We’ve compiled 10 quick tips to help you make an informed choice when buying your next e-bike — whether you’re looking for a smooth ride to get around town or something more powerful for off-road adventures on the weekend.
The three electric bike classes are defined by their maximum assisted speed and whether or not they have a throttle.
The class of e-bike you choose will depend upon your needs and preferences.
If you want to go fast, then consider a Class 3 e-bike. If you want the added benefit of pedal assist and don’t mind putting in some of the hard work yourself, then a Class 1 will be your best bet.
If you’re looking for a purely recreational e-bike, or you just something that will allow you to get around town without breaking a sweat, then a Class 2 might be what you need.
E-bikes come in a variety of types, each designed for various riding styles. For those wanting an electric bike for short city commutes or urban riding, a commuter or folding e-bike is ideal.
If you’re looking for something with the ability to handle varied terrain, a fat tire or hybrid e-bike is recommended. For something that can handle heavy-duty off-roading, such as rocky trails with sharp inclines or declines, a mountain e-bike is a must.
For cyclists wanting a sportier ride, city/street e-bikes are light and fast. Alternatively, cargo e-bikes feature a heavier and thicker frame, allowing the rider to cart heavier loads as needed.
The style of electric bike you choose should reflect how you’ll be using it. For example, if you want to use your e-bike to go grocery shopping, you’ll want to get a cargo e-bike with a heavier frame and plenty of storage capacity.
Pedal assist and throttle are two different ways of controlling the amount of power you send to the e-bike’s motor. The pedal assist operates by detecting when you’re pedaling and then automatically increasing the motor’s power to help you along. The throttle works by allowing you to push a button directly on your handlebars (or simply twist them) to control the speed.
The main difference between these two types of electric bike features is that with a throttle, you can ride without pedaling at all. With a pedal assist e-bike, however, you must still pedal for the motor to kick in and help you along.
The main difference between the two types of electric bike motor is that a hub motor is located in the rear wheel, while a mid-drive system is placed inside the frame.
Hub motors are cheaper and easier to maintain, but they’re not as efficient as mid-drive systems. Mid-drive bikes are more expensive, but they also offer more torque and power than hub motor models, as well as longer range.
It’s important to consider the pros and cons of each motor when choosing the ideal model for you.
Torque-sensing and cadence-sensing are the two primary forms of pedal assist systems (PAS). Cadence sensors measure the number of times that you pedal per minute, while torque sensors measure how hard you are pushing.
While torque sensors are more expensive than cadence sensors, they use less battery and offer a more realistic riding experience that’s in sync with your movements. Cadence sensors are easier to install and therefore come at a cheaper price tag than e-bikes with torque sensing. They’re less efficient when climbing hills, however, so are better suited for casual, flat-terrain riders who don’t need the extra power that torque sensing offers.
The battery range and power of an electric bike are two of the most important factors to consider when buying. If you intend to ride your e-bike on long trips, you’ll need a model that has a long battery life.
The battery range is affected by how much weight your bike is carrying, as well as the terrain and your riding style. The more you rely on your e-bike’s motor for propulsion, the more you’ll drain the battery.
But the larger your battery capacity, the more distance you can travel between charges.
A good rule of thumb for determining how much power you need is to consider what kind of riding you plan to do. If you’re planning on taking long rides through mountainous areas, then go for a bike with more power.
On the other hand, if you’re just going to use your e-bike around town or on flat terrain, then less power will suffice.
The weight of your electric bike is an important factor in determining how much work you’ll have to do while riding it. A heavier bike will require more effort from your muscles and tendons, while a lighter one will allow you to pedal with less exertion. That said, a heavier e-bike may have a more powerful motor and battery.
E-bikes can range in weight from 18 pounds to upwards of 70 pounds, however, the most common weight for a standard electric bike (including motor and battery) is around 45-55 pounds. This can vary depending on what type of motor is used, but if you’re looking for something sturdy yet easy to maneuver, keep this number in mind when shopping around.
Service and maintenance are important for the long-term health of your electric bike. All e-bikes need regular service, but the frequency will vary by manufacturer.
Most manufacturers recommend servicing your bike every 500 to 1,000 miles, with some requiring more frequent visits depending on the type of riding you do (for example, if you commute in heavy traffic or ride off-road).
If you’re unsure whether your model requires servicing, check out its user manual or contact the manufacturer directly before taking it to an authorized dealer for a tuneup.
Electric bikes come in all shapes, sizes, and prices. While some high-end e-bikes out there cost several thousand dollars, many budget electric bikes cost less than $1,000.
Generally, the more money you spend, the better quality bike you’ll get. More expensive models tend to be lighter, have better battery life, and offer more features than the cheaper ones.
The key to finding a good electric bike is doing your research and making sure that you’re buying from a reputable manufacturer. It also comes down to what features and specifications you’re looking for in an e-bike and how much money you’re willing to spend on them.
The length of a warranty is an important consideration when buying an electric bike. Most manufacturers offer a 1-year or 2-year warranty on their products, but it’s important to note that this doesn’t always cover wear and tear or mechanical failures.
Be sure to read through the manufacturer’s instructions thoroughly before riding your new bike for the first time so you know how to operate it safely and securely. Additionally, keep track of all maintenance records as well as any parts replaced during repairs, as this will help make for easier claims down the road.
Warranties vary widely from one manufacturer to another in terms of what they cover, so be sure you understand exactly what kind of protection comes with yours before purchasing an electric bike.
When you know what to look for, buying an electric bike is a lot easier. By following our top ten tips above, you can find one that fits your needs, budget, and lifestyle with ease.
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The most of future e-bike users have never ridden one, but have only heard of it.
If you are one of them, please don't read any further, but try an e-bike first.
The first thing to think about is the budget you have set aside for buying an e-bike. We know it's a bit rude to talk about money right now, but this is really important!
If you want to invest less than 800 euros, you'd better not buy one. Around 750 euros you will buy good quality bike and you'll be happy with it. Not with an e-bike for this amount.
*Reserve 800-1500 euro for an urban e-bike, if you want to ride in the countryside and travel, count on 1000-2000 euro and if you are looking at off-road e-bikes, prepare 1500-3000 euro, if the eMTB is to be full-suspension, even a little more.
Let's think about what purpose you want your e-bike to serve. Do you think of an e-bike as your "means of transport"? Chances are, you'll fall in love with riding an e-bike, and even if you only see yourself on an e-bike on a trip through the woods now, you may want to start using it for your daily commute to work. And you haven't even considered a super-flexible folding e-bike that can ride with you in the car, or for free on public transport!
Urban e-bikes
for routes mainly around the city and for shopping
Travel e-bikes
for road and gravel road trips
Off-road electric bikes
over mountains and mines - also off asphalt
The alpha and omega of an e-bike you'll love is the right frame, so your e-bike won't be too big or small, you'll be comfortable on it and you'll feel safe on it. This is hard to glean from spreadsheets or reviews, it's always better to try it out 'live', but to give you an idea, here's how to find out what frame size is ideal for your body shape.
If you already know your size, choose from the basic categories of low-ride electric bikes without a top tube, trekking bikes with a lowered (trapeze) or classic (diamond) frame tube, or mountain MTB bikes, which usually offer only one frame version with a differently shaped top tube.
Remember, there is no such thing as a "ladies'" or "men's" frame - just one that is comfortable and easy to get on! On our website, we use the term women's frame when the main frame tube is lowered.
An e-bike will open up new horizons and distances, but will you realistically be able to sit 80 kilometres in the saddle?
Simple equation: the bigger the battery capacity = the higher the price of the bike. And, of course, with every e-bike you get a charger to take with you on trips where you're not sure of the length, so you can simply recharge your e-bike from any outlet if you need to.
At greatebike.eu, we have created a simple tool for each model of e-bike, which estimates the realistic range. You enter your weight (including clothing and luggage), choose a route profile and, if necessary, select from the battery capacity offered (some manufacturers offer several capacity options for one model).
The battery costs about 1/3 of the price of an e-bike, so sometimes choosing a smaller capacity battery can save money without making your e-bike less useful. We always give the battery capacity in Watt Hours (Wh), which is the international standard. The most common batteries on the market today are between 400Wh and 700Wh (rarely less or more). If you weigh more, choose a higher capacity battery, that's the only advice we have here. If you want to learn more about batteries, continue here.
Also pay attention to the location of the battery. The trend is to "hide" the battery as much as possible in the main frame tube of the e-bike. Here we distinguish between non-integrated batteries (installed in place of a bottle holder, for example), batteries that are semi-concealed but still visible and batteries that are fully integrated into the frame. It is then often not easy to tell at a glance whether it is an e-bike at all.
With urban e-bikes, the battery will often be placed on or in the rear rack, which means that the centre of gravity of the e-bike will be far back and with frequent handling this is NOT an ideal situation. If this is the case, choose a low-profile bike with the battery placed vertically behind the seat tube, in the bike's center of gravity.
You can choose any model of e-bike as long as you park it in the garage.
If you park in the basement and have to handle the electric wheel, it is advisable to choose a model,
that is designed for carrying (the bike will be balanced).
If you don't have a parking space, opt for the Folding Electric Bike, which can fit in any apartment - and (you can easily fold it in the trunk of your car or on the train).
Find out how easy or complicated it is to remove the battery from the e-bike, as it can be common to want to charge outside the bike (from a socket at home while the bike is left in the basement). Beware, some new e-bikes are designed so that the battery cannot be removed without special tools.
The common view - nothing but a centre drive is worth anything today - is wrong. Most of the most powerful electric bikes on the market are powered by hub motors (the motor is located in the centre of the rear wheel). A mid-motor should be a given for off-road e-bikes, where weight distribution plays an important role when traversing uneven terrain. For touring e-bikes, it is not so clear-cut. We definitely recommend that you test similar e-bikes with both types of drive and then decide according to your own feeling. The mid-motor will be about 10-15% more expensive, which comes from its more complex design.
I'm sure it is. With e-bikes, there is no point in worrying about grams of weight or choosing the most expensive systems, but you need to think about quality. While on a regular bike we will have a mileage of 500-1000 kilometres per year, on an e-bike it will be triple that. That's why it's good to choose components with higher quality and durability. We will be happy to explain the specific differences.
Don't choose a new e-bike based on the shape of the saddle or handlebars. Both of these things determine the comfort of your ride, but they are very individual. That's why, if you don't like the ones chosen by the manufacturer, we at greatebike.eu will install the saddle and grips you choose for free (you can find different types on our website). Choosing a different thickness and tyre pattern is not a problem either!
It's also a good idea to think about how much you're bringing before you choose. We can ride "light" or just with a backpack or pannier, or if you have a larger load, then we recommend choosing an e-bike equipped with a rear rack. If you want to carry a really BIG load on your e-bike, only at ekolo.cz we offer many types in the new category CARGO ELECTROBIKES.
The range of e-bikes today is huge - at greatebike.eu we offer up to 500 different models and variants of e-bikes. Your personal preference for a particular brand or your preference for a particular colour or design of e-bike also plays a role in your choice. And that is also very important!
Can you think of anything you haven't read here?
You can reach us anytime at info@greatebike.eu