Any of you use an E Bike for hunting?

meatsticks said:
Interesting topic, I’ve been looking into it a bit myself. It seems like it’s more and more popular in the states. I was considering a Rad power bikes Radrunner 1. Does anyone have input on this? 2k or so shipped to you, and they get great reviews, but I’d like to here from hunters. I don’t intend to use this for anything other than hunting if I do move on it!
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Crashman said:
I almost pulled the trigger last fall on a Rad Power, then I talked to a few people that had different gucci brands and they all said pay more get more, but in reality i only transportation to and from my hunting site, no fuss no muss. My hunting property is huge and we have great trails so an ebike would be perfect. Maybe this spring I will grab one, I have a new boat coming in the next month so I have to watch my pennies for a bit.
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bush1 said:
I was considering a Rad Power as well but am still just looking. My brother and his buddy in Hongcouver have 2 of them, one fat and the other plain . They rave about them but only ride the streets so no idea how they’d be on a bush trail. Our hunting trails here are quite rough with lots of large rocks outcroppings so I’m thinking it’s either the atv which is too noisy to be practicable or shanks mare. I would like to try one though…
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I built 26 RadPowers for customers last season. Nice spec, well built, lots of power for around town. Hub drive isn't my favorite for weight balance off road, but smooth trails and transport from A to B is fine. They do not fly well. If you want to air out some sweet jumps, get a mid-drive. ;)

Nothing wrong with the brand. Similar spec'd bikes would be the iGo from Costco. Some brands you pay WAY more for very similar build, or pay the same and get much poorer spec (drug store bikes, literally).

Of the dozen or so brands I assembled or repaired over the last couple years, bang for the buck they are right up there in component quality and build. I've seen electronic issues with all brands, including one of my high dollar personal enduro bikes with Shimano e-parts. Nothing that cannot be solved though, but a pain in the ass.

That said, I never had to warranty anything from RadPower. Had one Rambo brand come in blown up but they covered it, customer just dealt with them and brought the new parts in for assembly.
 
Backwoods said:
I built 26 RadPowers for customers last season. Nice spec, well built, lots of power for around town. Hub drive isn't my favorite for weight balance off road, but smooth trails and transport from A to B is fine. They do not fly well. If you want to air out some sweet jumps, get a mid-drive. ;)

Nothing wrong with the brand. Similar spec'd bikes would be the iGo from Costco. Some brands you pay WAY more for very similar build, or pay the same and get much poorer spec (drug store bikes, literally).

Of the dozen or so brands I assembled or repaired over the last couple years, bang for the buck they are right up there in component quality and build. I've seen electronic issues with all brands, including one of my high dollar personal enduro bikes with Shimano e-parts. Nothing that cannot be solved though, but a pain in the ass.

That said, I never had to warranty anything from RadPower. Had one Rambo brand come in blown up but they covered it, customer just dealt with them and brought the new parts in for assembly.
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Good to hear, thanks
 
Dare2174 said:
I use a cube hard tail. It was around $3500. I love it. Have seen lots of game using it. Haven’t pulled the trigger using yet. I found that it was worth the $$$ to get a lighter bike I had a volt with fat tires and it was really heavy and I don’t ride in sand or snow sow the big 4” tires were overkill and way slower. If you go with an ebike I found a good pack that held a rifle was worth it I use a vorn lynx my son uses my old volt and an eberlestock. We don’t like a lot of weight on the back of the bike.
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I canceled my order on the Ranger 5.0 after your comments mirrored my thoughts. I'm going to go with a Giant Talon E + 2. I'll get some Rhino mounts for my rifle on the handlebars and away I go!

My range just increased to 100k+ vs 60k max. So I'll be able to make it to my cabin and back from my front door!

Gonna be a fun season! Bear opens next month!!
 
ChromeArty said:
I canceled my order on the Ranger 5.0 after your comments mirrored my thoughts. I'm going to go with a Giant Talon E + 2. I'll get some Rhino mounts for my rifle on the handlebars and away I go!

My range just increased to 100k+ vs 60k max. So I'll be able to make it to my cabin and back from my front door!

Gonna be a fun season! Bear opens next month!!
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Nice bike, but a note on the range. The 2022 spec has a 500wh battery. Real world range, from riding with many other bikers on all brands on "mountain bikes" you're going to get 40km max, if that includes about 1000m of elevation gain. Pending your weight with gear of course. You'll do better on flatter ground with lower power settings of course. But typically "eco" or low power modes are just enough to negate the weight of the bike. "Trail" or mid settings are where we mostly ride unless the climbs are stupid.

I can squeak 50km of smooth gravel road with under 300m of gain out of my 504battery on my Santa Cruz Heckler, and maybe the 60 out of my 625wh battery on my Bosch drive Orbea. That's mid level power settings. If I'm out riding Elbow Loop with more elevation on 75-80% power, I need 2 batteries on the Santa Cruz and the Orbea will do it but just barely.

Just 2 cents. We added up our collective KM's last year between 12 guys and 15 bikes, 4 different drives, nearly 20,000km between us in 2021 and winter 2022 so far. Even the guys with 725wh batteries were getting 50-55km before not getting home. And we carry kids bike tow ropes to haul people out because it happens.

I have a Norco with a 900whr battery on order but it may not show up for a couple years. ;) Hoping to get 55-60km shuttling rides out of it.
 
remington jim said:
I was going too BUT the phucking Dicktator NDP gov made it Illegal here in BC in CERTAIN areas :mad: :bangHead:H:S: RJ
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Yes, how dare a bike that is powered by an electric motor be considered a motorized vehicle!...

OP, I too have been thinking about getting one. An ATV would probably be more useful where I hunt, but I can't fit one of those on a hitch carrier behind my Explorer and the prices on ATVs are crazy right now...

Rugdoc said:
Motor vehicle restriciions are in place for a good reason.

Often to keep lazy doughheads on quads from ripping up the alpine.
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Bingo. On top of that (although not the reason they exist) they make hunting more egalitarian in those areas. If you can't take a motorized vehicle it means all the people like me who cannot afford an ATV aren't instantly put at a huge disadvantage to the guys who can.
 
Backwoods said:
Nice bike, but a note on the range. The 2022 spec has a 500wh battery. Real world range, from riding with many other bikers on all brands on "mountain bikes" you're going to get 40km max, if that includes about 1000m of elevation gain. Pending your weight with gear of course. You'll do better on flatter ground with lower power settings of course. But typically "eco" or low power modes are just enough to negate the weight of the bike. "Trail" or mid settings are where we mostly ride unless the climbs are stupid.

I can squeak 50km of smooth gravel road with under 300m of gain out of my 504battery on my Santa Cruz Heckler, and maybe the 60 out of my 625wh battery on my Bosch drive Orbea. That's mid level power settings. If I'm out riding Elbow Loop with more elevation on 75-80% power, I need 2 batteries on the Santa Cruz and the Orbea will do it but just barely.

Just 2 cents. We added up our collective KM's last year between 12 guys and 15 bikes, 4 different drives, nearly 20,000km between us in 2021 and winter 2022 so far. Even the guys with 725wh batteries were getting 50-55km before not getting home. And we carry kids bike tow ropes to haul people out because it happens.

I have a Norco with a 900whr battery on order but it may not show up for a couple years. ;) Hoping to get 55-60km shuttling rides out of it.
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Dang dude, that really bursts my bubble of being able to make it to the cabin and back. The cabin is a 62km round trip.

But! Thank you so much for sharing your real world experience on here man, that helps a lot!!
 
ChromeArty said:
Dang dude, that really bursts my bubble of being able to make it to the cabin and back. The cabin is a 62km round trip.

But! Thank you so much for sharing your real world experience on here man, that helps a lot!!
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Well it's never gospel. There are so many factors such as elevation, terrain, power settings, cargo, etc. I'd venture to say you'd get out there, but if you can't charge it there it would be tough getting out unless it's downhill. They do go downhill pretty fast! ;)
 
sfp said:
Any thought on a Volt bike Mariner ? Its on my short list and actually in stock.
Thanks
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Nothing in person, but I've had good luck with the Bafang drives and the spec on that bike isn't bad for the price. Do not expect the fork to buttery smooth though, and the smaller wheels will not roll over rough terrain or obstacles as nicely as 26" or larger.

Myself, for a commuter, am looking at a RadPower with the smaller wheels for the city.
 
Backwoods said:
Well it's never gospel. There are so many factors such as elevation, terrain, power settings, cargo, etc. I'd venture to say you'd get out there, but if you can't charge it there it would be tough getting out unless it's downhill. They do go downhill pretty fast! ;)
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Yeah, the only way I could charge out there would be with a solar charger.

There is a fair amount of uphill and downhill in both directions actually. More downhill on the way out... there's only one way to find out :D

I have my motorcycle license, so it is tough to not just buy am Enduro... but it's all about the silent and deadly approach.
 
ChromeArty said:
Yeah, the only way I could charge out there would be with a solar charger.

There is a fair amount of uphill and downhill in both directions actually. More downhill on the way out... there's only one way to find out :D

I have my motorcycle license, so it is tough to not just buy am Enduro... but it's all about the silent and deadly approach.
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Best way to see would be to find a rental or demo (or 2) for a day and try it out. If you were in my neck of the woods I could hook you up with something to try out.

But even if you buy something it'll be easy to sell if it doesn't work. Or do like I do with the Santa Cruz and carry a spare battery with you. I can get 60km of climbing and jump-descending with 2 504w/hr batteries.
 
53Izzy744 said:
You can also change your crank and cassette to get lower gears to make it easier to pedal, that could help save some battery when you are going up hills and such.
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On a Surly cargo I built for myself with a Bafang drive I ran a Lekkie 34 tooth ring up front and dropped it down quite a bit, so that's the best option. And the drives are torque dependent, so you climb easier, and slower, but to maximize battery your cadence is the key. Grinding harder manually on lower power settings helps but then wears you out.

These bikes are heavy and do not climb well without assist. Just like back in 2002 trying to climb my downhill bike up hills. It's painful.
 
Backwoods said:
On a Surly cargo I built for myself with a Bafang drive I ran a Lekkie 34 tooth ring up front and dropped it down quite a bit, so that's the best option. And the drives are torque dependent, so you climb easier, and slower, but to maximize battery your cadence is the key. Grinding harder manually on lower power settings helps but then wears you out.

These bikes are heavy and do not climb well without assist. Just like back in 2002 trying to climb my downhill bike up hills. It's painful.
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I know for my setup i only have an 8 speed shifter so i switched out my crank to a 42 tooth. I know i wont have much of a max speed but at least when i choose to pedal (like when i used up the remainder of my battery) i was able to efficiently move the 66lb bike along with myself and all my gear the rest of the way to camp.

If i needed the bike for higher speeds on a smoother road type setting like a packed trail or logging road, i would look at adding a front derailleur to make use of the other rings on my crank.

All in all, i have so far been very glad i decided to make the jump into ebike hunting. Looking forward to the fall!
 
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Backwoods said:
Best way to see would be to find a rental or demo (or 2) for a day and try it out. If you were in my neck of the woods I could hook you up with something to try out.

But even if you buy something it'll be easy to sell if it doesn't work. Or do like I do with the Santa Cruz and carry a spare battery with you. I can get 60km of climbing and jump-descending with 2 504w/hr batteries.
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That's a very kind offer, you definitely seem knowledgeable on the subject.

I'm in Powell River, so there are no rental shops or anything like that. But! Just so happens the bike I want is coming in to a local bike shop. So I'm going to buy it and figure it out. I can get a second battery if need be. Also some other mods I'd like to do.
 
ChromeArty said:
That's a very kind offer, you definitely seem knowledgeable on the subject.

I'm in Powell River, so there are no rental shops or anything like that. But! Just so happens the bike I want is coming in to a local bike shop. So I'm going to buy it and figure it out. I can get a second battery if need be. Also some other mods I'd like to do.
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Good for you! God hates a coward! You will love it, and the spare battery thing should work perfectly. Get a solid rear rack and a comfortable back pack.
 
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