Electric Bicycle
E-Bike Buyer Guide: How to choose your first Electric Bicycle
Nowadays, using public transport has become really impossible. With the deteriorating condition of road traffic, public transport nowadays takes much longer to get anywhere. That’s why many people nowadays are arranging their own transport even if it is difficult. And when it comes to private transport, the first thing that comes to mind is the bicycle or motorcycle, which is a favorite mode of transportation in many middle-class countries like ours. Besides these, electric bikes have also emerged as a prospective option. With that note, we will discuss here how to buy an electric bike.
Why Would You Buy an Electric Bike?
There are few different types of e-bikes available in the market. So, you will need to decide your purpose first. And based on that, you can choose your bike from mountain, cruiser, commuting bike. Usually, cruisers and commuters are used for the regular roads. On the other hand, mountain bikes are perfect for the hilly tracks.
Further, you also need to know the features you want most. For example, if you prioritize comfort, you can select the step-through frame. If you are a traveler and climbing hills is crucial, a high torque hub motor or middle motor system will be the best to buy. If you ride long distances often, you can try a bike with 400 watts or more. Therefore, understanding your needs is the first step to buying an e-bike.
Read: A Beginner’s Guide to Electric Bikes: Everything you Need to Know
How to Pick an Electric Bicycle?
Choose Class
When you go shopping for ebikes, you will find three class types. Choosing the right class is important because it will determine how you should ride the bike and serve your purpose. Normally, there are three classes for e-bikes. Class 1 comes with a 20-mph limit with the hell of a motor and pedal. So, the motor assistance will allow you to ride up to 20 mph speed. Class 2 has a throttle, and it also allows a 20 mph limit, but unlike class 1, you don’t need pedaling to boost the speed. Finally, class 3, which allowed 28 mph speed and offered a speedometer to measure the speed.
Usually, most e-bikes are categorized under class 1 and class 3. So, understand your needs and decide the class according to that.
Read Motorcycle Categories: Different Types of Motorbikes Explained
Try Several Bikes
It is not recommended to buy a bike without looking at the available options. Therefore, try to test riding multiple bikes before choosing the final one. Perhaps it is the most important part as well as the fun part. With the several tests, you can pick the right one as per your requirements.
Weight
Weight plays a bigger role when it comes to the day-to-day use of an e-bike. Since the motor helps a lot riding the bike, so weigh what you require to measure the ride experience. So, if you want to lift or carry it, you should take a closer look at weight. Furthermore, if you want to transport the bike by car, you will also need to buy a rack for that. So, keeping all these in mind, buying a lightweight bike will be useful. On the other hand, if you don’t need to transport or carry, you may don’t need to worry about the weight. But if you think about comfort, lightweight is recommended.
Read: Electric Bike vs Regular Bike: Which One You Should Pick?
Warranty
Since e-bikes are a combination of manual and electric motors, you would want to have warranties for the parts. So, a two-year warranty on motor, parts, and battery is normal to expect. On top of that, some companies may offer free servicing for a certain period, which may also fall under warranty. Thus, know the warranty terms and conditions before you buy an e-bike.
Check the Quality
The quality of the construction and the way the bike was built are necessary to determine the after-purchase service to keep your bike in perfect condition. With good quality materials, your bike should last 5 to 10 years through a minimum regular service. In this way, the battery should last for a 600 to 800 full charge cycle. Besides, the quality will also let you know when you can expect to replace the battery.
However, understanding the motor and batteries is important to know the quality of your e-bike. So, it would be better to do your homework regarding these before you select your model and brand.
Read Motorcycle Loans in Bangladesh: Turning Your Two-wheeler Dream into Reality
Motor Location
Usually, motors are located in the frame. However, it doesn’t affect the performance, but it does matter or the looks. So, the motor’s location is worth bearing in mind when it comes to the style. That is why some of the best e-bike motor manufacturers, such as Fazua, Bosch, and Shimano, tend to make their motors located in between the cranks. Placing on the cranks makes the bike easier to balance and provides a comfortable ride. However, this doesn’t mean that it is the only good option. Other designs are not bad either. It all depends on the riders' perspective.
Buy Local
You will find many brands and models in the market. Buying a renowned branded bike is recommended, but it has some issues too. For example, parts and accessories might not be available locally. Therefore, you might face a problem if you need to repair something. That is why buying from the local brand is highly recommended as several local brands are making e-bikes. You can assume that the parts and the mechanic for the local bikes will be available even after a decade.
Read Motorbike Buyer Guide: Some popular models with price in Bangladesh in 2021
Price
The price of electric bicycles depends on the brand, facilities, quality, etc. In our country, most of the bikes are imported from China and available at low prices. E-bike prices may range from Tk. 25,000 to 1 Lakh. However, more expensive bikes are also there too. If this price range is too expensive for you, you can convert your regular bike to an electric bike too. In this case, your cost will be around 7-10 thousand taka.
Final Words
There is no problem with using electric bikes. However, most of the users of this technology are middle-class people. In that sense, the price may seem much higher. Considering all these minor inconveniences, electric bikes are a great blessing for both us and our environment, just like hybrid cars or electric cars. We hope this discussion would help you to find the right e-bike.
Read: Upcoming 150cc Motorbikes in Bangladesh in 2021
3 years ago
A Beginner’s Guide to Electric Bikes: Everything you Need to Know
As air pollution rises significantly around the world, governments in many countries are now campaigning to use electric vehicles. At the same time, many developed countries are encouraging startups to build electric vehicles. That is why electric bikes are getting popular all over the world. Especially, people are getting themselves electric vehicles in US and European countries. However, bike-friendly cities such as Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Montreal, etc., are shifting their biking behavior to e-bikes. This kind of bike is becoming popular because it can be used as a regular bike too. Let’s get to know every detail about electric bikes.
What is an Electric Bike?
Electric bikes, also known as e-bikes, are battery-powered bicycles that can be ridden via pedaling and throttle in some cases. For the pedal-assist e-bike, when you push the pedal, a motor will engage and provide you a boost so you can ride faster with less effort. They are similar to conventional bikes, perhaps a better version.
On the other hand, a throttle electric bike works like a motorcycle or electric scooter. Whenever the throttle engages, it produces power and propels the rider, and makes the bike forward. Moreover, it may also allow the user to pedal or kick back.
Read: Electric Bike vs Regular Bike: Which One You Should Pick?
Types of Electric Bikes
Manufacturers may give different names for different types of e-bikes. But there are four common types of e-bikes you will come across.
Cruiser
Recreational riders use the cruiser bikes mostly to get comfort as they cruise. However, cruiser bikes are designed for flat terrains and can be a ride on the paved road as well as bike paths. This type of bike has wide tires and may also come with a suspension system that reduces shocks in the front seat and fork. Usually, the handlebars are located higher, which helps for a more upright ride and keeps it easy on the back.
Commuter
Commuter e-bikes are widely used for going to work or even running errands. They are usefully faster than the cruiser. So, you need to go somewhere faster than a regular bike speed commuter will be helpful. The commuter bikes have large tires with a narrow build that offers efficiency. Besides, the upright design gives comfortability. The commuter bikes offer comfortable seats. However, seats are not much wider than the cruiser seats.
Read Upcoming 150cc Motorbikes in Bangladesh in 2021
Mountain E-Bikes
These bikes are not for regular use. Instead, the thrill-seekers use this bike for off-road cycling on trails. Besides, they are also designed to have fun while ascending steep hills fast. Unlike the commuter, mountain e-bikes come with wide tires with flat handlebars that help the riders to tackle the rugged terrain and dirt trails.
Road E-Bikes
It is similar to cruiser bikes and designed to ride on paved surfaces for recreational purposes. But these bikes have narrow tires and drop handlebars which encourage them to ride faster. Further, road e-bikes are lightweight so that the rider can run with speed.
Read Motorcycle Categories: Different Types of Motorbikes Explained
Classes in E-Bikes
Usually, e-bikes come in three different classes. Classes indicate how these bikes should be ridden according to the local laws. The three classes include:
Class 1: The class 1 e-bike allows assistance when you pedal, and the assistance stops automatically when the speed reaches 20 mph. So, Class 1 is helpful for the bike lanes, roads, bike paths, or any places you can take traditional bikes.
Class 2: It has a throttle that offers a boost without any sort of pedaling, and it also stops the assist at 20 mph.
Class 3: It has a speedometer and assists the rider up to 28 mph. Usually, class 3 bikes are mostly loved by the commuters. Most of the bikes fit into class 1 or class 3 as the riders want the pedals in their e-bikes.
Read Motorbike Buyer Guide: Some popular models with price in Bangladesh in 2021
Types of Motors used in Electric Bikes
Usually, an electronic bike uses three types of motors which are placed at the wheel hub or even mounted on the bike. Following are the common motor types you will see on different types of e-bikes.
Hub Motors:
This motor stays inside the hub of the rear or the front wheel of the e-bike.
Mid-Drive Motors:
It is placed in the center of the e-bike’s frame in between the bike’s cranks.
Friction Motors:
This type of motor is directly mounted to the seat post. However, you may not find the friction motors on modern e-bikes as they are not as efficient as mid-drive or even the hub motors. But friction motors are still available as kits to transform the regular bikes into e-bikes.
Read Best Motorbikes in the World in 2021
Benefits of Using Electric Bikes
When comparing a bike that uses only pedals for power to an electric bike based on the main source of power, you will see the obvious advantages of electric bikes. One reason is that, although similar in appearance and size, electric bikes are easier to maintain than regular bikes and can accelerate much faster.
You will also find that electric bikes require much less repair; you just need to make sure that the brake pads and tires are in good condition. On the other hand, manual bikes have many parts that need to be repaired regularly to protect them from damage.
Riding an eclectic bike requires less pressure on your joints and legs than a regular bike. Hence, if you have physical issues or injuries, e-bikes will still allow you to have fun riding. Besides, it will not make you feel tired.
Read: Walton bringing electric bikes
Final Words
Electric bikes may refer to many other types of vehicles, including motorbikes and scooters. However, internationally it is referred to as electronic bicycles. If you want to get a touch of free air in your hair and forget all the busyness of the world and walk on the road, then an electric bike is ideal. However, it is yet to attract the Bangladeshi people. But different local companies are making e-bikes with the hope to encourage people to save the environment.
Read Motorcycle Loans in Bangladesh: Turning Your Two-wheeler Dream into Reality
3 years ago