Choosing the E-Bike

We wanted to 'can the car'. But we live about 30 kms from our local town (Gloucester, NSW). How do we make cycling a practical alternative? We were looking for a utility ebike that would work in our real world.

We were caught between three bikes - the Gazelle Orange Innergy, Wisper 950SE & Ezee Torq. On paper they were hard to split

Tania and I made the 600 km round trip to Sydney to ride the three on the same day.

Verdict?

All three were good bikes and would probably have done the job. In terms of performance, they all had plenty of assist. But there was no question. The Gazelle was the most sophisticated, integrated and bike-like. Add to that the questions about Chinese quality control and batteries (for the Wisper and Torq), and the location of service centers... there was no doubt we both preferred the Gazelle.

So then it was just a matter of the cost differential. The Gazelle retailed for $A3950, the Wisper for $A3350 and the Torq for around $A2650. Add an extra $A800 for the extra battery for the Gazelle (to give it the same range as the Wisper) and it was much more expensive.

For me, the Gazelle's thoughtful design and quality build are well worth the extra money, as is the 2 year battery warranty and the company's reputation.

But if I'm honest, this whole 'can the car' thing is a leap of faith.

I would much rather take a leap of faith with an object of beauty. I would much rather leap with a company that has a solid track record. I'm sure the Gazelle will still be working in a couple of years. And even if it doesn't fit the bill I know I will enjoy riding it!