Buying an e-bike: motor, battery, brakes
An e-bike is heavier and faster than a normal bicycle, so motor position and brakes shape the ride far more than the wattage on the sticker.
Mid-drive or hub motor
Mid-drives sit at the bottom bracket, keep the bike balanced and pull cleanly uphill — they cost more. Rear hub motors are cheaper and perfectly fine on flat terrain.
Read range figures honestly
Manufacturer figures assume the lowest assist level, flat ground and a light rider. Expect around two thirds in real use. The battery's watt-hour figure matters, not the kilometre claim.
Brakes are not a detail
With a 25 kg bike plus load, hydraulic disc brakes in the wet are not a luxury. Bikes without road-legal lighting add the cost of retrofitting.
Quick checklist
- Mid-drive if you ride hills regularly
- Battery from 500 Wh for commuting
- Hydraulic disc brakes
- Lighting and rear carrier included?
