Electric bikes can be a great form of exercise and fun for RVers. Many of them fold up small, so they can fit in your RV’s storage or undercarriage, and those with tired knees and joints won’t have to pedal as much, or as hard.
Carrying a bike with you on your travels allows you to see the campground, or area, in a whole new light. Cover twice the amount of territory, explore new trails, and even meet new friends.
Nanci Dixon loves her Lectric eBike and highly recommends it for RVers.
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Electric bikes are neat! We have ridden them in a park setting, where we did not have to worry about distracted drivers everywhere. They are truly fun, but I also feel like a target when I ride any bike. I have left mine in our storage shed for years now. I got hit by a car when I was 12 years old. Not hurt badly…but if the same thing happened today I would feel it a lot more intensely. Some electrics have problems with batteries lighting on fire…sometimes when folks have been riding the bike! Ouch!! I might rent one to ride in a park trail setting. But I’m a real chicken these days. But…maybe…
I enjoy riding my Lectric ( brand name ) bike around campgrounds and down trails. It folds up and easily fits in the truck bed. My knees will not allow me to do a lot of walking, but I can pedal the bike with ease. However, at 60 lbs, it is a little heavy, but I have no problem loading it into the truck. My wife cannot ride it due to the balance it takes to start and stop. She is a small lady. We are both 75+. Would suggest riding one before buying.
Hubby and I bought our Electra Townie bikes a couple of years ago and absolutely love them! Our bikes just have the pedal assist motor on them so there is no throttle. The pedal assist bikes require you to pedal but offers 4 modes of assist to help you. We take them on trails, grocery shopping (I have saddle bags) and to get into and around town, etc. We are full-timers so it is a good option to driving our Jeep Gladiator everywhere. Highly recommend!
Wear a helmet. Have been riding bikes for many years. Used to ride to work, faster than a car.
First ride on electric bike hit a patch of leaves covering a pile of loose gravel. Down almost immediately. Interesting scars now. Dented the helmet.
Get one and use it.
They are too expensive.
Bob, I bought a kit from Dillenger and transformed my Trek into an electric bike. The kit included the front tire with motor and the battery, plus all the necessary connectors. Pretty straightforward. I already owned the bike and the kit was easily 1/2 the price (or more) of a new electric bike. https://dillengerelectricbikes.com/products/street-legal-electric-bike-kit-samsung-powered-v2
Senior citizens should be VERY careful with the number of accidents, falls and resulting broken bones that can turn fatal! If you must, seniors should consider electric tricycles due to safer in preventing falls and injuries. It is a very important and serious discussion if you are thinking purchasing an electric bike. Please think of the possible consequences.
If you plan on riding your e-bike on dedicated biking/hiking trails, and see a sign that no motorized vehicles are permitted, think hard. While the signs might have originally imagined gasoline powered vehicles, a motor is a motor, be it electric or gas powered.
Just not using the assist function of an e-bike may not be enough to avoid a fine.
I read something about this a while back. If you can somehow prove that you were pedalling and not motoring you may be good to go. I would think the ‘law’ would have to prove you were motoring. Remember, you are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Or at least that’s how it USED to be . . .
There are hub motor bikes which can be pedalled but also have a throttle so you don’t have to pedal and then there are crank motors that are referred to as pedal assist which have to be pedalled and no throttle. I have a pedal assist full suspension Specialized mountain bike but there are places I’m not allowed to ride although few. I now ride about a hundred times more than I used to on my analog bike. It was hard to justify the cost considering I paid the same as my parents’ first brand new car in 1972. I sold two motorcycles to get over that dilemma and have zero regrets.
The E bike is great for getting people out of the house however I have seen many people riding them on trails that are clueless to trail etiquette, traveling way too fast for trail conditions creating dangerous conditions especially on uphills for those of us on regular bikes. It definitely makes my behind pucker when I have someone on a E bike a foot away from my back wheel when climbing a hill and I have nowhere to pull over or pulling a hill and someone comes barreling down forcing a biker off the trail. Experienced bikers have learned this from time in the saddle however many E bike riders get a bike without much if any trail or riding experience.
I am seriously considering one, but the “battery fire” thing has me concerned. I know the media has blown this issue way out of proportion like most things, but a concern non-the-less. I have a conventional bike (and three motorcycles) which don’t get much use, so I don’t know if an e-bike would be a worthwhile purchase.
Anyone in the market for a motorcycle? The FJR and Bonneville are for sale!
Nope… way too pricy. We purchased 2 used Enduro (dual sport) motorcycles for far less that will do highway speeds.
Zero chance, but not due to lack of interest. Rather it is due to the prices of them. I did recently enter a contest in order to win one. We’ll see.
No way, too expensive, would buy a small used scooter instead but probably won’t.
No. Gas scooters work just fine. 49cc I’ve got all the power I need to putt around. I can’t justify the cost of an e-bike. I remember seeing a electric 4 wheel scooter on a trail way clipping along and no one said anything. Why would an e-bike be different.
About 30years ago I purchased an electric motor that mounted to the front. It was just like a grinding stone that drove the front tire. Used a 12 v batter that hung on the bar. IPsec this every summer to ride to work and home for years.
Nope…strictly pedal power for me. (at least until I get even older 🤔)
Too heavy
Fire hazard
Better ones are expensive
Cheap ones are expensive & low quality
Battery is expensive
Some batteries are unreliable
Long term battery availability not good
Don’t get them wet
Extremely difficult to haul
I see a lot of negative comments to this question but I see a lot of ebikes running around campgrounds these days so there is a big divide. I checked very likely, but mainly because I need to get one for my wife. I’m still old school and like to pedal.
I’m more likely to get a golf cart. I have room for one in the car trailer we tow behind the motorhome.
We bought two electric bikes a couple of years ago. We didn’t want the fat tire bikes that we see lots of people having because they are heavy and a larger frame length. We bought ones with a medium width tire and 15lbs lighter than the fat tire ones. They are easy to load and don’t take up much space so we rarely fold them up. We ride around CG’s and forest service trails in WA. Haven’t found anywhere so far, that doesn’t allow us to ride them.