E-Bikes - How do they work?

June 24, 2023 7:46 AM

I am interested in buying an e-bike for commuting and leisure trips, but am kind of intimidated by the array of choices. Recommendations please?

I’m moving to a moderately bicycling-friendly city and will have a moderately bicycle-friendly commute, but am not moderately in-shape. I’ve fallen in love with the e-bikes I’ve tried and would like to get one. But there are so many options I don’t know where to start.

I’m in my late 40’s, overweight, and haven’t been a regular cyclist in 15 years. I own a hybrid which I occasionally ride for 5-10 miles max, but any significant hill is too much for my bad knee these days. I was recently in Seattle and tried the Lime e-bikes you can rent there, and I was surprised how much I looooved riding around on them, even though they were heavy, unresponsive, and just not that comfortable. I was able to handle all but the steepest hills, and the assist was enough to get me going when I had to stop and go, which are hard on the knees. I did several days of 20+ miles and felt great afterwards.

So I’d like to buy one, but not sure where to start. I’d like to buy something used but would worry about buying a battery that’s lost a lot of capacity. As soon as I started searching for e-bikes my social media has been flooded with a dizzying array of options. Something like the Luna Fixed looks beautiful, but the reviews of its long-term durability were terrible. Trek’s FX+ 2 also seems like something that would work for what I want, but only willing to pay that much if I become sure that it’s everything I want in an e-bike.

There also seem to be 1000 companies selling their own frames with third-party components, and I’d have no idea how to figure out which ones are crap. I can change a tire but that’s about my limit on maintenance, so I’d want something I could take to a LBS. Willing to pay more for safety, including something with built in lights, hydraulic disc brakes, etc. I’m pretty sure I want something with a torque sensor.

TL;DR - recommend e-bikes or brands for older guy tooling around a not very hilly city for 5-10 mile commutes/errands and occasional 20-30 mile day trips. Thanks!

posted by skewed to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (18 answers total)

Hey skewed, I bought mine a few years ago now (2017?) have a couple of general pointers. Some things have changed since then, but I think most of this will still apply.

First, buy an e-bike from an acoustic bike manufacturer. There are plenty of companies out there who make e-bikes but are not bike manufacturers. I would recommend avoiding them. Your "proper" bike manufacturers (Trek, Cube, Cannondale, Tern etc) will use components from "proper" component manufacturers (e.g. Shimano) which will actually last. The cheap imports are tempting, but it's very much a "buy cheap, buy twice" situation if you're planning to use it regularly.

The other thing going on here is servicing, as you say. You probably want one where the motor/drive unit is made by a reputable manufacturer. Not only because it is likely to last longer, but because you have a better chance of finding someone to service it. There were (last time I checked) two bike shops in my city that can service ebikes specifically, and each one services a different set of motor manufacturers. Any LBS will be able to service the non-electric parts, providing the bike is fairly conventional, but usually the manufacturers (Bosch) in my case will accredit specific bike shops to service the electric parts. In practice, I think this means they send them a box to install firmware updates, essentially.

Regarding features: I agree that you almost certainly want a torque sensor. I've used both types and the difference it makes is incredible. With a torque sensor it just feels like you've got Lance Armstrong legs, whereas without, it feels like you are operating a machine. You never really get to stop thinking about the 'e' part. Disc brakes too, the extra gravity that the motor and battery give you definitely make me glad to have disc brakes, especially in the wet.

Your instincts regarding batteries are good, although I would even extend that to other parts. On my bike, the battery sits in a (I assume custom) pannier rack. I'm on my second one, and only found that one by chance on ebay. My LBS did some legwork on my behalf and said that they simply aren't manufactured any more. When this one inevitably fails, I will probably have to find someone who can do some tiny welds for me. This specific problem seems to have gone away now that the batteries tend to be integrated into the frame, but it's the kind of thing that might be worth searching around online for when buying an older model/used bike.

If any of your local bike shops sell ebikes, you might find they have a scheme where you can borrow one for a while to see if it's what you're looking for before you drop Trek-money on it?

I hope you find something that works, ebikes are genuinely a little bit of magic - as you've experienced even on a fairly rubbish hire bike.
posted by lewiseason at 8:20 AM on June 24, 2023 [12 favorites]

If you are moving to a bicycle friendly city, it might be worth looking if any place does rentals. Rent something, even if it's not your ideal bike for a week or two and then you will better understand what you might like to buy.
posted by ice-cream forever at 8:34 AM on June 24, 2023 [2 favorites]

I have an "internet only" type ebike - a RadCity 5+ Step-Thru. I adore it and I put about 100 miles a month on it (and my car usage has dropped from "low" to "really, really low" since I bought it).

That said, the RadCity is huge and heavy, has a cadence sensor (and a throttle, which I do like), and has some design flaws IMO. Basically the first time I got on it I said to myself, "Oh, this is my *first* ebike" - I was already thinking about what I wanted next (that was ~16 months ago, haven't bought another yet, but I'm always thinking about it!). The next ebike I buy will probably be something more like the Trek FX+ 2 (my "acoustic" bike, which sadly gets very little exercise nowadays, is a 10+ year old FX3). My local bike shop *does* provide repairs on RadPower bikes but otherwise they only repair ebikes from the brands that they sell, so that's an important consideration. (I think a lot of this is about avoiding off-brand batteries, which can, you know, catastrophically catch fire, so some shops might be ok servicing your ebike if you keep the battery at home.)

We used to have Lime ebikes in my neighborhood and I think if you like riding those you're going to LOVE pretty much any purpose-built ebike. Don't overthink it too much: if it's a bike you can afford and it fits you, it's a good starter ebike.

Ebikes are awesome!
posted by mskyle at 8:39 AM on June 24, 2023 [3 favorites]

I have had a RadRunner for 3 years now and I *love* it but agreed with above that I have a bit of trouble getting it serviced locally. We just bought my husband an ebike and chose from a brand that our local ebike store will service readily. The ebike has completely changed my life and we just sold a car because we no longer have to drive everywhere - if it's within the city, I know I can bike there easily.
posted by Vicmo at 8:48 AM on June 24, 2023 [1 favorite]

For research, it looks like Consumer Reports now reviews and recommends e-bikes (they call them electric bikes.) Your local public library system is likely to have free online access with your library card.
posted by lizard music at 8:50 AM on June 24, 2023 [1 favorite]

This is more of a general note about e-bikes in general - you may want to make sure you double-check what the local rules are about them. Some cities have different sets of regulations for regular bikes and for e-bikes; NYC actually banned them outright at first, and only recently lifted that ban. Now they have a very granular set of rules for speed limits, licensing, and other traffic rules based on what kind of e-bike you may have.

The DOT here also has been known to lean a little harder on e-bike users than on regular bikers (which cheeses me off, because there are so many speed-demon bikers that ignore red lights even when I'm in the middle of the damn crosswalk), so it may be worth looking into what the story is for your area. That actually may impact your ultimate decision (i.e., you could find that one of the e-bikes you're looking at is a class your city would regulate more strictly).
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:54 AM on June 24, 2023

I was looking at the very low-priced end of ebikes last spring, bought one I kind of hated, then was luckily able to sell it and replace it with a Ride One Up Core 5 which I absolutely love. I don't think it has a torque sensor, but the assist does feel smooth (which is why I replaced the other one, it really didn't). That's just a single data point, but I'm always eager to recommend it to others.

I would also suggest thinking about how you like to sit. Personally, I really dislike serious bikes that make you lean way forward to ride, which seems to be less common with ebikes but still sometimes happens.
posted by lgyre at 10:14 AM on June 24, 2023 [1 favorite]

I have an Electra Townie Go! Class 1 ebike (manufactured by Trek), which I love very, very much. Since it’s basically just a bike with a pedal-assist battery, I can take it into my local bike shop for all non-electric fixes (tires, the chain, brakes, etc) which is something friends of mine who have e-bikes made by companies that only do e-bikes can’t always do — I would definitely second lewisseason’s advice above. I bought this specific bike because I rode an acoustic Townie for 12 years until it got stolen, and I loved sitting up high on the bike in traffic and the way the bike handles — the electric version is the same only even more fun.
posted by heurtebise at 10:28 AM on June 24, 2023 [2 favorites]

companies selling their own frames with third-party components

Yeah, bad idea. The time of kludgy Frankenbikes is thankfully over.

The Specialized Creo is a great choice.
posted by JimN2TAW at 10:44 AM on June 24, 2023

A couple aspects I haven’t seen discussed yet: weight and security. E-bikes can be heavy. Consider the weight of the bike, particularly if your storage locations will involve getting it up stairs.

A fact of city life is bike theft. If you’re only using it for commuting, where you have secured storage on either end, this might be a lower concern. But if you’ll be using it for errands, thefts can definitely be a concern. For me, I knew I was less likely to use mine if I was worried about it being stolen while I was in the store. I ended up going with a Van Moof because they offer theft recovery services and coverage. The downside is servicing; when I lived in Seattle there was a local shop, but currently my bike is shipped off to them for repair.
posted by bluloo at 11:22 AM on June 24, 2023 [4 favorites]

I just got a Trek FX+ 2 and I love it. I bought the more kitted-out version with a chain guard, mud guards and rear rack. It's very lightweight compared to other e-bikes and easy to put on my car rack, which is a plus because I often get flats and have to drive my bike to the shop if I can't fix it myself. It was less than half the price of another bike I looked at last year but ultimately didn't buy because it was too fancy. I like the FX+ 2 because with the integrated battery and tiny display, it doesn't scream e-bike to potential thieves. The integrated battery does mean you can't easily take just the battery inside to charge, you need a setup for the whole bike. I also recommend investing in a good D-lock and insurance, since e-bikes are a high priority for bike thieves.
posted by stinker at 12:59 PM on June 24, 2023 [1 favorite]

Agree you want a torque sensor and a common motor brand for ease of servicing. I went to a local "acoustic" bike shop that also sold a few ebikes and was able to do test rides. Because they sell them, they are also able to service them. I recommend doing something similar!

The bike I got is a Civia. Civia bikes have bosch motors and are generally built like road bikes. EBikes usually have thicker tires to provide the balance needed for the extra weight of ebikes, but mine has almost normal road tires. This suits me perfectly, but I am not hauling a child around or anything more complicated than groceries. It doesn't have built in lights or anything like that. I am not an experienced bike person so I wanted minimal things that I might be responsible for fixing/maintaining.
posted by tofu_crouton at 3:25 PM on June 24, 2023 [1 favorite]

I am on e-bike number two at the moment. I had a Farraday Cortland for a few years, which was a beautiful bike and absolutely perfect for me. HOWEVER, the company went out of business and after I fried the motherboard of the bike in a freak extreme rainstorm my local bike shop was unable to repair it or get replacement parts. No bueno.

When I was ready to buy a new e-bike about 8 months ago I knew I wanted something form a legacy manufacturer this time and I got the Specialized Como and I couldn't be happier with it. It's got a great range, an integrated battery and very subtle display so it doesn't scream "I'm an expensive e-bike!" when it's parked at a rack. It can haul everything. I use it for grocery shopping, for picking up cases of beer from our beer club, for every kind of errand. And best of all it can be serviced at my local bike shop in town and I have no worries about Specialized going belly up in the next few years and leaving me with an unfixable bike.
posted by fancypants at 4:48 PM on June 24, 2023 [3 favorites]

Ebike reviews and suggestions
posted by artdrectr at 6:30 PM on June 24, 2023

I have the RadCity 5 Plus as well and am reasonably pleased with it. As noted by mskyle, it is both big and heavy. It can't fit in the back of my Outback without taking off the front wheel (whereas I can fit two standard bikes in it without a problem). As noted, it doesn't have a torque sensor but generally I'm fine leaving things at the lowest level of assist and using the throttle for short bursts going up steep hills. I have not had to deal with getting it repaired.

If you're aiming for the cheaper side of things, I definitely recommend going with one that has gears (the 5+ has 7). If the battery dies on a trip and you have to pedal the extra weight home, at least being able to switch gears makes it more a little less sucky.
posted by Candleman at 7:19 PM on June 24, 2023

A major factor for choosing an e-bike for me was one that I could mount on my car bike rack, so it had to have a cross-bar. That was the deciding factor for most e-bikes, I had no way to transport them. If you will ever need to transport your e-bike, you should make sure it works with whatever set-up you have for transporting it. The Trek FX+ 2 has that nice staggered crossbar that makes it fit easily on a two-pronged rear car rack.
posted by stinker at 10:49 PM on June 24, 2023

I have a Rad Power Radmission - a discontinued model I only bought because it was on inventory clearance last year. I love it because e-bikes are amazing but compared to my regular bike, I immediately could tell the components are cheap. I rode it in the winter ONCE and the chain started rusting badly, for example (I've done a lot of winter riding before and the speed and severity of the rust was completely outside of my normal experience). The disc brakes get soft very quickly and I'm constantly tightening them. There is no display for the controller. It feels creaky when I ride it. For the discounted price I paid, it's great, but I started daydreaming about an upgrade almost immediately.

If I were in your situation, I would wait until I moved and find bike shops that sell e-bikes, test ride a few, and buy directly from a shop. That's my plan for when I eventually upgrade. I'm lucky to have found a nearby bike shop willing to work on all kinds of e-bikes (one of their mechanics likes to build frankenbikes himself) but that is a rare find.

Invest in some really, REALLY good locks, and get bike insurance. Although many renters and homeowners insurance plans will offer limited theft protection for regular bikes, most if not all exclude e-bikes. My separate e-bike policy is ~ $140 a year.

Storage is a big concern. I've started keeping my bike in my detatched garage - something I said I'd never do because of theft risk - because it's just too unwieldy and heavy to lug in and out of the basement. I am comfortable riding mine to work only because I have secure indoor bike parking in my office building; I'd be really nervous about locking up a bike on a downtown street for 8+ hours a day. But if you have insurance you can mitigate that risk a bit.
posted by misskaz at 10:10 AM on June 25, 2023 [1 favorite]

I recently went down this rabbit hole and have similar recommendations to others:

* Buy once you've moved. Your LBS will probably offer free maintenance for some period after you buy. You'll also get to try out the different rides and geometries and all that good stuff. They'll also assemble it for you (trickier for an ebike).

* You didn't mention budget, but the sweet spot for quality seems to be ~$2000 for ebike makers (Aventon, Rad) or ~>$4000 for a more established brand (Trek).

* Torque sensor or bust. Most every bike in the price points I mentioned will have them.

* Determining which class (1, 2, or 3) bike you want will help you narrow down your options. I decided on a class 3 because I use mine primarily for commuting and I didn't want to be as reliant on my fitness/health for getting to work. If I was mostly riding for fun I would've gone class 2.

* Ebikes have made significant steps forward in terms of tech over the last few years, so I'd focus on newer models.

* Watch Youtube reviewers for the models you're comparing - there's a lot of things I only learned from watching a video that text didn't convey.

I ended up getting the Aventon Pace500v3 for my commute and have put ~400 miles on it this month. I liked the price-to-quality better than a more traditional brand, the torque sensor is great and it can handle most anything I throw at it (some >40 degree inclines I wish it had a bit more juice). I love having built in lights and so far the maintenance has been minimal (early days though). I do worry about storage and there's some parts of it that could fit me better, but overall I'm quite happy with it.
posted by matrixclown at 1:06 PM on June 25, 2023 [2 favorites]