Electric bike buying guide

Electric bike ​buying​ guide

In the Netherlands, more than one million electric bicycles are currently running around. The supply of electric bikes in the online bicycle shops is therefore very spacious, including electric city bikes, electric folding bikes and even electric cargo bikes. Cycling on an electric bicycle is much lighter than on a regular bike and especially if you still have to work a whole day it is nice not to have a sweaty back on your job. The time that an electric bicycle was only used by older people is also over. In this article we give you some tips and advice for buying an electric bicycle online.

Battery of an electric bicycle The battery is the most important part of an electric bicycle.

The battery is attached to or in the bicycle, depending on the make and model. With most brands the battery is placed on the luggage carrier, in the chain guard or in the frame. The battery usually weighs a few kilos, the place where the battery is located can therefore have a very large influence on driving behavior, yet our tests show that the differences are not so large that it plays a very big role in the purchase. More important is the type of battery that is mounted on the bike. The battery transfers the current to the pedal assistance.

It is therefore of crucial importance that it has a long service life, is quick to charge and can provide sufficient power to the pedal assistance. For charging you also have to take into account that charging at room temperature is best for the battery, it is therefore advisable to buy an electric bike where the battery can be removed from the bike, so that you can bring it into your home. can charge. Also very useful if your shed does not have an outlet. Also the type of battery is important, for example, a lithium-ion (LiOn) battery is lighter and smaller than a battery of nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) material.

Finally, the tip to check carefully what the warranty conditions are, because the battery is of course one of the more vulnerable parts of the electric bicycle and also relatively expensive to replace without a good warranty. The lifespan of a battery also differs per brand and type, so check this in advance. To extend the life of the bicycle battery it is wise to charge the battery once in a while, so even if for example in the winter months no use is made of the electric bicycle.

The motor of an electric bike The pedal assistance is provided by the electric bike motor. In contrast to the battery (in our opinion) the place where the engine is mounted on the bike does have a big influence on driving behavior. For example, the engine can be mounted in the front wheel, as a result of which the steering on the bike feels a little less natural. Due to the weight of the engine, there seems to be some delay in steering the bike.

Note: The absolute minimum for a bicycle used even to a small extent, however, We should be ​bike gear review​ once every year because it’s good for everyone With a motor in the front wheel, the bike has a closed chain guard and a hub gear. A hub gear is an acceleration system that is completely concealed in the hub of the rear wheel and therefore requires very little maintenance. If the engine is incorporated in the rear wheel, a hub gear is not possible, as a result of which the acceleration is placed on the outside of the wheel. In addition, the chain guard is half-open on a motor in the rear wheel.

This in turn results in more maintenance of the chain. Finally, the engine can still be processed in the bottom bracket of the bicycle. The center of gravity is therefore in the middle of the bike, which ensures more stability and a comfortable bike ride.

Due to the lack of resistance on the front and rear wheel, the bike also lights without pedal assistance. An engine in the bottom bracket therefore offers the most benefit in our opinion.

Due to the lack of resistance on the front and rear wheel, the bike also lights without pedal assistance. An engine in the bottom bracket therefore offers the most benefit in our opinion.

Due to the lack of resistance on the front and rear wheel, the bike also lights without pedal assistance. An engine in the bottom bracket therefore offers the most benefit in our opinion.

Electric bicycle range The range is the distance you can travel with your electric bike, without having to recharge the bike. Of course, it depends on the reason for which you buy your bike or you need a bike with a larger range or a bike with a small range for, for example, the shorter trips for doing your shopping. The range is not only dependent on the battery and bike motor, also the total weight, tire pressure, speed and external conditions such as headwinds and height differences play a role in the range of an e-bike.

Driving programs and gears E-bikes are equipped with different driving programs. A driving program regulates the degree of pedal assistance, so you can determine how heavy or light you want to cycle. There are also bikes where you can create a program yourself and thus set the best program for your own situation. A driving program can also have a big influence on your range. With the gears on an E-bike you can determine the number of revolutions of your feet. The lowest gear provides more revolutions and the highest acceleration just for less revolutions. By switching smartly you can increase the range of your bike. Note that the hub gear is relatively maintenance-free, while the smooth-running derailleur gear will require more maintenance.

Where are e-bikes for sale online?

In the Netherlands there are already many online shops that have a large assortment of electric bikes, an overview with the brands offered for sale per webshop: