Hello. I've just joined up as getting bogged down looking for the right ebike at the right price. Incidentally I clicked on the "Find an Electric Bike" link on here and my browser came up with a warning saying it was linking to an unsafe site! So am posting instead 
So after a difficult year and some ill health I am wanting to get out more and get some exercise. Long distance walking is an issue as I have two bad knees and a bad foot. But riding electric bikes isn't an issue For the past 5 years, I've hired one every time we've been on holiday. But the models and styles keep changing every year and there are now masses more ebikes and I'm finding it a minefield. If cost was not an issue I would get a Specialized Turbo Levo. I've hired one before - it wasn't perfect for my needs but loved riding it.
So in trying to look for the right electric bike for my needs I'm finding I need something that will be good off road as well as on road. When I say off road, I don't mean serious mountain biking and jumps - I'm 63 and not up to that really. But I do have some very good trails locally, mostly level, some quite hilly, some rough and rocky in places, and some with tree roots on level paths.
Bikes I've hired previously apart from the Turbo Levo:
A Powerfly 5 (quite liked it for riding but it was quite a beast for getting on and off and hard on the back end, found I needed to stand up going over rough areas. So although I quite liked it, I think for regular use if it's hard to get on and off and hard and bouncy at the back I'm not so sure.
A hybrid bike (don't know the brand - local hire centre didn't say). They did say it was suitable for light trails. It wasn't. I didn't feel safe on it at all on level paths with tree roots - not sure how I managed to stay on it, it felt very unstable. Tyres weren't wide enough either. Although it was easier to get on and off.
So
1) A step through would be easier to get on and off (I seem to be midway between small and medium sizes - medium is better for riding but harder to get on and off - I have to jump forwards to get off), small means my knees are too high.
2) I also want to ride on roads in local rural area, but not long distances. I realise one bike won't do everything well - long distance road cycling and off road.
3) I'd like full suspension but not sure I can afford it.
4) I like the idea of a hardtail like the Powerfly 5 if more affordable but hopefully one that behaves better at the back end.
5) Even if I could afford a Turbo levo (liked the tyres and suspension) that was also hard to get on and off. Had to lean to get off and with the weight of the bike that's probably not that safe long term - I nearly fell over a few times.
6) Would a dropper seat post solve the getting on and off issues?
So in looking around I looked at, and more or less ruled out:
a) Islabikes eJimi (won't be in stock for a long time anyway) due to no front suspension.
b) Specialized Turbo Tero 4 step through - because it only comes in an equipped version and weighs more than most full suspension bikes (about 26kg). And read it is also not great at the back end on trails.
I did look at the Isla bikes eJanis road bike with gravel tyre option, but while it might be nice for a road bike I don't think it would be right for the gravel trail riding - and also has no front suspension. Also I don't mind the weight of electric bikes - I'm not going to be lifting them over stiles.
So I'm getting bogged down in a minefield of full suspension bikes (which aren't cheap) and various things that are supposed to do everything but all seem to vary so much.
I did see the Cube Reaction Hybrid Performance 500 - but not quite sure what it is - a hardtail? Or a hybrid?
The Trek Rail 5 sounded good but a bit more than I was intending to pay and perhaps overkill for my needs? Also not sure what it would be like on road.
I read up about gravel bikes - which sounded a good compromise - but don't like drop handlebars.
I prefer being off road if possible. But do need to be on road locally.
Any suggestions gratefully received! I started out looking at the EJimi which cost £2,666 ish. Don't really want to spend more than £3,500 but do need something powerful enough to go up hills as we live in a hilly area.
So after a difficult year and some ill health I am wanting to get out more and get some exercise. Long distance walking is an issue as I have two bad knees and a bad foot. But riding electric bikes isn't an issue
For the past 5 years, I've hired one every time we've been on holiday. But the models and styles keep changing every year and there are now masses more ebikes and I'm finding it a minefield. If cost was not an issue I would get a Specialized Turbo Levo. I've hired one before - it wasn't perfect for my needs but loved riding it.So in trying to look for the right electric bike for my needs I'm finding I need something that will be good off road as well as on road. When I say off road, I don't mean serious mountain biking and jumps - I'm 63 and not up to that really. But I do have some very good trails locally, mostly level, some quite hilly, some rough and rocky in places, and some with tree roots on level paths.
Bikes I've hired previously apart from the Turbo Levo:
A Powerfly 5 (quite liked it for riding but it was quite a beast for getting on and off and hard on the back end, found I needed to stand up going over rough areas. So although I quite liked it, I think for regular use if it's hard to get on and off and hard and bouncy at the back I'm not so sure.
A hybrid bike (don't know the brand - local hire centre didn't say). They did say it was suitable for light trails. It wasn't. I didn't feel safe on it at all on level paths with tree roots - not sure how I managed to stay on it, it felt very unstable. Tyres weren't wide enough either. Although it was easier to get on and off.
So
1) A step through would be easier to get on and off (I seem to be midway between small and medium sizes - medium is better for riding but harder to get on and off - I have to jump forwards to get off), small means my knees are too high.
2) I also want to ride on roads in local rural area, but not long distances. I realise one bike won't do everything well - long distance road cycling and off road.
3) I'd like full suspension but not sure I can afford it.
4) I like the idea of a hardtail like the Powerfly 5 if more affordable but hopefully one that behaves better at the back end.
5) Even if I could afford a Turbo levo (liked the tyres and suspension) that was also hard to get on and off. Had to lean to get off and with the weight of the bike that's probably not that safe long term - I nearly fell over a few times.
6) Would a dropper seat post solve the getting on and off issues?
So in looking around I looked at, and more or less ruled out:
a) Islabikes eJimi (won't be in stock for a long time anyway) due to no front suspension.
b) Specialized Turbo Tero 4 step through - because it only comes in an equipped version and weighs more than most full suspension bikes (about 26kg). And read it is also not great at the back end on trails.
I did look at the Isla bikes eJanis road bike with gravel tyre option, but while it might be nice for a road bike I don't think it would be right for the gravel trail riding - and also has no front suspension. Also I don't mind the weight of electric bikes - I'm not going to be lifting them over stiles.
So I'm getting bogged down in a minefield of full suspension bikes (which aren't cheap) and various things that are supposed to do everything but all seem to vary so much.
I did see the Cube Reaction Hybrid Performance 500 - but not quite sure what it is - a hardtail? Or a hybrid?
The Trek Rail 5 sounded good but a bit more than I was intending to pay and perhaps overkill for my needs? Also not sure what it would be like on road.
I read up about gravel bikes - which sounded a good compromise - but don't like drop handlebars.
I prefer being off road if possible. But do need to be on road locally.
Any suggestions gratefully received! I started out looking at the EJimi which cost £2,666 ish. Don't really want to spend more than £3,500 but do need something powerful enough to go up hills as we live in a hilly area.
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