The title describes the gist of things. In 18 months of owning my Bikonit MD750, I’ve traveled over 2100 km (1300 miles) in day, night, and rain; swapped out four sets of tires trying to lower the rolling resistance; built my own new set of 29" wheels with ebike-speed rated tires; and have taken it on mixed-mode adventures by using light-rail as my range extender.
It’s the latter where the weight is a small issue, as the light rail train has three stairsteps onboard, which I have to carry the bike up and onto. 43 kg is kinda a lot, although that does include all the things I will need for a day out. I can pursue getting stronger to lift it more easily, or convincing the transit department to acquire low-floor trains, but I’d like to know my options:
What are some Class 3, mid-drive ebikes currently available in the USA, that weigh less than 43 kg (95 lbs)? Ideally, less than 25 kg (55 lbs) too, as that’s the most common weight restriction for buses. I want to see what y’all can recommend, irrespective of price or range or other considerations.
I’m not likely to terminate my investment in this current ebike, as it’s provided sterling service thus far. But I wonder if maybe what I have has already been outmoded by the latest developments in this ever-changing slice of the mobility space.
TY in advance!
43 kg isnt nothing, but its also not really that much for me, a 6’0 200lb guy who lifts (we know nothing about your physiology, so I’m aware this may not apply)
I’d say it might make sense to look into small things you could do to make lifting the weight easier. Something as simple as adding attatchment points for a thick shoulder strap so you can throw the strap over your shoulder to squat the weight using your legs and core instead of trying to muscle it with just your arms.
Or adding grab points or pads so you have more optimal lifting points to make shifting the weight less awkward.
It’s the height of the bike which makes its 43 kg somewhat cumbersome. I basically have to lift the front higher than the rear to clear the first steps, and the heft of the dual-battery down tube doesn’t give me a lot of options for grabbing the bike lower down.
So I’ve mostly been grabbing the handlebars and seat tube, but I might try your suggestion to squat the whole bike from below. It might not be the most normal thing to do at a light-rail station, but that hasn’t stopped me before lol
Not so much squatting the bike from below, a strap from the seat tube to the headstock would give you good height adjustment to get it high enough to make getting it up the stairs easier but not so high your lifting it needlessly high, if you’re shorter or its still really awkward it also might be worth trying a barbell pad around the top bar of the frame putting your arm through the triangle, squatting down and hoisting it onto your shoulder. See whats more comfortable.
Forget how “normal” it looks to others, its a not insignificant weight and lifting it awkwardly is asking for injury.
Ah, now I understand what you mean. I’ll give it a go! Thanks!