5 Things To Know BEFORE Buying An E-Bike!

I've had over 40 e-bikes in the last 2 years and there are 5 things I wish everyone knew before buying their own electric bike.. Join me as I walk through everything to think about before making a big mistake!

-- Follow Me on Instagram: @DailyMTBRider ___

0:00 - Intro
0:30 - E-Bikes Are Heavy & Cumbersome
1:13 - E-Bikes Are Hard To Store
2:04 - E-Bikes Stink To Transport
3:43 - You'll Ride An E-Bikes Less Than You Think
4:22 - You Need A Plan For When Your E-Bike Breaks
5:26 - Final Thoughts

#EBikes #Knowledge #NewEbike

[switchblade]

Pedal assist should be talked about. Whether it runs only electric with throttle or only assist. There completely different.

[ilovephotography]

A helpful hint...
Batteries can be removed from most e-bikes. Therefore that heavy bike can be 5plus pounds lighter just by removing the battery. It's much easier to place it on a bike hitch rack and relieves the unnecessary burden on the rack, making for a safer journey.

[glorialeach]

I have a Hollywood Bike Rack. It has a fabulous ramp. It cost 600 dollars. I’m a 77 year old grandma and I roll my heavy e-bike right up on my rack and ride in fabulous places. Load up and ride. 😊🚴

[RaggedyHobo]

I got a motorcycle rack and altered it somewhat to lighten it up. Under 200 bucks from harbor freight.

[AdamasOldblade]

Great video, giving my two cents on all these points.

- Ebikes are heavy - This is true, but I feel it depends on what you get. My ebike is 62lbs, but it's very nimble of it gives the illusion that it isn't too heavy... I am shocked by some of them that easily go over 100lbs

- Storage - I live in an apartment and thankfully it's on the ground floor so storage isn't that bad for me. I have a walk in closet and charge my ebike in there. Note, I always make sure to notice when my battery light turns green and then I unplug the ebike and the plug from the wall. Probably overkill on the protection since the company my bike is from (Aventon) has UL certified batteries, but it takes 5 seconds to do both for peace of mind.

- Transport - This is a huge issue for me. I drive a Honda Civic, so it isn't ideal to transport bikes, let alone ebikes. I suppose I could always pull the front wheel off and muscle the bike into the car somehow, but I haven't and probably won't.

- Ride less than you think - Depends entirely on the rider. I am fortunate enough to live outside of a major city and there are a number of areas and bike paths that are far enough away from people to keep me entertained. Also this depends on weather and your lifestyle. I live alone, no partner and no kids all by choice so if I want to go on a ride it's entirely up to me. My ebike is also my main form of transportation to and from work. I use it for literally everything except groceries.

- Durability - Completely agree on needing a plan when it breaks.

I would like to add a sixth one.

- Your ebike is not a motorcycle - Far and away the most common question I get about my ebike is, "how fast does it go?!" because of American's natural need for speed... People need to understand that even though you can go faster, ride longer distances with less energy if you choose, that doesn't give one the right to simply just disregard laws and common decency.

[knutz]

Battery quality, safety and charging should be talked about more.

[jatteam]

My husband and I LOVE our fat tire e-bikes. They have been soooo much fun.

[Zulonix]

I’ve got the Burke-Gilman trail right outside my door… so no packing to drive somewhere. Right now, it sits in the doorway. I’m looking into building a secure box so I can put in front of my car in the condo garage space. The Bike has TÜV rating… so no worries there. I can hardly walk, but I can ride. I’m very careful about physics… so slow around corners… and not out to be a speed demon and rarely use the throttle. I use the lowest assist level and the highest gear. It’s my ticket to exercise. A regular bike wouldn’t do due to fear of being too tired to get back home. Now, if I get too tired, I can use that throttle.

[mattgies]

The headlight on that Hiboy is pointed too high, boy! Most ebikes I've seen come out of the box with the headlight pointed up. Which means it's not showing you the road as well as it could be, plus it's blinding oncoming traffic.

[trevorhedges]

The number one thing for the older person, is getting your leg over the bottom bar, the next thing is to have a twist throttle. I know because i am old.

[andyparfitt]

Hi maybe it’s easier to lift on bike rack or wherever take the battery out first 👍

[hansg]

Folding bikes fit into smaller spaces. Make sure the latch on the folding handlebars and the frame are sturdy and have more than one action needed to unlock. I've had handlebars fold on me when riding with disastrous results. Also, take the battery out of the frame before lifting the ebike. Battery packs can weight anywhere from 5 to 15lbs or more.

[briancarlson]

6th Thing - Is the battery and charger on your eBike been safety tested by national testing lab to ensure its safe to use. Here in the US, the CPSC will be cracking down on retailers that sell eBikes without a UL certification. Means bikes in your videos will likely be banned for sale soon in the US. In the meantime, there are many things you can do to protect yourself and your property. Probably justifies a video alone.

[hernancarpio]

You listed many negative things about e-bikes that I have decided not to buy one. Thanks!

[thevagabondonwheels]

In addition to the hitch mounted rack being able to handle the weight and size of the ebikes, people also need to account for whether or not the actual hitch can handle it. Some hitches can have rated tongue weights of as little as 150 pounds. Even that might be fine for transporting a couple of ebikes down a smoothly paved street, but take that same loaded rack down a bumpy dirt road or even some speed bumps and you might have a very loud, very expensive failure.

[readmore]

I see a lot of the same equipment on differently named bikes. They're all made of pretty much the same stuff but in a different shape, color and (for me) it comes down to who offers the most features/equipment for the best price. Funny how price is rarely mentioned. I bought a foldable with all the features I wanted; dual motors, hydraulic brakes, LG Batt., 1, 500 watts (total) and what I consider necessary equipment; fenders, nice seat, lighting, mirrors etc... just under $1, 500.00. I'm not out there to race anyone...30 mph is plenty. If I wanted to get there faster I'd buy a SUZUKI GSX-R 1000 K5 TURBO.
A somewhat soft Fat tire puts more rubber on the surface for better grip and smoother ride. Wide tires "float" over ruts and grooves instead of getting caught in them. A heavier bike is more stable, especially at higher speeds where stability is paramount.
Extremism has been the "thing" since kids learned to do a 360 on a skateboard....now it's double back flips on dirt bike....ffs. If you take an e-bike or any bike off road in the rocks and trees....something is going to get broke...that's a fact....probably a "thing" too. I'll keep mine on the pavement...I have several dirt bikes that weigh a little over 200lbs each...two YZ450F's and two WR250's that are pretty much indestructible if you're not doing back flips.

[Coolchris]

I work in a bike shop and I just wanted to say that we all hate these bikes. Most of them are extremely heavy. They take up a lot of room. They usually come with not great brakes. Not all shops will work on the electronics, so if that goes you’re going to have to talk with the manufacturer. Every rear flat change with a hub motor will cost about $50 for just the labor, and not all shops will even have the right size tube you need so they will have to order it and you’ll be stranded without a bike.
Also if you have a converted bike that you did yourself than kiss most shops good bye because that bike is a liability and they won’t even look at the bike.

As much fun as these bikes are they are a lot to work with in a shop setting so take that into consideration.

[Bob-]

Another thing: if your e-bike breaks, it is not necessarily close to your home or a bike shop (Murphy's law :).
It happened to me once but, luckily I was using a foldable e-bike, I just called a taxi, put it in its trunk and went home. Otherwise you need a minivan taxi or else.

[robertmcfadyen]

A neighbour's six month old Giant Talon e3+ is falling apart and is heavy . He has dropped it down flights of stairs at several railway stations . The Yamaha DC motor is running rough and noisy now .

[djones]

I believe my folding ebike (engwe) has the safest battery situation with the metal encased battery encased in more metal