8 Things To Consider When Choosing The Right Electric Bike (2024)

E-bikes are becoming more and more popular. An eco-mobility revolution is underway,everyonewantsto be part of it. And there is no reason to not make good use of the cycle paths flourishingin our cities.Unlike normal bicycles,electrically assisted bicycles free people from tiring pedaling, youwill no longer have any difficulties in getting to your destination. All this without emitting a single gram of CO2.

In this guide, we provide 8 essential criteria to take into account when buying your electric bike. And help you answer the question: How to choose your electric bike?

Contents

The purpose of theelectric bike

E-bike batteries

The engine power of electric bikes

E-bike motor positions

Driving postures

Gearshift and variable speed

1.The purpose of theelectric bike.

Whether it is to get around town, commutingor outdoor hunting, you will always findthethe electric biketofulfillyour needs. But in one case or another the technical characteristics of electric bikes may vary and should therefore influence your choice.

E-bikes for City Commuting

If you need an electric bike to take you from point A to point B every day, such as commuting, it’s recommended to buy an electric bike with the following practical features.

• Good braking system to handle traffic jams: Double braking is smoother and safer.
• A Compact design to help you go through the alley.
• Appropriate cruise distance: The driving distance after a single charge is better to be the integer multiple of your commuting distance, otherwise you may have to pedal during rush hours.
• Lightweight: A lighter electric is more energy-saving and saves a lot of labor when pedaling.
• Removable battery: you can charge the battery in the office.
• Affordable: one of the reasons for ebike commuting is money-saving
• Appearance: a good-looking ebike will brighten your mood on a unpleasant Monday commute.
• Bright taillights: keep you safe when you are cycling in the night.
• Meet local policies: Different countries and regions have different requirements for the maximum speed and other parameters of electric assistance bicycles. It is better to understand these policies before riding on the road.

How to Choose the Best E-bike for Commuting

Folding e-bikes

Folding electric bikes are easy to store in your trunk, office, storage room, and you can bring it in elevator when it’s needed.Generally, foldable ebikesare lighter, makes them easy to fold & unfold, and carry around.

These are important factors to consider:

• Size after folding: will it fit in your trunk or other small space?
• Wheel size: you can’t fold wheels, big wheels means big folding size.
• Weight: heavy electric bikes will be difficult to fold and carry.
• Frame quality: poor quality frame will be easily damaged after repeated folding.

Best Folding Electric Bikes for Commuting 2021

Off-road E-Bikes

Off-road electric bikesincludingfat tire electric bikes (or Fatty)and all-terrain e-bikesare intended for more sporty use.They are usually equipped with larger tires to run on the most difficult surfaces (such as forest roads), and can handle almost everything you throw at them.Electric all-terrain bikes are not equipped with special accessories but it may be appropriate to have mudguards.

You may need these features

• Powerful motor: you need at least 750W motor to climb the steep terrain, the specific wattage depends on the terrain and your weight.
• Strong frame: there are steel, aluminum alloy, carbon fibre, etc. Among them, the aluminum alloy frame is adopted by many e-bikes because it well balanced in price and weight.
• Long cruise distance: The mileage you can drive after a single charge ensures that you can ride farther in the wild. It's best to predict how far you want to go when hunting for e-bikes.
• Multiple shock absorption
• Lockable shock absorption: Shock absorbers will lose part of the forward power, so the suspension front fork that can be opened and locked according to the terrain and power requirements is very practical.

Best Off-road Electric Bikes 2021

Multi-purpose E-bikes

If you want to getan electricbike that can rideonboth tarred roads and country mud roads, then it’s better to choose one withbalancedcharacteristics. Such as:

• Moderate tire size: 20-26 inch tires are more labor-saving when pedaling, and they are more friendly for people under 170cm tall.
• Appropriatemotor power: high motor wattage is more power-consuming.
• Multiple gears: you may need at least 5 gears to suit the requirements of different speed.
• Durable: Multi purpose frequent cycling has high requirements for the quality of e-bikes

Best Multipurpose Electric Bikes 2021

Engwe EP-2 Pro vs. Engwe Engine Pro Electric Bikes

2. The wheel & tire size of electric bikes

Wheels and the tires are the most obvious parts of a bicycle, so choosing the right wheel & tire size means you are halfway there.

Thin Tire vs. Fat Tire E-bike: Which is Better?

14-Inch e-bikes

It’s the smallest wheel size for electric bikes. Here are BuyBestGear’s best 14-in electric bikes 2021

16-inch e-bikes

You can typically found 16 inch tires on folding e-bikes. They are very light weighted and can be easily carried around.

Buybestgear’s best 16-inch e-bikes 2021

20-inch e-bikes

Most foldable fat tires and mountain bikes use 20 inch wheels, they are smaller and provide just enough moving rate.

The best selling 20-inch e-bikes 2021

26-inch e-bikes

Most electric bikes use 26 inch wheels, it an industry norm for electric bikes. You will find it easier to pedal when you have bigger wheels.

The most hot-selling 26-inch e-bikes 2021

27.5-inch 29-inch and bigger electric bikes

Some basic physics knowledge tells us that larger wheels are more labor-saving and more efficient. But they are heavier and higher, less friendly for people under 175cm tall.

27.5-inch and plus e-bike recommendations 2021

Fat tire electric bikes

Electric bikes with 4 inch or wider tires are called fat tires(or fatty), they provide better grip and shock absorption. Fat tires are becoming more and more popular now, not just between cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts, because they can play stably in all kinds of terrain, even when they are covered in mud, ice or snow.

Explore fat tire e-bikes

Thin tire electric bikes

Normally electric bikes with 2-inch tires are called thin tires (or skinny tires). Thin tires are lighter, more efficient and easier to handle. They are more suitable for flat city roads such as paved roads. Compare to fat tires, thin-tire e-bikes are faster and agile, but they also have disadvantages such as not being sturdy enough and easily being punctured.

Plus-size tire electric mountain bikes

Tires with width between 2.4 inches and 3.25 inches are called plus-size tires. They are lighter than fat tires and stronger than thin tire.

3.E-bike Batteries

Electric Bike Battery types

As you can imagine, the battery is the most important element of an electric bike. It is necessary to pay particular attention to the technical characteristics of the batteries before purchasing an electrically assisted bike.

For example, it’s better to understand the parameters and guarantee of battery in detail before buying an ebike, such as brand, type, lifetime, charging time, warranty time, removable or not, etc.

Choose a recognized manufacturer of electric bikes

Good batteries will only be supplied to qualified electric bicycle manufacturers. This is already a guarantee of quality on its manufacture and the reliability of the announced characteristics.

Choose e-bikes with safer battery type

Lithium-ion batteries: The best choice is Lithium-ionbattery, because thetechnology is the latest and most reliable.In addition, Lithium-ionbatteries are less heavyand not sensitive to memory effects.Which means Lithium-ion batteries will not lose their maximum energy capacity if they are repeatedly recharged after being only partially discharged. Here is a note on using Lithium-ion batteries: don’t recharge the battery after it is drained. It will affect the battery life.

Lithium Polymer battery: You can also find batteries with Lithium polymer (Li-Po) technology but they are not at all suitable for a product such as a electric bicycle.Lighter Li-Po batteries haveheat instabilitiesand haveshort lifespan.They are more often found in drones or models.

Lead-acid batteries&cadmium batteries: The technologies to be banned because they are technologically outdated.And the lead battery is heavier than the Lithium-ion and has a shorter lifespan.

Battery performance

After looking atthebattery, you need tounderstandthe performance of the battery. Basically, there are two criteria to look at to make the right choice, voltage and amperage in the hour. While there are several volt volts on the electric bike market, the most standard is 36V volts. You must then pay attention to the amperage expressed in ampere/hour (Ah) because this will condition the battery's range.

The capacity of electric bike batteries ranges from 8Ah to 15Ah.For example, with a 36V 8Ah battery count on a range of only 30 km, with a 36V 10 Ah battery a range of 50-70 km and with a 36V battery 15 Ah a range of 80 km.

It is important to know that the battery rangeannounced by the manufacturers can vary from reality because itdependson your bodyweightandthe terrain.

4.Theengine power of electric bikes

Once you've made your choice on the type of battery you want, it's time to look at the power of the engine. In fact, if the battery definesthe range of the electric bike, the motor is the factor that effectsthe speed.

In most European countries, the power of electric bikes is regulated by law so all bicycles have the same maximum power of 250W.Even if the battery is capable of delivering a higher power, manufacturers are obliged to restrain the engine at 250W (250 watts).

In fact, above 250W an electric bike is considered by law to be a moped. Also called Speedbike, this one must be registered and insured.

The second constraint of the law concerns the maximum speed of the electric bike.It is set at a maximum of 25km/h. Once this speed has reached, the electrical assistance shall be switched off automatically.

The same is true if the driver stops or stops pedaling.It is therefore not legal to use an acceleration trigger to avoid pedaling, even below 25 km/h when driving on the public road.

Most electric bikes can easilyexceed 25 km/h but in this case the e-bikecan only be usedon private roads. It is then impossible to ride with it on the public road.

The most common e-bike engine powers are as follows:

• 250W e-bikes
• 350W e-bikes
• 400W e-bikes
• 500W e-bikes
• 750W e-bikes
• 1000W e-bikes
• 1500W e-bikes

With the increase of wattage, the theoretical maximum speed of electric bicycle gradually increases, and the off-road and climbing ability will be stronger as well. But the electric bicycles will be more electricity-consuming. A large battery will make the bike heavier.

Of course, the specific parameters and actual performance of electric bikes are affected by temperature, terrain, rider’s body weight, battery and motor performance, etc.

5.E-bike motor positions

On this criterion you will find 3 engine type options depending on the motor positionon the bike.

Engine located in the front wheel

If the engine is installed in the front wheel you will have a very linear driving sensation.That is, there will be little difference in power between two pedal strokes.To put it together, it's as if someone was pushing you in the back while pedaling.

Engine located in the rear wheel

In short, there is little difference between an engine placed in the front hub or the rear wheel of the bike. Specialists agree that if the engine is in the front, the bike will be less stable and will lack grip on difficult terrain.But in town or on bitumen you won't feel any difference.

Motor located in the centre

High-end electric bikes are usually equipped with this system. The central electric motor allows a smoother acceleration that accompanies your pedal kick.If you want to install an electric bike conversion kit to give your old classic city bike or road bike electrical support, this is the last type of engine you need to turn to.

6.Electrical assistance& brake system

Electrical assistance types

There are two types of electrical assistance in the electric bike market, the main difference is becausethe sensor that drive the motor.

The rotation sensor:It is the most used in the electric bike market.The engine comes into action as you cycle and stops when you no longer cycle.It equipment most cycles because it is the simplest to maintain and the cheapest. Theonly drawback is that the power is delivered in all or nothing. To adjust this, you will have to regulate the level of assistance depending on the terrain and the wind.Once the engine is activated, you are propelled at 11 km/h on flat ground, with the 1st level of assistance, and at 18 km/h with the intermediate level.

The torque (stress) sensor: This technology measures the pressure exerted directly on the pedals.Basically, the harder you press the pedal, the more assistance the motor will give you. For example, it is easier to climb hillsbecause the bike immediately understands the level of difficulty you are in.

The other advantage of the torque sensor is that it ensures better motor reactivity and lower energy consumption (because the assistance is activated only when the force is required).

But every good thing at a price! And the stress sensors are more expensive and you'll find it especially on high-end electric bikes.

In either case you will have several levels of assistance that can be adjusted with the help of the controller attached to the handlebars.

Electric bike brake systems

The most common brake system is disc brake. There are two kinds of braking system, mechanical disc brake and hydraulic disc brake. And as we pay more and more attention to safety performance, most e-bikes are equipped with front and rear disc system. Otherwise, the dangerous tipping may occur during emergency braking

Mechanical disc brake

Like the traditional sliding brake, the mechanical disc brake has sliding cable control. This type of brake can be found on entry-level and mid-range bicycles because they are more affordable.Compare to hydraulic disc brake, they are less effective and has poorer braking modulation. To maintain good braking, It is necessary to lubricate sheaths and cables regularly.

Hydraulic disc brake(oil brake)

Hydraulic disc brake systems don’t need cables and housings. It uses hydraulic to brake, which is filled with brake fluid. The

hose connects the brake lever to the caliper and forms a closed circuit. This system is more powerful, more pleasant, and more reliable. No need to maintenance or adjustment anything other than a purge from time to time.

7.Driving postures

Another thing toconsider before purchasing an electric bike is the posture.It is definedbythe shape of the frame.The handlebar positions of the three postures are getting lower and lower, and the focus is gradually changing from comfort to speed

Upright position.

This is the most classicand comfortableposition because thehandlebaris higher andcloserto the rider.This posture relaxes the armsand head, andbackcan bewell straight.

Activeposition

This postureis morepopularamongnew electric bikemodels. The driver leansmore forward for a more sporty feeling and greater driving pleasure.This is commonly the case on electric all-terrain bikes or Fat bikes, which are rarely used to drive in urban areas.

Performance position

You can usually see this posture on the road cycling track. With drop handlebars, the rider can lean forward from the hips and get a ultimate speed.

8.Gearshift and variable speed

You will find 2 types of gearshift system on the electric bike market.

Derailleurgearshift

It's the most widely used system that everyone knows.It allows you to change speed during pedaling.It is suitable for both classical and sports cycling.In the latter case, if it is coupled with a motor in the crankset it allows to obtain a greater torque.

Rear hubgearshift

It is less common than the derailleur, butstill has many advantages.First of all,with the gearshift in the rear hub you can change gears without pedaling. It is impossible to derail andno longerneed tomaintainyour bike chain on a regular basis.The latter is protected by a closed system.

In summary

After considering these 8 factors, you will know clearly what you need. If you still have questions, please Online Chatto get sales associates. BuyBestGear is dedicated to offer you electronic products with Fast Delivery, Reliable Quality and Affordable Price.