591 utility ebikes

Oh what the hell, it's time for another exciting Bike & Battery!

After pretty much giving up on my search for an eMTB, I almost bought one. Well, a fat tire full suspension mid-drive, the QuietKat Jeep. They had a close out sale on 2021 models, and I could have scored the 750W mid-drive model for, if I remember correctly, $1699, or maybe only $1499? (The full retail was close to $5k.)

But I hesitated. The battery was only 14.5Ah, resulting in a range under thirty miles. A second battery was an option, for a couple-three hundred bucks more. But the wheels are 4.8 inches wide. That's wider than your standard 4" fat tire. While a dropper post would be a diy option, another couple hundred bucks, the straw that broke the camel's back was the weight of the bike: 80 pounds. 

By all accounts, the bike is a beast. And they only had it in the large frame size. 

So I hesitated. And the next morning, they were all gone. Reading Reddit, I saw a few people who had scored one, and a bunch more like me.

With that behind us, it's time to look at some ebikes that aren't eMountainbikes. Like this Volcon Droog. Volcon, I think based in Texas or Oklahoma, makes another high-bloatation emotocross-ish motorcycle called the Grunt. The Droog takes the same aesthetic and scales it down a bit for a bicycle.

I think it's pretty groovy looking. Those fat rims are maybe a bit of extra weight for show. The battery is a bit small at 15Ah, or really, fairly standard but smaller than I'd like. And the same with the motor, a 750watt rear hub motor that will get you up to the standard class 2 limit of 28mph, or more, but could be a smidge more powerful to match those aggressive looks. 

In conclusion, if you're looking for an off-road capable moped-style ebike, the Volcon Droog is a hella sweet-looking ride.

Maybe they'll be so kind as to send me a demo so I can report further on the riding experience.

The big ebike news this week was cheapo bike leader Lectric's entry into the "adventure bike" category. Called the "XPeak" (I think?), it's selling for $1300 and has the pretty standard category components: 750w rear hub motor, hydraulic disc brakes, 14.5 amp hour battery, and 26" fat tires. 

Basically, the same as a ton of other bikes out there, for maybe $2-600 less.

This Fucare Libre popped up in an online discussion of cheap full suspension ebikes. Not bad, 20Ah for $1399. Plus, the name is "F-U car e-bike."

I know, I know, it's an eMTB. And the reviews are terrible, too. Next...

In my ebike pursuit, I've come to realize I would like to carry cargo. Over dirt roads and even trails sometimes. So I'm looking at bikes with racks, and extended bikes, too.

This Yotobike cargo bike can come with 30Ah of batteries, for $1900. But that bulk around the crankcase is deceptive, it's a rear-hub motor.

Another super cheap full suspension ebike is this Jasion. It's an ok 500W motor and small 10Ah battery, but it's also just $800. And full-suspension.

Plus, stripped down with some BMX handlebars, it could look pretty tough.

Here it is on Alibaba so you can see what I'm talking about. ;)

Stay tuned next time for more adventures in cargo bikes.