E bike vs setting up a regular bike

[Elite]

I am looking for some insight and suggestions,

There is currently a e bike on sale for a good deal. 500w model that would be good for hunting. It is on sale for 1700cdn.

I am wondering if I should just buy a used regular mountain bike first and try the bike hunting

I mainly ride old rough atv trails and old narrow survey lines. Terrain can be hilly. Mainly hunt elk and moose in Alberta.

I am mainly wanting a e bike for sheep hunting in the mountains but the rules and regulations are extremely vague if they are considered a OHV which are not aloud in the mountains for sheep in a-lot of areas. My concern is I’ll be stuck with a heavy heavy bike to pedal with.

Also wondering if I should go a fat tire bike or a normal mountain bike for a non e bike.

I am looking to purchase the one at Costco and they do have a great return policy which is making me think of trying the e-bike first


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[Ice-kub]

Man if that sucker goes down and you have to pedal... I used to ride an old downhill mountain bike and boy was that thing heavy on any uphill section. It weighed 40+ lbs IIRC and it had a granny gear up front to "lighten the load"

 

[keystone112]

I spend a lot of time on bikes. About 2,500 miles a year.

I don’t have an e-bike, but do have a couple of gravel bikes.

Climbing hills without an electric motor is a lot of work. You can do it with low gearing and bigger tires are helpful.

If I were you, I would stop by your local bike shop. In my experience, department store bikes are normally more problems than they are worth.

 

[Elite]

I should state that I am currently in decent shape. Gym a few times a week and normally hike for sheep


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[Elite]

I spend a lot of time on bikes. About 2,500 miles a year.

I don’t have an e-bike, but do have a couple of gravel bikes.

Climbing hills without an electric motor is a lot of work. You can do it with low gearing and bigger tires are helpful.

If I were you, I would stop by your local bike shop. In my experience, department store bikes are normally more problems than they are worth.

Do you hunt at all with them? I would imagine they are just easier to push up hills then peddling with a heavy pack on?


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[MightyWhitey]

Check out luna cycles website. I put their 1500 watt kit on an aluminum frame fat tire bike.
I have my doubts that 500w will pull much of a hill.

 

[Elite]

Check out luna cycles website. I put their 1500 watt kit on an aluminum frame fat tire bike.
I have my doubts that 500w will pull much of a hill.

Thanks even with pedal assist?


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[keystone112]

I’m not hunting on mine.

Yes, I think you could push it up hill.

I’m guessing you would want a trailer of some kind to haul out a deer. Factor that into your plans.

 

[Titan_Bow]

I bought a pretty nice bike a few years ago, specifically for NW Montana logging roads. Kind of wish I’d got an e-bike, but for that context a regular bike works fine. Logging roads are not bad because there’s never any extreme hill climbs. That said, a long gradual uphill, even on fairly smooth gravel roads, can be a butt kicker, LOL. I find bikes are more hassle than their worth unless there’s some pretty easy grades and smooth trails. I’d just as well walk than push a bike or try to grind long uphill sections.
I pretty much just use mine for bear hunting and whitetail hunting. Where I elk hunt it’s just too steep and treacherous, a bike for me would be a hinderance. To each their own, there is a time and place for them, and a lot of guys use them. If the terrain suits it, they sure can make it easier to get way back in a place



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[tuffcrk14]

You can set up a really nice and lightweight mountain bike for the cost of a cheap low, geared ebike. I don’t want to be pedaling a cheap and heavy 9 speed ebike when the battery runs out.


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[MightyWhitey]

Thanks even with pedal assist?


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Yeah I think you’ll be doing more assisting than you planned on. But if they’ll let you use it then bring it back, give it a shot.
I use mine for whitetail hunting around Oklahoma. It’s saved me a lot of steps but I’ve spent a good amount of time cussing it too. The chain jumps of with way less mud or snow than I thought it would, derailer get clogged up with grass, and if I’ve patched 1 flat tire Ive patched 15. It’s a big pile of Mickey Mouse components that aren’t really capable of doing what they’re advertised to do. If you think you’re gonna go yee-haw off trail through the mud, snow, brush, weeds, go ahead and do it just make sure you brought plenty of patches, your pump and alot of patience. Good luck.

 

[MightyWhitey]

I bought a set of Tannus Armour tire inserts and that helped significantly with flats. But the tires are still only about as thick as my blue jeans. Junk.

 

[ianpadron]

Mountain bikes are lighter, more nimble, are actually legal on the trails most guys illegally use Ebikes, and are easier to work on if something goes wrong.

Bike shape is a whole different level of fitness but it greatly benefits you while hiking. Plus they're really fun and can be used for year round fitness.

I love my mountain bike!

 

[Bakey]

I bought a set of Tannus Armour tire inserts and that helped significantly with flats. But the tires are still only about as thick as my blue jeans. Junk.

I use Tannus Armour on my commuter bike. 40 miles a week, nearly all year round.

New Mexico has alot of goats heads and they stop all of them!

 

[htlt_surfboards]

I have a trek 520 touring bike that I use primarily for hunting. I got it two seasons ago after taking a buddy to a spot that required an initial 5 mile hike on a hilly closed fire road. After our first hunt he said he had a touring bike he thought could handle those hill. I said no way and the next weekend we went out again. He road right up no problems with all his gear. I immediately got a bike of my own and have been using it since. Saves a ton of time getting to deeper places that I like to hunt and is really helpful getting meat out quickly in hotter months.

I don't have any experience hunting with an e bike but I did borrow a friends once to take water out to stash at a spot I was hunting that didn't have any. On my regular pedal bike it takes me about 40 min to ride out there. On my friends e bike I did it in about 12.

If rules and regs allow it in your area e bikes seem like the way to go. Even if you don't go e bike I highly recommend getting at least a regular bike to hunt off of.

 

[Elite]

Thanks for all the input everyone, How difficult are these big wide tire E tire bikes to pedal with no assistance? I would hate for the battery to die or something break on it


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[MightyWhitey]

Mine is terrible with a dead battery.

 

[Ekrider]

I put together a fat bike with a mid drive Electric motor kit. Besides having pedal assist it also has a thumb throttle which is way more helpful. I definitely think you could have a bad experience with some Box store E bikes. There’s a big difference between riding and a bike in the neighborhood versus riding mountain trails with a 30+ pound pack on your back.
As far as running out of battery power I really don’t think that’s a big issue it’s exactly like a gas tank in your vehicle, I can average over 20 miles just using my thumb throttle not even Peddling.

 

[StuckoYota99]

I put together a fat bike with a mid drive Electric motor kit. Besides having pedal assist it also has a thumb throttle which is way more helpful. I definitely think you could have a bad experience with some Box store E bikes. There’s a big difference between riding and a bike in the neighborhood versus riding mountain trails with a 30+ pound pack on your back.
As far as running out of battery power I really don’t think that’s a big issue it’s exactly like a gas tank in your vehicle, I can average over 20 miles just using my thumb throttle not even Peddling.

What fat tire bike and kit did you go with?

 

[Laelkhunter]

Any chance you could rent one of either to try out first?