Five Factors to Consider When Buying an Electric Bike
Purchasing an electric bike is a fantastic idea for people who like to ride their bikes on a daily basis and need a bit of electrical assistance. The major advantage that electric bikes offer is that they make riding up hills much easier, thanks to an integrated motor and battery. That’s not all; they also provide greater range and even help against excessive wind resistance. If you like cycling on a daily basis, purchasing a bike is a fantastic idea. It’s a fantastic choice on all accounts for daily riders. Now that you know the benefits of buying one, let’s talk about the five major factors to consider when buying one.
1. Riding Purpose
The big question here is what are you going to ride it for? You need to determine the purpose of riding your electric bike before you make a decision. For instance, if you are a casual rider, purchasing an electric bike doesn’t make a lot of sense. This bike is not designed for use in playgrounds; it’s designed for either mountain trails or for daily commutes. They are for specific activities, so you have to define the main purpose of purchasing one. There are different electric bikes designed for different purposes, and it’s important that you know which one you want.
2. Driving Capabilities
Essentially, there are two kinds of bikes that you can choose from: bikes that offer motor assistance when pedalling, and the high-performance bikes that are able to reach speeds of up to 45 kmph. Obviously, for the latter, you are going to require insurance, a license, and of course, plates. It’s very similar to a low-powered bike in this regard.
The former, on the other hand, is the most popular choice. They are capable of reaching speeds of up to 25 kmph and usually offer some form of motor assistance while you are riding the bike.
3. Battery
Most bikes come with lithium-ion batteries that power the motors. There are more expensive variants that charge much quicker and are able to last much longer. Ideally, batteries tend to age with time, so you have to make sure that you buy a battery from a reliable manufacturer. Big names such as Sony, Panasonic, and Samsung are the ones that you need to look for. Ideally, you should know that the battery will need to be replaced after every 800 to 1,000 charge cycles.
4. Range
Then, you have to consider the range that the bike is going to travel on a full charge. Without an adequate power supply, your e-bike is just an average bike, with a bit more weight on it! The range of the bike depends on the pedalling power and the quality of the battery as well.
5. The Pricing
Finally, you have to consider the price of the bike as well. How much are you willing to pay for it? There are some bikes that cost well into the thousands, whereas there are others that are slightly less expensive.
