We sell and service Human Power Augmented a.k.a. Electric bikes and ride them enthusiastically ourselves. See also our folding bikes at Folding Bikes West.
We invite you to visit our store, phone or email us. We are one of the last Internet shopping cart-free sanctuaries.
Electric Bikes Northwest
4810 17th Ave NW
Seattle, WA 98107 - Map
ph: 206/547-4621
Email form
Summer Hours:
Monday thru Friday: 11–6
Saturday: 11–4
Q: I don't like to pedal. Is an electric bike for me?
A: No, at least not the kind we sell.
Q: I like to pedal. Is an electric bike for me?
A: Yes, in particular the ones we sell.
Q: Do our electric bikes provide a 'bicycle' or a 'moped' riding
experience?
A: Very much that of a quality bicycle—with or without the power on.
Q: Isn't it cheating to ride an electric bike?
A: Indeed it is. By pedaling concurrently with the motor it is deprived of doing all the work.
Q: Why do electric bicycles have to be pedaled at all?
A: Probably because pedaling can be viewed as healthy and enjoyable rather than as a drag and embarrassment. And if a two wheeler does not have pedals by what definition would it be a 'bicycle'?
Q: Why are electric bikes so heavy?
A: Are they? Know of any other two wheeler category with motor that
weighs less than the electric bike brands we sell? But if you insist—it
may be because those laggard manufacturers are yet come up with
weightless motors and batteries. Contact us any time if you have. For
now a motor weighs from about 7 lb and a Li-Ion Polymer battery pack
from about 3 lb…
Q: Are sales fluctuating with gas prices?
A: What do gas prices have to do with electric bike sales? Not much. Are
electric bikes not just as uniquely human power augmented, enjoyable to
ride, healthy, convenient, economical, cool, kind to the planet and
considerate of our children's future regardless of gas prices? Read more here.
Q: Can I ride an electric bike in the rain?
A: Yes but you may still get wet. That said the drive systems in the quality bikes we sell are not affected by e.g. the rain we get in Seattle.
Q: How far can an electric bike travel (i.e. range) on a full charge at slow speed, with no stop-and-go and on level ground?
A: We don't know. Would one need a bike that is electric for that type of riding?
Q: OK, but what is the average range with stop-and-go in traffic and on terrain with hills?
A: The variables are too numerous to suggest an 'average' range. However
if you would share with us what level rider you are and what a typical
prospective ride may look like we should be able to come up with a
reliable estimate. In the meantime a 'magnitude' number would be around
25 real life miles on our advanced bikes with Li-Ion Polymer batteries.
That said some of us ride farther than that, some less. If you need to
ride upward of 50 real life miles do purchase the dual battery Giant
Twist Freedom DX model or the iZip Express.
Q: Why can't batteries be charged as you pedal the bike?
A: Such a feature would be incorporated if manufacturers could be assured that electric bike riders in fact prefer to exert far more (rather than less) effort than when pedaling a regular bicycle. If you don't believe us the worldwide scientific community shall be holding its collective breath while you refute the Second Law of Thermodynamics. Regenerative braking is another matter but while elegant in concept, after adding cost and complexity, the extra range typically amounts to less than 10% and cost of charging reduced by a mere fraction of a penny. See also Regenerative Pedaling or Braking.
Q: Why can't batteries be charged in minutes rather than in hours?
A: They can, while with trade offs. One may of course ask how useful
quick charging is when most of our customers charge at home during the
night?
Q: What about the 'new technology' batteries which last thousand(s) of charge cycles rather than hundreds?
A: Which 'new technology' batteries? State of the art Li-Ion batteries
seem to be evolving upwards 1,000 test cycles. This obviously translates
into several years of real world riding for a typical rider: The NiMH
batteries in the Panasonic folder and Giant Lite have proven (since
2002) to last an average 5 years and the prospects are that our new
Li-Ion polymer batteries (now in year three) shall last as long. Surely
we are not asked to believe that 'new technology' batteries are
available which produce several times again as many test cycles and from
which one may thus infer that they'll last 10 or 20 years?!
Q: Does charging an electric bike kill salmon?
A: Who, you may well wonder, asks such a question? Well, the occasional
Environmentally Correct Person does. Most of the power supplied by
Seattle City Light comes from hydro power—and dams do cause the death of
some salmon.
But does the, say, 2% of household electricity used for charging an electric bike battery kill salmon any more than the 98% consumed for other household uses? Is the the 2% siphoned off for charging the battery and consisting of a particularly virulent, anti-marine life form of electricity?
If you are concerned about not 'killing salmon' do not switch on the light at home or at work before making sure that the power where you live or work is generated instead from clean coal, safe disposal nuclear or spill proof petroleum. Above all, do not have salmon for dinner.
Q: Is an electric bike for me? If so, which one?
A: If you care to share with us what level rider your are, what your prospective rides may look like and what your expectations may be we shall be glad to explore whether any of our current bikes shall work for you. As to the merits of makes/models not carried it is not for us to express an opinion.
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