Electric bikes are similar to traditional bicycles in many ways, but one significant difference between the two is the weight of the eBike. Electric bikes are notorious for weighing more than conventional bicycles, and it’s easy to see why.
The motor, the battery, the electrical wiring, the controller, the pedal sensors, and several other eBike exclusive components all weigh down the bike frame. When converting a traditional bicycle to an eBike, it isn’t uncommon to add 20 to 30 pounds, and sometimes more.
However, that isn’t the only area where weight matters. While it’s true that eBikes weigh more than traditional, non-motorized bicycles, the overall impact that weight has on eBikes will differ as well. Traditionally, the lighter a standard bike is, the better acceleration, handling, and performance it will offer.
With electric bikes, that isn’t always the case. We’ve seen situations where one eBike we’ve reviewed offered twice the performance as another eBike that is half the assembly weight. So we made this blog post to help explain the impact weight has on your eBike, and discuss how each component’s weight will change your bike’s performance.
Breaking Down eBike Weight by Component
Electric Bike Motors
The single heaviest component added to make a traditional bicycle an electric bike is the motor. While eBike motors have gotten lighter over time, motors still weigh between 5 to 10 pounds, with some at 15, 20, or even 25 pounds. Usually, the more an engine weighs, the more likely it will offer excellent performance and acceleration. Unfortunately, some motors are designed poorly. We can name a few 15-pound motors that outperform some weighing 20 to 25 pounds.
How eBike motor weight affects your bike depends on where it’s located. Many entry-level eBikes rely on rear-gear hub motors located in the center of your back wheel. With the gearing and other electronic components found in the tail, rear-gear hub motor bikes are known for being tail heavy, making them difficult to lift unless you grab the bike from the back. Rear-gear hub motors are typically smaller and lighter than mid-drive motors, meaning they’ll be lighter overall.
Mid-drive motors are often connected directly to your crankset, centralizing the motor weight near the center of your eBike. Mid-drive motors provide a more natural riding feel, and because of the distributed weight is often easier to lift than hub-drive motors.
However, you will suffer minor performance loss due to the overall increased weight of your eBike. Further, because of its connection to the crankset, mid-drive motor eBikes are harder to pedal, though the superb performance of a mid-drive motor often makes up for it. Just know that if you’re trying to limit the weight increase of your eBike, pick the rear-gear hub motor over the mid-drive motor.
Electric Bike Batteries
Following closely behind motors, eBike batteries also significantly increase the weight of a fully assembled electric bike. Electric bike batteries are lighter than motors, with an average weight of 5 to 10 pounds.
Some eBikes have two batteries, though, meaning the added weight may increase as much as 20 pounds. Like motors, heavier and larger batteries offer a higher battery capacity, allowing you to travel farther on a single charge. As a result, we don’t mind a few extra pounds from a great battery since it can mean the difference between going 30 miles or 60+ miles on a single charge.
Electric Bike Controller/Pedal System
Whatever motor you have on your eBike, you will find it a bit harder to pedal than a traditional bicycle. The reason why is that your crankset will be outfitted with either a cadence or torque based pedal-assist system.
Pedal-assist systems measure your pedaling and broadcasts this information to your motor, your motor providing power in response as set by your eBike motor display. Torque sensors are heavier than cadence sensors, but we much prefer the accuracy and support provided by a torque sensor over a cadence sensor. These sensors range in weight, from 3 to 6 pounds, but if you have to add one to your bike, we recommend the torque sensor most of the time, even if it’s heavier.
Electric Bike Display
To control your motor, your eBike usually has a display system you can use to change your motor settings. These display units can be as simple as a button embedded into your frame or advanced LCD screens that take up a large portion of your handlebars.
Electric bike display units typically weigh 1 to 3 pounds, so we rarely worry about the weight added by the motor display controller. While it might impact your overall handling a bit, you’re going to be just fine by going out with a large, premium LCD display.
Electric Bike Wheels
Electric bikes need more weight support due to the added electronic component weight. Furthermore, eBikes are often ridden at high speeds, so they need thicker tires with extra puncture protection to reduce the risk of a blowout.
Many eBikes are going to have larger wheels because of it, especially since they also need larger brake systems for quicker stopping. Expect an eBike wheel to add another 5 to 10 lbs compared to a traditional bike, though, as we’ll discuss in the performance section, the wheels themselves will hardly impact overall riding performance.
Electrical Wiring
Lastly, the overall electrical wiring will also add a few pounds to your eBike. However, the electrical wiring is spread across the whole frame, so while it does add weight, there isn’t a single area where the weight additions are concentrated. So, we wouldn’t worry that much about the added weight from the electrical wiring, but it is something to be aware of since we’re now going to discuss how weight impacts performance.
So When Does eBike Weight Matter?
The overall weight of your electric bike is going to depend mainly on where you decide to ride. Suppose you are riding on smooth, well-paved surfaces with little incline as you travel. In that case, the performance difference between a heavy eBike and a traditional bicycle will hardly be any different. You might not accelerate as quickly from pedaling alone, but given the motor’s added performance, you’ll easily outpace anyone riding a traditional bicycle.
Electric bike weight does matter when you’re trying to ride uphill. The steeper the hill, the more significant the difference in overall bike feel and performance between a lighter and heavier bicycle will be. If you’re trying to tackle a tough hill climb, a traditional bicycle will be easier to ride than an electric bike if you don’t use the motor.
However, with the motor on and set to a high pedal-assist level, you’ll zoom by and tackle even the most challenging hill climbs with ease. You’ll find a similar experience if you ride into a strong headwind, where the motor helps compensate for the added bike weight compared to a traditional bicycle.
This is why weight does–and in some ways doesn’t matter–when comparing an eBike to a traditional bicycle. With the motor off, a heavier eBike is going to be more difficult and tedious to ride than a conventional bicycle. With the motor on, though, a 70-pound eBike with an acceptable motor will still be faster than a traditional bicycle that weighs just 20 lbs. The better the motor, the heavier an eBike can be and always outperform a conventional bicycle.
However, you have to consider weight when comparing one eBike with another eBike. A heavier eBike does not always mean better performance, especially when you start comparing component to component. You can add a bigger motor or battery, but the superior component’s performance gains might be negligible if it results in an excessively heavy eBike.
Conclusion: Be Aware of the Weight, but Don’t Stress Too Much!
When it comes to eBike weight, manufacturers are aware of how the weight will impact performance and add the right components to compensate for the overall weight. The most significant issues when it comes to eBike weight often has to do with how you’re going to transport it.
Many cyclists like to travel with their eBikes, loading their eBikes onto trunk or roof racks on their car. A lightweight eBike is easier to load than a heavy eBike, so if you are someone who likes to travel, check the weight before you buy. Otherwise, don’t worry too much about the weight, and focus more on the features and performance offered by the next eBike you’re thinking about buying.
Thank you so much for reading our guide to eBike weight! Feel free to ask any questions you still have by leaving a comment for our review team below. We’ll answer your question as soon as we can!
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