One of the most asked questions about e-bikes is how they are different from regular bikes. If you’re looking for information on both types, then Pedallers offers in-depth reviews that you can read to help you with your buying decision.
In the meantime, let’s take a look at some of the differences between a regular pedal bike and an e-bike.
Appearance and Mechanics
Something that you’ll notice is that the-bikes look a lot like regular bikes. Many people say that e-bikes are just like scooters, but it’s more factual to say they are just like bicycles with an added electrical motor. Although there are many great designs, and that is often what sets them apart appearance-wise.
You will see that an electric bike has the same handlebars, body geometry, and the same wheels as a regular bike. And all of the mechanical elements will also function in precisely the same way. This includes the brakes and the pedals.
The most significant difference in appearance is the addition of the electrical drive system. This will include a battery, a display screen, an electric motor.
The battery powers the motor, which is what provides assistance as your pedal.
Riding Experience
Of course, you want to know if the riding experience for an e-bike is better than the riding experience for a regular bike. An e-bike looks like any other bike in almost all respects and acts the same too.
You’re going to get on, and you will start pedaling, but then the electric motor is going to kick in. The transition when this happens is so smooth that you will hardly notice it at all. An electric bike doesn’t impact the act of cycling itself. Instead, it just makes it much easier to do.
You will be enjoying a regular cycle, and when the motor kicks in, you will get a little bit of help. You’ll notice that you can cycle uphill without getting out of breath, and strong winds are not going to be an issue anymore. It makes a range of terrains a little easier to tackle.
You can also increase or decrease the amount of pedal assistance that you get. To personalize your cycling experience.
Repairs and Maintenance
While all of the standard components in the e-bike are exactly the same as in a regular bike, it makes looking after it almost like looking after a regular bike.
If anything happens to go wrong with the normal components, you can take the e-bike to any normal bike repair shop. However, if something goes wrong with any of the electrical components, you will need to take the e-bike to an e-bike specialist to have it fixed. But it is noted that the electrical system failure and fault are very rare, and most e-bikes come up with quite a lengthy warranty.
Speed
Now with all of the electrical assistance, your bike is likely going to be faster than a regular bike. But this will depend on how fast you usually ride. EU regulations state that on the e-bike you can get up to 25 km/h, which is 15.5 mph. If you want to go faster than this, the motor will usually cut out, and you’re going to have to do that with pure pedal power.
This means if you are a powerhouse cycler and wish to go very fast, the electric motor will not help you manage this.
If you aren’t into incredibly fast cycling or racing, then the e-bike will increase the speed at which you are typically used to cycling.
Rules and Regulations
Something that might put a couple of people off is that they are limited by some minor rules and regulations. Unlike regular bikes, electric bikes are considered to be motorized transport. This means that they are subject to government regulations around speed and power limits. However, you really only need to know that you must be 14 years or older to ride on an electric bike.
Otherwise, the rules for electric bikes are pretty much the same as regular bikes. You will not need a license to ride one, electric bikes do not need to be registered, and they also do not require vehicle tax and insurance. You are able to write e-bikes and all cycle paths, and anywhere else that you would write a normal bike.
Switching from a normal regular bike to an e-bike comes down to if you’re going to be using it for traveling a long distance, or perhaps you’d just like the extra help that an e-bike can provide.
