What Is The Right E-Bike For You?
Your choices for a new e-bike are better than ever. Quality and reliability are improving dramatically, and prices are going down. More critical is rideability. The latest generation of bikes handles and feels like a bicycle. The specifications must be clarified, amplified by the lack of measurement standards among brands. Specs never tell the whole story. Your best bet is to test-ride the bike before you decide. The following should help you narrow down your search.
A while ago, e-bikes were heavy, unreliable, and very difficult to repair—not Anymore. Owners can expect their new e-bike to be trouble-free for five years or more of normal use.
To be sure, you can buy a cheap e-bike from the internet. However, you get what you pay for. Decent e-bikes start at $1,000. Less than that, and you can expect reliability issues (although we service all brands at any of our four shops – buying local has advantages).
Your first step in narrowing down the best e-bike for you is budget. E-bikes fall into four categories: Budget (under $1k), Popular ($1k to $2.5k), Common ($2.5k to $5k), and Enthusiast (over $5k). Step Two is to pick your style of Bike Type.
A Note On Hub Motors
Hub drive motors dominate the $500 to $2,500 e-bike price range. The most notable downside of any hub drive is changing the tire. The motorized wheel is heavy and hard to remove. We recommend flat tire protection, such as Tannus Armour. And don’t forget, you must add air to the tires periodically. Alternately, hub motors are ubiquitous, inexpensive, and easy to repair.
Budget e-bikes
Be careful; when you drop below $1,000, the quality and reliability are a compromise. We carry these budget-priced bikes, which are a good choice if you expect occasional short rides. For example, small folding models are great for packing up in the RV or short day trips on local bike paths. All e-bikes in this segment are hub-driven. These budget-priced e-bikes are best suited for light-duty use on maintained roads and paths.
Typical specifications:
- Output: 250 to 350 watts
- Voltage: 24 to 36 volts
- Battery capacity: eight to ten amp-hours
- Power levels: Four to six
- Options: Throttle and pedal assist, Class 2 and Class 3
- Weight: 30 to 60 pounds
Popular E-bikes
This price segment, $1,000 to $2,500, commonly represents the most popular e-bikes. These are nearly all hub-drive, where the motor is in the wheel. These e-bikes present the most options as well. Hub-drive units almost always come with a throttle option and pedal assist. It is typical for these bikes to have limited excess capacity. That is, they do not have as much power as it might seem, and they can overheat under heavy demand. Since hub drives turn the wheel directly, the power range versus the bike’s speed is limited. Generally, hub motors have the best power transfer in the middle of their speed range, ten to fifteen miles per hour. When you need to climb, expect to downshift and pedal. Using the throttle only will be disappointing. As the bike slows, so does the power output. Furthermore, even with a torque sensor, hub drives start powerfully and tend to do all the work for you, limiting your workout routine. These bikes make great commuter bikes and are superior for everyday casual use.
Typical specifications:
- Output: 250 to 750 watts
- Voltage: 36 to 48 volts
- Battery capacity: ten to eighteen amp-hours
- Power levels: Four to six
- Options: Throttle and pedal assist, usually Class 3
- Weight: 45 to 90 pounds
Common E-bikes
Once you hit the $2,500 to $5,000 price range, you get an e-bike that looks, handles, and rides like a regular bike. Thus, the name I chose for these e-bikes. Only specialty hub-drive e-bikes, such as hunting bikes or high-output e-bikes, utilize a hub motor in this segment. The vast majority of e-bikes over $2,500 are mid-drive, where the motor drives the pedals. Mid-drive setups are the trend, with prices falling and technology improving yearly. Mid-drive bikes have many advantages, but power versus speed is the most significant. Since the motor drives the pedals, shifting gears lets the motor work more efficiently over the entire speed of the bike. Mid-drives also utilize advanced algorithms, with input variables from the bike, such as speed, pedal RPM, and effort applied (torque sensor). This makes the ride feel natural and controllable. When set on low eco mode, mid-drives complement your workout routine, automatically allowing the bike to adjust to your effort. These bikes rarely come with a throttle option, though. If you want a throttle, it is best to look at hub drive e-bikes.
Typical specifications:
- Output: 250 to 500 watts (65 to 95 Nm of torque)
- Voltage: 36 to 48 volts
- Battery capacity: 12 to 22 amp-hours
- Power levels: Three to six
- Options: no throttle, Class One for trails, Class Three for road
- Weight: 38 to 60 pounds
Enthusiast E-bikes
In order to have a full appreciation of an e-bike over $5,000, you probably would need to have a higher skill level and want the best performance available. Refinements may be subtle, with performance gains coming at a high cost. Some of the bikes in this bracket exceed $15,000. That’s a lot of bicycle. The features that stand out are best-in-class components, especially the fork and shock, lightweight carbon frames, carbon wheels, advanced suspension design, extended range, and the highest quality motors. Additionally, 95% of these bikes are mid-drive.
Typical specifications:
- Output: 250 to 500 watts (65 to 95 Nm of torque)
- Voltage: 36 to 48 volts
- Battery capacity: 12 to 22 amp-hours
- Power levels: Three to six
- Options: no throttle, Class One for trails, Class Three for road
- Weight: 32 to 45 pounds
Thanks for reading. Your next step is to pick the style of bike you want: Read More. Visit the shop for more information, see our e-bike inventory in person, take a test ride, or rent one of our e-bikes. See you soon.
Copyright Randy Archer 2024
