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I still don’t understand why these ‘ebikes’ have pedals. Folks can’t or don’t want to exercise, but want to pretend? I’ve seen the enthusiasm, it’s very real. Maybe it’s a dementia? Lose their edge with old age.
Seems a lot more logical to have a twist throttle and do away with the crank arm, but there must be something special to pretend to ride a bike.
a lot of these things are pretty top heavy. Someone can’t ride a bike they’ll find these things pretty dangerous. It’s a pretty narrow window where your health is so low you can’t ride a bike, but you can still manage a 50-70 pound ebike. My mom has a ‘remidemi’ with low step through frame. She’s not fallen yet but it’s scary to watch. Kinetic energy is a bastard.
I’ve a friend in her late 70s that until this year was riding 300’ hills to get around on her 80s mtb. I was really supportive, could see her suffering on the hills but that was a health d8vidend. Now she has a few more serious joint injuries and she can’t ride, she wants an ebike but seeing how frail she is I’m worried she’ll end up in a ditch. How about a small Honda scooter?
Other issue I encounter is folks riding these things on shared paths. They tend to be hauling ass but without enough attention and dexterity to be safe with other riders and cars. I’ve seen and experienced a lot of close calls. I think it’s the same problem, folks don’t have the attention and fitness to ride a bicycle then they probably shouldn’t be on an ebike either.
When I’m made king I’m going to require full motorcycle cert for all the powered scooter riders.
Lastly, these expensive moped batteries age, vendors go out of business, I suspect these things are going to translate into a very pile of toxic e waste when battery replacement is more than value of the moped. Lucky if you get 6 years out of a battery. An actual bicycle is eco that will last decades, these e things are worse than a motorcycle. Modern 125 moto bike is a reliable well engineered wonder - that gets my vote and it’s resale is higher than zero.
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