Welcome back to the Senior E-Biker Podcast, where we help you navigate the world of electric bikes and trikes to keep you rolling in your golden years. If you are 55+ and even CONSIDERING an e-bike, well I am your huckleberry.
My name is Scott and I am an avid e-biker. I got my first e-bike 14 years ago and I've owned or tested more than 30 different e-bikes in my life. Today, I'm trying something new. I've got a fantastic lineup of four popular bikes to review. They are of course all electric models. Two of them are trikes which offer maximum stability and two of them are versatile two-wheel e-bikes.
The goal here is to give you my opinion on how they stack up for senior riders.
I should note that this show is a little less than three months old and isn't big enough to get the bike companies to send me review models. Accordingly - I am reviewing bikes I personally purchased and own or have recently owned and I guess the advantage there is simple. You don't have to worry about whether or not I've been influenced by receiving free products. This is a no-holds-barred review of the good, bad and ugly of each bike. There is no perfect bike but I liked three of the four of these enough that I kept them and ride them regularly.
I also want to note that my reviews are obviously from a senior-citizen's point-of-view.
I am going to be looking at: the Pedego Fat-Tire Trike, the Velotric Discover 2 e-bike, the Lectric XP Trike (the original version), and the Velotric Nomad 2 e-bike.
Let’s dive into the reviews!
1. The Pedego Fat-Tire Trike (The Comfort Cruiser)
First up, I have a premium trike option I want to talk about: the Pedego Fat-Tire Trike.
This trike is all about comfort and stability, which makes it a phenomenal choice for many seniors.
I've ridden this trike for the last 10 months and am very familiar with it.
It is a very senior-friendly option. It boasts a very low step-through frame, making mounting and dismounting nearly effortless. The ride is extremely plush, thanks to a cushioned seat with a backrest and those large, smooth fat tires that soak up bumps and uneven surfaces. It also features responsive hydraulic disc brakes for controlled and secure stopping, which is a big win for peace of mind. There is no suspension seat post so I bought one on my own and added to soften the ride.
It has a powerful 750-watt front-mounted motor with torque-sensing pedal assist, which gives you a very natural-feeling boost. I do wish the motor were a rear or mid-drive because front-drive motors can be a little harder to control. It hasn't been a problem for me but I am very experienced so it could force a learning curve for those of you are new.
There is a nice storage area although it's reduced in value because it also holds the battery. The controller display works very intuitively. This is a legit Class 2 e-bike with a top speed of less than 20 MPH and you cannot do magic in the software to lift that hard limit like you can on some e-bikes.
The trike also includes a throttle-only mode for cruising without pedaling. It's perfectly suited for casual city riding, short trips, and errands.
The battery is the biggest I've used and/or tested. It's a 52 volt affair and UL listed. It lasts longer than any other e-bike battery I've used.
The company directs owners to their local dealer when help is needed, but for those of us who do not live near a dealer, Pedego does offer very good online support. It's amongst the best I've tested - so far at least.
The Caveats On This Trike?
At $3295 it isn't cheap. It lacks suspension (which at least some of its competition offers.) Pedego does have a dealer network of about 150 stores. That's down from 225 since the company has faced stiff competition from the direct to consumer market.
My Pedego Fat Tire-trike weighs 117.5 pounds with battery. It is on the heavier side, which you'll want to consider for storage or transport. Also, due to the trike's form factor, you do need to slow down a bit more when navigating corners. The top speed is capped at a comfortable 15 mph, focusing on stability over speed. Sharp turns should be made in the 6-9 miles per hour range not because it's a Pedego - but because it's a trike. Any trike faces this limitation.
It's also been on backorder for many months. I contacted the company and they informed me that the Fat Tire Trike will go back on sale at the end of Q4 or beginning of Q1. There is no word if there will be any changes to the new model.
Verdict: The Pedego Fat-Tire Trike is a top-tier choice for the senior prioritizing comfort, a relaxed ride, and ultimate stability for daily errands and short-distance cruising. It has many competitors but for me, the geometry, the fit and finish and the execution make it a keeper. It's not as fancy or modern as many other e-trikes and soon, that may end up being a liability for Pedego, but for now, it's one of my favorites.
Next up I review The Velotric Discover 2 E-bike (The Tech-Savvy Commuter)
This is a two-wheeled option and is an extremely well-rounded and comfortable commuter e-bike that brings some premium features to a great price point.
This is my latest e-bike purchase and I only have a little more than 130 miles on this bike but I've ridden it enough to know what I think of it.
It has a comfortable, upright riding position and the model I purchased comes in a step-thru frame option, which is great for easier access. The stock seat is okay but I replaced it with a wider comfort seat. The standout feature is Velotric's SensorSwap Technology, which lets you switch between a responsive Torque Sensor (for a more natural cycling feel) and a classic Cadence Sensor (for minimal effort just by turning the pedals). This customization is excellent for varying fitness levels and preferences. It also includes an integrated rear rack, fenders, and front/rear lights, turn signals and a bell - right out of the box.
It has an 80mm front fork with lockout. It's not as beefy as the suspension on my Velotric Nomad 2 (more on that in a moment) but it does do a good job of dampening the cracks in the sidewalk.
There is no rear suspension or even a suspension seat post but when I purchased this particular bike, Velotric was offering a free suspension seat post as an inducement to purchase. Unfortunately I still don't have one. Whenever Velotric offers freebies, they do not include them with the bike. Instead, the purchaser has to jump through some hoops to submit paperwork and then they promise to ship the bonus items. I did that two months ago and still don't have a seat post so I bought my own from a third party and if the seat post I have been promised ever shows up I'll try to sell it online.
Now as far as power and performance go - The bike is strong, with a 750-watt motor and a large 706-watt-hour UL-certified battery offering an impressive range up to 75 miles. Real-world battery performance is somewhere between 35-40 miles per charge depending on how much assist you use, terrain, your weight, etc.
Having the torque sensor also contributes to better efficiency and a smoother ride.
One cool feature on this bike is Apple Find My built in. Apple Find My integration is a feature allows for real-time tracking and location tracking of the bike, enhancing security in case of theft. It does require an iPhone to work properly.
The Caveats: While it's a very comfortable bike, it is primarily meant for road and paved bike path use. If you plan on riding on rougher dirt or multi-use paths often, you might want to look at a fat-tire model instead.
The support from Velotric is spotty at best. I've had one good experience with them, one acceptable experience with them and three poor experiences with them. If you purchase through a deale...
