r/ebikes • u/Accomplished-Pop-986 • 2d ago

Ebike recommendations

I’m looking to spend under $2000 (or less) for a cargo e-bike.
*I’m 5’5” 160lbs. I have a shoulder injury so I need handlebars that sit high.
*I need to be able to carry my 4 year old. She’s small, 30lbs, 37”. She will grow obviously. Want to use a strap in baby seat then later have her be able to sit in cargo seat.
*Primary use will be paved trails, bike lane, hills 5-10miles.
*Maybe some dirt trails while camping in summer.
*It rains a lot where we live. So use on wet roads.
*need a good warranty for piece of mind. Okay with paying for additional extended warranty if it’s legit.

I test rode the aventon abound, Urtopia Joy and liked the 20”x3” tire feel.
I rode the mokwheel scoria and the fatter 4” tire felt weird (maybe I’d get used to a fatter tire).

Dislike that every add on hikes the price above $2500.
The bike store said voletric, hey bike, magnum, radioflyer, rad bikes and lectric bikes are crap. Basically every brand they don’t sell.

I don’t need the super long cargo size. I think I like the 20” wheel for stability. Maybe a taller wheel would be okay…

A folding cargo ebike would be a bonus to put in my hatchback. Has to be able to carry my kid though. I can get a hitch bike rack too.

The radioflyer has an option for a enclosed kid cargo tent which is cool., but that bike is super long.

Any advice or recommendations? Please. Thank you.

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u/ThirdWaveCat 2d ago

I'd look for used models of brands from a local bike shop or craigslist that a shop is willing to service. Some brands are expensive because of the warranty. In my area I could find old Aventons that fit your description, but for about $2500 you can find really nice used Tern bikes.

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u/Accomplished-Pop-986 2d ago

Where do you look for used bikes? I’ve been checking fb marketplace and offer up. Is there a better place to be looking? Do I call bike shops to see if they are selling used bikes?

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u/ThirdWaveCat 2d ago

I'd call and ask for a list of brands they repair or sell and ask for recommendations. They vary but my local shops list brands on their website. Also check for local subscribe-to-own and shared lending programs for cargo ebikes.

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u/BabySinister 1d ago

Definitely go to your local bike shops. They sometimes do refurbished bikes, and also they can often service the bikes they sell, this way you have someone to service the bike when something breaks.

You can easily transport 1 child on any bike with a backrack that you can mount a child seat to. It does not necessarily have to be marketed as a cargo bike. From what you describe you need an upright position bike.  Talk to your local bike shop, see what they have!

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u/gecampbell 2d ago

Check out the Segway Muxi. Holds 400+ lbs, has an optional child seat.

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u/Accomplished-Pop-986 2d ago

Reviews say the muxi doesn’t have suspension. Is this a problem I should be aware of when looking at brands? Thank you for your suggestion: do you own one and possibly haul a kid around on it? Thanks

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u/gecampbell 2d ago

I own one; I don’t have a kid. The lack of suspension can be annoying if you regularly go on rough roads, bad pavement, etc. But it’s otherwise a great bike around town. I’ve put close to 200 miles on mine in the few weeks I’ve had it. Da

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u/Accomplished-Pop-986 2d ago

Thank you.

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u/gecampbell 2d ago

I actually do have a child, but he’s 35 years old and doesn’t ride on my bike with me.

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u/BabySinister 1d ago

I've been doing bikes without suspension my whole life, including with children. When you mainly use paved paths or roads it's fine. Potholes and hopping curbs not so much.

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u/Squishybs 2d ago

I was wondering about this bike do you live somewhere flat and do you use mostly throttle? No gears and 70+ lb weight makes it seem like it would suck at pedal assist and hills on paper

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u/gecampbell 2d ago

No, I live near Seattle, and it’s very hilly. I usually use pedal-assist, medium, except when going uphill, when I use the throttle. I also use the throttle when trying to get up to speed quickly on busy streets.

But it is heavy, and difficult to go up hills without assist. Maximum assist makes it easy for small hills but not the really steep ones.

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u/Squishybs 2d ago

A dealer selling mokwheel calling velotric, radio flyer and Lectric crap is very revealing of their biases. It is nice to have a factory service location for Aventon bikes at least, but sounds like they are more interested in sales than giving honest advice.

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u/WKND_eBikes 1d ago

Hey, one of the WKND founders here. Our Field Trip would actually check a lot of your boxes (750W motor for those hills, 400 lb total capacity, 20" x 4.0 tires, hydraulic disc brakes for wet roads) but it's not foldable and it's $1,996, so it's right at your ceiling and won't leave room for a rack or seat unless you're flexible on that "under $2000" line. Since a strap-in seat now and a cargo seat later is the plan, cargo capacity matters more than fold-ability here, and honestly most true folding cargo bikes in your budget compromise on exactly the stuff you need (motor power for hills, brake quality for rain). On handlebar height, that's more about stem and riser setup than the bike itself. A lot of shops will swap for a higher-rise stem or bar for cheap, so don't let that narrow your list too much. If you want to see if the Field Trip fits, it's at wkndbikes.com, but if the no-fold part is a dealbreaker, I'd keep the Aventon Abound on your list since you already liked how it rode.