OptibikeReviews of optibike.com

The Optibike is a good bike. Still going strong after many years of service. It's a no brainer, but now I fully understand the battery does not last long in hilly areas. Best on the flat. So long trips going uphill ultimately rely on my legs until the battery can be recharged. The bike is relatively heavy. A second battery is very expensive. I had troubles with deflation of my tires. Slow leaks. Best I can tell, sharp edges left on the inside of the rim were the culprits. Heavy duty tubes and a file seem to have solved the problem. I didn't originally know the battery power assist is negated as soon as you start pushing hard with your legs. So if you expect a battery assist in a hard push for speed......forget about it. This old man needs all the help he can get!

Bought a used (previously returned) Optibike. It arrived at my house expertly packaged, but lacking sufficient assembly and instruction manuals to make things easy. Over time, I learned how the bike worked (Rohloff hub and proprietary motor/battery), but it never seemed “quite right” to me. Eventually, after quite a few tests and collaboration with Jim Turner (owner: Optibike), I decided to return it. I remain optimistic and enthusiastic about Optibike, yet disappointed this one didn’t work well for me.

2009 Optibike 850r. Strong and sturdy e-bike, with a powerful motor. Great for commuting due to its higher speeds, helping to keep up with urban traffic. Good solid components with its very functional and low maintenance Rohloff hub. My 10 year old bike is still working away, used almost daily for work commutes. On its second battery now, a 28ah version. When the first battery wore out, I was with out use of my bike for about a year due to very slow lead times and a fault with the new battery which burnt out my bikes control board. The second battery will need to be replaced soon, as it’s fading, it’s only about two years old. My latest e-bike, a Specialized Levo, is much a better bike for trail riding and MTB racing and about 6kgs lighter. Also the Brose motor is so much quieter than Optibike’s. Having said that, I still enjoy the occasional trail spin on my old Optibike. With so many new e-bikes from respected brands, using highly developed motor units from blue chip companies and their extensive dealer service networks, Optibike are now a very niche brand. Ideal for those who want power over trail performance and for those who live in the Colorado and surrounding states.