E-bikes for crag approaches

Anyone have recommendations for e-bikes (mountain or fat tire) to use for crag approaches?  Generally i'm looking at approaches that would be less than 3 miles each way, primarily gravel/rock desert washes, and 500 feet or less elevation gain with an occasional hill.  Theoretically it seems like this might be a better choice than driving in with 4WD/High clearance for many crags that I visit to just park in a 2WD area and bike in.  Edit - should state something that can be picked up placed in the bed of a pickup truck or on a bicycle rack..probably 100 lbs or less overall.

My preferred vehicle is the Scooty Puff Jr.

Sounds like you want an (e)mtb. An analog mtb could be a fun option for some extra cardio on the days you feel like it, quite good deals can be found on the used market. I have no recs for emtbs but I'm sure you can find a myriad of recommendations across many other more relevant forums. 

I agree for those distances, it is probably much cheaper and fun in the long run to 2wd and bike than buy and maintain an actual 4wd vehicle. For the actual riding part, carrying as much as you can loaded on your bike is better than in a pack on your back. The hassle of repacking is often worth it for the comfort and additional fun.

Surron's are light weight and have some pretty good options. 

Israel Rwrote:

Sounds like you want an (e)mtb. An analog mtb could be a fun option for some extra cardio on the days you feel like it, quite good deals can be found on the used market. I have no recs for emtbs but I'm sure you can find a myriad of recommendations across many other more relevant forums. 

I agree for those distances, it is probably much cheaper and fun in the long run to 2wd and bike than buy and maintain an actual 4wd vehicle. For the actual riding part, carrying as much as you can loaded on your bike is better than in a pack on your back. The hassle of repacking is often worth it for the comfort and additional fun.

Definitely would have to be mountain bike or something with a fatter tire

Jordan Wilsonwrote:

Surron's are light weight and have some pretty good options. 

I updated the original post would have to be lighter than a dirt bike I would say 100 lbs or less to be easy to pick up and put into a truck bed.

Go get a bottom barrel functioning mountain bike for $50 slap $150 conversion kit on that and a less than hundred dollar battery and presto you have a dirtbag e-solution. With this set up my road bike will do just over 20 miles an hour without paddling and has a 15 mile range. Took me about an hour to assemble and no special tools!

Have you thought about the potential for theft? I won't even leave my dual sport at a trailhead. At 350 lbs it's too easy for a couple of bubbas to lift it into the bed of a truck. The weight of an eMTB may make it much easier to conceal but I'd still be concerned. With battery powered grinders so readily available a lock will only slow them down for a few minutes.

Ken Tubbswrote:

Have you thought about the potential for theft? I won't even leave my dual sport at a trailhead. At 350 lbs it's too easy for a couple of bubbas to lift it into the bed of a truck. The weight of an eMTB may make it much easier to conceal but I'd still be concerned. With battery powered grinders so readily available a lock will only slow them down for a few minutes.

Concealment is really the best option for the reasons you mention. An emtb is light enough to walk a few hundred feet up the trail and stash in the trees or around a corner. I probably wouldn't even bother with a lock.

Depending on the legality and terrain, you may be able to ride it all the way to the crag!

My vote would be for a non-electric MTB, with a rear rack and saddlebags to carry your gear. 

If it's too steep to bike without an electric motor, you run the real risk of losing control on the descent - especially if you aren't an experienced cyclist. 

If you are fixed on electric, do not cheap out and buy a bargain bin bike or conversion kit.  They invariably become e-waste before long.

https://polarnaebike.com/collections/motorbike 

I grabbed one of these two years ago as a lower cost bet on a questionable mfgr-direct option to test the waters there, having not gone electric previously but wanting similar fun portable backcountry access solution. It's quite a package for the price, and nicely styled I think relative to lots of these crossover cyberpunk franken-bikes. Was just a bit janky out of the box, had to make some adjustments and replace a couple things to get it dialed but worth the trouble and now pretty fit for purpose and still a bargain if it holds up a few more years at least...

Sadly, they've been out of stock for a while and not sure if it's disco'd or awaiting an updated version. Might find some floating on CL/ebay etc? If you're willing to pony up in the 3-5k range there's some good options, just search once on IG and you'll get ads for months lol.

I have a Yuba cargo bike that handles me and my two kids easily. It weighs probably about 75lbs. I don’t know how far it can go on a charge, I’ve taken it all over town for a while and never run out.

It has a Bafang 700w hub motor. It’s fast as heck. The problem with it is that it accelerates pretty fast, even on the low setting.

With MTB tires it could handle any 4wd roads. Especially since a big bag of climbing gear only weighs half what my kids weigh. I wouldn’t want to take it on single track. 

A couple years ago I paid 700 for the bike used, 700 for the conversion kit (most of which was the battery), 250 to switch from junky mechanical brakes to Magura hydraulic rim brakes, and another 100 because I wanted a nice tripod kick stand.

I’d probably just walk though.

If you’re camping somewhere for a week, it might be impossible to charge it. It takes hours to fully charge. Would you run your vehicle in camp to charge it? Unlikely. I’m not sure there is a practical way for solar to do it.

Would you and your partner both need one?

A flat an a super heavy bike with a lot of extra shit going on is even more of a pain.

It’ll exceed the tongue weight of most cars, especially if there’s 2 of them.

It’s too long and heavy for a standard rack

50lbs and standard wheelbase is pretty common and workable to avoid most of these concerns. And for charging in the boonies, lots of people carry portable power stations that'll cover a recharge or more if needed - but range is typically 40+ miles per charge on flat even ground, half that on rough stuff, still good for a few moderate approach laps. Also that classy banana seat on mine allows a twofer if your pard is friendly and trim enough! I think rated for 350lb total load. Walking is good, but riding can be pretty fun and fast which is all part of the equation ultimately. And they both beat driving...

highaltitudeflatulentexpulsionwrote:

I have a Yuba cargo bike that handles me and my two kids easily. It weighs probably about 75lbs. I don’t know how far it can go on a charge, I’ve taken it all over town for a while and never run out.

It has a Bafang 700w hub motor. It’s fast as heck. The problem with it is that it accelerates pretty fast, even on the low setting.

With MTB tires it could handle any 4wd roads. Especially since a big bag of climbing gear only weighs half what my kids weigh. I wouldn’t want to take it on single track. 

A couple years ago I paid 700 for the bike used, 700 for the conversion kit (most of which was the battery), 250 to switch from junky mechanical brakes to Magura hydraulic rim brakes, and another 100 because I wanted a nice tripod kick stand.

I’d probably just walk though.

If you’re camping somewhere for a week, it might be impossible to charge it. It takes hours to fully charge. Would you run your vehicle in camp to charge it? Unlikely. I’m not sure there is a practical way for solar to do it.

Would you and your partner both need one?

A flat an a super heavy bike with a lot of extra shit going on is even more of a pain.

It’ll exceed the tongue weight of most cars, especially if there’s 2 of them.

It’s too long and heavy for a standard rack

Thanks for the replies sorry I didn't realize until yesterday we can only post replies twice a day on here....  Security wise i'm not too concerned these would be areas with a handful of people coming near them per year (due to rough roads mainly) and can lock it to something while out of sight.  It would not be needed for overnight camping just day climbing something to get there faster than a 2mph walk or driving a vehicle all the way because I don't always have something with 4WD/high clearance. The majority of the time I will be in a pickup truck so could put two bikes in the bed easily for self and partner.

Less than 3 miles and 500’ of gain, just pedal dude. Riding a bike is awesome, and you’re getting exercise too, instead of looking like a jabroni on an e-bike. So many e-bikes everywhere these days, places that used to be quiet to ride to now have city slickers who are totally F’ed if their e-bike fails 15 miles into a ride. Use your damn legs people, it’s not that hard. I see people in their 60s and 70s on actual bikes, you’re telling me you can’t do it too?

I have an Aventon fat tire E-bike that I really like. It has a front rack and a back rack that holds two nice panniers. More like a light electric motorcycle than a mountain bike in terms of handling. Honestly, though, if your rides are only 3 miles or less, it might be more trouble hauling the bike on your car, etc, than just hoofing in. It would be amazing for places with longer approaches, though. 

I did a bafang   conversion on a trek  Roscoe. I love it. Although elevation is more of an issue than mileage I maxed it out at about 3500 vert. And 25 miles.

I would check out (edit .Co not .com)  Upway.co, large selection of ebikes from actual brands. Mostly just never used over stock for a 50% discount. Don't buy China crap. The conversion kits are fine if you are handy and already have a 2k MTB sitting around but if you already had one you wouldn't be making this thread. Any dual sus from any normal bike brand will be fine and probably what you want. They will stand up to the rough roads, have actual plush suspension, have batteries that won't catch fire, will have mid drive motors that will actually benefit from gearing to climb steep sections and will clock in somewhere around 50lbs (maybe 20lbs heavier than comparable Amish version).

Riding an Amish bike with climbing gear up actual 4x4 wash sounds worse than walking. Ebike in turbo is much better. Don't listen to the MTB curmudgeons, they love to whine and complain on the internet. If you could believe the internet every trail that allows emtb is a hellscape of Florida man in surrons roosting every trail. Plus riding up 4x4 roads is the most mind numbing boring riding you can do and seems completely reasonable to bring an ebike on. 

MTB is super rad too and you can get a legit workout but actually ride much more with an emtb on eco mode. I get up to 50 miles 8k feet of gain out of a battery in my turbo levo. 

Thanks for recommendations there is a place that rents the Aventon's local so will try to rent one and see how it works out.

Adam Wwrote:

Thanks for recommendations there is a place that rents the Aventon's local so will try to rent one and see how it works out.

Mine is the Aventure 2. It's a beast. 

Connor Dobsonwrote:

I would check out Upway.com, large selection of ebikes from actual brands.

Takes you right to a Chinese website...... Immediately flagged as untrustworthy in my browser.
wrong address?