How do I determine the size of an e-bike to buy?

How do I determine the size of an e-bike to buy?

What is a pedal-less e-bike? Reading How do I determine the size of an e-bike to buy? 7 minutes Next How to test e-bike controller at home?

Determining the size of an electric bike can be a bit difficult! Making sure you have the perfect bike for your body proportions can seem like one of the trickiest things to do when you're buying a bike online.

An improperly sized bike can also cause discomfort, injury, and inconvenience. The scary thing about riding an improperly sized e-bike is that it's no longer just fun because it's a big investment on your part.

Knowing the right size e-bike before you buy is the main way to ensure performance, longer life and overall satisfaction. However, with the following article, you will learn how to properly size your e-bike.

So, without further delay, let's get to the main discussion.

What you use your bike for

Before sizing your e-bike, you must ask yourself a few questions such as, are you a regular mountain bike rider or a commuter bike rider? Do you want to ride in a straight line or aggressively? Why do you need to ask yourself these questions? Road bikes, mountain bikes and hybrid bikes all come in different sizes. That's why it's important to make sure you know what your primary use is before you start trying to size your bike.

How to size an e-bike (step-by-step guide)

You already know what the main purpose of using your e-bike is. Now you can easily determine the size of your bike by following the instructions below.

1. Frame Size

This is one of the most important parts of sizing your bike. This is because, once the frame size is determined, it can not be changed. How do you find the right frame size? This question may come to your mind, right?

There are a few ways to find the correct size frame. The first way is to determine your inseam, which can be done in several ways. However, the easiest way is to start by getting a notebook. Once you have the notebook, stand against the wall. After that, place the laptop between your thighs, the laptop is the bike seat and you sit on it. Now ask someone to calculate the length (in inches) from the floor to the laptop.

Now that you know the inner seam size, choose the frame size that suits you best. You can check the size chart below for a better idea.

2. Handlebars

The size of the handlebar is not fixed. This is because you may need different flexibility in different situations. On rough roads, you may want a little angle in your elbows, while on flat roads, you may not want the same. For this reason, it's a good idea to add a 2-inch (5.08 cm) spacer under the rudder tube so you can move and use it as needed.

3. Seat Height

Before adjusting the seat height, remember that the seat height should allow you to bend your knees slightly at the lowest bottom travel of the pedals. To calculate the seat height, put on your shoes (the ones you wear when riding your bike) and step on the pedals with your feet. Watch for your abdomen wobbling as you step on the pedals. Measure the distance between the top of the seat and the bottle holder. This is your ideal seat height. Keep in mind that the result should be the closest inside seam measurement, then multiply by 0.883.

4. Gear Placement

Gear placement should ensure maximum force is transmitted from the foot when pedalling. After the first few rides it is a good idea to concentrate on shifting gears. Then you can find out if the gears are in the right or wrong position.

Do shorter people ride bikes better than taller people? 

There is no clear-cut size standard to judge who is a good rider. Your height will not affect the level at which you can ride an e-bike. However, a relatively taller person does have some advantage in riding a bike on rough terrain, and otherwise it's the same for shorter and taller people. To get a better edge in terms of manoeuvring, people of lower height can use e-bikes designed for shorter people.

Tips for buying the best e-bike

Here we show what factors you should consider when choosing the best e-bike. We hope these will help you find the right bike for you.

1. Consider your needs

E-bikes are designed for different purposes and suit different people. Which features are essential is entirely up to you. If comfort is your first priority, then go for a straddle frame, which is probably the best option. For hill climbing, you can opt for a mid-mounted motor system or a high-torque hub motor. On the other hand, if you're looking for a bike for long distance riding, a 400W battery is the way to go. Understanding your individual needs will help you choose the most important features on your e-bike.

2. Choose your retailer wisely

Where exactly should you buy your e-bike from? When you go to a shop to buy a bike, you can judge the place in three different ways: quality, commitment and atmosphere. The atmosphere is the feeling you get when you walk into a shop. A shop's salespeople are helpful and knowledgeable employees. Commitment shows that the shop's passion for e-bikes is evident. Do they have a lot of bikes or just a few in the shop? Quality refers to the type of bike they sell. Are these bikes from a new brand.

3. Test ride a few bikes

The most important part of buying an e-bike is the test ride. After test riding an e-bike, ask yourself a few questions such as, do I like it? Does this bike suit me? Does it have the quality I've been looking for? If the answers to all the questions are yes, then buy it.  

4. Warranty matters

As we said before, buying an e-bike is a huge investment, whether the price is $1,000 or $15,000. If the bike you're buying comes with a warranty, you can rest assured that your investment is clearly worth it. Most e-bike manufacturers offer at least a 2-year warranty on parts, motors, and batteries, which is reasonable.

What type of bike do I need?

If you do mostly off-road riding, you'll need a stride bike with a bigger frame, bigger tyres and more standing clearance. This will give you more stability and control when riding over rough terrain. If you do mostly road riding, you may want to consider a smaller frame size to save weight. However, you still need to make sure that you have enough standing clearance so that you can get on and off the bike safely.

Final Thoughts.

So, it's all about how you choose the size of your e-bike. Choosing the size of your e-bike is a surefire way to get a comfortable riding experience; otherwise, it can also cause pain, injury, and discomfort. Above, we showed what you should consider when choosing your bike size and how to measure the frame, seat height and handlebars. We hope you have learnt something from reading this article. This article also mentions how to choose a perfect e-bike from a retailer.