Recently, there’s been a trickle down, so features previously only seen on LBS [local bike shop] bikes are creeping into big-box bikes at a fraction of the cost. You also have a large variety of bike choices at big-box stores. There’s usually a bike type for any taste — all on the cheap. As far as capability goes, the mountain bike itself is an easy rider and very comfortable to spend time on riding through the city or on trails. I’m by no means a diehard mountain bike rider, but I did find this bike to be very similar to entry level TREK that I used to have.
I can move thru the orange groves around here so much easier then before. This bike is quiet, so I have been able to get close to some of the wildlife roaming in these parts, (wild hogs, turkeys,etc.). I ride this bike almost every day and the battery has not given out on me so far. I have used this bike to help round up my neighbors cows from the orange groves when ever they decide to take a tour.
The box itself weighed hyper mountain bike over 50lbs, so if you aren’t comfortable moving around that much weight, grab a friend to help you bring your bike inside or where you plan to assemble it. Overall, this bike is going to be a perfect addition to camp and our hunting lease. We have two and are looking to secure a couple more to provide all of the hunters at camp the independence to be able to come and go as needed from their tree stands without waking the dead with a loud gas powered engine. Last year we locked in a 320 acre hunting lease in Northern Michigan for whitetail hunting.
Like all other larger batteries, it’s recommended that you throw the battery on the charger every 4-6 weeks so that you don’t allow it to become completely drained. Lithium-ion batteries can experience performance issues once they get to a state of having no charge, so a quick charge every so often will keep your battery healthy long term. Out of the box the manufacturer recommends that you charge the Ebike for a minimum of 4 hours before use, which I started before assembling the bike. True to the manual, after the 4 hour charge time was complete, I was ready to roll with full power available to me. Something to consider with this Ebike is that it is not operated by a throttle like some of the more expensive options on the market.
I tried this for several years, and when I actually checked the pressure with a gauge it varied by 3-5psi despite feeling the same as the prior pump. That discrepancy was too wide for me, and I now use a digital gauge to dial in the numbers before every ride. It adds 1-2 seconds to the ride-prep process, affords me some mental security on the rocks, and provides the ability to more accurately test tires and hyper mountain bike wheels. The reality is that each new feature has to either increase price or take away from something else to compensate.
That’s how bikes end up with a front disc brake and a rear rim brake. Most people don’t ride on mountain bike trails, so make sure you avoid bikes with features you don’t need. The next problem is that the bike seat is hard and uncomfortable, if you only ride short distances it isn’t a problem, but if you do between 2 through 5 miles you will start to feel it.
It’s easy to get lulled into buying the flashy mountain-styled bikes on store shelves. They always have eye-catching hyper bicycles paint jobs, and some are full suspension — all for cheap. But on a mountain bike, weight can really drag down the enjoyment.