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If you like the idea of electric rideables like hoverboards, scooters, skateboards and bikes – you’re not alone. Electric rideables, e-bikes especially, are much more than a tech fad. They can easily become the future of transportation. Although they have been around for quite some time, there’s still a fair amount of controversy surrounding them. Some people feel threatened by the rise of their popularity, thinking conventional bikes will suddenly vanish or become obsolete in the near future, which can’t be further from the truth. E-bikes won’t make the conventional models obsolete, and in fact, they might actually enhance them.
Source: Vallarta Tribune
That being said, there’s no better time to visit a few reliable e-bikes shops and get your first electric bike. The market is full of battery-powered bikes of various shapes and sizes. In order to find the right one for you, there are a couple of things to consider. After all, electric bikes aren’t the most affordable devices, so putting in the time and effort to research the market before you visit e-bikes shops is highly recommended.
Consider Your Requirements
Electric bikes are designed for different purposes and different people, and it’s up to you to decide what features matter. If you’re looking for comfort, look for a step-through frame. If hill climbing is important, a high-torque hub motor or a middle motor system will suit your needs best. If you’re going to be riding long distances, then you’re looking for something with a powerful battery of over 400 watt-hours. Understanding your personal needs will help you decide what features are important to you.
Source: Treehugger
Choose a Reputable Retailer
When buying an e-bike, pay special attention to the retailer you’re shopping from. Three factors play a great role in the reliability of the store – quality, commitment and customer support. The staff should be friendly, know what they’re selling and be ready to help you out. Also, the store should be equipped with various models of e-bikes. Knowing that the store is committed to the e-bike movement means they’re willing to help you get the most out of your e-bike years down the road. As far as quality goes, you need to make sure the retailer is selling brand name bikes that you can easily research. Basically, you want to ensure the retailer is in the business for the right reasons instead of just looking to make a quick buck on a new tech fad.
Have High Expectations
Electric bikes are a revolutionary form of transportation. A quality electric bike should be reliable, useful, powerful and comfortable. The right model can be life-changing, however, not all electric bikes are made equal. There are some models that are far from the ideal of a modern, quality e-bike. It’s up to you to set high expectations for the product and ask for the very best.
Source: The Guardian
Lengthy Warranty
No matter whether you choose a model that costs $1500 or $10000, it’s still a pretty big investment. With a warranty, you can have peace of mind knowing your investment is worth it. Expect at least a two-year warranty on the motor, battery and parts. A manufacturer that provides a lengthy warranty for their products is a manufacturer that believes in what they make.
Trust Your Gut Instinct
There’s a ton of contradictory information available on e-bikes. There are hundreds of choices and opinions, while there aren’t any trusted organisations that review and certify e-bikes in a systematic manner. So what do you do? Your best bet is trusting your intuition. You’re looking at a product that’s too good to be true? Well, it probably is. If the e-bike is from a manufacturer you can’t find any information on, it’s probably best to stay away from it.
Quality Matters, but So Does Service
Electric bikes aren’t toys – they’re a means of transportation. The quality of the bike itself, regardless of the drive system it features, is very important, and even more so if you intend on riding it day in day out. While its component quality is easy to judge by looking over the specification sheet, batteries and motors can be more difficult. When in doubt, do some research on the battery and motor brands. However, remember that the quality of the parts won’t matter if the bike isn’t tuned and set up properly. Your dealer should be your trusted ally in maintaining the quality of the parts you invested in.
Source: The Telegraph
You Get What You Pay For
This is true for most things in life, so why would e-bikes be an exception? Building an e-bike with quality and reliable components isn’t cheap. For e-bikes with a cadence sensor or throttle operated models, expect to pay $1500 or more. E-bikes with torque sensors can cost $2500 or more. On the bright side, a quality e-bike will pay for itself rather quickly, and I’m not even taking the happiness dividend into account.
