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Before You Drop Good Money on Your First Ebike, Know This

Ready to ride the electric revolution, but don’t know where to get started? Right here, my friend.

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Living in the early days of a new product category is fun. You get to see amazing technological strides in only a few years, bursts of new companies that rush for an opening frontier like gold panners, everyone with a wildly inventive and unique idea of how to stand out.

These are still the early days of the ebike industry, and it can be a lot to take in. Here’s what to know as you shop for your next ebike, whether you’re buying your first or looking to replace an earlier ebike from years ago. Everything, from ebike classes to battery safety to types of ebikes, is waiting for you below.

SHould I buy an EBike Online?

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Don’t be put off by the fact that many brands, such as Ride1Up, are largely online brands that sell directly to the public and not in physical stores. While long-established brands like Specialized and Trek have physical locations, I’ve ridden close to hundred ebikes over the years and not noticed any lower quality on those ebikes bought online.

What You Should Know Before Buying an Ebike

California and New York City require that your ebike is certified to a particular standard in order to ensure that it’s not a fire hazard when you’re riding it or charging the battery. These standards are UL 2271, which should be marked on the battery itself, and UL 2849, which will be marked on the bike’s frame or in the user manual.

Both should be advertised by the brand on the product page, so you don’t have to buy it and then cross your fingers. These mean that the ebike and battery have been tested and........

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