eBike: Lost on which kind and model to choose
Hello. I’m looking to buy an electric bike, but the variety is so overwhelming that I’m lost on which one to choose. I’d like to hear some ideas from someone who has been through this.
Usage:
- Most of the time, the bike will be used for short trips of about ~8km/day, like going to the market, pharmacy, etc.
- Once a week, I plan to use it for longer rides as a form of exercise (~30km).
Terrain:
- Asphalt with some dirt paths, so I’d say I need something more along the lines of Trekking/Gravel.
- Part of the terrain is quite steep (15% incline in some sections!), and this is the main reason why I need an electric bike instead of a regular one.
Budget:
- Ideally, the purchase price should not exceed €1,500. But if it’s really worth it, I could stretch to €2,000. (I live in Portugal)
Questions:
- What brands and models do you recommend? The brands I’ve heard most about are Decathlon (Riverside, Rockrider), Fiido (C11, C21), and BEEQ (M500, E850). (Many people mention going for a Bosch motor, but the prices become unreasonable for my usage.)
- Motor placement: mid-drive or rear hub? From what I’ve read, for steep climbs, it makes sense for the motor to take advantage of the gears, so a mid-drive motor?
- Power: From what I’ve read, I should look for a motor with at least 50Nm of torque. Does that make sense?
- Compact/folding bikes: Can these handle terrain like this, or are they not recommended?
- What other factors should I consider when choosing for my intended use?