Used E-Bike Self Inspection

jhynesrockmtn · 01-09-2024, 04:57 AM

My wife has wanted an E-Bike for a few years. We do a fair bit of trailer camping and she wants to take it along. I found a used Trek Verve + 2 we are looking at today. Step through pedal assist model. The price is good. New they are over $2,800. The seller is asking $1,000. This one is a 2019 or 2020 model year. Supposedly very low miles. I'm comfortable inspecting all of the standard bike components. Can the Bosch batteries go bad just from lack of use? Any way without equipment, in the middle of winter, to test it other than see it is charged? She can't take it on a long demo ride.

wswartzwel · 01-09-2024, 05:08 AM

Replacement batteries are expensive.

New bikes are selling dirt cheap right now. Go talk to a dealer and see what they will do for you. I just bought my wife a Salsa Warbird for dealer cost.

jhynesrockmtn · 01-09-2024, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wswartzwel

Replacement batteries are expensive.

New bikes are selling dirt cheap right now. Go talk to a dealer and see what they will do for you. I just bought my wife a Salsa Warbird for dealer cost.

I hear ya. The batteries are in the $500 range. The local dealer I bought my Trek mountain bike from has none in stock and he can't get us much below retail, like 10% off. The cheapest dealer bike I've found is $2,200 for a lightly used customer return. They are an hour one way drive from us. I figured worst case, if the rest of this bike is good, a battery down the road still has us around $1,500.

stevej37 · 01-09-2024, 05:24 AM

Or...get a brand new pedal-assist bike for the same $1000.

https://www.propella.bike/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA-vOsBhAAEiwAIWR0TSn9leogKfAUpgFjZGisYtF-aIeh69ct9zb56Ocs8hGr4S3t-t_YcBoCCRkQAvD_BwE

zakthor · zakthor's Garage

If you have an indoor trainer you could put it through its paces… see how many miles until it loses 2 bars of charge?

wswartzwel · 01-09-2024, 05:38 AM

If a battery is only $500. you can't go wrong with that price then. Especially if that's the bike she wants. I thought they were more than that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhynesrockmtn

I hear ya. The batteries are in the $500 range. The local dealer I bought my Trek mountain bike from has none in stock and he can't get us much below retail, like 10% off. The cheapest dealer bike I've found is $2,200 for a lightly used customer return. They are an hour one way drive from us. I figured worst case, if the rest of this bike is good, a battery down the road still has us around $1,500.

herr_oberst · 01-09-2024, 05:49 AM

If it were me, I'd get the trek. Chances are, if all things are equal, it'll be the least likely option to end up in the landfill as worthless junk. The race to the bottom with regards to electric vehicles is going to end up as an environmental nightmare.

jhynesrockmtn · 01-09-2024, 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevej37

Or...get a brand new pedal-assist bike for the same $1000.

https://www.propella.bike/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA-vOsBhAAEiwAIWR0TSn9leogKfAUpgFjZGisYtF-aIeh69ct9zb56Ocs8hGr4S3t-t_YcBoCCRkQAvD_BwE

Unfortunately the Propella that is comparable comes in one size fits all. She is barely 5'4" and the fit would be sketchy at best.

jhynesrockmtn · 01-09-2024, 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

If it were me, I'd get the trek. Chances are, if all things are equal, it'll be the least likely option to end up in the landfill as worthless junk. The race to the bottom with regards to electric vehicles is going to end up as an environmental nightmare.

Exactly. There are a ton of cheap e bikes out there. At least with a known brand, if she doesn't end up riding it much, I can move it along. Her last bike is going to my oldest daughter. It's almost brand new. She really tried riding it but the hills..... thus the pedal assist.

Hugh R · 01-09-2024, 06:02 AM

Look at lectricbike.com we have two, based in AZ, English speaking tech support and they carry all the spare parts. We bought a set of brackets, one front for her bike and a rear one for mine.

LWJ · 01-09-2024, 07:10 AM

My wife and I has Specialized Vado's. Mine has an app that shows all sorts of stuff. Including battery life. Is there a similar feature with the Trek?

stevej37 · 01-09-2024, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhynesrockmtn

Unfortunately the Propella that is comparable comes in one size fits all. She is barely 5'4" and the fit would be sketchy at best.

For the 7S....5'4" is in the ideal height range...(if still undecided)
Maybe a step-thru is important to her...then it wouldn't work.
https://www.propella.bike/shop/ebikes/7s-xr

jhynesrockmtn · 01-09-2024, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevej37

For the 7S....5'4" is in the ideal height range...(if still undecided)
Maybe a step-thru is important to her...then it wouldn't work.
https://www.propella.bike/shop/ebikes/7s-xr

Step through is important to her. I may actually look at that, even though I said I'd never have a battery on my bike. The reality is, I had knee surgery this summer. The other one will be due at some point. I haven't ridden my Trek Madone is probably 2 years. I have only ridden my mountain bike. The road rides I used to enjoy I no longer do. Too many idiots driving around with their faces in a screen. It might be nice to have a "city" bike for trails, etc. with my wife and a battery to save my knees from crunching up hills like I like to do.

We looked at it this morning. She was/is in love. They had a nice covered garage and she was able to ride it a bit. I also was able to test it. It is like new. The seller was ideal. She was helping an 86 year old friend in her building liquidate some things after her husband passed. Got both keys and a bunch of accessories. Rack, bag, tool kit, extra tubes, pump.....

Bike operated great, no weird noises, powered right up, full charge on a battery that has been sitting for months, shifts well, brakes are fantastic hydraulic disc.

Very fair price and easy transaction.

LWJ · 01-09-2024, 09:55 AM

Congratulations! I believe e-bikes will change city planning. They are amazing.

herr_oberst · 01-09-2024, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhynesrockmtn

......Got both keys and a bunch of accessories. Rack, bag, tool kit, extra tubes, pump.....

Bike operated great, no weird noises, powered right up, full charge on a battery that has been sitting for months, shifts well, brakes are fantastic hydraulic disc.

Very fair price and easy transaction.

Score! Win win win win.......!