Bougie, I know, but I’m in the market to do some unethical consumption in order to frolic on bike trails in nature
E-bikes aren’t bougie considering most people use cars to get around
E-bikes are absolutely based, nothing bourgois about it. I built my own ebike though.
Idk about brands, the price difference between retail and DIY was 300% so I put my money into the battery and motor and slapped it on a $20 frame.
Could probably save a couple hundred more buying individual cells and building your own battery but eh.
Not sure when @AlephNull built their bike, but prices seem to have fallen on retail ebikes in the last few years, the difference between DIY and retails seems marginal now where I am. Bosch motor or shimano steps seem to do pretty well, they’re common on most major bike brands.
The difference is still absolutely huge, really. But you do have to be more tactical where you buy the components and which ones you buy.
You’d also have to buy a used bike for it to be the absolute most frugal. If you can make the battery yourself also then you get absolutely massive savings.
My friend bought his family e-bikes off alibaba, and he likes them.
No idea on what models. The shipping is pretty crazy though.
https://www.alibaba.com/trade/search?fsb=y&IndexArea=product_en&CatId=&SearchText=e+bike
Anything that gets anyone on a bike of any kind instead of a car is rad
