Treehugger - Latest Comments in Giant Twist Freedom DX Electric Bike, 75 Miles per Charge

Re: Giant Twist Freedom DX Electric Bike, 75 Miles per Charge

jawnn — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:30:46 -0000

Is ther any electric bike that will drive 450lbs combined weight up a 16% grade?

Re: Giant Twist Freedom DX Electric Bike, 75 Miles per Charge

dave — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:21:58 -0000

Check out the Ultramotor A2B and the Pedego. I've sold a bunch of these guys with no problems. Test ride one at my store in Huntington Beach.

www.hbscooters.com. Realistic 15-20mile range with a top speed of around 20mph. Lithium ion batteries and a good warranty on both bikes. What one post said about the WalMart bikes is true. But I guess once you realize that you bought a piece of crap they'll take it back.

Re: Giant Twist Freedom DX Electric Bike, 75 Miles per Charge

Roseanne — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:56:47 -0000

Hopefully the developers of these kinds of bikes will look to hilly and mountainous regions (like BC, Canada) in developed countries as potential markets.

What I'm looking for is a bike that I can peddle as I fly down Silver Star Mountain Rd, peddle around town, but can actually get up the road back home without athletic endurance on a lightweight racing road bike.

Right now I'm stuck with driving my bike down into town, parking and having to return to it before returning home. During good weather it would be so nice to enjoy the sun, fresh air and exersize.

Re: Giant Twist Freedom DX Electric Bike, 75 Miles per Charge

kyle kimball — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 09:03:40 -0000

i like the bickle i wish it was chipe

Re: Giant Twist Freedom DX Electric Bike, 75 Miles per Charge

Scooter — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 19:10:29 -0000

Interesting... hadn't heard of this model. Checking into it... thanks! Nice lines... very sleek.

Re: Giant Twist Freedom DX Electric Bike, 75 Miles per Charge

Anonymous — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 17:22:31 -0000

would a gps device inside an elecric bicycle work as a theft detterent?

Re: Giant Twist Freedom DX Electric Bike, 75 Miles per Charge

xrerik — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:21:38 -0000

Walmart bikes dont even come close to the Giant Electric Bike.

The old catch phrase you get what you pay for.

And, keep in mind there is an 8:00 per hour guy assembling the bike that worked at starbucks the week before.

The Giant Twist is amazing. These bikes are hard to obtain.

Re: Giant Twist Freedom DX Electric Bike, 75 Miles per Charge

chris — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 21:29:49 -0000

Ok, I'm still new to this realm of bijing, but I was wondering, are ALL elctric bikes styled after what my grandfather might have rode back in the 50's with limited gears and such?

Re: Giant Twist Freedom DX Electric Bike, 75 Miles per Charge

willbyrne — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 07:22:32 -0000

@BILL

Recumbents might well have lots of performance advantages over regular bikes and I'm sure Giant and all the rest are well aware of them, but that doesn't make them "the wave of the future" if nobody would buy them. It's hard enough getting people onto bikes, let alone recumbents. Like it or not, recumbents are viewed as niche novelties by regular cyclists as well as the drivers Giant are trying to tempt onto bikes. They just don't have the credibility to appeal to a mass market.

Re: Giant Twist Freedom DX Electric Bike, 75 Miles per Charge

Andy — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 17:22:47 -0000

I have purchased the Giant Twist DX from the Bike Center in St Louis yesterday and posted my initial impressions here

Re: Giant Twist Freedom DX Electric Bike, 75 Miles per Charge

Anonymous — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:48:25 -0000

Haha. do you really think a $500 WalMart knockoff will have anywhere near the range, power or handling?

This is for people who are serious, really need the assist of a motor and are really going to ride a lot. If you want to joyride and/or have little hills the WalMart bike would be fine.

By the way, I have an artificial knee/tibia/part femur. I can't ride a bike uphill. This allows me to ride a bike, get some exercise (which is tough) besides swimming.

Re: Giant Twist Freedom DX Electric Bike, 75 Miles per Charge

Ric Bellizzi — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 01:44:30 -0000

Electric bikes are great for people older than the 20 something posters . Someday you 20 year olds will be 60 and 70 and a electric bike is a great alternative to driving a car.

Re: Giant Twist Freedom DX Electric Bike, 75 Miles per Charge

Anonymous — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 11:47:00 -0000

I am begining to wonder about whether brand name e-bikes are vaporware as well. I am ready and willing to go purchase the Schwinn GSE or the Giant Twist Freedom but can find neither one available. I guess I'll have to build my own.

Re: Giant Twist Freedom DX Electric Bike, 75 Miles per Charge

Cathy — Thu, 29 May 2008 14:16:01 -0000

OK, so May is almost over - where can I find the bike? It is not on Giant's website, as far as I know.

Re: Giant Twist Freedom DX Electric Bike, 75 Miles per Charge

Willy K — Tue, 13 May 2008 01:34:25 -0000

Great idea! I'm checking these out toorrow!

Re: Giant Twist Freedom DX Electric Bike, 75 Miles per Charge

Angela — Sat, 10 May 2008 18:15:16 -0000

I use to be a scholarship college athlete.

Diagnosed Arthirtis at 28...

Most recently prelim test result indicate cushing diseases (causes excess weight gain and the person is unable to loose it)

I am 325+ in weight.

Diagnosed with MRI with a torn minscus in knee but they don't want to operate cause of my weight due to the recovery time it would take.

I have a recumbent bike stationary (lifecycle) that I can't use anymore becuase of my knee injury.

I want to exercise again and enjoy myself. Riding a bike normally doesn't seem to hurt my knee unless I am struggling to go up a small inclination.

I was hoping those of you who own these bikes could comment.

I was looking to get one to help me get back to exercising, so I don't kill myself doing so... And so I don't hurt my knee on difficult parts of the roads.

When Ihurt my knee I literally can barely walk and it swells to the size of a canolope.

Any comments about how these types of bikes or a particular type of bike would work for a overweight person like me?

I don't want to waste 1-3K buying a bike to find out it can't last that long.

And I am fine riding flat it is the small bumps or hilly areas I need helpl with...

Many thanks for your help :)

Angela

Re: Giant Twist Freedom DX Electric Bike, 75 Miles per Charge

Ann — Thu, 01 May 2008 01:54:53 -0000

There were some manufacturing problems related to the Schwinns--if I understand correctly, it had to do with bypassing the throttle to make them street legal in the US. But they aren't vaporware--I purchased one shortly after Trent's comment, and so far, it's exactly what I wanted. I am on my feet all day, and the ride home is uphill against a STIFF headwind. The pedal assist is awesome.

Re: Giant Twist Freedom DX Electric Bike, 75 Miles per Charge

BILL BRYTAN — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 22:24:13 -0000

I was disappointed to see a beautiful new electric bike with one of those horrid, obsolete upright wedgie frames. When are bicycle manufacturers going to realize that comfortable recumbent bicycles are the wave of the future? I own both an electric and a recumbent. I almost never ride the electric because the range is so limited and sitting on it is painful. I think nothing of riding 100 kilometers in a day on my recumbent but cannot possibly do it on the electric which only has a range of 30 kilometers. I can actually cover more distance under my own power which is ironic.

Re: Giant Twist Freedom DX Electric Bike, 75 Miles per Charge

Danny — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 03:53:07 -0000

There are guys like me who very much would like an electric bike to commute but, in my case, it might not be feasible. My commute isn't that long but part of it is up a long, steep hill. I'm NOT a bike rider and at my age and condition, I'll never get up that hill. But I don't think there's an electric bike around that will carry 200 pounds up a hill like that and, as I've said, I'm not going to dedicate the many hours needed to get in shape to do it. Straight and level? No problem. At any rate, I now use eith a 250cc scooter or a big motorcycle to commute. I guess both of those are better than a car but I'd very much like to use an electric bike. Looks like I need to wait for models with a little more power.

Re: Giant Twist Freedom DX Electric Bike, 75 Miles per Charge

STAN — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 11:13:41 -0000

Richard Campbell

Not saying that electric bike won't work, just saying that this $2000 bicycle cannot be a replacement for other traditional modes of transport because of the price. they should be priced at less than usd200 for it to really fly in developing countries...

Just watch this video and you can tell me that vietnam is an electric bike convert... http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Re: Giant Twist Freedom DX Electric Bike, 75 Miles per Charge

Trent — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 10:43:04 -0000

I'm finding it extremely difficult to find an electric bike in Los Angeles! Very frustrating. Schwinn's models seems to be vaporware, and Giant's can't be found. I hope this one actually shows up this May. What other models are available (less than $2000, preferable around $1500)???

My work commute is 15 miles one way and would love to have an electric bike because a) with a bike, I can use the bike paths and avoid crazy drivers on the streets, b) with an electric bike I wouldn't have to shower and change once I get to work.

Re: Giant Twist Freedom DX Electric Bike, 75 Miles per Charge

Ryan Cunningham — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 09:33:51 -0000

I think this is awesome! This is just the kind of thing I've been looking for! Would be perfect for the commute to work during the nice seasons! Just some light pedaling into work then work a bit harder on the way home!

Re: Giant Twist Freedom DX Electric Bike, 75 Miles per Charge

Richard Campbell — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 12:57:40 -0000

Do a bit of research Stan, electric bikes are selling very well in China. I expect they are selling quite well in other developing countries as well. People don't have to buy that pesky expensive gas.

A quick google found this article stating just that from Vietnam. People are abandoning cars and gas powered scooters for bicycles (electric and non-electric).

http://vietnamnews.vnagency...

Re: Giant Twist Freedom DX Electric Bike, 75 Miles per Charge

STAN — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 09:16:24 -0000

"Yeah, but it's still less expensive than a car. Not all developing countries are in abject poverty, and not everybody in those countries have the same income. One more option, and a green one. Nothing wrong with that."

what a joke! Many modes of transport are less expensive than a car... for example in indonesia HONDA manufactures scooters for $900 and I have seen it carry 5 people going at 40km/h. this $2000 bicycle will never beat that and will never work for a developing country!!!!! most people in the developed country can't even afford the luxury to own one!!!

but personally if i were living in a developed country with clean air and can afford it, I will most definitely get one!

Re: Giant Twist Freedom DX Electric Bike, 75 Miles per Charge

Amymou — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 01:14:35 -0000

The price is a little high. Why not try Chinese electric bikes? China is called the country of bicycles and its bikes are in good quality and comparatively lower prices. Log onto http://www.madeinchina.com/... and find the one you want!