Finding the Right E-Bike for You
What’s the right e-bike for you?
The million dollar question! With all the options out there, it’s hard to know what make and model of e-bike is the best option for you. We understand. That’s why we put together this handy little questionnaire to get you thinking of the right variables. Knowing the answers to these questions will help you select an e-bike that makes sense for you. Our goal is to find the right e-bike fit for your lifestyle, your budget, and your style (yes, that’s important too!). So let’s get started.
Where do you want to ride?
Will it be on paved streets, bike paths, dirt roads, sand, off-road terrain, hills? The answer to this question will help you select the right e-bike model, equipped with the right-sized motor, battery, tires, and other features.
How often will you ride?
If you see yourself as an avid rider, a higher performing e-bike makes sense. However, if you are an occasional rider, then there are nice entry-level e-bikes that might make more sense for you. Our shop (Open Road Motosports) has e-bikes for all riders, including entry, mid-level, and avid riders. By the way, we term “avid riders” as athletic hobbyists, and others as recreationalists.
Is exercise the priority?
If exercise is what you’re after, then you will benefit from an e-bike’s peddle assist mode. Peddle assist is accomplished with sensors on the bike’s peddle crank that determine your peddling force, turning the gears accordingly. Studies show the use of peddle assist takes the sting out of hills, and you end up riding much farther, peddling more, and even burning more calories than a standard bike.
On the other hand, if commuting or leisure is your priority (not exercise), then either a twist or thumb throttle will be your friend. Motorcycle riders are familiar with twist throttles (which are part of the handlebar grips), but it can take a bit of time to become familiar with their use. A thumb throttle will be easy to use, but practice first in a safe and open area. Learn where your brakes are and how to use them, while maintaining vision on the path ahead. Be aware that if you throttle a lot rather than peddling, the battery will drain much quicker.
Also, just a quick note on throttles: some locations (like national or state parks) prohibit throttle only use on their paths and trails. You will want to check with authorities prior to riding. Also, become familiar with what the e-bike rules are for the paths, trails, and roads on your desired routes around your home and riding area. Different locales may have different speed limits and rules of use. Your bike can be easily and quickly programmed to change your top-end bike speed to comply with local regulations. Also, most throttles have simple, pluggable cables for unplugging when required.
How long will your average ride be?
Knowing this will help determine what battery size and battery capacity you’ll need. Let’s get nerdy here for a minute. Your e-bike’s voltage and amp/hours will determine the battery charge longevity. Multiplying these together gives you your e-bike’s watt hours, which is the common measurement when comparing batteries on e-bikes, motorcycles, and automobiles. For example, you might see an e-bike battery rated at 36 volts and 10 amp hours. In this case, we multiply the two together to get the common rating we are looking for: 360 watt hours. A couple other examples - 48v x 15 AH = a battery with 720 watt hours, or 52v x 19 AH = 988 watt hours. Fun fact: An electric car's capacity can exceed 100 kilowatt hours (100 x 1000 watts).
Your riding range (as well as your e-bike cost) increases as watt hours go up. So if you plan on riding for a longer period of time on a typical ride, a higher watt hour battery makes sense and is going to be worth that extra investment. Wondering how many hours you can expect your battery to last before being drained? Let’s look into that real quick, too.
Let’s say you are Superman or Wonder Woman, and you’re running your e-bike full speed, continuously utilizing the full capability of your 750 watt motor (nobody does this!), and your e-bike has 988 watt hours (a higher-end battery). This would mean that you would run your battery dry in 1 hour and 19 minutes. [750 watts = 1 hour, plus 238 more watt hours (238 / 750 x 60 minutes) = 19 minutes] That is an unheard of situation though. More likely, with that good-sized motor and battery and riding steadily on fairly level streets, your e-bike would yield 3-4 hours of continuous riding. And if you’re still wanting to ride another hour once your battery runs dry, you can just finish the rest of your ride with the bike gears, riding as you would a standard bike.
What other battery-draining factors apply?
The range of your e-bike will depend on a few factors, including not only your battery size (i.e., watt hours), but also your use of the throttle and pedal assist, the steepness of the terrain, the day’s wind, your weight, and more. All of these factors will require your motor to work harder. If you plan on going farther, you need a bigger battery. Just know that larger capacity batteries add weight to your e-bike, as well as cost. Shorter rides can be accomplished with lighter, lower capacity batteries. Bigger battery cases with more internal cells may be available for your bike if you want more range—or you can carry a second battery with you, tied to your e-bike rack or in a backpack.
Watts Up?
Electric bike motors are typically 250, 350, 500, 750, or 1000 watts. The higher the motor wattage, the more power you have on your bike, which can translate to a higher top-end speed, the ability to climb steep terrain, or perhaps quicker acceleration (torque). Most e-bikes can be programmed to lower wattages, which will extend the bike’s range by decreasing battery draw while lowering the top-end speed. If you anticipate shorter, flatter rides, on paved neighborhood streets, a smaller motor and battery may suffice, and provide economy on purchase. Open Road has a wide variety of e-bikes that can match up with any rider’s preferences and habits.
Mid-drive or hub motor?
A mid-drive motor is going to assist your ride, turning the peddle cranks for you. This is typically better on hilly and/or off-road terrain. You’ll typically find a mid-drive motor on higher-priced bikes. A hub motor, on the other hand, is great on bike paths or streets. Both have their place. We find that most riders quickly become familiar with either option. It’s like a new car—a month in and you’re already used to its feel and operation.
Will you be lifting your bike?
E-bikes can easily outweigh a standard, non-motorized bike—so you’ll want to pay attention to the weight of your e-bike and your personal lifting limits. A lot of our customers lift their bike to and from a car bike rack. Just make sure your rack is certified to support the weight of your e-bike. If needed, you can also remove the battery from your e-bike to make it easier to lift. At Open Road Motosports, we offer bike racks fully assembled and ready for mounting on 2" receivers.
Conclusion
Beyond the questions outlined above, other factors can impact the price of an e-bike—such as an e-bike’s brand or style. Of course, there are differences in quality and performance on many of the components used in bikes, which directly affect the final price. We’re talking about things like seats, gear shifts, batteries, suspension, and other e-bike choices. Choosing an e-bike can feel overwhelming, and we certainly don’t recommend buying an e-bike without trying it first. You can check out the weight, feel, and style of various options in-person. Stop by our shop and find the right ride for you! You can even schedule a test ride. We can go over any questions you have and explore the best e-bike for you. All with zero pressure—because we hate that. See you in the shop soon!