r/ebike

I have a Radcity 4 that I've been taking my gf around on, but it's risky feeling as it's only rated for 60 pounds and she's 110. Looking at a used radrunner but was hoping for suggestions

Hey guys!

So, I am looking at getting this ebike but I am not sure if it would be a good idea.

I want to be able to ride it during winter time so I chose this one because of its fat tires.

I live in Canada, in a small ish town in Ontario.

Do you guys think this would be a good ebike for our weather? I've been doing research but I think asking y'all would be the best since y'all got the experience.

Also, I am thinking of financing it.

The deal would be 32$/m and I have a secure job.

I do not know if it would be with interest or not.

I take mostly the cab because where I am, there's no buses. So, it can get pretty expensive and I know getting an ebike would be smart.

I don't have a driver's license either and cars are too expensive.

Let me know what you guys think!

A freind got into his head about a month ago for getting an ebike. He was looking at something that goes 40 mph and very much class three.

I went down the longvrabbit hole of videos on youtube....thanks asshole for getting more fucking known how about ebikes then I really ever wanted to know.

Things like trikes, cruisers, fat tires, folders, cargo, mountain....the different classes and speeds....cadence vs torque sensors, throttle, stuff added like mirrors and bells and all kinds of packs and other stuff to add to your bike.....then into videos for long rides and bike packing videos.....sigh.

It also is getting more motives for a batter job to be able to take a weekend off to be able to go for long rides....

The bike I keep coming back to is the Lectric XP4 step though frame with a carbon fiber belt for one less thing to worry about every ride.

I really like the idea of a folding bike to load and unload into my full sized van which helps.

The non step bike just does not look good in my mind...just me, the step though looks better for some reason.

So how is the bike, what have you added to yours and how is the different lights you can get for them like.

How does it ride and how long have you had it and miles you put on it so far.

I figured I’d put together a post about my experience owning the Ristretto 512 Mamba A24 since June 2025. These are relatively specialized e-bikes, and there doesn’t seem to be a ton of long-term owner feedback out there, so hopefully this helps someone considering one. Happy to answer any questions, too.

First, the good stuff: I absolutely love this bike.
I picked mine up around Father’s Day last year at a discount through eBike USA here in Denver, an authorized Ristretto distributor. What started as a fun purchase has turned into something I use for all kinds of things.

One of my favorite parts is riding with my 14-year-old son, who has his own e-bike. It’s become a great way for us to spend time together, get outside, and share an interest. That alone has made the purchase worthwhile.

Beyond that, I’ve used the 512 A24 to:
Commute from the Denver suburbs into downtown Denver.
Cruise around town, meet up with friends, and hit local breweries.

Take trips with the family, including bringing all three of our e-bikes up to Breckenridge over the Fourth of July to ride around the mountains.

It’s a seriously fun bike. The combination of its performance, styling, and versatility makes it feel like the Ferrari of e-bikes. But that comparison comes with a caveat: you need to be willing to take care of it.

Now, the not-so-good stuff — because there have been issues.

My bike arrived with tire rot. My distributor stepped up and got me replacement tires, although the process took a while.

Then, at around 900 miles, the motor failed catastrophically. It essentially came apart. Fortunately, eBike USA coordinated directly with Ristretto to obtain the necessary parts and get everything sorted out. The actual repair was performed by a technician who had specific training working on Ristretto bikes and was working at eBike USA at the time. He handled the repair himself, and I ultimately ended up with a brand-new, upgraded, next-generation motor.

I’m now sitting at approximately 1,200 miles, and the bike is running great.

Was the experience perfect? Absolutely not. The tire issue and motor failure were frustrating, and the turnaround times weren’t ideal. But the important distinction in my experience was having a local authorized distributor with the knowledge, connections, and technical expertise to actually get things resolved.

My biggest piece of advice: Buy through an authorized distributor if you can.

I would personally recommend buying through an authorized dealer rather than ordering directly from Ristretto’s website.

Why? eBike USA has an established relationship with Ristretto, and the owner even has direct contact with Christopher, Ristretto’s founder. When I had problems, I had someone local who could advocate for me, coordinate repairs, and help navigate the process.

Ristretto can sometimes be difficult to get a timely response from, based on my experience and what I’ve seen discussed. Having that additional layer of support made a real difference. Obviously, your experience may vary, but I’d seriously consider dealer support before making the purchase.

A few other thoughts for anyone considering the 512 A24:

Performance: This thing is a blast. The different riding modes give you flexibility, and the ability to switch between its lower-speed configuration and its higher-performance settings is part of the appeal. Make sure you understand the applicable class restrictions and local laws before changing settings or riding on public roads.

Maintenance: Treat it like a high-performance machine, not a disposable department-store bicycle. Keep it clean, lubricate and maintain the appropriate components, inspect it regularly, and stay on top of wear items. These bikes need attention.

Versatility: Mine has been a commuter, a weekend cruiser, a brewery-run machine, and a way to spend more time with my kid. That versatility has been a huge plus.

Reliability and support: My motor failure was significant, and I wouldn’t pretend otherwise. The positive outcome was getting it resolved and ending up with an upgraded motor, but prospective buyers should understand that service and turnaround times are worth considering.

For context, I have a motorcycle license, so I’m comfortable with motorized two-wheelers and understand that higher performance comes with responsibility. Anyone planning to use an e-bike with motorcycle-like performance on public roads should verify the vehicle’s classification, registration, equipment, and licensing requirements first. Don’t assume that changing a setting automatically makes it street legal.

My verdict after roughly 1,200 miles:

I still love this bike, and I’d recommend it to someone who understands what they’re buying: a unique, high-performance e-bike that can be incredibly fun, but that also requires maintenance, patience, and a plan for customer support if something goes wrong.

The experience hasn’t been flawless, but I’m happy with where things stand today.

If you’re considering the Ristretto 512 A24, or you already own one, drop your questions below. I’m happy to share what I’ve learned about ownership, commuting, maintenance, the motor replacement, or buying through an authorized distributor.

Curious to hear from other owners, too: How many miles are you at, and how has your bike held up?

I have a phantom X2 the folding bike but it has the 26-in tires and then it's not like an original bike frame that loops all the way around it's just like a solid bar straight across from the wheelbase to the back and then the battery would or was behind the back tire it's like 13 14 years old the battery is swollen parts fell off of it from abuse on the road so I had to move the battery in front of the seat on top of the bar in between my legs it works it's supposed to get me close to 20 mi but I only get five to six miles with pedaling with pedal assist and then I have when I get to my destination I have to charge it for like 2 or 3 hours sometimes 5 hours just so I can get back to where I need to go but I too see all these upgrades where you do the controller throttle and a new battery but I don't know what to do I accumulated a basket for when I do either fix that battery and mount it somewhere else or if I pretty much do a whole different setup my bike has no digital it's put the key in and look at the lights red orange yellow green it goes approximately 21 miles per hour with proper assist but I keep getting flats and the tire stems are super long which is also annoying like itching pretty damn good condition for 13 years old but I don't know if I should upgrade it to a new battery and that's it or battery controller digital you know and stuff like that I see them online batteries the blue box for like $75 and it states that it'll get me 20 milesnormaloblem without touching my pedals and then the other problem I have is I'm guessing I have to bring it to a bike shop because I don't or I can't get the gears to go back to normal

If you want to see the battery you can message me I have it all taped up because it fell off a couple of times and the underneath the plastic surrounding the battery broke I had the silicone it in surrounded by duct tape that's why it sits between my legs cuz sometimes it disconnects very annoying but

I'm looking at an ebike to commute to work, mainly because I cross the itchen bridge which is about a 5% incline and 800 meters over part of the sea.

So I'm looking for something that just gives me light assistance that I don't have to change my clothes and shower every morning I arrive at work. Advice on managing the salt in the air and maintenance would be appreciated. Many thanks.