Mia
With the changing climate and the increasing temperature of the world, electric energy is our best hope. The rise of electric vehicles has been sudden, and it’s also been ginormous, the main reason behind this change is the growing awareness in the world. Another huge factor that contributed to the development of electric vehicles is the decreasing costs. If you also want to adopt electric energy as your primary means of transportation, then you should try out an electric bike. These bikes have almost no operating sound at all, they produce zero emissions, and are offering higher and higher ranges with each passing day.
All of this is well and good, but when it comes to actually buy an electric bike, beginners usually get confused and feel lost in the market. They feel like there are too many variables to account for and that there are a lot of new terminologies that they aren’t even aware of. In this article, we’re going to address this very issue and help you in buying your first electric bike. So without further delay, let’s get to it and find out the crucial things you need to look out for when buying an electric bike.
1. Cost
The number one concern for any buyer throughout history has been the cost of the product. Since electric bikes are relatively newer than compared to internal combustion engines, they’re also a little pricier. You need to decide on a budget in which you’re going to limit the purchase so that you don’t overspend on features you don’t need. The newer models will be a little cheaper and will offer you more features for the same price as the older models. However, be mindful of the features that you don’t need as you might not need a bike with a very high range but if you purchase it, you’ll be spending unnecessarily higher amounts.
2. Size
Just like all other standard vehicles, electric bikes come in various sizes as well. The size of the bike will usually vary depending on its power, battery size, and intended purpose. Usually, the normal-sized electric bikes are quite heavy but if you want a lighter option, you can search for a folding electric bike that doesn’t have as much speed or range. There will always be some sort of trade-off for additional features, but the lighter bikes are usually more than enough for daily needs. Size is a personal preference and everyone will choose their own preferred model, so just keep your needs in mind while deciding which size you want.
3. Speed
There’s no one better to understand the importance of speed than people who ride bikes. If you have to sit on a slower bike for several minutes, you’ll start getting annoyed and frustrated slowly over the journey. However, if your bike is much faster than you needed it to be then you might’ve overspent on a feature that’s absolutely useless for you. The best way to understand what’s your need for speed is to test ride a few different vehicles multiple times before deciding.
4. Range
While some people want an electric bike just to travel to the next block, some people also need them for touring across the country. If you fall into the second category, you won’t be very happy with a bike that could only run 20 miles before needing a recharge. Judge your own requirements carefully before finalizing which bike you’re going to buy and only then, you’ll be able to make the right choice.
5. Maintenance
Another critical factor that you have to account for is the after-sales maintenance of the bike. You have to make sure that the manufacturer offers proper maintenance services, what’s the availability of spare parts, can it be fixed by other mechanics, and so on. If the bike can’t even be properly maintained after you purchase it, you might end up with a hunk of metal and plastics that refuses to work. So take your time and do some research so that you can understand what the entire situation is like.
These are some of the most important factors that one should keep in mind while searching for a new electric bike in the market. These points should provide you with a basic framework of what to look out for. You’ll be able to select an electric bike that will better match your requirements and riding style. Just remember these when you purchase a bike, and you’ll be able to ride your bike for a long time to come.
