BEFORE BUYING AN EBIKE (updated Mar. 30 2010)
You are in the market for a Power-assisted bicycle (electric bikes / ebikes) and you want to make an informed decision on your choice for one. This is, after all, a new industry, where consumers are not aware of the pitfalls they may come across. This section will assist you to make better decisions when comparing electric bikes among the many growing number of dealers.
1) Warranty
- Find out if there is warranty and what the warranty entails. Companies will state their warranty is 1 year but find out what is covered for 1 year. Find out if that includes labour and parts (especially batteries). Other companies provide 1 year warranty, but be careful and read between the lines, they only cover one or two parts for a whole year, and the rest of the parts in a couple of months. Blue Avenue provides a complete 1 year Comprehensive Warranty (batteries have 6 months warranty) on all Ebikes not from the date of sale, but from the date of delivery or the date you received the product.
2) CSA/CUL
- 90% of ebikes being sold in Ontario do not meet Canadian safety standards. The recharging components of Blue Avenue Ltd electric bikes meets CSA/CUL approval. We've taken that extra step and spent more resources to ensure our ebikes comply with the Canadian Standards Association. Ask before buying...are they CSA approved?
3) Batteries
- Dealers are advertising double batteries. Double batteries sounds like a great idea but are they really? At Blue Avenue Ltd. we do not recommend 2 battery sets in the ebike for several reasons:
(i) An extra set of batteries add 30 lbs - 60 lbs more weight to your ebike, decreasing the maximum range of your main battery and adding more pressure to the frame.
(ii) An extra set of batteries normally is placed under the seat and therefore eliminates the space primarily used for storage.
(iii) An extra set of batteries require longer charging and another costly charger to recharge it.
(iv) Finally, the additional weight of the extra set of batteries may make the total weight of the ebike illegal beyond the stipulated 120kgs allowed by Federal and Provincial law.
- There are some electric bikes in the market with batteries that are not removeable. If you don't have a warm garage to store your batteries, make sure that the ebike you purchase have batteries that are transportable or removeable. During winter time, your batteries must be kept and maintained in room temperature, but if your batteries are not transportable or removeable then your batteries are at the mercy of the cold weather and become useless when the next spring/summer season arrives. Even if you have a garage to shelter the bike, do you keep it heated during winter to save the batteries? Also, if you live in a condominium or apartment building, owners face the reality that they may not be able to bring their ebikes in the elevators. How are you supposed to charge the batteries if they're not removeable? Many people forget to ask this very important question when purchasing an electric bike: Can I take the batteries out of the ebike to charge inside? Ask this simple question and you'll save yourself the cost of hundreds of dollars for a new battery.
4) Motor
- Where in the ebike can you find out the motor size? Find out the exact size of the motor. Currently there is an online auction dealer selling electric bikes claiming the motor is 500 watts when it's actually 350 watts. Dealers are advertising the maximum output, peak output, or high output wattage and not the actual watt size. If you see an ad claiming their electric bike is a 500 watts motor, ask and make sure you get it in writing that the 500 watts is the actual size of the motor and not the maximum wattage output of the motor. It's like buying a 4 cylinder car being advertised as 6. If a dealer claims the motor is 500 watts, we recommend that you compare their electric bike to another 500 watt motor electric bike. Ride it before you buy it and you can sense the difference in power. Remember, the key words to watch out for are "high output", "peak output", and "maximum output". If these words are advertised, it is highly unlikely the motor size is what they claim it to be. So how can you tell if the motor is 500 watts? Have a look at the rim of the rear wheel where the motor is placed. There are numbers engraved there and the first three digits may be the true size of the motor. If the serial numbers are not there or have been scratched off then be very suspicious of the motor.
- If your weight is 200 lbs or more, we do not recommend anything less than 350 watts motor, otherwise, you may not have the power you need to go uphills.
- We recommend motors in the rear wheel for better balance. Front wheel motors, because of their weight in the front, will have the tendency to shift the weight of the bike and may cause you to loose control of your balance when you lean to turn at low speeds. Front wheel motors are very popular with bike conversion kits.
5) Parts
- Do they have the parts? The most important is the controller and is a unique part for every manufacturer. If they don't have it in stock then your electric bike is malformed to a regular bicycle. That's not fun.
6) Buying outside of Canada
- Buying outside of Canada is risky. Dealers and online sellers outside Canada may not know the import laws regarding electric bikes, and chances are the electric bike will not conform to Canadian laws and requirements. If found non-conforming, the electric bike may be sent back and you will end up with the burden of paying shipping and restocking fees.
For additional information please read
THE (FAQs) Frequently Asked Questions Page.
