Thanks to frame-integrated batteries and shrinking motors, ebikes have come a very long way in the past few years in terms of simpler, sleeker looks more in line with traditional pedal bicycles. Still, while they're not as immediately recognizable as they once were, ebikes are often designed to…
$1500 for a belt drive ebike with integrated frame battery? That’s an aggressive price point IMO… This could almost be mistaken for a non electric bicycle too, which is pretty neat if you live somewhere sketchy.
Just hope the default gearing is good enough, especially if that 250W motor needs some help climbing hills 👌
I’d probably consider spending a little more for a mid drive with rear internal gears, but at that point you’ve lost the stealthy non-electric look
Ride1Up makes very similar “stealth” bikes for less. Their cheapest is $1000 (I think it’s actually on sale for $900 today) but it has cheaper parts. The nicer “gravel” variant is $1350 and it has nicer parts like a Gates belt drive.
But this one looks to be a couple of pounds lighter, and has a bit more range. So it might be worth the extra $150.
I have only a second hand ebike from a few years ago, and it’s not stealthy about it at all.
However I can remove the battery block, which is secured in its slot with lock and key, anytime I leave the bike out of sight for a longer period. In fact I need to do so to recharge it.
I really don’t get the appeal of stealth ebikes, if someone wants to steal it they can’t get the expensive and specific part of it is removable. Even stealing it with its battery is only somewhat lucrative because it requires a very specific dock to recharge it, and that’s not likely to be included.
The stealth part is also appealing because then the other, elitist riders won’t judge you for riding an ebike.