A bike with a motor is expensive. So that you know whether the expense is worth it, we have done some research for you and tested it ourselves. These are e-bike advantages and disadvantages that you need to know before buying!
E-bikes are unstoppable. There has been a real boom in the past 2 years. Has the normal bike had its day?
We say: No. Because an e-bike is not suitable for everyone. Here's what you need to know before you buy and what the advantages and disadvantages are.
A mediocre e-bike quickly costs 2000 euros. That's not a small amount of money, so before you snap it up, you should inform yourself well.
We help you with this and have listed the biggest e-bike advantages and disadvantages here. This will make your decision much easier.
In Germany, 1.5 million people are already riding an e-bike. And the number is growing all the time. One reason for this is that the e-bike has advantages that a conventional bike does not have.
Here you can find out more about e-bikes!
What are the advantages of e-bike
The biggest advantage of the e-bike is of course the built-in motor. It helps you to overcome even steep inclines and to cover longer distances.
1. you need less power
Let's hear it for the engine. It helps you reach your destination faster. You need much less power than with a conventional bike.
Even windy weather can be less demanding now. Even against the wind you drive fast and quickly.
So even the untrained can take advantage of this e-bike benefit. Beginners in particular know the feeling of burning thighs when going uphill.
The motor takes the muscle burn out of it and makes sure you make the hill with ease.
So the time of insurmountable slopes is over. :)
This is how you can lose weight with cycling!
2. keep up with your partner
Having a very sporty partner can sometimes be demotivating. If you simply can't keep up, you quickly give up cycling. But that's the wrong approach. Because sports should be fun.
But if you have different fitness levels, it's not fun for your partner or you.
With an e-bike, things are different. As a beginner, you can take full advantage of the battery's motor power. And later, when you are already a little more trained, you can simply switch back the power of the battery.
So from now on, unequally trained couples can go on a bike ride together.
These are the best e-bikes for women!
3. the e-bike is easy on the joints
Anyone who has ever traveled a very long distance on a normal bike will remember pain in the knee.
The reason for this is that the joints must first slowly get used to the load.
Another big e-bike advantage is that you save your joints. Conventional pedaling puts a lot of pressure on the knees, especially when going uphill.
You want to start with sports? Here's what you need to know!
4. a bike with electric motor motivates
You have a hard time getting up for cycling or another sport? Then an e-bike can help you, too.
Electric bikes motivate you to pedal more often. The physical effort is much less than with a conventional bike.
This is especially wonderful for sports beginners - they have fun with sports from the very beginning.
So this excuse falls away right away :)
You can ride about 140 km on one battery charge. How far it actually is depends on factors such as your own weight, bike weight, altitude meters, the selected support and more.
I get with my standard motor, which has 500 Wh, about 50 km with 1650 meters of altitude.
So nothing stands in the way of long bike rides.
I bought my e-mountain bike here!
5. you can rediscover your home
In recent years, a great deal has changed in terms of bike routes. Whereas there used to be just one bike lane in the city, today you'll find bike paths all over the country.
And also more and more hiking trails on mountains are open for e-bikes. Once you get to grips with the subject, you'll realize how many trails there are in your area.
Thanks to e-motor on the bike, it is possible that you enjoy the view on the mountain and arrive at the top without puffing heavily.
But not only the home can be discovered anew, but also the vacation country. Take the e-bike with you to the vacation destination. You will love and enjoy the freedom.
If you don't have transportation: You can rent e-bikes in many resorts.
6. you will reach the destination faster
Did you know that an e-bike can go up to 25 km/h? That is hardly possible with a conventional bike. But do not be afraid of this high speed.
You can of course set the speed yourself and also switch off the motor on most bikes or only switch it on to a very small extent.
I bought my e-mountain bike here!
7. riding e-bike is good for your heart
With a conventional bike, the pulse can really shoot up. Especially when there's another hill to climb.
Thanks to an electric motor on the bike, your pulse is lower. Nevertheless, you activate the cardiovascular system to a very healthy extent. However, you will only benefit from this e-bike advantage if the motor is not set to full power and you make at least a little effort :)
Because you're running in your optimal heart rate zone, you're constantly burning calories.
At the same time you strengthen your leg muscles and your sense of balance.
8. to work by bike
Let's be honest: How often have you resolved to do this? Sometimes the weather is too unstable, sometimes it's too hot, and sometimes you don't want to arrive at the office sweating.
Short distances such as the commute to work can be covered much faster by bike than by car.
By the way, you don't have to worry about getting off your bike in a sweat. That won't happen with an e-bike, of course.
What you should know about e-bikes
No e-bike advantage without a disadvantage. Of course, there are a few little things you should know in advance.
They are heavier
The batteries are quite heavy. A small e-bike weighs between 10 and 12 kg. An e-mountain bike is available from a tare weight of 20 kg upwards.
So if you always have to carry it to the basement and don't have a lift, it might be difficult. But you can also see it positively and consider it as a workout before cycling :)
Your impact on the environment
There is the environmental factor. On the one hand, an e-bike has advantages for the environment. Many bike owners leave their cars behind and cover distances by bike.
More than half of all car trips are shorter than 7.5 km. That's a distance that can be covered on a conventional bicycle. Surveys show that hardly anyone does this, however. It's a different story for e-bike riders, however. Very many replace the car with the bike for short trips.
Electric bikes do not burn fossil fuels. While driving you are completely emission-free on the road.
But for the e-bikes you need rechargeable batteries. They are produced with a very large amount of energy. The manufacturing process, the service life and the disposal of old batteries should also be viewed critically.
Electricity is needed to charge the battery. Per km, a bike needs about 7 Mh, which is 0.007 kWh of electricity. Assuming that the production of the electricity generates CO2, the e-bike emits 4 grams of greenhouse gases per km.
Of course, this is still much lower than a car. Overall, the e-bike comes out better than a car in the eco comparison, but worse than a normal bicycle.
E-bikes are not cheap
For a bike with an electric motor you have to dig deeper into your pocket than for a conventional bike. But of course you benefit from the many advantages.
So watch out especially when you get off your bike to do something. Thieves are particularly keen on e-bikes. No wonder, since they fetch a tidy sum of money when sold.
Our conclusion
An e-bike is probably not suitable for extreme mountain bikers or road cyclists. But for all those who find it difficult to explore mountains without a motor or who don't want to come to the office sweaty, the purchase is definitely worthwhile.
Mountain bikers who have discovered flow trails for themselves can also benefit from the bike. You simply save yourself the ride with the gondola.
You can overlook the high price if you drive regularly. And you will for sure, I can guarantee you that. I've never been on the bike as much as now :)
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