Electric bike rack July 13, 2018, 10:43:27 am I’m about to buy an electric bike, and I think it will be the Electra townie go, vs the Electra loft, They are heavy! Those of you who have one, do you like it? Use it? And how do you hitch it up without breaking your back?
Re: Electric bike rack Reply #1 – July 13, 2018, 11:43:38 am Quote from: alphpup - July 13, 2018, 10:43:27 amI’m about to buy an electric bike, and I think it will be the Electra townie go, vs the Electra loft, They are heavy! Those of you who have one, do you like it? Use it? And how do you hitch it up without breaking your back?Most electric bikes have a removable battery, the rest of the bike isn't that much heavier than a standard cruiser.A standard hitch mounted bike rack should do the job. Anything too heavy to lift and load is going to require a motorcycle-type rear rack, with a tilting ramp. Consult a trailer hitch shop for this.Hollywood Racks Sport Rider SE2 2-Electric Bike Platform Rack - 2" Hitches...Thule Roadway 2 Bike Rack - 1-1/4" and 2" Hitches - Tilting Thule Hitch Bike...When camping, how to you plan on charging the battery, using the generator?You would need a good size solar power system to charge a bike, along with the normal RV usage.A note. My brother and his wife had their mountain bikes stolen of the back of their travel trailer just two weeks ago.Both bikes had top end Kyptonite locks, the best you can buy, both were neatly and quietly cut off....at night.I would want to carry an bike expensive bike inside, the pros know how to separate your bike from your RV quickly and quietly .Make sure your RV insurance fully covers your bike and other items.Larry 3 Likes
Re: Electric bike rack Reply #2 – July 13, 2018, 12:00:28 pm Sorry to hear that, Larry. Is this the brother that will be attending the fiberglass rally at Lake Casitas?
Re: Electric bike rack Reply #3 – July 13, 2018, 12:03:53 pm Quote from: HiLola - July 13, 2018, 12:00:28 pmSorry to hear that, Larry. Is this the brother that will be attending the fiberglass rally at Lake Casitas?YesLarry
Re: Electric bike rack Reply #4 – July 13, 2018, 12:09:25 pm My wife and I have the Electra Townie Commute Go Step Through bikes. We got them about 9 months ago and like them. Mine has about 900 miles on the odometer. We have the Hollywood rack that Larry mentioned. It takes two of us to lift the bikes onto the bike rack, but the front and rear carrier racks on the bikes makes loading relatively easy. I would not want to load the bikes onto the rack by myself. We keep the bikes covered when on the rack using a custom cover my wife made that covers the bikes but still allows the LD tail lights to be seen. We stay in campgrounds with electricity often enough that charging the bike batteries has not been a problem. The battery is good for about 60 miles in eco (the lowest battery assist) mode.Paul 2 Likes
Re: Electric bike rack Reply #5 – July 13, 2018, 01:04:34 pm Quote from: Larry W - July 13, 2018, 12:03:53 pmYesLarry, your brother should get a security camera. Theft is rampant everywhere!Mailman eats Quebec family’s tomatoes, strawberries: video | The Tribune
Re: Electric bike rack Reply #6 – July 13, 2018, 01:18:18 pm The Electra Commute Go is the one I was looking at, but i am by myself so worry about the rack There is a Thule 9032 XT which has a ramp, but it is over $700, the other alternative is to use a motorcycle ramp style rack for about $150, but I am not sure if an electric bike would stow safely on that. I would also only be using shore electricity to charge the battery. I mostly stay in RV parks, as I feel safer in those. Thanks for the feedback
Re: Electric bike rack Reply #7 – July 13, 2018, 01:22:40 pm Probably going to just take my old bike which rides well rather than the expense of a fancy bike and rack, once i am on the road for my year and I desperately want an e bike I can get it then. I hear you on the theft. My old bike works well, but I don’t think anyone would want to steal it! Plus it is light enough to put inside the RV when I am not using it and am out hiking. Plus I could do with the exercise. ! 1 Likes
Re: Electric bike rack Reply #8 – July 14, 2018, 10:06:02 am "A note. My brother and his wife had their mountain bikes stolen of the back of their travel trailer just two weeks ago.Both bikes had top end Kyptonite locks, the best you can buy, both were neatly and quietly cut off....at night.I would want to carry an bike expensive bike inside, the pros know how to separate your bike from your RV quickly and quietly .Make sure your RV insurance fully covers your bike and other items."Larry Larry, where were they parked during the theft?Chris
Re: Electric bike rack Reply #9 – July 14, 2018, 01:11:59 pm Quote from: Chris Horst - July 14, 2018, 10:06:02 amLarry, where were they parked during the theft?ChrisOutside of your home city, Denver.One needs to keep an eye on Coloradans, they are a sneaky bunch. ;-)Larry
Re: Electric bike rack Reply #10 – July 14, 2018, 02:05:36 pm Quote from: alphpup - July 13, 2018, 01:22:40 pm I hear you on the theft. My old bike works well, but I don’t think anyone would want to steal it! You would be surprised. Our son in Atascadero has had multiple bikes stolen over the years, none of which I would classify as being of any value. Some folks just want to joy ride.
Re: Electric bike rack Reply #11 – July 14, 2018, 06:14:21 pm I’m all for thwarting thieves whenever possible. All this talk of bike thefts reminds me of the topic as it was discussed a week or so ago. Back then I mentioned the DeWalt MobileLock. Once again here is the YouTube infomercial for the device... https://youtu.be/XbBsQzLysEkSome time ago, I had both catalytic converters stolen off of my Toyota Sequoia. At about $1300.00 each it was a big hit except for the fact that my insurance deductible is very low. I found the Catstrap device and had one installed on each of my new converters. This device is a visual and audible deterrent to wannabe thieves. https://youtu.be/4twiRnYVvVYThe MobileLock takes the audible/visual deterrent to the next level by sending you notification of the potential theft. Now that I’ve discovered that my Relic 10 Speed is valued higher than I previously thought, it only makes sense to take this MobileLock device more seriously. Then there’s my DW’s Townie. Rats! I don’t much care for thieves.Kent
Re: Electric bike rack Reply #12 – July 14, 2018, 07:32:38 pm Quote from: Kent Heckethorn - July 14, 2018, 06:14:21 pmSome time ago, I had both catalytic converters stolen off of my Toyota Sequoia. At about $1300.00 each it was a big hit except for the fact that my insurance deductible is very low. I found the Catstrap device and had one installed on each of my new converters. This device is a visual and audible deterrent to wannabe thieves. https://youtu.be/4twiRnYVvVYThe MobileLock takes the audible/visual deterrent to the next level by sending you notification of the potential theft. Now that I’ve discovered that my Relic 10 Speed is valued higher than I previously thought, it only makes sense to take this MobileLock device more seriously. Then there’s my DW’s Townie. Rats! I don’t much care for thieves.As I said earlier, people will steal anything, as evidenced by the Clapper Caper:https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=13&v=jgYbogp1Ha0 3 Likes
Re: Electric bike rack Reply #13 – July 15, 2018, 01:58:05 pm Alphpup,Bikes. Sue and I bought pedal-assist electric bikes this past April (Specialized Turbo Como). These are Class 3 speed pedelecs. We chose the Turbo Como because they, like the Townie, have an upright riding position, and feel and ride like regular bikes. And, we can select from three levels of boost. Our bikes have been a game changer. After a drought of many years we are riding again, both locally and on our LD trips, for everything from errands to exploration (try Elk Prairie Redwoods SP to Gold Bluffs Beach via Davison Trail/Davison Road). We have only ever had to walk the bikes on very steep dirt trails. We are getting more fit. Given our LD (no big inverter or batteries to support one), charging the batteries requires shore power. When we don’t have a hookup, National and State Park visitor centers have been wonderfully accommodating.Bike rack. We use a Kuat NV Base 2.0 bike rack (by itself, 53 lbs!). The rack is super easy to load and unload. It’s very robust; the bikes are totally secure. It’s also expensive ($589) and the bikes have to be lifted on to the rack. The Turbo Como is a relatively light ebike at 48 lbs. When traveling with the LD, we remove the batteries (7 lbs. each). When mounted behind the LD, it’s a minimum 28-inch vertical lift to get each 41 lb. bike in place. I can do it on my own. Sue has struggled them into position on her own. We often do it together. Security. I figure that a determined thief, given the right conditions, will always get the goods. When we’re out on the bikes, whenever possible one of us stays with the bikes. At a restaurant, we ask about bringing the bikes inside or ask for a table where we can see them. (We don’t eat out much, preferring our own cooking, which is one reason we have a motorhome.) Frequently, when we leave the bikes locked up, we remove the battery. We always remove the display unit (the size of an iPod Nano). We use a variety of locks.Abus Bordo 6000 AlarmAbus Granit XPlus 540Ottolock -- these are surprisingly useful for all sorts of thingsThe bottom line for me is that getting stuff stolen is a bummer, and most things are easy to replace. My mantra is to relax, be grateful, and live and let live.Happy trails.Jim and Sue 1 Likes
Re: Electric bike rack Reply #14 – July 15, 2018, 07:40:02 pm Quote from: CBSShermans - July 15, 2018, 01:58:05 pmAlphpup,Bike rack. We use a Kuat NV Base 2.0 bike rack (by itself, 53 lbs!). The rack is super easy to load and unload. It’s very robust; the bikes are totally secure. It’s also expensive ($589) and the bikes have to be lifted on to the rack. The Turbo Como is a relatively light ebike at 48 lbs. When traveling with the LD, we remove the batteries (7 lbs. each). When mounted behind the LD, it’s a minimum 28-inch vertical lift to get each 41 lb. bike in place. I can do it on my own. Sue has struggled them into position on her own. We often do it together. Jim and SueWe have the original version of this rack and have been happy with it. They are rated to carry two bikes up to 60 pounds each.Jim
Re: Electric bike rack Reply #15 – August 02, 2018, 09:53:03 am This is great information, I wanted to know how high I needed to lift the bike. I still haven't decided but it is interesting to know it has been a game changer for you in terms of getting around.
Re: Electric bike rack Reply #16 – August 02, 2018, 09:56:20 am https://youtu.be/HRZvOT521IMhere is a great YouTube vid explaining how to lock your bike. I like this guys ebike reviews.
Re: Electric bike rack Reply #17 – August 02, 2018, 10:01:45 am Jim and Sue, the next time you are travelling could you post a picture of your bikes on the back of your rig just to see the ground clearance, and how you lock them to the rig. Many thanks!
Re: Electric bike rack Reply #18 – August 02, 2018, 12:30:28 pm Here is a video of the most comprehensive bike lock testing I've ever seen with recommendations for the best in each category. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxIbAFnmsIQJim 1 Likes
Re: Electric bike rack Reply #19 – August 02, 2018, 10:05:10 pm Hi, Alphpup.Yeah, we love the work that Court does on ElectricBikeReview.com - Prices, Specs, Videos, Photos. His written reviews and videos are the best independent reviewer content we have ever seen. It was one of Court’s reviews that made us aware of the Specialized Turbo Como that, after riding many other ebikes, we eventually bought. (A great ‘urban’ bike; not the best trail bike.)Before I tell you about how we use our locks, it’s important to point out that every state has different regulations regarding where electric bicycles can be ridden. It’s a bit of a nightmare. Here’s a link to Court’s forum page: Electric Bike Laws, Regulations | Electric Bike Forum - Q&A, Help, Reviews.... Here’s a link to a Wikipedia article that attempts to track the laws, state-by-state: Electric bicycle laws - Wikipedia. And here’s a link to a website that also attempts to track the regs in every state: Electric Bicycles • PeopleForBikes. How does this affect Sue and me? We’re preparing for a fall trip to Yellowstone NP, Grand Teton NP, and several other National and State Parks in Wyoming and Utah. (We love late-season trekking.) We are attempting to find the specific regs for every park and locality where we might want to use the ebikes. Sometimes this means finding the regs for a specific ‘multi-use path,’ such as the path in Grand Teton NP that goes from Dornans to Jenny Lake. It will take many hours and maybe a few phone calls to come to know the regs for all the stops we hope to make. Ugh.One other thing, before moving on to the locks. Regarding clearance from the ground to the lowest part of the Kuat NV Base 2.0 rack that we use, it is 15 inches from the ground to the lowest element of the rack, which is 14 inches from the receiver hitch (see photo 1 below). I can tell you that that point has ‘kissed’ the ground once. We were lucky that it was just a kiss. As a result, our already heightened sense of caution with driveways and dips is even more heightened when the bike rack is on the back.OK, so how do we use our locks? First, for what it's worth, the Kuat rack comes with a locking hitch pin. It may be the weakest link in the security chain, so to speak. Also note that we almost always carry two bikes; having two bikes changes the way we use the locks. In addition to locking the bikes to the rack, we lock them to one another. I’m going to assume that you’ll be carrying a single bike and suggest how we would use our locks in that situation. The photos below attempt to clarify our descriptions. If you would like to know about how we use the locks with two bikes, just ask and I’ll post more descriptions and photos. When our LD (Sidra) is in motion, we use the integrated Kuat locking cables and add an Ottolock (bright orange in the photo) for a little more security and visible discouragement during our brief stops. In the photo you’ll see that the integrated locks and the Ottolock are threaded through a tube in the rack's front wheel cradle. (You’ll also see the U-lock; ignore it for now; it’s explained next.) A thief will either have to cut the cables (most likely) or destroy both front wheel cradles.When we are parked and are going to be away from Sidra, we add the Abus Bordo 6000 alarm lock and the U-lock, as seen in the photo. When the Bordo 6000 is in alarm-mode (it can be used without the alarm), it chirps a warning when it’s moved, and if moved repeatedly, the alarm is triggered and it makes a hellacious noise, hopefully so annoying that the neighbors take an active interest, helping to encourage the potential thief to move on. See photo 5 for where we would place the alarm lock when there is only one bike on the rack. Also note that we always put a single bike on the rearmost position of the rack.When the bikes are not on the rack, we use the U-lock (Abus Granit XPlus) in exactly the way that Court demonstrates in his video, though we have used it in other creative ways. We also sometimes add the alarm lock.With all that said, we expect that you will come up with your own protocols for using whatever locks you have.BTW, we choose the Abus locks because they have an excellent reputation and, for a fee, they can all be keyed the same as each other and as the battery locks on our Specialized ebikes. We have way too many keys already.
Re: Electric bike rack Reply #20 – August 03, 2018, 08:18:32 am Wow, thats really helpful! thank you! Was wondering if you would go for a trail ebike now? or are you happy with what you bought? Thanks again.
Re: Electric bike rack Reply #21 – August 03, 2018, 12:14:03 pm Alphpup,We really, really like our ebikes. We believed when we bought them that we would rarely ride on trails. The reality has been that when camping we frequently ride on trails (dirt roads, converted easements, and the like), but nothing that approaches single track mountain biking. If I (Jim) had to replace my Turbo Como, I would consider a bike with front and rear suspension and stubbier tires, but it's not my favorite feel in a bike. I much prefer the upright, cruiser feel, like that Townie you mentioned. Trail bikes are usually designed for a completely different feel.Jim 1 Likes
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