Buying an e-bike

I've been looking at getting an e-bike. I want to:

• Improve on my fitness
• Get out on some rail trails
• Maybe some overnight camping in local parks
• Perhaps some longer trips
• Ride to the local train station to commute to work

Laws

This first thing to look at are the local laws. Australian laws for e-bikes were modelled on Europe.

• E-bikes must have a motor that is 250 watts or less.
• If it has a throttle (that powers the bike without pedalling), it must have a motor that is 200 watts or less.
• E-bikes must be speed limited to 25km/h.
• It is compulsory to wear a helmet; not wearing one can result in a fine.
• E-bikes must have a rear and front light.
• Riders can be fined if caught riding on a footpath.
• Bikes that meet these requirements are not required to be registered & riders do not need a licence.
• Riders must still follow all standard bike & road rules.

Victoria treats e-bikes like any other bicycle. If your aim is to use the roads then your best bet is to stay within the law. There's nothing to stop you from riding souped up e-bikes but it'll need to be on private property.

Types of e-bikes

Looking online there's quite an array of e-bikes out there. There is the DIY bike. This ones for the enthusiast who knows what they want and set about building something that's not on the market but suits their needs perfectly. This approach is really for those who know what they're doing. Us dilettantes should probably stick to what's on the shelf.

The off the shelf ones breakdown to several categories. Commuting, cargo and mountain bikes.

Commuting bikes as the name suggests designed for getting to work and occasional weekend runs. The cargo bike is designed for carrying loads and would be a great replacement for a car stop. Mountain bikes for the more sportily inclined enabling riders to get out on those back trails.

Support

The next thing to consider is support. You can find very cheap bikes online but they don't have the overheads of running a bricks and mortar shop. They often run on a drop shipping model that does factor in support. So where do you go if things go wrong?

The bike is going to require maintenance. I can do some myself but nothing beats the knowledge and experience of bicycle mechanic. It is also worth noting that not all bike mechanics will deal with e-bikes. So make sure you factor that in.

Can you get parts? Are they a known brand such as Shimano, Bosch or Bafang.

What are my needs?

To get a bike that suits your needs. Personally, I’m inclined toward recreational activities, particularly exploring rail trails and forest tracks. While I don’t require a full-fledged mountain bike, I do need a hybrid commuter that can handle forest terrain. My ideal choice would offer a realistic range of approximately 80km.

Mid or hub drive?

When it comes to choosing between a mid-drive motor and a hub motor for your hybrid commuter, here’s a brief comparison:

Mid-Drive Motor:

• Positioned near the bike’s bottom bracket (where the pedals attach).
• Utilises the bike’s gears, providing better torque and efficiency.
• Ideal for hilly terrain and off-road riding.
• Generally more complex and expensive.
• Offers a natural feel due to the motor’s interaction with the bike’s drivetrain.

Hub Motor:

• Located in the wheel hub (either front or rear).
• Simpler design and installation.
• Direct drive, so no gear shifting assistance.
• Suitable for flatter terrain and city commuting.
• Typically less expensive.
• Provides a smooth and quiet ride. For forest track riding and the need for a realistic range of around 80 km, a mid-drive motor looks like a better choice. Its efficient power delivery and ability to handle varied terrain make it well-suited for my requirements.

Budget

I wanted to get a bike with a mid drive motor and a battery of around 500 Watt hours. A realistic budget for that kind of bike starts at $2500 and goes up to about $4500. The two most expensive components are the battery and motor. My budget is around $2500 so there are going to have to be compromises.

Bikes

I looked at the following bikes which were within my budget.

• Marin Sausalito E1 - Urban eBike
• Merida eSpresso 300 SE
• NCM Moscow plus
• Polygon Kalosi Lanes Evo High step

The Marin Sausalito looked like quite a nice bike. At $2500 it was right on budget. The motor was a Shimano steps E 5000, rated at 250 watts and delivering 40Nm of torque. The battery was rated at 418 Watt hours. The weight came in at around 20kg making it quite light for an e-bike.

The Merida eSpresso At the same motor better higher capacity battery right to that 504 Wh. It came with a rack and lights plus a cafe lock to quickly lock the bikes back wheel. It was on special for around $2300 before Christmas but has since gone up to almost $3200 . That pushes it slightly out of the budget.

The NCM Moscow was looked at. The bike seems to sell quite well And with a 768 Watt hour battery giving it some decent range. It has a hard drive motor on the rear wheel which by all accounts is quite powerful. However the weight of 28kg to 29kg countered against it stop. Currently priced on special at $2200 does make it good value.

Last on my list was the Polygon Kolosi. It has very similar specs to the Marin and Merida. It uses the Shimano steps E5000 motor And has a 504 Wh battery. It weighs in at about 20kg. It is currently on special for around $2500. There's not much about Polygon online. Indonesian company builds quality mountain bikes so I could be confident in the frame. A direct from the manufacturer approach rather than going through brick and mortar bike shops. This means they can keep their prices low. The Shimano components means parts are available and it can be serviced.

In The End

In the end I ordered the Polygon. It arrived very quickly from bikes online in about two days. It took me about half an hour to unbox and assemble. Battery was flat so had to go on charge for a few hours. I've taken it out for a ride, but more on that in a future post.