I had built an outlaw ebike a few years ago. It's capable of 3000 watts and is 100% throttle controlled with a 35 mph+ top speed, but that makes it illegal for bike paths in town. I haven't used it much on the roads because I want to go on old logging roads in the mountains and I don't have any friends with ebikes and have just been busy at work anyway. So we had some cash saved up anyway for some remodeling projects, and knowing we have some more coming with the stimulus, I figured I'd get a 2nd, legal class 2 bike I can ride to work using the bike paths and then have a bike my wife, daughters, or most likely my son-in-law can use and go camping, fishing, hunting with me.
I got the Radrunner 1 from Rad bikes in Seattle. It's base price is $1,199 with free shipping and you can get up to $100 off one of the accessories. I chose the $89 fender kit but then also found they give $200 off for first responders or veterans so I got that (although it wouldn't stack the free fenders so I had to pay for those). Bottom line $1,103 (because under $1100 there was a $15 shipping fee? but whatever). Seems good, 750 watt geared Bafang hub motor, 48v 14 Ah battery, aluminum frame, disc brakes, Kendra puncture resistant tires, headlight, tail/brake light, built in rear rack good for over 100 pounds. It was pretty well assembled and came in good shape. The rear fender was a pain putting on with the wheel in place, and there was a Allen screw holding some kind of axle keeper or torque arm in place that seemed to want to strip out it was so tight so I just left the back wheel on and worked in the inch gap left to get the fender bolted on.
Hopefully I will stop freaking snowing in April here! I haven't driven it further than around the block.
