How to Choose the Right Electric Commuter Bike? | Buying Guide

It is a good cause to want to own an electric bike instead of a traditional bicycle. Electric bikes are more effective and help you achieve your commuting goals. You can reach your destination without too much sweat dripping down your body. However, electric bikes are grouped into categories, including folding and hybrid e-bikes. Since there are several options available for you at Honbike, you need to understand some basic concepts. These concepts will help to make the best decision and choose the e-bike that best suits you.

What are Electric Commuter Bikes?

Electric commuter bikes are ideal for daily activities, such as visiting the grocery store, religion center, or workplace. Since commuter bikes can be used for several functions, they have broad subdivisions, including hybrid electric bikes. Most commuter bikes are lightweight because they have no suspension. An example is the Honbike Japanese design with 20kg weight, about 30% lighter than the regular bikes. Meanwhile, an electric bike's weight should be significantly considered. You can quickly move a lightweight bike around while beating the city's traffic.

This electric bike is ideal if you just want to cycle for an evening road walk. You can ride without necessarily having a pedal assist or an electric push from the bike. If you have the suitable frame and motor type, you can pedal with ease and as much as you want. The hybrid versions have wide tires, making them appropriate for multi terrains.

Choosing the Right Classes of Electric Bikes

Electric bikes are generally grouped into three classes which are class one, class two, and class three. You need to check with your state or province regulations if it allows users to ride all the classes of electric bikes. Also, these classes vary with the level of motor assistance attached to each.

The Class One Electric Bike

Class one is often recommended for beginners because it has the pedal-assist function. The maximum speed for this class of e-bike is 20 mph. Class one electric bikes are more flexible than the remaining classes and accepted by most countries. It is also easy to use and adaptable to many terrains.

The Class Two Electric Bike

If you commute to many places daily, you may consider the class two electric bike. These bikes are built with both pedal-assist and throttle function. This means riders can switch between the two parts based on their expertise level. However, some enthusiasts will categorize class two as the same level as class one. This is because they both have the same maximum speed.

The Class Three Electric Bikes

Class three electric bikes have the highest speed of all, 28 mph. The only similarity with class one is that they both have the pedal-assist function only. Although class three is pretty expensive than others, they are highly effective. Hence, it is the best choice for riders who are traveling on a long-distance.

Please remember that picking the best electric bike based on classes is determined by several other factors. For instance, some states allow particular age groups to ride a specific class of e-bike. Many of these rules and regulations are set to ensure safety in top cities.

Things you Need in an Electric Commuter Bike

In terms of picking the best electric commuter bike, you need to understand the factors that will help contribute to your riding effectiveness. Hence, comfort and safety are two key things. More so, you should bear in mind the purpose of getting a commuter bike. For instance, cyclists will require a different e-bike than those commuting a short distance. Beyond your personal needs, you also need to consider some characteristics of commuter e-bikes.

The Electric Bike Range, Motor, and Battery

Batteries and motors are vital components of an electric bike. Your electric bike range often determines the maximum speed you can cover. Hence, it would help to choose between riding uphill or on a smooth road surface. It would help if you chose an electric bike with an extensive battery range. It determines the watt capacity of your e-bike per riding hour. You can also use it to predict how far your electric bike can go before the battery switches off. In this case, you will need to find a battery for replacement, which could be dangerous on an isolated road.

A standard battery capacity of 216 wh is ideal for many riders or cyclists. While selecting your battery, make sure it does not take long to fully charge, especially for residents with a low power supply. Hence, a good battery should be fully charged in about five hours.

Electric bike motors can also either be mid-drive or hub-drive. These two types vary with their location on the electric bike. A mid-drive motor provides extra comfort and balance to riders since it is located at the bottom bracket region. On the other hand, hub motors are located at the rear wheel or front wheel region. It provides extra push as your ride, making it more suitable for an experienced rider. It may be difficult to control how the electric bike rides at a fast pace if you are inexperienced. However, fixing a hub motor is also pretty complicated. Unless you are an expert or highly skilled engineer, you may find it challenging to maintain an electric bike on your own.

The Controller

Many people are not quick to identify the controller of an e-bike, but it is one of the essential hardware. The controller is responsible for converting Direct Current into Alternating Current, allowing the motor to spin into movement. Hence, the controller can reduce an electric bike voltage, reducing the speed. In most cases, the controller recognizes a 48V battery as 24V. This implies it will not perform at the same rate as expected—however, the electric bike current increases as the motor and voltage decrease. Most manufacturers build an electric bike with a maximum controller level. It means a limited number of voltages a controller can deduce from the battery pack. Hence, you must understand that an electric bike with a large ampere and a small motor can cause overheating. Make sure these factors match the intended goals of riding an electric bike.

An Ebrake Sensor

Most people prefer an electric bike with an ebrake sensor because it enhances their safety. The primary importance of having an ebrake sensor is so the motor can respond appropriately to the brake lever. Hence, every commuter needs to install this in their electric bike. If you use a hub motor system, you also need the ebrake sensor to regenerate the power required for operation. You can provide a smooth braking force on your electric brake when the brake sensor is in its proper position. Meanwhile, you can choose between the hydraulic and mechanical brake lever systems.

The After-sale Service

Obviously, you don't want any problems with your e-bike, but it's probably unavoidable. On the one hand, users want to pick enough high-quality products, and on the other hand, e-bike companies also need to provide customers with guaranteed after-sales service. In Honbike, with the support of the Monotork clean shaft drive system, you do not need to worry about the problem of chain breakage, and we also provide 40,000 kilometers of maintenance-free services, aiming to reduce the worry of maintenance costs for customers.

Electric Bike Prices

Electric bike prices are another critical factor when selecting a commute e-bike. Prices vary with quality, e-bike type, feature, and the brand's rate. In some cases, high prices do not guarantee a quality electric bike, so you may want to look beyond it. However, you cannot deny that your budget plays a role in your choices.

The components of the bicycle will determine its prices. For instance, foldable e-bikes are often built with the latest and updated features. This makes them quite more expensive than the other types of electric bikes. Generally, Honbike offers its foldable electric bikes for €1,999. However, you may be lucky to get €150 off for one bike and even €400 off for two e-bikes now. This proves you need to carry out proper research before paying a supplier. Price comparison and checking out for incentives will save you the extra cash.

Other Things You Should Consider When Selecting an Electric Bike

The list is quite long, but certain factors precede the others. Apart from the features discussed earlier, consider the other factors below.

• Confirm if you are more comfortable with the pedal-assist feature or not. Note that this feature allows you to drive at a faster pace. Hence, you will need to consider your daily activities.
• Choose an electric bike built with a proper lighting component so that you can ride during the dark. Haidong has a light status indicator that will not leave a rider in the dark.
• Ensure the electric bike has the LCD from Haidong, which monitors the speed and battery level. This is usually installed on the handlebar and is most visible.
• You should be able to connect wirelessly to your smartphone device. This will help you to trace locations and road tracks.
• Use an electric bike with a rack component to enable you to move objects quickly.

Conclusion

Choosing the best commuter e-bike will contribute significantly to your ride success. Hence, you must make the proper selection for effective performance. You can check out Honbike for various available options of e-bikes with innovative models.