We actually have a new system now. I have abandoned these ramps after a year. The joint at the handlebars was not liking being loosened so many times. Now, I pull the handle bar stem out, with the handle bars intact, place the assembly in a backpack, hang the backpack on the bike and lift the bike into the minivan without taking off the front tires. Way better for us. We do not like the folding bikes with the 20" tires. We wanted full blown comfort cruisers because we ride so many miles each time out. We also wanted the giant 21Ah batteries to eliminate any battery range anxiety! We can go an easy 60 miles.
@@AdamFanello Since we are loading a minivan, we have a ton of room. We have all the seats removed. We lean it against the wall, chock the wheel slightly to be in between the front seat and wall, and bungee cord to the exit handle in the minivan. The Center seat belt is looped around the fork tube, and the rear seat belt is looped around the rear of the bike, ON EACH BIKE. We ride around most days with the bikes always with us!
That's the beauty of filming our channel. We don't have to edit out any bloopers because we are one. If we took them out, we would have no footage,.......
Great content Mark and Sue. Enjoy the freedom of e-cycling. Safe travels, stay safe, stay healthy. And thanks for sharing. I need to binge watch your videos, you guys are wonderful to watch.
Thank you. I've been following electricbikereview and like his information. However based on his size, I wasn't sure his choices would suit me. I'm also a retired swimsuit model like Mark.... I will be shopping for one soon and with your information, hope to make an informed purchase.
Glad to help. These bikes where specifically designed for larger riders,.....rated to 290 lbs. The 21Ah battery will EASILY get you anywhere 50 miles round trip if you are pedaling to assist. Sales literature says 60 to 70 miles in NORMAL POWER MODE, plus 25% when dropping to ECO power mode.
Thanks! 👍. We actually have a new system now! I have abandoned these ramps after a year. The joint at the handlebars was not liking being "loosened" so many times. Now, I pull the handle bar stem out, with the handle bars intact, place the assembly in a backpack, hang the backpack on the bike and lift the bike into the minivan without taking off the front or rear tires. Way better for us! We do not like the folding bikes with the 20" tires. We wanted full blown comfort cruisers because we ride so many miles each time out. We also wanted the giant 21Ah batteries to eliminate any battery range anxiety! We can go an easy 50 miles.
At 1552 am was like that does not sound like an electronic bike! 😂. What you built for the bike should be patented! That is an awesome idea!! Thanks again for sharing!!!
Van bike rack: simple and efficient, the sign of excellent engineering and design! Future enhancements: racks on slide outs, then option for power slides, then option for power lift. Quick, submit a patent application!
Nice video! You guys are so cute together!! Very smart to try many different bikes rather than just ordering one off the Internet. Love the wooden racks you made to hold them in the van. Enjoy the bikes 😊
Thanks Debbie. It was a fun experience shopping when you have so many to choose from. We didn't feel we had to "settle" on something,........the choice actually jumped out and grabbed us!
Awesome bike caddy. Mark, between us, Sue is so lucky to have married you. Your innovative ideas (caddy) and your Mr Atlas like strength (breaking front skewers loose) is irreplaceable. OK, that was my attempt at humor this morning. Faucet showers...textbook. You two are fantastic and thanks for another great RUclips.
@@OurJourneyInMyles Nice work. That is fantastic. I can see just how easy it is using the sled. Plus, being able to stand the bikes up provides room for a lot of other items.
Thank you Ms Meyer! Maybe we should come to California and visit you someday soon,........assuming our Hazmat Suits arrive soon from Amazon and fit properly! I know that since I am married to Sue I don't have to social distance at 6 feet,.........but she still insists on 2 feet.
That's the plan! Just want folks to ride a ton of them before they decide on a bike to buy. I actually rode about 10 other models at various other stores before I bothered Sue to help with the final countdown.
Great idea with the board through the handles. I found when putting dirt bikes in a trailer that knit golf club covers made the perfect pads on the bar ends.
We wanted full size 26" or 27" road tires. I can honestly say I did not do a lot of research on folding bikes because I have the minivan for storage,.....
Love your videos.......lots of money spent on a motor coach 😀 and then struggling with the bike rack. You know what they say about engineers...”You can always tell an engineer, you just can’t tell them much” :) QR Skewer as mentioned before is a great upgrade. We have two Specialized Como 3.0s Class 3 ebikes and upgraded the rack for our car to a Thule Platform rack......a bit pricey at around $700 but very easy to move around the garage since the rack has wheels. It also has ramps you can use to load the bike if you can’t pick up the heavier ebikes. The rack tilts away from the car at almost 90degrees to allow easy access to the back/trunk of a car/truck. The rack does not wiggle at all due to the great engineering by Thule in the receiver hitch. Class 2 or self propelled ebikes are not allowed on most bike paths because they do not require human power to ride. That being said, I haven’t seen any police pulling someone off of a bike path for riding a Class 2 bike(however on national park paths I hear they are much more strict on this enforcement) .....and if you practice good etiquette on the bike trail such as saying coming up on your left as you pass someone, or you don’t ride at 27 miles an hour on a crowded bike path you should be fine.
We knew we were taking a chance with Class 2 bikes,......but the Class 1 bikes without a throttle are too dangerous for an older rider like me. These bikes are 67 lbs. and the throttle is a must for us for starting out when crossing streets to help with knee issues. We agree that we will NOT go zooming by folks at 20 mph. We chose to keep our ebikes protected from the elements and thieves by storing them in the Honda. Remember when you full time, the bike is out in the sun every single minute of the day.
@@OurJourneyInMyles We switched to ebikes two years ago when my wife's knee just couldn't handle the climbs anymore on our carbon fiber road bikes. Then she had her knee replaced and was in the 1% in that the doctor released her after five weeks to do anything she wanted to and he said her quick recovery was a direct result of bike riding and using our pilates reformer religiously prior to surgery. The interesting thing with ebikes is that I can still get my HR up into the 130s-150s for two hours of riding if I have a high cadence and only use one bar of support out of three. My resting heart rate is in the low 50's from swimming and riding regularly at the age of 65 (last week:) We live over in Grafton if after this virus deal goes away you two would like to come over and go for a casual ride with us on on the interurban. We live right on the interurban bike trail.
Another great video. We just took delivery of our Lectric XP ebikes. We fold them and store them in a 50 gallon wheeled tote in our 5th wheel when traveling. Can’t wait for our first adventure with them on board.
Glad you like it! We actually have a new system now. I have abandoned these ramps after a year. The joint at the handlebars was not liking being loosened so many times. Now, I pull the handle bar stem out, with the handle bars intact, place the assembly in a backpack, hang the backpack on the bike and lift the bike into the minivan without taking off the front or rear tires. Way better for us! We do not like the folding bikes with the 20" tires. We wanted full blown comfort cruisers because we ride so many miles each time out. We also wanted the giant 21Ah batteries to eliminate any battery range anxiety! We can go an easy 60 miles.
We have ordered some cruiser ebikes ourselves. So I have been researching the best way to haul them with our travel trailer hook up. So many options, but no perfect one. Lol
@@theweekenddrz519 If you put them on a bike rack on your trailer rear bumper, look at the bumper welds real good. If they are small,.......or bogus looking,.....or skip welds,.........maybe get them reinforced first before you take off. We have seen more than one bike racks, with the bikes still installed, sitting on the side of the roadway AFTER it broke free from a trailer or fifth wheel!
Hi guys, loving your videos as always. We have ridden our 29" 500w mountain bikes around Australia with them sitting securely on the back of our Mercedes Sprinter motor home slotted into half round wheel holders for the 4" tyres. 5 minute pack unpack routine and loving it. Wishing you both happy miles in Myles, we've done just over a thousand kms and looking forward to the next thousand. Jon & Nancy
That is awesome! We have gotten so much better at our assembly routine since this video. We can do it in 9 minutes per bike if we both concentrate! Good enough for us retired folks,.....
I think you guys are from the MKE area and I know that you bought your bikes in MSN. (I live in the Dells area until ‘02, then I’ll be joining you, your RV life style...) Regarding you’re bike choices, did you do much research prior, comparisons? The reason that I’m asking is I (we’ve) just started looking at them, (and I’m not sure that I want to make the same financial commitment that you guys did, I’m not 100% that we’ll use them as much as I’d like to)
We actually have a new system now. I have abandoned these ramps after a year. The joint at the handlebars was not liking being loosened so many times. Now, I pull the handle bar stem out, with the handle bars intact, place the assembly in a backpack, hang the backpack on the bike and lift the bike into the minivan without taking off the front tires. Way better for us. We do not like the folding bikes with the 20" tires. We wanted full blown comfort cruisers because we ride so many miles each time out. We also wanted the giant 21Ah batteries to eliminate any battery range anxiety! We can go an easy 60 miles.
We already have had a lot of adventures on them, and they are great to shoot around in the campgrounds. We will still have to make sure we go out and take a few walks.
Interesting. I like that wood structure you made to put your bikes in. That makes sense to have wheels on it and to load your bike from the back. I have a van and mostly use a bike rack on the outside of my car. I also used a 3 1/2 ft deck board secured to the van floor with some u bolts and wing nuts,then have 2 bike mounts mounted on them for two bikes to be stored on the inside. I used that method when I go away from home on bike trips and keep my bike locked up.This works great and they are solid,and the bike will not move. The only issue is loading the bike after taking off the front tire,through the side door. E- bikes are heavy and it takes a little bit of work to get it in position. I might steal your idea if I can come up with a way to store one bike without it tipping side to side. Loading from the back and sliding it into position looks easier. On a different note,have you two ever gone biking up north? The Heart on Vilas County has an amazing paved bike trail system,52 miles through Mercer,Manitowish Waters,Boulder Junction,Sayner,and St. Germaine,Wi. I went there last year on two different bike trips and I have never been on such beautiful,stunning,bike trails. The Manitowish Waters bike trail is the best trail I have ever ridden. If you get a chance you got to check them out. Take care and keep biking.
We actually have a new system now. I have abandoned these ramps after a year. The joint at the handlebars was not liking being loosened so many times. Now, I pull the handle bar stem out, with the handle bars intact, place the assembly in a backpack, hang the backpack on the bike and lift the bike into the minivan without taking off the front tires. Way better for us. We do not like the folding bikes with the 20" tires. We wanted full blown comfort cruisers because we ride so many miles each time out. We also wanted the giant 21Ah batteries to eliminate any battery range anxiety! We can go an easy 60 miles. Thanks for the WI bike trail tips. Next summer we may be back in WI!
You can get them all the way down to $800 bucks,.......It's all about what you want it to do, how you will ride it, and how large of batteries you are willing to pay for. They are thee most expensive component.
The bike ramps/racks you built look as though they were well thought out and will work well. Perhaps are ham really IS an engineer. LOL! Love you guys... Looks like a lot of work to set up and tear down (for travel) but I think you're going to enjoy your e-bikes. 😊😊😊
We are ssssooo much faster doing this when not on camera,....AND now that we have done it 15 times! It really isn't as bad as it looks, and the best part, is the bikes still look and feel NEW after carrying them around for 8 months. Thanks for stopping in.
I’m trying to convince my husband to get an ebike for me. Good point about testing them for a long time. I want one with fat tires. 60 pound bike? Wow. I heard they can be heavy. 🤣😂 Love the motorcycle sounds. Good point about the throttle. We need to figure out bike racks for one. Thanks for the thorough review of more than one ebikes. Stay safe. Alice
Ebikes need special "platform" racks because they are heavy. We have some friends that just ordered the Pedego Fat Tire bike. We shall see how that goes!
We got 2 RAD bikes ( Rad Mini and Rad Mini Step Thru ). Very happy with thes and the bike carrier we purchased a Thule. It was expensive, but don’t need to do all that disconnecting. Also, you should get some quick release hubs for the front wheels.
All that disassembly of the bikes looks like more trouble than it’s worth! I’d have to find a vehicle to fit them on/in that didn’t require all of that!
If we end up getting a new tow vehicle someday, we will look at a small pickup with a cap. Our main goal, is to keep them stored out of the elements for the 99% of the time that they are not being ridden. We have gotten good at doing this process. The last time we timed it, it was 9 minutes per bike!
We actually have a new system now. I have abandoned these ramps after a year. The joint at the handlebars was not liking being loosened so many times. Now, I pull the handle bar stem out, with the handle bars intact, place the assembly in a backpack, hang the backpack on the bike and lift the bike into the minivan without taking off the front or rear tires. Way better for us! We do not like the folding bikes with the 20" tires. We wanted full blown comfort cruisers because we ride so many miles each time out. We also wanted the giant 21Ah batteries to eliminate any battery range anxiety! We can go an easy 60 miles.
Glad to help! I have since stopped using this wooden sled. The sled was made because I had to remove the front tire, and needed a solid connection for the front axle aera of the fork to attach to. What was happening, was the connection on the handle bars I had to undo to swivel them down was starting to get worn. I decided to try to remove the entire handle bar assembly via the wedge driven fork tube connection bolt. This proved faster, and provided enough bike entry clearance that it did not require the front wheel to be removed anymore. I disassembled the sleds, and gave the lumber to a fellow RVer! The front wheel removal was also an issue because it would require recentering the disc brake about 50% of the time. Our setup now is golden. On a future video, I will share this.
E-Bike setup...great information👍 Mark hair wash...to much information🥴 I’m on my 3rd E-MTN bike. E-Bikes are great. Highly recommend for those who are considering. I’d look into getting quick releases for the front wheels so you don’t have to fiddle with tools.
Really was disappointed when we didn't get quick disconnects on the front axles. I will work with it for a while and see how it goes. I sent the CEO of Elux the video. If he emails me, I will ask him to change that for folks in the future! He is a great guy,.......I talked to him for an hour one day before I bought both of the bikes. No affiliation,.......just a good company.
Rob Frasier Hi Rob....we live in the San Juan mountains of CO. We are not mountain bikers, per say; mainly tour towns. I also enjoy dirt road and maybe easy non technical path riding. Where we live though, we do need motor and battery capability due to the hills. My assessment is that these bikes Mark and Sue got seem to fit the bill. Any other models you would recommends? I am about 240 lbs. I like how they also got the same bikes to have interchangeable batteries!
Hello Sue & Mark! It was wonderful to meet you at the Tampa RV Show (with my daughter). Happy to have my decision confirmed to purchase RV Life. I have a question that I forgot to ask when I was there: Do you still like the brand of e-bikes that you purchased a year ago? I know you recommended that I consider an ebike when we visit Hill City this coming fall, and I'd like to know what your thoughts are a year later on your bikes. Thanks!! Stay safe. 🙂
Check out the following link that describes the Ebike we finally selected: www.eluxbikes.com/malibu-gt We paid $2650 each for these bikes in September 2019. My advice would be this: It’s nice to get both bikes the same so the batteries interchange. The heavier person can use the battery till half gone, then switch with the lighter person if need be. Plus,…..the tools and spare inner tubes you carry are the same. We did not want to listen to the whine of 4”knobby wide tires. We aren’t going off road with the bikes. The bikes we bought are the most comfortable cruisers we could find. Go to a bike store that is next to or near a bike path. Test drive 20 different brands!!!!!! You are spending a lot of money. Don’t buy from a place that won’t let you test ride them a number of miles. You need to find the bike that feels AWESOME for you. If you ride that many bikes, the one that is perfect will jump out at you and slap you in the wallet. An Ebike carried outside for a full timer will get BEAT UP from the weather & sunlight. The controls will get screwed up and unreliable. Covers will beat off the bikes paint. It is easier to get stolen on an outside hitch. We store them in an enclosed minivan. Some folks have a cap on their towed pickup truck. Consider some of the high end FOLDING BIKES for easy of transport. Keep in mind that folding bikes are sort of "pretend bikes". Yes,……….we would buy the exact same bikes again,……they are Cadillacs.
Since I see how Detailed Oriented you are, I am curious what type locks you are using for your bikes? We just took delivery of our Lectric bikes and it seems the Lock market is Huge!
We use GIANT Kryptonite D Locks,........I have (6) of them and link them together as needed. Obviously we only carry one each. All our bike gear is listed in a separate section in our Amazon Store Front. The link to this store is in the description area under any of our videos. We do a lot of night riding on bike trails when in our hometown (Pre-Covid), so that's why we each have such massive Niterider lights. We wear fluorescent vests, have ankle lights, and use blinking tail lights. If we get hit, they did it on purpose! The mirrors we have listed are the ones we prefer.
Very informative video thanks for sharing. I loved your innovative bike rack I can tell you were a fellow engineer. Unfortunately most bikes are probably going to be to tall to cary upright in an SUV only a minivan has the needed height clearance. I know that's the case with my Equinox and regular mountain bike.
Thanks for watching! Our recumbents bikes,......and now our Ebikes is the only reason we took the chance pulling the Honda Odyssey as our tow vehicle. So far, so good!
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great job on picking out the ebike! You introduced me to so many more ebikes and these are great reviews. The price you paid for 2 bikes aren't bad at all. We ordered a custom-made electric tandem bike that can fold, custom made locally in the US. I want a folding bike because our rig is very small. These tandem are built for touring and when I called them a few months ago, I spoke to an engineer who helped me design it. The company is based out in Oregon, called the Bike Friday. Like you, I like the relaxed, upright seating position. We plan on taking it touring at some point so, speed is not as crucial as it is comfort. Ours will have over 10 gears which is a major upgrade for us. I'm curious to see how the hubs are setup. Question, on your elux, is it a disc brake?
The Elux Malibu GT has extra large diameter disc brakes with dual hydraulic pistons. Check out: www.eluxbikes.com/malibu-gt Good luck with the folding tandem!!!!! I will check out the Bike Friday website.
We still have these bikes and love them! We actually have a new system now. I have abandoned these ramps after a year. The joint at the handlebars was not liking being loosened so many times. Now, I pull the handle bar stem out, with the handle bars intact, place the assembly in a backpack, hang the backpack on the bike and lift the bike into the minivan without taking off the front or rear tires. Way better for us! We do not like the folding bikes with the 20" tires. We wanted full blown comfort cruisers because we ride so many miles each time out. We also wanted the giant 21Ah batteries to eliminate any battery range anxiety! We can go an easy 60 miles.
Good to know! We have worried about this, and almost made me avoid Class 2 bikes,.......but starting the bike out is just sssssoooooo much easier. We shall see how long it takes to get a ticket or have a problem. Hoping the officer that stops us has a Grampa at home he likes and gives us a break! We try to ride slow in areas with any amount of people walking, jogging or riding. Even in open country on a trail, we are usually at 12 to 13 mph (Pedal Assist Level 2).
@@OurJourneyInMyles Love you two...just weave a lot when you ride, and you won't have to worry about riding slow, as people will definitely get out of your way!
Mark, what is the overall length of the eBikes? Doubt they would fit in the back of an SUV. Weekly engineering tip and Fifi sighting (closeup at 10:55). Check!
The website says 77" long. My current technique removes the front axle nuts while sitting on the wood ramp! (Thinking about sitting on the pad though.)
OJiM needs to concentrate on getting a helpful, awesome website up before further experimentation with additional drone equipment! I will just have to stick with the current one.
We actually have a new system now. I have abandoned these ramps after a year. The joint at the handlebars was not liking being loosened so many times. Now, I pull the handle bar stem out, with the handle bars intact, place the assembly in a backpack, hang the backpack on the bike and lift the bike into the minivan without taking off the front or rear tires. Way better for us! We do not like the folding bikes with the 20" tires. We wanted full blown comfort cruisers because we ride so many miles each time out. We also wanted the giant 21Ah batteries to eliminate any battery range anxiety! We can go an easy 60 miles.
Nice bikes...lots of work! How do you secure these at your sites or are you loading and unloading every time you use them...please say not!! Why not a folding bike?
We secure them with Kryptonite D-Locks and chain. We wanted full size 26" or 27" cruiser style comfort bikes, which makes the frame and handle bars large. We did not even consider a folding bike since we had the room. We are retired,.......we have the time to putz!
We have cadence sensors on our pedal crack axle. Pedaling on or bikes tells the motor to provide assistance. No pedaling,...no assistance. We also have a throttle to ride the bike on battery power TOTALLY. Pedaling DOES NOT recharge ANY affordable consumer ebikes that I have ever seen.
I loved the video on the E bikes, very informative. Were going to go look at the same model ones. I see you tow a honda odyssey? Do you tow flat? What year and model is it if so and have you had any issues? Jim and Kandie
Folks should always refer to the free, online PDF documents, that the Family Motorcoach Association compiles listing all the approved cars and trucks by model and year, that you can pull behind a motorhome. Additionally, it proves notes on any added preparation needed before towing can start for the day. I would probably NOT RECOMMEND pulling a Honda Odyssey. We are taking a chance,….we have a lot of money on the line with the faceplate mod and Air Force 1 Braking Mod. We paid top dollar to get an extremely low mileage 2013 EX-L, (about 23k miles) so the transmission was in as good a shape as possible. Are you willing to risk this like we have? We corresponded with someone on irv2 in June of 2017 that was pulling a 5 speed Honda 2013 Odyssey for over 25k miles. This prompted us to “go for it!” He has since (about 4 months ago, had a trans failure.) He maintains he thinks it was NOT related to towing it. He liked his Honda enough he put a rebuilt trans in! We love our Honda and will do the same if we have an issue. WE CHANGE THE TRANS FLUID every year! We needed to pull a garage for our expensive bikes! After many conversations, WE DECIDED TO TAKE A CHANCE, AND PULL ONE AS WELL. We tow a 2013 EX-L Honda Odyssey. This is the latest year model (2013), and highest trim level (EX-L) model you can tow. Yes, I know, you are not supposed to tow it! Honda decided it wasn't worth the warranty claims of damaged Odyssey transmissions when NOT shifted into neutral following the EXACT instructions they provided way back in 2004. (YOU MUST SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL FROM DRIVE ONLY, NOT FROM REVERSE!) They gave up on the Odyssey towing public, because of this Odyssey peculiarity and said you can’t do it. I corresponded with a few other brave souls that had over 20,000 miles towed on their Odysseys before I was man enough to do it. I have towed ours about 25,000 miles now. The 2013 Honda Odyssey Touring was a 6 speed, and CAN NOT be towed. In 2014, EVERYTHING went to 6 speed. You can search for the Honda Vin number decoder on the internet to make certain your Honda is a 5 speed to see if you would be OK. Any other years you would want to buy, you would want to research the internet and vin # to make sure you are not buying another 6 speed! We liked our (2) 2015 6 speed Honda Odysseys so much, that we sold them to get our (1) 2013 5-speed Odyssey. We are Full Time, and just need one car now. YOU DO NOT NEED ANY ADDED LUBE PUMPS! THIS IS THE TOWING PROCEDURE WE USE,…….EASY AS PIE,….. It has been simplified, directly from the 2004 Honda Odyssey towing instructions, which is the last year they "allowed" towing. The "PV1A Transmission” is the ONLY Honda Odyssey Automatic transmission you can tow, IF YOU FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS from Honda back in 2004 when they allowed the PV1A to be towed. It MUST be this 5-speed transmission. I left in a lot of the Honda legal jargon at the end just for your info. • Start the engine and get it to operating temperature. (I am usually still packing something up.) • Press on the brake pedal. Shift the lever through all the positions (P,R,N,D,2,1). • Then shift up from 1, 2, Shift to D, then to N. DO NOT GO INTO REVERSE! Let the engine run for at least three minutes, then turn off engine. THIS IS THE KEY, AND THE ABSOLUTE ISSUE THAT MUST BE FOLLOWED. SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL FROM REVERSE WILL SET YOU UP FOR PROBLEMS, AND/OR TRANSMISSION FAILURE. How many times you can do it wrong, I don't know. I am absolutely vigilant on this procedure. You must shift to neutral from DRIVE. • Make sure parking brake is OFF. • Leave the ignition switch in ACCESSORY (1) so the steering wheel does not lock. Make sure the radio and any items plugged into the accessory power sockets are turned off, so you do not run down the battery. (Our tow electric cord has a trickle charger line to keep the battery from going dead. We have an SMI Air Force One brake system,.......Honda is around 4,600 lbs. loaded.) If you travel more than 8 hours in one day (including stopping time), you must stop and repeat the above procedures. NOTICE: The steering system can be damaged if the steering wheel is locked. Always leave the key in the ACCESSORY (1) position to prevent damage to the steering system when towing behind another vehicle. CAUTION: Severe automatic transmission damage will occur if the car is shifted from reverse to neutral and then towed with the drive wheels on the ground. NOTICE: Improper towing preparation will damage the transmission. Follow the above procedure exactly. If you cannot shift the transmission or start the engine, your vehicle must be on a flatbed truck or trailer. If you tow a Honda/Acura vehicle with automatic transmission, the fluid must be changed every two years or 30,000 miles, whichever comes first. Although experience has shown that the Honda/Acura transmission and powertrain are capable of being "motorhome towed", America Honda does not assume responsibility for any vehicle damage or liabilities incurred due to the towing device, towing vehicle, lighting hookup, or other towing equipment or towing procedures; any responsibility for these items is assumed by the owner/operator. If you have additional questions, please call American Honda Motor Co. Inc. (National Consumer Affairs) at 800-999-1009. Good luck,…..as I said,…….I would think it is not a good, sound, financial idea,……although we are taking the chance!
Bozo, just what I was going to say...Forget it Mark, hairspray isn't get to cut it for you....:). I went for a Trek, choked on the cost but thank you Uncle Sam for subsidizing the bike this spring.... Repairing and parts seem to be the issue with the other bikes...Great storage rack for the van...
Buying a good solid name brand ebike is the only way to go if you want it to actually work on the trail every time you power it up after bouncing it around while transporting it.
Sue/Mark...Wife and I are powering thru your videos and just watched this one. All have been a lot fun & very informative/helpful and we thank you so much. Question for you is what is the brand/model of the recumbent bikes you put in storage? And/or where did you buy them? Looking to maybe get a set of them for us for Christmas this year.
We have owned these RANS Stratus LE recumbents since 2010, still love them,.......and will most likely someday electrify them! The LE model has a 26" rear wheel and 20" front wheel. The RANS Stratus XP recumbents have two 26" wheels. See shop.ransbikes.com/product-p/babk0048.htm
I used 4" diameter. Have to be honest with you Beachsn7,......I have since stopped using this sled. The sled was made because I had to remove the front tire, and needed a solid connection for the front axle aera of the fork to attach to. What was happening, was the connection on the handle bars I had to undo to swivel them down was starting to get worn. I decided to try to remove the entire handle bar assembly via the wedge driven fork tube connection bolt. This proved faster, and provided enough bike entry clearance that it did not require the front wheel to be removed anymore. I disassembled the sleds, and gave the lumber to a fellow RVer! The front wheel removal was also an issue because it would require recentering the disc brake about 50% of the time. Our setup now is golden. On a future video, I will share this.
@@OurJourneyInMyles Thank you for the quick reply. Your sled idea was very impressive and I think I might still try to give it a go. I'll keep an eye out for your future video on your new set up too. Thank you for all your effort in creating these videos - they are so enjoyable and informative.
I just used castor wheels from Home Depot. The ODD DESIGN I made was my attempt to get it as flat as possible so I could maybe leave the handle bars in place without loosening them. It was a gamble, it was that close that it looked like I had a chance. IT DID NOT WORK,.....but I was able to just loosen the neck stem, and the setup I use now is fast and easy and doesn't ruin the handlebar connection. Now I would have room to mount the caster wheels more normally (under the sled) so they would roll perfectly without having to tip the sled so much. But as is, it works great enough that I am not going to change anything,.......but if I could do it over again, I would lower the wheels for more positive action!
Now if AO Smith would have just kept at it,........ We love the bikes,......and the new riding posture for us has proven to be OK. We still have our recumbent bikes in storage, and may electrify them some day? As of today, 5-17-2020,...we are still in Florida.
We show the exact one we used in the "Bike Riding Equipment" section of our Amazon Store. Make sure you know the overall with that will fit YOUR bike fork. Anytime you are going to use our Amazon account, it is much appreciated. It is best to go their first thru our Amazon Store affiliate link that is in the description area underneath any of our current videos, OR THE BUTTON DISPLAYED in the lower right hand edge of the main photo on our RUclips Home page. Do not bookmark our Amazon Page, because the referral link will only work once for OJiM. Start a fresh link each new shopping session you start. ANY of your purchases in that cart would be credited to OJiM if purchased within the first 24 hours that the shopping “session" (or cookie) was opened and is current. We will earn a small commission on your purchases which does not affect the final amount you are paying and helps supports our video channel efforts.
I swear my nose follicles are DIRECTLY connected (with 48" long hairs) to my foot muscles! When I pull them I stamp my foot and blurt out a nay like Mr Ed!
if you don't mind how tall is your wife ? now that you have had the bikes is that one too much size & power wise ? hope to be hitting the road soon also !
Sue is 5'-6". We do not find the bike too powerful. Make sure you are able to haul the bikes INSIDE so the weather doesn't ruin your $2500/each bikes, and they don't get stolen so easy. Consider folding bikes if you can't haul them inside a pickup, trailer or rig like we do. The electronics and chain assemblies would take a beating. Bike covers beat off the paint in the wind.
Sorry Dale,...I just slapped it together with the simplest components I had laying around and could find. The casters were bought from Home depot, and the main sled was a 2 x 6. The front fork axle "holding bracket" is listed in our Amazon Store shown down in the video description area, BUT IS SPECIFIC to the overall fork width of your particular bicycle. A fat tire bike for instance would need a larger one,......and a thin road bike tire bike would need a smaller one.
I enjoy most of you videos, especially the infomitive ones like this one with the e bikes and your home made contraption for loading was well thought out . The only issue that I have is the washing of hair in the kitchen sink...very unsanitary.
forget ebikes - get a electric scooter (like those bird rentals) it takes ALOT less space...cheaper too. Personally id just order a kit from china and build my own battery...ebikes are so overpriced considering its still a friggin bike...
We ride our bikes between 20 & 30 miles when we go on our rides. We always carry a lot of gear like lunches, locks, water, tools, etc. We virtually never use the bikes in a campground for general getting around. We locate all our bike trails using the app called Trail Link.
Buy a bike with nothing less than a 19 amp hour battery 🔋 if you don’t you will regret it. My bike has two batteries one 14 amp hours and the other is 17 amp hours I all so have two motors (ecell ebike) range is everything believe me you never want to deal with range anxiety. Don’t ever believe the dealer telling you that your bike will get 60 or 70 miles of range because their are hills everywhere and you weigh as much as a small donkey your not going to get that range so just get that out of your head. My bike is 92 lbs and with my weight my two motors and two batteries 🔋 have to haul a lot of weight.
Yes you really have to look at your own weight, the terrain you expect to ride on most of the time and the length of the trails you will most likely be one. Our 21ah battery 750 watt hub bikes can easily go 60 plus miles between charges!
Next time I am going to have Sue twist off the front nuts on the front tire axles! I still use the same "small" wrenches Elux supplied so I can't damage the axle threads as easily with a high mechanical advantage socket wrench.
We actually have a new system now. I have abandoned these ramps after a year of use. The joint at the handlebars was not liking being loosened so many times. Now, I pull the handle bar stem out, with the handle bars intact, place the assembly in a backpack, hang the backpack on the bike and lift the bike into the minivan without taking off the front or rear tires. Way better for us!
We actually have a new system now. I have abandoned these ramps after a year. The joint at the handlebars was not liking being loosened so many times. Now, I pull the handle bar stem out, with the handle bars intact, place the assembly in a backpack, hang the backpack on the bike and lift the bike into the minivan without taking off the front tires. Way better for us. We do not like the folding bikes with the 20" tires. We wanted full blown comfort cruisers because we ride so many miles each time out. We also wanted the giant 21Ah batteries to eliminate any battery range anxiety! We can go an easy 60 miles.
I'm also looking for a solution like this that does not involve removing a wheel. How do you secure it without that fork mount?
@@AdamFanello Since we are loading a minivan, we have a ton of room. We have all the seats removed. We lean it against the wall, chock the wheel slightly to be in between the front seat and wall, and bungee cord to the exit handle in the minivan. The Center seat belt is looped around the fork tube, and the rear seat belt is looped around the rear of the bike, ON EACH BIKE. We ride around most days with the bikes always with us!
I bet the bloopers from this episode are hilarious! ChanMan's motto - where there's a will, there's a way!
That's the beauty of filming our channel. We don't have to edit out any bloopers because we are one. If we took them out, we would have no footage,.......
The post-shampoo hair is epic, Mark.😁
Crazy Lenny's! Who knew there was this much variety in e-bikes? 😁
Right?! You have to take your time when picking your bike out! They are an expensive decision to make right,............or wrong,.......
A great piece of inventive engineering that works x.
We love it! Cheap,...easy to make,.........and gets the job done! Thanks for checking in.
Great content Mark and Sue. Enjoy the freedom of e-cycling. Safe travels, stay safe, stay healthy. And thanks for sharing. I need to binge watch your videos, you guys are wonderful to watch.
Thanks John. We always try to mix our videos up. Bike riding is only so interesting just by itself.
Thank you. I've been following electricbikereview and like his information. However based on his size, I wasn't sure his choices would suit me. I'm also a retired swimsuit model like Mark.... I will be shopping for one soon and with your information, hope to make an informed purchase.
Glad to help. These bikes where specifically designed for larger riders,.....rated to 290 lbs. The 21Ah battery will EASILY get you anywhere 50 miles round trip if you are pedaling to assist. Sales literature says 60 to 70 miles in NORMAL POWER MODE, plus 25% when dropping to ECO power mode.
Wow, that was impressive how you made that entire design based on estimations...and it worked great! 🤙🏼
Thanks! 👍. We actually have a new system now! I have abandoned these ramps after a year. The joint at the handlebars was not liking being "loosened" so many times. Now, I pull the handle bar stem out, with the handle bars intact, place the assembly in a backpack, hang the backpack on the bike and lift the bike into the minivan without taking off the front or rear tires. Way better for us! We do not like the folding bikes with the 20" tires. We wanted full blown comfort cruisers because we ride so many miles each time out. We also wanted the giant 21Ah batteries to eliminate any battery range anxiety! We can go an easy 50 miles.
At 1552 am was like that does not sound like an electronic bike! 😂. What you built for the bike should be patented! That is an awesome idea!! Thanks again for sharing!!!
Your welcome Tommy. We are using the bikes more and more now due to Covid, and we will have an update eventually.
Our Journey In Myles looking forward to it!
Van bike rack: simple and efficient, the sign of excellent engineering and design! Future enhancements: racks on slide outs, then option for power slides, then option for power lift. Quick, submit a patent application!
If I would have built this in my basement workshop in the house we used to have, it would have been WAY better!
Nice video! You guys are so cute together!! Very smart to try many different bikes rather than just ordering one off the Internet. Love the wooden racks you made to hold them in the van. Enjoy the bikes 😊
Thanks Debbie. It was a fun experience shopping when you have so many to choose from. We didn't feel we had to "settle" on something,........the choice actually jumped out and grabbed us!
Awesome bike caddy. Mark, between us, Sue is so lucky to have married you. Your innovative ideas (caddy) and your Mr Atlas like strength (breaking front skewers loose) is irreplaceable. OK, that was my attempt at humor this morning. Faucet showers...textbook. You two are fantastic and thanks for another great RUclips.
Thanks 👍The sled actually has worked out well. We timed ourselves using this the last few times. It takes 9 minutes per bike!
@@OurJourneyInMyles Nice work. That is fantastic. I can see just how easy it is using the sled. Plus, being able to stand the bikes up provides room for a lot of other items.
Creative and Resourceful...are I admire you both! Ride On!!!
Thank you Ms Meyer! Maybe we should come to California and visit you someday soon,........assuming our Hazmat Suits arrive soon from Amazon and fit properly! I know that since I am married to Sue I don't have to social distance at 6 feet,.........but she still insists on 2 feet.
Love your selection process, and i know you'll love your new e-bikes. Your on/off procedure was classic. Ride away.
That's the plan! Just want folks to ride a ton of them before they decide on a bike to buy. I actually rode about 10 other models at various other stores before I bothered Sue to help with the final countdown.
Great idea with the board through the handles. I found when putting dirt bikes in a trailer that knit golf club covers made the perfect pads on the bar ends.
Great tip! I have used golf club covers for the driver clubs many times in the past for "special" use!
“My public” -i luv it 😂😂😂
I feel Lucky to having you taking a look Domino!
LOL, I was at Crazy Lennie's just a couple of hours ago! I bought my Magnum Metro there a couple of years ago.
What a truly small world we live in!
There is something to be said for folding bikes. You came up with a clever way to get them into the van.
We wanted full size 26" or 27" road tires. I can honestly say I did not do a lot of research on folding bikes because I have the minivan for storage,.....
Love your videos.......lots of money spent on a motor coach 😀 and then struggling with the bike rack. You know what they say about engineers...”You can always tell an engineer, you just can’t tell them much” :) QR Skewer as mentioned before is a great upgrade. We have two Specialized Como 3.0s Class 3 ebikes and upgraded the rack for our car to a Thule Platform rack......a bit pricey at around $700 but very easy to move around the garage since the rack has wheels. It also has ramps you can use to load the bike if you can’t pick up the heavier ebikes. The rack tilts away from the car at almost 90degrees to allow easy access to the back/trunk of a car/truck. The rack does not wiggle at all due to the great engineering by Thule in the receiver hitch. Class 2 or self propelled ebikes are not allowed on most bike paths because they do not require human power to ride. That being said, I haven’t seen any police pulling someone off of a bike path for riding a Class 2 bike(however on national park paths I hear they are much more strict on this enforcement) .....and if you practice good etiquette on the bike trail such as saying coming up on your left as you pass someone, or you don’t ride at 27 miles an hour on a crowded bike path you should be fine.
We knew we were taking a chance with Class 2 bikes,......but the Class 1 bikes without a throttle are too dangerous for an older rider like me. These bikes are 67 lbs. and the throttle is a must for us for starting out when crossing streets to help with knee issues. We agree that we will NOT go zooming by folks at 20 mph. We chose to keep our ebikes protected from the elements and thieves by storing them in the Honda. Remember when you full time, the bike is out in the sun every single minute of the day.
@@OurJourneyInMyles We switched to ebikes two years ago when my wife's knee just couldn't handle the climbs anymore on our carbon fiber road bikes. Then she had her knee replaced and was in the 1% in that the doctor released her after five weeks to do anything she wanted to and he said her quick recovery was a direct result of bike riding and using our pilates reformer religiously prior to surgery. The interesting thing with ebikes is that I can still get my HR up into the 130s-150s for two hours of riding if I have a high cadence and only use one bar of support out of three. My resting heart rate is in the low 50's from swimming and riding regularly at the age of 65 (last week:) We live over in Grafton if after this virus deal goes away you two would like to come over and go for a casual ride with us on on the interurban. We live right on the interurban bike trail.
Another great video.
We just took delivery of our Lectric XP ebikes. We fold them and store them in a 50 gallon wheeled tote in our 5th wheel when traveling. Can’t wait for our first adventure with them on board.
That is awesome! If we didn't have the minivan for equipment storage, we would have went with folding bikes as well.
This is really a great design. Good job. Thanks for sharing
Glad you like it! We actually have a new system now. I have abandoned these ramps after a year. The joint at the handlebars was not liking being loosened so many times. Now, I pull the handle bar stem out, with the handle bars intact, place the assembly in a backpack, hang the backpack on the bike and lift the bike into the minivan without taking off the front or rear tires. Way better for us! We do not like the folding bikes with the 20" tires. We wanted full blown comfort cruisers because we ride so many miles each time out. We also wanted the giant 21Ah batteries to eliminate any battery range anxiety! We can go an easy 60 miles.
We have ordered some cruiser ebikes ourselves. So I have been researching the best way to haul them with our travel trailer hook up. So many options, but no perfect one. Lol
@@theweekenddrz519 If you put them on a bike rack on your trailer rear bumper, look at the bumper welds real good. If they are small,.......or bogus looking,.....or skip welds,.........maybe get them reinforced first before you take off. We have seen more than one bike racks, with the bikes still installed, sitting on the side of the roadway AFTER it broke free from a trailer or fifth wheel!
Good advice. Thank you
Hi guys, loving your videos as always.
We have ridden our 29" 500w mountain bikes around Australia with them sitting securely on the back of our Mercedes Sprinter motor home slotted into half round wheel holders for the 4" tyres. 5 minute pack unpack routine and loving it. Wishing you both happy miles in Myles, we've done just over a thousand kms and looking forward to the next thousand.
Jon & Nancy
That is awesome! We have gotten so much better at our assembly routine since this video. We can do it in 9 minutes per bike if we both concentrate! Good enough for us retired folks,.....
Great video, loved your "bike hauler contraption"...
thanks for sharing your experience! :)
Glad you enjoyed it! We have a few more bike rides to share,......
I think you guys are from the MKE area and I know that you bought your bikes in MSN. (I live in the Dells area until ‘02, then I’ll be joining you, your RV life style...)
Regarding you’re bike choices, did you do much research prior, comparisons? The reason that I’m asking is I (we’ve) just started looking at them, (and I’m not sure that I want to make the same financial commitment that you guys did, I’m not 100% that we’ll use them as much as I’d like to)
You might have bought a Rad mini that folds; or just fold the handlebars down. Plus Rad sells and ships direct so you save money. That’s what we did.
We actually have a new system now. I have abandoned these ramps after a year. The joint at the handlebars was not liking being loosened so many times. Now, I pull the handle bar stem out, with the handle bars intact, place the assembly in a backpack, hang the backpack on the bike and lift the bike into the minivan without taking off the front tires. Way better for us. We do not like the folding bikes with the 20" tires. We wanted full blown comfort cruisers because we ride so many miles each time out. We also wanted the giant 21Ah batteries to eliminate any battery range anxiety! We can go an easy 60 miles.
You are going to have so much fun!! Love the bikes😊
We already have had a lot of adventures on them, and they are great to shoot around in the campgrounds. We will still have to make sure we go out and take a few walks.
Interesting. I like that wood structure you made to put your bikes in. That makes sense to have wheels on it and to load your bike from the back. I have a van and mostly use a bike rack on the outside of my car. I also used a 3 1/2 ft deck board secured to the van floor with some u bolts and wing nuts,then have 2 bike mounts mounted on them for two bikes to be stored on the inside. I used that method when I go away from home on bike trips and keep my bike locked up.This works great and they are solid,and the bike will not move. The only issue is loading the bike after taking off the front tire,through the side door. E- bikes are heavy and it takes a little bit of work to get it in position. I might steal your idea if I can come up with a way to store one bike without it tipping side to side. Loading from the back and sliding it into position looks easier.
On a different note,have you two ever gone biking up north? The Heart on Vilas County has an amazing paved bike trail system,52 miles through Mercer,Manitowish Waters,Boulder Junction,Sayner,and St. Germaine,Wi. I went there last year on two different bike trips and I have never been on such beautiful,stunning,bike trails. The Manitowish Waters bike trail is the best trail I have ever ridden. If you get a chance you got to check them out. Take care and keep biking.
We actually have a new system now. I have abandoned these ramps after a year. The joint at the handlebars was not liking being loosened so many times. Now, I pull the handle bar stem out, with the handle bars intact, place the assembly in a backpack, hang the backpack on the bike and lift the bike into the minivan without taking off the front tires. Way better for us. We do not like the folding bikes with the 20" tires. We wanted full blown comfort cruisers because we ride so many miles each time out. We also wanted the giant 21Ah batteries to eliminate any battery range anxiety! We can go an easy 60 miles. Thanks for the WI bike trail tips. Next summer we may be back in WI!
@@OurJourneyInMyles Do you have a video where you show your new system/set-up?
@@csavard06 Sorry,........we don't have one,......but if I think of it I will do a quick blurb one day as an update!
nicely and simply engineered my friend. good job. ps thx for making me laugh
Thanks for watching,..........when your workshop is a picnic table and all your tools fit in a small box, .......this is what you get!
Great video! Enjoy and stay healthy. It’s incredible how expensive electric bikes are. Hopefully they will come down in price.
You can get them all the way down to $800 bucks,.......It's all about what you want it to do, how you will ride it, and how large of batteries you are willing to pay for. They are thee most expensive component.
The bike ramps/racks you built look as though they were well thought out and will work well. Perhaps are ham really IS an engineer. LOL! Love you guys... Looks like a lot of work to set up and tear down (for travel) but I think you're going to enjoy your e-bikes. 😊😊😊
We are ssssooo much faster doing this when not on camera,....AND now that we have done it 15 times! It really isn't as bad as it looks, and the best part, is the bikes still look and feel NEW after carrying them around for 8 months. Thanks for stopping in.
I’m trying to convince my husband to get an ebike for me. Good point about testing them for a long time. I want one with fat tires. 60 pound bike? Wow. I heard they can be heavy. 🤣😂 Love the motorcycle sounds. Good point about the throttle. We need to figure out bike racks for one. Thanks for the thorough review of more than one ebikes. Stay safe. Alice
Ebikes need special "platform" racks because they are heavy. We have some friends that just ordered the Pedego Fat Tire bike. We shall see how that goes!
Our Journey In Myles Thanks. Love to hear how their experience
Hi Alice, like Mark and Sue, we chose e-bikes although over a year ago now and honestly, every day is now an adventure, an adventure together. J & N
Great start on the video, because its something I would do.
Thanks James! I debated if that scene was going to be funny,....or simply too much information!
Great vid ya'll, congrats on your new e bikes.
Thanks 👍We are looking forward to when we can travel again to get to some awesome trails.
We got 2 RAD bikes ( Rad Mini and Rad Mini Step Thru ). Very happy with thes and the bike carrier we purchased a Thule. It was expensive, but don’t need to do all that disconnecting. Also, you should get some quick release hubs for the front wheels.
We will look into the hubs!
Just got my Specialized Levo ebike, love it!
Nice!! You gotta love ebikes!
All that disassembly of the bikes looks like more trouble than it’s worth! I’d have to find a vehicle to fit them on/in that didn’t require all of that!
If we end up getting a new tow vehicle someday, we will look at a small pickup with a cap. Our main goal, is to keep them stored out of the elements for the 99% of the time that they are not being ridden. We have gotten good at doing this process. The last time we timed it, it was 9 minutes per bike!
How wonderful. So innovative
We actually have a new system now. I have abandoned these ramps after a year. The joint at the handlebars was not liking being loosened so many times. Now, I pull the handle bar stem out, with the handle bars intact, place the assembly in a backpack, hang the backpack on the bike and lift the bike into the minivan without taking off the front or rear tires. Way better for us! We do not like the folding bikes with the 20" tires. We wanted full blown comfort cruisers because we ride so many miles each time out. We also wanted the giant 21Ah batteries to eliminate any battery range anxiety! We can go an easy 60 miles.
Great information you help me alot.
Glad to help! I have since stopped using this wooden sled. The sled was made because I had to remove the front tire, and needed a solid connection for the front axle aera of the fork to attach to. What was happening, was the connection on the handle bars I had to undo to swivel them down was starting to get worn. I decided to try to remove the entire handle bar assembly via the wedge driven fork tube connection bolt. This proved faster, and provided enough bike entry clearance that it did not require the front wheel to be removed anymore. I disassembled the sleds, and gave the lumber to a fellow RVer! The front wheel removal was also an issue because it would require recentering the disc brake about 50% of the time. Our setup now is golden. On a future video, I will share this.
Thanks for explaining how it works e bikes
No problem 👍
E-Bike setup...great information👍
Mark hair wash...to much information🥴
I’m on my 3rd E-MTN bike. E-Bikes are great. Highly recommend for those who are considering.
I’d look into getting quick releases for the front wheels so you don’t have to fiddle with tools.
Really was disappointed when we didn't get quick disconnects on the front axles. I will work with it for a while and see how it goes. I sent the CEO of Elux the video. If he emails me, I will ask him to change that for folks in the future! He is a great guy,.......I talked to him for an hour one day before I bought both of the bikes. No affiliation,.......just a good company.
Rob Frasier Hi Rob....we live in the San Juan mountains of CO. We are not mountain bikers, per say; mainly tour towns. I also enjoy dirt road and maybe easy non technical path riding. Where we live though, we do need motor and battery capability due to the hills. My assessment is that these bikes Mark and Sue got seem to fit the bill. Any other models you would recommends? I am about 240 lbs. I like how they also got the same bikes to have interchangeable batteries!
Hello Sue & Mark! It was wonderful to meet you at the Tampa RV Show (with my daughter). Happy to have my decision confirmed to purchase RV Life. I have a question that I forgot to ask when I was there: Do you still like the brand of e-bikes that you purchased a year ago? I know you recommended that I consider an ebike when we visit Hill City this coming fall, and I'd like to know what your thoughts are a year later on your bikes. Thanks!! Stay safe. 🙂
Check out the following link that describes the Ebike we finally selected: www.eluxbikes.com/malibu-gt We paid $2650 each for these bikes in September 2019.
My advice would be this: It’s nice to get both bikes the same so the batteries interchange. The heavier person can use the battery till half gone, then switch with the lighter person if need be.
Plus,…..the tools and spare inner tubes you carry are the same.
We did not want to listen to the whine of 4”knobby wide tires. We aren’t going off road with the bikes.
The bikes we bought are the most comfortable cruisers we could find.
Go to a bike store that is next to or near a bike path. Test drive 20 different brands!!!!!! You are spending a lot of money. Don’t buy from a place that won’t let you test ride them a number of miles. You need to find the bike that feels AWESOME for you.
If you ride that many bikes, the one that is perfect will jump out at you and slap you in the wallet.
An Ebike carried outside for a full timer will get BEAT UP from the weather & sunlight. The controls will get screwed up and unreliable. Covers will beat off the bikes paint. It is easier to get stolen on an outside hitch.
We store them in an enclosed minivan. Some folks have a cap on their towed pickup truck. Consider some of the high end FOLDING BIKES for easy of transport. Keep in mind that folding bikes are sort of "pretend bikes".
Yes,……….we would buy the exact same bikes again,……they are Cadillacs.
Great job on your design!
Glad you like it! Only had a few tools to work with,.....I made it on my picnic table in camp!
Since I see how Detailed Oriented you are, I am curious what type locks you are using for your bikes? We just took delivery of our Lectric bikes and it seems the Lock market is Huge!
We use GIANT Kryptonite D Locks,........I have (6) of them and link them together as needed. Obviously we only carry one each. All our bike gear is listed in a separate section in our Amazon Store Front. The link to this store is in the description area under any of our videos. We do a lot of night riding on bike trails when in our hometown (Pre-Covid), so that's why we each have such massive Niterider lights. We wear fluorescent vests, have ankle lights, and use blinking tail lights. If we get hit, they did it on purpose! The mirrors we have listed are the ones we prefer.
great job on the bike mounts.
Thanks! Has worked out way better than we could have imagined actually!
Very informative video thanks for sharing. I loved your innovative bike rack I can tell you were a fellow engineer. Unfortunately most bikes are probably going to be to tall to cary upright in an SUV only a minivan has the needed height clearance. I know that's the case with my Equinox and regular mountain bike.
Thanks for watching! Our recumbents bikes,......and now our Ebikes is the only reason we took the chance pulling the Honda Odyssey as our tow vehicle. So far, so good!
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great job on picking out the ebike! You introduced me to so many more ebikes and these are great reviews. The price you paid for 2 bikes aren't bad at all. We ordered a custom-made electric tandem bike that can fold, custom made locally in the US. I want a folding bike because our rig is very small. These tandem are built for touring and when I called them a few months ago, I spoke to an engineer who helped me design it. The company is based out in Oregon, called the Bike Friday. Like you, I like the relaxed, upright seating position. We plan on taking it touring at some point so, speed is not as crucial as it is comfort. Ours will have over 10 gears which is a major upgrade for us. I'm curious to see how the hubs are setup. Question, on your elux, is it a disc brake?
The Elux Malibu GT has extra large diameter disc brakes with dual hydraulic pistons. Check out: www.eluxbikes.com/malibu-gt Good luck with the folding tandem!!!!! I will check out the Bike Friday website.
Thanks for the great info!
Glad it was helpful Angela!
Pretty darn good
We still have these bikes and love them! We actually have a new system now. I have abandoned these ramps after a year. The joint at the handlebars was not liking being loosened so many times. Now, I pull the handle bar stem out, with the handle bars intact, place the assembly in a backpack, hang the backpack on the bike and lift the bike into the minivan without taking off the front or rear tires. Way better for us! We do not like the folding bikes with the 20" tires. We wanted full blown comfort cruisers because we ride so many miles each time out. We also wanted the giant 21Ah batteries to eliminate any battery range anxiety! We can go an easy 60 miles.
our experience is that ebikes with throttles have way more access restrictions...nice option, but not worth it. Love your videos!!
Good to know! We have worried about this, and almost made me avoid Class 2 bikes,.......but starting the bike out is just sssssoooooo much easier. We shall see how long it takes to get a ticket or have a problem. Hoping the officer that stops us has a Grampa at home he likes and gives us a break! We try to ride slow in areas with any amount of people walking, jogging or riding. Even in open country on a trail, we are usually at 12 to 13 mph (Pedal Assist Level 2).
@@OurJourneyInMyles Love you two...just weave a lot when you ride, and you won't have to worry about riding slow, as people will definitely get out of your way!
Great design
Glad you like it,.......tough to build anything complex in a campground!
Love how you got those in the van.
We are so thankful it worked out so good!
Mark, what is the overall length of the eBikes? Doubt they would fit in the back of an SUV. Weekly engineering tip and Fifi sighting (closeup at 10:55). Check!
The website says 77" long. My current technique removes the front axle nuts while sitting on the wood ramp! (Thinking about sitting on the pad though.)
O'Jim Drone cruising on the EBike? Hmmm...
OJiM needs to concentrate on getting a helpful, awesome website up before further experimentation with additional drone equipment! I will just have to stick with the current one.
Lol. Love you guys. Thanks for all you do and share.
Nice e-bikes guys!
Thanks,....we like them more & more every time we use them!
Elux is deluxe!👍🏾💙🤍❤️
Great Brand Tagline!
Good info- thanks
Glad it was helpful! Our bikes will be opening up a lot of new trips for us,......
MacGyver love your ramp
We actually have a new system now. I have abandoned these ramps after a year. The joint at the handlebars was not liking being loosened so many times. Now, I pull the handle bar stem out, with the handle bars intact, place the assembly in a backpack, hang the backpack on the bike and lift the bike into the minivan without taking off the front or rear tires. Way better for us! We do not like the folding bikes with the 20" tires. We wanted full blown comfort cruisers because we ride so many miles each time out. We also wanted the giant 21Ah batteries to eliminate any battery range anxiety! We can go an easy 60 miles.
Nice bikes...lots of work! How do you secure these at your sites or are you loading and unloading every time you use them...please say not!! Why not a folding bike?
We secure them with Kryptonite D-Locks and chain. We wanted full size 26" or 27" cruiser style comfort bikes, which makes the frame and handle bars large. We did not even consider a folding bike since we had the room. We are retired,.......we have the time to putz!
what does pedaling do? does it just propel the bike or does it also put a charge back into the batteries
We have cadence sensors on our pedal crack axle. Pedaling on or bikes tells the motor to provide assistance. No pedaling,...no assistance. We also have a throttle to ride the bike on battery power TOTALLY. Pedaling DOES NOT recharge ANY affordable consumer ebikes that I have ever seen.
I loved the video on the E bikes, very informative. Were going to go look at the same model ones. I see you tow a honda odyssey? Do you tow flat? What year and model is it if so and have you had any issues? Jim and Kandie
Folks should always refer to the free, online PDF documents, that the Family Motorcoach Association compiles listing all the approved cars and trucks by model and year, that you can pull behind a motorhome. Additionally, it proves notes on any added preparation needed before towing can start for the day.
I would probably NOT RECOMMEND pulling a Honda Odyssey. We are taking a chance,….we have a lot of money on the line with the faceplate mod and Air Force 1 Braking Mod. We paid top dollar to get an extremely low mileage 2013 EX-L, (about 23k miles) so the transmission was in as good a shape as possible. Are you willing to risk this like we have?
We corresponded with someone on irv2 in June of 2017 that was pulling a 5 speed Honda 2013 Odyssey for over 25k miles. This prompted us to “go for it!” He has since (about 4 months ago, had a trans failure.) He maintains he thinks it was NOT related to towing it. He liked his Honda enough he put a rebuilt trans in! We love our Honda and will do the same if we have an issue. WE CHANGE THE TRANS FLUID every year!
We needed to pull a garage for our expensive bikes! After many conversations, WE DECIDED TO TAKE A CHANCE, AND PULL ONE AS WELL. We tow a 2013 EX-L Honda Odyssey. This is the latest year model (2013), and highest trim level (EX-L) model you can tow. Yes, I know, you are not supposed to tow it! Honda decided it wasn't worth the warranty claims of damaged Odyssey transmissions when NOT shifted into neutral following the EXACT instructions they provided way back in 2004.
(YOU MUST SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL FROM DRIVE ONLY, NOT FROM REVERSE!)
They gave up on the Odyssey towing public, because of this Odyssey peculiarity and said you can’t do it. I corresponded with a few other brave souls that had over 20,000 miles towed on their Odysseys before I was man enough to do it. I have towed ours about 25,000 miles now.
The 2013 Honda Odyssey Touring was a 6 speed, and CAN NOT be towed. In 2014, EVERYTHING went to 6 speed. You can search for the Honda Vin number decoder on the internet to make certain your Honda is a 5 speed to see if you would be OK. Any other years you would want to buy, you would want to research the internet and vin # to make sure you are not buying another 6 speed! We liked our (2) 2015 6 speed Honda Odysseys so much, that we sold them to get our (1) 2013 5-speed Odyssey. We are Full Time, and just need one car now. YOU DO NOT NEED ANY ADDED LUBE PUMPS!
THIS IS THE TOWING PROCEDURE WE USE,…….EASY AS PIE,…..
It has been simplified, directly from the 2004 Honda Odyssey towing instructions, which is the last year they "allowed" towing. The "PV1A Transmission” is the ONLY Honda Odyssey Automatic transmission you can tow, IF YOU FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS from Honda back in 2004 when they allowed the PV1A to be towed. It MUST be this 5-speed transmission. I left in a lot of the Honda legal jargon at the end just for your info.
• Start the engine and get it to operating temperature. (I am usually still packing something up.)
• Press on the brake pedal. Shift the lever through all the positions (P,R,N,D,2,1).
• Then shift up from 1, 2, Shift to D, then to N. DO NOT GO INTO REVERSE! Let the engine run for at least three minutes, then turn off engine. THIS IS THE KEY, AND THE ABSOLUTE ISSUE THAT MUST BE FOLLOWED. SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL FROM REVERSE WILL SET YOU UP FOR PROBLEMS, AND/OR TRANSMISSION FAILURE. How many times you can do it wrong, I don't know. I am absolutely vigilant on this procedure. You must shift to neutral from DRIVE.
• Make sure parking brake is OFF.
• Leave the ignition switch in ACCESSORY (1) so the steering wheel does not lock. Make sure the radio and any items plugged into the accessory power sockets are turned off, so you do not run down the battery. (Our tow electric cord has a trickle charger line to keep the battery from going dead. We have an SMI Air Force One brake system,.......Honda is around 4,600 lbs. loaded.)
If you travel more than 8 hours in one day (including stopping time), you must stop and repeat the above procedures.
NOTICE:
The steering system can be damaged if the steering wheel is locked. Always leave the key in the ACCESSORY (1) position to prevent damage to the steering system when towing behind another vehicle.
CAUTION:
Severe automatic transmission damage will occur if the car is shifted from reverse to neutral and then towed with the drive wheels on the ground.
NOTICE:
Improper towing preparation will damage the transmission. Follow the above procedure exactly. If you cannot shift the transmission or start the engine, your vehicle must be on a flatbed truck or trailer.
If you tow a Honda/Acura vehicle with automatic transmission, the fluid must be changed every two years or 30,000 miles, whichever comes first.
Although experience has shown that the Honda/Acura transmission and powertrain are capable of being "motorhome towed", America Honda does not assume responsibility for any vehicle damage or liabilities incurred due to the towing device, towing vehicle, lighting hookup, or other towing equipment or towing procedures; any responsibility for these items is assumed by the owner/operator.
If you have additional questions, please call American Honda Motor Co. Inc. (National Consumer Affairs) at 800-999-1009.
Good luck,…..as I said,…….I would think it is not a good, sound, financial idea,……although we are taking the chance!
Every time I go to Walmart Supercenter I quickly run into e bike section they have non-stop sessions of e bikes
👀
I love you two!!
We like viewers like you! Thanks,.....
Bozo, just what I was going to say...Forget it Mark, hairspray isn't get to cut it for you....:). I went for a Trek, choked on the cost but thank you Uncle Sam for subsidizing the bike this spring.... Repairing and parts seem to be the issue with the other bikes...Great storage rack for the van...
Buying a good solid name brand ebike is the only way to go if you want it to actually work on the trail every time you power it up after bouncing it around while transporting it.
Sue/Mark...Wife and I are powering thru your videos and just watched this one. All have been a lot fun & very informative/helpful and we thank you so much. Question for you is what is the brand/model of the recumbent bikes you put in storage? And/or where did you buy them? Looking to maybe get a set of them for us for Christmas this year.
We have owned these RANS Stratus LE recumbents since 2010, still love them,.......and will most likely someday electrify them! The LE model has a 26" rear wheel and 20" front wheel. The RANS Stratus XP recumbents have two 26" wheels. See shop.ransbikes.com/product-p/babk0048.htm
@@OurJourneyInMyles Thank you!
Hi, What is the diameter of the caster wheels on the bike rack (i.e, 2 inch, 3 inch, etc.) Great video too!!
I used 4" diameter. Have to be honest with you Beachsn7,......I have since stopped using this sled. The sled was made because I had to remove the front tire, and needed a solid connection for the front axle aera of the fork to attach to. What was happening, was the connection on the handle bars I had to undo to swivel them down was starting to get worn. I decided to try to remove the entire handle bar assembly via the wedge driven fork tube connection bolt. This proved faster, and provided enough bike entry clearance that it did not require the front wheel to be removed anymore. I disassembled the sleds, and gave the lumber to a fellow RVer! The front wheel removal was also an issue because it would require recentering the disc brake about 50% of the time. Our setup now is golden. On a future video, I will share this.
@@OurJourneyInMyles Thank you for the quick reply. Your sled idea was very impressive and I think I might still try to give it a go. I'll keep an eye out for your future video on your new set up too. Thank you for all your effort in creating these videos - they are so enjoyable and informative.
Good job dude it’s better than spending $600 or $800 dollars on one of those Hollywood bike racks because that is what they cost.
We used these ramps for about a year, and now I flop the handlebars down rather than remove the front wheel. Still stuffing them in back of the Honda!
Nice bike carrying system, where did you get the wheels for it?
I just used castor wheels from Home Depot. The ODD DESIGN I made was my attempt to get it as flat as possible so I could maybe leave the handle bars in place without loosening them. It was a gamble, it was that close that it looked like I had a chance. IT DID NOT WORK,.....but I was able to just loosen the neck stem, and the setup I use now is fast and easy and doesn't ruin the handlebar connection. Now I would have room to mount the caster wheels more normally (under the sled) so they would roll perfectly without having to tip the sled so much. But as is, it works great enough that I am not going to change anything,.......but if I could do it over again, I would lower the wheels for more positive action!
sweet rides.....
puts the "Smith Wheel" to shame
Now if AO Smith would have just kept at it,........ We love the bikes,......and the new riding posture for us has proven to be OK. We still have our recumbent bikes in storage, and may electrify them some day? As of today, 5-17-2020,...we are still in Florida.
We are looking for e-bikes. Thanks for the info.
No problem 👍My best advice, is to try out a TON of different brands, and the correct choice will eventually jump out and bite you!
Our Journey In Myles I bet that probably applies to motor home shopping too!
Where can I purchase the front fork axel holder? the ones that hold the front fork to the attachment to roll into you vehicle.
We show the exact one we used in the "Bike Riding Equipment" section of our Amazon Store. Make sure you know the overall with that will fit YOUR bike fork. Anytime you are going to use our Amazon account, it is much appreciated. It is best to go their first thru our Amazon Store affiliate link that is in the description area underneath any of our current videos, OR THE BUTTON DISPLAYED in the lower right hand edge of the main photo on our RUclips Home page. Do not bookmark our Amazon Page, because the referral link will only work once for OJiM. Start a fresh link each new shopping session you start. ANY of your purchases in that cart would be credited to OJiM if purchased within the first 24 hours that the shopping “session" (or cookie) was opened and is current. We will earn a small commission on your purchases which does not affect the final amount you are paying and helps supports our video channel efforts.
When you try and pull the hairs in your nose,Some how they are connected to your toes lol...
I swear my nose follicles are DIRECTLY connected (with 48" long hairs) to my foot muscles! When I pull them I stamp my foot and blurt out a nay like Mr Ed!
nice job use them in good health
Thanks Allan,.....so far so good!
Nice🚴🏻♂️🚴🏻♀️👍🏻👍🏻❤️
Glad you enjoyed it
if you don't mind how tall is your wife ? now that you have had the bikes is that one too much size & power wise ? hope to be hitting the road soon also !
Sue is 5'-6". We do not find the bike too powerful. Make sure you are able to haul the bikes INSIDE so the weather doesn't ruin your $2500/each bikes, and they don't get stolen so easy. Consider folding bikes if you can't haul them inside a pickup, trailer or rig like we do. The electronics and chain assemblies would take a beating. Bike covers beat off the paint in the wind.
Do you have a parts list?
Sorry Dale,...I just slapped it together with the simplest components I had laying around and could find. The casters were bought from Home depot, and the main sled was a 2 x 6. The front fork axle "holding bracket" is listed in our Amazon Store shown down in the video description area, BUT IS SPECIFIC to the overall fork width of your particular bicycle. A fat tire bike for instance would need a larger one,......and a thin road bike tire bike would need a smaller one.
Cool set up.You should have been a engineer
Thanks Eugene,.......I guess my Mechanical Engineering degree finally paid off!
I enjoy most of you videos, especially the infomitive ones like this one with the e bikes and your home made contraption for loading was well thought out . The only issue that I have is the washing of hair in the kitchen sink...very unsanitary.
Opps,....
People wash their babies in the sink soap fixes everything
Bozo 🤣🤣🤣🤣I seriously thought that before you said it.
We always try to be accurate at OJiM!
Our Journey In Myles you are always funny that’s for sure. Thanks for sharing yourself and tour journey.
Why they call crazy
Just a marketing thing!
forget ebikes - get a electric scooter (like those bird rentals) it takes ALOT less space...cheaper too. Personally id just order a kit from china and build my own battery...ebikes are so overpriced considering its still a friggin bike...
We ride our bikes between 20 & 30 miles when we go on our rides. We always carry a lot of gear like lunches, locks, water, tools, etc. We virtually never use the bikes in a campground for general getting around. We locate all our bike trails using the app called Trail Link.
Buy a bike with nothing less than a 19 amp hour battery 🔋 if you don’t you will regret it. My bike has two batteries one 14 amp hours and the other is 17 amp hours I all so have two motors (ecell ebike) range is everything believe me you never want to deal with range anxiety. Don’t ever believe the dealer telling you that your bike will get 60 or 70 miles of range because their are hills everywhere and you weigh as much as a small donkey your not going to get that range so just get that out of your head. My bike is 92 lbs and with my weight my two motors and two batteries 🔋 have to haul a lot of weight.
Yes you really have to look at your own weight, the terrain you expect to ride on most of the time and the length of the trails you will most likely be one. Our 21ah battery 750 watt hub bikes can easily go 60 plus miles between charges!
WEAK!!!!!😂😂😂😂😂😂👍👍👍👍👍👍
Next time I am going to have Sue twist off the front nuts on the front tire axles! I still use the same "small" wrenches Elux supplied so I can't damage the axle threads as easily with a high mechanical advantage socket wrench.
Kinda complicated….
We actually have a new system now. I have abandoned these ramps after a year of use. The joint at the handlebars was not liking being loosened so many times. Now, I pull the handle bar stem out, with the handle bars intact, place the assembly in a backpack, hang the backpack on the bike and lift the bike into the minivan without taking off the front or rear tires. Way better for us!
A little to much shampoo for such little hair. Just shave it off and be done with it.
I was hoping no one would notice that,......it took a long time!