Buying your first ebike is a lifestyle choice that can benefit your health and well-being, reduce pollution and save you money by limiting car use. But it’s also a big and potentially expensive decision. The world of pedal assistance appears like a Wild West for those approaching it for the first time, due to the enormous number of choices.
My first ebike: how to choose it? 8 rules to follow
Here are some factors to take into consideration before purchasing your first e-Bike.
1. Intended use
The first step to narrowing your search is define how you plan to use your eBike. Do you want it for exercise and/or for fun? Will you use it for practical purposes, such as commuting, shopping, or as an alternative to car travel? Do you intend to ride exclusively on asphalt or also on dirt roads and paths?
If fun and fitness are your goals, an electric mountain bike (eMTB) may be the best choice, especially if you want to tackle some serious off-roading. However, the additional cost of complex suspension systems and sophisticated components may be unnecessary if you plan to only ride on easy dirt or gravel roads. If you are a road cyclist and are looking for an extra boost to help you on the steepest climbs, putting aside your competitive spirit, then an electric road bike (eRoad) may be your ideal choice.
If you intend to stay on asphalt, perhaps with the occasional stretch of easy dirt road, the “Hybrid” eBikes, with wide tires and upright seating positions, are probably the best category to evaluate. This style of eBike comes under many names, with some overlap in the categories: ibrido, city, urban, cruiser, trekking. In any case, they are pedal-assisted bikes designed for those looking for a more comfortable ride and want to pedal further, faster, and more easily.
Bottecchia Graziella Genius.
2. Prezzo
The current price threshold is around 1,000 euros, but expect to spend at least €1,500 for a model with branded components high performance (double for an entry-level eMTB on the market). Like almost all complex products – for mechanics and electronics – you get what you pay for.
Those who live in flat areas and/or want an eBike for quiet pedaling on cycle paths can save money by choosing a model with a basic transmission (integrated into the hub of the rear or front wheel). Those who live in hilly areas should probably invest more for a more advanced and quality transmission. In fact, on the steepest climbs, a wide range of gears is needed to get to the top, even with electric assistance.
3. Size and weight
Electric bicycles definitely have a significantly higher weight than muscular equivalents, they generally weigh more than 16 kilograms. Even if lighter models are available, these will have a less powerful engine and a less capacious battery, for the simple reason that these two fundamental elements entail a weight that is usually proportional to power and autonomy. In turn, the frames must be stronger to adequately support this additional weight.
If your eBike will be stored in a garage, eliminating the need to lift it or carry it upstairs to an apartment, then weight becomes less important. Anyone who wants to transport heavy loads or their small children must necessarily think of one pedal-assisted cargo bike, more suitable for transport and which offers excellent flexibility of use, but which involves greater dimensions and weight. On the contrary, those who live in an apartment and/or intend to use the eBike for the home/work journey, therefore also taking it on public transport, can direct their attention to a folding model.
4. Central or hub motor
As anticipated, the engine has a large impact on the weight, but also on the autonomy and performance of your eBike. Choosing the right type of motor is probably the best decision you can make.
The engines fall in two broad categories: integrated in the hub or central, placed inside the frame. The former are generally found in the rear hub (also in the front one), and push the bike by directly accelerating the wheel. The central motors, on the other hand, add power to your pedaling, passed to the rear wheel through the transmission.
Hub motors are generally cheaper and are good for most users, while central motors offer higher performance for more specific uses and more demanding bikers.
Efficiency also and above all changes, with the central motor that will offer more autonomy and power than one in the hub, with the same battery size. To be clear, the rule is that hub motors are suitable for flat routes with slight climbs, while those in the bottom bracket offer greater help when pedaling uphill.
What doesn’t change, for pedal-assisted bikes as such, is the Motor support up to the speed of 25km/h and the rated power of 250W for the motor. There are also the so-called S-Pedelecs, with higher power and support up to 45 km/h, equivalent to mopeds and requiring a license plate for use on public roads open to traffic.
Husqvarna HC9.
5. Battery and autonomy
Pedal-assist bikes with a hub motor generally weigh more for the simple reason that a larger battery is needed to achieve the same range as one with a central motor. The terrain faced and the amount of support you use are factors that determine theautonomy you can get from your battery. Climbs absorb more power, as do higher levels of pedaling support. Each manufacturer publishes mileage estimates for each motor/battery package and related assistance levels. Take this data with a grain of salt, in the real world you will generally get inferior results, furthermore the power reserve will decrease over time due to the natural aging of the battery.
6. Purchase in store or online
Buy from a bike shop that allows you to take a test drive before purchasing it has undeniable advantages, even if the pandemic has complicated this natural process of choice. A physical shop also gives you a place to take your eBike when it needs repairs, because even repairing a tire on an electric bike is more difficult than on a regular bike due to the weight and complexity of the components. Plus, shopping at a local store is also good for your community.
That said, buying online can save you a lot of money. If you choose to proceed this way, make sure it is from a reputable brand that offers a guarantee of at least two years.
7. Assistance and maintenance
L’Wear of mechanical and electronic parts is inevitable, also and above all for eBikes. The latter will have faster wear of the transmission and brake pads. In the end everything breaks down and needs repairs, which means that choosing a motor/battery from well-known brands that guarantee an adequate assistance network is always better than saving during the purchase phase for a cheap product, but whose characteristics are unknown. provenance and brand. So look for bikes that use motor/battery packages from the most popular brands, and rely on certified dealers.
Armony Firenze Advance.
8. Security
Many electric bikes, especially those intended for urban use, come with locks on the rear wheel which make them more difficult, but not impossible, to steal. If you have to leave your eBike outdoors – in the condominium courtyard or outside the supermarket, for example – invest in a high-quality lock when you purchase it.
Obviously the ideal would be to be able to store your bike indoors or in a safe area during the night or when you are at your place of study/work. Even on these occasions, size and weight play a very important role.
There is another type of safety to evaluate in addition to that of the eBike, yours. In fact there is a high incidence of eBikers who fall and get injured – more or less seriously – because they are not used to pedaling and driving so fast and with such ease. This is especially true for older users or those who haven’t been on a bike in many years. Investing in a helmet and proceeding step by step, if you are inexperienced, are two options to evaluate very carefully.
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