ActiveCyclingThe problems with ebikes: what you need to know before you buy an electric bikeThere’s a lot to love about ebikes, but here are some issues you should know aboutWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
ActiveCyclingThe problems with ebikes: what you need to know before you buy an electric bikeThere’s a lot to love about ebikes, but here are some issues you should know aboutWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
There’s a lot to love about ebikes, but here are some issues you should know about
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Hummingbird)
(Image credit: Hummingbird)
What is the problem with ebikes? That’s a slightly non-grammatically-correct question that the denizens ofGoogleare asking, and I will attempt to answer it for you. First off, let me say that I’m a big fan of ebikes. They let me do all the cycling I enjoy, without all that pesky effort that Idon’talways enjoy. They’re a great, semi-effortless way of getting around. However there are some drawbacks to electric bikes. You should be aware of them, before you head to the ebike shop clutching a suitcase full of crisp banknotes.
Once you’ve picked up something from our guide to thebest electric biketo buy, please be wary of themistakes everyone makes with ebikes– and also themistakes everyone makes with bikes, most of which are also relevant to electric bikers.
1. They are expensive
Credit cards also accepted(Image credit: 123RF)
Credit cards also accepted
Credit cards also accepted
(Image credit: 123RF)
You could easily pick up a traditional bike for a few hundred quid and have a perfectly fun time on it, so long as your cycling habits aren’t too demanding. For an ebike to be of any quality, you’ll need to spend in the region of £1,000/$1,000/AU$1,500, at the very least.
2. They are also expensive to service and repair
Specialist tools may be required(Image credit: Brompton)
Specialist tools may be required
Specialist tools may be required
(Image credit: Brompton)
A reasonably competent person can maintain a standard bike themselves and make minor repairs such as to the chain, brakes, cables etc. Or you can take it to the local bike shop and get someone properly competent to do it for a reasonably low fee.
Ebikes are a whole different ball game. Unless you are a qualified mechanic you arenotgoing to be able to mend or service the motor, battery, power buttons and screen, and repairs to these parts can be pricey.
If you’ve plumped for an ebike from a less well-known brand, chances are there will benobodyspecifically qualified to service these parts, unless you live in Shenzen. This could get expensive and problematic fast, if you are unlucky with breakdowns.
3. The battery WILL die
Imagine running out of battery half-way up here(Image credit: Tredz)
Imagine running out of battery half-way up here
Imagine running out of battery half-way up here
(Image credit: Tredz)
You know how your phone battery life gradually gets worse and worse over the years that you own it? Sure you do; that’s one key reason why so many people replace their mobile every 1-3 years. Well, your ebike battery will suffer exactly the same fate. Sure it’ll take longer, and the effect will be less pronounced in the short term, but that’s just because an ebike battery is enormous compared to a phone one.
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4. The range will be less than stated
Most ebike brands give a rather broad interpretation of how far their bikes will take you on a full charge. This shouldn’t be a problem for anyone doing a 10-mile daily commute – just keep an eye on the battery gauge and recharge once you’re down to, say, 20% capacity.
Anyone thinking of taking on a cycling camping vacation somewhere remote will need to be much more aware that when the guy sold you an ebike with a ‘50-mile range’, what he meant was ‘50 miles on the lowest assistance setting, with the lights off, in optimum weather conditions, without too many hills.’
If you habitually use the top power setting on your ebike – and surely practicallyeverybodydoes – and you need to take on lots of steep inclines and less than perfect road conditions, you should assume the maximum range will be 50-75% of the quoted one, and plan your recharging accordingly.
5. You won’t get as many health and fitness benefits as with a standard bike
Most ebike users don’t look like Chris Froome for a reason(Image credit: Hammerhead)
Most ebike users don’t look like Chris Froome for a reason
Most ebike users don’t look like Chris Froome for a reason
(Image credit: Hammerhead)
This pretty much goes without saying. And many would add that it is, in fact, thepointof getting an ebike instead of a standard bike. The good news is that if you go from being sedentary to riding an ebike, you will certainly gain some health and fitness benefits in the initial months of riding regularly. The less good news is that this will not then ramp up in the way that it would if you were regularly taking a road bike up a hill using only the power of your legs and cardio vascular system. You get a lot less sweaty, though.
6. Other cyclists may not like you
An angry horde of MAMILs chasing down a lone ebiker(Image credit: Tim de Waele/Getty Images)
An angry horde of MAMILs chasing down a lone ebiker
An angry horde of MAMILs chasing down a lone ebiker
(Image credit: Tim de Waele/Getty Images)
Cyclists, especially of the hardcore variety, have long been suspicious of ebikes. That is finally changing, but there are still a few situations where you may not be very popular with them. Primarily this may occur if you have an ebike that either a) doesn’t look like a bike or b) has had its speed limiter hacked – yes, some naughty people have been known to do this – and you are using a designated cycle lane or a popular mountain bike trail, in the case of E-MTB.
Sure, nobody is likely to assault you or anything like that, but you may receive some karmically devastating bad vibes. Also, if your road manners and technical proficiency are not perfect, some cyclists may not be shy about letting you know, if you are an ebike interloper. You’ll have the last laugh when they’re sweating their way up a hill, or grinding away from the lights at the same speed as a pensioner walking on the pavement beside them.
Here are some fine ebikes at great prices
Today’s best deals on our favourite ebikesSpecialized Turbo Vado SL 5.0$4,500ViewSee all pricesGocycle G4i$3,499ViewSee all pricesBrompton Electric Folding Bike$3,950ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best deals on our favourite ebikesSpecialized Turbo Vado SL 5.0$4,500ViewSee all pricesGocycle G4i$3,499ViewSee all pricesBrompton Electric Folding Bike$3,950ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best deals on our favourite ebikesSpecialized Turbo Vado SL 5.0$4,500ViewSee all pricesGocycle G4i$3,499ViewSee all pricesBrompton Electric Folding Bike$3,950ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best deals on our favourite ebikes
Specialized Turbo Vado SL 5.0$4,500ViewSee all pricesGocycle G4i$3,499ViewSee all pricesBrompton Electric Folding Bike$3,950ViewSee all prices
Specialized Turbo Vado SL 5.0$4,500ViewSee all prices
Specialized Turbo Vado SL 5.0$4,500ViewSee all prices
Specialized Turbo Vado SL 5.0
Specialized Turbo Vado SL 5.0
$4,500View
$4,500
$4,500
See all prices
Gocycle G4i$3,499ViewSee all prices
Gocycle G4i$3,499ViewSee all prices
Gocycle G4i
Gocycle G4i
$3,499View
$3,499
$3,499
See all prices
Brompton Electric Folding Bike$3,950ViewSee all prices
Brompton Electric Folding Bike$3,950ViewSee all prices
Brompton Electric Folding Bike
Brompton Electric Folding Bike
$3,950View
$3,950
$3,950
See all prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Electric Bikes deals$12.99View$26.40View$1,099ViewShow More DealsWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Electric Bikes deals$12.99View$26.40View$1,099ViewShow More DealsWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Electric Bikes deals
$12.99View$26.40View$1,099View
$12.99View
$12.99View
$12.99View
$12.99
$12.99
$26.40View
$26.40View
$26.40View
$26.40
$26.40
$1,099View
$1,099View
$1,099View
$1,099
$1,099
Show More Deals
Show More Deals
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
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