Taking the first steps to purchase an electric bike can overpower you. Compared to even a couple of years ago, there are so many models and brands for your business that it’s hard to tell what to look for and decide whether you’re getting great value for money.
In the UK, at least, unless you want to purchase an S-Pedalec, (an electric bike with a greater motor and a higher maximum assist speed but, on the other hand, is classed as a sulked by UK law), then there are no classes of the bike to stress over. All you want to ensure is that the bike you purchase is an EAPC. Also, get a 30% discount using the Zooz Bikes Discount Code while buying ultra-urban electric bikes for a better life.
That is an ‘electrically assisted pedal cycle.’ As long as it’s limited to a maximum assist of 15.5mph and the assist only engages when you pedal, you’re doing great. For further reading, the public authority website breaks it down further here.
Here, we look at some things you should consider while purchasing an electric bike to assist you with narrowing it down and getting a bike that will fit your needs flawlessly.
1) Decide what type of bike best fits your needs.
On the off chance that you’re coming into the electric bike world as someone already familiar with cycling, it may be helpful to frame electric bikes as regular bikes, however, with an assist. What we mean by this is that you don’t have to overcomplicate the various categories. An electric mountain bike is still a mountain bike – so if you’re looking for something to assist you with partaking in the bridleways or trails at the end of the week, then the category is the same as an unassisted bike.
There’s no denying an electric bike is something of an investment, in any case. Although unassisted bikes are reaching new price highs, electric bikes are still somewhat above them, so don’t make the mistake of purchasing an e-bike because you believe it’s cool or looks decent; however, at that point, have it useless for your needs.
Get one because it fits your lifestyle. For example, if you’re looking for something to ship the kids about, look for a cargo e-bike. Make sure the bike can ride where you want it to and is something you will feel comfortable on.
2) Motor location
This is where things can get a little technical; however, there are two usual places for bike manufacturers to put the motor: in the wheel center (center motor) and above the base bracket (mid-drive). Bikes like e-MTBs generally accompany mid-drive motors as they can offer a superior ride insight with other balance and a lower focus of gravity. The downside is that they are often more expensive.
An excellent center drive motor can give good ride quality and are often cheaper. They function admirably on things like collapsing electric bikes or e-road bikes. The downside to these is a less balanced ride feel as they can add quite a bit of weight to one finish of the bike.
3) Battery size and potential range
We won’t get into the technical jargon here about how battery capacities work and all that tomfoolery stuff, as you can read about those things here. Instead, we suggest you narrow down the miles you could require from a single battery charge.
If you’re purchasing a bike to drive, you want the battery to last at least until you get to the office. So, assuming you’re riding 15 miles each way, ideally, you want it to last the entire day unless you can charge the battery at the office. Therefore, you’ll have to look for something with an advertised range of at least 30 miles.
A battery’s range can be impacted by many variables, including rider weight and the weather – if it’s too warm or cold, the battery range can suffer – the type of terrain you’re riding on. If you inhabit the lower part of a mountain and your workplace is at the top, your battery will drain much faster than someone who rides a reasonably flat course to work. The range will also rely upon the assist level you use.
For most riders and the vast majority of commutes, an advanced e-bike will want to tackle at least a few days of riding. The beauty of many current drive systems is the ability to use dual batteries. You can also carry an extra one when the other one runs out.
4) Price
Naturally, the price of an e-bike will be one of your first considerations – what amount can you afford to spend? Whether it’s as a full payment or on a cycle-to-work scheme, everyone has their limits, yet as the innovation progresses, thankfully, purchasing a fair e-bike at a lower price is turning out to be more accessible. That being said, the vast majority are still quite a huge investment; however, if it will add bliss to your rides or enable you to ditch the car, you’ll find the biggest expense is the outlay, not the maintenance.
While we wouldn’t necessarily suggest purchasing the cheapest e-bike you might find, it is possible to buy something of good value beneath £2000. You risk a bike that probably won’t satisfy its purpose at a certain point.
5) Book a test ride
While direct-to-consumer brands are all the rage, and not surprisingly, with lower operating costs, they can pass on these savings to the consumer.
Notwithstanding, before making a major investment like an e-bike, we’d highly suggest test riding the model you’ve had your eye on first. Not exclusively to size yourself up on it and sort out whether or not it’s an ideal choice for you, yet additionally, to see how it works – there are a lot of electric bike specialists, such as Fully Charged, springing up around the nation. Brands often demo days, particularly e-MTBs, for you to grips with the bike before you purchase. These days allow you to ask questions and make a more informed decision on a bike, potentially saving you a ton of hassle over the long haul if a bike isn’t what you anticipated.
