Buying from a brick and mortar company here in Santa Cruz, Ca.

[santacruzpaul]

Hi All,
With All the maintenance and warranty issues with on line sales of e-bikes, Rad being one, I am thinking about buying a locally sold e-bike from a brick and mortar business. Only reason being is product support and maintenance work, Any Thoughts?
Thanks, Paul

[inoxa]

Sounds like a good idea.  BUT you may pay more for the bricks and mortar.  Also brick and mortar can just as easily go out of business as an online company can.  You might check their reputation and time they have been in business.  If they have been in business 3 years, they are probably going to make it.  5 years would be better.

[crorris]

I was a huge fan of Rad bikes, and still own two Rover 5's that I love. I also have family members/friends with another 5 Rad bikes that I recommended they purchase about two years ago. Rad has changed though, and is not the same company to deal with. I don't think their current bikes are as well engineered or built anymore. It's really disheartening to see all the problems that people are reporting, and how Rad support is almost non-existent. I stopped recommending Rad about a year ago. When the Rad Trike came out, I decided that I wanted a trike. I didn't buy the Rad though. I bought the Lectric Trike. I really like it and it was significantly less expensive than the Rad. I've been recommending the Lectric bikes to everyone instead now. It looks like Lectric has dealers throughout the country who sell their bikes and even have rentals/test rides. It looks like they also have even more dealers who are certified to repair them.


https://lectricebikes.com/pages/fleet-rental


https://lectricebikes.com/pages/repair-service-network

[Water Doc]

I think you are over reacting, If you know how to take care of a bike,  the Rad Bikes are pretty easy. If you do have a warranty issue they may be a little slow, but they will get it resolved.  They had battery issues with their new Rover but have taken care of those,   other than the battery anyone can adjust brakes, seats, shifting mechanics etc. 

[JimInPT]

It looks like Lectric has dealers throughout the country who sell their bikes and even have rentals/test rides. It looks like they also have even more dealers who are certified to repair them.


https://lectricebikes.com/pages/fleet-rental
https://lectricebikes.com/pages/repair-service-network

I used the Search function for repair locations several times and came up with nothing at all.  Then I realized it ignores a Zip Code input; you have to type in a named location.  That's unusual, but FYI

[crorris]

The link works for me both by letting it detect my location by GPS, or by entering a zip code. Very strange.

[santacruzpaul]

I think you are over reacting, If you know how to take care of a bike,  the Rad Bikes are pretty easy. If you do have a warranty issue they may be a little slow, but they will get it resolved.  They had battery issues with their new Rover but have taken care of those,   other than the battery anyone can adjust brakes, seats, shifting mechanics etc.

Thanks Water Doc, The issue is I have all the knowledge, But, I am an older guy and no longer physically able to do repairs, I found 2 shops here in Santa Cruz that would work on my Radrover 5, and they were both terrible mechanics, It was all I could do to fix what they screwed up.
Paul