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Q: Bicycle, Electric Bike or Motorbike?
I just moved to a new city and need to get either a bicycle, e-bike or a scooter/motorbike.
What do you guys have? I will be commuting a distance that is OK for all options, but don’t know whether its worth the hassle of a motorbike re. license plates/permits?
10 years 6 weeks ago in Transport & Travel - China
If bike is OK for your commute, then I'd go for pedal power. Check the AQI for your city if you need a mask so you don't suck in too much crap. It's best for you and the planet.
Plain old bicycle is a win, I think.
* No license required
* Hard to break, easy to fix
* Very cheap
* No need to refill with fuel/electricity
* Healthy
In summer, okay, it gets sweaty, so you might have a set of clothes for your commute and a set of clothes for work.
Bicycle, hands down. Good for the heart and soul. Plus you get to see more of the city that way. Just be careful on the roads though, everyone seems to be in a hurry to get somewhere and don't look out for pedestrians, cyclists etc.
Bicycle because electric bikes are banned since August 1st in my city, and surprisingly enough the law is strictly enforced so far. Also as stated above bicycle is more healthy.
Before getting an electric bike make sure that it's not banned from your city, more and more cities are concerned.
Thanks guys!
Are e-bikes really banned now? And I guess they are going for the entire country eventually...
DrMonkey:
e-bikes banned ? No way, but you are supposed to get a registration for it now. Scooters (the 50cc moppet thing with a noisy 2-stroke engine) are *planned* to be banned in *some* cities (Shanghai for instance).
DrMonkey:
Okay, actually, ebikes seems to be banned in some areas of some cities
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EBike#China
You need all three! Joking! Try a cheap bike or ebike first. Get a slow ebike and it is probably legal, but ask someone you trust. If you like old bikes, try an 'erbache' sometime. Buy it cheap cuz they kinda like to break and they're hard to sell. I like the ones with the bigger gears, but beware, the brakes normally all but disappear when it rains, and the front brake is largely a decoration under all conditions.
A motorbike is for later, or maybe never.
Yea, get a cheap bike.
I have an e-bike with a hidden turbo boost button.... good luck finding one like mine
I will go for a normal bike to start off with, otherwise I will probably be a safety hazard anyway.
So did you guys buy yours just like in a tiny shop that has them all lined up? How much do you generally pay for just a normal bike, not too fancy.
DrMonkey:
You can in a supermarket, they have plain simple bikes at good prices. Bought mine for 800 RMB, but you can find for half this price.
* Brakes is something you want to work well.
* Depending on how flat the city is, gears can be useful or just a complete waste.
* Fixed gear bike in a flat city can be good, very low maintenance
Get a motor bike if the city allows it, Ebikes are hassle to recharge.
Go bike. Get some exercise. Plus you'll save money. Just make sure you buy a really good bike lock....or three.
