Zajebisty

I like the look and feel.. but... how long do the batteries typically last? I am seeing $1200 replacement costs ! what about the motor? any thing to look for on used examples?

2old

I had a chance to ride the ST1X ($5,000 one AIR) and whatever the designation of the $10,000 one is fairly extensively. Both were easily capable of 30 mph, and I think the more expensive one is overpriced, but the $5,000 model is worth it since the motor is assembled in Germany (AIR), the bike is manufactured in Sweden and they have many features. I would expect the batteries to last 400-1000 cycles (as a WAG) or 3-4 years which is expected of a premium manufacturer. Anything used is a crap shoot which I avoid, especially batteries.

BrocLuno

Stromer has prolly staked out the high ground for quality builds. They are very nice e-Bikes indeed. But you are playing with sort of Porsche/Bently level stuff and they do not share mechanical info. So if it goes wrong, you'll have to have it serviced at a Stromer shop ...

veganbikes

Not, for sure. Stromer makes overpriced e-bikes using older school technology. All the big players have moved to mid drives and they are stuck in the heavy clunky world of hub drives which build heavy weak wheels just waiting to fail. Yes they may use the best hub drive motor and for a while they were actually some of the tops in e-bikes but that time has passed. Bosch, Brose, Shimano, Yamaha are all using mid drives for many good reasons.

Dunbar

2old

FWIW, I've ridden many (probably 50) different ebikes, both hub and mid-drive, OEM and DIY for short periods to as long as a month test; also, own a bunch. FME, hub motors are superior for commuting unless there are substantial, long hills on the route. They have several advantages over mid-drives in maintenance and if there is a chain or other drivetrain failure, the hub motor may still get you home. My oldest Luna battery is still going strong after three years and hundreds of charges powering both a 1500w commuter and BBS02 off road. There's no reason why the Stromer battery won't be as durable; of course, it will last even longer if you maintain it between 20% and 80% of full charge.

Nightdiver

Yeah, hub motors are perfectly adequate for many scenarios. I think that the mid-drives are getting all the love for two reasons:
1. Marketing budgets
2. 250w limitation in Europe

BrocLuno

Agreed. Putting smaller wattage motors through existing drive trains is not that big a leap. So they work w/o breaking things, and they offer gearing for that small motor.

Putting a 1Kw motor through a bicycle drive train on top of pedal input, not such a good idea fro longevity ...

I think there is a place and scenario for every kind of drive. Gazelle (Holland) sells a lot of commuter bikes with front hub drives (small) because they want to keep the power separate and it makes the bike 2-wheel drive in winter. PAS1 and rider input means they get traction and pull at both ends

jlaw

If you will be using this to climb significant hills and/or haul loads you should consider a mid-drive - higher torque. This is why many/most cargo bikes and MTBs are now using mid-drives. Bosch, Brose, Yamaha make good stuff and should back it up during the warranty period.

On the other hand, you might get longer motor life out of a hub motor - especially if it is a quality direct-drive (no plastic gears) - many fewer moving parts as compared to a mid-drive.

If you are considering buying a used ebike it will be helpful if you are mechanical/electrical capable and there is a shop nearby trained to repair/diagnose the motor/battery on the bike you are buying. Personally, I would not buy a used ebike - it might ride fine on your 10 minute test drive, but who knows after that. You're not going to see possible problems inside the motor/battery.

The batteries on an ebike are just bigger versions of the rechargeable batteries on power tools. If I get 7+ years out of a new power tool battery before it dies I am satisfied - but I am only re-charging 1X per week, if that. If you are re-charging your ebike battery every day or so, then you may need to replace the battery every 3 to 5 years, maybe sooner ?. $1200 for a new battery seems high to me - I've seen $800 to $1000 for quality replacement batteries - and hopefully the price of that technology will be lower in a few years.

The best way to know is to test-drive new bikes and compare. You can also browse the brand-specific forums at https://electricbikereview.com/forum/

BrocLuno

Thanks for that link