After 10,000 miles, right here’s what occurred to this electrical bike

One of many largest unanswered questions for a lot of of us contemplating an e-bike isn’t how a motorcycle rides on day one, however moderately the way it holds up after years of day by day use. Evaluations and first impressions are in all places, however real long-term possession tales are surprisingly uncommon. That’s why a current shared case from a rider who simply crossed 10,000 miles (16,000 km) on their e-bike caught my consideration.

The bike in query is the Ride1Up Prodigy V2bought in March 2023 for $1,595 and ridden day by day for commuting, plus weekend rides.

In simply over two years, the proprietor shared on social media how he racked up mileage that many e-bikes won’t ever see, providing a precious take a look at real-world sturdiness, upkeep prices, and what really wears out over time.

What survived 10,000 miles with out drama

In response to the rider, the core elements that most individuals fear about are nonetheless going sturdy. The body and fork stay strong, with no indicators of cracking or fatigue. The Brose mid-drive motor continues to be delivering full energy with out unusual noises or noticeable efficiency loss, which is notable given how a lot stress day by day commuting can placed on a drivetrain.

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Much more spectacular is the battery. After 10,000 miles, the proprietor experiences that it nonetheless holds greater than 80% of its unique capability. For riders anxious about battery degradation, that’s a reassuring knowledge level, particularly contemplating this bike wasn’t babied or saved as a weekend-only toy.

Shifting efficiency has additionally held up effectively. The Shimano derailleur continues to be shifting easily after fundamental changes, and the Tektro brakes proceed to carry out correctly with routine pad replacements.

What really wore out (and what it value)

Unsurprisingly, the consumables did their job after which wanted changing. Over 10,000 miles, the proprietor went by way of three chains, two units of brake pads, one set of tires, and one cassette. The overall value for all of these elements got here to round $295.

Whereas upkeep isn’t negligible, it’s additionally not a stunning quantity. In truth, it strains up intently with what you’d count on from a standard bike ridden exhausting and infrequently. Not one of the replacements have been unique or troublesome to supply, and many of the work could possibly be dealt with by a neighborhood bike store if the proprietor doesn’t have the abilities to do it themselves. However truthfully, altering elements like tires and brake pads might be carried out by nearly anybody with the assistance of a YouTube video.

The comparability that actually issues

The rider additionally supplied an unintentional experiment in distinction. A buddy of his purchased a less expensive, dropshipped Chinese language white-labeled e-bike across the similar time. That bike’s motor failed at round 3,000 miles (4,800 km), the substitute course of dragged on for months, and the battery started dropping capability shortly after the primary 12 months. Finally, it was offered for elements.

The takeaway wasn’t that price range e-bikes are at all times unhealthy, however that purchasing from a US-based firm with elements availability and responsive assist could make a large distinction as soon as the honeymoon interval ends. On this case, the proprietor famous that buyer assist responded inside hours when wanted, and that native outlets might service almost every part on the bike.

The price-per-mile actuality verify

Right here’s the place the story will get particularly fascinating. The bike’s $1,595 sale worth divided by 10,000 miles works out to about $0.16 per mile. Add in upkeep, and it’s roughly $0.19 per mile.

That’s a fraction of the typical mileage price for vehicles, which normally sits at between $0.60 to $0.80 per mile, relying on the metrics used. Even when the bike have been to fail catastrophically tomorrow, the proprietor identified they’d nonetheless be far forward financially. And primarily based on present efficiency, it seems to be just like the bike nonetheless has many extra miles to go.

Electrek’s Take

That is precisely the form of long-term possession story the e-bike business wants extra of. As certainly one of a number of e-bike reviewers on the web, I attempt to assist folks perceive the necessary options of latest bikes, however it’s exhausting for me to take anybody bike and do long-term, in-depth testing. I have a tendency to leap from one bike to a different just a few occasions a month, however house owners who spend months and years on the identical bike day by day can assist give us the deeper information that comes with that form of long-term expertise on a single mannequin.

10,000 miles with minimal points exhibits {that a} well-chosen, mid-priced e-bike generally is a severe transportation device. It additionally reinforces a lesson I’ve seen repeatedly: spending a bit extra upfront on a motorcycle from a good model can repay dramatically over time in comparison with a discount basement Amazon particular e-bike.

No e-bike will final endlessly, however 10,000 miles of dependable service is a powerful argument that the correct e-bike can exchange a automotive for a lot of journeys, and do it at a fraction of the price.