Optibike Electric Bike Reviews and Customer Stories

The Optibike R15C is in a higher league of its own… and that is, in reality, an undeniable outstanding fact that stands tall.  It represents a new level of riding way above what I experienced before on my Riese and Muller with Bosch motor.! It truly is an incredibly unique bike… How to best describe the Optibike R15C? It would be best if I keep my opinion out of this as much as possible and stay with the known facts.  Other Brands No Match in Range and Hill Climbing It is a fact that the higher end quality e-bikes are European in origin with such brands as Stromer, Riese and Muller, Bull and Hybike to name a few. What these… Read more “Michael’s review of his Optibike R15C from New Orleans”

The bike is truly amazing and have just about gone through the current battery charge at around 35-40 miles so the 1st charge is quickly approaching. I have grown comfortable with the Rohlhoff and changing gears while backing off on the throttle. The bikes ability and torque are beyond what I ever imagined.  To have created and designed, then moved forward into production puts you at a similar level as Elon Musk. To have designed something like this after being a motocross racer is just a lifetime achievement of absolute astonishment. You are a great inventor and entrepreneur, looking forward to getting that 2nd battery and rack/bag combo. Thanks again from a very happy customer.

I have just ridden over 200 miles and the bike is great! It is hands down your absolute best bike so far. The speed,acceleration and handling are excellent. The SuperMoto tires are the best for street riding although I have done a little off road as well. Awesome bike!

Truly a remarkable riding machine. I am a seasoned pilot, supersport racer, boater and ultimate thrill seeker and at times it can be a real challenge to recreate the adrenaline rush we’ve all experienced on our first barrel roll or hair pin. The R15C is the only bike on the market that can consistently satisfy the desire for thrill and adventure. Every aspect of the R15C is developed with the highest standard of craftsmanship only obtainable by trial and error over decades of focus and determination. Bravo Jim Turner and the Optibike team, thank you.

I had an amazing trip to Colorado after my visit with you.  I picked up my bike and spent the night in Moab, UT. It was a struggle to decide which bike trail to ride, but I eventually decided to ride the Dead Horse Point trail. From Moab, I drove to Apple Valley near Zion National Park. I found a trail on the MTB Project website and checked it out. These photos are from the Gooseberry Mesa trail. This was a 12 mile ride. . . with a difficult ride rating. Needless to say, I would not have been able to enjoy any of these amazing views if it were not for my Optibike R15. In every case, I was… Read more “Review: Riding in Utah”

It’s therapeutic for me! I was actually considering moving from Los Angeles because of the traffic congestion. Once I had ridden the Optibike electric bike around for the first couple of days I was convinced to sell my car and remain in LA. I have given up my car and no longer have all that dead car time and have eliminated stress and frustration. I get three awesome benefits from the Optibike electric bicycle: 1) A workout 2) The thrill 3) Commuting I leave other electric bike and bike riders in the dust I mostly enjoy riding on my e-bike in rush hour. It gives me such an adrenaline rush! I like to go where the worst traffic is and… Read more “Review: Such an adrenaline rush!”

It was a chilly  September morning, 8:00 am in Moab, Utah at Bullrun Singletrack trailhead. Geared up, ready to go, standing over my brand new Optibike R11 e bike. Nervous. Excited. Hopeful. The unknowns: the trail, the weather, my capabilities, but most of all the bike. I had big expectations, hopes, dreams on the line. I’d been seriously into cycling my entire life.  Cycling mountain or road was my greatest passion! Yeah, even better than that other thing. It was that other thing! – Until 5 years ago when  I just sort of ran out of gas & quit riding.  Not good for my head or my heart. This left a huge gap in my  life. Last year I decided… Read more “Review: This thing has got guts”

I am of course loving my Optibike. As you called it, a monster electric bicycle, it eats these hills. I took a roller coaster type 17 mile each way route to my wife’s shop in below freezing weather a week ago and made it there and almost all the way back on only the touring battery. Considering 80% battery efficiency at that temperature and the nature of the vertical profile I was very satisfied to see it do precisely what I anticipated. My radio cable has worked well. Routing it was a nonevent. The mini iPad appears to cover the “dashboard” in this photo but from where I sit that is not the case. The mini iPad is a great… Read more “Review: Loving my Optibike”

I do mostly pleasure riding but I do run some errands with my Optibike R8 electric bike to Red Box or the grocery store, bank, etc. There are so many riding paths to name around here but let me mention my favorites: I like to ride off road in the woods in the hills north of Burbank, California, where you cross small creeks and bounce off rocks in the road and climb upwards until you reach the top of the mountain and look down on the San Fernando Valley to one side and Downtown Los Angeles on the other. I like to ride a trail near JPL in Pasadena, California because from that mountaintop, you can see the San Gabriel… Read more “Review: I like to ride off road in the woods in the hills north of Burbank, California”

I am 61 years old and there is nothing that can touch the Optibike R11. I like the range with the extended touring battery combined with the power and speed. I have completed several 100 mile trips and plan in the Spring of 2014 take a 400 mile trip from Pittsburgh to Cumberland Maryland. When you turn off the electric mountain bike it feels and rides like one of the best mountain bikes. It’s a bike! Even though the Optibike weighs 60 pounds the high quality components offset the weight. I love the speed of the R11 even at 60 pounds and 73 pounds with the external touring battery. I cover more distance in less time with the Optibike and it helps me stay strong on my… Read more “Review: I cover more distance in less time with the Optibike”

Dave & I use our Optibike electric bikes for grocery shopping in town, on RV trips to extend our range on outings while the dogs stay in the RV, and definitely fun and adventure. We live 8 miles south of Coeur d’ALene Idaho, with a fairly sizable grade between us and town. So its perfect for small grocery runs. (We have panniers.) We have biked the Moab area, Sedona area, Badlands, Boundary Waters (when not canoeing), eastern Sierras, and Yellowstone. We have a small RV, and a hitch mount rack for our two Optibikes. We have 3 dogs, who stay in the air-conditioned RV, while we go out-and-about riding. I also wake up very early and bike ahead of my husband & the dogs, who catch up with me… Read more “Review: Bikes for Groceries and Adventure”

I love my Optibike R8 electric bike. With its external touring battery, I am able to commute from Sioux Falls South, Dakota to Cameron, South Dakota which is over 31 miles one way with lots of rolling hills and not a lot of steep hill climbing. I ride for 1 ½ hours in pedal only mode and then switch to the hybrid option in a combination of eco and fast mode. It is a fantastic option for commuting long distance via motorized bike and getting in a great workout.

My wife and I have ridden our R8 All Around and Womens R8 electric bikes by Optibike almost daily in all types of conditions. In our opinion Optibike is the most innovative, convenient and exhilarating form of transportation invented in the past three decades. In urban environments within a 10 mile radius, this motorized bike will transport you door-to-door faster than any other vehicle. Light and agile, it is easy to slip through traffic, use bike lanes, short-cut across small streets, alleys, parks, open spaces, parking lots and sidewalks, then park for free directly in front of wherever you are going. Average speeds can easily be 20-25 mph without getting sweaty, which leaves you in clean, presentable condition to attend a… Read more “Review: Climbs like a Himalayan mountain goat”

I gave the suspension on my Optibike R8 Electric Bike a HAMMERING! An absolute HAMMERING! I used the full length of travel on front & rear and did my best to break it; sorry, can’t help myself, I’m a professional Test Engineer. I rode on technically tricky terrain, as well as extremely rough terrain to test the suspension. The Optibike ate it, no matter what I threw at the beast, it ate it & begged for more. In fact, I think I heard the e bike talking to me; saying, “is this all you got”! I also took the bike through trails which were too tight to be taken under power, so I rode it like a regular bike. NO PROBLEM! I… Read more “Review: The Optibike ate it, no matter what I threw at the beast”

There are only a handful of things I miss about owning a “sticks-and-bricks” home. I miss a big yard so my dogs can run freely, I miss my antique player piano, and I miss the independence of having my own vehicle. Sure, we have “The Beast”, but it’s just that – a huge, loud, beast of a pick-up truck. And I’m a sports car/luxury car kind of girl. I can drive the truck, but Wayne’s a bit possessive about it and prefers to drive me to where I need to go. From the time I was 18 years old until two years ago (and that’s a long time), I continuously owned a car. To preserve my sanity (and maybe my… Read more “Review: Rhonda adds a Pioneer Allroad to her RV”

Tony here from down under Australia. Firstly, let me give you my feedback on the recent purchase of my R8HD. I LOVE IT !!!!! You really did a great job designing and building these bikes. I used to be a Ducati and BMW motorcycle rider before getting into electric bikes and you have done a magnificent job with these bikes. I ride an electric bike every morning and have done so for the last 10 years. I have 12 other electric bikes in my shed.The problem now since getting the Optibike is I simply cannot ride any of the other bikes. I have been Spoiled! I love and appreciate the quality of the bike and its components and love the… Read more “Review: A very happy Optibike owner”

I am very happy with my Pioneer Allroad. I am in my 60’s and I am able to climb hills that I could not do otherwise without the awesome Pioneer Allroad. The pedal assist is fantastic. I recently completed a 27 mile trip including a 2000 foot climb with ease using the pedal assist.. I love the bike!

When it’s not raining I use the bike rather than the car and on Sundays our group of old guys ride the Marin County watershed, Mt. Tamalpais, Bolinas Ridge, 25 – 45 rugged miles. It’s worth mentioning I have never had a more reliable machine, it goes and goes. The best thing I can say about my bike is that the fun I have on it makes me feel like a kid, on a really good day maybe fourteen or fifteen. The other guys in the group like it too because I can keep up with them and keep the conversation going, on a regular bike I’d be looking at their backs. they are glad too to know that there… Read more “Review: I have never had a more reliable machine”

My Optibike is awesome. With the external touring battery I travel 40-60 miles a day and make it to Mt. Hood as I live in Damascus Oregon. It is a 20 mile ride into Portland for me. I climb a massive hill and breeze up there quite swiftly. I have so much fun and the Optibike is a blast. I have an attached trailer that I pick up a 50 pound bag of dog food and ride 15 miles each way to get it back home.

I’m one of the first buyers of the Optibike Pioneer Allroad, and I want to thank you for an outstanding product. All components are well-matched to achieve a perfect balance of performance at a reasonable cost. The tires, the gearing, and even the seat, grips, and pedals match the “all roads” goal: the bike works great for commuting and shopping, as well as mountain roads and trails. To test the range of the bike, I rode from Boulder up Sunshine Canyon. After 12 miles of continuous climbing (3,000 vertical feet!), I reached Gold Hill, and checked my average speed: 11 mph. There was still enough in the battery to get me over a few hills on the descent and across… Read more “Review: A perfect balance of performance at a reasonable cost”

The Optibike is a true revolution in cycling, transportation and sustainability, and has indeed transformed my life and mobility! Despite the weight of two batteries, my full suspension R11 performs gracefully and responsively on the trails and slickrock terrain in the Back of Beyond around my home in Southern Utah, riding like the wind. It has vastly enhanced the range and just plain enjoyment and delight of my rides, and gets me through rough and steep terrain that previously had me walking my non-electric mountain bike. The DPC and shifting systems allows me to choose my peddling options and level of workout on the fly, and the range extending touring battery, along with top-of-the-line components, give me confidence and peace… Read more “Review: Bob Rides R11 on Slick Rock in Moab at 63”

My weekend with an Optibike Pioneer Allroad Electric Bike I wanted to demo an electric bike and ride it to the DEVC sponsored National Electric Vehicle Week Expo on Saturday in downtown Denver. I emailed Jim Turner at Optibike and he offered me one of their Urban Series, the Pioneer Allroad. This is their value priced ebike that still incorporates his unique mid-drive motor integrated into the bottom bracket that directly drives the spindle/chain ring. I live in Denver, near Alameda and Sheridan, and planned on riding home from Optibike, around 42 miles. The advertised range is 25 miles, Jim lent me a spare battery (5.5#) and a very lightweight charger to take along for the weekend. I took off… Read more “Review: My weekend with an Optibike Pioneer Allroad Electric Bike”

Love my Optibike. I am auto dealer in Lewes Delaware and never drive my cars. only my Optibike electric bike everywhere. I’m on the beach and get around town faster than cars. The cops watch me whiz by and just shake their heads. Since its classed as a bike I can park it on the side walk and ride it down the bike trails. Can’t do that with a moped. I never sit in traffic anymore. My Optibike is so much better than a car, and I have a full dealership of cars to choose from. During hurricane Sandy no one was allowed to drive, only emergency autos. I rode my Optibike down several miles to check on my boat.… Read more “Review: Riding an Optibike in a hurricane”

Last week I was able to commute to work on my Allroad, which  I really enjoy.  The commute is just shy of 32 miles round trip from where I live in Centennial to downtown Denver where I work and is mostly  over side streets so I avoid riding in heavy traffic. My regular non-cycling commute consists of driving to the light rail station and hopping on the F Line train.  Door to door the train ride is about 75 minutes each way. Riding the Allroad takes about an hour so in addition to burning calories  I save time (and probably CO2).  I keep track of calories burned, pulse rate etc. using a fitness watch. Cycling burns about an extra 1100… Read more “Review: 32 mile commute on an Allroad”

We received this email from Ricc in Australia after riding his R11 electric bicycle for 3 years and 25,000 KM (15,500 miles). This is a testament to the amazing long term durability of the Optibike R11 as great long range electric bike. Below is what Ricc wrote: I have had the Optibike R11 for three years & I feel the time is right to relay my consumer experience so that potential buyers can make informed decisions. I have never made any purchase in my lifetime where all claims by the manufacturer may be easily & readily validated as being factually correct. Until that is, I purchased the Optibike R11. Whenever I make a consumer purchase, I always validate the claims… Read more “Review: R11 has now traveled 25,000km”

Just finished 225 miles on the Oregon Outback Trail! 4 days of gravel road and trails. The Optibike was superb. I carried about 40 lbs of gear, I weigh 182 lbs and I got nearly 40 miles of range including 1500 to 1800 ft of climbing per battery. Also the Optibike endured an all-night rain storm and clouds of dust.  

I am writing to let you know how very pleased I remain with my Optibike R8HD that I have owned for several years and how I have not had to service it, nor have I pampered it. Mileage on the bike is in the 5k range with the mileage being made up of both mountainous road and aggressive trail riding.  My most common ride is from my house where I ride about 10 miles to the trail head then do about 20 miles on the dirt then come home.  With all of this riding under difficult conditions the bike has been bullet proof.  The only maintenance has been lubrication of the chain and cables and tire replacement.  We have been avid… Read more “Review: 5,000 miles on A Bullet Proof Gold Standard Electric Bike”

I just rode the R15 100.42 miles set on level 3, with a time of 4 hours 5 minutes and 15 seconds (avg speed overall of 24.6 mph), and a 13 mph wind. Used all the external battery and was into the final bar on the internal battery. In more favorable conditions with fewer traffic controls it should be possible to ride a sub four hour 100 on the R15.

I am amazed: Pedaled 27 km at an average speed of 33 km/hour mostly at power level #3 and a top speed of 57 km/hour down hill & used power level #4 going up hill for a short distance (one way to Dentist 50 min.) – Total battery use 3/5 th’s for 59 km (36 mile) round trip.  Biked with a friend Wed. May 16th –  38 km in power level #2 one way (19 km) and power level #1 back and the 1st battery level was still showing (hard to believe). Believe it or not I am beginning to think that I will get at least 25 km x 5 battery levels = 125 km (75 miles) for one… Read more ““75 miles on one charge””

Many many thanks for your wonderful customer services, and a wonderful bike you had prepared for me.  Now, this bike becomes my physical therapy machine and a commuting transportation in the busy streets of San Francisco. Truly, the R15 upgrade is a very powerful e-bike.  I can practically say that this bike is a hybrid of motorcycle and bicycle.  The mixture of Rohloff gear, MBB, the throttle, powerful battery, and the full suspensions set up, it just eats up four consecutive hills with ease every time on my way home from work. I have rode the Bionx, Bosch, and Yamaha system e-bikes.  There is just no comparison with the Optibike what so ever. In addition, your customer services was GREAT.… Read more ““Just no comparison””

I am still very happy with my 2+ year old R15. It still seems to ride about the same as it did when it was new. It still has the same power and distance ability as always. I think I have a little over 10,000 miles on it now This bike has really exceeded what I thought was possible on a bicycle. I’m able to go places I never could have before. Thanks again for all you do.

The refurbished R15 is awesome. Really appreciate the smooth high end power.

Today I decided to ride my R15 to my business partner’s house. Overall, the ride is about 4.5 miles in length and my ride there and back was much faster on my bike than in my car. I live in the Hollywood Hills and I take Coldwater Canyon down to Ventura Blvd.  Since my ride down the hill was, well, downhill I didn’t think much about the journey. However, on my return leg I decided to power back up Coldwater Canyon. I wanted to keep up with traffic since it is a very narrow and winding road. As I reached the top of the mountain I had to stop at a traffic light to turn onto Mulholland Ave. A car… Read more ““25 miles an hour on even the steepest portion of the ride””

I just passed 400 miles on the R15 I picked up at the beginning of August. What a wonderful experience. Rode the hills and trails in Breckenridge, CO and the bike exceeded all expectations on both paved and trail rides. Upgrading from the R8HD I really did not expect much beyond improved battery life and perhaps more torque. Was I in for a surprise! The 3 mile climb from Tiger Rd to the the top of Estates included an elevation gain of 700 feet and the R15 ate the incline at level 3. At level 5 I could fly. Handling on the trails was the best I’ve ever experienced. Well balanced and stable on everything from gravel to hard pack.… Read more ““A masterpiece of engineering and functionality””

So, my bike came and I am so impressed and pleased! The R15 is amazing! It has made it easy this weekend to commute around by bike instead of car! And lets me pick fire roads (with zero cars) instead of streets! (my builder explained it all to me before I tried it and so it was easy to operate). Its so smooth and powerful and easy to use. I’m only using power settings 1-3 so far because I really want to be cautious and safe, and it’s so powerful, 3 plus my legs goes up all the hills I’ve faced so far. So THANK YOU!!! OPTIBIKE IS THE BEST!!!!