Anybody on here have any experience using electric bikes for our type of activities? Pros & cons?

They are amazing but man are they costly.

Battery life in cold weather would be a huge concern for me.

Besides the cost.

I have an M2S and I love it.

I've been thinking hard about getting one as well. It would make a huge difference in how I could bowhunt the farm. I wonder if wrapping a couple hand heaters around the battery would prevent any cold related issues.

Not really an issue. Now I haven't used it in below zero weather but there's not much difference between 50 degrees and 20 degrees.

Not sure but would have to think as soon as put any motor on it couldn't use it some places here. We have trails on public land you can ride a bike on that are posted no motorized vehicles?? So at least on those kind of places be no point spending the money. May get you on some farms where they won't let ya drive truck or quad..
I know there has been some talk that the powers to be are not sure how to deal with them on street..Do they need a license like moped, or what ever. something new again government folks have to figure out how to make a buck off of..

Mac

Ok , Last year I leased a farm that it was 1.4 miles from front to back. It lays along a river bottom. After couple trips of walking to the back corner I had to find something else. I couldn't drive in as I would be going past 3 other hunters and didn't want to mess them up. After tons of research and comparing I bought a power bike from RAD. The same components as the Quiet kat but at 1/3 of the price. ONLY difference is not camo. and they don't sponsor tv shows. I have rode this thru pouring rain, snow , mud along a river, and it keeps going. Battery will last about 30 miles depending on how fast you go and if you coast/ peddle any. IT RUNS 20MPH !! then motor kicks out. One big thing is motor size / wattage. If you stay under 1000 watts it is not considered motorized. Meaning you can us it on forest service trails and government LAND WITH OUT A SPECIAL PERMIT. The trade off is the amount of weight they will pull/carry. Mine will go up any hill with out any peddling assistance that I have come across. Just remember they are not a motor cycle.
I have found that deer seem to be confused at seeing them . They just stand and stare at me as it makes little ground noise. In fact I have taken 4 does in 2 years just riding across the farm checking the open fields. I stop get off set up my shooting sticks and they just stand and stare LOL. I killed my buck this year after riding t my stand , getting off and turning around and he was walking towards me . Took rest of my ladder stand 4th step. Never knew I was around. This was about 3 pm ... They are the greatest thing ever once you get your stands in place . IN and OUT quick and no sweating because of your clothes in cold weather from walking
Check out RAD power bikes Best money ever spent !!!!!!!

under 1000 watts not considered motorized by U.S. gov !!! Purchase 750 watt model

Was allowed to use mine on Ft Knox military base with no permit...

Best thing is if beans haven't been picked. I rode in track that high sprayer made when they sprayed the beans. PLUS if fields are muddy you can shoot right across as were 4 wheeler would cut ruts . JUST SUPER deer hunting machine

I just bought a rad rover a month ago. Gonna set a snare fence line starting tomorrow. I bought a small trailer for it also, to carry out snared coyotes. I'll post pictures in the up coming days. I'm looking forward to using it!

Jbyrd, thanks for all the info. I guess I'll find out for myself as Fedex says my Rad Rover will get here this afternoon. I'm planning on using it in eastern Oregon for coyote hunting. I got the rear rack coming as well and am thinking to attach a bushel storage box to that to put gear in or coyotes. Mostly thinking to skin them as I take them. I am a little concerned about battery performance in the cold. Where I will be hunting it is not uncommon to go below zero at night.

BTW, the Rad Rovers are on sale right now for $1299 ($200 off) plus I got a $75 additional discount for having served my country. Free shipping!

The videos of them handling off road conditions with those 4" tires is what really sold me.

YOU will love it !!!

Beaver here is a must for this bike . It tilts for easy loading I just use a rachet strap to hold it in place.It will save your back if you don't have a trailer. Plus the tail gate will clear to let down if bike is still loaded



One thing they do recommend is to cover it if its raining while transport. I bought a good bike cover on line rated for 100 mph
.

What amount of tire pressure do you run off road Jbyrd?

One thing I use mine for 75 % of the time is something I didn't think about when I purchased it. RUNNING and putting out trail cams. Standing corn NO PROBLEM . Most fields have enough room around the out side edge I just zipped around them. 90 degree heat ? Piece of cake !!! Checked them and never moved a peddle ... Buddy I lease with had 3 cams set about 200 yards apart. I ran 8 cams placed around a 220 acre farm in less time then he could check them. Not to mention he looked like he had fallen in the river from all the sweat!!!

I use recommended I think its 28-30 lb. I found out real quick how important the gas adjustment is on the front fork when dealing with rough ground. I set mine loose . Also it will save your back if you stand up going over objects. No need to peddle just use throttle. I do not peddle 99.9% of time. Never peddle unless riding around subdivision for exercise...

Thanks! I'm thinking maybe to use less air to do better in eastern Oregon sand & snow and maybe help absorb some of the rough terrain over there.

I bought the rack then took a milk crate to make my basket to haul things. I normally just use a back pack when setting DPs or putting out trail cams.

One more thing . Did you order fenders? I didn't but after first use I ordered . Mud strip up your back. LOL Also one thing if you are in real soupy mud there is a proximity switch in the front sprocket . Magnets are made into the sprocket and it reads them as it turns I have had to wipe the mud off mine ONE time because the pedal assist didn't work.

I didn't order fenders. My first thought on that was I'm hunting where they get less than 15 inches of rain a year. Good info on the dirt hampering the pedal assist. I'll watch for that.

Very true. I have noticed this for years before these E bikes became popular. I have ridden ATB bicycles in the woods a lot. Also even with a gasoline motorcycle (dirtbike) I almost hit a deer as I was coming down a very steep grade on a trail in the woods , just using my brakes and engine at about idle , came around a corner and spooked a deer that was bedded. Almost hit it , had to lockup and skid a bit.

Bet these will get used in urban areas by police. Our PD has some ATB bicycles that are used , quiet. They sneak up on perps doing things they shouldn't be doing.

they are not legal on public land here.

Kinda funny when ya think about it. A green-ish product that is quiet and causes few to no problems. The Segway was going to be a great new thing until it's uses were curtailed on where it could be used. No road use or sidewalk use in some places. Killed the product. Segways are almost laughed at now. ( think mall cop....lol )
But now we are seeing rental Ebikes in some places.
NYC has or is looking at having bicycle riders to have a licence to ride a bicycle , really ?

The government kills innovation thru regulation.

According to the feds the 750 watt e-bikes are a bicycle and you can go into areas that say "no motorized vehicles allowed".

Thousands of miles of roads closed to motorized vehicles in Eastern Oregon . Some year round and more and more are being subject to winter closure . Only main roads open where you will likely be passed by several vehicles in day. I suppose you could just peddle it and pretend it's a regular bike if someone is watching .

I know a guy who used a carrier like that for a Fat Kat and it broke on the road. He didn't realize it was gone for a few miles and he Never did get it back. Not sure what kind of shape it was in after bouncing down the highway. These things are heavy, you need a carrier that's build for this kind of weight.

I didn't see this before my last post. How does this controlling state of ours view that ?

If you watch my video above, I state that most states follow the lead of the feds, but for state WMA's there are a lot of different rules. The laws on these things are evolving quickly.

It's a class 2 bicycle. No licenses or insurance or anything necessary. You can ride in the bike lanes. If the power head was more than 750 watts it would be a motorcycle or scooter, therefore a motorized vehicle.

Well, they still might cite me depending on whim and fancy of that particular authority...but I would win in court.

I could imagine using that to go down a road to get to a calling stand. No noise.

Most people think it is a mountain bike. Don't even notice the battery !!!

I think the rating on this one is 350 lbs. It is designed for 2 e bikes but with the inside bike you have to tilt down to open tail gate . So I just use outside rack.

I have a 750 watt M2S it is about the same as the RAD and the Quiet Cat but like the RAD much cheaper than the Cat. It also comes with the fenders and lights and rack. It is street legal but because it is 750 watts no license required. Always check your state regs. I have had the same experience with deer. They don't seem to be bothered by it. It is super quiet and plenty powerful. I was concerned about going up hills but the pedal assist makes it a breeze and it isn't difficult at all. I love mine. Battery life is superb.

I’ve been looking at the Rad bikes for awhile . Might pull the trigger this spring. Does anyone have experience with them in rocky terrain ?

Yes you must realize the Rad power bike first and foremost is a high quality fat tire mountain bike with the added bonus of electric motor drive built in. Top of the line components. Brushless moto,r shimano gears, 7 speeds front rear disc brakes. Headlight is very bright and built in component that has a on /off switch. SAME components that quiet Kat uses.
Describe rocky LOL. If you could ride a MT bike over it this bike will go.

Absolutely not true about the Rad power bikes. They are hub driven while the Quiet Kat has center motor drive which is much more reliable, powerful and of course costly. Huge difference. Also, the Rad bikes are basically a fat tire bike with a battery and motor added while the Quiet Kat is built to be a hunting bike. If you compare the two, you will see there is a LOT of difference in durability, quality and frame, etc. That's why the quiet Kat is much more costly, they are built to take the beating that hunters will give them, not just a bike with add-ons. [i][/i]

Man, I can see myself getting dumped off a horse in the near future when someone comes around a corner of a horse trail on one of these things. Nothing against the bikes but if you are using them around horse riders please be cautious around the corners.

How many days can you go before having to charge up the batterys.

Mine will go about 20 miles if you just use the battery. A lot farther if you use pedal assist depending on what setting you have it on.

Can you put Baloons on the front forks/ spokes and make it sound like a motorcycle ?...Like we did when we were kids.....

I can sure understand that. If that's the case it's pretty easy to train the horse and doing so will make a better horse.

I think i'll stick to the honda 4 trax-go all day long on a cup of gas.

I'm hopeful that it will be a game changer for sneaking out to good spots to call coyotes from.

Man I love a good debate. You sir are the one that is wrong. Look at the queit kat "750 watt models that are legal everywhere. I think it is the ranger? EXACT SAME BRAND MOTOR GEARS BRAKES EVEN THE SAME TIRES !!!!!! Then look at the components list !!!!! Both use BAFANG motors Just chat with queit kat they will tell you .
I have never ridden one but if the motor is center hub wouldn't you have to be peddling ALL the time you are using the power mode? The motor on a center drive is connected to the sprocket that pulls the chain. Where as the hub pulls and the shimano gears turn ...
OK just chatted with quiet kat On the center drive models you have to pick on the controls whether you want throttle only or peddle assits . The rad you just twist the throttle like a motor cycle if you peddle it switches auto as the magnets read that the front sprocket is moving....


https://www.quietkat.com/product/ranger/

I have hunted all week this week 5 days and rode it all over . Just put it on charge tonight still had have battery life

Antigov, I guess I have to eat my words about where I can travel with these bikes in our state. I looked up the regs and electric assisted bicycles are also forbidden in all the Cooperative Travel Management Areas designated closed to motor vehicles by Oregon. Dang! Oh well, still plenty of places they can go on BLM land in eastern Oregon.

I had never heard of an E bike before this thread. They look very useful. I would like to have one, but need other things more badly.

After watching Bernie cruise along, it looks like it would be a very good idea to wear an orange vest on public ground or other areas where you are likely to encounter other hunters. The smooth, rapid motion and lack of noise does not appear human like and I suspect many hunters would cover with you a firearm, while trying to figure out what game animal you are, if you're wearing camouflage.

Keith

Yeah, I might opt not to wear my coyote cap while on one! LOL

Definitely wear some orange. This is what coonman 220 needs.

We used playing cards.

Just heard why quiet kat won't put the specs on their website anymore. People like me are looking at the components and comparing to other companies and seeing the price difference.
With that said the center hub may stand up to standing water or crossing a creek better but in order to get the one that is allowed on public /government land you must go with 750 watt model. That is the rear hub BAFANG brushless motor. EXACT same model number on the RAD power bike that is on the quiet cat 750 watt models.

Tagged another crop damage doe thanks to my Rad power bike. This doe was in corn field about 600 yards away. Got on my bike and rode across the field parallel to her. She raised her head and watched me . After I got to the same side of the field as her went into "shrub" mode and slipped to with in 60 yards of her . One 87 grains 6mm bullet to the neck and she was DRT !!!!

Hey peeler . Read this . The way I interrept it the BLM in Oregon is allowing until the get a ruling on how to classify them. The 750 watt are called power assist NOT motorized !!!!!

this may make it even more confusing lol.

https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/e-bikes

Well dang , I was getting interested

Maybe camp at the head of a closed road so no one bothers to use it . Then just ............

X2

There is a ton of public land I can access on this bike; but the bummer is Oregon has a thing called the "Cooperative Travel Management Areas" where they control pubic access. In that their wording is that electric assisted bicycles are considered the same as motorized vehicles. Not very unambiguous unfortunately. Like Antigov sez, that closes the eBikes to thousands of miles of roadway that gets you into prime wildlife habitat.

[quote=j

Man I love a good debate. You sir are the one that is wrong.
[/quote]

So you like a debate. I do not care for a debate but I will literally paint you a picture of a Fat Kat bike and Rad Power bike so you can see the difference between the mid drive and the hub drive. As you can see, the Ranger is another bike made by Quiet Kat to be a low cost alternative to the Fat Kat, but it is not a Fat Kat. That's all I have to say on this topic.

That is not the RANGER I see pictured on their website. THIS IS !!! Same hub motor. Same tires. Same gear manufacter. Same braking system. Oh but one MAJOR difference NOT THE SAME PRICE !!! $1299 for RAD vs $2699 for quiet cat. Compare apples to apples. Don't know what model that is you posted pic of but not the ranger .......

Look at Quiet kats web page . NO specs on any of their bikes. No component list . I researched it last year when they listed everything. I contacted them and ask why the specs weren't listed anymore and they said we don't supply the component manufacters unless requested.
I don't know how to draw an arrow to point out the obvious REAR HUB motor on the Quiet kat RANGER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Even with Ky math I can wear out two Rad power bikes for what I pay for one of the LOW END quiet kat rangers IT"S THE SAME BIKE !!! DO SOME RESEARCH . Same battery ,bafang motor, shimano gearing kenda tires. BUT With out the hunting sponsorships ..... Step up to the center hub drive , (the one you say is best ) and I can get 3 and up to 5 of the rad bikes for the same cost . WHEW that is a lot of riding to wear out 5 rad bikes.....

Oh I almost forgot IF you step up to the 1000 watt center hub QK I can't take it into the Daniel Boone National forest, Ft knox army base , Or anywhere in Ky that doesn't allow ATV 's MMMMM I'll go with my half priced Rad !!!

I did a search on the Computer generated pic you posted of the QM 750 on QK web page . This is my results.


So where did you get that photo ? What model is that . Is that an older model they no longer make....???

https://www.news-herald.com/lifesty...ec0bfd4-57aa-11e9-a000-4be99a451c6b.html

Skippy just found this about OH and e-bikes. I think you can ride them on public land unless you are on a trail or path designated foot traffic only. Lots of hunting land can be ridden on that doesn't have any trails. Roads thru public land are fine according to this article. Then just take off thru the field..... unless you are on a Queit Kat 1000watt model then you need a helmet and some license LOL.

It’s been a while since this thread has been up.

I am considering purchasing an E Bike and if anyone has any additions or subtractions about their E Bike purchase?

I have been looking at the Quiet Kat and the Rad.

I'm not paying almost $3000 for an electric bike to run the woods.

I have had my Rad Rover for a couple of years now. Right at this moment it is in the shop with an electrical issue. The greenhouse where I was storing it this winter had the top blown off in a windstorm and the bike got drenched for several days worth of heavy rain while I was out of town. Not sure what the issue is yet but they're looking into it.

I will say that in the desert cold I didn't get many miles out of a charge. Under 10. Not sure if my batteries are not up to par because of how I originally charged them or what. One of the Rad guys told me to always make sure you plug in the charger to the battery first then into the power source second. Something I didn't always do. I also often forgot I was charging a battery and left it in the charger for over 24 hours. Even though it supposedly has a fail safe system and quits charging, I am told that it effects the battery in a negative way.

But all in all I have been very happy with my bike. I run all over the farm with it. Even over plowed fields from time to time!

I have the Rad Rover 5. I am told they have a more powerful version now in the Rad 6 I only paid $1300 for my bike but the second battery was $550

Thanks Peeler.

The 6 is 2000.$ then almost 400$ freight to Fairbanks.

At times they have specials which include free shipping. DOn't know if that has ever included Alaska.

Not included to here. They have a hands off policy regarding shipping at least to Alaska! I think it’s the batteries that cause a problem with shipping.

Go to Seattle to pick it up and ride it back to Fairbanks!

Pealer how upand down is your country?

Osky

Thinking about one for use on ranches where the elevation may vary up to 2000’ and how many miles out of a charge would I get? When going downhill is it charging any significant amount?

Osky

Anywhere but Seattle I would consider it….LOL

Hoping to see jbyrd63 chime in.
I do not see in the specs where back EMF circuitry is used to charge while coasting. That would be nice though.
They do offer a fold up solar panel / charger. That would come in REAL handy.

Still going strong !! Just plugged it up at 2 oclock. It becomes a turkey killing machine at day light tomorrow . Unless I fish then it will be Monday .Image having to cut across a 100 acres field to get to the edge of the woods to set up on a gobbler. Slip in and out.

One thing I have always done is top off my battery after every use. I plug it up if I just ride 10 minutes or all day . I unplug it when the green light comes on or the next morning. ONLY issue I have had is a slow leak in one of the tires. Good ole tire slime and that fixed that .Just imaging a big gobbler riding in my milk crate LOL

Here it was last gun season shot both these crop tag does riding it across corn field

Here’s how I store mine out of the way and easy to get down

Osky, I ran it up over some pretty steep stuff in eastern Oregon this last winter. On the Rad Rover 5 it eats up battery pretty fast climbing. You might be down to under 6-7 miles in that terrain.

Do they charge much if you peddle or go down hill? Could an extra battery carried along be swapped out on the trail or is it too complicated?
I appreciate the info.

Osky

does anyone use them during cold weather. I checked them out around here. the guy said I would have to tape heat pads to the battery if I was staying out for hours hunting when its cold out ?? cant remember the brand but it was $ 4,000

Osky, I carry an extra battery. They are expensive but worth having if you're out hunting. Easy to stick in and replace, just takes a second or two.

Those hub drive bikes don't have as good a range as the mid drive bikes do in the hilly stuff. That hub drive really eats the battery up in those conditions. The mid drives are more expensive, it's a trade off.

^^^That's the way I understand it too.

Question for you guys that ride one, do the bikes come with camouflage spandex? all joking aside, they seem to have their niche. Never rode one, but could see where they would come in handy in places in the lower 48 that have vehicle restrictions.

I've managed to have some fun with mine.

Peeler - great fun with the new bike! Looks great for that terrain!

These bikes are very interesting. Last fall when going deer hunting was walking in the morning darkness along the edge of a field at a farm where I have had exclusive permission for 15 years. A guy nearly ran me over. No lights or sound. It really startled me.

The problem with getting one of these electric bikes is that I have been shopping for a different type of bike. It comes with a stink rack to carry coyotes.