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Electric bikes have taken the world by storm in recent years, with the industry growing in leaps and strides. Consumers who have yet to purchase one of these popular eBikes may be wondering what the pros and cons of ownership are.
An electric bike is essentially a traditional bicycle with a powerful motor and electric voltage-based battery attached to the frame. This allows riders to get some pedal assistance when necessary and, in some cases, to travel without any pedaling whatsoever. And with such powerful motors on these bikes, you may wonder how loud is an electric bike. The good news is that they are usually pretty quiet.
Electric bicycles have a number of key benefits to modern consumers, which are detailed below.
A primary benefit of owning an electric bike is that it can help save money in the long run. How? Electric bicycles are well-suited for performing daily errands and for commuting to and from work. This will save you money on gasoline and will help save money when it comes to automobile repairs and maintenance. Additionally, folding electric bicycles can be folded up and taken with you into the office, saving money on parking spaces. Your electricity bill may rise a bit, with all of the constant charging of the battery, but this will not be much in the face of reduced gasoline costs and car expenses.
Electric bikes are bicycles, first and foremost, and regularly going for rides will increase your overall health. The pedal-assist feature can be engaged and disengaged at will and you might find that having the motor provide some support during inclines actually encourages you to ride more. Having control over this pedal assistance feature allows riders to set their own level of difficulty. If you are looking for increased physical fitness, try not to engage the throttle mode too often if your eBike offers that feature.
Some of the main draws of an electric bike are that they are fun, easy to ride, and good for most ages. In other words, you will have a lot of fun riding around town or through the wilderness with friends and family. Plus, owning an electric bike will allow you to easily keep up with your friends and family members that are seasoned cycling veterans. Additionally, if you like to DIY, you can learn how to turn a mountain bike into an electric bike for a fun project.
There are some unique disadvantages to electric bikes that consumers may want to consider before making a purchase.
Though electric bikes will save you money on commutes, in the long run, there will be a significant buy-in cost. Electric bicycles can be expensive and budget-friendly models may lack some of the features you are looking for. You should also factor in the cost of related gear and accessories, such as safety helmets, knee pads, arm pads, storage baskets, and the like. It must be said, however, that the prices of these bikes have been lowering as they become cheaper to manufacture. Additionally, you can look at used electric bikes for sale to try to lessen some of the initial cost.
Tip: Electric bicycles can be expensive and budget-friendly models may lack some of the features you are looking for
Due to the electric components included, eBikes tend to be heavier than traditional bicycles. This may not be an issue for you if you live on the bottom floor and simply lock the bike up in the backyard while not riding. If you live in a walk-up apartment, however, carrying the electric bike up multiple flights of stairs can be a real drag. This frustration can be minimized, however, if you purchase a folding electric bike, as these are designed to be easier to carry.
Warning: Due to the electric components included, eBikes tend to be heavier than traditional bicycles
It is extremely easy to fix a traditional bike, as the parts are common and readily available. This may not be so for some electric bike models, as the motors, batteries, and related specialized components can be difficult and expensive to track down. Repairs also tend to be more costly than what you would run into with a normal bike. Thankfully we have some guides on how to do some simple repairs yourself if you are interested. If your battery is messing up you can read about ebike battery repair. However, if when you twist the throttle nothing happens, be sure to read about how to repair electric bike throttle.
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Some e-bikes offer quick charging which allows you to get to 80% capacity in just 1-2 hours with a 10 amp charger. (Source)
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