The Best Types of Electric City Bikes
Commuters, rejoice!
The electric city bike is without a doubt the most eco-friendly, durable, comfortable, and cost-efficient ride out there.
Cruising through busy streets has never been this easy. By pedaling less and going faster, this bike will get you to where you need to go in style and comfort.
Not a city commuter? No worries. This bike is an awesome fit for anyone looking for a smoother ride. We’re going to break down everything you need to know about ebikes, city ebikes specifically, and what you should be looking for if you’re going to buy one.
Let’s get rolling!
What is an Electric Bike?
Before we get into the specifics of city bikes, it’s important that you understand what exactly an ebike is and why they’ve recently become so popular.
An electric bike is exactly what it sounds like: a regular bicycle with a motor attached to assist the rider. It’s a simple yet clever design — one that’s been getting a ton of attention lately.
The motor allows cyclists to travel greater distances without exerting extra energy, especially when riding up and down hills.
EBikes have been mass produced and sold since the early 2000s, but they have only recently started to boom. One of the biggest explanations for their popularity is their lower carbon footprint.
We’ll talk more about this later, but many consumers have made the switch to ebikes when traveling shorter distances in order to reduce carbon emissions.
Additionally, ebikes are especially helpful to those who have difficulty pedaling with regular bikes or commute to work or school.
Again, we’ll discuss their pros and cons later, but for now, keep this definition in mind: ebikes look and feel like a regular bicycle but give you an extra boost with a battery-powered motor.
Now that you know what an ebike is, let’s take a closer look at how city ebikes differ from other options.
How Do Electric City Bikes Differ From Other EBikes?
EBikes in general share the same concept: a motor that assists pedaling.
Then, they diverge.
The design, size, and use cases are all factors that will vary depending on what kind of ebike you buy.
So, what are city ebikes meant for? You guessed it—cities.
The city commuter ebike is the champion of urban riding. The biggest differences between this bike and other ebikes is its battery life, motor power, and design.
A Closer Look at Motor Power
Motors will vary depending on the type of ebike. For the most part, they will all be similar in nature but will tend to differentiate around wattage, voltage and number of pedal assist levels.
The city bike is one of these exceptions, as it’s designed for longer rides to and from places in a big city such as work or school.
For instance, our Beaumont city ebike comes with two different motor selections. The 350w/36v motor supports up to 28 miles in range while the 500w/48v motor sustains up to 37 miles in range. The difference isn’t major, but the mileage is definitely noticeable.
The longer range will allow you to fully enjoy your riding experience without worrying about battery life and will ensure that you get to your destination with ease.
If battery life is an issue, you can order different types of batteries and motor power—it all just depends on where you’re going and what you’re riding.
The benefits of the removable rear battery as opposed to the mid-drive motor is that it makes it easier to swap out batteries depending on how long you want to ride.
City EBikes vs. Other Bikes
To understand the biggest differences between city ebikes and other ebikes, let’s take away the motor for now and look at a regular city bike.
City bikes are best for smooth terrain like pavement and are the ultimate bike for traveling where you need to go.
If you compare them to a beach cruiser, you would find that city bikes are smaller and faster.
Beach cruisers are meant for slow and relaxing rides with their wider, taller aluminum frames and wider seats. City bikes are more aerodynamic with a smaller build meant for faster transits.
So, what happens when you slap a motor on a beach cruiser? An electric beach cruiser!
The concept is still there; a bike built for slow rides with maximum comfort. All you’ve done is add a helping hand for the rider. Everything remains the same besides the new addition of a motor.
Now, put that motor on a traditional city bike. Remember, it’s a machine built for riding through dense urban areas. All you’ve done is add a little electricity to make it a smoother and easier ride.
Basically, if you want to know the difference between the city ebike and other ebikes, remove the motor and compare the traditional style. The motors will only slightly vary in size and power, which is all information that you can find here.
Now, let’s take a look at some pros and cons of buying a city ebike.
What Are The Pros and Cons of City EBikes?
Nothing’s perfect, right?
We may have made city ebikes out to be the ultimate riding machines, but there are some downsides to consider. Conversely, there are tons of other benefits that we haven’t gone over yet!
Pro: Environmentally Friendly
Perhaps the biggest pro on this list, city ebikes (and ebikes in general) are one of the best modes of transportation you can use to reduce your carbon footprint.
If your place of work or school is around five miles or less away from your house, using a city ebike is an amazing idea. Even if your favorite coffee shop is just a mile away, take an ebike, reduce your carbon footprint, and enjoy the ride.
Con: Less(ish) Exercise
You may have been wondering about this for a while, and your concern is (mostly) valid.
Yes, the motor takes away some of the pedaling you would normally be doing based upon the levels of pedal assist available. Thankfully, most city ebikes have adjustable settings that will allow you to control how often and how much the motor is helping you.
But we get it, sometimes you’re going to use that motor a little more than you’d like. That’s okay! It’s what the motor is there for, plus you won’t be sweaty when you arrive at work or class.
Pro and Con: Price
On one hand, city ebikes are expensive. They tend to land anywhere from $1,500 to $10,000.
Are those large numbers? Absolutely. But let’s look at the other hand.
If you buy a city ebike and use it for every trip under five miles (when the weather permits, of course), you will save so much money on gas. Seriously — so much money.
Not to mention, the less you use your car, the less you’ll have to pay for maintenance and repairs. Plus, those miles add up quickly, and eliminating those small trips will ensure you maintain your car for a lot longer.
Of course, you can always sell your car and use an ebike as your primary mode of transportation (this would save you a LOT of money), but that isn’t always practical depending on where you live and what you do.
We’ve covered a lot of things. We’re glad you’re taking your first steps towards buying an ebike and going green.
What Are the Best Kinds of City EBikes?
Here at Retrospec, we currently sell two city ebikes.
We start with one of our most popular bikes — the Beaumont City Bike — and add a little boost.
Beaumont Rev comes with a rear hub motor, removable rear battery, thumb throttle, full-wrap fenders, hydraulic disc brakes in the front and rear, puncture-resistant tires, a rear rack for cargo, and integrated lights.
With a unique blend of speed and style, our Beaumont City ebikes can reach up to 20 MPH with a range of up to 37 miles.
Worried about not getting enough exercise with an electric bike? Don’t — our ebikes offer six pedal assist levels that you can control with a handlebar-mounted control panel. Turn it off when you want the full ride, or crank it up when you’re going up a steep hill on the way to work.
Conclusion
We set out to create an ebike that was both stylish and easy to ride. With the Beaumont City EBike, we did just that.
With both a step-through and traditional frame, you’ll be gliding through the streets with an undeniable flair and urbanity. Join us in reducing our carbon footprints in style. Go green and clean, and we’ll see you out there!
