Does the weight of an eBike matter?

[@willc9866]

Love all your videos, as a NYer who used to live in the Netherlands. My good, relatively cheap non-ebike became a workhorse during the pandemic, as I wanted to minimize using NY mass transit until things are safe again, but riding home with fully-loaded grocery panniers going up long hills convinced me it's time to spend some money on an ebike. I've test ridden a couple of ebikes so far, in the 45-60+ pound range. My thoughts as an ebike customer in a big city with good mass transit : (1) Weight really matters when (lifting the ebike) going up stairs for one's home or the subway. Home because it's not wise to leave even a multiple-locked bike outside all night, never mind a relatively costly ebike. Subway/train because I still want to take advantage of NY's transit network (subways AND regional trains - and the TWO Brooklyn-Staten Island MTA buses with bike racks!) to extend the effective range of my ebike for long adventure outings on a single battery charge. My suggestion for ebike makers is to consider designing a good handle (along with better weight distribution) that can make a big difference between a heavy bike that is not carryable for the average biker vs. one that is just-about carryable for a short distance/height. Another idea is to add a "slow walk" throttle mode (max 1-2 mph) that allows someone to "roll" the ebike up (or even down) typical stairs. I was able to use a throttle to help with stairs, but it's tricky to get it right, and very risky if not finessed.

[@waroncars7782]

My Thoughts. In general this video is spot on, just finer points. 1) In a semi-suburban landscape like Long Beach, e-bike weight doesn't really matter. One is riding more steady state stretches. 2) In a dense urban landscape like Mid-Town Manhattan, e-bike weight does matter. Every block is only 300ft, the constant start stop is a drag. I ride a 64lb! trekking pedelac in the suburbs. Max speed 25KmH. Its perfect for 2-8 mile errands. When I take it to the dense city, its a pain in the a**, because its long wheelbase and heavy weight simply makes it not-nimble. If I'd ride a lot on the city, I'd likely get one of those shortwheel base folding e-bikes. Roughly speaking, since getting the e-bike my Car VMT has dropped by at least 1/2. Wife and I are seriously contemplating getting rid of the car. TBD

[@Propelbikes]

Thanks a bunch for sharing! Do you know the war on cars podcast?

[@heavenlymermaid2192]

Love your profile name WAR ON CARS XXXX

[@axxxxman]

biggest issue I have with heavier bikes is that I live in a town house where I have to carry the bike up the stairs, get through the front door, then down the hallway and down the stairs into the storage room, a 50lbs bike would be too much for me to manage without scuffing up the walls, carpet, doors etc. my heaviest bike is my mtb bike which is 32lbs and I think that is about my limit. I love the R&M delight but I think it will need to wait until I can move to a house with a garage.

[@ericchan7500]

Great video Chris. It was great meeting you at your shop in Brooklyn last year! I use my e-bike for commuting. Weight makes a very big difference to me because it really impacts my range. Perhaps you should mention this in your next video. Many e-bikes could significantly lighten weight without much sacrifice (seat post, handlebars, and fork) , and they should do so to increase range. I think the wider low pressure tires provide more than enough comfort as well as good handling, and dual suspension is an unnecessary weight burden on most e-bikes. Of course, dual suspension has its place in mountain e-bikes, but not really for the average commuter e-bike.

[@Propelbikes]

Thanks Eric! Same here! I agree with you for the most part, but wide tires and suspension aren’t just about comfort. They also serve as a safety enhancement due to the added traction. I think it also depends on the terrain, length and speed of the route. Personally I prefer to ride with wide tires and suspension. I understand that’s not a priority for many. With 5 budging discs in my back I notice a big difference during and after the ride without it.

[@vulpixelful]

I agree. For a commuter bike, a suspension seat post and seat is more useful than heavy dual suspension. And skinnier tires means less surface area that could get punctured.

[@soniatriana9091]

Thank you! I learned a lot! Which has also gotten me excited to start looking at a Tern Cargo bike. I’m glad you showed the hitch bike rack that swings out(😱👍🏼) & that there’s a ramp attachment(👍🏼👏🏼) to facilitate getting an ebike onto a bike rack👍🏼. So, you definitely answered many of my questions!! As always, your videos are fantastic!! I really appreciate your devotion & honesty!! The biking world is lucky to have you & your team!!

[@Falasi4]

I take the batteries off our 2 greenway ebikes before putting them on the hitch rack - makes them noticeably lighter and gets them to spot less likely to be stolen - and out of the extreme heat/cold if applicable. They are both bikes I converted with mid-drive torque sensing kits so decent light bikes to start with and then only the added motor weight which isn't much. Weight matters but it is all about how you manage it on the ebike. Probably matters most if you are using it on a lot of hills where range would be affected.

[@ExcellPugetSound]

Hi, glad you are at least talking about the issue. You are too young to udnerstand the issue from my perspective at 70 years old (first some, background... when I was in my twenties I rode a Raliegh International... in its day, at 26 lbs, it was light and I rode longer distances). Now, I want the following things, to enjoy 10-20 mile rides, exercise, fun and ease of use. First is to be able to get some exercise and cut out the difficulties that hills present (therefore an ebike). Second and no less important, is to be able to lift the bike into my car (there fore a folding bike and not wanting to get a hitch and rack that can handle an ebike) and to be able to stablize myself when I am stopping (the rads and xp of the world are too heavy for me to feel safe when I stop. They are over 60 lbs). I am also not as flexible as I would like to be. I suppose there is a third issue... I would rather not spend over $1,500. For these reasons, I have been looking at Fiidon D11 $,1099 (has 250W motor… wish I could get 350W) 38lbs SDream 500URX $1,099 (500W motor) 46lbs Electric Bike GB Carbon $1,279 (350W motor) 37.5lbs Propella V4 $1,299+50shipping (250W motor) 37lbs All are 20” wheels and folding. As I said, I want to stay under 50lbs and under $1,500. What do you suggest that would meet my criteria?

[@Propelbikes]

Thanks for your detailed response. I’m happy to hear you’re finding a way to still enjoy biking. Unfortunately I don’t have any experience with these products so I can’t recommend any. I would recommend checking out electricbikereview.com and his channel, he has a lot of helpful info for these types of bikes.

[@injuredtabletennisplayer1474]

I feel you. I’m 63 and I’ve a Cannondale racer in the attic not been on in over 30 years. The Homage I’m planning for my wife is pricey. But the cost,weight, comfort triangle and the cost weight limitation imposed would be an issue. I’m planning a stopgap non e Cannondale mountain bike and ride my 20 miles slowly with her for a few years. By that time I’ll need and will have saved for my Delite.

[@jeffvallone3036]

One thing people overlook is many bikes have walk-assist. It can help get a heavier bike to where you need it before getting on and riding. Depending on your stairs, it can help get up those, too.

[@RiderOftheNorth1968]

This is so very true, unless you cycle in the snowy winter and use studded tires. I Keep my cycle indoor in my house so: I just have to carry the heavy sucker to it´s protective mat where it "lives" when not in use. (Last time on the scale: 29 kg unloaded)

[@Propelbikes]

Great points!

[@5DNRG]

Exactly my issue! I live 5 steps below ground level and Aventon said I could use Walk Assist to push my 50+ lb ebike up (I'm 100 lbs, older). I haven't done it yet as I only used it first time today, but it should help a lot. Downstairs is easy as I back it down using the front brake to slow me.

[@fwood1231]

Another great video on a very pertinent topic. I’ve got a 55# ebike. Spring front fork, spring seatpost suspension, rear rack, lights. It’s also a 28 mph assisted bike. It’s a bit heavy at the end of my park riding, getting it back onto my hitch mounted rack. I’ll try to make a ramp to ease that burden but I’ve done a couple of things to make it feel lighter on the road. I generally don’t mind the weight when riding because that helps absorb some of the higher frequency bumps and rattles associated with faster riding bikes. I tried inserts in the 50 mm wide tires to make it more supple but it made the bike feel sluggish, had more rolling resistance. I went to a more narrow tire, a 42 mm tire with a different tread pattern and added some pressure to the tires. This made a great difference in the rolling resistance and made the bike more lively. I also just added the Kinekt seatpost and suspension system. That’s really given a much better ride for me. But I still think a little more mass for the bike is important so I’ll continue to work on the ramp for my bike rack.

[@bruiser6479]

I live in an Australian country town and use my R & M Supercharger 2 and my normal Cannondale Tourer to commute on. For me the weight isnt a problem. I have a heavy duty bike rack on the back of my vehicle that manages the weight of the ebike well. The ebike also offers a plusher ride than my Cannondale.

[@danielmorrisonrhymes]

I just love the time you take to go into all of these details in depth, thanks man

[@GabrieleKucich]

Hi Chris, interesting topic. My personal experience and opinion about weight is that I can't find many options for car racks that are designed for more than 15kg load. I'm talking about Italy and EU, but I didn't find yet anything that fits a 30km e-bike. So I hope in the future also manufacturers of these accessories will consider the growth of weight of e-bikes compared to traditional bikes. In general I prefer comfort vs lightweight, but sometimes there is something you cannot do with an heavy bike. Bye

[@Propelbikes]

Thanks! Great points. Usually you need a hitch mounted rack to handle the heavier bikes. Some put them on trunk mounted racks and exceed the individual bike rating, but stay under the total rack capacity. You didn’t hear that from me though. I usually recommend some extra straps in these cases.

[@GabrieleKucich]

@@Propelbikes thanks Chris. I was considering trunk mounted rack too, but it's a pitty to buy one with three slots and put only one bike 😜

[@chriswilliams2129]

I just received my Delfast bike last week and I love it! It weighs 155 pounds! I’m getting a bike rack with a ramp! I will work around the weight because it’s worth it!

[@roddunne]

Great & comprehensive video Chris. One little nuance: EU speed limit on eBikes. I've two heavy bikes (Fat dual-susp + Giant Road-e) limited at 25kph for the EU and its a slog to get past 27kph with the weight - which comes up pretty fast if you have regular fitness level + regular body weight. So for EU, flat city riding, regular fitness level, I'd go for a lighter commuting e-bike (Specialised VadoSL being on the dream list, as the novelty of a fat bike is wearing off :) ) If the EU regs change then it'd be a different story for sure... and the lure of a Riese & Muller would be unavoidable

[@Propelbikes]

This is a great point! Thanks for sharing this perspective

[@betaich]

@Ed Moore at least in Germany police regularly test for this. One they do speed measures on bike lanes and two they test the bikes on special test benches.

[@westoncraig]

its an interesting thought, as the first thing i would want to do is de-restrict the bike and get the most out of it

[@roddunne]

@@westoncraig Only downside of that is that it probably voids the warranty on an expensive bike... wouldn't want to be left with a heavy inoperable ebike with no juice! :)

[@jeffreylee5770]

My e-bike weighs over 50 lbs, and if it were heavier, it would be harder to lift it over stairs and into trains etc. I also carry it around a car rack, so the weight really matters. I would never buy a heavier e-bike.

[@Propelbikes]

This is a fair point for sure. It’s nice to have this versatility

[@SwiftySanders]

This is the number 1 reason I own a Turbo Creo SL

[@michaelrobichaud9252]

Weight's not a matter of performance. It's a matter of wrestling the bike upstairs to my apartment to plug it in, or lifting it onto a bike rack on my car.

[@Propelbikes]

This is many peoples perspective for sure

[@timgreen1835]

I live in an upstairs apartment and I just use my throttle a little bit, and my ebike walks itself up the stairs....If not for that, it would be a huge chore every time I came home getting it up my stairs (mine weighs around 60 pounds)

[@SNOWDONTRYFAN]

R&M Supercharger is a great weight balance work horse when it comes to long distance hauling , however a total nightmare in the UK when it comes to main line intercity railways , where the majority of trains have limited vertical hang your bike hooks for 2x bikes , the Dutch and Germans on the other hand have dedicated bike carriages , only problem in some cases the distance from the platform onto the trains can be hard work with a heavy bike, and last try the old East German railway stations that still haven't got lifts installed , those steep steps are murder , they do not even have those metal bike shoots to push your bike up at the side !

[@Propelbikes]

This is are excellent points for sure! Thanks as always for sharing your valuable experience.

[@bamf6603]

i think you need an electric scooter xD

[@RB-sr1oc]

I added custom wheel builds featuring carbon gravel rims on my electric commuters. I think the right build can be very durable for that application and provide the expected benefits of less rotational weight (ie faster acceleration). But the primary benefit, that is perhaps overlooked, is the better ride quality vs the stock setup. It has been a noticeable improvement in ride quality on my commuters which do not have suspension.

[@Propelbikes]

Great feedback! Thanks for sharing your experience here. It’s always helpful to hear from more real world experience.

[@ItsYourBoiUhh]

Rotational weight doesnt translate to faster acceleration because your bike isnt a freewheel. Im sure the performance have improved though, id love to own a pair of carbon rims.

[@lawrose4]

Thanks for this and all your thoughtful videos! For me, it's about stopping. E-bikes have more mass and can push the rider around more easily than a bike weighing significantly less. I find myself saying I would rather have a bike I can push around than one that pushes me around. But thanks for explaining the reasons - other than the obvious reason of carrying a motor and battery - that these bikes weigh so much, and perhaps need to weigh so much. I presume that is why they come with disc brakes to provide greater - faster - stopping force. In any event, I now have two e-bikes and I am in the process of losing weight and muscling up to use them. Seriously, and in the meantime and to help me with the process, I ride a no motor, no suspension tadpole recumbent trike, and a variety of non-electric two-wheelers almost daily.

[@K1989L]

Good video! This has way more important information than just weight. Especially the tire width and suspension part. Rigid aluminum forks with kind of narrow tires can be brutal to your wrists. I have rigid aluminum fork with 40mm tire and I consider that the minimum or borderline too narrow.

[@yogeshnaik9276]

Best explanations...My ebike is 50kgs semi recumbent but that's like a smooth Rolls Royce every ride is so engaging and weight makes so much stability I have 3in 24 rear n 1.75 26 inch front it's so nice..recently I retrofitted expensive mt 6200 decore with 203 mm new rotors and it's so cool I don't regret the 4000usds I invested in it...But today this video made me confident as I always worried...here at propel I got my reply which was back of mind

[@HarryLovesRuth]

I think multimodal commuting is an area where weight concerns are a factor. The bike racks on our city buses have a 50 lb. limit. We are fortunate enough to live on the bus line that drops my husband right in front of his place of work. Sometimes he takes the bus in the morning and rides home in the evening. If he were to upgrade to an ebike, it would need to be under that weight limit.

[@Propelbikes]

This is an excellent point and I feel like I should have spoken more about it in the video. I am admittedly a bit out of touch with this topic since the NYC buses don’t have racks and although they have them in LA I usually try to ride the full distance. I do think removing batteries is often helpful in these scenarios though. This could also be another topic for discussion with the manufacturer of these racks as I’m sure we will see more eBikes and multimodal commuting in the future

[@HarryLovesRuth]

Weight is also an issue for consumer racks for cars. If your automobile has a 1-1/4 hitch receiver, it's really hard to find a hitch mount rack that can handle an e-bike, even without the battery. On the occasions when we have to transport Clementine (Tern GSD,) we hitch the utility trailer to the CRV and lay the bike down on some blankets. It's not ideal, but retrofitting a 2" receiver would be costly.

[@Propelbikes]

We generally recommend the Thule Easyfold. It’s costly but works great!

[@injuredtabletennisplayer1474]

Such a learned analysis. If I buy a Bentley weighs more than a Toyota. Now I know why my future bike need weigh more than my rusting racing bike

[@Propelbikes]

🙏 much appreciated! This is an interesting analogy for sure. I do love analogies.

[@srspower]

The weight of an ebike is highly important. For any given powertrain you will get more performance and range with a lighter bike, especially important when you are restricted to 250w like in the EU and much of the world. Not to mention lifting it over gates or through bike styles.

[@davidkaiser810]

I replaced the pedals, stem, bars, grips, seat post, and saddle on my new Ride1Up bike. I then removed the fenders. These changes probably add up to 2-3 lbs. of weight loss. Does this mater to me a 72 year old that has to ride up steep mountain hills? You bet it does. If I could find a rigid fork to replace the suspension fork, I would replace that to. Oh, and I don't have a bunch of crap on my bars to clutter it up and add weight....

[@chantaledaudelin177]

I'm 56, I have to lift my bike every day to get it back inside my house for the night. I found out about using the walking propulsion to help me get it up the exterior stairs and it made a huge difference between getting it outside for a bike ride or not.

[@Thepuffingyank]

i have ran out of juice MILES from home, and we have hills here. my record is 10 miles from home. so obviously it can be done, just that its more work

[@matagnefabrice7348]

i've just bought the roaster from riese and muller. The weight is the same then my old cube cross hybrid but the balancing is so much better on the roadster ... it feels like twice lighter.

[@hbjtf]

Two questions come up when people ask me about my eBike: range and weight. To the range issue my response is simple, my butt wears out before the battery does. That’s been true from day one to (now) year four. To the weight issue, I load (2) eBikes (wife has one too) on the back of our camper van. The combined weight must be within the rack spec, and it’s nice if I can load them myself. For us it’s about 65 lbs per bike. Batteries are kept in the van, not on the rack. (Hollywood rack BTW) we use our eBikes for both fun and convenient transportation when we travel.

[@K1989L]

One thing to consider is if you plan to use a roof rack that your car can handle the weight of your ebike(s).

[@WrecklessSandwich]

I have a coworker that's a real Road Bike Guy that's obsessed with the weight of his bike. He was giving me a hard time for adding a little horn. I pointed out that I'm a 280 pound man on a 50-60 pound ebike. Bells and whistles on the handlebar are barely a rounding error compared to my beer gut.

[@marcmathieu9848]

I do 500m up daily and weight matters, my bike weights 7 kg less then most conpetitors and this saves battery!!!!!

[@Propelbikes]

Nice

[@keydiddy10]

What about the Vado SL by Specialized.

[@stratostear]

The lighter the bike the more range you'll get. Light wheels and tires make the biggest difference.

[@Propelbikes]

Great points! We agree

[@blakeberlin6295]

@@martynpage7504 Yes but ... removing weight from the frame, bags, etc. has far less benefit compared to reducing rotating mass.

[@iMadrid11]

eBike weight doesn’t matter. You can get unlimited range by pedaling. It’s not an electric moped where you can’t move forward on zero battery charge.

[@carlose6010]

@@iMadrid11 You're the kind to buy an ebike and throw away the battery then.

[@iMadrid11]

@@carlose6010 Not really. I’m still strong enough to climb hills or do century rides on an MTB or road bike using my own energy. But my Dad in his 70’s with knee problems certainly can’t ride his road bike beyond flats. On an eBike my Dad still can still climb hills and go the distance at a leisurely pace. When riding on flats the weight of a bike or eBike doesn’t really matter. Unless you like to go fast. So this mentality of ‘limited battery range’ for eBikes doesn’t matter. The electric motor is mainly designed to provide you pedal assist and propulsion as backup. An eBike is not a electric moped. You can still continue your journey when the battery runs out by pedaling.

[@petesig93]

Weight..... my regular touring bike (Thorn Nomad Mk2) weighs in at 17kg (38lbs) so a 40lb e-bike is not really too much heavier. I will be looking for something that can carry touring loads including camping gear, and cope with riding in hilly terrain, with as good long battery range. I am interested in the Reisse & Muller Supercharger Rohlofff GX. I really do think that suspension is over-rated for most urban and road riding uses, and would be happy with this bike sans front suspension. I have toured all over the place, including mountain gravel back-tracks and outback gravel & sand roads with no suspension at all. Only on a very limited number of occasions have I felt the lack of suspension had slowed me down or made the riding excessively uncomfortable.

[@christill]

The difference between my 30kg e-bike and my 10kg bike is that the e-bike is a bit more of a hassle to manoeuvre through the house. Apart from that there’s no difference. If anything the weight has more advantages to me.

[@Propelbikes]

Great perspective :)

[@liaminrio5463]

I can no longer carry my bike on car roof but everything else is positive. Especially the heavy tyres and wheels which rarely let you down.

[@Propelbikes]

Good point Liam

[@jimquinn799]

My Apartment requires me to climb a flight of stairs. There's a parking lot but it doesn't have an option for bikes period and I don't want my bi,e stolen or exposed to weather. So the ability to go up and down a relatively long flight of stairs means weight it a big factor. Couldn't imagine two flights or OMG more. My apartment "A converted school" has three flights no elevator. My needs aren't for speed or power but a simple device for mobility to run errands around town. Make appointments do a little shopping now and again. Thus a back pack. No rack to as you save save on weight. Put my battery in my backpack when climbing the stairs. Might I like more features? More range and speed? Sure but I can do just fine until carbon becomes more affordable:)

[@67daffy]

Nice work Chris keeping the masses informed (well hopefully)

[@Propelbikes]

Lol. I try

[@rkbllc]

Finally my questions are answered. Well done.

[@dtape]

When I moved recently within New York I deliberately moved to an apartment on the ground floor instead of a walk-up to make using and housing an ebike not suck. My ebike is 46 lbs. For my smaller size and strength 46 lbs is just light enough that minor lifting and maneuvering my bike isn't terrible. I think 40 lbs is a great weight and anything lighter would definitely be easy for most people to deal with.

[@Propelbikes]

I can relate to this thinking

[@dalem1140]

Yes it does when you gotta lift it over a fence in the middle of no where😂⚡

[@Propelbikes]

Yes this is true. Flying ebikes would solve this problem :)

[@ebiketees5923]

Just carry a small bolt cutter

[@jmc6874]

I always have bolt cutters on me. How the heck do you think i got the bike?

[@callumnoblett4905]

@@jmc6874 Hmm that's how I lost my last bike. 😞

[@jamesrm12001]

Hi Chris, My question is will the motor take into consideration the backwards pull of gravity when under load. Will I feel the difference when rinding up a long moderately steep hill between 50 pounds of gear loaded on my bike and no gear, essentially a 50 pound differential. Or can the motor sense the additional torque, thereby adding more assistance? (I ponder this while my wife and I anxiously await the arrival of my Roloff supercharger 2 and her Nevo 3 to be delivered from Propel. The build for mine starts Feb1. It’s going to be a great riding year!) Jim&Michelle.

[@Propelbikes]

Hey Jim & Michelle, first thanks for your support! Second for your main question. The motor will totally sense the difference and provide the needed power. You cold just need to shift down one or two gears from your normal to allow the bike to perform more optimally with the added weight. This is one of the benefits of the center motor.

[@BurningJah]

what is your take on road bikes assisted with a motor like the fazua motor?

[@Propelbikes]

This would probably be one of my main choices if I wanted a very lightweight bike, but I’m really hesitant to new entrants into the market. Support can be challenging even with the proven companies. We’ll have more on this soon, but we are focusing primarily on Bosch because of this as well as some details around safety like UL (underwriting laboratories) the organization which independently tests the Bosch system. Bosch does this voluntarily to ensure safety, but so far no other companies follow this standard.

[@mohammadgharaee]

Many thanks for the info. I have a question regarding suspension in RM ebikes. How much different is the riding experience of Delite and chrger3? How much more maintanace does a full suspension need? I want to ride mainly on well built or gravels roads and rarely off road so caould the front suspension be enough? I am considering if the full suspension in my case really worth extra price. Can I for example add seat post to compensate the full suspension. It is also really helpful if you can make a video regarding suspension in ebikes.

[@Propelbikes]

Oddly enough I made a video on this topic :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/jmfLfmmvfpapa9U

[@livedadyt10]

I have the Thule you showed with the ramp. Expensive but worth it.

[@jamesquinn8558]

To me living in a school building converted into apartments weight is key because of the long stairs. Very long stairs. While I have a parking lot I don’t have a garage to store an ebike in. Thus the only feasible way I’m going to make it work is to carry any ebike I get up and down that flight of stairs without killing myself. I’m so not concerned with speed for as long as I’m doing better than walking I’m ahead of the game. As for distance 16 miles round trip is my likely longest possible trip I’d be taking and that is fairly rarely at that. Then there’s price. So for me weight comes first, then price, comfort, followed by hill climbing or torque, distance, last would be speed.

[@CargoBikeCowboy]

The weight of an eBike only matters when your out riding and the batterie dies, then you have to pedal the entire weight of the bicycle. I ride a Surly Big Dummy that weighs 55 lbs without anything in the bags. Peddling a heavy bicycle just makes you stronger. As far as lifting an eBike and carrying it up some stairs maybe look to the Brompton folding bikes and the little wheels they have to roll it around when it is folded. Maybe make an attachment for assisting with lifting the bicycle at different points on the frame to make it easier.

[@Propelbikes]

We totally agree! Great points all around

[@WhenThoughtsConnect]

after riding w/ an ebike for like 9 years, it doesnt really as long as you dont lift it and over pressureize tires

[@Propelbikes]

Thanks for sharing your experience! A lot has changed in those 9 years huh?

[@Merriman-bn9ge]

Judging by the comments here, you are underestimating the number of people who live in city apartments and have to navigate stairs or elevators to a storage room. It's a major thing. I do feel some of the high-end manufacturers just answer the strength issue by adding more weight / structure. A top quality design does its best to mitigate this. Even top quality bikes like Tern and R&M could both do with a weight audit on their designs! The GSD is crazy heavy...

[@Propelbikes]

I think in the instances you mention weight is without a doubt a major factor and I'm wondering how the industry will address this. I see many lighweight designs on the market, but I don't know that I would personally want to ride those bikes for an extended period. I know I'm not everyone and there is definitely a market, but figuring out the right balance is going to be one of the keys to success, especially in cities.

[@pwrofmusic]

What would the power to weight ratio for ebikes compared to traditional bikes.

[@scannerhaiback5188]

It’s hard I have a titanium road bike that cost me as much as my super delight. So you really have to change mind set when planning a ride.

[@Propelbikes]

Very different approaches but I’m sure they are both awesome!

[@kiwihib]

I've had E-bikes for over 10 years only draw back to with the weight if the battery goes flat you have a very heavy bike.

[@mogasm6091]

Really enjoyed this topic, thank you

[@Propelbikes]

We’re glad! Thanks for your comment

[@Zachluna]

I live in the city and for me the weight is mostly just about carrying it up stairs. Using electric bikes for commuting is most advantageous in an urban environment where you don’t normally have the resources to store the bike outside or in a personal garage, etc. What’s your opinion about the Riese and Muller Roadster? That is a fast, new electric bike design which is designed to be light weight with skinnier tires. I was concerned about the trade off with this design as compared with Charger 3. I really want to see you do a review on the roadster!

[@Propelbikes]

These are great points and I agree. Bike parking has been a topic I have been focused on a lot lately, mainly for these reasons. The new Roadster is an awesome bike! I think if you’re riding primarily on smoother surfaces you won’t notice the trade off too much. Although a suspension post can help a lot. I’ve been putting a little time in on our shop demo and I hope to have a review up in a few weeks.

[@ordinaryhuman5645]

That seems like the only time weight would really matter - dense urban area, no garage, carrying it up flights of stairs whenever you'd use it. Outside of that scenario, you should probably be spending less time fussing over bike specs and more time lifting so you'll care less about the weight.

[@Sampardhanani]

@@Propelbikes Chris my mouchtache Friday 28.5 review is still dew. Pls consider that first .

[@SvenEugenots]

Wheel base, frame geometry and fork rake likely have a larger impact on bike handling than a couple of kgs more. Steeper steering fork means more direct, but also more 'squirelly' steering. For transportational purposes a more 'relaxed' frame geometry makes for a more comfortable and predictabel experience. The relatively forward position of the rider's torso on many American E-Bikes is not ideal. The more upright position of a Dutch style bike, with handlebar angled towards the rider, is easier on your lower back, shoulders neck and arms. It's also easier to crane your neck to take in your surroundings.

[@valeriisovytskyi]

Oh, in Ukraine, Lviv we have awful roads and not connected cycling paths, and logically we need more comfortable bikes, but for me I prefer speed even if it's really uncomfortable, I want to be fast but by my physicals strength not by electric bikes =)

[@dannygayler3164]

My Avanti is Lighter than my Smart Motion : Avanti Montari 22kgs , Smart Motion Pacer 24kgs , but I prefer the belt drive to the chain !

[@michaelelliott8350]

The weight of an eBike matters for certain use cases, and perhaps not for others. If you are purchasing an eBike as a virtual moped/motorcycle, then you probably don't care about the weight. But if you plan on using it as a bike, and have a need to cart it/transport it, then the weight is important. However, it's NOT the same equation/considerations that a traditional road/racing bike requires; as you clearly stated, a lot of the quest for the lightest components goes out the window once you add a motor/battery, and a frame that can take the stresses put on it by said motor/battery. I just purchased a Gazelle Medeo T10+; it's not a light bike (55 lbs I think), but compared to a lot of bikes I was considering it's positively a featherweight. It seems like the norm for a lot of ebikes is 70-100 lbs; which is too heavy for most trailer hitch bike racks. So taking one of those on a trip means a trailer or toy hauler. Just like a regular bike, it's all about your use case. A road bike/racer might be a target for the lightest components, but a commuter bike wants sturdy and easy to transport up stairs, elevators, in trains, etc. I think the considerations for ebike weight are a) do you plan to take it on trips (so can it fit on a car bike rack, or fold up and fit in the trunk)? b) do you need to lift it regularly (stairways, trails with rough sections, etc.)? If either of those are true, weight becomes important. If they're not, then you'll probably focus on power, speed, range, and other factors.

[@Martin23W09]

10:22 from which brand is that red bike? Thank you, as always, nice video! :-)

[@Propelbikes]

Thanks! This is the Moustache Xroad

[@GenderSkins]

@Chris Does the weight of the ebike matter? As a person who owns a traditional bike that was converted to an eBike, I would have to say yes the weight does matter especially when dealing with eBike conversions. The reason I say this, is because I own a bike that was converted to an eBike I find that traditional bikes or even adult trikes are not built for the more heavy demands of an eBike, in such a case yes the weight does matter. This is because many who are just getting started in eBikes, and do their own conversion eBike build often go with a lead acid battery which can add as much as 50 pounds or more to their bike over the weight of the conversion kit it's self. Now lets look at a Schwinn Meridian Adult trike, that uses a 17mm axel that has been converted to an eTrike that uses a 48 Volt 1,000 watt motor or even a 1,200 watt motor. Now if that person goes with a lead acid batter to build their 48 Volt battery pack, that is going to add an additional 50 pounds to the bike, and thus add more stress upon the drive train. That is 50 pounds of dead weight on the trike, that will not only make the bike harder to peddle but also if it is sitting over the axle could and probably will result in axle breakage faster over the life time of the trike or bike. Now if they go with a Lithium Ion battery set up, they may be adding anywhere from 6 to 11 pounds to their eBike depending on the amp hours of their battery. Which will effect how it rides, peddles and the wear on the drive train parts that not only give a better ride but also increase the life span of things like the axle under use as an eTrike. So the same would also apply to a traditional bicycle that is converted, vs a prebuilt dedicated eBike. So does the weight matter with an eBike, to some extend I think with a prebuilt system you will reach that point where it does matter, but not as quickly as you will with an eBike Conversion. Sorry for the long post, but that is from my personal experience with eBike conversions with having gone with a lead acid battery pack and then switching to lithium ion the weight did matter. And this is what I usually tell people that are considering an eBike: Start off with a prebuilt setup, as even though converting an traditional bike to an eBike may be cheaper to get into, you will be asking for all kinds of problems that you have to figure a solution out for. So go with a prebuilt setup, will save you many of those problems even if it is more expensive to get started with eBikes.

[@lsamoa]

One thing to consider regarding weight for electric vehicles, is that it takes more energy to move a heavier one forward. So a ligther weight is better for the environment. But the difference is not as big between e-bikes, as it is between e-bikes and electric cars. Electric cars have such heavy batteries that most of the energy costs comes from moving the battery itself, it makes no sense from an environmental standpoint. Always go for an e-bike.

[@evehg117]

I have a folding ebike that is 18kg with a child seat attached (40lbs) and I live in an apartment with no elevator and on the second floor. The bike is considered light for an ebike but every time I tried taking that bike up the stairs, I wanted to die. I swear there were a few times I had to stop to cry halfway. It was like the episode of Friends where they tried to move a couch up the stairs. I ended up renting a ground floor private parking that is about 5 minutes walk away. It sucks, I wish I could bring the bike home everyday. I think about switching to a Brompton or something that I can manage to haul up the stairs but in addition to flimsy arms, I also have flimsy legs and I can’t imagine how I can ride up hills with my 18kg preschooler if it wasn’t an ebike. Oh wells, life can’t be perfect.

[@miketran4289]

Ride your bike more, loose weight and bike goes faster/further. Easy.

[@Propelbikes]

I wanted to say this, but my team left this one on the cutting floor this round.

[@jrnamida5470]

A 26, 27 pound bicycle with 40 mile range passes the test can I carry it up 3 flights of narrow stairs to my apartment or condo. Ribble, Scott, LeMond, Orbea and Specialised are reliable bicycle names and have bicycles under 30- pounds and all could be carried up 3 flights of stairs by a smaller person. Maybe a Harley Davidson 70 pound bicycle could be muscled up 3 flights of stairs by a few people, but weight maters a lot and needs to be included in all ebike reviews. In higher density neighborhoods, you need to put your bicycle in your apartment or condo, to prevent theft. Puting the bicycle in your apartment or condo facilitates charging some ebikes easier overnight... If you live in a single story home with a giant, or oversized garage, weight I am guessing would not be a high priority. But maybe after single fall and a 120 pound person who would have difficult righting a 70 pound ebike, might be in the market for a lightweight ebike...

[@joeows6537]

For me the important thing about an electric bike is not about the weight as much as weight distribution. I prefer mid drives for that reason. I like it low and centered.

[@mogeking56]

I never lift my ebike I have a dirt bike rack with a ramp and I just roll it up onto the rack with a little touch of the Throttle it’s much cheaper than a bike rack at about $108 to $135 dollars with a weight limit of 500 lbs all I have to do is strap it down which takes time, but it works perfect. When your driving always remember to stop and check your straps maybe 🧐 I should not have bought the cheaper straps because they have a tendency to get loose. Go big or go home 🏠 is the word of the day. Anyway that it happy biking.

[@peterhirt991]

thanks for the subject be addressed. But it is a bit shallow discussion here, probably this and probably that. Light weight is always an advantage. I have a 35lbs eBike and it is in all aspects much better than the normal 50lbs varieties.

[@OM-sb2bd]

Except that your 35lb bike very likely offers a max torque of 35nm … 1/2 what many of the 50lb+ bikes offer. There are tradeoffs for lighter/heavier bikes dependent upon your riding style and goals. Both have their advantages!

[@peterhirt991]

@@OM-sb2bd I see your point. But also consider that in professional cycling, the lightweight guy with say a weight of 140lb combined with a bike of 15lb always wins in the mountains against the maybe stronger guy with 200lb and a bike with 20lb.

[@OM-sb2bd]

@@peterhirt991 indeed you’re correct, it’s all relative. Enjoy your ride that’s the most important thing.

[@tallcool1jeff]

Thank you for this information much appreciated

[@tomfuller4205]

My RadCity 4 weighs 64 pounds. I feel the weight helps absorb the crappy streets of Philadelphia.

[@Almajtek]

I'm a lightweight person, so I'm not affected by extra weight on my ebikes :)

[@Propelbikes]

Lol

[@tbensonny]

hate tolose that light jump out from under you feel of a lightweight bike, I think where the weight is on the bike; low and centered matters but i don't want to get on an electric bike and think "what a clunker".

[@Propelbikes]

These are fair points for sure

[@steve_main]

Does anyone else feel like when their battery dies that they are ridding a bike with 2 flat tires. Like I get that the bike is heavier but why are they SO hard to peddle? Its like when the motor turns off you are fighting the stator and the magnetic resistance of the motor. The stronger the motor the worse it is to peddle it seems

[@colincampbell4261]

Fat tyre ebikes with low pressure tyres.

[@fendermon]

That's probably a hub motor thing. My Giant Explore mid-drive rides like a heavy bike when the motor is turned off. Sometimes I have forgotten to turn it on it rides so well.

[@litvinenkoalexander5331]

i have Giant Twist ebike, ~2013. It is no very heavy, but it is heavy. Motor is in the front wheel. I see that to drive 24 kg heavy ebike costs approximately the same energy as 9 kg heavy racing bike (not electric). But second-hand racing bile costs 150 Euro and used ebike 450 Euro. So, one day I use ebike and another day racing bike.

[@ex0stasis72]

I think that the only reason to have a lighter e-bike is if you need to carry it upstairs.

[@litvinenkoalexander5331]

I think a big problem and disadvantages of ebikes is their price and cost of the maintenance. Even if the bike costs 2500 Euro (rather average price).some parts can be easily broken (rusty cabel, plastic details, spoke etc). So, you payed 2500, but the bike has the same problems and diseases as usual bike for 400 Euro. Also in some poor neighbourhoods expensive ebikes can be stolen very easily. So, I do not see big market for expensive ebikes.

[@trep53]

E-Bikes are more of a curiosity to me not something I’d desire to have. The way I use my peddle bikes wouldn’t fit an e-bike. An electric motorized bike starts to be a more primary transportation bike. Maybe I don’t understand the reason for riding an e-bike.

[@PotBanginEejit]

If you're a normal person, then no, weight doesn't matter (just look at the Dutch - they ride anything and load them up with everything). But if you're a competitive rider or a hopeless poseur, then yes, it matters immensely, particularly if you're at the what-an-absolute-arse end of the poseur spectrum. Then you'll need a spreadsheet, quotes and links, and everything. You might even need to ride the thing.

[@Propelbikes]

We can learn a lot from the Dutch :)

[@shannontrainer5857]

The Dutch don't have hills nor do they ride long distances, so weight for them is not issue.

[@artgreg2296]

Still for the same problem => THIEF

[@Propelbikes]

Fair point for sure. A major issue that needs to be solved.

[@thegee-tahguy4877]

I've always liked a heavier regular bike. My fat ebike weighs 70+lbs and I love it.

[@TRICHOMETRIST]

Torque!! I love cannandales light weight frame but would not add motor!! The other big item is bike locks!! Right now I have 2 MC chains Weigh as much as bike! Los Angeles is full of bike thieves!! NYC is worse🎱😎🤙🚴‍♂️🚴‍♂️🚴‍♂️🚴‍♂️🚴‍♂️

[@Propelbikes]

Another issue that needs to be solved for sure. My other recent video on bike parkinh discusses this security issue more

[@jf5016]

Weight makes a huge difference if you have to carry it up and down stairs. I'm not leaving my expensive ebike outside...

[@victorkan7288]

It matters if your existing bike rack can support the weight , otherwise you may have to drop several hundred dollars more for a new one.

[@ebikestouring]

There is no such thing as an e-bike too heavy, only a battery too small. :-) Our Superdelites weigh 75lbs, each which is heavy even by e-bike standards. But at 1125watts it’s watts/lb (15watts/lb) it is superior in my mind as it has more range than many 500watt e-bikes that weigh 50 libs (10watts/lb)

[@MrKeyboardCommando]

Hey, Chris, why don't you start a bodybuilding series of videos, especially designed to help the sand-festooned, seven stone weakling lift their eBike over any and all obstacles⁉️ You could become the Charles Atlas of the velocipede‼️ After all, this is the kind of video that's currently all the rage. Apparently, people want to keep fit during lockdown, and because they aren't allowed to indulge in their usual health obsessed, exercise rich lifestyle of hanging-out in bars, drinking beer and eating junk food, they feel the need to watch a steely muscled Adonis, such as yourself, show them how to pump iron‼️ It's the opportunity of a life time. You could make a fortune, or have a hernia. Alternatively, one could always try the Dr R.B.Banner method of body enhancement, which I mistakenly thought you were demonstrating at the beginning of the video. After all, a fetching shade of green and torn clothing are a small price to pay for improved bike lifting. Anyway, another great video which considers one of the many questions raised by people who are reluctant to get out of their cars. Just keep on rocking, Chris, because you're definitely making progress.💪💪💪

[@Propelbikes]

Lol. I do have to ask. Is there a place on the internet I can find a compilation of your musings? I find them quite humorous and they never cease to brighten my day. I definitely prefer the Bruce banner idea as I am way too focused on making KZbin videos about eBikes. I wonder what other techniques could be implemented though as this is a big consideration. Hope you’re having a nice weekend!

[@ebikestouring]

There is no such thing as and e-bike too heavy, only a battery too small. :-) Our Superdelites weigh 75lbs, each which is heavy even by e-bike standards. But at 1125watts it’s watts/lb (15watts/lb) it is superior in my mind as it has more range than many 500watt e-bikes that weigh 50 libs (10watts/lb)

[@mikepublic111]

I've met people who brag about how light their bike is, while they obviously need to lose about twenty pounds themselves.

[@Propelbikes]

This was an item which is important to consider. Saving 1lb of body weight or cargo is cheaper than purchasing lighter bike parts.

[@mray8519]

Bike weight IS REAL IMPORTANT if you have to lift it a couple of feet up to a bike rack. I have scars to prove it. 🤕

[@xmateinc]

im good with a bike around 60lbs, anything more then that is a bit riduclious. The only bikes ive seen that weigh over 60 lbs are rad rover type bikes. Most bosch bikes Ive seen have a good wieght to power ratio, so it feels like a regular bike when you ride it. Electra townie go is a good light weight e cruiser for around 1500 bucks.

[@Propelbikes]

We have several bikes over 60 lbs but they are usually fully loaded or cargo bikes.

[@xmateinc]

@@Propelbikes my raliegh redux IE gets pretty damn have with loaded panniers for sure! I put a sturdy front rack on mine and replaced the back rack with a good 100 lbs plus rack. Ican run all 4 panneirs and a handle bar bag. Ilove my ebike!

[@xmateinc]

@@Propelbikes yea cargo bikes are heavy! they seem cool though and very useful.

[@Propelbikes]

I think one of the challenges for many people with cargo bikes is where to put them

[@ShootMyMonkey]

Fat tire bikes in general are over 60 lbs, with more than half of them being above 70 lbs. I've yet to see a fat tire e-bike under 60 lbs, and they're a pretty sizeable fraction of mass-market e-bikes.

[@anthonyofarrell513]

It matters if you live in an apartment

[@Propelbikes]

I agree with this 100%. I’ve lived in a second floor walk up and I’ve carried all sorts of ebikes. If you have an apartment without an elevator I think it’s critical to have storage on the ground floor. Hopefully there will be better quality lightweight bikes in the future though. We have tested many and haven’t found too many sub 40lbs bikes I can recommend. We are always on the lookout though.

[@rotex]

I ride a bike for exercise. If I don't want to peddle, I ride my motorcycle. But I don't ride my motorcycle on the bike trail. Some people are riding their e bikes at speeds are going to ruin it for others e bike riders on the bike trail.

[@holyfox94]

I drive E bikes for a decade now. If you’ve got a good motor like the Bosch CX, you will not think about a few kilos less or more.

[@allanallen1835]

In about 3 years they will all get lighter and have fast charging and do 200 miles on one charge. So hold off buying top end ones right now go for something cheaper until the new ones start arriving.

[@SmokeyTreats]

One came out earlier this year that'll do 300 miles in one charge, for $18k. Optibike’s R22 Everest e-bike.

[@Lampropeltis]

Putting them up on a bike rack is an important concern. ☹️

[@FlyingFun.]

Weight doesn't matter whilst you are riding it and electric is all working. I'm lucky to have a garage and ride directly from my house soon need force racks or stairs etc so I'm ok with a heavy bike. Problem for me is lifting it over fences/ styles etc when out exploring the countryside. But the biggest issues are theft and homicidal car drivers.

[@riskyron1416]

You bet weight matters. a 150 pound ride on a 30 pound bicycle will require 900 watts of power to make it up a 20% grade. Thats 180 total. With a 180 pound rider and same 30 pound bicycle on;y someone in the condition of a world class bicyclist will even make it. And no amount of lower gearing will help.

[@Shindinru]

For riding? Ya not too much. Having to manhandle it when not riding? It matters quite a bit.

[@colincampbell4261]

When you have to get your ebike over a fence or locked gate.

[@stevek4382]

How much it weighs matters when you run out of juice.

[@ebiketees5923]

Just switch from lbs. to Kilogram's......Bam! Half the weight!

[@Propelbikes]

Lol