Posted by We walked into the REI Co-Op on a Sunday afternoon and began to peruse the sea of merchandise. If you’re a fan of the outdoors and have a fair amount of expendable income, this is the kind of store that can get you into trouble quickly. The racks of backpacks greeted us, with tents, hammocks and camping gear on our left. Immediately I turned to the right, bolting for the bike department. Perhaps I would find a new bike light or a sling bag to my liking. The last thing I expected to tempt my wallet that day was another ebike. Already armed with a Lectric XPedition and a Rad Expand 5, I thought I had a full quiver of ebikes for every situation. But there was the sale staring me in the face… $849 for an REI e1.1 ebike. The small and relatively lightweight ebike frame looked kind of interesting, and the nacho-cheese yellow just spoke to me. Since the bike was hundreds of dollars off, I asked to test ride the bike, just for kicks.
I took the sharp little ride onto the adjacent Empire State Trail for about 8 minutes, where I played with the assist settings, the gears, and even rode the bike with the power turned off. It was honestly this part that sold me. Sure, when I turned off the electric assist I was still pedaling a 48-pound ebike, but there was virtually no resistance. It pedaled like a regular bike! Even when I had the assist at the very first setting, I felt smooth, responsive power from the hub that made this bike feel as though it was assisting me rather than driving me, which is a rare baseline for affordable hub motor ebikes. It felt like an extension of me rather than a separate machine.
I brought it back to REI and in an effort to appear practical, I said I liked it but I was “good.” My wife Amanda, who supports my passion for bike commuting, could see that I really loved this machine. She encouraged me to give it more thought as we walked around the store. Rare is it that a partner knows what you love and truly wants you to pursue that love, even when a steep price tag might be attached. But that’s Amanda, she’s pretty great.
With her urging, I finally broke down and purchased the bike. And honestly, I never looked back. This week, I topped 1000 miles on it, and I can honestly say it’s the best bike I have ever ridden.
With a range of up to 56 miles (my top range at the lowest setting) the bike just goes forever. The suspension takes care of me, and the smoothness of the motor is unmatched for a bike under $1,000. And at under 50 pounds, it’s far easier to lift out of the basement of our apartment storage area.
The bike has no throttle and features a very simple display. There are no options for fenders, but I have created some makeshift all-weather protection that, while not pretty, is very effective. I have asked REI staff about the possibility of obtaining an extra battery, but each inquiry has been met with a “let me check on this” response, with no follow up. It’s a shame, because this bike at this price point begs to be modded out for ultimate functionality and range. For me, the bike is both a tremendous victory and an opportunity fail for REI. One ride on this bike at this price point would sell just about anyone who has the slightest interest in bike commuting or just a weekend gallivant. The assist is so dynamic yet smooth for a rear hub motor. This combined with the light frame and great suspension makes for an unmatched ride at this price.
REI e1.1 ebike is scarcely available on the REI website, as there are but a few locations around the country that have one or two left in stock. I don’t believe they are in production anymore. I would encourage REI and other brands to explore this style and price point with increased customization options as it has been an absolute game-changer for me, my riding groove and comfort level.