E-Bike Equipment, Terms and Options You Should Understand

Motors: There are two types of E-Bike motors: hub drive and mid drive. They both have their advantages and draw backs. Hub drive motors ore generally found in the hub of the front or rear or both wheels; they have been around longer, and are more common and are generally less expensive.  Most of them do not produce the higher levels of torque, which makes them popularore

more common ond are generally less expensive. Mast of them do not produce the higher levels of torque, which makes thMem popularin eBikes used for long commutes on relatively !lot terrain. Their chief drawbackis dealing

with the power cord connecting the battery ond the motorwhen removing the rear wheel and changing a !lot.

Some bike shopswill not evenattempt tochange a flat on inexpensive eBikes for which parts are not available, for fear of damaging the connection and rendering the bike useless. This is not a universal problem os many quality bikes successfully use hub drives.

Mid drive motors are gaining popularity. They are located in the bottom bracket (between the pedals), which enhances the weight distribution ond balance of the bike making it ride and oct like o "conventional" bicycle. These motors ore often lighter, smaller, and produce more torque, moking them especially popular for oH rood useand in hilly terrain. They are typicallymore expensive and found on the higher priced eBikes.

Bolt-on motors are ofter-market devices used to convert o traditional bicycle to an eBike. Some consider them to be a cost effective way to create on eBike, however they hove drawbacks.The traditional bike being used may not hove the sturdy frame, rims and hydraulicbrakes needed to support its operation as on eBike.

Motor- performance. The number of watts of a motor is measurment of it's power. It ls the energy the motor consumes. Torque is the rotational force, or actual work the motor can do. Torque is measured in Newton ­ meters (Nm). Mare torque means better acceleration speed and greater assistance climbing hills and other terrain.

Don't be mislead into focusing only on a motor's wattage capacity in assessing on E-Bike's performance ability. Torque, support levels and battery capacity ore more important in this regard than the motor's wattage. In Florida, an eBike motor must have less then 750watts, but many popular motors will be in the range of 250-350 watts. N.otching the optimum motor and battery with a rider's anticipated actual use requires some under­ standing of both. It rnoy be tempting to get the biggest motor available. However, the more watts the motor

requires ond the torque it produces, the more battery power it uses. A stronger motor will require more battery, adding more weight to the bike. In many instances, the rider may seldom need or use oll thot power, but will be dealing with the weight every doy, regardless.

As a rule, the speed of the bike is a function of how many RPMs the motor is capable of turning. You will see motor descriptions including nominal power, which refers to how much power the motor is capable of delivering continuously, and peak power, which is the greatest amount of power it can produce for short durations without causing motor damage. For instance, you may see motors having nominal power of 250W, with peak power of 400W or more .

The strongest motorsore capable of delivering 80, 90 or even 120 Nm (found in a Germon made TQ motor). Motorsproducing higher Nm ore especially useful on o mountain eBike to help drive it up steepterrain.

Keep in mind, there is a direct relationship between how much torque the motor produces ond how long the chain will last. I have o friend with on extremely powerful mountain bike which requires the chain to be serviced as often as every 500 miles.

Bofang hos dominated hub drive motors and is beginning to push into mid-rives, as well. Hub drives are either direct drive, which have no moving parts, or geared hubs, which hove a single gear ratio.

Popular mid drive motors ore manufactured by Bosch, Brose, Yomoho and Shimano, although there are others. Even an mountoin bikes, these manufacturers commonly use motors in the 250-550 watt range, although Yomoho does hove motors in the 500 watt range.It is assumed others do, oswell.

Motor Se naors: eBikes rely an a sensor to tell the motor how much power to put out. The two types most commonly used are cadence sensors and power sensors. Cadence sensors communicate with the motor based on how fast you ore spinning the pedals. These ore typically used on less expensive bikes. Torque sensors operate basedon how much pressure(effort) you ore applying to the pedalsand ore found on the better bikes.Some makers use both types and sometimes o third.

Batteries: The battery supplies the current (electrical power) to the motor. You will commonly find battery specs showing watts (W), volts (V) and amp hours (Ah). What is important to most riders is how for the bike can go between charges. Let's look at how you con get on idea. Volts times amp-hours equals watt-hours (volts x amp-hours = wh). M.ony knowledgeableexperts recommend o minimum of400 wh, although 500-700 wh is better. The more watt-hours capacity of the battery, the more range you will enjoy.

Keep in mind the greater watt-hour capacity of your battery will also mean it weighsmore. A typicol 500 watt­hour battery will weigh between5 and 6lbs. Lithium ion batteries ore most commonlyused. Always look for bat­ terieslisted UL 2849 (Underwriters Laboratories) eBike certified, labeledand tested to safety standards. If your battery hos o key lock, always keep the key with you in case of emergency. Your battery should never be dropped.If it Is, or If It becomes damaged,take It to on authorized dealer.

Your range on o battery charge is subjecttomany variables. These include how much ossistonce is being used on the ride, wind resistance, the rider's weight,tire inflation and the terrain beingcovered, whether hilly or flat. There is o big diHerencebetween ridingon paved surfacesor on on unpaved (grovel)trail. Getting o sense of this will come with experience. Some manufacturers (such os Specialized) provide the option of carrying on additional auxiliary batteryto extend the bike's range(although it would add additional weight).

Brakes: The choice here ismechanical or hydraulic disc brakes. The negative on mechanical disc brakes is they ore engagedusing o coble between the brake handleand the broke pod. They requireobit more maintenance os cables stretchand need to be tightened periodically. They hove been aroundo long time and were the only choice for years.

Hydraulic disc brakes were developed os on improvement, which they definitely are. They operate on a closed hydraulic system. They should also be o port of the bicycle's periodic maintenance. Hydraulic brakes ore more costly and ore used on more expensive bikes. Experts consider hydraulic disc brakes o must hove on a-mountain bikes, cargo bikes and 28 mph Class Ill bikes. f,,sthe weight and top speedof the bike increases, the manufac­ turer should be using beefier broking components to properly allow for sofa stopping, such as180 mm or larger rotors.

Weight: This is something not to be overlooked. Ingeneral, the weight goes down os the price of the bike goes up, but this is not universal. A battery alone on an eBike con easily add 5-7 pounds or more. Not many buyers are Interested In Investing the money to get a very lightweight carbon frame eBike,l'\Or Is it necessary to do so.

Steel and aluminum frames ore fine, but they ore heavier than carbon. A relatively light eBike con weigh pounds and they commonly weigh 60 pounds or more (o friend'svery high-end carbon eBike weighs only 28 pounds, but costs $14,000). The sense of the weight of the bike disappears while you ride as the power assist almost makes the weight irrelevant in terms of how it feels. Keep in mind how you are storing and transferring your bike fromplace to place. Luggingo 60 pound bike up o flight of stairs may not be practical or sole. Gettingoneon and oH o bike rock olso needs to be considered. RememberMurphy's low, anythingthat con stop oper­

ating on on a-bikeeventually will. You will run out of batteryot some point, ond the coble betweenthe battery ond the motor will deteriorate and fail when you least expect it, not frequently, but never ot the right time. Are you capable of pedaling your bike home the lost 15 miles without the battery functioning? Just keep this in mind before you make your purchase.

Tire • lze cind width: You will quicklydiscover o myriodof wheel ond tire dimensions offered on various eBikes.Some choices become obvious depending on your primary purpose for the bike, whether beach cruiser, utility, oH rood, commuting or strictlyrood riding. Don't be afroid of the smaller wheels offeredon some models,par­ ticularly the folding models. The manufacturer hod o purpose for the wheels they desigried the bike to use. Be open to their reasoning. While wide profile tires increase rolling resistance (i.e. require more effort), the motor negatesthe added effort required. Wider tires increase the terrain upon which you con sofelyoperate your bike. Therefore, it is popular to opt for a larger,wider profile tire soyoucon safelyleave the paved rood ond e plore when you hove the opportunity.

Remember, wider tires typically require lower in/lotion which enhances comfort by eliminating vibration by surface bumps. The larger tires allow you to ride up and down curbs, through deep sand and across other obstructions, conditions o common rood or commuter bike would never attempt to traverse. Keep in mind the ultra-wide tires (sometimes up to Sw ) con negatively affect a bike's maneuverability, especially at low speeds.