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I think it's just because EVs (and PEVs) are relatively new and promising. I recently purchased an electric scooter, and that sort of form factor can be very di

I think it's just because EVs (and PEVs) are relatively new and promising. I recently purchased an electric scooter, and that sort of form factor can be very difficult to fit an ICE into. Not like it can't or hasn't been done, but the instant torque I get from dual hub motors is far superior to any combustion engine.

stavros 2y ago
How do you like the scooter? I have an ICE motorcycle, and I hate how loud and dirty it is. I'd like an electric one, but they're very expensive, and with electric scooters/ebikes I worry that they'll get stolen (as with a good bike).
- LoganDark 2y ago
  Good e-scooters / e-bikes can be had for only $1-2k, in my limited experience. Not sure what the typical cost for a motorcycle is, but I'd be surprised if it's too much less than that. I started with a $900 Segway Ninebot MAX G2 (1×1000W) a couple weeks ago, but it didn't have enough power for my needs. Even in sport mode, it would stall on some pretty slight inclines. So I picked up an $1800 Maxfun 10 PRO (2×1500W), just a couple days ago, actually. I do like the added speed and hill climbing ability, but the compromise in features and build quality is astonishing. The Ninebot is so, so much better. If only the motor were three or four times more powerful... As for it getting stolen, with a scooter (as opposed to a bike or motorcycle) I've so far had a 100% success rate just bringing it with me through the door. Serious. Nobody bats an eye at me bringing my scooter into the pharmacy, any number of fast food places, grocery stores, etc. Not super easy or likely for someone to steal the scooter from right next to me. YMMV with that, depending on how friendly your area is to PEVs, but everyone here seems cool with it. It's honestly great. Not only that, but I can store it inside my house when it's not being used, to charge it, work on it, and protect it from the weather. The Ninebot can only be locked with an app over Bluetooth, while the Maxfun can be locked with an NFC key (I far prefer this). But you can also of course use a normal bike lock as well if you ever have to let it out of your sight. Anyway, I love the scooter. It's had some issues but it mostly came down to me popping the tire on the first day by making it eat a curb (oops). Somehow, the scooter managed not to care whatsoever. No trip, no fall, no damage to the frame or suspension, only the inner tube which was easy to replace once I got back home. Good as new now. If you do ever get an electric scooter, it will probably take an hour or two to learn proper weight transfer, but it's extremely easy. Note: if you get an electric scooter, it's extremely important to check your local laws first. Electric bikes usually have laws that are fairly self-consistent and useful, because they are essentially the poster child for PEVs. Electric scooters, however, often have laws that are unnecessarily restricting or even entirely contradictory, because all of the work that has been put into electric bike laws has entirely overlooked the existence of electric scooters, leaving them in often very precarious positions. Any laws that have exceptions for electric bikes will most likely not have any exception for electric scooters. For example, in my local area electric bikes are allowed on sidewalks in parks and electric scooters are not, despite the scooter being far smaller and less obnoxious than any bike.
  - stavros 2y ago
    Thanks for the detail! I suspect our use cases are different, though: I use my bicycle and motorcycle for different use cases, the former to transport myself, the latter for myself and another passenger. For going places, I prefer the bicycle, as you get free exercise as a bonus. For going somewhere with someone else, or going far, I'll need something closer to the motorcycle form factor, which necessarily will have to be much more expensive and elaborate. I'm glad to see that e-bikes have become so good, though. My use case is very niche, because I live right at one end of a bike lane that spans the entire city, so going to any of the busy areas is just biking next to the sea, on a level road, for max half an hour, which isn't really hard enough to warrant an e-bike...
    - LoganDark 2y ago
      I can't really offer advice on how good e-bikes are, but I can say the costs have come down, yes. Our use cases are definitely different. If you want a replacement for the motorcycle to carry another passenger, you probably won't be able to use a scooter. You could grab something like the XPedition Cargo eBike which can carry a passenger. It's got a 750W motor and weighs only about 70lbs when unloaded. It's only $1400 and there is a one-year warranty on the motor. However, they do not sell replacement motors even if you have money, so expect the bike to last only the one year. (In my experience, regardless of industry, the length of the warranty is usually a relatively accurate indicator of how long the product actually lasts in practice.)
      - stavros 2y ago
        Huh, that looks very interesting, thank you! The motor not being available to buy separately is a concern, but I'll evaluate my risk profile on this, thanks again!
        LoganDark 2y ago
        If you want more options, Reddit's one of the best places to find organic product recommendations from real users. It's also where people go to complain whenever they get screwed over. Reddit's where I found someone recommending the XPedition, so both treat my recommendation with the appropriate level of salt, and also feel free to make the same search I did to find more options to evaluate.

stavros 2y ago

How do you like the scooter? I have an ICE motorcycle, and I hate how loud and dirty it is. I'd like an electric one, but they're very expensive, and with electric scooters/ebikes I worry that they'll get stolen (as with a good bike).

LoganDark 2y ago
Good e-scooters / e-bikes can be had for only $1-2k, in my limited experience. Not sure what the typical cost for a motorcycle is, but I'd be surprised if it's too much less than that. I started with a $900 Segway Ninebot MAX G2 (1×1000W) a couple weeks ago, but it didn't have enough power for my needs. Even in sport mode, it would stall on some pretty slight inclines. So I picked up an $1800 Maxfun 10 PRO (2×1500W), just a couple days ago, actually. I do like the added speed and hill climbing ability, but the compromise in features and build quality is astonishing. The Ninebot is so, so much better. If only the motor were three or four times more powerful... As for it getting stolen, with a scooter (as opposed to a bike or motorcycle) I've so far had a 100% success rate just bringing it with me through the door. Serious. Nobody bats an eye at me bringing my scooter into the pharmacy, any number of fast food places, grocery stores, etc. Not super easy or likely for someone to steal the scooter from right next to me. YMMV with that, depending on how friendly your area is to PEVs, but everyone here seems cool with it. It's honestly great. Not only that, but I can store it inside my house when it's not being used, to charge it, work on it, and protect it from the weather. The Ninebot can only be locked with an app over Bluetooth, while the Maxfun can be locked with an NFC key (I far prefer this). But you can also of course use a normal bike lock as well if you ever have to let it out of your sight. Anyway, I love the scooter. It's had some issues but it mostly came down to me popping the tire on the first day by making it eat a curb (oops). Somehow, the scooter managed not to care whatsoever. No trip, no fall, no damage to the frame or suspension, only the inner tube which was easy to replace once I got back home. Good as new now. If you do ever get an electric scooter, it will probably take an hour or two to learn proper weight transfer, but it's extremely easy. Note: if you get an electric scooter, it's extremely important to check your local laws first. Electric bikes usually have laws that are fairly self-consistent and useful, because they are essentially the poster child for PEVs. Electric scooters, however, often have laws that are unnecessarily restricting or even entirely contradictory, because all of the work that has been put into electric bike laws has entirely overlooked the existence of electric scooters, leaving them in often very precarious positions. Any laws that have exceptions for electric bikes will most likely not have any exception for electric scooters. For example, in my local area electric bikes are allowed on sidewalks in parks and electric scooters are not, despite the scooter being far smaller and less obnoxious than any bike.
- stavros 2y ago
  Thanks for the detail! I suspect our use cases are different, though: I use my bicycle and motorcycle for different use cases, the former to transport myself, the latter for myself and another passenger. For going places, I prefer the bicycle, as you get free exercise as a bonus. For going somewhere with someone else, or going far, I'll need something closer to the motorcycle form factor, which necessarily will have to be much more expensive and elaborate. I'm glad to see that e-bikes have become so good, though. My use case is very niche, because I live right at one end of a bike lane that spans the entire city, so going to any of the busy areas is just biking next to the sea, on a level road, for max half an hour, which isn't really hard enough to warrant an e-bike...
  - LoganDark 2y ago
    I can't really offer advice on how good e-bikes are, but I can say the costs have come down, yes. Our use cases are definitely different. If you want a replacement for the motorcycle to carry another passenger, you probably won't be able to use a scooter. You could grab something like the XPedition Cargo eBike which can carry a passenger. It's got a 750W motor and weighs only about 70lbs when unloaded. It's only $1400 and there is a one-year warranty on the motor. However, they do not sell replacement motors even if you have money, so expect the bike to last only the one year. (In my experience, regardless of industry, the length of the warranty is usually a relatively accurate indicator of how long the product actually lasts in practice.)
    - stavros 2y ago
      Huh, that looks very interesting, thank you! The motor not being available to buy separately is a concern, but I'll evaluate my risk profile on this, thanks again!
      - LoganDark 2y ago
        If you want more options, Reddit's one of the best places to find organic product recommendations from real users. It's also where people go to complain whenever they get screwed over. Reddit's where I found someone recommending the XPedition, so both treat my recommendation with the appropriate level of salt, and also feel free to make the same search I did to find more options to evaluate.