So you’ve probably found this article because you’re considering purchasing an electric bike but you’re not quite sure what you need to consider when making your decision, or which brands to consider.
When buying an electric bike, there are 3 main things you should consider: Your budget, what you will be using it for, and what features you would like the bike to have. There are of course other things you will need to consider but we’ll get to that further into our article.
Keep reading, as we take you through everything you need to consider when looking for a mid-range e-bike and how to make the best possible pick.
What Is an Electric Bike?
An electric bike (also known as an e-bike) is a motorized bicycle with a built in motor designed to assist the rider when going up-hill or travelling long distances by taking the strain off of pedalling. The way an e-bike is designed is almost identical to that of an ordinary bicycle with a few welcome additions.
There are many different kinds of electric bikes available across the world, but they typically fall into 2 categories: Electric bikes that assist the rider by adding pedal-power, and electric bikes that add throttle, giving it a functionality style closer to that of a moped or scooter. Both varieties, however, still keep the ability to be pedalled by the rider and are therefore not electric motorcycles.
All electric bikes use a rechargeable battery, which means they are very good for the environment! An electric bikes typically has a maximum speed of 16 to 20 miles per hour (that’s 23 to 35 km per hour for our non-American readers). High-end models typically have more power to them, meaning they can often travel at speeds of about 28 miles per hour (45 km per hour).
Are They Better than Bicycles?
For many people, the answer is without a doubt yes. This is mainly due to the fact that electric bikes are significantly faster than regular bicycles and reduce the amount of effort needed to travel from one place to another, which gives the rider more freedom than if they were to just use a bicycle.
Electric bikes are legally classified as bicycles, rather than motorcycles or mopeds, which means you do not need a driver’s license to operate one, nor will you need to have the bike registered in order to use it. This makes them especially useful to individuals who can’t obtain a driver’s license for which ever possible reason.
What Do You Need to Consider?
There are a quite a few things you will need to consider when looking at mid-range electric bikes but we’ll be giving you the top 5 things:
1. What is your budget?
This is without a doubt the most important thing you need to consider when deciding on which electric bike to purchase. With a very wide price range of $800 to $8000, electric bikes may seem rather expensive however a good, middle of the range electric bike will only set you back about $1500.
2. How will you be using it?
Another important thing to consider is how will you be using the electric bike. Will you be using it to go to university/college? Or perhaps you will be using it to go riding on a bike trail. Maybe you will simply be using it to get around the city. Regardless of how you will be using it, you will need to consider if it suits your needs.
3. What are the user reviews?
You need to consider the feedback of others who have purchased the same electric bike as you are considering buying. This is purely because the other buyers will give you honest, unbiased feedback that the company is unlikely to share with you, which means you can feel confident in the quality of the bike you’re buying.
4. The weight limit
The weight limit of any electric bike is crucial, as exceeding the weight limit can negatively affect the performance. You need to pick an electric bike that can effectively support your weight in order to use it to its full potential and without damaging it.
5. The battery size and motor
The battery size/capacity is very important, after all you wouldn’t want the electric bike to die in the middle of your journey. You need to consider the battery capacity, as well as its charging time from empty to full when making your decision.
Another important thing to consider before making your purchase is the motor capacity on the electric bike you are looking in to purchasing. The motor capacity affects the speed at which the electric bike will be travelling. So if you’re not looking to travel to fast, an electric bike with a small, low end motor will work just fine, however, if you are looking to travel quickly between two places, you will need to consider an electric bike with a high motor capacity.
Top Five Mid-Range Electric Bikes
There are many electric bikes you can choose from, but we’ve decided to narrow the list down to the 5 best Mid-Drive electric bikes.
1. Schwinn Voyageur Mid-drive Electric Bike
Designed for casual cyclists, the Schwinn Voyageur has a maximum speed of 20 mph and a motor capacity of 250 watts. This bike will travel 40-65 miles between each charge and has a weight limit of 200 lbs.
2. Cube Compact Sport Mid-drive Electric Bike
The Cube Compact Sport Electric Bike has a 500 watt motor with a maximum speed of 15mph . This bike will take you between 50 and 80 miles when full charged and has a weight limit of 250lbs
3. Moustache Samedi 27 Xroad 5 Mid-drive Electric Bike
This bike has a motor capacity of 650 watts, and a maximum speed of 20mph . The weight limit is a mighty 300lbs and you’ll be able to travel up to 180 miles between each charge.
4. Bulls Iconic Evo TR1 Mid-drive Electric Bike
The Bulls Iconic Evo TR1 Electric bike has a motor capacity of 625 watts and a maximum speed of 28mph. This bike has a weight limit 250lbs and will take you about 100 miles between each full charge.
5. Verve+ 2 Lowstep Mid-drive Electric Bike
The Verve+ Lowstep Electric bike has a maximum speed of 20 mph and a 250 watt motor. You will be able to travel about 88 miles between each charge and the bikes weight limit is 300 lbs.
All of these are very good choses, so we hope your decision has been made easier.
Conclusion
A mid-drive electric bike is unmistakeably one of the best purchases you can make. They are an excellent mode of transport and more cost-effective than a motorcycle. Choosing the right electric bike for you doesn’t need to be a difficult task and we hope this article has helped you with your decision.
Trevor James is the founder of Electric Bike Paradise, the #1 online retailer of electric bikes, electric scooters, electric skateboards, mobility scooters, electric wheelchairs, electric golf caddies, solar kits, and trolling motors. Trevor has been selling bicycles, electric bikes, and electric scooters online since 2010 and eventually established Electric Bike Paradise in late 2013 when he happened to meet a car enthusiast that introduced him to electric bikes. Trevor spent time searching for electric bikes online but couldn’t find a website that offered a wide selection of electric bikes, scooters, and informational articles. That is why he decided to start a website where everyone can shop conveniently, browse buying guides, and read educational posts. The website is called Electric Bike Paradise.
