Electric Bike Guide 2024 - How to Pick Your Perfect Bike

[@davidascenzasr2849]

I’m so fortunate finding this most informative guide explaining everything needed to know about e-bike buying, style and best usage.

[@BikeRidecom]

Thanks for watching!

[@sivasamy-w3l]

Yet to improve

[@StariDido]

​@BikeRidecom why no stretch cruisers

[@maklaud406]

Моят съвет е:купете нещо и карайте,важното е краката да работят/велоергометър също върши работа.Здравето се подобрява от въртенето на педалите-не от модела на байка

[@asifikram5749]

whats the advantages/disadvatages of belt drive vs chain and gears? great video!

[@BikeRidecom]

The big advantage for belt drive motors are less maintenance, as you do not need to deal with deraileurs, shifting or gear cables. As well as increased service life, belts can last for 30,000+ km. Chains on the other hand, require more maintenance to maintain proper shifting, but you gain the ability to use traditional bike gearing. Mid-drive motors are forced to use gearing, which is included within the motor; this reduces the bike's effective gearing except in very high-priced belt drive systems. In general, you are going to get better gear range and better torque and climbing ability from a traditional chain-based drivetrain. For riders who are accustomed to chains and know how to maintain and effectively use traditional bike drivetrains, I see little benefit other then reducing maintenance and irritation involved in greasing and maintaining drivetrains.

[@Angel283]

THIS is the BEST video with the most comprehensive content I've seen yet, and I've spent countless hours on this subject. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@BikeRidecom]

Thanks for watching and for your wonderful comment! I am glad that the video is helpful

[@jcolt84]

When I checked your website, I was surprised that there was one category that was most important to me, that didn't exist. There needs to be a category for e-bikes that passengers can ride on. Finding a bike that my little 5-year-old daughter can ride on with me, is extremely important to me.

[@BikeRidecom]

The best place to look for bikes like this would be in the Cargo section; many cargo bikes offer the ability to fit or adapt the rear rack to fit a child seat. Thanks for the comment; I'm sorry you had trouble finding this! We will look at adding one or changing the search settings to compensate for this.

[@BikeRidecom]

www.bikeride.com/best-bikes/?fwp_type=cargo

[@jcolt84]

@@BikeRidecom I noticed you didn't have the word freedom bike on your site, or did I miss something?

[@BikeRidecom]

@@jcolt84 You are correct we have not worked with Wired (formerly known as Wicked) or tested the wired freedom

[@Annonyme-uf4ht]

I'm gonna build one at home as an electric student 👍 thanks for the good video ❤

[@BikeRidecom]

That's awesome! Keep me updated on how it goes; I love seeing people building e-bikes! Also check out our forums on BikeRide.com forums.bikeride.com/ I know our community would love to follow along with your build

[@jenifferganigan4150]

I like i bike very much i. Feel safe

[@NicolasCharretier]

In the "choosing a motor" segment, you could also say the middle frame motors generate a more pronounced wear on the bikes transmission and chain, as the motor exercises force directly on the chain.

[@BikeRidecom]

Yes, they can lead to more wear and require proper shifting. The components are of higher quality than the drivetrain on a rear hub motor, and with more e-bike-specific drivetrain parts available, mid-drive wear and failure are more of a routine maintenance issue. The attributes of both motors are important to think about when purchasing! Riding style is a huge one to consider as well between the two

[@Mikeexteriorcleaning]

Im in Australia and we can't have more than a 250watt pedal assist ebike. This video has helped me understand the differences between the different types of bikes and the options on batteries. This was extremely informative and very well put together. Thanks for the information. 😊

[@BikeRidecom]

Thanks for watching! I am glad it was helpful for you. If you are restricted to 250W I would look for a mid-drive unit, with the highest torque rating possible. Mid-drives will bring more power for the rated wattage at 250W and perform better than a 250W-rated rear hub motor.

[@malaven11]

Thank you for this video. It's exactly where every ebike rookie should start

[@BikeRidecom]

Thank you for watching! Really glad that the video was helpful to you 😄

[@kevinnashskitchen3517]

No electric road bike can go faster or more places than say a 26x4 tire Wired Freedom. It won't go farther or faster or off road as well. Just lighter weight.

[@BikeRidecom]

I disagree; a mid-drive motor could outperform a hub motor during long-distance testing if all other components are similar simply due to better efficiency. The Freedom has a large motor but still only a 20Ah battery, so we are getting down to elements like motor efficiency, weight, tire size compound, etc. I think we could find a competitor to defeat that 26X4 Wired Freedom.

[@kevinnashskitchen3517]

@@BikeRidecom find a guy that can pedal 30 miles maybe at 35 mph .. Lol

[@careycustomrifle]

The wired bike was not included in the line up, the question is why?

[@BikeRidecom]

​@@careycustomrifle The only reason is that we have not had a chance to receive or test a Wired e-bike just yet. With so many bike brands it takes some time to reach them all! The name keeps popping up, so we will be sure to see about getting some Wired bikes into the studio so we can test them out!

[@user619tlsdca5]

The EBike Trend is just that over being a public norm for 1 reason, majority of people ( like in US ) all STILL TOO LAZY to use ebikes as it does STILL take efforts of some kind of using a bike no matter if Eletric or regular. People are still too stubborn to join along the CHANGES IN NEED of being too comfortable sitting down , just like on the screens of on line activities. Anyone on a bike or an ebike is pretty much a non lazy person as being fact. The only thing that is a waste of time and energy is the constant need to spend $ on our cars as using an ebike saves US all 1000s of $$$ every 3 months of gas, parts like brakes, rotors, alternator, etc and insurance. E Bikers are the smartest and non laziness people on the planet.

[@carpediemarts705]

Lay off the crack pipe

[@user619tlsdca5]

@@carpediemarts705 Lay yaself out of the porn. Cuz u know it is true bro!

[@yesode4201]

They are a fanboy!

[@tomasviane3844]

If you use it to go to work, you still want some energy left to do the actual job. In many cases, it has nothing to do with laziness.

[@patrickwatkins2680]

Cuckoo!!

[@kevintraynor4508]

Some e. Bikes have a walk mode when walking with bike .walk mode is good for getting bike up steps

[@BikeRidecom]

Yes, you are right. Most do, good point! This can be helpful, but its still tough to move a 75+ lb e- bike up stairs

[@candidotorres7496]

I agree !

[@CatServant]

One con you failed to mention for mid-drive bikes: if the chain breaks and you don’t have the parts and tools to fix it on-site, you’re in for a long walk home. With a hub motor, you can remove the chain and use throttle to get you home.

[@BikeRidecom]

Very true! Mid-drive bikes definitely require more awareness when it comes to shifting and chain maintenance. I mentioned this in the hub motor pros but may have missed it for cons on the mid-drive section, so thanks for adding that info here for others. Extra power to the drivetrain can have some nasty consequences!

[@craigbalsinger648]

I think he did mention that actually😅

[@glemon5910]

This video is so helpful. Thank you!❤

[@BikeRidecom]

Thanks for watching!

[@carstarsarstenstesenn]

Great list and guide! Thank you

[@BikeRidecom]

Thanks for watching!

[@yiathao1408]

One of the best educational videos online ever.

[@BikeRidecom]

Thanks so much!

[@ungavaproductions]

Excellent presentation. So many accurate information. One of the best I ever seen concerning e-bike. Thanks for sharing

[@BikeRidecom]

Thank you!

[@X1GenKaneShiroX]

The maxed-out configuration of the model C electric bike from EBC cost $6,331 which is crazy expensive and only comes with a 1,728Wh battery capacity ($3.66/Wh). The Eahora Romeo Pro is my dream bike, coming in at $2,949 with a 3,120Wh battery capacity ($0.95/Wh). I also considered trying to convert my Schwinn Standpoint bike with a $1,350 conversion kit. Electric bikes aren’t cheap, so no wonder I have none yet. I also find it a little strange how EBC claims that the maxed-out model C can go 200 miles per charge with 1,728Wh, while Eahora claims Romeo can go 108 miles per charge with 3,120Wh.

[@BikeRidecom]

When you mention "maxed out" do you mean choosing every available option for the EBC model C? If so, you are paying for a lot of extras you may not need or want, like alarms, a helmet, "tech Package" and custom everything ( they let you customize a lot, and charge for everything!), so it does not really make a fair price comparison for battery capacity. EBC is an expensive brand, but they are hand-assembled in the USA and hand-painted in the USA; I can't think of any other brands off the top of my head that do that. So you're paying for the extras with EBC as well as the extra warranty. Now I can see what you mean looking at the Eahora Romeo, your getting more battery and a larger motor, the weight and size of the bike is also vastly different, and it uses a 1200W motor, compared to a 500W or 750w for the EBC. I would assume the 1200W motor is a direct drive, not a geared rear hub like the EBC. This could be one of the reasons we see a different range estimate, a 1200W motor on a heavier bike with larger tires will result in reduced range. I have not had a chance to look into or ride one of the Eahora bikes but they look pretty cool, and they offer some interesting options and large battery capacity! at 60 Ah, that's huge! Do you know where they manufacture the bikes? The brand comes from Califonia but I would assume like most e-bikes they are manufactured in China, maybe not? I have not had a chance to look but I will now! Another thing to remember about range estimates is they can differ vastly, I would bet EBC is using an estimate, on flat ground, light weight rider and using the lowest available assist level, not that anyone would pedal 200 miles at low assist haha. Perhaps Eahora is using a more modest range estimate, at higher assist levels, or they could be taking into account the power hungry 1200W motor. What conversion kit are you looking at for your Standpoint? If its a front hub conversion I would just look into a less expensive bike in the same price range, in USD its possible. But your definitely not going to get something as cool as the Romeo Pro I will admit!

[@michaelvaladez8222]

How are you not going to respond to such a detailed reply?

[@BlairAir]

Wait, you mean ICAN'T stop by the studio and ride them? Damn. And I was gonna sub and everything. JK. Subbed, even after I got snubbed. Good primer on ebikes. My advice to prospective buyers, spend a minimum of a month, going through choices. I guarantee your top choices will change numerous times, but you won't be stuck owning one, and wanting something else. Actually you still will, but you will be glad you took some time.

[@BikeRidecom]

I wish we could share these with all the viewers! Great advice here for new buyers 👍

[@noblessus]

Fantastic video. Very helpful, especially the one talking about the electrical units and the math and meaning behind them.

[@BikeRidecom]

Thank you!

[@CharlieSabello]

No

[@johnnya568]

Some of my favorite E-bike are the ariel rider grizzly & the E-cells super monarch 1000w step through They are both all wheel drive. the price are 3100 to 3600

[@BikeRidecom]

Both are very cool e-bikes. I have not had a chance to try out one of these "all wheel drive" units but I would love to get a chance to! What is the riding experience like? Do you find a big difference in traction and capability with the all wheel drive?

[@johnnya568]

@@BikeRidecom I have not ridden either one of the bikes, but I have been into Ebikes since 2019 and if you live in the country that’s why I recommend those two all-wheel-drive bikes

[@BikeRidecom]

@@johnnya568 Cool we will see if we can get one of those in for testing!

[@KEVINSNIDE]

Any advice on brands, looking into and e-bike for me and my wife something small like a folding bike size and not break the bank. We just like to casual ride on flat roads or paths. Thanks

[@BikeRidecom]

I enjoyed the Lectric XP3.0 as a folding bike, but in general, I prefer nonfolding bikes. Two brands I have had good luck with are Himiway and Ride1Up, both have good bikes for reasonable price ranges including some nice lighter e-bikes.

[@KEVINSNIDE]

@@BikeRidecom why do you prefer non folding bikes, if I can ask? I know for us it seems to be easier to place in our SUV and truck rather than buying a bike rack. Thanks

[@BikeRidecom]

@@KEVINSNIDE I do tend to prefer non folding bikes since the geometry of the bike tends to be better which leads to a more enjoyable ride experience. I find folders tend to be less comfortable for riding on tight trails, and completing corners. If you need a folder for storage and transport it makes sense, and if you are planning to ride mostly on pavement and recreational situations it probably wont matter to you as much. If you are a avid biker then you will probably find more enjoyment from other bikes since it will be closer to a regular bike

[@prosperpropertymanagement287]

Watched this video with the Mrs and we both loved it.

[@BikeRidecom]

Awesome thanks for watching! I am glad you both enjoyed and found it helpful

[@i.p.0179]

At first look I thought Sami Zayn got himself a new hobby 😅

[@troyclayton8659]

My idea of the perfect bicycle! Is one that won't burn my house down

[@BikeRidecom]

A very good pro for any bike!

[@iSpied4theFBi]

I live in a first floor flat, so, I need a lightweight ebike, mainly for city use. I have found a bike I like a lot. It is the PVY Z20 Max. It weighs 27 kg with the additional battery, (which can be taken off, while carrying the bike upstairs to my flat). It has 26.5 Ah, a top speed of around 25 mph, 20 X 2.3 street tyres, hydraulic brakes, torque sensor, 80Nm of torque, front and rear suspension, 7 speed Shimano, twist throttle, IPX5 waterproof, folding pedals, and they say the range is 200 km, but I would be pleased with half of that ! What do you think ?.. Or maybe you can suggest an alternative ?.. I live in the UK and the price is £949

[@BikeRidecom]

Wow, those specs sound like a good deal! It seems you have checked all the boxes when it comes to performance. I have not had a chance to ride a bike from PVY, so I went ahead and did a little bit of reading. Since you are from the UK I would read this article, it mentions that the bikes do not conform to regulations and are illegal to ride in the EU, not sure if this applies to the UK as well. This may or may not change your opinion but it could lead to problems, and I have read they are challenging to return if you do have an issue! www.notebookcheck.net/PVY-Z20-Pro-review-Convincing-extremely-affordable-and-foldable-e-bike-with-potential-for-improvement.717606.0.html

[@iSpied4theFBi]

@@BikeRidecom: Maybe you are familiar with Engwe Engine Pro ? The PVY Z20 Plus came out top in a head to head comparision between the two,(from a no nonsence reliable escooter/ebike reviewer). His KZbin handle is e- VRC. I have no connection to to him whatsoever. I just rate his honest reviews

[@BikeRidecom]

@@iSpied4theFBi I have gotten to ride the Engwe EP-2 Pro, we will have a review of this bike coming out soon. ENGWE seems to be on par with many of the other folding e-bikes in the same price range. Good that it came out on top in a head to head comparison! that is the best way to make a decision in my mind. If you end up getting the PVY please let us know how you like it! On paper is seems like a good bike that will fit your needs

[@iSpied4theFBi]

@@BikeRidecom: I have just watched a KZbin review on the Engwe EP-2 Pro. It's a very pretty ebike, and I could get one for £879, (in the UK). Then I saw the weight... 30 kg/66lbs. That's a bit too heavy for me to carry upstairs to my flat. And I noticed the torque was 55Nm. The PVY I'm keen on, is 80Nm of torque !

[@BikeRidecom]

@@iSpied4theFBi It sounds like you have made your choice then! Let us know how it is

[@StariDido]

Why no stretch cruisers

[@kevintraynor4508]

Disc breaks can be a pain especially when the pads keep rubbing

[@BikeRidecom]

They can require some adjustment, especially with cheaper bikes, which may have mechanical brakes and easily bent rotors. The benefits of disk brakes far outweigh the negatives, and they are much better than a V-brake though!

[@flagermusen]

I was disappointed you didn't mention what model the bikes were that you showcased in the video.

[@BikeRidecom]

Sorry about that! If you want to know one of the bikes just let me know. Luckily we do have a review video for each of the bikes seen, they are all on our channel page

[@flagermusen]

@@BikeRidecom I was interested in the grey one to your right, it looks really sleek. But I ended up taking a screenshot of the video and doing a reverse image google search and found out it was a Ride1Up 700 series. Would have just loved if there was a little annotation or a note on each of the models shown.

[@BikeRidecom]

@@flagermusenRide1Up has some very sleek bikes! Glad you found what it was

[@jessiehammond7833]

Hey Scott im 45 thinking of an e-bike that has long distant capacity and could possibly tow a e-bike camper and my dog and was wondering if you could help to understand what would be a good choice for the money and battery also what wouldn’t catch fire and accidentally burn the house down Kind regards Jessie

[@BikeRidecom]

I would recommend looking for a large capacity battery for range, 20Ah or more if you can find it. 20Ah batteries typically push bikes over 30 miles in a single charge, even while using max assist, and can go up to 60-80 miles in the right conditions at level 1. You can also find bikes that will offer dual battery setups for extreme range, or carry a second battery with you. If you plan to tow, you will want to look for 750W motors or higher, some brands offer "un-restricted" motors that exceed 1000W for offroad use only and these are excellent for towing trailers etc. However, they can limit the legal use of the bike on roads and pathways. Another great option is the new AWD bikes, which we can see from some brands like QuietKat. With dual 750W motors in the front and rear wheel they offer great power, and you can adjust which motor is being used, or use both depending on your power needs and how far you wish to travel. As for fire hazards, looking for bikes that offer UL-certified batteries and electronics is a great way to ensure the bike and battery are safe. New laws in the US will soon force all batteries to adhere to these standards, and it's great for safety. We tend to see fire hazards from cheap, off-brand batteries and units that use high-amp controllers, like the electric dirtbikes we see coming from off-brands. So, it's helpful to go for a reliable company that uses good materials. Another big item for fire is charging practices, the issue occurs when the battery and charger both fail, and allow the charger to keep pumping power into the unit after it is charged. So making sure you unlug the battery as soon as possible after charging is a great safety method. Using a timer is a good way to ensure power is cut off without having to physically unplug the battery. You can also use the "fireproof" charging bags to give yourself a little time in case of a fire, but these are not foolproof and could easily fail. Personally, I use timers, unlug the batteries, and do all of my charging in an exterior shed where if a fire does occur, I can limit its damage to other property and hopefully contain it to the single bike or battery affected. So far, using safe charging practices, I have not had any failures or fires to report. But it is always on my mind!

[@jessiehammond7833]

@@BikeRidecom thank you happy days

[@markfranks1573]

Any suggestion for a 6'7" rider. Mostly road/gravel medium

[@BikeRidecom]

www.bikeride.com/best-bikes/?fwp_type=electric%2Cgravel-adventure-all-road Here is a list with a few options for gravel and electric bikes. Specialized and Trek both make good gravel and road bikes, with electric options. For less expensive brands Ride1Up has a few gravel centered bikes, and Fiido also offers a gravel bike. Aventon also has a new Ramblas which is a mid-drive MTB and very affordable! It would do well on gravel and road but not a road bike specifically.

[@aiercooledengine]

Thankyou for this review, I have a Land Rider which I purchased about 20 years ago. I've hardly riden it so it for all intence and purposes is like new. I want to convert it to a mid-drive ebike, what does the community think?

[@BikeRidecom]

Converting a traditional pedal bike to accommodate a mid-drive motor would be very challenging. If I am not wrong, you would be required to remove the entire BB and weld the frame to accommodate a mid-drive motor. Then you would have to work out how to fit a drivetrain that would work with the motor; this would probably involve changing the entire rear wheel and hub and adjusting the chain line somehow. Not to mention battery, cabling, and sensors Plus brakes will need upgrading! It would be better off to attempt a "all wheel drive" with front and rear hub motors or simply buy a new bike designed for a mid-drive motor

[@aiercooledengine]

@@BikeRidecom Thankyou for your input.

[@doloresbonador2503]

Hi there..I am from the phillipines, can I have 1 but I don't have money to buy 😢 how

[@BikeRidecom]

Check out our Giveaway program to win your own bike or e-bike! www.bikeride.com/giveaways/

[@EldwynBranchSr]

Any reason you guys have not reviewed the HOVSCO-Hov-Alpha?

[@BikeRidecom]

We have so many e-bike companies reaching out that it really just comes down to time! We are working hard to produce as many reviews as possible and include as many bikes and brands as possible, but we can't hit all of them. I will keep the HOV-Alpha in mind if we get a chance to review one from the brand!

[@benjaminquiton6087]

How ?

[@djones811]

My perfect ebike has mag wheels that don't have to be adjusted and less to worry about

[@BikeRidecom]

Luckily, we are seeing a few options out on the road with these! Bafang makes a pretty affordable motor/rim combo, and we have seen it on Addmotor bikes. It's nice not to need to true a wheel and worry about spoke tension. It's not hard if you have a stand and practice a bit, but with heavy rear hub motors in the rear wheel, they do go out of true more often than traditional bike wheels.

[@ccclaire1234]

Very interesting video ❤

[@BikeRidecom]

Thanks for watching!

[@JohnDavisoo456]

Excellent information and good video. Thank you Sir.

[@BikeRidecom]

Thank you for watching! Very glad it was helpful

[@richardcooley9730]

Please make it clear that this is a US view, the rules in europe are very different. thanks.

[@BikeRidecom]

Thanks for the comment! Yes the UK and EU have very different regulations. I've gone ahead and added a disclaimer to the video description to better inform viewers

[@richardcooley9730]

@@BikeRidecom Thank you, and all the best from Southern France.

[@BikeRidecom]

@@richardcooley9730 Thanks for watching!

[@ms.carlettawilson1522]

What about-the E trikes? ❤

[@BikeRidecom]

E-trikes are a great option for extra stability and cargo capacity! We will see if we can get some e-trikes in for testing

[@yvonneleach9650]

Velotric Fold 1 is missing

[@BikeRidecom]

We have not had a chance to test the Velotric Fold 1 yet, but we hope to test it soon!

[@yvonneleach9650]

@@BikeRidecom Thank you. If you are set up to do so, please send me the result. I'll keep looking as well. And I'm impressed with the response...I posted only hours ago.

[@BikeRidecom]

@@yvonneleach9650 We will see what we can do to get the Velotric fold into the studio for testing. Thanks for your reply as well! I aim to get to everyone's comments as quickly as possible and enjoy answering your questions

[@abdulqaiyumshaikh5584]

Ajency ka kya hisab

[@audikid89]

Every single pro he listed about electric bikes can be followed up with the statement “unless it’s raining” 😂

[@BikeRidecom]

Lots of electric bikes offer reasonable water resistance, IPX4 or better, and we see some truly weatherproofed bikes now! So rain is really not a big deal for e-bikes. Now, I'm not going to lie to you. Living in the PNW, I have days when I have not enjoyed the ride. Getting pelted with gale-force rains while traveling at 28 mph is not fun, but with enough gortex, anything is possible! 🤣

[@franciscoesteves1048]

I have a Gocycle GS it did not last 1000Km i had to pay 700€ half pf the price for a new batery the company sent my bike on transportation and arrive broken and did not ansewer to my complains i dont recomend this bike they are not serious at leat to me. 🤢🤢

[@BikeRidecom]

Ah, that's too bad to hear. It's very frustrating! The batteries do seem to be an issue with e-bikes. Getting these internet-based companies to hold up to warranty promises is tough. With no storefront, it is easy for them to avoid customer complaints.

[@ziblot1235]

{retty technical stuff, huh? But he knows his stuff. Just driving around my neighborhood, I can ride for an hour or so and I dont even use one of the blocks. I dont pedal assisit. If I wanted to pedal I would have got a bike. I have noticed when I pedal. the pedal outruns me. KnowwhatI mean. I cant contribute! I guess IM too old. (73 with Heart failure)

[@BikeRidecom]

Thanks! It's amazing how powerful the batteries are when your ride does not include many hills!

[@tjj5337]

Door Dash?

[@BikeRidecom]

What's the best bike for door-dash? Or should we start our own door-dash company on the side with all these e-bikes?

[@mick00000000002]

Thump up .subscribe. Mick Australia 🇦🇺 wollongong. ) No wight. Good battery. 60kg I am. To go to work. 20km to work. And can charge at work. ??

[@BikeRidecom]

Thanks for watching! 40Km round trip, you will probably want something with 14Ah + battery, and at 60kg you wont need a huge motor if you don't have a lot of hills. Anything with a 500W motor should be fine and save you some weight. If you want a really light bike you could look at some of the 250W or 350W bikes, not many hills in Wollongong if I remember right? I had a fun trip on that side of Au years ago

[@hottstuff3012]

Thank you. Great ebike 101!

[@BikeRidecom]

Thank you!