I’m convinced most people haven’t realized just how good ebikes have gotten.

~$1000 gets you basically a slow, mini-motorcycle.

It’s dramatically cheaper than a car, longer range than a bike, and wonderful in cities.

Considering how common bike theft is, I'm not sure I'd consider a bicycle that's half the price of a used car to be a great deal. I like ebikes and bicycles in general, but they're expensive for what you get. Perhaps if cheaper bikes appeared while still being decent then people might consider them more often?

Bike insurance is substantially cheaper than car insurance. It’s also substantially cheaper than paying for fuel.

You could get an ebike, insure it, and come out well ahead just from fuel savings.

For someone who wants a more bicycle like experience, it's better to set expectations beginning at $3k-4k.

And as far as "longer range than a bike" that's more than likely untrue. The largest batteries, best motors, and most efficient mode might make it to 100 miles on a charge, but more realistic on more common models is 30-40 miles in a middle power mode. A 40 mile limit is less than you can acomplish on a non electric bike.

By range, I meant the amount a non-athletic person might use for commuting.

Most people can easily go 20 miles on an electric bike, but have difficulty going 20 miles on a normal bike.

Also Rad power bikes are in the ~$1000 range and are great!

RadPower are all hub motors and fall into that category of more scooter / motorcycle than bicycle. With enough sensors and computer smarts they can almost emulate mid drive bike type feeling, but it never quite gives you that bicycle first, motor second feel.

For people who want a bicycle for a bicycle and are going to use it, you may want to save up for a mid drive bike.

I would be worried about leaving it unattended though. Are anti-stealing systems any good these days?

>Ebikes

I came here to post this. I hadn't ridden a bicycle in almost 30 years when I bought my eBike back in January. 2500W Luna, having a blast with it.