Many of the best tips for buying a regular bike apply to buying an e-bike. Before any such purchase, you should consider your needs, your lifestyle, the quality of the bike, your budget, comfort and fit, and where to buy your bike.

Should you buy an e-bike

In the last few years we’ve seen a dramatic surge in the demand for e-bikes. The addition of a tiny motor that mitigates some of the more punishing aspects of riding a bike suddenly makes everyone feel like that can have that care-free delight they remember from being a kid, no matter what their age or physical limitations.

While it is undeniable that e-bikes make biking farther and longer possible for those who are older, less physically agile, or live in areas where topography or distances make biking too much of a chore, it is also true that there is a certain amount of hype around e-bikes.We have seen this drive people to make poor choices, and spend money on low quality e-bikes that do not deliver good performance, longevity or satisfaction.

A quality e-bike that will give you many seasons of riding ejoyment requires careful consideration, a relatively high investment, and a willingness to work with a shop that will provide you with ongoing service before and after the sale.

If you are able-bodied and reasonably fit and active (you can walk a couple of miles without difficulty), but you are unable or unwilling to budget more than a few hundred dollars for a bike, do not buy an e-bike. Within that budget, you will be far better served by a dependable quality traditional bicycle.

Consider your needs

Electric bikes encompass many different categories, including commuting bikes, cargo, folding, recumbent, adventure and more. Before shopping for an e-bike, spend some time thinking about how it will be used, and what’s most important to you. If you plan to carry a passenger on the rear, a step-through frame will make it easier to get on and off. If storage or portability are important, investigate electric folding bikes (beware: most are shockingly heavy, the two exceptions being Brompton and Gocycle). If the bike will be shared between two individuals of different heights, make sure there’s enough adjustability for both of you. Or, if you want to dial in a very precise fit, look for models that offer more than just one or two sizes. Working with the right sales consultant will also lead you to ponder some questions that you may not have considered.

Choose the right shop

We believe that a successful bicycle purchase is not the end, but the beginning of a relationship. After all, the bike you buy will need follow up service, additional accessories to round out your riding experience, and maybe even some modifications as your needs change with time.

Therefore, finding a local bike shop you like, trust and can work with is actually the first step to a successful new bicycle purchase. This is especially true if you are buying an electric bike. A shop that is committed to selling and servicing e-bikes will have done their training and their research in selecting vendor partners they can rely on to deliver well-designed, well-made quality products, backed with complete technical support to the dealer.

The shop should also have genuine enthusiasm for electric bikes, and —specifically— helping you find the right one. It can be difficult to put yourself in the hands of an expert. But when you find the right shop, you can relax, because what it really comes down to is a person with some expertise and an open mind guiding you toward making your own informed decision.

Test Ride bikes

You can’t test ride pixels on a computer screen. This is why —now that the supply chain chaos dust is settling— we will aim to have demo bike for you to try. Online reviews, or even your friend’s testimony, don’t tell you how a bike will feel to you, whether the fit is comfortable, the pedaling natural, and the electric assist adequate without being overwhelming.

Expect it to be life-changing

It took us a while to come to this realization, but electric bikes have the capacity to change the way we move around the city. Quality electric bikes are are reliable, powerful, fun, functional, and they make biking practical for almost anyone. They may change not only your life, but the life of everyone around you. Imagine the infrastructure improvements that could happen if the majority of urban residents take to biking, because it is economical, healthy, sustainable, and now, finally doable.