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Love them or hate them, electric bikes are here to stay. Between 2019 and 2023, electric bikes represented 63 percent of the growth in dollar sales of all bicycles. Translated to actual numbers, the US ebike market was valued at $1.98 billion in 2022. It’s expected to grow by 15.6 percent from 2023 to 2030.
Some electric bike customers haven’t been on two wheels since they rode a Schwinn Stingray with a banana seat; others are lifelong cyclists who want a little extra oomph to flatten the hills. Still others are urban commuters, and then there are the enduro and downhill mountain bikers looking for a faster way to lap big terrain. There’s an ebike for every need. But there are also many factors to consider before making the big purchase, which can cost anywhere between roughly $1,500 and $15,000.
We tapped two experts: Cory Oseland, manager at The Ski Hut, a premier Midwest bike and ski shop, and Kevin Lau, a sales specialist at REI. “There are some very firm commandments to buying an ebike,” says Oseland, who has been selling electric versions for the past 14 years.
Table of ContentsWhat Is an Ebike?Where Are You Going to Ride?How Much Do You Want to Spend?Can You Lift an Ebike?How Far Are You Planning to Ride?How Are You Going to Charge and Store the Battery?Can You Fix It?
What Is an Ebike?
There are three classifications of bikes with an electric motor. Class 1 ebikes are pedal-assist only, with no throttle. They have a maximum assisted speed of 20 mph. At 20 mph, the motor will cut out and the cyclist will have to pedal the bike to reactivate it. Class 2 ebikes have a maximum speed of 20 mph, but are throttle-assisted. The cyclist doesn’t have to pedal the bike to activate the motor. Class 3 ebikes are pedal-assist only and have a maximum assisted speed of 28 mph, making them illegal to ride on dirt trails or bike paths.
For the purposes of this story, our experts are mostly referring to Class I ebikes. Class I ebikes have two kinds of motors: hub-based or mid-drive (what others might call crank-based). There are advantages and disadvantages to each. A crank-based motor is integrated into the bike’s frame, making it more expensive to design. But it also feels more natural to ride, like an acoustic bike.
Hub-based motors, which are laced into the rear wheel, are generally less expensive because bike manufacturers do not have to engineer the frame around the motor. They are also generally less powerful on hilly terrain and can wear out more quickly. On the flipside, they are also easier to replace.
Like acoustic bikes, ebike components can range from entry-level to very high-end. One important question to ask—especially when buying an e-mountain bike—is whether all the mechanical components (what a cyclist might call a groupset) are specific to the ebike. For example, brake pads or a derailleur designed for an acoustic bike may not be strong enough to handle the increased weight and power of an ebike.
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All ebikes have a computer, which normally sits on the handlebars. A few factors to consider here are: Is the digital display large enough to read while riding? Are the buttons that operate the levels of assistance easy to use or can they accidentally be pushed, which can lead to jerky, unexpected, and potentially dangerous transitions? Can the battery be taken off the bike for ease of charging and optimal storage? How well-covered is the charging portal, or will dust, mud, and rain grind away at the insides?
Now that we have the basics squared away, here’s what the experts ask customers in search of their perfect electric bike.
Where Are You Going to Ride?
When a customer comes through the door looking for an ebike, Oseland’s first question is: “What do you want to accomplish with this purchase?” Are they a commuter? A first-time cyclist? How far of a range do they need to cover on their bike? What kind of terrain will they mostly ride?
For example, if you are going to be riding mostly on city streets on your way to work, then a simple commuter like REI’s CTY (7/10, WIRED Recommends) will be adequate for your needs. It has a comfortable, sit-up frame with commuter essentials like a kickstand and a bell, and REI will even assemble it for you. On the other hand, if you are covering technical singletrack or big-mountain terrain, then you might want to consider an e-mountain bike with bigger wheels and suspension, like the Cannondale Moterra SL 2.
Lau’s first three questions are similar, but he also asks if the bike is intended to be a car replacement. If that's the case, then we have a whole selection of electric cargo bikes that can handle all your hauling needs.
How Much Do You Want to Spend?
Both Oseland and Lau quickly find out how much a customer wants to spend. “A lot of customers are shell-shocked at the cost, especially if they haven’t bought a new bike in a long time,” says Oseland. Knowing a customer’s budget can weed out many higher-priced options.
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“Besides price, most buyers ask me what makes one bike so much more expensive than another bike,” says Kevin Lau. “My typical answer is the type of drive/motor system and the components on the bike.” High-end bikes are vehicles, the same as high-end cars and motorcycles. They have more expensive components, with lighter, more durable materials, made with tighter tolerances and more precise machining.
$2,000 is about what we'd expect to spend on a durable, high-quality electric bike. However, if you don’t want to spend that much just to see if you can fit an electric bike into your lifestyle, we do have a selection of electric bikes for under $2,000.
Can You Lift an Ebike?
If you’ve never ridden an ebike, it’s important to know that some ebikes are really heavy, like upwards of 50 pounds. “I’ve had so many people walk through the door who spend $3,000 or $4,000 for an e-bike and they aren’t strong enough to walk it up their apartment stairs or maneuver it around their garage,” says Oseland.
“For some customers, lifting the bike into a car or on a car rack may be a factor,” adds Lau. “Some bike racks aren’t strong enough to hold an e-bike.” Before Oseland will sell a customer an e-bike, he makes sure that they have a way to safely transport it. “If you have to lay your bike down in the car, you can wreck it.” With that said, electric bikes can be a safer way for many people with limited mobility to get around, and older riders can see enormous benefits from more exercise. We have selections for electric bikes for elderly riders here.
How Far Are You Planning to Ride?
The next major priority is addressing customer’s “range anxiety.” Range anxiety is the fear that the bike will run out of battery before the ride is over. Every bike has a stated range, but there are many factors that can increase or decrease it, says Lau, including the terrain, the air temperature, the rider’s weight, the smoothness of the tires, how much assistance the rider uses (most ebikes have at least three levels of assistance), and how large the battery is. When all these factors are considered, a typical ebike range can be anywhere from approximately 30 to 65 miles, Lau says.
Bosch, a premier ebike systems manufacturer, has an online ebike range calculator. Before any ride, cyclists can enter their weight, cadence, average speed, mileage, terrain, wind speed, and other factors to find out a near-exact approximation of how long their Bosch battery will last. Many electric bikes also have the option to add a double battery. This will double your range, but also increase the bike’s weight.
How Are You Going to Charge and Store the Battery?
In 2023, ebike battery fires resulted in 268 incidents, causing 150 injuries and 18 deaths, in New York City. In the early days of ebike manufacturing, many batteries were made overseas and the US did not have strict UL certification requirements. (UL certification is considered the safety gold standard; a third-party organization has independently verified that the battery meets local and federal safety standards.)
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Most ebike brands and component manufacturers now acquire UL certification, but Lau notes that it’s essential to use only the charging equipment that comes with your ebike and to follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to properly charge it.
Battery storage is also a concern, especially if it cannot be taken off the bike. “Cold, heat, and saltwater can kill a battery,” says Oseland, adding that the heat of a Phoenix summer or the cold of a Minnesota winter can be equally damaging to battery life—in particular, anything below 40 or above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. “If you don’t use the battery for a very long time, it’s a good idea to keep a half-charge and every month or so discharge the battery,” says Oseland. Also, batteries should be stored in a dry place in moderate temperatures—that is, around 60 degrees Fahrenheit off the charger.
Can You Fix It?
Over the past few years, a lot of manufacturers have picked up a direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales model, where you can buy a bike directly from the website, or a hybrid in which you can buy online and then pick up in the store, like REI.
If your local shop is far away, a direct-to-consumer bike manufacturer may be your only option. Companies like Lectric and Rad Power Bikes both offer door-to-door delivery and mobile repair units. But it’s important to remember that ebikes have more moving parts than acoustic bikes, which means more things can go wrong. If you want your ebike to last, Oseland notes the single most important question is: “How good is your local shop?”
Companies like Trek and Specialized often work with their own partnered retailers, so that will be another factor to consider in your purchase. “Some ebikes use nonstandard bike parts like wheels and tires that are difficult for many bike shops to repair or to find replacement parts [for],” adds Lau. “Customers should take this into consideration: Can your local shop repair the bike you buy?”
