One of the most important and fun parts of buying an electric bike is taking the most interested models out for a test ride. Just like buying a car, once you have narrowed the selection down, a test ride will help you finalize your decision.

Visiting several bicycle shops that carry the e-bike brands you are most interested in will allow you to put aside skeptics, reviews, and research. Helping you answer the most basic question, which e-bike do I love the most?

So put on your helmet and go for a ride. Check your list, then test-ride the best electric bike for you. Also, don’t forget to bring your driver’s license and a credit card along. Some shops may require you to leave your identification card with them. Or, they may want to swipe your credit card if some damage happens on your test ride..

While test riding an e-bike:

Does the bike climb hills the way you need it to

Will the e-bike fit you the way you would like it to

And finally, while riding, is the quality and functionality what you expected?

Now that you are back from your test ride, does the e-bike you like the best fit into your budget, and is there a warranty? Buying an electric bike is a significant investment, regardless of whether the e-bike is $1,500 or $10,000. Make sure the purchase comes with a warranty so you can rest assured that your investment is somewhat covered. Two-year warranties on parts, motor, and battery (with no exclusions for regular use) are reasonable to expect from most electric bike manufacturers.

Have Fun Biking

The real advantages of an electric bike includes their climbing efficiency, taking a bite out of wind resistance, and the ability to expand your range of travel. Before purchasing an e-bike, it is important to know how far you want to go and what type of terrain you will be riding it on.

For those who have experienced a medical issue or sports injury, an e-bike can breathe new life into staying active while having fun. With a little assist, you may again want to re-connect with your cycling buddies or add that #NextBikeAdventure to your list. Plus, if you are planning on commuting to work by bike, you will arrive feeling fresh.

Now that you have a reason to consider an electric bike, it’s time to choose the right one! With thousands of electric bike models on the market, there are several things to consider. The last item on our list here is to test ride the e-bike you are looking to buy. Consider visiting several bike shops to compare.

First when buying an electric bike know your style of riding

With hundreds of e-bikes on the market today, design options will vary to fit people differently and their preference of use. It’s up to you to decide what is most important. With so many to choose from, first, you should figure out where you’re going to be riding your e-bike.

Geared to accommodate different activities (cargo-hauling; relaxed cruising; trail riding; mountain biking; child transportation; road biking; fat bike riding; touring; and urban commuting), compile a list of questions. The first one, ask yourself before entering a store, what will be my preferred bicycling activity with a new electric bike?

The electric bike drive

There are two main types of e-bikes. The most common is what has come to be called the “pedal assist.” This system monitors the rider’s pedaling and automatically adds a certain amount of motor assistance – usually depending upon rate, force, and speed.

In most places, the motor’s output is regulated and limited to no more than 750 watts and the maximum speed up to 20 mph or 32 km/h. When you reach this speed, the motor automatically disengages. A few models in this category also offer the twist-n-go option. A switch on the handlebar, like a throttle on a motorbike, is used by the rider to trigger assistance from the motor.

The second drive train system is set for high-performance electric bikes that can easily achieve speeds much faster. Riders with these faster drive train systems need to have a special driver’s license, plates, and insurance. The regulations differ in every state and country, so it’s important to ask your local bike shop for details.

The e-bike motor and its location

There are two main types of motors and where they are located. The hub motor assist is located in one of the wheels and is the most common. Hub motors, which place the electric motor in the center of a bicycle wheel, are the most common. This e-bike power source tends to be quieter but often doesn’t handle hills, as well as a crank assist center mount system.

Located over the center mount in the crank and pedal area, the crank motor assist is at the bottom of the frame, transferring the motor’s power to the rear wheel via the bicycle’s chain. That means the electronic controls can include a sensor that detects how hard you’re pedaling and can measure the assistance accordingly. Typically, crank-assisted bikes have become much more common over the last couple of years and have a reputation for doing well on steep hills.

Both have several unique advantages and disadvantages, so choosing the right motor for you will largely depend on your requirements and which advantages seem more useful to your needs. Generally, it would be best if you were looking for a brand with a good reputation, such as Bosch, Brose, Panasonic, Shimano, and Yamaha.

Battery storage

One of the most expensive components of your new e-bike is the battery. Most of the price involved these days in buying a ready-to-go e-bike is the bike’s lithium-ion battery pack size. These batteries are everywhere, so it’s no surprise to find them powering e-bikes.

More expensive e-bikes have higher-tech batteries that are lighter, charge quickly, and last longer. Batteries degrade over time, holding less charge as they age. The quality of the battery makes a difference, so look for a reputable named battery manufacturer. Then make sure the warranty covers the battery for at least two years.

Conservatively lithium-ion batteries are typically said to last for 1,000 full charge cycles. That’s about three years of weekday commuting. They survive longer with careful use, so you should get at least 2,000 half-charge cycles. In practice, several years’ battery life is quite easily achievable depending on how often you charge and store the battery.

The distance an electric bike can travel

The distance an e-bike will go on one charge of the battery is called range. It’s probably the most important specification. If your commute involves a big hill, for example, you don’t want to run out of juice halfway up. Without power, an e-bike is just a heavy bike.

The range depends on the battery capacity, the speed, weight, profile of the commuting tour, the assistance level you choose, and the percentage of given pedaling power. If you’re only going to do six to ten miles of daily commuting, you don’t need a battery and motor set for a 50 to 70-mile range. However, it would be best if you bought a bike with a higher range than you necessarily need because the range will drop as the battery ages and loses capacity.

Cost is another factor

Good e-bikes are not cheap, as I mentioned above. You can pick up a basic model, but how long will you be happy with it? An average bike with a quality frame, functional brakes, suspension, and other components is expensive. Now, when buying an e-bike, you have to add the cost of the motor and battery. The battery’s cost, with a reputable warranty, can run from $500 to $1,000, so don’t be surprised by the higher price; a better bike lasts much longer.

Test ride before you make a final commitment.

Perhaps the most important (and fun) part of buying an electric bike is test riding it. Trying an electric bike allows you to put aside skeptics, reviews, and research and answer the most basic question: Do you love this bike?

If so, then ask a few other questions: Does it climb hills in the way I need it? Does the bike fit me in the way I would like it to? And, does it have the quality and functionality I would like?

Have Fun Biking

You have probably heard about electric bikes (e-bikes) and the improvements the industry has made over the past couple of years. If you are curious, ask a couple of questions before purchasing an e-bike and the fun adventures ahead.

First, ask yourself, how will I use an electric bike

Maybe commuting to work, running errands, and/or hauling cargo

Bike touring or just some recreational riding to stay active

Spending more time on off-road trails

Assist me while rehabbing after a sports injury?

Then ask

Will an e-bike make it easier for me to stay active

Make it more enjoyable, especially when dealing with hills and headwinds

Help so I can keep up with my friends who ride faster?

As electric bike technology continues to progress quickly, with lighter batteries and offer you a better range between charges, the options are endless. Today there are bikes for every conceivable application, from hauling cargo to making a climb on a mountain bike a breeze.

Geared to accommodate different kinds of activities (cargo-hauling; relaxed cruising; trail riding; mountain biking; child transportation; road biking; fat bike riding; touring; and urban commuting), they make biking fun. With so many e-bikes on the market today, you will find design options that vary to fit different people and their preferred use. It’s up to you to decide what is most important. Is it the ease of riding, the cost; maintenance; dependability; range – or the above? With so many models on the market to choose from, first, figure out where you will be riding, and then how often?

1. Selecting the right type of electric bike motor for your style if riding

Electric bike motors have technically come a long way in the last few years. Typically these motors are located in three different areas of an e-bike. The first two locations are found in either the front or rear wheel, called hub motors. In recent years the center mount motor, in the crank area has gained in popularity.

Electric bikes wheels with hub motors

The hub motor is in the center of either bicycle wheel, and for many years was the most common. This e-bike power source was known to be quieter. The biggest negative, if you are off-road, a hub motor doesn’t handle hills like a motor that’s directly connected to the crank.

E-bikes motors in the center crank area

Becoming more standard, the motor in the center crank/pedal area is at the bottom of the frame. It transfers the motor’s power to the rear wheel via the bicycle’s chain or belt. That means the electronic controls can include a sensor that detects how hard you’re pedaling. It can also measure the electric assistance needs, accordingly. Generally, a crank/drive motor will take advantage of your gears. Helping you to keep your weight distribution low and near the center of your bike, especially when climbing steep hills.

The voltage output of the electric bike motor you choose

When it comes to voltage output and power of the motor, here again, you need to assess your style of riding to figure out what is best. To meet government regulations, as a legal pedal-assist bike, the top speed is generally capped at 28 mph depending on the system. If you are riding relatively flat areas around town lower power motors may be enough when you only need a boost, from fatigue or headwinds. More power is best if you plan to tow a load or are a larger rider.

On the plus side, a higher voltage motor will allow you to extend your batteries life by drawing less current for the same amount of power, minimizing potential overheating problems. However, if you don’t need to sustain maximum power, a lower voltage system will work just fine and cost you less.

Overall, both motors have some unique advantages and disadvantages. So choosing the right power module for your e-bike will largely depend on your requirements and which advantages seem more useful to your needs. Generally, look for a brand with a good reputation, such as Bosch, Brose, Panasonic, Shimano, or Yamaha.

So first define your riding style to select the right motor for an electric bike. Then test ride several options as you narrow down your selection.

Have Fun Biking