Electric bikes

E-bike basics

E-bikes help you zip up hills, travel further faster, and arrive at your destination feeling fresh.

There's a huge range of e-bike styles for all kinds of riders. Try a range of styles to find the one that suits you best.

E-bikes are heavier than regular bikes, which means they handle differently. Most shops will be happy to let you go for a test ride. It's wise to ask all the questions you would when buying a regular bike.

Features

Motors

• E-bikes come with a range of power settings which change the level of assistance. Some also have a throttle.
• The motor can be in the front or back wheel or in the middle of the bike around the bottom bracket.
• A motor in the rear wheel or bottom bracket is ideal, as it makes the bike easier to control.

Batteries

• Batteries are usually attached to the bike frame, or on a rack over the rear wheel.
• You can remove the battery pack to charge it, or charge it while it's still on the bike.

Speed

• E-bike speeds vary depending on the type of motor and batteries a model has.
• Some bikes have a top motor-assisted speed of 25km/h. Others reach 32 km/h or higher.

Tips for riding e-bikes

• Spend time getting used to your e-bike in an empty car park or elsewhere away from traffic before trying longer rides.
• Keep an eye on the display panel showing how long you can ride before the battery runs out.
• Ride safely on the road by scanning well ahead, signalling and making eye contact with drivers.
• You can ride an e-bike with the motor off, but its weight can make it hard work to pedal.

Using gears and levels of assist

• Use the gears on an e-bike as you would on a normal bike.
• Change down into an easier gear for going uphill or coming to a stop.
• Change into a higher gear when going fast or downhill.
• Try out different levels of assist and how they respond when you're stopping and starting.
• Practise changing levels of assist. The higher the level, the less range you will get from the battery.
• If you stop at an intersection in a high gear and high level of assist you'll take off quickly when you start pedalling again.

Adjusting your speed

• Be cautious — you're likely to go faster on an e-bike than on a regular bike.
• On a shared paths, use a low power setting and ride slowly. Use a bell, and give others plenty of space when passing.