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Electric Bike Guides

Best Car Racks For Electric Bikes – 2023

*Electric Bike Report aims to help consumers find the right electric bike car rack for their needs. When you buy a product we recommend, we may earn a commission.

So, you’ve found an electric bike that you love and you’re ready to explore with it; now it’s time to look at finding the best e-bike car rack for your situation.

The market for car bike racks is not lacking in options, but it is important to find one that can handle the extra weight and bulk that comes with e-bikes. Many bike racks were built with carrying traditional bikes in mind, which seldomly ever meant accommodating more than 50 lbs worth of bike. That can pose a problem for many e-bikes, which often tip the scales at 50 lbs or more. Heck, we have plenty at Electric Bike Report HQ that weigh over 70 lbs.

Beyond weight, there are many other important variables you’ll want to consider depending on the style of e-bike you own. Did you buy an electric fat bike? Make sure your bike rack can secure those massive tires. Did you invest in a cargo e-bike that can tote you and the kids? Make sure you look at a rack that’s long enough to fit that.

Always carefully consider your e-bike’s unique features when shopping for an e-bike car rack, but perhaps the most important electric-specific feature is a rack’s carrying capacity.

There likely will never be one car rack that does it all, but there are several car racks for electric bikes that will likely work best for your style of bike and where you plan on taking it. Listed below are our picks for the best car racks for carrying e-bikes.

Oh, and if you haven’t settled on your e-bike yet, we’ve got you covered with the options for the best electric bikes too.

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6 Mistakes To Avoid When Buying E-Bikes

With a gazillion different brands, categories, price ranges, and levels of quality among e-bikes (trust us, we checked), it can seem difficult to separate the proverbial wheat from the chaff. For many folks, the number of variables can be overwhelming, so they may feel inclined to make a purchase based only on a price tag or the repetition of an advertisement. Doing so can result in disappointment when an e-bike does not meet their expectations – whether in comfort, functionality, or longevity. To help prevent unfortunate results and unhappy customers, the friendly folks at Electric Bike Report have assembled this list of the 6 mistakes to avoid when buying e-bikes.

The most important thing we can recommend is doing a healthy amount of research; we’ll provide a brief overview of topics in this article, and link to sources you can explore for more in-depth information (for starters, you might also consider reading our buyer’s guide for electric bikes). There are many factors that go into finding an e-bike that is right for you, and fortunately there is a wealth of information available on the internet (we strive to be one of the most reliable and comprehensive) to help make that search easier. A thorough understanding of both the parts of a bike and your own needs in relation to those will help you find a model that you’ll be happy with for years to come.

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Mistake #1: Being Unaware of E-Bike Basics

Motor, Battery, and Other Important Features & Terms

To put it bluntly, e-bikes are complicated machines. For many newcomers, looking over a spec sheet for an e-bike can be like trying to do your own taxes; there is usually a ton of potentially confusing yet relevant information crammed into a small space on a page, and much of it can seem esoteric when compared to just glancing at a price tag.

But the importance of learning what components make up an e-bike, what their various sizes/ratings/capacities mean, and how that translates into a bike’s performance and feel when you’re actually ON one cannot be understated.

For example, a 250-watt (250W) mid-drive motor (one that is mounted centrally with the bike’s crank arms) is likely going to feel and perform much differently than a 750W rear-hub motor (one that is mounted in the center of the back wheel). Conversely, while a 36-volt (36V), 14 amp-hour (Ah) battery may look much differently than a 48V, 10 Ah battery on paper, they should, in theory, provide similar range in the real world.

Learning the basics of e-bike anatomy is a great first step in understanding the big picture. Then, it’s a good idea to focus on expanding your knowledge of e-bike motors and batteries and how their types and ratings relate to things like speed, hill-climbing ability, and maximum range.

Finally, research the various types of e-bikes, what they are designed for, and how their design affects rider position, comfort levels, and handling. We’ll touch on some of these things further down on this list, but by no means will this be a comprehensive guide.

Establishing a working knowledge base should help you to differentiate e-bikes both visually and on paper, and it will aid in deciphering all of the technical jargon that really does matter when finding a great e-bike for you.
[Read more…] about 6 Mistakes To Avoid When Buying E-Bikes

Hub Motor Brands: The Complete Guide

Hub Motor Types, Brands, and the E-Bikes That Use Them

All consumer-ready e-bikes provide assistance to their riders through either a mid-drive motor or a hub motor. While mid-drive motors are placed centrally at the bottom bracket and tie into their e-bike’s cranks, hub motors – as their name suggests – are mounted at the center of either the front or rear wheel. We’ll focus on the latter type in this complete guide to e-bike hub motors; read on to learn the differences between types of motors, and keep scrolling to examine some of the best hub motors on the market!

At the present time, electric hub motors are much more affordable than mid-drives, and are subsequently much more prevalent. Additionally, hub motors are often much lighter than their cousins, and make practical additions to urban e-bikes or folding frames that need to be carried often. They also function well in conjunction with belt drives and internal gear systems that are nearly maintenance-free. In fact, you’ll find hub motors on some of the best electric bikes we have had the pleasure of reviewing.

Mid-drive motors, on the other hand, have a reputation for being more efficient and responsive than hub motors – though hub motor technology is improving constantly and coming ever closer to bridging the gap. Mid-drives are also known for their ability to replicate or approach the feel of non-electric bikes. They are, however, much more expensive, and as such are most commonly found on higher-end models.

The topic of e-bike motors is complex enough that we have a separate guide to mid-drive motors. In this article, focused exclusively on e-bike hub motors, we will dive into the most common manufacturers, discuss some of the best e-bike brands who use their products, and also cover some unique one-offs.

Rev your engines and get ready to read!

Buyer’s Guide to Electric Bikes

New to the world of electric bikes? Welcome.

The bicycling world is going through a bit of a reckoning right now. Or maybe it’s growing pains; it’s hard to say.

Even before a pandemic drove everyone outside (and drove bike sales through the roof) the budding popularity of electric bikes had been attracting newcomers to bicycling in droves. E-bikes have democratized the cycling world, opening the door for people who previously wrote off the sport (and mode of transport) as a pastime of lycra-clad fitness enthusiasts. Bikes equipped with small motors and batteries are changing the shape of what is possible on two wheels and by who; making bicycling more accessible, less intimidating and flatly more fun for beginners and experienced riders alike.

The bicycling world is booming and we’ve got e-bikes to thank. So if you’re new here, welcome.

But with this new tech (and all these new people) has come a void of knowledge. E-bikes are complicated, and things like amperage, motor type and watt hours can be foreign concepts to the uninitiated. So, we wrote a guide to help with that.

This electric bike buyer’s guide will help you navigate the budding e-bike market and choose which bike is right for you. From commuters to cruisers and drive systems to laws, we’ll cover the basics of what you need to know before opening your wallet.

Want to jump to a specific topic? Here’s links to specific sections of this guide.

Best Electric Bikes For Heavier Riders

One aspect of e-bikes not discussed that often but which is a very common point of advice for e-bike shop staff is the question of the ‘best’ e-bike for heavier riders.

As you would expect, defining a single ‘best’ e-bike is tough, but most e-bike manufacturers give a recommended maximum rider weight rating for each particular model of e-bike. These can be a useful guide, but certainly no more than a guide. They may have been conservatively rated to ensure that e-bikes are not loaded to anywhere near their safe maximum limit, or a manufacturer may have been overenthusiastic with the rating in an effort to boost the performance credentials of their e-bikes.

In any event, it is up to the manufacturer to make clear what is the maximum suitable weight and many manufacturers go above and beyond the minimum legal limit that might be specified in national law, or that specified in international standards.

On some e-bike spec descriptions you won’t find any recommended maximum weight at all whilst others, like Rad Power Bikes, advertise weight ratings and payload capacities prominently.

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What is a ‘Heavy Rider’ and What Rating Should You be Looking For

The RadRover 6 is a solid e-bike for heavier riders

Some companies like Rad Power Bikes give clear, prominent descriptions of the weight limits of all their e-bikes

The average US male weighs around 200lbs / 90kg and the average female around 170lbs / 77kg so you can figure out if you class yourself as a heavy rider based on these benchmarks!
[Read more…] about Best Electric Bikes For Heavier Riders

Replacement Electric Bike Batteries Guide

A good e-bike battery should last for hundreds of cycles. With average use, this means several years. Eventually, electric bike batteries need to be replaced as their life cycle comes to an end.

You can tell when a battery is nearing the end of its life when it does not provide you with much range. Some high-quality batteries that come on the top e-bikes such as a Bosch battery have a battery management system (BMS) integrated into the battery that actually tells you the current capacity and also how many charge cycles it has gone through.

But no matter what type of battery you have you’ll sooner or later be asking yourself the all-important question: how can I replace my e-bike battery?

Down below Electric Bike Report dives into this question and more in greater detail.

Are E-bike Batteries Interchangeable?
Where Should I Go to Get a Replacement E-Bike Battery?
Replacement Batteries from Original Manufacturers
E-bike Manufacturers Own Brand Batteries
Batteries for Out-Dated Motor Systems
Non-Removable Frame Integrated Batteries
Third-Party Replacement E-Bike Batteries
What Should I Do With My Old E-bike Battery?

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Guide To E-Bike Gearing Systems

Lectric XP 2.0 Electric Folding Bike Review 500W Brushless Geard Rear Hub Motor

– Confused by the pros and cons of derailleurs, hub gears and continuously variable transmission? We demystify all of this down below. –

A lot of e-bike publicity focuses on the performance capabilities of the motor or the size of the battery. One often-overlooked area is gearing.

Surely you just get the same choice as on a regular bike? Only to a point; the e-bike revolution has meant many things for e-bike design, one of which is an expansion of the gearing options available.

With extra motor power available bigger and better-performing gears can be used, gears which would be too heavy or difficult to pedal for most riders of non-electric bikes. These are covered in the Advanced Systems section dow below.

But for now, let’s stick with gearing systems 101: derailleurs and hub gears

The Basics: Derailleur and Hub Gears

The majority of e-bikes are equipped with derailleur gears, with hub gears being the major alternative choice. Both options go back many, many decades so the technology on both is well advanced and should work well for its intended purposes. But what are they and what are the pros and cons of each system?

Guide To Electric Bike Brakes

What You Should Know About E-bike Brakes

There are lots of companies hyping products that claim to be made specifically for e-bikes.

You can buy e-bike drivetrains, e-bike rated tires and even e-bike rated cycling shoes — It seems like everyone is trying to get in on the electric bike boom.

E-bike braking systems are high on the list of components we see most often marked as e-bike specific. A quick survey of the dozens of e-bikes currently in the Electric Bike Report offices shows they are all equipped with a braking system made and marketed specifically for e-bikes.

So, should you buy into the hype around e-bike brakes? Yes. You absolutely should. But there are some things to take into consideration.

Calculating Range on Electric Bikes: How To Find The Long-hauler For You

Long Range E-Bikes: Intro

The electric bike world has plenty of sprinters, heavy lifters and high jumpers, but what about marathon runners?

There’s lots of options for long range electric bikes on the market today, from dual-battery eMTBs to sleek super commuters and everything in between. But, with batteries being the most expensive part of an e-bike, the question quickly changes from how far you’d like to go to how much money you’re willing to spend.

Herein lies the trick of long-range e-bikes: You’ve got to balance your distance needs with practicality and budget.

That balancing act is tougher than you might think, but armed with some basic information about a bike’s electrical specs, a little knowledge of your own pedaling abilities and (as always) a realistic grasp of what you’d like to do with the bike, you can confidently choose a long-distance e-bike that won’t cost an arm and a leg.

How to Safely Secure and Park Your E-bike

The first step when looking to keep your e-bike safe and secure is getting a good e-bike lock, but there are some other electric bike safety techniques that can further help you protect your investment. By practicing these simple habits you can rest easier knowing your e-bike is that much safer.

There is no one magic tip for making your e-bike safe and secure – it’s all about using a wide range of techniques and equipment that will make life so difficult for any would-be thief that they can’t or just don’t want to target your bike.

E-bike Security at Home

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When at home keep your e-bike out of sight

Keep your bike in your garage, shed, inside your house, under a tarp, etc. Thieves will spend time scoping out a neighborhood before they make their move. Don’t let them see your e-bike!

More than that though, it’s fairly obvious that the more secure the location at home the better. Inside your house is probably best, though not all have the space. Sheds and garages are popular locations, but the more secure the better:

A shed or garage located where it is difficult for thieves to see and operate is best. Timber and metal can both be good materials but the stronger the construction the better, whatever the material. Thieves have been known to substantially dismantle sheds if they think the reward is worth it, so a strong shed is a major defense. Strong anti-theft hinges and strong hasps and locks are also important.
Security lighting in the area is a good idea, so any intruders at night can easily be seen
A shed or house alarm is a good idea. Hardwired ones are ideal but battery-operated ones can be very practical and cost-effective too.
Don’t leave any tools that could be used to break into any storage area, be it house, shed or garage (sounds obvious but it’s easy to leave garden implements and the like lying around).
An immovable locking point within the shed is a very good idea, typically a ground or wall anchor.

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Record your electric bike’s serial number

In the event that your e-bike is stolen, you will need your serial number to give to the police and to provide any info that you may post about your stolen e-bike and it may well help with any insurance claim.

Typically the serial number on a bike can be found on the bottom of the bottom bracket (where the bike cranks are) or sometimes on the headtube of the frame (between the handlebars and forks).

Some serious thieves will go so far as filing off a stamped serial number so you may want to hide a piece of paper with your contact info in the handlebars or seat tube of the bike.

We also recommend signing up with a bike registration service (or ideally more than one). There are several organizations that offer this service.

Registration may be free and it’s simply a matter of recording the bike’s serial number on a central database that law enforcement or others recovering a stolen bike may be able to check to get the details of the owner. There may be some small optional outlay on further technologies that allow your e-bike to be identified if it’s stolen, such as indelible markings or unique identifying markers that are only visible under ultraviolet light.

There are numerous bike registration services but they include the following popular options:

Bike Index
Garage 529
BikeRegister (UK)
National Bike Register (Australia)

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GPS/Smartphone tracking

GPS/Smartphone tracking is a developing technology that can be found on an increasing number of e-bikes. Perhaps the best known off-the-peg e-bikes with GPS tracking are Van Moof, Stromer and Cowboy.

Let’s take one detailed example, Cowboy, as described by Cowboy themselves. A SIM is actually integrated into the bike and, once the bike is paired with your smartphone, it means you can track the position of the e-bike really precisely (i.e. within a few meters). If the bike is inside a building you can use the built-in Bluetooth scanner to know how close they are to the bike.
However, Cowboy do note that if your bike is in an area without cellular network coverage, it will not be able to send its position, and they add getting theft insurance is the best way to be 100% at ease in case of theft.

Stromer says GPS tracking in the Stromer ST2 helped an owner recover their ST2 and 50 other stolen bikes!

It’s also worth noting that there are other electronic safety features often associated with such high-tech e-bikes that might act as theft deterrents. For example, electronic keys (using a phone or special fob to unlock a bike) or integrated alarms that alert you on your smartphone if the bike is disturbed.

There are also an increasing number of GPS tracking devices that can be retrofitted to e-bikes to help track a bike in the event of theft.

Boomerang Cyclotrac is a GPS tracking device and alarm that is mounted to the bike at the water bottle cage. If someone tries to tamper with your bike an alarm will sound and your smartphone will alert you from the Boomerang app and the GPS tracking will show you where your bike is. Here is a video with more info:

There are also non-bike-specific trackers that you might want to consider and use either the cellphone network or short-range bluetooth technology – names to look out for include SPYtec, Apple Airtags, and Tile (bluetooth only).

The ultimate and perhaps most reliable protection against theft is good insurance and you can check out our guide about the basics of e-bike insurance for details of the leading policy providers.

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E-bike Security in Public

Taking your e-bike out and about and leaving it parked is probably when you will feel it’s at its most vulnerable, but following these tips will help mitigate theft risk and help keep your e-bike safe and secure.

Park your electric bike in a public place

Thieves are less likely to try to steal your bike in a public place – meaning somewhere where it’s highly visible to others. It is harder for them to break the lock when there are a bunch of people around.

Try not to leave your electric bike locked up somewhere public overnight. Try and find out where local bike theft hotspots are, so you can avoid them (you can ask questions in your city’s Reddit thread or a similar local forum – fellow bikers are always happy to reply).

Conversely, there may be super secure parking facilities where you are headed, such as indoor Cycle Hubs, guarded parking, and the like.

Common sense says use the best lock possible and to help you do that you can check out our guide to lock security ratings and the best locks. This is a valuable guide to the main types of locks, but also features ideas for securing other parts of the bike like frame locks, wheel axle locks and hex bolts to secure stems and other components.

It’s not just about the lock – you need to pay attention to how you lock the bike up. Choose a locking point that is both firmly fixed to the ground and is heavy gauge – concrete posts are one of the best options as they are difficult to cut through (as opposed to say very thin metal railings or even thin wood which is relatively easy to cut through). Here are some suggestions:

– Bike parking area that is solidly attached to concrete.

– A tree or street sign or street light. Make sure your bike can’t be lifted over the tree, sign or light. Avoid parking meters for this reason!

– A solid fence, not a chain link because a thief could easily cut the chain link.

– A hand rail that is solidly attached to a wall or sidewalk.

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Use good bike securing/locking technique

Properly locking up your e-bike means of course locking the frame, but also the rear wheel and, if your lock is long enough or you have a secondary lock, the front wheel too. If possible try and leave minimal space around the locks themselves to reduce the space available for thieves with tools to work on.

If you find it a pain to carry the most secure (and often the heaviest) locks around with you, note some riders leave theirs locked to a good locking spot they often use (outside a workplace or transit station for example).

A few other points on good e-bike securing techniques:

Park your bike in high-traffic areas, but try to be respectful of where you park your bike. Some areas may not work because it will cause too much congestion where people are walking by. This can be especially true if you are locking up multiple bikes.
Lock your helmet to your bike. If you are in a high theft area you may want to route your bike cable through the vents in your helmet. Routing the cable through the helmet straps also works and I personally have never had a helmet stolen. In reality I am not sure how many people really want a used helmet!
If your e-bike display and lights are detachable take them with you. Some displays (like the Bosch Kiox) easily detach from the handlebars and will not allow the thief to ride away on your bike with electric assistance.
Some riders remove other components from their e-bike. This can make it less attractive to thieves – probably the battery is the one single item that it makes the most sense to remove (it’s vital to remove it if it’s of one of the small numbers of designs that does not lock to the frame of the bike). It effectively disables the e-bike and makes it far less valuable to a thief too and in any case you may want to charge it where you are going. Some riders have been known to go as far as removing seatposts and even wheels but obviously, you then need to carry them round with you or have a safe space in which to put them – neither of which may be a practical option.

These are essential practices for keeping your beloved e-bike safe and secure be it at home or in public. If there are any others that we may have left out, be sure to pass them along in the comments section below!

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Electric Bike Guides

The Best Bike Racks For E-Bikes, 2023

Motor, Battery, and Other Important Features & Terms

Hub Motor Types, Brands, and the E-Bikes That Use Them

New to the world of electric bikes? Welcome.

Want to jump to a specific topic? Here’s links to specific sections of this guide.

What is a ‘Heavy Rider’ and What Rating Should You be Looking For

The Basics: Derailleur and Hub Gears

Long Range E-Bikes: Intro

E-bike Security at Home

E-bike Security in Public

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