denis_987

I would like some feedback from people doing touring on their ebike. I have a "Moustache Samedi 7" ebike (bosch performance with 625 battery). I load my ebike with 4 panniers (clothes, food, camping gear...)

I would usually like to go camping but also some motels. Have you had any problems with motels getting the bike into the room and charging your batteries inside the room? And what about reliability of an ebike for touring? I want to tour US and Canada.

I've done a lot of bike touring on a standard bike, but a knee injury prevents me from pedaling hard for too long (especially on hills).

Any tips are welcome.

fooferdoggie 

I doubt anyone will know its a e-bike. do you usually bring your bike in? you only need to bring the battery in of course if you can lock the bike well. since its a better quality e-bike as long as things are well maintained I can't see an issue. at least with bosch its the most widely supported e-bike out there. I have three bosch powered bikes on a tandem and they all have been very reliable. I had one motor rust out because I rode in the rain on weeks on end and the bike never dried out bosch replaced the motor out of warranty for free. our tandem the one-way bearing was having issues because the motor is in front and it gets spun when my wife peddles without me. between the three I have over 40,000 miles on them. I have. the usual bike issues cracked rims and such then issues with the motor.

2old

My wife and I have used motels on many MTB vacations. Usually we camp for two or three days, then need a motel. We've neither asked nor had a problem bringing the bikes inside. My philosophy is "It's better to ask for forgiveness than permission", but we never needed to. Good luck.

veganbikes

Like 2old said better to ask forgiveness. However probably most places that see you rode on a bike a long distance with a bunch of gear will generally be impressed. I went a mile down the road on my road bike that happened to have a bike packing seatbag for my work clothes just to get some food and the ladies there were quite impressed and I was like "woah woah I just rode a mile here from the shop and then another 7 miles home mostly downhill) Though I would ride a long distance for this place, really bomb authentic Chinese food.

If I were to ask about a motel or hotel I wouldn't mention charging just say it is a bike if you have to or if you need to leave the bike outside just bring the battery in but don't tell them as people read the news and don't quite understand. Bosch is a tough one to get on fire I am sure it could happen but I have yet to see or hear of one and my rep last time we chatted late last year has yet to see one.

Doc_Wui

Can't answer your hotel question. We stayed at a nice place last May. Rulebook said no bicycles in the condo. I put our ebikes in the enclosed porch. On a second trip, we took the folding ebikes and left them inside the car. Turned out the hotel was hosting a bike club that weekend. Bikes and ebikes everywhere. Anyway, I can't fault the hotel if liability and insurance makes them keep ebikes outside.

I have a cousin that does extensive touring on a regular bike. Cousin has ridden from New Orleans to Chicago., Wow, I can't get my head into it, but if your bike can be ridden an hour or two w/o battery, you should be fine if problems crop up. I think commercial ebike batteries are too heavy/bulky to even think of carrying a spare.

denis_987

Thanks all,

On previous trips with my hybrid I would take my bike into the room without asking; only once on an 11 weeks trip was I asked to leave it outside, which I refused saying I wouldn't leave my bike outside given its value and that I wouldn't damage his room. Finally the owner let me do it; Ii was low season and he didn't want to lose money! I was just wondering if it wasn't normal practice to refuse electric bikes in rooms.

I think I'll just keep play dumb and apologizing instead of asking! Most of the time, they are impressed to see a fully loaded bike.

MarcusT

As long as you don't cause damage or do dumb things. the forgiveness vs permission scene should work
For example, on a benefit overnight ride, it was raining all day, when the group of 50 or so riders got to the motel, they used the motel towels to wipe down their bikes. The motel banned the association after that
STUPID!