Riding an eBike sounds fun, right? It’s all the enjoyment of riding a bike around town without much effort. But you probably also have a few questions about eBikes. Like, how do you know which eBikes are high quality? How do you choose an electric bike that won’t break down?

We’ve outlined the essential electric bike guide, including eight features to keep your eye out for to determine an eBike’s quality.

The Essential Features of an eBike

When considering what to look for in an electric bike, there are five must-have features meant to make riding your eBike comfortable and easy.

1. Pedal-Assist Motor

A major pull for using eBikes in the first place is their pedal-assist motors which provide power to your pedals, allowing you to pedal much faster, with a lot less effort. With the assist motor, you won’t even have to break a sweat when going up hills or pedaling long stretches of flat roads. 

Most pedal-assist motors also feature a mechanism that allows you to control how much assistance you would like in your pedaling. Whether you’re after a mild workout or want virtually no pedal resistance at all, you can make that choice.

2. Throttle

In addition to pedal assisting motors, a quality eBike should also have a throttle. This works similarly to motorcycles and electric scooters—by throttling the handle, the eBike’s motor propels the bike forward, giving you full power without any need to pedal.

Some throttles even have different power levels, meaning you can control how quickly you would like to propel forward.

Note: Because of the power motors, there is a bit of a curve in learning how to ride an eBike safely. Make sure you review our guide on how to ride an electric bike before you get on one.

3. High Payload Capacity

All eBikes should have a relatively high payload capacity, ideally over 250 pounds. Even when you are well below that weight limit, having a high payload capacity ensures that you can ride smoothly over slightly bumpy terrain.

Having a higher payload capacity is also essential if you want to ride with your child (more on that later).

4. Long Battery Life

You don’t want your bike to peter out and die while miles away from the drop-off point. A long battery life ensures this won’t be a problem. With Easy Rider Rental, our electric bikes feature a battery that lasts for up to 45 miles on a single charge.

But you don’t have to worry about tracking the miles on your own. Your eBike should have a battery gauge that shows how your battery’s remaining charge. This will most likely appear on your control display.

5. Bike Helmet

While not technically a feature of an eBike, you should look for an eBike rental company that provides a bike helmet.

Riding without a helmet is unsafe, particularly on an eBike that can reach speeds of 20 miles per hour. But you probably don’t want to bring your own helmet—especially if you’re renting the eBike during a vacation. So, it’s important to find an eBike rental that provides you with a helmet.

Pro Tip: Review our 5 eBike Safety Tips before you ride.

The Extra Features You Should Consider

While we’ve gone over the essential features you should consider for your eBike, you may also want to consider some supplementary features.

1. Child Seat Add-On

If your child wants to join the ride but isn’t tall enough to ride their own bike, you may want to find a bike that has space for a child-seat add-on. The seat goes behind your bike seat so your road view won’t be obstructed. This way, you and your little one can enjoy beautiful vistas on the go.

2. Low-Step Frame

A low-step frame allows for a more comfortable ride and dismounts from the bike—no more hurdling over a metal bar to get onto your bike seat.

Low-step frames also offer a more comfortable sitting position while you ride. Sit back and relax while the eBike’s power motor carries you to wherever you want to go.

3. Higher Top Speed

Chances are you want an eBike rental for more accessible sightseeing, so there’s no real need to get an eBike that goes over 20 mph. But, if you want to get places quickly, consider looking for a bike with a higher top speed. Just beware–you probably shouldn’t take that speedster on sidewalks or around other cyclists.

Rent a Quality eBike Today

Now that we’ve established these nine features, you should know exactly how to choose an electric bike rental. Next, it’s time to schedule your rental.

Kova Rentals’ eBikes include all of the essential qualities we’ve listed here. Book your ride today to learn more about our electric bikes and where you can take them.