Are Electric Bikes Fun? (What Can You Do With an E-Bike?)

July 22, 2021

Electric bikes are the future. They are fun to ride, are environmentally friendly, and are good for your health too! Whether you’re looking for a way to commute or just want a fun activity, electric bikes offer something that traditional bicycles don’t.

Electric bikes are fun to ride because they provide many exciting things to do that you couldn’t do on a traditional bike or when walking.

I have used mine for many different purposes but enjoy it first and foremost because it’s fast, easy to ride uphill, convenient to hop on, and helps me burn calories and relieve stress.

But there are other things you can do with an e-bike for fun as well. After all, fun is what riding e-bikes are all about. In this article, you’ll discover all of the things you can do that makes having an electric bike fun!

Go Fast on an Electric Bike (for Fun and Convenience)

There’s nothing more exhilarating than zipping along on your electric bike with the wind in your hair. Truly, this is the number one reason I ride an e-bike. Not only can I get where I want to go fast, riding my e-bike fast is a way to relieve stress, clear my mind, and have fun!

And the reality is that I could never go that fast on a regular bike.

Although I ride a 750W bike that has pedal assist up to 20 mph, I can get the speed up to 25 mph on most straight paths without lots of pedestrians or traffic. My e-bike odometer clocks out at 28, so I can go even faster if I want to. So, you don’t need to ride a 1000W electric bike to go really fast!

And, even a 250 Watt electric bike can take you up to 20 mph with pedaling.

Think about how fast you go through a typical residential area. The typical maximum speed limit of 25 mph can easily be reached on your e-bike! Therefore, you can keep up with the cars.

Ride Up Hills Easily, No Sweat!

With my e-bike, I can now get anywhere I need (or want) to go. Getting out of my hilly neighborhood is a breeze. No major muscle strain and no sweating are involved!

Electric Gears make riding up hills easy on your e-bike

Going uphill is easy because electric bikes have batteries that send electric power to the bike motor to give you assistance when you pedal. As long as you pedal even lightly, you’ll get the assistance you need to tackle almost any hill.

Keep in mind, however, that the battery may not last long when going uphill because it requires more electric power. But you should still be able to go far on a fully charged battery.

Electric pedal assist gears especially come in handy on steep inclines that you otherwise wouldn’t be able to ride up at all. You’d typically get all but one or two pedal strokes up this type of hill without breaking a sweat!

Take advantage of your regular gears

But you can also use your regular gear shifts to get up steep hills. Many e-bikes have 7 speeds or more. So, downshifting (lowering) your regular gear shift (even 2-3 gears) will make it easier to ride uphill, even without electric assistance.

For example, I find that shifting gears when my legs are starting to get tired makes it easier to continue pedaling at a consistent motion without wanting to give up!

Get Groceries or Run Errands on an E-Bike (Fast and Easy)

Are electric bikes fun for running mundane, daily errands? Perhaps surprisingly, you can have fun while picking up groceries and personal items on an e-bike. It might take longer than going in a car, but you’re adding enjoyment and physical activity that you can’t get by driving a car.

Fun to ride all around town picking up what you need

Seriously, you can go to multiple shops and pick up what you need… without getting in your car! You’ll save money on gas, help the environment, get exercise, and have fun!

For example, I broke my reading glasses while working. Since I felt annoyed and couldn’t continue to see my computer, I decided to hop on my e-bike and go to the local drugstore to pick up another pair. I zipped 2 miles there and 2 miles back (after buying my glasses) in under 30 minutes! I got a much-needed break and my new reading glasses.

Easy to Carry

The best thing about running errands on an electric bike is that the items you buy can be easily carried home. Most e-bikes have multiple ways of carrying extra cargo. You can add accessories to your electric bike like a front rack, a rear rack, a front basket, a bag under your seat, or even a small bag tied to your handlebar (I use this option for my phone and credit card).

Once you have a rack, you can opt to tie your purchases down with bungee cords or, for more convenience, add a pannier bag, crate, or basket to it.

Orange electric bike with rear rack to carry groceries and other items.

Check out the recommended electric bike accessories you’ll need for a fun (and safe) ride.

See Points of Interest You’d Never See on a Traditional Bike (or Walking)

Riding an electric bike gives you the opportunity to see things you might never have been able to ride or walk to before… and see more of it!

I love to ride my e-bike on the same trails I can hike on. I get to see things from a different perspective, yet also know exactly where I’m going because it’s a familiar route.

In particular, I like riding my e-bike on trails because I can take in more scenic views or stop at natural areas for picnics or creature watching. And I won’t have worn myself getting there by walking!

Ride Your Electric Bike All Day

With my electric bike, I can now ride out 20 miles and not fear that I won’t have the stamina to get back home.

Riding an e-bike helps you go farther than you ever dreamed of on your regular bike. You can go on long bike paths and trails for perhaps 3-4 times as many miles as you could’ve (or would’ve) on your old bike. And easily 10 times as far as if you walked.

Travel to More Places

Being able to ride farther is a huge advantage while traveling as well. Take your e-bike with you or get an electric bike rental at your destination. You’ll be able to visit more museums, shops, and sites of interest than you ever would on foot, as well as on a traditional bike.

Plus, you’ll be able to avoid traffic in big cities and having to find a parking spot.

What does it cost to rent an electric bike? Find out!

Ride an Electric Bike for Fitness (and Have Fun While Working Out)

You won’t have to do challenging, hot and sweaty work-outs led by young athletes who never tire. Instead, you can have fun exercising at your own pace and level.

Honestly, I get a great workout anytime I want one, but I can also take it a little easier if I need to. After all, even healthy and physically active people have days where they’re unusually tired or recovering from illness or a stressful event.

And, more importantly, research has consistently found that people will ride longer on an electric bike than a regular bike. It can be so much fun riding an e-bike that you don’t even realize you’re exercising. Therefore, you’ll get more exercise than you even planned on.

Improve your cardio

Let’s face it, we know cardio exercise is important to our health. But it isn’t always fun! Well, I should say that it hasn’t always been fun. But now (I’m being serious here), getting exercise with an electric bike is fun!

And for those of you who don’t like to challenge yourselves physically, you can still improve your cardio functioning just by riding regularly… even if you don’t pedal hard!

Build muscle (and keep it !)

Riding an electric bike for exercise is also fun because you can see results, even though it may be gradual. Building muscle is a huge side benefit of riding an electric bike. And if you do it regularly, muscle gain is happening! This is important no matter what stage of life you’re in.

Read the essential guide to e-bike health and fitness here.

Ride Your E-Bike with Friends

I’ve been taking mental notes on all of my friends who are getting electric bikes. I mean, how fun will it be to ride with a big group of friends?!! I’m imagining a day ride by the coast where we stop for a picnic on the beach and then perhaps for appetizers at a local hotspot at the end of the day.

This is truly something you can do with friends because everyone can keep up with each other. No one gets left behind on an e-bike! And no one needs to get frustrated waiting for others to catch up (although if you’re in a big group, there’s still bound to be one person who leads the pack).

Join an electric bike group

If you don’t have any friends with e-bikes yet (you probably do… just ask and you’ll be surprised), consider joining an electric bike group. These may be limited in your area, but you can always start one.

Go on a bike tour with a group of friends

You’ve heard of cycling tours? Typically, these are for advanced, athletic bike riders that ride hard day after day. However, e-biking tours are generally more suitable for the average rider. And they’re getting more popular because they are less strenuous but still allow tour riders to see so many interesting things along the way.

Fortunately, there are more and more electric bike tours being offered. Check the local area bike shops to see if they offer any that might be more fun in a group.

Or, if traveling to a destination, plan ahead to rent an electric bike or travel with your electric bike. Find out which tours are available and make a reservation. You won’t have any fun if the tours are booked once you get there!

Check out the ultimate guide to traveling with your electric bike!

Get Seniors and People with Disabilities Riding an Electric Bike Too!

Almost anyone can ride an electric bike, which simply isn’t true of a standard bike. E-bikes are perfect for seniors or those with disabilities. Thanks to the electronic pedal assistance, cycling is just easier!

And e-bikes can benefit these groups of people in several ways.

Electric bikes help obese riders, riders with injuries or chronic pain as well as those who have trouble pedaling or have other disabilities that limit their physical activity. And, e-bikes can be used as a means of transportation or exercise, as well as just for recreation and fun.

If you’re concerned about being able to balance on a two-wheel bike, consider riding a 3-wheel electric trike.

It’s helpful to understand that electric bikes give seniors and disabled individuals the flexibility to stay independent. Seniors can ride to visit friends and keep their social lives active. While, for example, those with disabilities can get to work and take care of their own errands.

Senior woman in red dress riding an electric bike for fun.

Discover the pros and cons of seniors and electric bikes.

Electric Bikes are Fun for Athletes Too

Just because seniors and others with physical limitations can ride e-bikes doesn’t mean that they aren’t great for more athletic people as well. If you enjoy getting active or even pushing your limits, then electric bikes can provide the same thrill as other sports or workouts.

If you consider challenging yourself to be fun, then here’s an idea:

Try riding without any electric power assistance (switch your gear off or to its lowest assist level). This is a great way to build muscle and get your heart rate up. Yet, you still have the reassurance that you can increase electronic assistance at any moment.

Because I also like to challenge myself, I often do a multi-purpose ride. Riding my e-bike to get fresh air, relieve stress, get cardio, build muscle, and have fun can literally be accomplished in 45 minutes to an hour, so like many workout classes offered. Even better, however, is that I don’t have to take the time to drive to a class (and wait for it to start) or spend money on gas.

So, as a work-at-home entrepreneur, I hit my “absolutely can’t sit anymore” limit frequently. So, when I feel about to jump out of my skin, I can take a ride that provides many benefits all at once.

This is a great strategy if you spend a lot of time sitting or working behind a computer but are still athletic. Your e-bike is always there for you… and it’s easy (and fun!) to hop on.

Commute to Work or School (Just for Fun!)

Electric bike riding just makes commuting more fun. One reason for this is that you’ll have more energy at work and then again after work thanks to raising your heart rate and getting fresh air (and maybe even time to think).

But you won’t get to work all sweaty (unless you try to by riding super hard or it’s really hot)!

And, not only does it save time by getting there faster but also saves money on gas as well (personally, I think saving money is fun).

What else is fun about commuting on an e-bike? Parking is easy! You won’t have to search for a spot, fight for it, or pay for it. Most office buildings have bike racks in front or nearby. And if you work in a small shop, you may even get permission to bring your bike inside with you.

Just make sure your e-bike doesn’t get stolen by locking it up securely and learn how to stay safe while riding your electric bike through traffic and around pedestrians.

Find out how to stay safe while riding an electric bike.

Are Electric Bikes Fun for Everyone?

After reading this article, I certainly hope your only answer is “yes”! There are so many things you can do with electric bikes that make them fun. They are perfect for exercise, commuting, leisure, running errands, and so much more.

Their versatility is why they’re great for seniors, active adults and teenagers, adults who ride to work or for recreation, and even disabled individuals. The truth is, e-bikes have a greater purpose than a regular bike could ever have.

Make sure to try out several of the fun things you can do with e-bikes that were mentioned above.

For example, join in on group rides or tours with friends (either in person at home or while traveling); challenge yourself to get fit by riding regularly, make a habit of riding your electric bike to get groceries, ride fast when it’s safe to do so, and ride up a steep hill or two (just because you can!).

How Fast Does a 1000W Electric Bike Go? (Wattage Compared!)

Lisa Sylvester

July 17, 2021

Electric bikes are an outstanding way to get around town, get some exercise, and enjoy the fresh air. But not all electric bikes are created equal! Your ride experience, not to mention how fast you can go, is greatly dependent on the power your e-bike is able to generate.

On average, a 1000W (1000 watt) electric bike will go up to 35 mp/h (56.32 km/h) over flat terrain with pedaling. This speed can differ depending on changes in terrain and weather.

Speed depends a lot on wattage! Today I’ll show you how fast 1000W electric bikes go in various situations. These situations will affect the speed of all e-bikes, regardless of their wattage. So if you’ve ever wondered, “How fast does a 1000W electric bike go?”, read on and I’ll tell you what you need to know.

Cyrusher XF650 1000W Electric Bike with yellow tire rims — Cyrusher XF650 1000W Electric Bike

Electric Biking Speed: How Fast Is an E-Bike?

Having an electric bike, or e-bike as they’re also called, can change the game for a lot of people when it comes to exercise, commuting, and recreation. These speedy bikes are great for getting you where you need to go fast, without the slog of having to pedal hard over rough hills or long distances. But how fast do they really go?

Basically, an electric bike can go as fast as you can pedal it. But, depending on its power, you’ll only receive pedal assistance up to 20mph to 28mph for most bikes. At this point, the motor cuts out and you’ll only go faster if you are pedaling hard.

However, while we now know that the top pedal-assisted speed of a 1000W electric bike is 35 mp/h (56.32 km/h) on a level road, there is still the question of how fast can it really go in different situations?

Before we look at how variations in riding will affect your speed, keep in mind that pedaling (versus not pedaling) can make a big difference, too. You can always opt to just use the throttle that is on most high-watt e-bikes. But you will be able to go faster if you pedal as well.

I highly recommend pedaling more often than not. Not only will you get the health benefits, but you’ll also get an extra boost of speed along the way, making your ride faster and more fun!

One thing is for sure, a 1000W pedal assist bike is not for kids of any age.

How does the terrain affect an e-bike’s speed?

First and foremost, the top speed of an electric bike will depend on where you’re riding it! Rough terrain and hills can slow you down. However, it’s important to note that a 1000W e-bike is more than powerful enough to take you just about anywhere fast. So, let’s take a look…

Can electric bikes climb steep hills? (Uphill terrain)

Going uphill (and downhill) can drastically change the speed of your ebike. It’s important to note that uphill rides won’t just be slower, they’ll also drain your battery faster. So even if you’re fine with a slower uphill ride, plan on the battery shortening your trip if you’ll be riding lots of hills.

Even with the added pain of losing some battery charge on the uphill climb, today’s e-bikes are made to tackle these variations in incline. After all, many cities aren’t flat. So, electric bike manufacturers have taken terrain into consideration, making most of them powerful enough to climb even steep hills.

So how fast does a 1000W electric bike actually go uphill?

Electric bike riders have found that when going uphill, without pedaling, a 1000W bike will go between 20-25 mp/h (32-40 km/h) on a small hill and 15-20 mp/h on a steep hill (24-32 km/h).

That’s significantly slower than its maximum speed of 35 mp/h.

Man riding e-bike uphill on rough terrain

Pavement and asphalt speeds will be faster than dirt trails or unpaved roads, but on average, the difference in speed shouldn’t be too large as long as your path is smooth enough for casual biking.

To give yourself some extra oomph on the uphill, consider your riding position. To be more aerodynamic, lean forward as you ride upward.

As we said before, pedaling can increase your speed and battery life while also providing great cardio exercise without the monumental effort of manually pedaling the entire way up.

Read here to find out more about getting exercise on an e-bike.

How fast can an e-bike go downhill? (Downhill terrain)

Where uphill is hard, downhill is where the fun is at. There isn’t anything quite like speeding down a hill with the wind in your hair!

It’s hard to determine how fast a 1000W electric bike can go downhill because you won’t be using the motor. Instead, you’ll be coasting. Therefore your speed will depend on your weight, the weight of the bike, the weight of whatever you are carrying, and your tires. The heavier everything is, the faster you’ll go!

One fun fact is that some types of e-bikes use regenerative braking, which means that the battery will actually charge when going downhill. Not all electric bikes have this feature, but if you’re one of the lucky ones that have a bike with regenerative braking, then the recharge on the downhill can help even out the extra battery drain on the uphill.

Dirt and gravel paths

Whether an electric bike can take you over dirt and gravel quickly will depend first on whether it has the correct tires (like fat tires), and then on your e-bike’s watts. Because your path won’t be smooth, you will surely go slower. And the more bumps and loose dirt or gravel, the slower you’ll be able to go, even with a 1000W bike.

One other thing to consider… make sure your tire pressure is ideal for the terrain you’re conquering. Follow the manufacturer’s suggestion for tire inflation on the road versus on the dirt.

How does weather affect electric bike speed?

The second thing that can really slow down an electric bike is the weather. Rain, snow, heat, and cold all influence e-bikes and their speeds. As much as we wish for perfect riding weather every day, you need to prepare for everything that mother nature may throw at us.

Riding an e-bike in the rain (will it slow you down?)

Unless it’s a torrential downpour, rain won’t affect speed very much. It may surprise some riders to find that their e-bike goes just as fast in the rain, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take some extra precautions.

Waterproofing yourself and your e-bike is always a good first step in responsible ebike ownership. Modern e-bikes are water-resistant and experience no danger or slowdowns when riding in the rain, but there is a limit to how much they can take.

In deep water, not only do you lose speed, but you also risk damaging your bike and its electrical components. A good rule to follow is this: Splashing is fine, submerging is not.

An electric bike that has been submerged but still runs may permanently become slower. So if speed is something that you’re worried about, keep it out of deep water!

How fast can you ride an e-bike in the snow?

Snow can put a major damper on a quick e-bike ride. Even plowed roads and bike paths are destined to slow you down.

In order to get the best speed possible in the snow, good tire pressure and the right type of tires and inner tubes will go far. It may seem silly to buy a set of snow tires for just a few months out of the year. But if you use your e-bike for regular commutes, you’ll thank yourself later.

Studded snow tires not only allow for better speed but also better traction. If you live in a snowy climate and want to keep riding year-round, make the investment in snow tires.

A 1000W ebike is powerful and fast in general. So exercise caution when weaving in and out of traffic or biking through dangerous areas like cliffsides when there is snow on the ground. Don’t let your electric bike’s power and the icy roads get the best of you!

Take a look at how cold weather can harm your e-bike

Can heat impact your electric bike’s speed?

Electric bikes are great for when it’s too hot to be manually biking from place to place since they can do almost all the work for you. But did you know electric bikes can suffer losses in speed, performance, and battery life in extreme heat?

Warm weather is better for electric bikes than cold weather, but once you get above 115° F (46° C) the battery begins to degrade. A drained battery means a slower bike.

Most e-bike owners won’t be riding in heat that high, but there aren’t many things as unpredictable as the weather. If the heat begins to creep over 100° F (37° C), it’s a good idea for you and your bike both to take shelter until it cools down.

How does cold weather reduce an e-bike’s speed?

All batteries perform worse in the cold, and that includes electric bike batteries.

In order to keep your e-bike going as fast as possible, store it, or at least its battery, inside during the cold months.

Charge and store your battery between 50°F and 77°F (10°C and 25°C) indoors. Below this temperature, the battery will degrade. Failure to do so could render your battery useless, or put you in danger!

Take care of your battery with these tips!

Electric bike focusing on the battery in the middle of the bike.

Electric Bike Wattage (Compared!)

1000W electric bikes are unquestionably on the faster side of available electric bikes. If you’re considering whether such a high-power bike is right for you, it might be a good idea to compare the power of a 1000W e-bike with other options on the market.

A comparison of electric bike wattage:

250W: A 250-watt electric bike can go up to 20 mph (32.19 km/h) on flat ground. For many people, this is more than satisfactory to get you where you need to go. However, you will need to pedal harder to get to the top speed. Many lower-priced options can be found directly from Amazon and shipped quickly.

500W: A 500-watt electric bike can go up to 25 mph (40.23 km/h) on flat ground. If you will be using an electric bike for various reasons, including commuting and recreation, a 500W e-bike might be the perfect solution. There are still affordable choices and riding modest hills or over rough terrain won’t be a problem.

750W: A 750-watt electric bike can go up to 45 km/h (28 mph) on flat ground. If you’re willing to pay a little more (and your state allows 750W e-bikes), check out the different brands for your best options.

FYI: I ride a 750W RadMini from Rad Power Bikes and absolutely love it! This is a great recreational bike that can easily tackle hills and dirt paths at a good speed. I must also say that I can’t imagine riding anything faster… so I have no interest in a 1000W bike!

1000W: A 1000-watt electric bike can go up to 35 mph (56.32 km/h) on flat ground. Are you into racing? Or planning to do long-distance road riding? Or wanting to haul goods and/or a bike trailer? Then a 1000W electric bike could be really helpful for you!
1500W: A 1500-watt electric bike can travel at speeds of roughly 40 mph (64 km/h) over flat ground. Not surprisingly, a bike that can go this fast requires more caution than any other. Make sure you have a good reason for needing an e-bike that is this fast and can easily stay in control of it!

Why you should (or shouldn’t) buy a higher watt electric bike

Even the lowest wattage e-bike can go the recommended maximum of 20mph (32km/h). So what reasoning is there to pay more for a higher wattage electric bike?

Simply put, higher wattage electric bikes are better workhorses. If you’re wanting to carry groceries, deliver food, or ride to school with a backpack full of books, that extra wattage is really going to help with the extra weight.

This also applies if your usual riding routes are full of hills. A 1000W electric bike is going to tackle a hilly commute with less effort than one with lower watts.

The most popular reason to purchase a 1000W bike compared to a less powerful one is traffic. If you plan on riding your electric bike on the road, especially highly traversed roads, then a 1000W or even a 1500W electric bike might be your best bet.

These higher-powered e-bikes can stay in line with traffic and keep up with most cars in neighborhoods. Of course, if you plan on riding your bike on the road with other commuters in cars, you’ll need to take more safety precautions.

It’s sometimes safer to ride a faster e-bike on the road than to ride a slower one. When you’re deciding on what wattage bicycle to purchase, carefully consider where you’re going to be riding the most. Then choose the bike that works best for you.

Find out how to choose an electric bike perfect for you!

Dangers Of Riding Your 1000W Electric Bike Too Fast

So now that you know that your electric bike can get some serious speed, even in less than ideal conditions, there is another question you have to ask yourself.

Is it safe to ride my e-bike at the maximum speed?

Most states in the US allow e-bikes to go a maximum of 20 mp/h (32 km/h) with electronic assistance. A 1000W electric bike can go faster than this speed and may be illegal to ride.

Even if these powerful e-bikes are allowed in your state and city, take extra caution and slow down around pedestrians and other riders.

Read more about the safety of e-bikes!

Three-tier classification of electric bikes

There are three classes of electric bikes. The first two classes can be ridden almost anywhere you can ride a regular bike, but the third class is mainly for road riding.

Class 1: E-bikes with only pedal-assist and no throttle, with a top-assisted speed of 20 mph.

Class 2: Electric bikes that are throttle-assisted and have a top speed of 20 mph.

Class 3: Pedal-assist only e-bikes with no throttle and a maximum assisted speed of 28 miles per hour.

As you can see, your 1000W bike might go faster than the max assisted speed of 28mph allowed in the 3 classes.

The bad news is that many countries and states (including a majority of states in the US) don’t allow you to ride an electric bike with over 750W… and some won’t allow more than a 250W e-bike! Check the laws in your area before deciding to purchase a high-wattage electric bike. And, ride such a powerful bike with caution, staying aware of your surroundings.

If you want to see how fast your electric bike can really go, stick to areas specifically made for racing. This will eliminate possible pedestrian casualties and other accidents.

In Conclusion

A 1000W electric bike is a powerful motorized bike that will take you far, even in rough terrain or less than stellar weather conditions.

These fast electric bikes have long-lasting batteries and durable motors to keep you on the road. But they aren’t really ideal for bike paths full of other cyclists or any other areas with numerous pedestrians. 1000W electric bikes are best for the road.

Check out the electric bike wattage compared section of this article to get a good idea of how fast each type of electric bike can go before you make your purchase. Additionally, consider the laws in your area.

With a maximum speed of 35 mp/h (56.32 km/h), a 1000W electric bike can be exceptionally fast. And with more speed comes more things to consider before each ride.

So if you ever wondered how fast does a 1000W electric bike go, I hope I’ve answered your questions. Have fun out there!

How Much Does it Cost to Ship an Electric Bike? (How to!)

Lisa Sylvester

June 28, 2021

If you’re moving across the country, taking an e-biking vacation, or are a college student who can’t leave your bike behind, then of course you want to know how to safely ship your electric bike. And, naturally, you won’t want to spend a fortune on shipping costs. But if you don’t want to end up with it damaged or lost in the mail, then you need to ship it properly, despite the cost.

On average, it costs a minimum of $100 to $200 to ship an electric bike within the US, depending on its size and weight, packaging, and destination. Shipping the battery will incur an additional cost.

Shipping Option	From	To	One-Way Cost
Bike Flights	Los Angeles, CA	Miami, FL	$143
Ship Bikes	Los Angeles, CA	Portland, OR	$102
Luggage Forward	Los Angeles, CA	Miami, FL	$189
FedEx	Los Angeles, CA	Seattle, WA	$119
Roadie (Gig Driving)	Nyack, NY	New York, NY	$96

These shipping charges don’t include a shipping box, insurance, packing expenses, or added battery fees.

Since there are many different ways to ship or transport your e-bike, and many other factors involved, it can be confusing when trying to figure out how much you’ll have to spend. Plus, there are many added costs including boxing, packing, insurance, and battery shipping.

In this blog post, I’ll point out all of these factors and charges so that you’ll know what it costs to ship an electric bike. No matter what the reason is!

How Much Does It Cost to Ship an Electric Bike?

The cost of shipping an electric bike will be higher than shipping a regular bike. This is because e-bikes generally weigh more and special considerations will be needed for the battery.

If you pack your own electric bike, you’ll pay additional for the weight and size of the package. And you’ll pay separately for packing materials like boxes or bubble wrap. If a store or service does it for you, though, rates for the packing could be reduced and included in the overall shipping.

Further, the shipping company will charge an additional fee for your e bike’s battery (read important details below about shipping “Dangerous Goods”).

Shipping companies and services will be priced differently, as well as offer a variety of services.

Let’s consider the various shipping options to find the best price.

Cost of Traditional Shipping Companies (UPS and FedEx)

You can ship your e-bike just like any package… well sort of. UPS and FedEx will ship it for you and charge you only for shipping if you do the packing yourself.

However, they also have a service that takes care of the packing. Either way, you’ll have to disassemble the bicycle completely yourself.

When you ship your electric bike with FedEx, here’s an example of how much it’ll cost just for shipping (you’ll pay additional for the packing materials or packing service):

Los Angeles > Miami, Florida

For 6 day shipping, you’ll pay around $168. However, to get it there in half the time, your cost will more than double ($472)!

Los Angeles > Seattle

You’ll pay $119 to get your e-bike to Seattle from Los Angles in 5 days, whereas 3 days will cost $287!

Cost to ship e-bike through FedEx — Cost to ship electric bike depends a lot on how quickly you want it to get to its destination.

E-Bike Special Handling Fee

Unfortunately, these high shipping costs are just the beginning. Both FedEx and UPS will add a “special handling fee” of $54 or more for air shipment of your lithium-ion battery since it’s designated as “dangerous goods”.

Plus, you may want to pay for insurance for your expensive electric bike.

Cost of Liability and Insurance

Make sure you understand how liability and insurance for damage to your e-bike is priced.

If you state a “declared value”, you will get covered for damage or loss up to the amount stated. This will be calculated into your total price (and is why you might be surprised to see a higher cost than expected)! When you state a “declared value of $1500, then UPS or FedEx is only liable to repay you for the loss up to that amount.

If you purchase insurance for shipping, you’ll be covered up to your insurance amount. So, if UPS damages your electric bike while in their care, you could be covered up to $5000 if you pre-purchased a policy for that amount.

Do you need e-bike insurance? Find out!

Electric Bike Shipping Services

Bike Flights

This is a good US shipping option that works directly with UPS. I like Bike Flights ease of use and clear costs. Plus, they make it very clear that, if you want to ship your electric bike with the battery “installed”, that you’ll need to get approval (you can contact their support to get information).

They also offer a box made specifically for the size and weight of an e-bike. The cost for the box is steep, however, at $149.

One other thing I like about them is that they offer clear instructions on how to assemble the box and ship your product.

Here’s an example of the shipping costs from Los Angeles to Miami, Florida.

The cost for shipping an electric bike from Los Angeles to Miami

ShipBikes

ShipBikes works with FedEx to get you a packing box that’s perfect for your bike and sends you the shipping label. You can get cardboard, hard plastic, and more, all at various sizes and weight limits (between 60 and 100 lbs).

Once you receive your box and pack your electric bike, you can drop it off at a local FedEx or Kinkos store.

ShipBikes recommends that you have it shipped directly to another FedEx or Kinko’s store because it’s cheaper, safer, and faster. You can purchase their shipping boxes from around $50 to $150 for a box made specifically for larger electric bikes with fat tires.

Shipping example:

Los Angeles > Portland, OR

Receive your electric bike in just 3 days for a cost of $102 (includes declared value protection of $1500).

Luggage Forward

Just as with the other shipping options, you can schedule your bike shipment online. Then they’ll come right to your door to pick it up (you can even leave it for them in a safe place). Or you can drop it off at a shipping location (which might be the safest option for your expensive electric bike).

This is a great option if you’re taking your e-bike roundtrip, for an extended vacation.

You will be expected to pack your bike in a “rigid” container for protection. Luggage Forward doesn’t offer boxes for sale but you can get your shipping container ahead of time from one of the above services or shipping companies.

Unfortunately, they won’t accept your lithium-ion battery. So you’ll still have to find another way to ship it.

However, they’re so sure that they’ll give you the cheapest way to ship your bike that they offer to match any other price you find. And, they’ll offer you $25 toward a future shipment.

You can ship your bike from Los Angeles to Miami over 5 days for $189 — Ship from Los Angeles to Miami in 5 days at a cost of $189 ($378 roundtrip + will need to buy the box separately)

Roadie (an interesting “shipping” option)

I’m just going to throw out another unusual opportunity since it is super easy… Roadie will transport your electric bike from one place to another in the USA.

You really don’t have to do anything but wait for someone to pick up your bike from home. And no expensive box is needed. The driver will put your bike in their car or truck and continue driving where they were going anyways… even if it’s a few states away (although see my NOTE below).

Your e-bike won’t have to go through handling at a variety of shipping locations and you are covered for damage through your declared value. The downside… this seems a little riskier to me when we’re talking about an electric bike, rather than a standard one. Will your electric components be well taken care of? Will they also transport your battery?

NOTE: Look into this thoroughly before you choose this option, especially based on where you are shipping from and to. There seem to be a lot of rules as to how far your shipment can be taken. Each state has its own rules regarding “gig” driving.

For example, California limits the delivery to only 50 miles within the state, whereas other states like New York limit it to 350 miles. Also, you may have to ship your battery separately.

How much does it cost to bring your electric bike on a plane?

If your electric bike weighs under 50 lbs, many airlines will charge you their checked luggage fee of $30-$40. However, if it weighs more than 50 lbs, you’ll typically pay more for the excess weight.

As for any luggage, the excess baggage fee can jump as high as $150 if your bike weighs even 51 lbs (removing the battery will help decrease the weight). Some airlines will allow your bike to be in place of another piece of checked luggage, so it’s possible that you might be able to bring it for free.

If you’re taking your e-bike on a plane with you, you might want to consider the cost before deciding which airline to fly. Some of them charge as much as $75-$100 to carry your electric bike.

Unfortunately, even though you can take your electric bike on an airplane, you can’t bring the battery with you. This is for everyone’s safety. Plan ahead to make sure your bike battery will arrive at your destination by the time you need it.

Check out our E-Bike Travel Guide for more info!

How Much Does it Cost to Ship an E-Bike Battery Separately?

Shipping your bike’s lithium-ion battery separately will incur an extra cost. Your total price will include shipping to it’s destination (with your declared value), the special handling fee for hazardous materials, and optional insurance.

Shipping the battery separately from the bike might be required by your shipper and/or you may have an extra backup battery for your e-bike as well. All lithium-ion batteries (which most e-bikes have) are considered “dangerous goods”. This is because charged batteries can occasionally overheat and start a fire. Clearly, special care is needed.

Here’s an interesting fact: The federal government requires specialized training for all “dangerous goods” shippers, as well as expects them to follow a detailed set of regulations. Not surprisingly then, the cost of training will be passed on to the shipper.

Can you ship an electric bike without the battery?

In many cases, shipping a lithium-ion battery in a separate package is a good idea, and will likely be required. You can’t just throw your e-bike’s battery in a mailer or in your backpack while boarding a plane! No matter how you decide to transport it, it’s still a hazardous material.

Plus, you need to pack it carefully.

To do this, make sure the battery terminals aren’t touching any conductive materials, such as metals and other batteries. If you’re shipping it yourself, you should cover the terminals with something non-conductive like rubber, wood, or plastic (and don’t forget to put it in a sealed, padded package for protection).

Packing and Preparing Your Electric Bike (Cheapest Way!)

Your electric bike is valuable and probably very special to you. So, truly the most important thing about shipping is to make sure it’s well-protected and gets safely to its destination.

But, understandably, packing and shipping it can be costly and there’s no harm in figuring out how to save money doing it.

Save money- Pack it yourself

You can definitely save money by packing your own e-bike. And as long as you do it correctly, then there’s no reason not to.

Disassemble your e-bike

Good news! You don’t have to take apart the entire bike. But what you need to remove will depend upon the box and company you’ll be shipping with.

However, you will probably need to remove, at a minimum, the front wheel, handlebars, pedals, and seat (but you may be able to just lower it, depending on the bike). You can do this with your bike multitool (paid link, Amazon)… or use the tool kit you assembled your e-bike with.

Another option is to ask your local bike shop if they can disassemble it for you. This will likely cost from $50-$75. Hint: They may even be able to ship it for you if they contract with a shipping company.

Find a cheap but sturdy e-bike shipping box

However, if your electric bike is an upscale model or holds sentimental value, then you still might want to pay more for a box from a bike shipping company that you have complete confidence in. The bike company can recommend the right box for your bike… and if they’re shipping it for you, they’ll want it to be well protected!

But here’s another idea that could save you quite a bit of money… ask a local bike shop if they have an extra shipping box. If you’ve shopped there before, or even purchased your electric bike from them, they may be willing to help you out. They might also charge you for it, but it’ll likely be far less than getting a new box.

Choose your bike box depending on weight and size — Most Electric bikes will fit in a box rated up to 95 lbs

Pack it carefully

As with packing anything valuable and/or delicate, you’ll want to do two things:

Secure any loose or moving parts
Wrap the bike to prevent scraping

Shipping your bike will end up costing you much more if you have to repair small scratches or bent parts that aren’t covered by insurance.

So use zip ties to secure parts that move such as the rear tire and wheel crank. Since it’s an electric bike, you should also make sure all of the electric wires are tied to the bike.

Then wrap the bike with bubble wrap or cushioning that’ll keep your metal frame and other delicate parts from scratching the box or each other. Add any extra cushioning needed surrounding it once in the box so that it doesn’t have room to move around.

Zip ties and bubble wrap (paid link, Amazon) will cost you an additional $15-$20 (if you don’t have any lying around!).

How to Ship an Electric Bike Overseas (International Costs)

Shipping an electric bike overseas has the same requirements as shipping locally. But it can easily cost $500 or so more than shipping within the United States.

You’ll pay more to ship internationally due to the distance and because of added duties and taxes. For example, Bike Flights will charge $695 to ship your bike from Los Angeles, CA to the UK. $99 of that includes extra fees, as seen below:

Cost to ship your electric bike internationally

Unless you’re into bike racing or touring, you might even decide that it isn’t worth it to ship your bike that far. If you’re moving overseas, and your e-bike is only worth $800-$1200, you might rather buy a brand new electric bike when you get to your new home.

If you’re traveling, then you can almost certainly rent an e-bike for much cheaper at your destination. Plus, it can be fun to try out different bike models.

Find out how much electric bike rentals cost here!

Conclusion

As you can see, costs to ship your e-bike can vary quite a bit. So, your best bet is to price out your different options well in advance of your need to ship!

I’d recommend finding the perfect box to fit your electric bike, getting an idea of how to pack it, and then deciding how to send it to where it needs to go.

Best Electric Bike Accessories (Travel & Camping Must-Haves)

Lisa Sylvester

June 7, 2021

Man sitting in front of electric bike with view of mountains

Choosing the best electric bike accessories for travel and camping can be a difficult task. It’s important to know what you need before you go so that you don’t have to worry about it when you arrive at your destination.

And, if you’re new to traveling with an electric bike, it’s helpful to recognize that you may require different accessories than you would for a regular bike.

The best electric bike accessories for traveling and camping are those that make your time away from home easier and safer. These include compatible electric equipment, repair tools, packing essentials, safety gear, and personal items.

As is typical with an electric bike, there’s a good chance you’ll be riding faster and longer distances during your travels than you would on a regular bike. I certainly do! You might also find yourself riding off-road or for miles with no service around.

Therefore, it’s important to take along the best accessories to help you truly enjoy your journey.

In this blog post, I’ll point out the essentials for electric bike riders and why they might be preferred (even if they’re not needed for regular bike riders).

Must-Have Electrical Accessories (Only for Electric Bikes!)

Thanks to the electricity running through your e-bike when you pedal, you’ll have power assisting you whenever you need it. But this also means that you’ll spend more money on extra, much-needed, electric accessories. Speaking from experience, it’s worth it to have the parts you need to make your journey stress-free.

Here are the must-have ones that you need before traveling or camping with your electric bike:

Second e-bike battery
Battery charging cable
Electric headlight and brake light
USB phone cable
Extension cord
Additional adapters

An extra bike battery, fully charged

Typically, if you’re reading this article, you’re planning on riding your electric bike for most of your trip, or at least as a major part of your travel or camping experience.

So having an extra, fully-charged battery is likely a necessity. Remember, the more you use the electric assistance, the faster your battery will lose charge. And you can bet that if you’re riding 30-50+ miles per day, that’ll you’ll be using this power.

This is why having an extra battery can come in handy. It’s not a cheap accessory, but having one could save the day! Check with your brand of electric bike to make sure your backup battery (paid link) will work correctly and that you can use your charging cable.

If you’re riding less than 20 miles per day and you are certain you have a place to charge your battery each night (like at your hotel), then an extra battery could be optional. Just make sure it’s fully charged before setting out to travel each day.

Example of what an electric bike battery looks like — Check out the prices for e-bike batteries here!

A charging cable and power adapter

This will typically come with your e-bike or battery purchase. However, it’s super important that you can charge your battery in a hotel room or at your campsite.

So, well in advance of traveling or camping, make certain your destination has a place to charge your battery that fits your power adapter. If you’re traveling in a country different than your home, the outlets provided may be different and will need an additional outlet adapter in order to plug in your battery.

Put this on your trip to-do list!

Electric headlight and brake light

Only electric bikes make having a headlight and brake light (Amazon link) super convenient. However, these are also a must-have for safety reasons. Not only are they useful at night (obviously), they can help you be visible during the day on busy or fast roads.

If your electric bike doesn’t already come with one, contact the shop you purchased from to find out what will fit your bike. Don’t just buy a headlight that has a battery and clips on. With an e-bike, and the right headlight, you’ll be assured of light as long as your bike is in working order and won’t have to worry about replacing a battery.

Headlight and Brake Light Combo for electric bikes — E-Bike Headlight and Brake light combo from Velmia (Amazon)

Phone mount and charging cable

I love that many newer e-bikes have a USB port for your cell phone. So a phone mount (paid link) is truly a must-have! With this feature, you’ll be able to use your phone’s GPS to help you get where you want to go.

And you’ll be able to listen to music or audiobooks, check your stocks, and keep in touch with friends and family back home, at the campsite, or in the hotel.

This doubles as a safety and convenience accessory. And you most likely already have a cell phone and USB cable that’ll work on your e-bike!

However, if you don’t have access to this, make sure to get a GPS so you don’t get lost on your travels.

visnfa Upgraded Bike Phone Mount Anti Shake and Stable 360° Rotation Accessory — Cell Phone Mount by visnfa (Amazon)

Long outdoor extension cord (if camping)

If you’re camping with your electric bike, make sure there’s a place to plug-in your battery charger at your campsite or in a central area of the campground. Ask beforehand whether your camping spot has electric hook-ups.

If your travel location does have electric hookups, make sure you have a long outdoor, weather-proof cord that correctly attaches to your battery and reaches the outlet. If not, make alternative plans for charging your battery (nearby ranger station or Starbucks perhaps?).

Outlet adaptor for battery (if traveling overseas)

Because charging your battery is essential when traveling by electric bike, make sure you have an outlet adaptor if needed.

You can carry a small Universal Power Travel Adaptor with your electric gear. You’ll have to make sure you get the right one for where you are traveling to. Most universal plug adaptors will convert to the USA from Europe, the UK, Australia, and Canada.

Read our complete guide to electric bike travel!

E-Bike Repair and Maintenance Tools for Your Trip

These are your “in case of emergency” items. These are important to bring along on any biking trip. And, because you’re riding an electric bike, you’re even more likely to need them due to the increased number of miles you can easily travel.

By carrying these essential tools, you’ll be more likely to fully enjoy your time riding the trails and backroads. No fear of being left stranded somewhere due to mechanical failure that could have been avoided if you had the right tools handy!

Tire repair kit (including mini air pump)

Can you even imagine what it would be like to push a heavy electric bike 20 miles back to your campground or hotel… on a flat tire?! You don’t even want to go there, I assure you.

My husband got his first flat about 5 miles from home while we were riding together. We were so thankful to have one of our sons sitting at home who could drive to pick us up. But, then we thought about what would’ve happened when we no longer had “adult” kids around to save us. There would’ve been trouble… and we were only 5 miles from home.

So, please get a tire repair kit (Amazon link) and keep it on you while you’re riding. Better yet, don’t just get it, make sure you know how to use it. Watch a video (or two) and read the directions on your kit before travel begins.

Keep in mind that not all repair kits come with an air pump. You need a mini tire pump in your bag during any bike travel or camping trip.

Get all of these tools and tire inflator in one kit from XCH Robots — Bike tire and repair kit in one!(Amazon)

Spare tire tubes

Repairing your tire with a patch might leave you with a good-as-new tire. However, if you’re traveling long-distances and/or over several days, or on rough terrain, a tire tube (Amazon) is a must-have accessory.

Again, watch a video before heading out on your trip and learn how to replace a tire tube so you’re not stuck figuring it out in the middle of a 30-mile trail.

Make certain you have the correct tube for your specific tire! Contact the brand manufacturer or bike shop you purchased from if in doubt. And, don’t think you can just grab one if your tire pops. Some tube sizes are harder to get and may have to be ordered (like my own fat tire tube).

Tire tube example — Zsling tire tube (Amazon)

Bike multi-tool

In general, electric bikes tend to need more maintenance than regular bikes due to the extra electrical equipment. So keep a bike tool kit handy with all of the important tools… or get a bike multi-tool (paid link).

A multi-tool contains all of the tools you might need to maintain or repair your e-bike on the go. It’ll typically include a chain breaker, spoke wrenches, hex keys/allen wrench (multiple sizes from 2mm-8mm), phillips & flathead screwdrivers, and a torx wrench.

This is another bike accessory you should learn how to use before you actually need it.

All the tools included in a bike multitool — Vibrelli Bike Multitool

Extra brake pads

If you’re touring, bike camping, or will be on a several week driving/biking trip, then you should bring extra brake pads (paid link)… and know how to replace the old ones! You’ll be surprised how fast you’ll use them up on an e-bike, as compared to a regular bike.

The extra riding distance alone will create more wear and tear on your brakes, but the added weight of an electric bike can also destroy brake pads quickly. This is especially true if you are using your brakes a lot to lower your speed when riding downhill (this is me!).

image of brake pads — Example of brake pads (Amazon)

Ready to learn more about taking care of your e-bike?

Best Electric Bike Accessories for Packing and Riding

Only you can decide which accessories listed here are best for you during your biking trip. Read to find out why certain ones will work better for your riding lifestyle and travel situation.

Front and/or rear racks

Transport your gear without a big heavy pack on your back. Not only can a backpack slow you down, but it can also get uncomfortable and hot, not to mention make it harder to maintain good balance.

With a gear rack from Amazon (or pannier), you can easily attach sleeping bags and a tent for camping or chairs to rest on at a beautiful waterfall along the bike trail.

A rack will also allow you to take everything you need with you for the day (or on an overnight camping trip), instead of leaving it in your hotel room or campsite unsupervised. If this is something that concerns you as much as it does me, you might like to have both a front and rear rack so you can take more with you.

Racks fit differently and all racks do not work on all bikes. Some bolt on (so your bike needs to have holes ready for bolts in the same place) while some clip onto the seat post (Make sure there is enough room).

Further, if you have an electric brake light attached to the rear of your e-bike, you’ll want to be able to extend and attach it to the back of the rack.

Here’s a tip on using bike racks: Whether using a front or rear rack, or both, make sure they’re padded well to avoid damage from road vibrations.

Example of a bike rack — Rear Bike Rack from Ibera (Amazon)

Take a look at all of the best gifts and e-bike accessories for riders!

Pannier or travel accessory bag

Now that you’ve got a solid rack on your electric bike, attach a waterproof accessory bag to it. There are many different sizes for different needs. You can even get a triple pannier from Amazon if you have lots of gear to take on your ride.

This is a great time to decide what you’ll need during your trip. If you’ll be traveling by car and just taking your bike out of the car for day trips, you might not need as big of a bag as if you’re bike camping. However, if you’re biking a long trail to a swimming hole in the mountains, you might still want a big accessory bag.

Find an affordable hitch mount car bike rack for your travels!

Consider everything you might pack for a day trip:

Extra layers of clothing for elevation changes
Swimsuit and water shoes
A windproof, waterproof jacket for unexpected weather changes
An extra t-shirt to replace your sweaty one
Full change of clothes if you start out in the hot morning and end up riding back in the cool evening
Tire repair accessories discussed above
An extra, fully charged battery for a long day ride (or overnight bike camp trip)
First Aid Kit
Sunscreen, bug spray, and medications
Water (lots of it!) and snacks or meals

As you see, you can fill your accessory bag pretty quickly… and you can easily be out all day when riding an electric bike!

Bike accessory bag — Large Bike Pannier (Amazon)

Bike hauler/trailer (best for overnight camping or traveling)

Although you may have heard complaints about the difficulties of pulling a bike trailer (Amazon) along for your trip, remind yourself that you’re riding an e-bike now! Having a motor to assist you makes a world of difference when pulling extra weight over bumps and debris. And the benefits might actually make your trip a whole lot easier.

Planning a long camping trip or taking your family along? You’ll be very thankful you have a cart to haul all that gear (think bike helmets, bike tool kit, food, cooking pot, tent). A pannier or accessories bag just won’t cut it.

Of course, you can double up by adding a front or rear rack that holds still more gear and essential accessories.

When looking to purchase a travel trailer, decide what type of terrain you’ll be riding on. If you’ll be mostly off-roading and/or want a lighter trailer, consider getting a single-wheel hauler. It can navigate narrow and bumpy roads easier that a two-wheel trailer. Plus, the risks of tipping over are lower.

However, a two-wheeled cart may be able to carry more weight and fit more gear. So, if you’ll be riding mostly on paved road, this could be the perfect accessory for you.

single wheel bike trailer with red accessory bag — MAYA CYCLE Single Wheel Bike Trailer

Where is it legal to ride in the USA when traveling or camping? I’ll tell you!

E-Bike Safety Essentials and Personal Accessories

The best electric bike accessories for travel that we’ve discussed thus far are important for planning any bike travel or camping trip.

The following safety essentials and personal items should be taken with you any time you ride, even if you’re just going on a 5-mile ride to the nearest community bike path. However, they are also must-have gadgets and accessories you absolutely don’t want to forget to take when you travel with your electric bike.

So, use this as a checklist to make sure you have everything you need;

Bike helmet– Preferably one that’s MIPS rated since you’ll be going extra fast on an electric bike
Bike locks– Consider getting a U-lock, which is easy to carry and can’t be cut with bolt cutters like cable locks or chain locks; But it also doesn’t hurt to use a second, heavy-duty chain lock to double-up the security.
Rear-view mirror– Yes, just as with a car, this is essential! You will keep yourself and others safe by knowing who and what is coming up behind you or to your side. This is my fave and the one I use from Amazon: Hanfy Rearview Mirror
Plush bike seat– You might think replacing your bike seat is a luxury. But after you’ve ridden 20+ miles on a gorgeous bike trail but realize you have to travel 20 miles more to get back to your campsite or hotel, you’ll be thankful you upgraded to a high-quality bike seat!

The truth is, most manufacturers include standard (which means “hard”) seats on their ebikes that just won’t cut it for long-distance rides. Check out these ones on Amazon!
First Aid Kit– Take one wherever you ride. Small injuries are more likely to happen on long trail rides!
Water- You probably need way more than you think. If you’re cycling hard, you should have 16 oz per hour… and, in addition, you should take a few big swallows often to stay hydrated.
Laundry bags– If you’re bike camping or traveling where you won’t have access to laundry facilities, you should take a few extra bags to place those dirty, sweaty, or wet clothes in after a long-distance bike ride.
3 other must-have personal items you should accessorize with while traveling or camping with your electric bike– Sunscreen, lip moisturizer, and cycling glasses (Amazon). Wind and sun are your worst enemies while riding fast and furiously on your e-bike. Thank me later!

Check out my safety tips for riding an e-bike!

Conclusion

If you’re planning to travel or camp with your electric bike, make sure that it’s equipped with all of the best accessories. This includes everything from e-bike headlights and locks for safety in unfamiliar territory to a tire repair kit, bike racks, and accessory bags.

With a few smart travel accessories, your journey will be more enjoyable and easier. Planning to go on an adventure soon? Check out the list at the beginning of the article of the best electric bike accessories for travel and camping before you head out!

Have even more fun riding an e-bike with these cool e-bike accessories for adults!

How Much Are Electric Bike Rentals (Cost and How to Rent)

Lisa Sylvester

May 30, 2021

Electric bike purchases are soaring… but so are electric bike rentals! After all, many people want to try one out before making such a big investment. And there are many other reasons you might want to rent one as well.

Keep in mind that renting an electric bike can be slightly more expensive than a regular bicycle rental and can require advanced planning.

Typical electric bike rental rates are $20 per hour or $65 per day. The cost of renting an ebike is based on the location and the length of the rental period.

Length of Rental	Price Range	Price for Premium Model (not available in all rental shops)
Per Hour	$15-25	$30+
Per Day	$60-$70	$120+
Full Day (24 hours)	$75-$100	$150+
1 Week	$200-$300	$300+
1 Month	$375+	Call rental shop to inquire

In this blog post, we’ll look at the cost of electric bike rentals and what you need to know before making a reservation. I’ve compiled prices and information that’ll help make your rental decision easier.

Why Rent an Electric Bike

The reasons to rent an e-bike instead of buying one are numerous. Buying one is a big investment and you’ll have a ton of questions that could be answered if you rent one first. Here’s the list of reasons you should consider an e-bike rental instead of a purchase.

First, you should rent an ebike if you’re trying one out for the first time. This is especially true if you’re not much of a bike rider or it’s been a long time since you’ve ridden one. Or maybe you’re super tall or of small stature (and many things don’t fit right).
You’ll also get a feel for whether buying an electric bike is a good choice for you. Rent different types of e-bikes over several days or months to learn how they are each unique. Once you test out multiple brands with various motors, gears, tires, throttles, and more, you’ll be closer to deciding on the best bike to purchase.
Another reason why you should rent an electric bike is to decide if it’s something you’ll love doing regularly. Then you’ll know whether buying an e-bike is worth the cost.
An ebike rental is also a great way to try out a new form of exercise. If you aren’t physically active already or have an injury or disability, renting one will help you determine if you can physically manage it. This is particularly a good idea if you’re a senior (read: Are E-Bikes Good for Seniors for more info).
And perhaps you just want to ride one occasionally for a different form of recreation or instead of driving to reduce air pollutants. In this case, renting can be a much cheaper option.
Finally, getting an e-bike rental can help you explore your surroundings in-depth, whether it’s your own community or a premier vacation spot! You can get one for just an hour or two at your destination and see ten times as much as compared to if you walked.

Find out more in the Electric Bike Travel Guide!

Continue reading to find out the prices of renting an e-bike and how to rent one.

Cost of Electric Bike Rental

In general, an electric bike can be rented by the hour, day, or even by the week. Typically, you should expect to pay about $10-$20 per hour. Bike rental fees may be substantially higher if you’re in a popular tourist destination.

Be sure to ask about four-hour, all day, 24 hours, or multi-day rates! Most electric bike rental shop owners will offer discounts if you plan on renting all day or longer than four hours.

As mentioned earlier, plan on paying a bit more when renting an e-bike as compared to renting a non-motorized bike. Electric bike models are more expensive to begin with and maintenance costs the bike rental shop more as well. Therefore, they transfer some of that expense to you.

Hourly electric bike rentals

If you’re looking for a two or three-hour electric bike rental, you’ll probably pay by the hour. Be ready to spend between $15-$20 per hour. Consider that you might benefit from paying for a 4-hour or full-day rental, instead of just 2-3 hours.

Renting an electric bike for a full day

Typically, you get more value out of your e-bike rental the longer you lease it. So for example, the rate for a full-day rental would be only $12-13 per hour for an 8-hour ride (or a total of $96). Whereas if you rented by the hour at $20 per hour, you’ll end up paying $60 for only 3 hours.

Weekly ebike rentals

Naturally, renting for a full week or longer will give you the most value for your money. For a full week, you’ll pay roughly $200-300. Compare this to a daily rental rate and you’re saving a whopping $600 or more (at $96 for 7 days)!

And, even better, this is significantly less money than if you were to rent a car and buy gas while spending 7 days in a top vacation destination.

Monthly electric bike rentals

Now compare your full week electric bike rental to what you would pay for one month. You’ll spend close to $400… but that’s like getting 2 weeks completely free! In fact, that’s a 50% savings! Naturally, this is the most valuable option if you might want to ride the rental ebike regularly (or for more than 2 weeks).

Premium e-bike rentals

Some rental shops even offer “premium” ebike rates. This could just be a more valuable and expensive model. Or it could be a tandem (two-seater) or stretch bike with lots of room for a child or two on the back. These options are found most often in vacation destinations. Expect to pay an average cost of around $120 per day.

For example, Cal Coast Adventures in Santa Barbara, California offers the Specialized Turbo Levo with a battery range up to 70 miles as a premium rental. In Hawaii, Pedego Electric Bikes offers both tandem and stretch models starting at $30 for one hour.

Take your next California ride in one of these amazing places!

Leasing an electric bike and purchase discounts

The last thing regarding the cost of an e-bike rental is very important to consider if you’re planning on buying one. You may be able to lease it (rent-to-own) or apply your rental towards your purchase.

For instance, the eBike Store in Portland, Oregon offers up to $198 off of the purchase by applying your rental charge! You’ll only find leases and purchase discounts in select bike shops around the world, however. So be sure to ask if interested!

Given the variation in prices, it really pays (no pun intended) to plan ahead regarding the length of your electric bike rental. If you rent it for one day, but then decide to keep it longer, you might end up paying more.

However, it doesn’t hurt to ask the bike shop if your one-day rental can be attributed to the cost of a full-week rental.

Additional electric bike rental costs

Finally, there may be extras that you’d like to add to your electric bike rental. Rental shops should include a helmet and lock with every rental.

Do you need a special helmet to ride an e-bike? Find out!

However, they may offer a GPS device for an additional amount. Unfortunately, you can be billed as much for including a GPS as for renting a bike for an hour! But, once again, you’ll likely pay less the longer your rental period is. For example, you might be charged $20 for the day but only $5 each day after.

Of course, most people will probably use their phones for GPS navigation. In this case, make sure the electric bike rental shop doesn’t charge you for a GPS!

Man on electric bike using phone as gps navigation

Rental shops might also offer an attachable bike trailer for around $25 per day or a hitch rack for 2-4 bikes for $5-10 a day. And, if you mention that you want to ride a long distance in one day, you’ll most likely be offered an extra battery for about $10.

Depending on the location and shop, you might also be offered water bottles, t-shirts, or trinkets with their logo on them. Of course, you won’t be expected to make these additional purchases. But if you might want a memento of your vacation, plan on spending some extra cash.

How to Rent an Electric Bike

Electric bike rental isn’t hard or stressful. However, it does take some planning, especially if you’ll be doing it on vacation. Keep in mind that electric-powered bikes may not be available from every rental shop.

Man and Woman Having Fun with Electric Bike Rental

What you need to rent an ebike

Typically, you aren’t required to get a license, permit, or any kind of insurance to ride an electric bike. There are some locations around the world, however, where there could be an exception. So, make sure to check the laws in your location or travel destination.

But you will most likely need to show a valid ID along with a credit card or cash. And most locations will expect you to be at least 18 years of age to rent one on your own.

How old your child needs to be to ride will be dependent upon the location, as it differs from state to state and country to country. In general, in the United States, a child will need to be a minimum age of 16 or 17.

Review the age chart in this article to determine whether your kid can legally ride an e-bike.

Questions you should ask electric bike rental shop

The best thing to do when renting an e-bike is to ask questions of each rental shop owner. You may get different answers from each one you’re considering. So be sure to ask these 12 questions of each:

Do I need a reservation?
How fast will the electric bike go?
How far will it go on one battery charge?
Will my bike include a throttle and how do I use it?
What’s included with my rental fee?
Can I ride with an injury?
How do I prevent injury?
Where are the best places to ride (at your rental location)?
Am I allowed to ride on sidewalks in this city/location?
Do you have a model that’s better for seniors? For short, tall, or heavy people?
Can my child ride an electric bike rental?
How do I keep the bike safe when I’m not using it?
What are the laws about riding an e-bike here?

Where to Rent An E-Bike

So where can you rent an electric bike? Traditional bike shops and bike rental shops are the most likely place. Call your local bike shop to ask about electric bike rentals in your area. Or simply search “bike rentals near me”. Let them know you’d like to ride an electric bike (as opposed to a standard one).

Then proceed to ask the questions listed above. If you are interested in a particular model to try out, you might have to shop around a bit.

If you’re traveling to a popular vacation spot, you’ll likely find smaller bike rental shops at your destination. If you don’t know where one is located contact a hotel concierge for assistance.

I’ve compiled a list of bike rental shops in popular travel destinations (USA) for you to check out:

Rental Shop	Location	Hourly Rental Cost
Mod Bikes	Austin, TX	$20
Cal Coast Adventures	Santa Barbara, CA	$20
Pedego Electric Bikes	Kailua, HI	$16
Wheel Fun Rentals (Bayside)	San Diego, CA	$20
Bike and Roll (Central Park)	New York City, NY	$20

Note: It’s a good idea to call ahead to ask about discount deals and get your questions answered before you book your reservation.

What Types of Electric Bikes Can You Rent?

Most rental places offer popular, sturdy models as rental choices. Many are hybrid models (so they’ll ride on dirt trails and paved roads), but you can also get electric road bikes, mountain bikes, and cruisers in some locations. All of them will have pedal assistance but only some will include a throttle.

Typically, you won’t be renting the cheapest models nor the more expensive ones. For most people, this is quite adequate. If you’re testing out different brands and models before buying, these will mostly be in the average range of $1100-$3500.

Therefore, most people will also look into purchasing some of the same models. If you’re looking to eventually buy, let your local bike shop owner know which e-bike brands or models you’re interested in (if you already have an idea).

Read more about the different types of ebikes you can buy (and how much they cost).

Common electric bike models for rent

Just to give you an idea of the type of electric bike you can get, I’ve put together a list of those that are typically offered as rentals. If you’re particular (and you probably are since you’ve read this far) it’ll benefit you to do some additional research on the type of bike you’d like to check out.

E-Bike	Motor Power	Speed	Range	Price to Buy
Trek’s Electra Townie Go	250W	20mph	up to 100 miles	$1500
Specialized Turbo Como 3.0	250W	20mph	up to 60 miles	$3200
Rad Power Bikes Rad Mini Fat Bike	750W	20mph	up to 45 miles	$1500
Rad Power Bikes Rad City	750W	20mph	up to 45 miles	$1600
Raleigh Route IE	350W	20mph	up to 30 miles	$2699

A Rad Mini Folding E-Bike has smaller 20 inch wheels than a standard e-bike — The Rad Mini E-Bike is perfect for adults whether you’re renting or buying!

Ready to buy instead of rent? Find out the best e-bike brands in the USA!

In Conclusion

I hope I’ve answered your question on how much electric bike rentals cost. Typically, the hourly cost doesn’t differ much between locations so you can plan how much you’re going to spend in advance.

If you’re new to the idea of e-biking or want to try out different types before committing to purchase one, renting one (or several) is a great way to decide what you need. And because you can borrow for a day, week, or month, you’ll have loads of opportunities to see if it’s right for you before buying one.

Figuring out how to rent an electric bike is easy. Just ask the questions I’ve laid out for you in this article beforehand and decide how long you want to keep it. Then contact your rental location or shop to inquire about getting a reservation. This will save you money, unnecessary grief and help you enjoy your ride!

Best Electric Bike for Your 17-Year-Old: How to Choose One for a Teen

Lisa Sylvester

May 17, 2021

Teens in the USA are now turning to electric bikes. The newest bicycles, powered by electricity, can go up to 20 miles an hour and have a range of 40-50 miles on one charge. It’s no wonder that your 17-year-old teen wants one!

The best electric bike for your 17-year-old teen is a matter of personal preference and budget. Although your 17-year-old girl or boy can typically fit on an adult e-bike, you should consider which features are best suited for a teen lifestyle.

What Are the Benefits of an Electric Bike for a Teen?

There are several primary benefits to getting your teen an e-bike. Generally speaking, you will save money and keep your child safe, while giving them independence at the same time.

1. Cheaper than a car

First of all, they’re way cheaper than cars at $500-$3,000 for most models you’d consider for someone who’s 17. And they’re not just used as toys! Teens are using them to get around town for their daily commute to work or school, visiting friends, or doing chores (like getting groceries).

Riding an e-bike saves them (or you!) on gas, money, and car maintenance.

2. Safer than driving a car

E-Bikes for a 17-year-old have additional benefits such as being safer than driving a car! Now that they’re of driving age, they’ll want to zoom around visiting friends, going to the movies, and picking up some fast food dinners.

And when I say “zoom”, it’s because teens have a tendency to drive too fast, are more easily distracted, and just aren’t as skilled at navigating the road. Further, they won’t get involved in “road rage” or feel the need to overtake another vehicle (since there’s no chance of that happening).

But send them out riding and they can get where they’re going relatively quickly… without you fearing for their safety. Or worrying about your car!

Keep your teen safe with these e-bike safety tips.

3. A 17-year-old can ride just about anywhere

E-bikes can typically go up to 20 miles per hour and have a range of 20-50 miles on one charge. So, your teenage son or daughter can pretty much get anywhere they want to go. And this leads us to benefit number 4…

4. Independence

Another benefit of riding an e-bike for a teen is that they can gain the independence they want and need. Even without a car!

And, with that much needed freedom, they’ll come back home (at least when they get tired!). Additionally, you won’t have to worry about them not being able to get home (as on a regular bike). They can use motor assistance at any time to get them back home in a timely manner.

If your teen doesn’t know how to ride a bike yet, be sure to read this article!

5. Perfect fitness activity for a teen

Last but not least, electric bikes can help your 17-year-old stay fit. This is a great bonus as it’ll encourage a healthy lifestyle before you send them off to ride an e-bike at college.. Even though these bikes use electric motors and batteries for power, your teen still has to pedal. So e-biking is a great way of getting physical activity!

Plus, e-bikes are actually fun, so your kid is likely to ride more often than on a standard bike!

Read the E-Bike Fitness Guide for more info!

How to Choose the Best Electric Bicycle for Your 17-Year-Old

– Consider the terrain that your teen is riding on.

If they’ll be riding through a lot of dirt roads or up hills, then consider getting them an electric bike with a more powerful motor and battery to ensure that it can handle these types of terrains.

And, if they’re interested in riding mountain trails for sport and/or fitness, you should consider getting them an eMTB (electric mountain bike). Sorry, but you’ll be spending a bit more money on a specialty e-bike with higher torque.

However, riding on flat terrain or paved road requires less power, so you can consider a more budget-friendly electric bike. Your teen won’t need as powerful of a motor or battery, so don’t get conned into buying a more powerful, more expensive one without a good reason!

-Will your teen ride to school or work?

If your teen is interested in commuting or riding their e-bike to school or work, then you should consider what they’ll have to ride through and over each day. If there are lots of hills, you’ll need to buy a bike with a more powerful motor and battery so that it isn’t such a chore.

You might even want to get the one with a throttle. A throttle will propel the bike forward without even pedaling. This way they can ride over hills or long distances without the hassle of pedaling for hours on end.

– Consider how long your teen wants to ride each day.

If they are only looking at riding occasionally or small distances, then you can certainly consider getting them an e-bike with a smaller battery that’s perfect for shorter rides. And a less powerful battery will save you money!

– Do you want to encourage biking as a mode of transportation?

Look for an affordable e-bike with a lighter-weight frame when your son or daughter will be using it primarily for transportation.

E-bikes are quite a bit heavier than regular bikes in general. So, if they’ll be putting it on buses or trains regularly, they’ll need one they can lift easily… and preferably fold. Lugging a heavy e-bike around can get discouraging quickly.

– What type of power assistance do you want your teen boy or girl to have?

Ultimately, as a parent, you need to feel comfortable with the power you’re giving your teen. With a 17-year-old, you might not be as concerned about this as you would with a 13-year-old.

But let’s face it, all teens (especially teen boys) have higher auto insurance costs for a reason… they tend to drive faster, more recklessly, and are just plain inexperienced.

So, my point is that you might want to offer your 17-year-old son or daughter a lower-powered 250-500 Watt motor if you have concerns. And, did you know that you can actually buy e-bike insurance to cover your bike and personal liability?

Need help choosing a good e-bike? Read this article for beginners!

Which Features Should You Consider When Buying an E-Bike for Your Teen Kid?

Although your 17-year-old is still a teen, he or she is essentially an adult when it comes to buying an electric bike. There are a lot of features to consider but I’ve picked out the ones that will matter most to you as parents of a teen!

Take a look at this list of features to consider before buying an e bike for someone 17 years of age or younger:

Weight capacity: Most e-bikes have a weight capacity of 220 pounds or more. This means your teen will likely be able to ride most e-bike models. Just make sure that if they want to carry a lot of cargo, that they’ll still meet the maximum payload.

Lithium battery life: The longer the lifespan on a battery, the better the battery, generally speaking. If you’re using an electric bike mostly within city limits or close to home then having a shorter lifespan might not matter as much.

Motor assistance and speed: If your teen will be riding a lot in hilly terrain, then it might make sense to get an e-bike with a 500-750 Watt motor. It’s more important to consider the power of the motor based on the terrain and riding conditions than on the speed.

Being a parent myself, I honestly can’t think of any reason to buy anything more powerful than this for your 17-year-old. And, personally, I’d choose a 250-500 Watt motor for a 16-year-old or younger.

Weight of e-bike: The weight of an electric bike can vary from around 25 lbs to around 60-70 lbs, with the majority of reasonably priced ones being on the heavier side. A 17-year-old girl with less natural upper body strength than a boy generally has could have a very hard time lifting her 60+ lb e-bike upstairs or into a train, bus or car.

Brakes: Hydraulic disc brakes have the greatest stopping power and are generally the safest for electric bikes. This is in part due to the fact that e-bikes tend to be heavy and take longer to stop. They’re easier to stop with than rim brakes due to less friction when braking.

Throttle: Although a twist-grip style accelerator is somewhat more common now, a thumb throttle, which might be more intuitive for teens to use, is something to consider. And do they need a throttle at all? I’d say “yes” if riding hills or long distances! And perhaps “no” if your 17-year-old loves power a little too much!

Frame: A lightweight frame is always going to be the better option when it comes to e-bikes. It’ll be easier to maneuver for a teen or younger kid. However, you’ll pay more for this feature!

Foldable: Is there any reason your teen needs to fold up their bike. If yes, then look for a small, foldable electric bike. The quality for one of these ranges considerably though, so take a close look at what you’re willing to pay versus how long the e-bike may last.

Learn more about folding electric bikes in this article.

Best Electric Bikes for a 17-Year-Old

The best electric bike for a 17-year-old depends upon your budget and what features your teen needs based upon their reasons for riding one.

Primarily, it depends upon where they’ll be riding to, how far, and how often they’ll ride. Not to mention that your child’s safety is a big concern.

So, the following e-bikes were selected as the best with teen lifestyle and safety in mind. I’ll point out the types of e-bikes that could be right for your teen. These e-bikes are all under $2000 in order to stay in line with both a parent’s and teenager’s budget.

I believe you can get a solid e-bike for a 17-year-old in this price range. After all, teenagers are likely to be harder on their e-bike and less careful overall… so do you really want to spend much more than that?

Best hybrid e-bike: The RadMini

If you have about $1500 or so budgeted for an e-bike purchase then one of the best options for your teen would be the RadMini from Rad Power Bikes.

Black Rad Mini Electric Bike from Rad Power Bikes

Not only does it look super cool with its 20-inch wheels and have the ability to fold up, but it’s also an entry-level hybrid e-bike. This means that it can ride on or off-road, in the dirt or on the street! This is perfect when your teen is going to traverse a lot of different terrains, whether it’s to get to school or ride around town.

I’ve ridden one several times and it is a ton of fun!

But I’d have to reserve it for a 17-year-old (or older) as it does have a lot of power with its 750 Watt motor and twist throttle.

I also like the Rad Mini because of its integrated safety features which include:

Disc brakes make stopping fast and easy
Integrated front and rear lights for visibility
48V battery that’ll take your kid far (close to 40 miles depending on riding style)…you won’t have to worry about the battery giving out
Puncture-resistant tires

Read our full review of the RadMini Folding E-Bike!

Best commuter/cargo e-bike: NAKTO 26″ Adult Electric Bicycle City

This e-bike is perfect for either a 17-year-old boy or a girl. It sports two different looks… a white, low-step or a black traditional. Either are reasonably priced (around $650) cargo e-bikes with great reviews.

White NAKTO 26" Adult Electric Bicycle City — Image courtesy of Nakto

It has 26-inch wheels, a 250 Watt motor, and a 36-volt battery that lasts around 22-28 miles. So, as a city or commuter e-bike, that’ll get your child where they’re going without any problems. the great thing about a cargo e-bike is that you can use racks to carry your books, food, phone, or laptop, or your small dog..

A couple of additional perks include the front basket and horn. However, reviews indicated that some people got the basket and some didn’t. So, just be prepared to call the company if you don’t get your basket!

Best cruiser e-bike: Tower Beach Bum 2 Electric Cruiser

This may be a perfect e-bike for your teen, especially one who’s old enough to appreciate the quality. And a 17-year-old will likely be better at taking care of an electric bike than even a 15-year-old.

Tower Beach Bum 2 Electric Beach Vintage-looking Cruiser — Image courtesy of Tower Electric Bikes

Despite what you’ve heard, a cruiser is not only good for riding on the beach. Yes, this cruiser’s hefty price tag (around $1999) ensures that you’ll be able to ride the beach for up to 60 miles on its 48 volt Samsung battery. But the high-torque, 500 Watt motor also makes it capable of climbing big hills!

Further, Tower Electric Bikes Claims that even an adult can go up to 30 miles on the throttle alone. Therefore, if your teen is an explorer, or wants to visit friends or relatives out of town, this cruiser can cut it. Plus, it’s pretty darn cool to look at with it’s vintage brown seat and tires.

Best electric mountain bike: ANCHEER Electric Mountain Bike

This electric Mountain Bike (eMTB) has a 350 Watt motor and 26 inch tires, making it a full-size bike for climbing mountains. This makes it perfect for someone who’s age 17 or older.

Ancheer Electric Mountain Bike 350W — Image courtesy of Ancheer

It has a strong front suspension fork and double-walled rims which are necessary to take it on rough mountain trails. Further, it has 21-speed gears, a throttle, and pedal assistance which all provide the ability to get moving!

The best part about this e-bike is that you can begin mountain bike riding at a low price (around $750) yet customer ratings are super high!

One more thing before you buy… Read our Guide to Different Types of E-Bikes & Their Cost

To Sum Things Up

In general, the best electric bike for your 17-year-old teen is really dependent on their wants and needs, as well as yours as a parent. You’ll want to consider the features and benefits of each model. And you’ll have to decide how much you’re willing to pay (or how much is reasonable for your kid to pay).

I hope that this article gave you the answers you need to find the best electric bike for your 17-year-old or other teenage child.

You can find out more about buying e-bikes for children of other ages by reading the article below:

The Parents’ Guide to Buying Electric Bikes for Kids

Electric Bikes are Easy to Steal: 10 Tips for Preventing Theft

Lisa Sylvester

May 16, 2021

Electric Bikes are a hot commodity right now. They have been steadily increasing in popularity for the last few years, and it’s not hard to see why. And they offer many benefits over traditional bikes, such as increased range and speed that make them much more practical for commuters or casual riders.

However, they also come with an increased risk of theft because of their higher overall value! And they’re not any harder to steal than a regular bike.

The best ways to prevent your electric bike from being stolen are: You should invest in high-quality bike locks, be aware of where you park your e-bike, and consider using a bike alarm system or GPS.

In this blog post, I’ll give you 10 essential tips to prevent your e-bike from being stolen. I’ll discuss them in detail so you can enjoy all of the perks of owning one without worrying about someone stealing it. After all, a stolen bike is expensive to replace!

Invest in a High-Quality Bike Lock

There are multiple lock options for your e-bike, but despite which one you chose, be sure to invest in a strong, high-quality one. This might mean a slightly more expensive one, but locks that are too cheap can be broken and manipulated a lot easier.

In general, better quality locks are at least $35 but can be anywhere in the range of $40-$150. You want to make it as difficult as possible to break or cut off a lock, so make sure the material of the lock is plenty tough and solid. Locks that are at least 16mm in thickness are usually the hardest to break with bolt cutters!

Use multiple locks

Additionally, it’s a good idea to have more than one lock on your e-bike, as most thieves aren’t going to spend time lingering around if they intend to steal. Their goal is to find a bike that’s fast and easy to steal. So why would they take the time to go for a bike that has 2, 3, or 4 locks on it?

The better your bike is locked up, the less likely it (or the parts) are to be stolen!

Lock down the most important parts of your e-bike

You can also lock down certain parts of your bike. Specifically, the battery, as this is the most commonly stolen part on an e-bike! Make sure to lock it in a way that goes through the handle of the battery if possible. You can also remove the battery after your ride and keep it with you in your bag.

Additionally, it’s smart to secure your wheels, seat, stem, and handlebars to your bike to prevent the theft of these individual parts. The best bet is to lock down each wheel as it’s easy for a thief to steal the rest of the bike, even if just one wheel is locked down.

What Are the Best Locks for an E-Bike? Get two or three!

There are multiple locks that will work for your e-bike, but how do you determine the best one? Here is a brief description of the types of locks you can choose between.

U-Locks: These are U-shaped locks that wrap around the bike frame and wheel to prevent theft. These are great options for locking up your bike tightly. But they also can make your e-bike more difficult to transport because of the rigid shape. These are the most common and generally toughest locks to keep your e-bike from getting stolen. They’re typically less expensive than the chain locks.

This is what U Lock bike lock looks like — Kryptonite Kryptolok New-U

Chain Locks: These are slightly more portable because you can get them in various weights and sizes. You can also buy the chain and the lock separately. These locks are very strong and can be easily wrapped around your bike due to the different lengths of the chain. They tend to be quite expensive.

Chain Lock example for an e-bike — Hiplock Gold Chain Lock for Keeping Your E-Bike Safe from Thieves

Folding Locks: These locks are very transportable because they fold up into compact locks and are easy to use. Their quality will be different depending on the manufacture, so make sure you check reviews and research before buying one.

Folding Bike Lock Example — ABUS Bordo Granit XPlus 6500 Folding Bike Lock

Cable Locks: These are the cheapest options. However, that also means they are the least protective and can be cut easily. I really don’t recommend getting one of these for valuable electric bicycles!

The best brands for e-bike locks

I’ve researched and compiled a list of some of the toughest lock options to keep your e-bike from being stolen. Even so, I recommend using more than one lock, as well as more than one type of lock.

Of course, you can also read the reviews of the lock you are thinking about buying and see how others experienced it first!

Name:	Abus Granit X-Plus 540	Kryptonite Kryptolok New-U	Hiplok Gold Chain	Abus Bordo Granit 6500	Foldylock Compact	Kryptonite New York Standard Heavy Duty Bicycle U Lock
Weight:	3.2 lb	2.9 lb	4.8 lb	3.48 lb	2.2 lb
Thickness:	13mm	12.7mm	10 mm	5.5 mm	5 mm	16 mm
Price:	$121	$32.99	$84	$108	$85	$111
Rating:	4.7/5	4.6/5	4.4/5	4.6/5	4.9/5	4.7/5
Type:	U-Lock	U-lock	Chain Lock	Folding Lock	Folding Lock	U- Lock

Are Electric Bikes Easy to Steal in Crowds?

Some may think that your bike is in more danger on an empty street or shopping center, but oftentimes bike thefts actually happen in large, bustling crowds. This is because there are more distractions going on and people to hide behind. Unfortunately, many bystanders who see a suspicious person jiggling with a bike lock don’t confront the situation and continue walking by.

Your e-bike won’t necessarily be safer on an empty street either. It’s just that bike thieves know that tourist areas with lots of people are prime areas to find e-bikes left unattended.

Make sure to lock your bike up well no matter how populated a street or shopping center is and keep a close eye on it if you can. Otherwise, I’ll say it once again, use multiple locks!

Before you travel with your e-bike, read our e-bike travel guide!

Where Can I Chain My E-Bike?

Along with not letting your guard down in crowded areas, you should pay close attention to where you lock your bike up. Park in well-lit places whenever possible, and try not to leave it unattended outside too long, especially at night.

Chain your e-bike to a solid, hard-to-remove object such as a street light, metal post, concrete barrier, solid metal bike rack, or a parking meter.

Don’t attach your e-bike to a railing or object that looks flimsy or can be easily broken or removed, like wooden fences, flimsy trees, stop signs, or chain-link fences.

Another benefit of locking your e-bike up to an object stronger than its mainframe is that the only way to steal the bike will be to possibly damage it. The good news here is that most thieves don’t want to steal a bike that will end up damaged if they do.

Also, avoid parking in the parts of town that are reported to have more theft and petty crime. You probably know where these areas are within your city or county, so it’s a good idea to steer clear of parking your electric bike in these areas. At times it might be better to park your e-bike somewhere you know is relatively safe and walk the rest of the way to your destination.

And keep an eye out for any strangers who might be closely watching you lock up your bike, as they may be trying to gauge how easy it will be to steal it once you leave.

Store Your E-Bike Inside

This may be a bit complicated to do when out in public as most stores and public places won’t let you bring a large e-bike inside. But I’d certainly try keeping your e-bike with you whenever possible!

Talk to your boss about storing your e-bike indoors if you commute to work on your e-bike, or if you ride your bike to class, ask your professor. Some grocery stores and other establishments will let customers bring it inside as well.

When at home, try and designate an area of the house for your bike. This can be the living room, bedroom, or garage. However, it’s not uncommon to have an e-bike stolen out of a garage, so it’s still a good idea to lock it up in the garage for extra security!

And if you live in an apartment or condo, bring your e-bike indoors with you, as many bike thefts can happen overnight at apartment complexes as well. Consider putting down an extra rug to roll it onto if you’re concerned about damaging the floor.

If you’re struggling to find a place to keep your e-bike indoors, take a wheel off to make it a bit more compact. If you haven’t yet bought an e-bike, consider getting a foldable one so that it’ll fit into tight spaces.

Foldable E-Bike in Back of Car — A foldable e-bike may be easier to protect from thieves since you can fit it in more safe places.

Learn more about foldable e-bikes… read this!

Park Your E-Bike in Different Places

Parking your e-bike in the same place every day may raise the possibility of it getting stolen. If you use it to commute to work, school, or to volunteer somewhere regularly, an advanced bike thief may take notice. They’ll study your routine and find out how many hours the bike is left alone.

Try to find different places to lock it up or park on different sides of the building you are commuting to, as long as you can still safely lock up your bike. Don’t make it easy to steal!

What is an Alarm Lock? Add One to Your Arsenal!

You can also purchase a lock that sets off an alarm if your e-bike is being handled or tampered with. If there are people around, this may alert someone who will stop the thief. If not, the alarm sound will hopefully scare off the thief.

Some quality alarm lock brands and names include the AlarmD Pro, ABUS Bordo Alarm 6000A, ABUS 770A Smart-X, Wsdcam 113dB, and ZiiLock. Bike alarms are generally quite inexpensive, so it’s very likely to be worth getting.

Install a Bike Tracker or GPS Device

You can install a GPS device onto your electric bike so that, if it’s stolen, it can be tracked. And if a thief knows there is a tracking device attached to it, they might avoid it entirely. However, these trackers can still be taken off fairly easily if discovered, so it’s a good idea to try and hide or disguise them.

The company Sherlock offers a way to install a tracking device into the handlebars and can be tracked using an app on your phone, so it is much more difficult to find. Other brands that sell e-bike GPS tracking systems include the Samsung SmartThings Tracker, Tile Sticker, SinoTrack, Spytec GPS, and Invoxia GPS Tracker.

Find out more about GPS trackers!

Create Fake Warning Signs & Get Creative

If you can’t afford to buy an actual alarm or tracking device, a great way to outsmart a bike thief is to create a fake yet authentic-looking warning sign to place on your bike. Thieves will often go for the easiest option. So having even handmade signs (along with multiple locks) might cause them to pass up your bike and take their chances with another one.

Put up a security sign

You can find templates for certain signs, or just type one out yourself. These signs can include a warning label saying that there is a GPS tracker on the bike, or that an alarm will sound if the lock is broken.

If parked outside of your home or workplace, add that they are being watched by security cameras around the perimeter. You can do this even if there are no security cameras. If a thief doubts the authenticity of these signs, they will most likely not want to take their chances.

Camouflage your e-bike

Another creative way to add more security measures to your e-bike is to camouflage it as an older or less important bike.

Many e-bikes are new and shiny-looking, but if you’re willing to sacrifice their appearance for better protection, then this is a viable option! There are some ways you can help make it look much less desirable: Paint fake rust onto its frame and handlebars, place a grocery bag over the seat, get mismatched handlebar grips, add splotches of paint, or stick on little pieces of duct tape.

Camouflaged Bike — Make your shiny e-bike less appealing to thieves (a little extreme, but you get the idea).

Should I Insure My E-Bike? Get insurance if…

Some companies or websites will offer insurance when you buy your bike. So, it’s a good idea to look into the insurance policies of the company you buy your bike from. Be sure to look over all of the specific details, like whether the insurance will cover just your battery being stolen or instead only cover the whole bike.

Typically, e-bike insurance from renters and homeowners policies offer very limited coverage. So pay close attention to every aspect of the insurance you are looking to buy. Some homeowners insurance policies will only cover your e-bike if it is stolen directly from your home. But they won’t cover it if stolen off the street or outside of your work.

Do I need insurance for my e-bike?

So, it may be a good idea to buy e-bike insurance if you have an expensive bike and no other insurance will cover its loss. Some good insurance companies that may cover electric bikes include Progressive, Markel, Velosurance, Sundays Insurance, and SPOKE.

Need more info on the price you should pay for an e-bike?

In conclusion

Are electric bikes easy to steal? They may not be harder than any other bike to steal, but they are much more valuable and expensive to replace.

Therefore, electric bicycle theft prevention is not something to be taken lightly, and cases of theft are spiking in many places. As electric bikes continue to gain in popularity, so does the potential of thieves wanting to scavenge them for their value.

Unfortunately, it’s just too easy to steal one… and quite tempting since they’re generally worth more than an average bike.

Therefore, it’s a great idea to update your anti-theft protocols to better protect your e-bike! Purchasing quality bike locks, using more than one at a time, paying attention to where you park your bike, and using methods like an alarm system or GPS tracker can be very useful ways to protect you from bike theft.

What Is an Electric Trike? How to Ride One

Lisa Sylvester

May 8, 2021

Electric bikes have become a popular alternative to traditional bikes. Now many are wondering what an electric trike is and why they’re being ridden by adults instead of children!

An electric trike is an adult-sized motor-powered bike with three wheels, much like those that small children ride. It’s commonly used by adults with disabilities and seniors who may be unable to ride a two-wheeled bike. An e-tricycle offers motor assistance when the rider pedals and the three wheels remove the need to balance.

Without the concern of balancing, as on a traditional bike, riders can enjoy themselves more and reap the benefits of cycling in general. Like other e-bikes, these three-wheeled electric bikes have become an enjoyable way of getting around without having to worry about hills or headwinds.

How to Ride an Electric Trike

Generally speaking, riding an electric trike is very similar to riding any other bike. The main differences are that it has three wheels to remove the need for balancing and that when you pedal, the electric motor will kick in to help you.

This means that when you approach a hill, or if your legs are tired from cycling, you’ll be able to continue riding by using the electric motor.

Is it Easy?

Riding an electric trike will most likely require a learning curve like any new form of transportation, but it may not take as long to learn as some!

Overall, it is fairly easy to learn how to ride an e-trike, but it is important to be aware of the differences between an electric trike and an electric bike.

Also, please understand that young kids have their own electric bike options and that these are not the same trikes for young children. Be sure to give yourself time to learn and take it slow before taking it out onto the streets.

What is an electric trike? These tricycles have 3 wheels and are made for adults to ride. — Photo courtesy of Zize Trikes

Like an e-bike, electric trikes are motor-powered and include pedal assist, but e-trikes have much more stability and balance. You will be able to cruise up a hill at a more leisurely pace without the fear of falling over.

If you start to feel tired, a third wheel will prevent you from tipping as easily. For example, when stopping at a light or crosswalk, a rider of a two-wheeled bike will have to put their feet down to balance the bike. But riding a trike will provide that balance for you so you don’t have to switch positions and start back up again.

However, you might want to hold on to the brakes tightly so that you don’t roll at all while stopped.

It’s easy to ride an e-trike by following these 12 tips for beginners!

Disadvantages of an E-Bike

Something that may be a bit more of a struggle when riding an e-trike is turning tight corners and avoiding obstacles in the road. Because of the third wheel, the turning radius is wider. So you’ll need to account for extra space and move slower while turning to avoid tipping over. Be careful not to lean too much into the curve, as it’ll actually cause you to lose balance easier. Instead, just use the handlebars to help you turn safely.

Electric Trikes also tend to be larger and take up more space than a two-wheeled bike, so storage can be a problem. Further, getting one into a car can be near impossible!

Want to know more about how an e-bike works? Take a look.

Benefits of Riding an Electric Trike

Riding an e-trike provides essentially the same benefits as riding an electric bike. They may require less balancing effort, but you will still be able to ride in the same places and receive the same workout from pedaling.

Riding an electric trike is great for a number of things:

Mental Health
Cardiovascular Health
Joint Health
Muscle and bone strengthening

Mental health

Getting regular exercise and being out in nature is proven to enhance your mood and release positive endorphins. It can help with depression and anxiety and calm your brain.

Additionally, vitamin D (from being out in the sun) and fresh air can help maintain a more balanced mood and improve cognitive function. And riding an electric trike or bike is a safe, fun way to improve your mental health.

Cardiovascular health: Is riding a tricycle good exercise?

Riding any bicycle on a regular basis can lower the risk of diabetes, heart disease, cancer, strokes, and age-related issues. This is because it increases your physical activity and works your cardiovascular system.

Riding can also help keep your weight down and burn calories, leading to a healthier body overall. Further, receiving a proper amount of exercise can boost your immune system.

But the absolute greatest thing about riding an electric trike, instead of a regular bike, is that it makes exercise much easier. Thus, you’re more likely to do it and will do it more often, which will improve your overall physical fitness.

Read our E-Bike Fitness and Health Guide here!

Joint health

Riding a bike is a low-impact exercise and puts much less stress on your joints than running or high-impact sports.

And since electric trikes have pedal assist, and often a power throttle, you can take as many breaks as your joints need while still moving forward on the bike. Just increase the level of power assistance to make pedaling easier or use the throttle exclusively without pedaling at all.

Muscle Strengthening

Pedaling an electric trike is a great way to strengthen your bones and work on building up muscle strength, without having to worry about balance. Building muscle will not only help you burn fat, but it’ll also keep you stronger and more capable in other daily activities.

Plus, cycling, in general, will strengthen your bones while increasing muscle.

How Much is an Electric Trike?

Name	Addmotor Motan Electric Trike	Viribus 3 Wheel Electric Bike for Adults	EWheels (EW-29)	Emojo Caddy Pro Fat Tire	Addmotor M-340 Electric Fat Trike
Rating	5 / 5 stars	3.5 / 5 stars	3 / 5 stars	5 / 5 stars	4 / 5 stars
Price	$2,999	$969.99	$1,949	$2,799	$2,999
Carry Weight	Up to 350 lbs	Up to 300 lbs	Up to 400 lbs	Up to 320 lbs	Up to 350 lbs
Colors	White, Apple Green, Orange	Black	White, Apple Green, Orange	White, Grey	Pearl White, Starry Blue, Neptune Blue
Extra Qualities	750W 48V 16AH M360	250W Motor, Bike Tube, Removable 36V 10Ah Lithium Battery, Adult Tricycle with Adjustable Cruiser Bike Seat and Bike Basket, Exercise Bike, up to 15mph	Scoot-Around Pedal or Electric Power 3 Wheel Trike with 3 Year Extended Warranty, up to 15mph, 500-750W	500W 48V, Seat with backrest, Step-through frame	250W 48V, Seat with backrest, Step-through frame

Electric Trike Conversion

You can also buy conversion kits to customize your trike and build on parts to your own non-electric trike. These kits usually cost anywhere between $200-1,000 depending on what it includes and the quality of parts in each kit.

If you don’t want a whole kit, you can buy individual parts as well. If you want a smaller or more comfortable seat, for example, you can buy and replace just the seat. The same goes for the battery, motor, handlebars, and wheels.

Learn more about converting your bike to electric.

Where to Buy an E-Trike

You can buy an e-trike from many online stores, including Amazon. The best way to find them is to do an internet search and look at different brands. If you’d prefer to look at some in person before buying, you may also be able to find them in select Walmarts and a number of bike stores.

Three-wheeled trikes are far less common than e-bikes. But you can look up bicycle shops near you that sell electric bikes and call them to inquire about electric trikes.

Things You Should Know Before Buying a Trike

How fast do e-trikes go?

E-trikes can go up to 30 mph, with most having a motor that maxes out at 20 mph, depending on the brand and model. They can typically ride for 30-40 miles on a single battery charge before dying so you shouldn’t have trouble getting where you need to go.

Are trikes street legal?

Generally, e-trikes can be ridden anywhere that electric bikes can go. Otherwise, they have the same street requirements as any regular bicycle. Since laws and regulations differ, be sure to look up your specific state, county, and city to read their requirements for riding any electric tricycle or bicycle.

Do you need a helmet to ride an electric trike?

In most places, the law does not require an adult cyclist to wear a helmet when riding an electric bike or trike. However, it’s strongly recommended that you wear one anyway. After all, your head is your most valuable body part. A helmet will protect your head in an accident as well as from flying road debris.

How is an electric trike different than a 3 wheel motorcycle?

An electric trike is different from a three-wheeled motorcycle for a couple of reasons. First of all, the motor doesn’t allow it to go nearly as fast as a motorcycle. The average motorcycle can go up to 165 mph, while e-trikes only go up to 30mph at the fastest. E-trikes aren’t meant to be ridden on busy streets or freeways like motorcycles are. Rather, they’re better for riding on bike paths and less populated scenic routes.

Another difference is that riders can use their body to help turn on a motorcycle, whereas on an e-trike you only need to use the handlebars to steer around turns. On a motorcycle, you turn the bike with counter steering, meaning you lean the opposite way of the curve to turn. E-trikes have direct steering.

Get the safety tips you need to ride an electric trike.

In Conclusion

As electric bikes become more widely used, e-trikes are starting to pop up more as well. Like e-bikes, e-trikes provide motor assistance that makes it easier for a rider to pedal and get where they’re going. However, adding a third wheel to an e-trike removes the need for balance and allows more people with disabilities or injuries to get out and ride.

How Long Does an Electric Bike Controller Last: How to Test

Lisa Sylvester

May 7, 2021

When buying an e-bike, many people are just thinking about the cost of the bike and which one they want. But it’s also a good idea to pay attention to the ongoing replacement needs of the various parts, especially the electric components.

As with any electric component, your e-bike controller is one of the parts likely to break first. So, you should consider how long your e-bike controller will last and what you’ll have to pay to get a new one.

On average, an electric bike controller will last a minimum of 3-4 years, just like the battery and the motor. You can determine the need to replace the controller by testing it with a multimeter to measure the voltage crossing the terminals.

An electric bike controller is a device that converts human effort into electric power for an electric bike. The electric motor then turns this energy into mechanical motion to drive the wheels of a bicycle. This device can fail and stop working, so it’s important to know how to test your controller in order to prevent being stranded somewhere without your vehicle!

What Does the Controller On an E-Bike Do?

The electric bike controller is the piece of equipment that allows an electric bike to function. It does this by coordinating all aspects of the electric bike, including power from a battery pack, speed control for motorized bikes, and throttle input from the rider.

The most common type of electric bike controller is called a “speed circuit” which uses potentiometers as feedback devices to adjust voltage levels in different parts of the circuit according to how hard you’re pedaling or how fast you want your bike to go.

In case you’re wondering, potentiometers are special resistors that produce varying electrical currents. They’re used in electric bike controllers because they can be adjusted to control voltage levels.

There are two primary parts of the e-bike that controller wiring connects to.

Computer Display

Electric Bike Controller Display — Electric bike controller with LCD display

The computer display, typically an LCD screen, is the main interface between the electric bike controller and rider. It communicates what assistance level you have selected or how fast your electric bicycle is going.

The display will usually include menus to make it easy for riders to navigate different options, like selecting a power mode, setting up digital speed readouts in kilometers per hour or miles per hour, and even finding out if there’s enough battery life left before needing to recharge it.

Electronic Switches

These switches turn on the motor and turn it off again. There are usually two types of switches:

-The throttle is a grip on the handlebars that riders twist to turn the motor power on and off (or sometimes it’s a button you press with your thumb).

– The pedal assist sensors, which can be either of two types – cadence or torque sensing. These work when you’re pedaling by turning electric motors on as soon as your foot speeds up, or slows down again at different levels of assistance based on what feels best for each person’s individual cycling habits.

These switches make it easier to use an e-bike than if you had to press start every time before proceeding with your ride. You’ll know how these options are set in advance so they’ll always feel natural without any confusion about whether there’s enough battery life left.

How Long Does an E-Bike Controller Work?

An electric bike controller box should last anywhere from two to five years (so averaging 3-4).

When it comes to electric bike controllers and their longevity, there are a couple of things that will help determine how long they last.

How Often You Ride

For starters, it largely depends on how often you ride your bike. If you’re an occasional rider, your controller could last for many years. But, if you’re a daily rider or like to tour, it may only last one or two years.

Riding and Storage Conditions

Riding and storage conditions can also affect how long it lasts. Heat, freezing temperatures, humidity, flying debris (like sand and dirt), and extreme riding (like electric mountain bike riding) can all affect how long your parts will work, including your controller.

It’s best to keep your e-bike in a dry, cool location averaging 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit, and keep it clean. This will benefit all of the electrical parts that interact with each other.

Find out how to keep your e-bike clean from sand and dirt.

Cost and Quality

Additionally, the cost is a big factor. You’ll get a better quality, more powerful controller for a bigger price tag. If there are lots of hills involved that require stronger pedaling power than usual, it may make sense to spend $300 or more on a new controller because you can expect it to last much longer.

Keep an eye out for malfunctions with the controller marked by flickering lights or clicking noises coming from within the motor unit – these can be indicators that something isn’t right with the system. In cases like these, first take advantage of any remaining warranty provided by most companies before considering buying a new one.

If there it isn’t under warranty, proceed with testing your controller before purchasing a new one.

How to Test My Controller and Display

An electric bike controller helps to power your electric bicycle by converting the energy from a battery into kinetic energy. It is important that you know how to test and maintain your electric bike controller so it will last for years of use.

To test your controller to determine whether it’s working, you need to measure the voltage across the terminals. If you don’t have a multimeter, or you’re not familiar with how to use one, find someone who is and ask them for help.

Wiring Diagram for Electric Bike Controller

Shows the wire ouput for an e-bike controller

Step One: Test Hall Sensors

First, test the hall sensors. You can do this by unplugging the motor wires from the controller’s terminals, then plug them back in to see if it turns on. If they turn back on, go to step 2.

Step Two: Test Throttle Sensor

Next, test that your throttle sensor is working by connecting a wire between the signal and ground lines (or black and red) of the throttle connector. This should cause your electric bike to start moving forward when you turn or squeeze your grip handle; if not, go to step three or check with a bike electrician for help troubleshooting.

Checking all these sensors before using your e-bike will ensure that everything is wired correctly so there are no problems later on down the road. It also prevents other damage because now you know what could be causing any malfunctions before they happen!

Step Three: How to Test The Battery and Motor

Testing the battery is also important as it’s what feeds electric power to the controller. So, if your controller isn’t working, it could be due to a bad (or uncharged) battery.

So first, make sure your battery is charged.

Second, you’ll need to disconnect the power connector in order to test it safely.

Third, once disconnected from the bike controller, you can put a voltmeter’s probes on either side of the battery and check for voltage reading; if you get any electric shock or sparks DO NOT TOUCH THE BATTERY!

If there are no problems with this step, then move on to testing that your motor is working. Do this by connecting one probe end of a multimeter (or digital meter) across each red/black wire on your throttle connector while applying pressure to trigger the throttle sensor.

If nothing happens when squeezing the grip handle then something needs fixing!

Take a look at our step by step maintenance guide!

Price for a New Controller

If you test your controller and discover that you need a new one, you’ll want to compare both prices and features. The average cost is from $200 to $500 for a quality one with all of the features you want and a beautiful LCD display.

However, you can get a cheaper controller (around $20-$60) with few settings and options. The benefit to buying a less expensive one is that it’ll give you fewer connections to monitor and therefore less to go wrong. But like any inexpensive part, it may not last as long. And getting a cheap one means that you may not have all of the features you’d like (like fewer levels of pedal assist, and therefore, less speed assistance).

If you need a dual mode controller with lots of settings that requires more monitoring, the costs can be much higher. For most people who are just using their electric bike in order to commute or run errands around town, a $200-$300 controller (Amazon) is usually enough.

In some cases, however, where there are hills involved that require stronger pedaling power than usual, it may make sense to spend $300 or more on a new controller.

Finally, make sure the controller has all of the functions that you want before you buy it. And you’ll want to consider the battery voltage and motor watts so that the controller works with what you’ve already got.

Are you a DIY e-bike builder? You can also buy a new controller within a conversion kit. And, if you’re converting your own bike to an electric bike, it’s recommended that you use the controller that comes with the conversion kit so that everything is made to work well together.

Learn more about e-bike conversion and DIY kits.

List of the Best E-Bike Controllers for the Money

Take a look at some of the best options for electric bike controllers, some cheaper than others. Note that the more expensive ones don’t always come with displays, or if they do, they might not be nice LCD displays. Also, the lower voltage controllers are generally less expensive but mean that you won’t be able to get as much speed and power from them.

Overall, the controller will be priced higher for an electric bike that has a motor with higher wattage and a higher volt battery. So make sure you buy one that works with your e-bike.

Finally, the cost will increase if you’re buying an entire conversion kit to build your own e-bike or if you want a better quality component.

Brands on Amazon	Star Rating	Price
NBPower Sine Wave Brushless DC Motor Controller	**** 1/2	$289
Dilwe Brushless Controller + LCD Display, Rainproof	****	$63
Wonvon Motor Brushless Controller + LCD Display, Waterproof	****	$57
EBIKELING 500W 1200W 1500W Waterproof	****	$58
Cozyel 48V/72V 2000W Brushless Motor Speed Controller	****	$70
Alomejor 12V 500W Motor Controller	**** 1/2	$22

Best Electric Bike Controllers- 4+ Buyer Star rating

Time to buy a new e-bike? Check out our Best E-Bike Companies guide.

How to Program My E-Bike Controller

Programming the electric controller will depend on the brand, but the general idea is to turn it on and make changes by turning the mode switch until you find the desired setting.

If you bought a new controller because your old one no longer works, you’ll need to do a little programming unless you want to keep it on the manufacturer’s default settings.

Programming Using Default Settings

This will vary depending on whether your electric bike controller is using a simple push-button, or if it has LED lights to indicate battery charge status and power selection. You should defer to the manufacturer’s owner’s manual if you’re not sure how to do it.

For example, if you are using an electric bike with Shimano components, after turning your controller on wait for ten seconds and then press and release your grip handle while holding down both buttons (thumb) of the programming port at the same time; let go when done.

Programming New Settings

If you don’t want to use the default settings, you may be able to re-program your controller by following these general steps (again, they may differ depending on the brand of the controller):

– Turn on your electric bike.

– Wait for five seconds and hold the handlebar button with both thumbs down, then release it. This is called programming mode.

– Press the right thumb to increase power or the left thumb to decrease power (the LED lights will tell you which direction). Repeat this until you’re happy with your new settings. You can also press one of the buttons after a delay when in programming mode to set that as default speed instead of using other settings; let go when done.

– To return back to regular use without changing anything else, you can usually turn off the controller and wait five or more seconds before turning it back on.

Conclusion

Electric bike controllers should last for many years if you take care of them and follow the instructions. However, how long it lasts also depends on how often you ride, the conditions in which you ride, and whether you take care of your e-bike in general.

To help keep it in shape, it’s a good idea to test your controller occasionally to make sure it’s giving the maximum output. This will keep you from getting stranded far from home when it suddenly breaks.

How to Get Fit on an E-Bike: Essential Guide to Fitness and Health Benefits

Lisa Sylvester

April 27, 2021

Is riding an electric bike cheating? You might be wondering whether you can get fit, stay fit, and feel healthy by riding e-bikes. After all, riding a bike with a motor certainly makes it easier, right?

Research suggests that you can get fit on an e-bike by riding regularly. Studies indicate that you can increase cardiovascular exercise, improve cognitive function, get better sleep, and build muscle while losing fat. Further, people ride their e-bikes farther and more often than they would on a regular bike.

In this article, I’ll show you the research that supports how riders can get fit and healthy on e-bikes, help you understand the benefits of getting a good workout on electric bikes, and give you ideas on how to improve fitness by riding your e-bike.

Do E-Bikes Improve Fitness? (The Research)

With some of the recent research being done surrounding pedal assisted bikes, it’s much easier than it used to be to answer “yes” to this question.

According to recent research studies, your physical health, mental health, and overall fitness can increase by riding your e-bike regularly. Riding electric bikes has been shown to increase aerobic capacity and blood sugar control, improve cognitive function, provide mental benefits, and lower the risk for heart disease and cancer.

One study at the University of Colorado Boulder specifically looked at physically inactive, car commuters to see whether pedelecs (e-bikes) could help them meet their daily recommended fitness goals.

After one month of substituting their car commute for riding an electric bike 3 times per week, for a minimum of 40 minutes, at their own chosen speed and level of intensity, researchers noted “increased aerobic capacity and improved blood sugar control”.

Similarly, a research article published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity studied the health benefits of electric bike riding. What they discovered is that electric bikes offer moderate-intensity aerobic exercise. It’s higher than walking but lower than riding a traditional non electric bicycle. Further, they found “moderate” evidence that e-bike riding can increase cardiorespiratory fitness in previously inactive people.

A long-term study in the UK of over 264,000 people, and published in the British Medical Journal, found a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer in people who commuted by cycling (which includes riding e-bikes). Dr. Gill comments:

“Cycling all or part of the way to work was associated with substantially lower risk of adverse health outcomes. Those who cycled the full length of their commute had an over 40 percent lower risk of heart disease, cancer and overall mortality over the five years of follow-up.”
Dr. Jason Gill, Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences

Another study in PLOS ONE journals reports that, after 8 weeks of cycling, either on a regular bike or an e-bike, older adults ages 50-83, improved in executive cognitive function. E-bikes also improved riders processing speed and their mental health score, as compared to non-cyclists. Even more notable is that e-bike riding may provide even greater mental benefits than traditional cycling just due to being in an outdoor environment.

Finally, The UMPC Health Beat reports a study published in the Circulation journal that found that cyclists who rode regularly had around 15% fewer heart attacks than those who didn’t bicycle.

In conclusion, when we’re talking about improving fitness by riding electric bikes, the research suggests that you can most definitely get fitter, stay healthier, and feel better, both mentally and physically.

Man riding electric bike on paved road — Marc’s daily ride on his RadMini Rad Power Bikes!

Why You Should Get Fit On an Electric Bike

The number one reason you should use an e-bike to get fit is that it makes exercise fun and, therefore, you’re more likely to exercise in the first place. The number two reason you should use your electric bike for fitness is that it’s more accessible regardless of physical ability.

It’s easier to get daily exercise because you can work out as hard as you want or increase motor assistance when you’re tired.

Exercise is more fun on pedal assisted bikes

Just try to find someone that doesn’t think riding electric bikes is fun. I’ve never met anyone. However, you can probably find plenty of people who’ll tell you that they don’t like to ride electric bikes. But this is likely due to the fact that they’ve only had the opportunity to ride a conventional bike (not e-bikes) and found it difficult.

The truth is that having a motor to assist your pedaling makes riding easier, faster, and therefore, more fun:

You can ride uphill on e-bikes without feeling as though you’ll pass out or overworking your leg muscles
You can ride your e-bike to college without breaking a sweat (well, maybe) and still get exercise
And you can get to the store without worrying that you’ll be too tired to ride back home
You can even ride electric mountain bikes if you’re going for off-road adventure

woman on electric bike smiling — Riding Rad!

You are more likely to exercise regularly on e-bikes

Because riding an e-bike is more fun than many other types of exercise, your motivation to hop on it and ride is more likely. In turn, more people will have a better chance of exercising several times per week on their e-bikes… if not daily! I’ll cite a few different research studies later on in this article that confirm this.

Electric bikes are accessible to all

The second reason to use an e-bike for fitness and improving your overall health is that it’s very attainable. That is, a majority of people can ride electric bikes even if they have a disability, injury, or are just more challenged due to age (check out electric trikes).

Because you can use as much pedal assistance as needed, you can ease up on pedaling whenever you need to. And if you already have an injury, many electric bikes will give you a throttle to move the bike forward without pedaling.

Find out why e-bikes are good for seniors!

And there are even electric trikes that remove the need for balance… the three wheels keep you grounded.

Did you know that you can ride an electric bike and improve your fitness, even if you’re obese or substantially overweight? Not only are many e-bikes made with stronger, larger frames, but there are also ones that will hold up to 550 lbs (body weight and cargo included). So, almost anyone can find electric bikes perfect for them.

Even better, you can use an electric bike to remove physical and psychological barriers and get a moderate workout without putting excessive strain on your joints and the rest of your body.

What Are the Benefits of Getting Fit on an E-Bike?

Many of the benefits of riding an e-bike for fitness are the same as when riding a traditional bike (or mountain bike) and include improved mental health, increased cardiovascular health, a lowered risk of serious diseases, and less joint impact.

Additionally, all the many benefits of getting fit on an electric bike include increased time riding and going longer distances because of motor assistance.

Additional Research

The National Institute for Transportation and Communities (NITC) conducted a survey of e-bike owners as a follow-up to a study at Portland State University. This study found that electric bikes are helping users ride more often, to more distant locations, and to carry more cargo with them (you can even take a pet). The study showed that people with physical limitations, or who were too far from where they needed to go, were able to ride e-bikes because of the electric assistance.

The NITC survey confirmed the findings that riding an electric bike generated more and longer trips.

Additionally, Science Direct describes one study of 10,000 participants comparing the physical activity of e-bike riders to traditional bike riders and non-cyclists. They also discovered that e-bike riders go on longer trips than do regular cyclists. Further, there wasn’t a measurable difference in the increase in physical activity between both e-bikers and regular cyclists (meaning that e-cyclists didn’t get significantly less physical activity than regular bike riders).

What these studies suggest is that, if you’re not one to exercise regularly or consistently, then you are much more likely to get fit on an e-bike than on a regular bike.

Other surprising benefits of getting fit on an electric bike include improved mental health, lower risk of cardiovascular disease, increased mobility, and strength, as well as weight loss.

Additionally, the UMPC Health Beat, cited earlier, reports multiple health benefits of regular cycling, whether it’s on an e-bike or standard bike, including:

Improved cardiovascular systems
Increased flexibility and muscle strength
Improved mobility in knee joints
Mood improvement
Posture and coordination improvement
Decreased percentage of body fat
Disease management and prevention
Reduced risk of cancer
Decreased anxiety
Lowered dementia risk

Let’s discuss the health benefits of e-bike fitness in more detail.

Mental health benefits

Taking your electric bike for a ride is great for your mental health as well as physical health! First off, exercise, in general, is proven to enhance your mood and cognitive functions as well as decrease depression and anxiety (and electric bikes are just fun!).

Woman enjoying fresh air and clearing her mind after a bike ride

The act of cycling pumps blood faster through your body and helps your endorphins, like serotonin and dopamine, to spread rapidly throughout your body. Further, studies have shown that riding e-bikes can reduce stress hormones, which in conjunction with the increase in serotonin, can help you sleep better and further improve your mood.

Not to mention that the thrill of riding an electric bike at faster speeds than a standard bike makes riding more fun than your other daily activities, thus improving your mood!

A study from the National Institute of Health (NIH) discovered that the frequency of exercise should be the focus of improving mental health, rather than the intensity of it. So, riding your electric bike daily, even if it’s for a short time, can make you feel better.

For additional reading, there’s an article in The Guardian by a man who used cycling to battle his depression and anxiety.

Lower rates of cardiovascular disease

Cycling regularly can help decrease cardiovascular problems like heart disease and cancer. It’s a great way to burn calories and maintain a healthy weight, help your body receive more oxygen, regulate blood flow, and strengthen your stamina, all of which help you to have a healthier heart.

Refer to the studies mentioned above for more details.

Increased mobility and muscle strength

Riding a bike can mobilize joints and strengthen your muscles. But the great thing about riding an electric bike is that you can get fitter gradually, over a period of time, without risking injury. Using electric motor power allows for starting your e-bike ride without a lot of resistance and slowly increasing that resistance as you decrease the amount of electric assistance you’re receiving.

You get warmed up more carefully and don’t need to struggle to get started. Having the ability to gradually warm-up, as well as cool down, will keep your joints and muscles in good shape while helping you to stay mobile on and off your e-bike.

Minimal joint stress

E-biking is a low-impact exercise, so it’s softer on your joints and less prone to giving you sprains or injuries than running and other high-impact types of exercise. This is extremely beneficial if you haven’t done much exercise previously or you are obese, injured, or elderly.

Specifically, cycling is gentle on your knees, ankles, hips, and back. Further, low-impact exercises, like riding e-bikes, help you warm up not only your joints more carefully but also the rest of your body.

Weight Loss

Can you lose weight on an electric bike?

Riding an e-bike is also an efficient and healthy way to experience weight loss, all while gaining weight in muscle mass. Riding any type of bike requires exertion from your whole body, from arms to legs to abdomen, so doing it regularly is a well-rounded way to lose weight and gain muscle.

Further, thanks to an e-bike’s electric pedal assist, it’ll be easier to ride for longer and get more physical activity than you would otherwise, potentially leading to even more lost weight.

However, to burn fat while cycling, you need to get your heart rate up to about 70% of your maximum. To determine how high it should be to burn fat, you can subtract your age from 220. So, if you’re 50, then your max heart rate would be 170. Then, to burn fat, it needs to be at 70 percent of 170, or 119. Thus your heart must beat 119 times per minute in order to burn fat.

For weight loss, you’ll likely need to use a lower assistance level to make you somewhat breathless and unable to easily maintain a conversation. Riding for fitness on electric mountain bikes up in the hills is a perfect example.

How to Get Fit on an E-Bike

So, how do you get fit on an e-bike? Make a fitness plan. Like many workouts, it’s entirely up to you how much electric bikes exercise you want to get. However, with an electric bike, you have a great deal more control over your expenditure than on a conventional bike.

To get fit on your e-bike you should:

Determine the level of workout you want
Choose the muscle groups you want to exercise most
Find a suitable training location
Decide how long you’ll ride and how far you’ll go
Schedule your ride times for the week
Don’t forget to stretch

I suggest that you keep a weekly workout log with these details to ensure that you’re maximizing the time spent on your e-bike to get fit. And make sure to download a couple of the best free fitness apps for e-bikes that I’ve compiled for you below.

Determine the level of workout you want

Your overall level of fitness achieved by riding an e-bike will be largely determined by your effort and how much energy you expend. If you choose to increase electrical assistance level whenever riding gets a little challenging, you won’t get as much exercise as riding until you’re breathless or your muscles start to burn.

That being said, you should start slowly.

The great thing about e-bikes though, is that you can easily switch from riding hard to riding easy and vice versa. So, there’s no reason to avoid a challenge, burn more calories, and get fitter. You can always reduce your effort when you get tired. In fact, using intervals of hard and easy on a pedal assisted bike is a great way to start building your cycling workout and stay motivated to continue.

Like any type of exercise, you should start pedaling slowly to warm up so that you don’t over-stress your muscles. Then, gradually increase the intensity until you have reached your maximum heart rate. Stay riding in that zone as long as you are comfortable, preferably for 15-20 minutes.

What muscle groups do you want to challenge?

In general, riding electric bikes will focus your workout on your core muscles (pelvic floor, abdomen, obliques, diaphragm, etc.), legs (hamstrings, quads, shins, calves), and buttocks (glutes). You won’t be working out your arms, chest, or most of your back.

Leg muscles used riding a bike. — Image courtesy of TrainingPeaks.com

To build core muscles while riding e-bikes, you essentially need to work them harder than they’re used to and then give them a chance to rebuild and become even stronger. So, after working out any muscle group significantly, you need to give it the next day off to rest.

Planning out your riding days ahead of time will maximize your workout effort and ensure that you’re not overworking any one muscle group… or neglecting others (for help, see the Beginner E-Cycling Fitness plan below).

For instance, if you ride steep hills with as little motor assistance as possible one day, you’ll want to give your leg muscles a rest the next day by focusing on other muscle groups to exercise instead. This could be an entirely different exercise, such as swimming, yoga, or upper body weight lifting. Or it could just mean taking an easy, casual e-bike ride on a flat road.

If you have an injury or certain muscles are weak, then you’ll want to be careful to not overwork those areas. You might want to ride in lower gears and/or switch your pedal assist mode to a higher output so that you can still ride but not overexert those muscles. Make sure to find a suitable bike training location.

Training location: where to ride

What kind of roads and elevations will you ride on an electric bike?

If you have access to steep climbs, it’s a good idea to alternate riding on flat land with riding uphill. And because you’re on an e-bike, you can do this even if you’re new to fitness or new to working out on electric bikes. If you were riding a non-electric bike, you might not make it up a hill to begin with.

If you don’t have hills in your area, then you’ll simply switch between higher and lower gears and electric power assistance levels to alternate the resistance and therefore the intensity of your workout.

Don’t neglect to learn how to shift the gears for the best ride!

How long and how far will you ride on your electric bike?

As the research discussed earlier indicated, you’re likely to exercise longer and go farther on an electric bike than on a non electric bike. And e-bikes certainly make it easier and more fun to do this.

So, for starters, don’t underestimate how far you will go. After a few rides, you’ll get an idea of how long you can ride and what kind of physical exertion you desire. Then, you should increase the amount of riding each week. It’s okay to start slow… just map out your ride beforehand and use your e-bike’s controller display or an app to measure your distance.

Schedule your ride times for the week

Finally, determine how often you’ll ride every week and plan out the times and days of the week. Without a plan, you’ll be surprised how fast the days disappear… and fitting in regular workouts will be less likely.

Stretch before and after each ride

Always do a proper warm up and cool down after each ride to ensure that riding your bike isn’t overstressing any muscles, joints, or ligaments.

Don’t have an electric bike yet? Check out the electric bikes buying guide!

Beginner E-Bike Workout Plan

If you’re new to exercising or are a beginner e-bike rider, follow this guide to get started (get your comfortable padded bike shorts ready). Once you’re confident and comfortable on your bike, you may wish to modify it. However, you can easily follow this plan for 4-6 weeks. Then re-evaluate your fitness and goals.

	LEVEL OF WORKOUT	GOAL	LOCATION/ELEVATION	MINUTES
SUNDAY	Easy	Relaxed/fun	Flat Road	15
MONDAY	Moderate	Increase stamina/ Build muscle	Flat + 6% incline hill	15-20
TUESDAY	Break
WEDNESDAY	Moderate	Increase heart rate/ Build muscle	6-10% incline hills/low motor assist	15-20
THURSDAY	Break
FRIDAY	Moderate	Achieve maximum heart rate	6-10% incline hills/low motor assist	15-20
SATURDAY	Break

*Complete 5-10 minutes of a good warm-up ride beforehand and enjoy a casual ride of 20 minutes after meeting your goal.

Best free apps for e-biking health and fitness

Your e-bikes fitness plan will be more successful if you measure your stats and continue to improve on them. So, find a cycling fitness app that works with your phone and use it to further develop your fitness plan, as well as to stay on track.

Keep your goals in mind, whether they are to decrease blood pressure, weight loss, or just to improve a sedentary lifestyle. Here are five highly-rated apps that’ll help you meet your goals.

Strava: Run, Ride, Swim
1. Rating: 4.8/5 Stars
2. Overview: This app is great for all cyclists, whether it be traditional biking or e-biking! You can easily track your distance, speed, elevation gained, pace, and calories burned. The app includes special routes and maps and allows you to set monthly challenges to compete with others and to push yourself. Your stats can be shared on your Strava feed or other social media platforms.
3. Awards: Editor’s Choice
4. Phone: IOS and Android

Bike GPS- Ride Tracker
1. Rating: 4.7/5 Stars
2. Overview: This app is very intuitive and allows you to simply track your rides. It also creates detailed statistics and bike profiles.
3. Phone: IOS and Android

Cyclemeter-Cycling & Running
1. Rating: 4.6/5
2. Overview: Like the other apps, this one can track your heart rate, bike speed, cadence, and power. It can also detect stops automatically, view maps with google, and tell you the current weather temperature! It is voice-enabled and connects to Siri, so it’s great for training and tracking your overall fitness routines, whether it be on an e-bike or going for a jog.
3. Phone: IOS and Android

Komoot: Cycling, Walking MTB
1. Rating: 4.8/5 Stars
2. Overview: This app is great because it’s designed more specifically for navigating and finding the best trails for you. It includes turn-by-turn voice navigation so you can keep your eyes on the road at all times, offline maps to help you navigate your way around the best trails, and the ability to browse your community’s favorite trails. Overall, it’s great for route planning!
3. Phone: IOS and Android

Bicycle Ride Tracker: Bike Map
1. Ratings: 4.5/5 stars
2. Overview: This is a very accurate cycle computer that tracks how long you ride, how many miles, how many calories were burned, and what your top speed was.
3. Phone: IOS

5 Tips on How to Stay Motivated to Ride

Awesome Workout Apps. By using one of the previously mentioned apps, or another one, you can use it to set goals for yourself or challenge your stats against others.
Riding with a friend. Scheduling a ride with a friend or two is a great way to help the time pass quicker and make the experience more enjoyable! It’s also beneficial to have someone else to hold you accountable for your goals and push you to keep going. You can even challenge them to help challenge yourself.
Music. Listening to music can make any form of exercise better! You can create an upbeat or motivational workout/biking playlist to keep you pumping while you ride. Or listen to soft, meditative music while you cruise down a beautiful country road.
Podcasts. If you aren’t in the mood for music, you can also listen to a podcast. This helps keep your mind off of the workout and you can choose any topic to listen to! This could even be a podcast about e-biking.
Incentives. Give yourself incentives- Set a goal for you to reach, whether it be the duration of your ride, calories burned, or length traveled. When you reach it, treat yourself to a small scoop of frozen yogurt, a hot bath, or an extra half hour of relaxation time!

Little to no experience riding electric bikes? Here are 12 tips for beginners.

Conclusion

Getting an adequate amount of exercise every day is super important for your health. And sometimes it can be hard to stick to an awesome workout routine because of a lack of motivation, your job, family, or other personal issues. But you can get fitter without being miserable.

Riding electric bikes a few days a week for around 30 minutes each is a great way to benefit your health. I hope you’ll get serious and make time to see what electric bikes offer. You’ll be amazed at how easy it is to get fit and complete your daily exercise on an electric bike. Plus, you’ll feel great about your health and fitness when doing so consistently for a period of time.

Further, you don’t have to ride the best electric bike to get a break from your standard workout routine, fresh air, and have more fun!

E-BIKING TODAYElectric Bike News & Reviews

Electric Bike Reviews & NewsLIVE YOUR BEST LIFE E-BIKING... TODAY!

Go Fast on an Electric Bike (for Fun and Convenience)

Ride Up Hills Easily, No Sweat!

Electric Gears make riding up hills easy on your e-bike

Take advantage of your regular gears

Get Groceries or Run Errands on an E-Bike (Fast and Easy)

Fun to ride all around town picking up what you need

Easy to Carry

See Points of Interest You’d Never See on a Traditional Bike (or Walking)

Ride Your Electric Bike All Day

Travel to More Places

Ride an Electric Bike for Fitness (and Have Fun While Working Out)

Improve your cardio

Build muscle (and keep it !)

Ride Your E-Bike with Friends

Join an electric bike group

Go on a bike tour with a group of friends

Get Seniors and People with Disabilities Riding an Electric Bike Too!

Electric Bikes are Fun for Athletes Too

Commute to Work or School (Just for Fun!)

Are Electric Bikes Fun for Everyone?

Electric Biking Speed: How Fast Is an E-Bike?

How does the terrain affect an e-bike’s speed?

Can electric bikes climb steep hills? (Uphill terrain)

How fast can an e-bike go downhill? (Downhill terrain)

Dirt and gravel paths

How does weather affect electric bike speed?

Riding an e-bike in the rain (will it slow you down?)

How fast can you ride an e-bike in the snow?

Can heat impact your electric bike’s speed?

How does cold weather reduce an e-bike’s speed?

Electric Bike Wattage (Compared!)

A comparison of electric bike wattage:

Why you should (or shouldn’t) buy a higher watt electric bike

Dangers Of Riding Your 1000W Electric Bike Too Fast

Is it safe to ride my e-bike at the maximum speed?

Three-tier classification of electric bikes

How Much Does It Cost to Ship an Electric Bike?

Cost of Traditional Shipping Companies (UPS and FedEx)

E-Bike Special Handling Fee

Cost of Liability and Insurance

Electric Bike Shipping Services

How much does it cost to bring your electric bike on a plane?

How Much Does it Cost to Ship an E-Bike Battery Separately?

Can you ship an electric bike without the battery?

Packing and Preparing Your Electric Bike (Cheapest Way!)

Save money- Pack it yourself

Disassemble your e-bike

Find a cheap but sturdy e-bike shipping box

Pack it carefully

How to Ship an Electric Bike Overseas (International Costs)

Conclusion

Must-Have Electrical Accessories (Only for Electric Bikes!)

An extra bike battery, fully charged

A charging cable and power adapter

Electric headlight and brake light

Phone mount and charging cable

Long outdoor extension cord (if camping)

Outlet adaptor for battery (if traveling overseas)

E-Bike Repair and Maintenance Tools for Your Trip

Tire repair kit (including mini air pump)

Spare tire tubes

Bike multi-tool

Extra brake pads

Best Electric Bike Accessories for Packing and Riding

Front and/or rear racks

Pannier or travel accessory bag

Bike hauler/trailer (best for overnight camping or traveling)

E-Bike Safety Essentials and Personal Accessories

Conclusion

Why Rent an Electric Bike

Cost of Electric Bike Rental

Hourly electric bike rentals

Renting an electric bike for a full day

Weekly ebike rentals

Monthly electric bike rentals

Premium e-bike rentals

Leasing an electric bike and purchase discounts

Additional electric bike rental costs