What do you think of the LeMond Dutch? Does it justify the price? Buying a LeMond ebike? Using our link supports Ebike Escape: lemondbicycles.pxf.io/VmbNrJ (affiliate link)
I rode one today at an "EV" event, and its light weight is impressive. The positives: clean design, step-through, good brakes and gears. Negatives: Price (3X what decent E-bikes are going for), lack of a "throttle" (for lack of better word) when I want assist but am tired of pedaling, having to reach down to change assist level. Your video explained some things which were not obvious (power-level indicator, battery-remaining), but again, these things could be more obvious and visible.
Ah the name LeMond brings back memories of me seeing Greg Lemond become the first American to win the Tour De France. He was perhaps the greatest "all-natural" American cyclist of all time.
My thinking is... The European model bikes just will not become big hits in the USA. A very select few will appreciate the tie in from bike to e-Bike on such a small level of assist. It's a Niche segment for just a few people here that won't be a big seller. The best useful feature of this bike is its light weight. Not sure your average 250 lb factory worker will opt for it.
As mentioned, for long term usability the non removable battery is a bad idea. In the summer it would BAKE in my garage and freeze in the winter. No room to store the bike in my house, I have a large garage for that.
If money was no object, I would still have a problem with not being able to remove the battery. Love the Dutch design and with a 11-40T cassette it should climb well. The weight is fantastic! Disappointed that is cadence drive at that price it should be Torque driven or better yet both cadence and Toque option. Beautiful bike.
A shop I went into carries this brand. Imagine my shock & awe when I lifted it, expecting it to be at least 50 pounds. I went directly home to get the scoop online (can trust that a seller wouldn't try to smooth talk me into it). The drawbacks, when compared to price, wouldn't work out for me. The battery housed in the tube is a bummer, but isn't the worst-- reaching down for different levels of assist is a deal-breaker, as is the lack of screen, and most importantly in my eyes, no throttle. Seems like I have my foot in a boot about twice a year, so I need the throttle for the big hill between my home and the lively downtown area. If it was $2,000-2,500, I'd consider it as an extra bike, and then maybe sell off my first one if I ended up on the LeMond more often. But at $5,500 before any accessories, that's a hard pass.
The problem I see is taking your hand off the handle bar to switch the assist level. That could be dangerous on a bumpy road. The other problem with using the phone while riding. Most phones go into sleep mode when not in use. You would have to swipe the phone, draw the unlock pattern and then acsess app. I love my Aventon Pace 500 because all the assist control are on the handle bar. I do wish my Aventon Pace was lighter weight like this bike.
Could you please include discussion about whether the app is needed to be connected to the company, as VanMoof bankruptcy is showing that companies do go away, and I’d hate for my bike to stop working.
I have another Mahle x35 equipped bike and we are looking at the Dutch for my husband because physically the upright position is much better for him. You don’t need the app and I rarely use it with my current bike. I control mine with a Garmin remote and bike computer (I can control it with the remote even without the bike computer). Mahle is much larger and more diversified than Van Moof and isn’t going out of business anytime soon. Some things have to be activated by a dealer but I’m assuming that if you buy one of these online they will be dealer activated out of the box. These are more comparable to carbon road/gravel bikes like the Orbea Gain and other high end makes like Wilier and Argon 18 than with bigger urban e-bikes like Aventon and etc. My bike is also 26 lbs (Argon 18 Subito) and if I bought new today would be the same price as the Dutch/Prolog for similar specs. The biggest bike maker using the Mahle system is Cannondale so they’re a proven platform at this point with decent support. My x35 bike is 3 years old now and it’s been very reliable. I still get a great workout because it gives me “just enough” to climb hills I wouldn’t otherwise be able to.
What do you think of the LeMond Dutch? Does it justify the price?
Buying a LeMond ebike? Using our link supports Ebike Escape: lemondbicycles.pxf.io/VmbNrJ (affiliate link)
I rode one today at an "EV" event, and its light weight is impressive. The positives: clean design, step-through, good brakes and gears. Negatives: Price (3X what decent E-bikes are going for), lack of a "throttle" (for lack of better word) when I want assist but am tired of pedaling, having to reach down to change assist level. Your video explained some things which were not obvious (power-level indicator, battery-remaining), but again, these things could be more obvious and visible.
Ah the name LeMond brings back memories of me seeing Greg Lemond become the first American to win the Tour De France. He was perhaps the greatest "all-natural" American cyclist of all time.
My thinking is... The European model bikes just will not become big hits in the USA. A very select few will appreciate the tie in from bike to e-Bike on such a small level of assist. It's a Niche segment for just a few people here that won't be a big seller. The best useful feature of this bike is its light weight. Not sure your average 250 lb factory worker will opt for it.
As mentioned, for long term usability the non removable battery is a bad idea. In the summer it would BAKE in my garage and freeze in the winter. No room to store the bike in my house, I have a large garage for that.
If money was no object, I would still have a problem with not being able to remove the battery. Love the Dutch design and with a 11-40T cassette it should climb well. The weight is fantastic!
Disappointed that is cadence drive at that price it should be Torque driven or better yet both cadence and Toque option.
Beautiful bike.
Yeah, that's fair.
A shop I went into carries this brand. Imagine my shock & awe when I lifted it, expecting it to be at least 50 pounds. I went directly home to get the scoop online (can trust that a seller wouldn't try to smooth talk me into it). The drawbacks, when compared to price, wouldn't work out for me. The battery housed in the tube is a bummer, but isn't the worst-- reaching down for different levels of assist is a deal-breaker, as is the lack of screen, and most importantly in my eyes, no throttle. Seems like I have my foot in a boot about twice a year, so I need the throttle for the big hill between my home and the lively downtown area. If it was $2,000-2,500, I'd consider it as an extra bike, and then maybe sell off my first one if I ended up on the LeMond more often. But at $5,500 before any accessories, that's a hard pass.
I can picture that high step version with a nice triangle battery bag and a 20-30 ah battery, hanging neatly tucked away. Just saying.😎
This is ideal for urban areas, especially carrying in and out of an apartment.
The problem I see is taking your hand off the handle bar to switch the assist level. That could be dangerous on a bumpy road. The other problem with using the phone while riding. Most phones go into sleep mode when not in use. You would have to swipe the phone, draw the unlock pattern and then acsess app. I love my Aventon Pace 500 because all the assist control are on the handle bar. I do wish my Aventon Pace was lighter weight like this bike.
Could you please include discussion about whether the app is needed to be connected to the company, as VanMoof bankruptcy is showing that companies do go away, and I’d hate for my bike to stop working.
You do not and actually it's not a LeMond app at all. It's the motor maker, Mahle's app.
I have another Mahle x35 equipped bike and we are looking at the Dutch for my husband because physically the upright position is much better for him. You don’t need the app and I rarely use it with my current bike. I control mine with a Garmin remote and bike computer (I can control it with the remote even without the bike computer). Mahle is much larger and more diversified than Van Moof and isn’t going out of business anytime soon. Some things have to be activated by a dealer but I’m assuming that if you buy one of these online they will be dealer activated out of the box. These are more comparable to carbon road/gravel bikes like the Orbea Gain and other high end makes like Wilier and Argon 18 than with bigger urban e-bikes like Aventon and etc. My bike is also 26 lbs (Argon 18 Subito) and if I bought new today would be the same price as the Dutch/Prolog for similar specs. The biggest bike maker using the Mahle system is Cannondale so they’re a proven platform at this point with decent support. My x35 bike is 3 years old now and it’s been very reliable. I still get a great workout because it gives me “just enough” to climb hills I wouldn’t otherwise be able to.
this thing is near perfect but i would much prefer a non electric option with belt drive
Nobody would call it a "Lemon". 😂