Yes, to ride an optibike you must actually know how to ride a bike. I have an 800Li and love it. So long as you shift your bike, like you should have learned ages ago, it has tons of power. The sound or noise as you call it, is like an RC car, I like it and it isn’t that loud. I’ve got over 800 miles on mine and I have no vibrating at all. It surely is a joke when someone posts and doesn’t check their facts.

It makes a ton of noise and motor vibrates. It is a Joke.

No Thanks!!

)

The Experience: The interelationship of electric power and conventional pedaling power is very intuitive, very easy to learn, and the machine motivates one to work out – hard. Yes – I can get somewhere without breaking a sweat if I want to. Yes – I can take backroads, bike trails legally, and footbridges that cars or motorcyles simply cannot use. But with the foundation that the electric bike establishes for me, there is a great deal of additional reward and motivation to pedal and work out hard, because the bike’s response to additional pedaling is so…rewarding. It’s no mystery *why* I have gotten more hard workouts in the past 2.5 months than the prior year combined. The experience – there’s nothing like it.

The Benefits: I’ve had more hard-core cardio workouts since owning this bike (physical possession about 2.5 months now), than I did for likely the previous 3 years combined. My upper legs are 1.5” – 2.0” thicker in diameter already (muscular gain, not fat), my heart rate is lower, I have more energy (lots), and even my chest size has increased at least 1.5” (muscular), though I’m less able to explain that one. Perhaps the opposite side of the benefit continuum is the sheer practicality. I have eliminated 99% of my automobile driving, replacing it with this OB1. And the funny thing is – for a percentage of my riding, I can get to my destination in the same or less amount of time than a car could possibly deliver.

The Opposition: The biggest disadvantage of my experience thus far pertains to the ignorant masses, and their ignorance is multi-faceted. They might say, “I could have a new car or motorcycle for that price.” To which I say, “So what, Einstein? What’s your point?” They might say, “I want exercise.” To which I say, “You have not even tried one of these beasts ever, have you, Einstein?” They will ask, “How much does it cost?” as they knock hard with their fist on my monocoque frame, to which I respond, “Where is your car, and how much did it cost? I’m going to go over and knock on your hood the same way you just pounded on my bike.” This is just for starters. I don’t mind interest or questions. Their derogatory statements rooted in nothing but personal insecurity are another story.

The Conclusion: Would I buy this again and relaunch the life change that doing so implied? Yes, and based on what the OB1 has taught me, I’d consider Optibike’s alternative models as well. Would I consider alternative makes or models of electric bike? Hmmm. With absolutely no prior experience, I would likely try out at least 1-2 other high-end models. But having logged 300 miles on an OB1 (and climbing rapidly), I don’t see how any other model of e-bicycle could deliver what this beast delivers, whether for paved riding, in which I somegtimes, and quite literally, outrun city buses, passing them on my RIGHT (with the difference being my leg power combined with the electric power in the same powertrain), or particularly for off-road riding.

The Optibike is much more than a bicycle. Go to the web site and get info for a test ride and see for yourself.