Electric Bike Buying Guide
Table of Contents
Why do electric bikes become popular?
Electric bikes are the talk of the town for the last few years. The environmental aspect of them along with the energy-efficient aspect made their sales go up the roof across the globe. It is estimated that between 2019 and 2020, the sales of electric bikes in the United States alone grew by 145%. Also, according to the records of the Light Electric Vehicle Association, the import of electric bikes increased by around 80% in 2021. The demand and popularity enjoyed by electric bikes in recent years made the prices go further down and this affordability and the increase in infrastructure for the maintenance and recharge of these vehicles all played a vital role in further increasing the reach of electric bikes in the global market. As the number of electric bikes being sold every day increases, so do the number of subpar manufacturers globally, who offer faulty or fewer quality products to the customers.
Thus, every potential buyer of electric bikes needs to be aware of what exactly is an electric bike, what are the various types of electric bikes, and the specific features of each of the models available in the particular category. Having such information handy could benefit the buyer while purchasing an electric bike and make a better deal.
Electric bike
An electric bike or electric bicycle is a vehicle that looks just like a regular bicycle, but the only difference is that it is being propelled by electric power. It contains an electric motor that supports the propulsion. There are different types of electric bikes present in the market like the ones that do not need the user to even pedal, but rather use the electric power to move the bike further. Several other models only use electric power for propelling the bike and the user will have to pedal it forward manually. The key component of an electric bike is a rechargeable battery. The power retaining capacity of a battery differs according to the model of the bike and the speed at which the bike is being operated.
Electric bikes provide ample assistance in pedaling and thereby reduce stress and strain on the leg muscles and lower body. They enable the users to cover longer distances without being too much tired. They are even equipped with features that help in scaling hills and high areas without much effort. Another advantage of owning an electric bike is the stability in speed that it offers. As they are powered by a battery, they can continue on a stable and continuous run unless the user controls it. Thus, they are much quicker than a regular bike. Electric bikes are an excellent option to maintain fitness and health, even though the exercise is of low impact. As an electric bike does not use any fossil fuels which are having a price hike now and then, they are much more economical to use also. The maintenance, powering up, etc. do not cause much amount when compared to other bikes.
One of the major things that have to be closely monitored while purchasing an electric bike is the battery capacity. It is important to purchase a bike with a reasonable battery capacity to be able to cover reasonable distances. Another important thing to consider is the availability of charging infrastructure in the place of the buyer. If the buyer’s place does not have many facilities to charge the vehicle, it would only cause practical difficulties for the buyer. Speed of the bike, cost, power of the motor, cost of maintenance, additional features, etc. should all be considered deeply before settling on any particular product. Check out detailed electric bicycle reviews.
Fat tire electric bike
A fat tire bike is a popular subcategory of electric bikes. They are electric bikes with tires of more than 4 inches in width. The minimum tire width to be considered as a fat tire electric bike is 4 inches, but the maximum thickness is not watertight. Bikes with extremely fat tires are known as super fat tire electric bikes. The creators of fat tire electric bikes wanted to create a vehicle that can be used anywhere without having to worry about the tire being affected. They work both on hard surfaces and soft surfaces, rough surfaces, and smooth surfaces. Fat tire electric bikes have further subcategories too. The major difference between these subcategories is the width of the tire that they possess. As the fat tire electric bikes have heavy tires, their total weight is also on the heavy side.
The fat tires of these bikes are their major assets. As they cover a larger ground area, the stability of the bike increases, and thus, they can be considered one of the safest bikes to ride on. They are also extremely flexible to function on various surfaces. They can handle both rough and smooth surfaces alike and can offer a comfortable ride for the user. Another advantage of a fat tire electric bike is its ability to withstand high pressure. It is undoubtedly the best electric bike in terms of the maximum weight that it can bear. The bulkier tires also let the user have more grip on the surface than almost all of their counterparts.
When planning to buy a fat tire electric bike, also try to decide which type of fat tire electric bike to be purchased. There are many models of fat tire electric bikes available in the market, that too with varying specifications. The buyer should consider their needs and requirements of himself before choosing any particular kind of product. Several other factors should also be considered and they are the type of motor used, the capacity of the battery, brake capacity, suspension feature, etc. Read more about fat tire electric bike reviews.
Electric mountain bikes
Electric mountain bikes are highly powerful electric bikes that come with a built-in motor that assists in the pedaling process and makes sure the bike is being moved with high efficiency. The motor only kicks in when the user starts pedaling. Once the user begins pedaling, the motor power also comes into playing and thereby moves the vehicle better. And the motor stops assisting the bike once the user stops pedaling. The electric motor is present beneath the cranks of the cycle frame. They are controllable and the feature to control the output power of the motor is equipped at the handle of the cycle. The motor runs on a rechargeable battery pack. The power retaining capacity of the battery pack is different for different models. The range up to which the electric bicycle can be driven at a single recharge is dependent on factors like the weight of the user, battery capacity, geographic terrain, size of the battery, etc.
Electric bikes are much more powerful than regular bikes. They let the user put in much less effort to move further than a regular bike. They are ideal for people who are not in a position to pedal up to a hill but can put in a reasonable amount of effort. It helps the user not get exhausted too much from pedaling up and thus, indirectly empower the user to cover long distances. The output power is controllable and adjustable and thus, the user can at any time shift back to manual pedaling. Most riders find it difficult to ride downhill due to the issues in controlling the speed, but with an electric mountain bike, riding downhill will be easier than ever. It also helps cancel all kinds of power differences and helps anyone reach up the hills and mountains and explore.
When buying an electric mountain bike, make sure that you are paying enough attention to the motor specifications of the product. The motor is the crucial part that facilitates the basic functions of a mountain bike thus, looks for the capacity and battery retaining capabilities of the motor and only settles on a well-performing motor. The weight of the bike should also be considered when buying one. Having said that it is true for the electric mountain bike to have a bit more weight than a regular mountain bike, but it should not be too much, as there will be times when the user will have to lift the bike to cross tight paths or corners and the heaviness could cause several problems then. Check out our electric mountain bike reviews.
Mountain bikes
Mountain bikes or mountain bicycles are made for off-road biking. They support the user in climbing difficult and uneven terrains with high durability. They look exactly like a regular bicycle and possess most of the same characteristics too. But they have several extra features and characteristics which make them mostly ideal for hilly and rough terrains than smooth and even terrains. They come with knobby tires, highly powerful brakes, straight and wide handles, adjustable seats, and a gearing system to enable better movement in rough terrains. The wider and knobby tires enable the rider to navigate through dirt roads, and such difficult paths, without slipping or losing track. There are numerous variations available in mountain bikes depending upon the endurance and purpose of their build. Some of the major types of mountain bikes are freeriding, cross country, single-speed, gravel cycling, etc.
Mountain bikes are highly engaging and highly powerful vehicles that pose numerous health benefits to the user. As they ride with the help of a gearing system, the ride is a bit simpler and smoother than that of a regular bike and thus, it exerts much less stress on the leg muscles and joints. As they are made to scale difficult terrains, their grip of them is extraordinary and offers maximum balance to the user, even on dirt trails. They are also one of the fastest bikes presently available in the market. They are also quite light in weight as they are supposed to be carried by the rider on occasions.
Mountain bikes are available in numerous sizes and it is important to find the right size for the buyer during the purchase. Having a mountain bike with the right frame size can only help the rider to sit and use comfortably on the bike without having to put too much strain or stress on any body parts. The wheel size of a mountain bike is also important as the options are very wide in the market. The weight capacity of the mountain bike should also be closely monitored as it matters when it comes to the actual ride. Also, try to pick a bike that offers high suspension quality. Adjustable seats are another must-have that an ideal mountain bike has to have. Check out our mountain bike reviews.
Folding electric bike
Folding electric bikes are made with easiness to store and easiness to carry around in mind. They are the latest addition to the category of electric bike and intends to please the customer community who are always on the go and needs a riding partner handy. They are just like any other electric bike but can be folded at the hinge easily. The priority of folding electric bikes is portability and thus, they are made as lightweight vehicles that can be easily folded and carried along. They carry all the necessary features of an electric bike like assisted pedaling, adjustable speed, ergonomic design, etc.
The major advantage associated with an electric bike is its high portability. They can be smoothly folded and carried along even on public transportation and inside a car trunk. The user needs not to find a dedicated parking spot or a safe place to keep the folding electric bike, but rather keep it with themselves wherever they go. They have a much slimmer design than a regular electric bike which adds to the aesthetics too.
During the purchase of a folding electric bike, several things have to be closely considered and some of them are the weight of the vehicle, the battery capacity, weight capacity of the bike, pedal assistance, smoothness in the folding mechanism, etc. Read more about folding electric bike reviews.
Conclusion
Electric bikes are a very popular category these days due to their high energy efficiency and positive environmental impact. They are being depended on by a large crowd due to the economically viable options that they get to offer their customer community. They also offer numerous models to the customers like electric mountain bikes, foldable bikes, mountain bikes, etc. which are all the best for their specific purposes. The decision to buy any one of the electric bikes should be solely based on the requirement of the buyer, rather than the popularity or best-selling nature of any particular model. The needs of the buyer should be identified first and then the most ideal electric bike that suits these needs should be picked out of the lot.
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