Yahoo Autos How to choose the electric bike that's right for you
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Electric bikes have exploded in popularity in recent years, and for good reason: they allow you to ride longer distances and faster speeds with less fatigue, as well as enjoy areas and terrain previously unexplored due to how difficult riding would be on a regular bike.
While there are a ton of upsides, the variety, cost and laws surrounding electric bikes can leave a lot of people scratching their heads when it comes to which bike to purchase.
Classes of electric bike
Laws for electric bikes vary from state to state. Currently 36 states recognize the three class system for electric bikes. Since I live in the state of Colorado, we’ll use that as an example. For more information on electric bike laws state to state, check out this article on juicedbikes.com. For a motorized bike to be considered an electric bike in Colorado, it must have two or three wheels, have operable pedals and it must have a motor that provides up to 750 watts of power. There are electric bikes on the market, like the Jeep electric bike that offer motors that are higher than 750 watts. In Colorado those would be considered an OHV/low-powered scooter or dirt bike and are limited to motorized trails.
All electric bikes that fit the criteria listed above are then grouped into three categories creatively named Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3.
TotGuard Class 1 Electric Bike - $429.99
A Class 1 electric bike is an electric bike that only provides assistance while you are pedaling (no throttle switch) and only provides assistance up to 20 miles per hour. Now that doesn’t mean your bike can’t go faster than 20 miles per hour (I’ve hit 48 miles per hour on electric bikes near my home on a big downhill) but the motor won’t provide any assistance at speeds faster than 20.
Hurley Single Speed Class 2 E-Bike - $565.99
A Class 2 electric bike is similar to a Class 1 electric bike in that the motor only provides assistance up to 20 miles per hour. The only difference is that you do not need to be pedaling in order for the motor to be working. Most of the time this is done through the use of a throttle switch.
VELOWAVE Class 3 Electric Bike - $1,399.00
A Class 3 electric bike like the example above is the same as a Class 1 electric bike in that you must be pedaling for the motor to assist you. The difference here is that the motor will provide assistance up to 28 miles per hour instead of just 20 miles per hour.
Why are these classes important? These classes are what determines where you can legally ride your electric bike. My favorite trails near my house only allow Class 1 electric bikes on dirt trails and Class 2 can only be ridden on paved trails, so it is important to know the rules where you’re riding. Some electric bikes, like the 750-watt powered Jeep electric bike, can allow you to change your bike’s class by just removing the throttle switch, while others are permanent, so know your local laws and regulations before you buy.
Types of electric bike
Now that we’ve got classes out of the way, let’s talk about the different electric bike types. This is exactly the same as choosing what type of human-powered bike you want.
Specialized Turbo Como SL 4.0 - $2,399.99
Cruisers or Commuter Bikes - Like the Hurley model listed at the top of the page or the Specialized listed above, this is the type of bike you want if you’re only using it on paved or smooth terrain in the most casual way possible.
