the Class 1 bikes; no throttle. The Class 1s are attractive in that they are half the weight and look more like acoustic bikes than electric. The no throttle and torque sensor and relatively low torque are show stoppers for me. I need at least 80 Nm for extreme hill climbs (13 - 15% grade) and I want fenders, a throttle and cadence sensor.
My ebike calls for 60 miles. I've only managed 35. Yeah, my understanding the tester weighs 150-180. The road/track is flat, no 🛑 signs, 🚦 lights. They carry no gear. Thank you for sharing. Ride On!
I installed an immobilizer to my boys 13" wheen ebike. It would drain the battery while not in use. Was a bummer since there's no way to disable the bike from turning on without removing the battery. May have to install one of those key ignition lockout onto the handlebars.
Russ, an excellent review and a great example of why your channel is increasing in popularity. You tell it like it is: the good (range), the bad (torque sensor) and the ugly (fitness). Other reviewers ride the bike for 10 minutes (if that) and give you their opinion (which usually turns out to be "great bike"). Keep up your excellent reviews.
I own the ST version of the Thunder and think that the "tech" on the version you have is more of a gimmick than anything else. The ST provides a good ride without the assorted aspects of the app. That being said, there are issues with both versions. I am 76 and with both knees intact, but bending over the handlebar is not fun. I have rotated the bar to give it a little better upright position. I am not sure a stem riser(s) or entirely new stem will solve the problem where the cables are tightly integrated into the frame that there may not be enough length to allow the bar to be raised significantly. Also, the grips have no endcaps and rather than cut them for a bar end mirror, I changed them to grips that did. I will say that I have found the torque sensor to be very responsive and I have tested it on some of the steep hills we have here in Rochester, MN and while I cannot blast up at 15-20 mph, it moves the bike right along at 10-12 provided you are in Turbo and the right gear. The bike is quick and fun. The light weight makes a huge difference. I also changed the seat and added a suspension seatpost to create a less harsh/bone rattling ride. What the bike needs is a mid-drive motor, a carbon belt and a inner hub like a Shimano Nexus 8 speed. That would not add significant weight and you could keep the bike under 40lbs. Where is the link for the bell???
Which is better several small spokes or a few large ones? Weight may be an issue but I feel the larger spokes would require less maintenance. What's your opinion. Thanks
I assume you are talking about "Mag" style wheels (although many if not all do not use magnesium... which is where the term came from in the automotive industry). I have two bikes currently that have "Mag" wheels (no spokes). Overall, I like them, but they are of course a bit heavier than standard spoked wheels. And yes, you don't have to worry about spokes that can loosen or cause a total failure in the wheel. The bent wheel of a spoked front tire happened to me when I was a freshman in high school. Could have gotten really hurt, but luckily, I didn't. That would never happen on the mag wheel variety of wheel!
Every ebike i had had a bashed in guard when i received the box had to pull back on it for gears to shit properly, so imagine without a guard. Maybe what happened is the derailleur hanger is bent if that's the case you either bend it back and check with a special tool or replace it
Hi Russ. I love my class 2 ebike. I got to ride today. Beautiful spring day. I did wear a sweatshirt jacket but could have worn my windbreaker too. I rode 8.3 miles around our neighborhood. We have lots of hills. I rode mostly in PAS 1 and 2. Up one hill in 3. I use the throttle to take off at certain spots. I could not ride without lots of assist. LOL. I can understand why you want to sell this one even though it is a really nice bike.
I don't have mobility issues yet (thank God), and I lost over 40 lbs with a class 1 torque sensor ebike. You absolutely can get good exercise and lose weight with them, but you also have no throttle, no escape if you need extra assistance. I would personally recommend torque sensors unless you have pretty bad mobility issues, the exercise is worth it.
Hey Russ great video and review. I think it's safe to conclude this Velotric is for the more fit and athletic individual. Hope you are fully recovered from this review and ready for Wisconsin👍
I was never too happy with these little mirrors that ruin the look of an ebike. Just finished installing an akaso action camera on the back then ran a hdmi cable to a razer hdmi capture card then to my phone. Nice wide angle image looks sweet on my phone. Can record too. Wasn't exactly cheap. But cheaper than the apeman cycling rearview camera they sell.
Russ what reviews of ebikes do I need to watch. I am 63 bad knees and hips from Authorities. 5feet 10inch tall 250 lb. I live in hill County your rides look fairly flat on video not sure if they are. I would only have backroads to ride on wish we had bike trails.
Based on your height and weight (pretty close to my own weight, same height), of the bikes I have reviewed... I'd say check out the Magicycle Cruiser or Cruiser Pro (with hydraulic brakes, larger battery but more importantly, better torque). The backroads rides will need a bike that can handle it and the 96 nm of torque on the Cruiser Pro will do that. Based on your bad knees and hips, I'd stick with a cadence sensor rather than a torque sensor bike. The Himiway Zebra is also very nice and would work well if you want a truer step thru design. The Magicycle Cruisers are called mid-step, but you still need to swing your leg over the top. You can step thru the Himiway Zebra. There are lots of other brands too, but I'm just talking the ones I have experience with on my reviews. My other bikes probably would be less suitable for you. I mean even though the Magicycle Ocelot Pro would work, but it's a 20 inch wheel bike and I think based on our size, the Cruisers would fit better. But if you want the torque and also a step thru with the same torque, well, that's the Ocelot Pro. You just have to ask yourself if you can still swing your leg over or not. While I have a bad knee, I can still do it if I lean the bike to one side. That's ok. with. me. th-cam.com/video/259GOhHWs3s/w-d-xo.html. th-cam.com/video/rrhV-lNRCxc/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/HfsxKoxZHpY/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/_S2kD6HRIhA/w-d-xo.html. If you want to help me out, click on the affiliate links in the description of the videos before you place an order if you plan to buy one of these. Then use the discount codes. The link is what gives me the credit. Thanks!
I like the IPX6 rating in their specs. I would trust/ride this bike in Florida rain if it had some kind of lightweight splash guards. 70 miles with a 350Wh battery🤔 I'm sure some test riders did it… athletes. I think these Class 1 bikes with super compact hub motors could be the future if just controllers could detect a stop-to-go action instantly and provide a power surge.
Hey Russ and everyone else reading this...I just found out how people over charge their batteries, once the battery is charged 100%, the green light shows and it stops charging, then they unplug everything and then re-plug everything back to charging mode. This will over heat/charge the battery causing it to catch fire and possibly explode, usually within minutes.
@@waynecremlock yes, that is exactly how they do it. The only reason I can see someone doing this is if they think plugging it in will give it more battery or to make sure it is fully charged.
I'm in the market for one of these. I'm pretty well done sitting on a saddle around 20 miles. I can set the 350 watt motor controller to work at lower current limits, & the steps in power are adjustable too. I set on level one & do very nicely at 40 watts but max out with 270 watts with the throttle. I like the fork s for handling more water. Not seen on any other. I like seeing what market forces have engineered. I like the low profile, is it really an ebike?
@@Stupidityindex Yes, It's an E Bike even though it doesn't look like one, My son has an E Bike like this one and he loves it. It just doesn't have a throttle which makes it a level 1 e bike. As a matter of fact, my brother yesterday said to me, "You guys are going biking, that's not fair, you have an E bike and Mike doesn't?" Mike replied, yes, it is an e Bike, it just looks normal. My brother was stunned LOL
@@RussIsRight I don't want to give out medical advice. It is just a suggestion based on my own personal experience. The muscles on the injured leg are weaker, so you have to overcompensate to restore equal muscle balance. Try standing on the injured leg only, you will see what I mean. The next day try standing longer etc.
I fell twice with the bike when it leaned towards my weakened leg and knee. The bikes are heavy and adding even more weight on the weaken leg just doesn’t seem to make sense to me.
I think it is safe to say that this bike is best for younger, more fit folks.
What would your doctor say about exercising your knee? The fact that it is weak seems like a reason to do it, unless it is somehow harmful. I can't walk but a few hundred feet, but I can ride for hours, so I ride to get exercise I so desperately need. I use a stationary bike most of the time, especially before I got the ebike, but now I use the ebike if I can. My doctor likes for me to exercise but I don't have a replacement knee, just one that hurts a lot.
I hope they add an option to add a throttle button. I'm also a bicycle purist, with a bad knee. I've had a couple trips that I barely made back because I couldn't pedal on one side anymore.
Thanks Russ for another great review.
It is interesting what you said about the torque sensor. I bought a class 3 bike without a throttle (intentional) and it has a torque sensor. I don’t have a bad knee so it doesn’t affect me. I’ve often heard that the cadence sensors are not as smooth and natural feeling and that there is a slight delay with them too. From what you’re saying I guess it is easier to get going with the cadence sensor?
The reason I bought my commuter bike without a throttle, was to not be tempted to use throttle only and to get in better shape (I’m 60 years old and walk regularly but needed some aerobic exercise), but have the option of pedal assist, especially when you are more tired at the end of a ride. There have been a couple times I wished I had a throttle.
If I put my bike on level two assist, with very little effort, I’ll be going 15 to 20 miles an hour on flat land. (I’m in Florida). I hardly ever use level three or four. Unless I’m on a long straightaway on a commute or a long ride down the trail or have a strong headwind, then I’ll use level three just to get there quicker.
Glad you’re weather is improving and we get ride videos again!
Hi Russ. This E Bike is like my sons' e bike except he only has one gear. His is a class one also with no suspension and the battery is in the frame with cadence sensor with 5 assist modes. He usually never uses the assist modes unless on a hill, he likes to pedal on zero assist but he's young, 28. On a sad note: I decided to buy a 1st Aid Kit for my e bike after my son and I rode pass and saw elderly lady about 75-80sh on the ground with blood from her head and sad thing, she was NOT wearing a helmet, her bike was on the road. I stopped, put on my emergency lights to let the traffic know, many people came to her rescue too, the ambulance came within a few minutes after it was called, at least she was still conscious. I just hope and pray she will be ok, I have my 1st aid from the Red Cross but no 1st aid treatment stuff on my bike, that's why I ordered a kit yesterday. Another Good Video Bro :)
🙁
Try a ride with higher cadence on that bike. You want to pedal at least 80 rpm to minimize stress on you knees.
I have found that slight indexing adjustment (derailleur) was necessary on an e-bike that was shipped to me. It was no big deal to tweak the barrel adjuster so that it would slip into first gear and stay there.
I suspect that the tension on the derailleur cable changed from factory set-up to being partially dismantled for shipment and then re-assembled at my end.
I commented on this in my review that the manufacturer asked me to post. That review never saw the light of day (was never posted). They certainly don't want anyone suggesting that they send out products that need adjustment at the delivery end.
I wasn't bothered as I knew what to do regarding indexing (which was the only derailleur adjustment I needed to do) and high/low set (which for mine was fine out of the box). Even things like aligning the brake pad spacing to the rotor is an activity I expect to have to make. Manufacturers/retailers certainly don't want that reality to be mentioned.
I have an e-bike with cadence sensor and one with a torque sensor. I agree with you that cadence is preferred if you have any knee/leg issues. I have a sore knee and while I can pedal with some gusto, the cadence sensor is nicer to my knee than the torque sensor. Thankfully I have throttles on both bikes, so I start up with the throttle. That is a limitation of the Class 1 bikes; no throttle. The Class 1s are attractive in that they are half the weight and look more like acoustic bikes than electric. The no throttle and torque sensor and relatively low torque are show stoppers for me. I need at least 80 Nm for extreme hill climbs (13 - 15% grade) and I want fenders, a throttle and cadence sensor.
Yup. That's all I have to say... Yup. :)
My ebike calls for 60 miles. I've only managed 35. Yeah, my understanding the tester weighs 150-180. The road/track is flat, no 🛑 signs, 🚦 lights. They carry no gear. Thank you for sharing. Ride On!
I installed an immobilizer to my boys 13" wheen ebike. It would drain the battery while not in use. Was a bummer since there's no way to disable the bike from turning on without removing the battery. May have to install one of those key ignition lockout onto the handlebars.
Great review Russ! Though, still not the machine for us older/heavier peddlers, not able to put in the heavy duty work, especially off the line!
Russ, an excellent review and a great example of why your channel is increasing in popularity. You tell it like it is: the good (range), the bad (torque sensor) and the ugly (fitness). Other reviewers ride the bike for 10 minutes (if that) and give you their opinion (which usually turns out to be "great bike"). Keep up your excellent reviews.
Thanks. I try... even if it hurts. Hahaha!
I own the ST version of the Thunder and think that the "tech" on the version you have is more of a gimmick than anything else. The ST provides a good ride without the assorted aspects of the app. That being said, there are issues with both versions. I am 76 and with both knees intact, but bending over the handlebar is not fun. I have rotated the bar to give it a little better upright position. I am not sure a stem riser(s) or entirely new stem will solve the problem where the cables are tightly integrated into the frame that there may not be enough length to allow the bar to be raised significantly. Also, the grips have no endcaps and rather than cut them for a bar end mirror, I changed them to grips that did. I will say that I have found the torque sensor to be very responsive and I have tested it on some of the steep hills we have here in Rochester, MN and while I cannot blast up at 15-20 mph, it moves the bike right along at 10-12 provided you are in Turbo and the right gear. The bike is quick and fun. The light weight makes a huge difference. I also changed the seat and added a suspension seatpost to create a less harsh/bone rattling ride. What the bike needs is a mid-drive motor, a carbon belt and a inner hub like a Shimano Nexus 8 speed. That would not add significant weight and you could keep the bike under 40lbs. Where is the link for the bell???
No link because the sellers always run out!
Which is better several small spokes or a few large ones? Weight may be an issue but I feel the larger spokes would require less maintenance. What's your opinion. Thanks
I assume you are talking about "Mag" style wheels (although many if not all do not use magnesium... which is where the term came from in the automotive industry). I have two bikes currently that have "Mag" wheels (no spokes). Overall, I like them, but they are of course a bit heavier than standard spoked wheels. And yes, you don't have to worry about spokes that can loosen or cause a total failure in the wheel. The bent wheel of a spoked front tire happened to me when I was a freshman in high school. Could have gotten really hurt, but luckily, I didn't. That would never happen on the mag wheel variety of wheel!
Every ebike i had had a bashed in guard when i received the box had to pull back on it for gears to shit properly, so imagine without a guard. Maybe what happened is the derailleur hanger is bent if that's the case you either bend it back and check with a special tool or replace it
Hi Russ. I love my class 2 ebike. I got to ride today. Beautiful spring day. I did wear a sweatshirt jacket but could have worn my windbreaker too. I rode 8.3 miles around our neighborhood. We have lots of hills. I rode mostly in PAS 1 and 2. Up one hill in 3. I use the throttle to take off at certain spots. I could not ride without lots of assist. LOL. I can understand why you want to sell this one even though it is a really nice bike.
It's just not for me due to my own inabilities to ride it as it should. Otherwise, it would be a good one for a workout. :)
I don't have mobility issues yet (thank God), and I lost over 40 lbs with a class 1 torque sensor ebike.
You absolutely can get good exercise and lose weight with them, but you also have no throttle, no escape if you need extra assistance.
I would personally recommend torque sensors unless you have pretty bad mobility issues, the exercise is worth it.
Yes, for the exercise, this bike would be good for that. But as you mention, no throttle means there's no way out of that if you are tired out. :)
Hey Russ great video and review. I think it's safe to conclude this Velotric is for the more fit and athletic individual. Hope you are fully recovered from this review and ready for Wisconsin👍
I was never too happy with these little mirrors that ruin the look of an ebike. Just finished installing an akaso action camera on the back then ran a hdmi cable to a razer hdmi capture card then to my phone. Nice wide angle image looks sweet on my phone. Can record too. Wasn't exactly cheap. But cheaper than the apeman cycling rearview camera they sell.
Russ what reviews of ebikes do I need to watch. I am 63 bad knees and hips from Authorities. 5feet 10inch tall 250 lb. I live in hill County your rides look fairly flat on video not sure if they are. I would only have backroads to ride on wish we had bike trails.
Based on your height and weight (pretty close to my own weight, same height), of the bikes I have reviewed... I'd say check out the Magicycle Cruiser or Cruiser Pro (with hydraulic brakes, larger battery but more importantly, better torque). The backroads rides will need a bike that can handle it and the 96 nm of torque on the Cruiser Pro will do that. Based on your bad knees and hips, I'd stick with a cadence sensor rather than a torque sensor bike. The Himiway Zebra is also very nice and would work well if you want a truer step thru design. The Magicycle Cruisers are called mid-step, but you still need to swing your leg over the top. You can step thru the Himiway Zebra. There are lots of other brands too, but I'm just talking the ones I have experience with on my reviews. My other bikes probably would be less suitable for you. I mean even though the Magicycle Ocelot Pro would work, but it's a 20 inch wheel bike and I think based on our size, the Cruisers would fit better. But if you want the torque and also a step thru with the same torque, well, that's the Ocelot Pro. You just have to ask yourself if you can still swing your leg over or not. While I have a bad knee, I can still do it if I lean the bike to one side. That's ok. with. me. th-cam.com/video/259GOhHWs3s/w-d-xo.html. th-cam.com/video/rrhV-lNRCxc/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/HfsxKoxZHpY/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/_S2kD6HRIhA/w-d-xo.html. If you want to help me out, click on the affiliate links in the description of the videos before you place an order if you plan to buy one of these. Then use the discount codes. The link is what gives me the credit. Thanks!
I like the IPX6 rating in their specs. I would trust/ride this bike in Florida rain if it had some kind of lightweight splash guards. 70 miles with a 350Wh battery🤔 I'm sure some test riders did it… athletes. I think these Class 1 bikes with super compact hub motors could be the future if just controllers could detect a stop-to-go action instantly and provide a power surge.
They now have an option for fenders.
Hey Russ and everyone else reading this...I just found out how people over charge their batteries, once the battery is charged 100%, the green light shows and it stops charging, then they unplug everything and then re-plug everything back to charging mode. This will over heat/charge the battery causing it to catch fire and possibly explode, usually within minutes.
Yeah, not good!
so after the battery is charged, they plug it back in? why would someone do that? that makes no sense.
@@waynecremlock yes, that is exactly how they do it. The only reason I can see someone doing this is if they think plugging it in will give it more battery or to make sure it is fully charged.
Have you ever reviewed the Velotric discover 1?
I have not.
Your lower average speed extended your range. This bike would be right up my alley, but too small a battery. I need a lot more range.
Thunder? Stealth is a better name for this e bike, it can even pass the Trail Karen test.
I'm in the market for one of these. I'm pretty well done sitting on a saddle around 20 miles. I can set the 350 watt motor controller to work at lower current limits, & the steps in power are adjustable too. I set on level one & do very nicely at 40 watts but max out with 270 watts with the throttle. I like the fork s for handling more water. Not seen on any other.
I like seeing what market forces have engineered. I like the low profile, is it really an ebike?
@@Stupidityindex Yes, It's an E Bike even though it doesn't look like one, My son has an E Bike like this one and he loves it. It just doesn't have a throttle which makes it a level 1 e bike. As a matter of fact, my brother yesterday said to me, "You guys are going biking, that's not fair, you have an E bike and Mike doesn't?" Mike replied, yes, it is an e Bike, it just looks normal. My brother was stunned LOL
Ask your wife if she thinks it’s a good idea to wear an ankle weight on your left leg when you are riding.😊
?
@@RussIsRight I don't want to give out medical advice. It is just a suggestion based on my own personal experience. The muscles on the injured leg are weaker, so you have to overcompensate to restore equal muscle balance. Try standing on the injured leg only, you will see what I mean. The next day try standing longer etc.
@@RP4402rp I think it might be dangerous to have any kind of weight on your leg when riding a bike.
@@RussIsRight Why do you think that?
I fell twice with the bike when it leaned towards my weakened leg and knee. The bikes are heavy and adding even more weight on the weaken leg just doesn’t seem to make sense to me.