radroad

E-bikes have supposedly already overtaken standard bike sales in Europe. See video below. Out on the rec trails locally, e-bikes seem to makeup at least half of all bicycle rentals (single rider bikes). Non rental e-bikes are also becoming more common on the rec trails: not quite rare, but a long ways from becoming the majority.

I scoffed at e-bikes 3 years ago, when they were starting to become commonplace at the trade shows. I thought they were a joke. strictly a sales gimmick or maybe a tiny niche for the lazy and/or unfit. I've ridden quite a few e-bikes since then and can no longer deny the fun factor is off the charts.

What do you think? Will electric bikes overtake standard bike sales?

Elvo

Definitely - once Walmart comes out with their ebike

Fastfingaz

What ever,,,,,,,, why don't you just take the bus,,,,,, save the three grand....

fietsbob

Future... is Not Here Yet ..

General Geoff

Yes - Until governments crack down on them and start requiring a motorcycle license to ride them on public roads, and ban them from multi use paths. It will happen, just a matter of time.


(As they get more popular, more and more people will act the fool while riding them and end up in body bags, or injuring/killing pedstrians on MUPs, prompting the public to tell their legislatures to "DO SOMETHING," which will result in the motorcycle license requirement and prohibition on using MUPs)

livedarklions

I'd be worried if I was in the business of making or selling high end commuter bikes. Not sure I think the other users are people who were going to buy regular bikes anyway, so the growth in the e-bike industry may not come at the expense of recreational bike sales.

CliffordK

If you count used bike sales, NO.

What we may well see is pedal bikes being purchased, resold... and perhaps being ridden and resold a few times for the better bikes.

On the other hand, there is more incentive to purchase E-Biikes new (latest technology, good battery, etc). And, over time, as electronics degrade, they'll simply be scrapped.

Thus, new sales may not actually reflect ridership.

Rajflyboy

radroad

Costco is selling an ebike with suspension, disc brakes and an internal battery for $1K. You can find full suspension folding ebikes online for around $600.

Rajflyboy

radroad

The Costco e-bike is getting good reviews: 4.1/5 stars. I'm pretty sure it's backed by costco's return policy and guarantee.
https://www.costco.com/Jetson-Advent...100370011.html

Here's a blog with ongoing reviews and ride videos with the ancheer folding e-bike. The owner's had several mechanical issues with the bike, but seems to like the bike a lot:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGvHJnzZcUI

https://www.youtube.com/user/kobevision/videos

jefnvk

When I read this question, my first thought was "yes, when you can get a name brand entry level for around $600". So, I guess my answer is almost yes

badger1

If they do, so what? Car/truck sales I'm sure exceed bicycle sales.

E-bikes have nothing whatsoever to do with cycling, notwithstanding all the special pleading that goes on here on Bike Forums. E-bikes are just another form of motorized transportation.

Cycling (human-powered bicycles) is cycling; 'e-bikes' are underpowered mopeds/motorcycles.

Fahrenheit531 

All of this.

Humpy

Maybe.

Personally, I'm not interested in an electric bicycle.

I would be interested in a badass low cost/maintenance/weight electric off road motorcycle though.

mcours2006

I hope so. More two-wheeled vehicles on the road means more driver awareness of two-wheeled vehicles, and I'm a part of that group vehicles on the road. I've encountered a few e-bikes on my travels. I have no problem with them on the road or bike lanes. I am not a fan of them on MUPs and greenways.

I don't think I'd ever ride one. I treat anything in which I have to exert physical effort as exercise, so I wouldn't deprive myself of the opportunity to get the most out of a ride. But who knows, if my job required me to travel longer than the 20 km I currently do, then an e-bike would be totally sensible.

Gresp15C

Amusingly, I've got people at my workplace already asking me why I don't ride an e-bike. And if I answer, they will try to debate with me.

I'm an ideal candidate for riding a conventional bike: I live 4 miles from my workplace in a relatively flat town. I haven't yet found out what my limits are for riding a regular bike, so it's still interesting and fun. If conditions were to change drastically, I'd re-think things. For instance I would choose an e-bike over a car if those were my only choices.

Cycling will always be a subculture. Even before e-bikes were a thing, most people thought that cycling was some sort of dangerous indulgence, or a last refuge for DUI's and bums. I didn't try to justify it then, and I won't try to justify it now.

radroad

Yeah, that's what some people on the forum refuse to realize. The car-free "movement" is total pie in the sky. It's not attainable in the united states. The cities with the highest percentage of bike commuters are around 5 to 10%

I just read that DUI's resort to bike riding lol. I hadn't heard that before to be quite honest. On the few occasions I've been to bike shops recently, it's all higher end carbon road bikes or mtb's, enthusiasts primarily. I don't see many candidates for DUI riders lol.

I ride a lot around town and people are usually fascinated. They think it's great that I'm riding so much, they always ask lots of questions, and always assume that everything I'm wearing: helmets, jackets, gloves are super expensive. So they tend to think the opposite: they think cyclists are super affluent rather than super poor.

KraneXL

So that the fat people that shop there can pretend exercise?

Metieval

I thought I wanted an e-bike, but....

these stand up boards look more fun.

https://cycleboard.com/products/rove...M59OyqsLlM-Mqg

As for e-bikes taking over standard bike sales. I have no Idea and I really don't care. AS LONG as I can still buy quality standard bicycles. I don't bike to save the planet, I don't bike to commute, or be green. or any other reason. Other than 100% enjoyment.

raceboy

Rowan

You've got it all out in the open. People seem to forget that recharging the bikes costs someone more money. Not on motor fuel, which has its own negative, but unless the power is solar generated, it has to be created in ways that is often environmentally negative and expensive. Even solar generation has it costly complicated issues.

Rowan

Yep, you've covered it well, too. I've already been subjected to irresponsible, law ignorant activity by e-bikes and the crap small petrol equivalents on our bike paths.

Kapusta

Bmach