This bicycle buying guide will help you to cut down the
options to
enable you to find the right bicycle for you.
It appears that there are countless options buying a bicycle.
Don't
worry too much about this because you can boil down the possibilities
to various bicycle types. And decide if you want a motor or not?
First you think about where do you want to ride your bike? In
the
forest and nature or mostly on proper paved roads? Do you use it in the
city most of the time? Determine your type of riding first.
Bicycle Types
Road Bikes
They are made to ride on paved streets. They are fast and
light.
The frame is lightweight and their tires are skinny. When you like to
travel long distances at higher speed then this type of bicycle is for
you.
They are not designed to carry heavy loads or riding on rough
streets all the time because the frame is not very robust.
The more expensive ones have a lighter frame. The more you
pay, the
lighter the frame. But to buy a very light frame does only make sense
if you are a competitive bike rider participating in tournaments etc.
Keep in mind that the riding position is also a bit different
as you have to bend forward to cut down wind resistance to go faster
and your energy will flow from your legs to the pedals more easily.
This aerodynamic position is not the most comfortable if you have to
keep up this riding position for long distances.
Mountain Bikes
For off-road riding - the wide tires are designed to handle
rugged trails.
They have reduced speed levels but are more durable than road
bikes.
They have a higher and more comfortable riding position and
better for you if you have back problems.
They are less expensive than road bicycles
If you almost never will drive rugged trails then don't buy a
mountain bike as you will pay for features that you will never use.
There are so-called Hybrid Bicycles which combine the above features of
Mountain Bikes and Road Bikes to
create new bike designs like commuter bikes and city bikes.
They are called Pedelecs and usually don't go faster than 15
mph.
You don't need a driver license and no insurance up to 15 mph. You have
to use the pedals to keep the motor running. You can switch off the
motor if the road is flat and just use the pedals to save energy. In
this case the battery charge will last longer. If the battery is empty
you still can pedal along normally. Read more about faster
E Bikes.
What to look for?
Lightweight: If you pay more you get a
lightweight electric
bicycle. This means that the frame is lighter. The weight of your bike
will matter if you have to carry it down the stairs into your basement.
If you are a physically strong person this will not matter and you can
save money and buy a cheaper one. But make sure that the quality of the
battery is still high. Go for an electric bicycle lithium powered.
Your Bodyweight Consider also that your
own bodyweight plus
the weight of your bike has to be transported. So it is logical that
your battery will have to be recharged more often if you are a heavy
person and if it has to supply the power to transport the additional
weight of a cheap bike as well. Pay more to get more engine power and a
lighter frame. If you are a heavy person, just choose a bicycle that
has a higher voltage battery, as this always goes along with a stronger
motor.
Don't spend thousands of dollars to get less weight for a
high-end
bike, because the weight of the rider is already around 5-6 times
heavier than the bike. Just get rid of a few pounds yourself if you
carry overweight.
Electric
Bicycle Battery,
there are different kinds of batteries available. The cheap bikes have
a heavier battery that does not supply sufficient energy to go for long
distances. It has to be recharged more often and is not made of
environment friendly material. Avoid lead-acid batteries they are
outdated! Go for a Lithium bike battery. Get quality!
Cheap batteries are often made of lead, which is heavier and bad for
the environment and outdated.
Average batteries go for 25 miles at a speed of 15 mph with
motor
power alone before they have to be recharged again. If you use your
pedals efficiently you can extend this distance to a much longer range.
Mileage depends on your weight and the road condition (flat or hilly)
as well and is hard to guess.
The battery type and how efficient your motor works is
important as
well. If you are not fit, you pedal less, compared to another person
who is fit. In this case the other person will not use as much battery
power and the battery range will be extended.
But the controller is important too for
the performance and
the longevity of the battery. A controller receives the information
(signals) from the sensor that the pedals are being turned by the
rider, estimates the amount of power needed and gives sufficient power
from the battery to the motor. The controller is the heart of the
system. The performance and quality of the controller is important for
the performance of the whole system. Top quality controllers carefully
assess rider behavior and other data to optimize the performance. This
will result in an increase of the range and lifespan of the battery. A
high quality bicycle will have a high quality controller and you can
ride a longer range. You get what you pay for.
Placement of the Engine: The Electric
Bicycle Motor.
can be placed in different ways, in the middle of the bike or might be
completely invisible hidden in the back or front wheel. If you buy a
good quality bike the engine will be silent and there is no distracting
noise and there will be no vibrations. Vibrations can lead to
mechanical or electrical failures in the long run and can be disturbing.
Extras - Sometimes you pay more just to get some extras you
may
not need. Just check out similar bikes and determine the price
difference. Check if they have things you don't need.
Must have mudguards and lights
Beach Cruiser
Bicycle Buying Guide - Checklist
Weight: Less than 30kg
Price: Less than US $1800.-
Highest speed: 15 mph
Peak power: More than 300 watts
Power consumption: Less than 10 watt/hours per mile
Driving Range: 20 miles plus
Type of Battery: Lithium-ion (NiMH or Li-ion)
Replacement battery price: Less than US $400.-
Voltage - go for higher voltage if you are heavier
Warranty
Don't buy cheap electric bikes on online auctions without a warranty!
If you have a warranty you will be able to get it repaired if something
goes wrong and you have guaranteed quality and performance.
Are you a heavy person? Go for a higher Voltage Battery!
If you buy a bicycle that has a higher voltage battery it has
also a
stronger motor with better performance to go with it automatically. So,
don't worry.
If you are a very heavy person and live in
a hilly area, then choose an electric bicycle that
has a battery of 48 Volt. If you do this, the motor
that goes along with it will be much stronger as well to carry your
weight and to climb uphill.
Pay more and get "intelligent power management"
Keep in mind that more expensive bicycles have two sensors.
All electric bicycles have a sensor that measures just the fact that
you use the pedals and the sensor turns on the motor when you pedal. If
you stop pedaling the motor switches off.
If you pay more you get an additional sensor that
measures the
strength that you apply to the pedals. If you ride uphill you will
apply more energy to the pedals. The sensor will pick this up and makes
sure that the motor delivers more power. If you are riding on flat
roads the sensor will make sure that the motor uses less power. You can
call this "intelligent power management" because the power of the
battery is used much more economical! If you have this sensor the
battery will last longer and you can ride a much longer range
using the same battery capacity. So don't buy the cheapest electric bicycle you can get!
Voltage Options
24 Volt – For light riders. I got
a bicycle that does
climb hills very well at this voltage with a light rider. Real heavy
riders may have to push the bike up the hills.
36 Volt – is faster for riders up
to 250 lbs and makes 20 mph on flat surfaces and climbs up hills easier.
48 Volt – even faster and better
for hill climbing. Suitable for heavy riders over 200 lbs who ride in
hilly areas.
If you can get higher voltage for the same price then get more
voltage.
Your new Electric Bicycle, how
to ride it?
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