WalMart has rechargable Mongoose "hybrid"

"ko57" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Well it's less expensive than the hybrid automobiles. One hybrid
battery for a Toyota or Ford could buy between 16-21 or more of these
new bikes-and that is being conservative..
They look okay, the battery/motor unit is on the bike's seat post bar.
About six or seven department managers were hanging out at the store
manager's office as this arrival caused a buzz. They all spoke at once
about the "gas prices going up" and "I'm gonna get one..." etc. in
their curiosity and perhaps surprise that WalMart is jumping on the
"Green Campaign" rather fast.

The housewares department manager put one aside the first day of
arrival. I asked the bike builder if he was going to get one, yes he
was. Then the "are you going to ride it to work?" "Yep. With the gas
prices..."

As for me, I'll stick to pedal power for now. While I'm trying to ride
the bike more for errands, I still need to get the commute started...

I looked at one tonight. Talk about junk. It's neither a decent electric
bicycle nor a decent bicycle.

*** Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com ***

Daryl,

I can't imagine that for $299 the motor (?) would last too long if
someone would consider it to commute. Perhaps for errands, but you
never know. Would you mind giving your take on why you think this bike
is junk? I thought Mongoose was a good brand-at least with the kids
for "stunts" they like to do with their regular bikes.

I wouldn't want one of those gas powered bikes on eBay either-can you
imagine the noise?

I'll take the simplicity of pedal power. I'm sure there are well made
electic bikes, but I can't see dropping the $299 not knowing about
their quality or longevity as far as the frame, battery and charging
system and motor wise and there are others at Target with models going
for more money.

ko57 said:

Daryl,

I can't imagine that for $299 the motor (?) would last too long if
someone would consider it to commute. Perhaps for errands, but you
never know. Would you mind giving your take on why you think this bike
is junk? I thought Mongoose was a good brand-at least with the kids
for "stunts" they like to do with their regular bikes.

I wouldn't want one of those gas powered bikes on eBay either-can you
imagine the noise?

I'll take the simplicity of pedal power. I'm sure there are well made
electic bikes, but I can't see dropping the $299 not knowing about
their quality or longevity as far as the frame, battery and charging
system and motor wise and there are others at Target with models going
for more money.

For $299, you are lucky to get the basic bike, let alone the E-motor &
accessories !
The equivalent in a top of the line like the eZee Sprint will set you
back $ 1,445.00
It's like the old addage says: you get what you pay for - or exactly
what you don't pay for :-)

Point taken.

A google brought this up: the Giant Suede E, it looks pretty nice, no
details on how long to charge the battery or distance given for a
battery charge. Regularly 1099 now 999~

http://brandscycle.com/itemdetails.cfm?catalogId=39&sort=Price&id=3893

Note that some imported bikes use non-standard chain pitches and thread
systems. Your only option, since the manufacturer supplies no parts, is
to buy yet another disposable $299 bicycle to rip parts off of. It's
pitiful.

Doug

That's something, Doug. If I'd ever go the motorized route I'd go
electric, and hopefully something like the Giant Suede might be the
minumum needed to spend for a quality bike. At Giant's website
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/030.000.000/030.000.500.asp?model=11428
they give what seems to be good specs on this bike, but at 56 pounds it
seems a bit heavy. Here are part of the specs listed:

Battery Pack 36 Volt NiMH, 12 pounds. Includes charger.
Motor Sanyo 36 Volt Hub motor, 240 watt
Weight 56 pounds with battery
Max Range 30 miles
Max. Speed 17 mph
Charge Time 5 hours
battery life 500 charges

For my 4.5 mile commute, the battery would provide perhaps 6 back and
forth trips. But for such a short commute, I'd rarely use it. However,
if we ever get into the European and elsewhere outrageous gas price
range-say $4, which might not be too far away... $5 or up, I'd get one.
Would be good for those days when you are exhausted from putting in
the extra hours during the holidays-wintertime, or you might have a
cold, or just feel under the weather but can still go to work. I'm not
going to let high gas prices run me broke, as I am not a medium or high
paid professional. I'm in the $20,000-23,000 yearly income range. And
that might be a whole new topic...

"Captain" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

ko57 said:

Daryl,

I can't imagine that for $299 the motor (?) would last too long if
someone would consider it to commute. Perhaps for errands, but you
never know. Would you mind giving your take on why you think this bike
is junk? I thought Mongoose was a good brand-at least with the kids
for "stunts" they like to do with their regular bikes.

I wouldn't want one of those gas powered bikes on eBay either-can you
imagine the noise?

I'll take the simplicity of pedal power. I'm sure there are well made
electic bikes, but I can't see dropping the $299 not knowing about
their quality or longevity as far as the frame, battery and charging
system and motor wise and there are others at Target with models going
for more money.

For $299, you are lucky to get the basic bike, let alone the E-motor &
accessories !
The equivalent in a top of the line like the eZee Sprint will set you
back $ 1,445.00
It's like the old addage says: you get what you pay for - or exactly
what you don't pay for :-)

I sat on one the other day. My companion said something about a Primate
having sexual relations with an oblong ball. Of course, he said it corser.

It's a 20 in bike for kids. And I don't suggest anyone at the age needing a
20 inch bike should be considered to enter traffic on any electric bicyle.

*** Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com ***

Well, I meant I'd get the Giant, with the 26" 1.75" tires, NOT the
Mongoose...I agree about kids at a young age with electric bikes,
perhaps not a good mix. At least the Giant dealer is about an hour and
a half away, closer than the Breezer dealer 4.5 hours away.