EBike's have grown exponentially in popularity this year, as you see more and more eBikes out and about it can be hard to know where to start when looking at buying. We understand how enormous the selection and range of eBikes has become; so we sat down with our experts to put together the perfect, easy guide to find the best fit for you.
Ebikes, or electric assist bikes, give you a boost while you pedal, thanks to their electric power system. While there are different kinds of bikes out there, they all use a motor and battery to make your biking journey a whole lot easier and more fun. With the eBike community only continuing to grow, there is a bike for everyone; any person can benefit from an eBike. Whether you're looking to extend your rides, make your commute greener, or just looking for a low impact way to ride eBikes can benefit you.
To begin, an easy way to begin understanding the eBike market is to learn the eBike Classes.
eBike Classes:
- Class 1 is eBikes that are pedal-assist only, with no throttle, and have a maximum assisted speed of 32 kph / 20 mph.
- Class 2 is eBikes that also have a maximum speed of 32 km/h / 20 mph, but are throttle-assisted.
- And finally, Class 3 eBikes that are pedal-assist only, with no throttle, and a maximum assisted speed of 45 km/h / 28 mph.
The two types of eBikes you’ll hear about most are pedal assist and throttle control. As we work through some expertly curated questions you will learn more about these two models while finding out which bike is perfect for you! We're going to explore how eBikes can level up your biking game by taking you further, faster, and to more places than ever before. In the eBike world, we'll be your guide in finding the perfect ride for your needs.
Get an idea of the two eBikes here: check out one of our Pedal Assist and one of our Throttle Assist.
To start narrowing down the right fit we are going to consider where you plan on riding and what your goals are
Biking for many is a great way to get around, explore, and stay fit; eBikes help you get all these benefits AND you're able to go further and faster! The first question you need to ask yourself when considering an eBike is; where are you biking? Think of your routes and where you want to explore; what type of paths and roads are you riding? Once you have an idea of your answer for where you're cycling; consider what your goals are for biking. Are you looking to improve your biking and fitness? Are you looking for a new way to commute or get around? With these questions in mind let’s look at what the best fit for you might be.
Did your answers include exploring using a variety of paths, or improving your biking? Then a Pedal Assist might be for you. Pedal Assist eBikes are popular among bikers because of the organic and intuitive feel, these bikes offer the most similar experience to a non eBike – it's you, only faster! A pedal assist eBike would help you extend your rides, increase your speed, and still have that great “biking” feel. Pedal Assist's can be found across bike categories and are great for people who will be exploring various terrain and paths, take a look at two different pedal assist eBikes from Specialized and Trek.
Did your answers include commuting, getting from point a to b, and mostly roads and roadways? Then a Throttle eBike might be for you. Throttle eBikes are great for a push and go experience. These bikes do the work for you as you enjoy your ride, making them an ideal fit for a commuter or city explorer. Check out the Electra Ponto Go! a popular throttle eBike for commuters.
Now that you are starting to have an idea of what bike might fit best, let’s go through another round of questions to make sure!
Since eBikes are electric assisted bikes, it is important to consider how you want to use that motor and what benefits it can bring you. Do you want to control the percentage of power your motor is using? Think about whether you would like your motor to assist you sometimes or all the time? Are you looking for more control over your motors' power levels?
While you think about this keep in mind this question as well: Are you recovering from an injury, or do you have limited mobility? Do you feel like you're slowing down in your rides? Do you wish you could join your friends on rides but don’t have the physicality for it? These answers should all factor into your process while picking your next eBike.
Did you find your answers included looking for an eBike that can assist you some of the time while still letting you bike independently, a motor with more control over the power percentage, and you want to improve your riding and fitness. Then a pedal assist will be your best fit. Pedal assist eBikes give you control over the power being used from your motor. You can play around with 0% power all the way up to 100% power and really feel the difference an electric motor can make in your biking. This customizable assist feature is popular among riders who are looking for a sense of security while riding. A pedal assist bike means you can go for a ride with your friends and never worry about slowing down or being left behind. It means you can go for a fitness ride, get a workout in, and then turn up the motor once your legs can’t push anymore! It also means if you are recovering from an injury, you can progress your riding from fully assisted to unassisted and build up your biking ability safely.
Now, If you found your answers to the previous questions were more focused on getting around quickly and with ease, being able to bike with little physical exertion, and wanting to participate in biking but your mobility is holding you back; then a throttle eBike is a better fit for you. Throttle eBikes offer riders a push and go experience, you can easily bike around your city with your motor assisting you at all times. Throttle eBikes also allow riders to experience biking without physical exertion or pedaling; this means no matter how much mobility you have you can join your friends and family on a ride!
By now you should have a good idea of what type of eBike will be the best fit for you, the last feature you need to consider is your drive system!
There are two different drive systems you will find on pedal assist and throttle bikes; a Mid Drive and a Hub Drive.
Mid drive motors are positioned centrally on the bicycle, situated at the center of the pedal area
Alternatively, hub-drive motors are housed within the rear wheel's hub, close to the back gears of the bicycle.
When you look at selecting your drive system you want to ensure you are asking yourself what your priorities are for your eBike? Are you looking for budget friendly alternatives in the eBike space? Are you more focused on an eBike that still feels like biking? You'll want to consider what it is you are looking to get out of your bike.
If you find your answer to the above question involves anything about the biking experience and feel, then a Mid Drive system is right for you. Mid Drive motors come in various power capacities and offer a more stable center of gravity; all of this to say, it gives you a smoother ride that feels just like regular biking. A mid drive system offers riders an organic and intuitive feel making it the best choice for those who are prioritizing the ride experience in their eBike search. Check out these Mid Drive eBike's from Specialized and Giant.
However, if your priority is to join the eBike community and you are looking for budget friendly options, a hub drive system could be the best fit for you! Hub drive systems are generally more affordable and lightweight than mid-drive motors They are on/off systems based on your pedaling, meaning you can feel the motor kick in once you pedal. These drive systems have less of an organic feel compared to the mid drive, some riders characterize this by the small “jerk” you’ll feel in the motor when it is first activated. If you think a Hub Drive is for you check out this Step-Thru Electra eBike.
After all of these questions you should now have a clear idea of which eBike is the best fit for you.
If you are looking to maintain the organic biking feel while being able to go farther and faster. If you are someone who wants to explore on your eBike with a sense of security, keep up with friends, push your workout farther, or looking to build up your biking ability safely. If any of this sounds like you, a pedal assist bike is your match!
Now if you are looking for a new way to commute and explore your city, you want a simplified touch and go experience, and/or you want to join the bike community with limited physicality. If this sounds like you then a throttle assist is best for you!
The final piece to your eBike puzzle is your drive system; if you are looking for an organic bike feeling similar to an unassisted bike you should look for a Mid Drive. If you are looking for a more budget-friendly alternative, then a Hub Drive system will fit best.
Our experts have guided you through the world of eBikes and you’ve arrived at your answer, the perfect fit for you! You can now confidently pick the right eBike for you and your goals!
We would love to see you in store and help you select the bike for you or you can shop our eBikes here!
P.S. - We here at United like to go one step further, we want to make sure you feel confident on your eBike. So, our experts have put together our top tips they want you to know before your first eBike ride, see what our team says below:
- Always check your local requirements for helmets. Edmonton requires all eBike users to wear an approved bicycle helmet. These SMITH Helmets both meet eBike requirements; take a look here and here!
- Your eBike battery is amazing; it is waterproof, dustproof, and shockproof! You should always be sure to check your batteries temperature ratings to know any weather limits and proper storage conditions.
- While your battery is fantastic we are here to bust a myth... eBike batteries are not regenerative. The batteries are not charged by pedaling or biking, they are changed at home with an electrical outlet.
- Your never stuck on an eBike. If your battery or motor dies while out you can always pedal your bike like an unassisted bike to still get back home
- Customize your eBike with essential accessories for your ride; our team recommends these! A Commuter Bag to safely carry your belongings, this bike rack to bring your eBike on every adventure, and keep your bike safe with this Bike Alarm and Finder.
