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First eBike - Did I Make a Mistake?

by LisaW_Biker•2 months ago

I just bought my first eBike last week (Lectric XP 3.0) and I'm having second thoughts. Don't get me wrong, it's fun to ride, but I'm wondering if I should have spent more money on something with a mid-drive motor instead of hub drive.

I live in Seattle and there are some pretty steep hills around here. The hub motor gets me up them, but it feels like it's really straining. My friend has a Specialized Turbo Vado with a mid-drive and he just flies up the same hills without breaking a sweat.

Did I make a mistake going with a budget hub-drive eBike for a hilly area? Or am I just overthinking this because I have buyer's remorse? The Lectric was $999 and the Specialized is like $3,500, so there's obviously a huge price difference.

Would love to hear from anyone who's ridden both hub and mid-drive in hilly areas. Is the mid-drive really worth the extra $2,500?

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3 replies

3 Replies

ChenCyclist2 months ago

You definitely didn't make a mistake! That first week adjustment period is totally normal. Your legs are learning to work with the motor instead of against it. Give it another week and you'll wonder how you ever rode without assist. What model did you get?

MikeT_Biker2 months ago

I felt the same way after my first ride! The key is starting on the lowest assist level and gradually increasing as you get comfortable. Also, make sure your tire pressure is correct - that makes a huge difference in how the bike feels.

Denver_Rider7 days ago

Hey there! Totally get where you're coming from – it's easy to get buyer's remorse when comparing to a much pricier bike. While a mid-drive will generally feel more natural and efficient on steep hills, especially with torque sensing, your Lectric XP 3.0 is a solid bike for its price point and should still get you up those Seattle hills. Try playing with your gears more actively and using the pedal assist levels strategically; you might be surprised how much better it feels with a bit of technique. For the $2,500 difference, you got a fantastic value, and that money could buy a lot of other fun gear or even a second, different kind of e-bike down the line!