Joe's Ebike Saga 2013, second bike

Scouring the internet I found an American Company in Florida, PRODECO-TECH, that offered a whole range of e-bikes that were in effect traditional bikes with standard components that I could take to any bike shop for repairs. I decided to take a chance with their model STORM 500 through Amazon. It has a powerful 500 watt motor laced into the rear wheel and a well designed battery locked onto a cantilevered cradle over the rear wheel, from which the battery can be easily removed. It still weighs 60 pounds, just like the PEDEGO UMBRELLA and is also foldable. When I had a flat tire, I was able to call my wife to pick me up. stowing the folded bike in the trunk of her little Saturn, although the trunk lid could not be closed. It stows well enough in my mini-van. All the components, like the disc brakes and the Shimano derailleur, function amazingly well. The bike came with a comprehensive instruction book, some good basic tools. The two times I needed replacement parts, the company very promptly shipped them. For the list price of $ 1,300.00 and another 2 or 3 hundred bucks for shipping and handling as well as upkeep and improvements, this is about as good as you can expect. But for my taste it is a little too hefty and the hub motor is in effect always in fourth gear. The only time I need the motor to help me is when going uphill, so an ungeared hub motor does not use its power efficiently.