Your first ebike can be an exciting and overwhelming purchase. Here are some considerations when buying your first ebike to ensure you get one that fits your needs and lifestyle for years to come.
#1 – Fit
Fit is one of the most essential considerations for an ebike, but 1st-time buyers often overlook it. A poor fit can negatively impact your experience every time you ride. If your bike is uncomfortable, you’ll quickly lose interest in riding it.
Fortunately, it’s an easy problem to avoid. If you purchase through a dealer, they’ll work with you to ensure the best fit. If you are buying your ebike online or used, watch a video on bike fitting before purchasing and check the sizing specs to ensure it matches your size.
Once you have the ebike, have a friend help you with your positioning on the bike to dial in the fit.
#2 – What Are You Using It For
To the first-time buyer, an ebike is an ebike is an ebike. As you start researching them, you’ll discover different types of ebikes for fitness, utility, cargo, mountain singletrack, and performance road cycling.
Think about what you want to do 80% of the time. If you’re looking to explore trails around your area, an eMTB with fat tires and suspension is a priority. If you are transporting kids to school and picking up groceries, you’ll want to look at cargo ebikes with greater weight capacity, kid seats, and rack or pannier accessories.
#3 – Service and Support
Ebikes are mechanical (and technological) machines that wear with use. Just like a car, they require periodic service, and their parts (like tires and chains) will eventually need to be replaced.
Whether you purchase an ebike through a local dealer or direct-to-consumer, it’s vital to research service options for the ebike you want. Some local bike shops won’t service specific types of ebikes, motors, or batteries. Finding a shop that can work on your bike will give you peace of mind that your investment will keep running for years.
Ebikes are a blast to ride, great for fitness, and a great trip replacement for your car. Considering these things, you’ll have more fun, have fewer headaches, and know that you bought the best ebike for your needs.
