Want to buy an e-bike? We have listed 10 things you absolutely need to know before checking out, whatever the type of bike and your budget. And join us on the roads!
What you will do with your electric bike
It seems obvious, but this first piece of advice is not always self-evident. Before spending several hundred (or even thousands) of euros on an electric bike, make sure that you enjoy the practice, that your journey is doable and that you have no ancillary problems (impossible to park it, to plug it in , etc).
It’s also time to find out what type of bike you are going to choose: strictly commuting, so comfort above all and a very upright position so as not to have back pain? Journeys and pleasure, so with a little more power and perhaps more road-type wheels? City, of course, but with big hills and therefore the need for a good engine so as not to have to pedal too hard? Paths between two villages and therefore need a lot of autonomy to make the round trip?
Our advice is perhaps to take the time to rent an electric bike for a month, in order to test the practice, or to buy a second-hand bike for a very small budget. The goal here is to test. You can also go to an Intersport or a Decathlon and leave with one of the excellent entry-level, city or gravel bikes. The investment will be light and you will have an honest repair bike in case your future electric bike breaks down.
The motor of your electric bike
If we take away the classic mechanics of a bicycle, the motor is the centerpiece of your electric mount. We advise you to pay close attention to its torque, expressed in newton-metres, which will accompany you on the climbs and allow you to start at high speed, which, in town, is quite important for your safety.
Bosch is one of the undisputed leaders and our tests show us every time that, whatever the range, their models meet the specifications of the cyclist. Their break-even point is in lightweight engines where brands like Fazua are doing some really great things. Respectable manufacturers (Specialized, for example) sometimes opt for in-house engines: it is difficult to recommend them without having tested them. Their feeling is never standard.
Pedaling assistance available on the VAE
Try different types of bikes before buying, especially different types of motorization. A motorization by pressure sensor (sometimes called force or constraint) gives a pedaling much closer to what you will have with a mechanical bicycle. Motorization by rotation sensor, which is found on more entry-level bikes, will inevitably have a slower response to your pedal strokes and a small lag between the activation of the motor and your pedal. The effect, once cast, will be a bit more moped and less bike.
The price of the electric bike
Price is an important element in choosing an electric bike, because there are very good and very bad bikes at all price points. Generally, you can tell yourself that electric bikes without bad surprises start around 2,000 €. Less expensive, there are often compromises to be made – or excellent surprises, which we make you discover on Numerama. When you go up in price, you can find higher-end components, more powerful motors, more accessories and, quite often, gadgets. The connected aspect of a bike can make it easily cost €1,000 compared to a bike with the same characteristics, but without this package. Do not hesitate to read our tests and guides to find out how to spot the right bikes!
Finally, always think of aid from the regions, municipalities and companies that can lower the bill.
The maximum distance the bike can go on turbo
When a manufacturer announces a range of range, expressed in kilometers the bike can travel on one charge, always look at the smaller number. This is the one that will correspond the most to normal use of an electric bike: very often, if you are leaning towards this type of cycle, it is because you do not want to make any effort – especially for a trip home – office .
If a bike can do “40 to 120 km” on one charge, imagine that the advertised 40 km reflects a typical scenario in which you will mostly use the most powerful mode of the motor. Some manufacturers offer fairly precise calculators, taking into account your weight and the average elevation of your route.
The removable battery or not
This is an important subject! If you don’t have an outlet in your bike garage or can’t put your bike in your home, you’ll appreciate being able to charge its battery by removing it from the frame. Fortunately, most batteries are indeed removable. The few bikes that do not have a removable battery have made this choice for reasons of specifications (making a very light bike) or style (hiding a battery entirely in the frame). In any case, it is an element that should not be taken lightly!
The ability to have your VAE repaired easily
An electric bike is expensive and it is in your best interest to take care of it. It is recommended to have it serviced every 1,000 to 2,000 km depending on your use. But unlike a mechanical bike, which can be repaired anywhere, the shop you choose must have the skills to troubleshoot the electronics and the electric motor.
Roughly speaking, if you buy a bike in a store, they will most certainly be able to take care of the after-sales service. But if you opt for an online purchase, remember to ask the retailer or the brand if they have partnerships with physical stores. Otherwise, the risk is to have your bike immobilized for a long time because of the logistics: between the moment you detect a breakdown, the outward transport by truck, the repair and the return transport, it may take Several weeks.
This advice also includes the type of bike you buy. If its design is classic and its components are standard, you will have no trouble changing a part in the event of a problem. If you opt for an electric bike with unique or rare components (we think of all the connected bikes on the market, from Angel to VanMoof), it will be difficult for you to go through a third-party service that is not the manufacturer.
The shape of your bike’s frame
The shape of the frame, beyond the style, needs special attention: do you want a bike that is easy to step over (think dresses, suits, tight clothes…) or a bike with a more versatile and stiffer frame? A high or closed frame will be easier to attach and a little more pleasant to ride on rough roads, but a low or open frame will be easier to step over.
The weight of the electric bike
An electric bike is very often heavy (more than 20 kg). If you don’t have to wear it, this information doesn’t make much sense before choosing a bike: the motor, even at the minimum level, will compensate for its weight. But if you have to take it up stairs, you would be wrong to deprive yourself of a light bike. In this case, bikes with light engines are your best friends: you can go down around 15 to 17 kg with such machines. Their price is often high and it is not uncommon for the battery not to be removable, to save pounds.
The equipment sold with the electric bike
Last, but not least, the equipment that comes with your bike is important, especially when it comes to your budget. If you buy a bike that’s fully equipped, with good mudguards, battery-linked lighting, a rack and a kickstand — which for us is standard for the city — that’s a saving. around €200. Or more, depending on the ranges chosen.
If you are aiming for a pleasure bike for doing paths or mountain biking (MTB), also make sure that the bike’s equipment is adapted to your activity – for example, you will not necessarily need a stand or lighting. .