How to choose a new e-bike?

12. 3. 2019
Are you planning to buy a new e-bike but not sure you're making the right choice? Not sure what to look for when choosing? Don't despair, we'll help you figure it out. First, answer the following questions:

From driving style to engine

Who will ride the electric bike?

The frames are available in men's, women's or universal versions, or as an electric bicycle with a reduced entry. It also depends on body height, leg length, health and habits of each rider. The approximate size chart can help you, but it is always best to try the bike on your own, sit on it, ride it. This is the only way to find out if the bike really fits you.

Where will you ride your bike?

In order to really enjoy riding an e-bike, you need to think about where you will be riding, the terrain and the type of riding you prefer right from the start. It makes a difference if you're only going to ride your bike in the city or if you're going to ride it over mountain ridges. Each terrain requires different characteristics from the bike.

Urban e-bikes - for tackling the urban jungle

You'll enjoy urban e-bikes the most when riding in the city, for easy trips around the countryside, or when going fishing on a nice path around a river. The lowered frame makes it easy and comfortable to get on and off, which is what you'll use best in traffic - in the everyday urban jungle when commuting to work or shopping. The mudguards allow for all-weather riding, you can attach a bag or shopping basket to the rack, and you can simply stand the e-bike up. You don't even have to worry about riding in the dark or at night, because urban e-bikes are equipped with front and rear lighting from the factory. They are not suitable for riding on difficult terrain and you should avoid steep climbs. You can choose urban e-bikes in 17" and 19" sizes(e-City 2.7 18" model). The wheel diameter is 26" e-City or 28" e-Country.

An urban e-bike is good for me if 90% of my trips are on well-groomed (paved) roads, or I have trouble getting on a conventional bike and appreciate the low step-in.

Trekking e-bike - for work and for trips, on the bike path and on the trail

Will you use your bike for commuting in the city, but want to take it on a longer, easy trip? Then the Crussis trekking e-bike is the right bike for you! This is a sportier version of the city e-bike, but it can also tackle dirt roads or footpaths with ease. Just like the city e-bike, the trekking e-bike is equipped with mudguards, a rack and a stand. The e-Savela model is available in 17" and 19" sizes, the e-Gordo model in 18" and 20" sizes.

A trekking e-bike is suitable for me if 85% or more of my trips are on roads, cycle paths or well-groomed paths in easy terrain.

Cross e-bike - for trips, for the countryside and for work

A sportier version of the trekking e-bike, which has wider tyres and more gears. This makes it great for riding in lighter terrain, but it's also comfortable in the city, to work or on the cycle path. Cross bikes, unlike trekking bikes, don't have mudguards or racks. However, you can buy and fit them at any time. This change essentially gives you a trekking e-bike. It is not suitable for riding on difficult terrain. We produce the ladies' e-Cross lady e-bikes in 17" and 19" sizes, and the men's e-Cross e-bikes in 18" and 20" sizes.

The cross e-bike is suitable for those who mainly use roads and cycle paths (about 70%), but like to use the bike for occasional riding in lighter terrain.

Mountain e-bike - off-road, on the bike path or even in the city

The most versatile and sporty version of the electric bike, with which nothing can stop you. Enjoy carefree off-road riding, uphill and downhill, on dirt or forest paths and various trails. You can also ride comfortably on roads and cycle paths. Crussis mountain e-bikes are available with 27.5" diameter e-Guera (15", 17" and 19") and e-Atland (18" and 20") wheels. Wheel sizes 29" are offered by the full suspension e-Full (18" and 20"), e-Fionna (17" and 19") and e-Largo (18", 20" and 22").

The mountain e-bike is suitable for those who want to enjoy off-road excursions and do the rest of their travels on roads and bike paths.

What do you expect the range of the e-bike to be?

Range information is one of the most frequently asked questions about electric bikes in general. However, the answer is not at all simple. It's similar to trying to answer how many miles you can drive with a full tank of gas in your car. There are a number of factors that affect the range of an e-bike:

battery capacity	the higher the battery capacity (in Ah or Wh), the higher the actual range of the e-bike
the condition and age of the battery	the battery naturally loses some of its capacity as it ages. At the end of the battery's life cycle, the range will not be the same as it was at the beginning of use
the motor used	a centre drive with torsion compared to a rear hub drive with rotation sensor can make better use of the battery energy, up to 10%
route profile	if you ride on hilly terrain, the battery will drain before riding on flat terrain
assistance settings	When riding an e-bike, you can choose from 5 levels of e-bike assistance. The first level helps the least and also uses the least energy. Level 5 helps the most and also consumes the most battery power
Weight of rider and load	Higher rider and load weight negatively affects energy consumption
the condition of the rider	the more you pedal, the less energy the motor consumes
riding style and smoothness	Smooth riding is more economical than changing between different riding modes or stopping and starting frequently, which reduces range
tyre/tire inflation	Correct tyre inflation is important. Under-inflated tyres give better grip on the ground but also carry higher energy consumption. On the other hand, more inflated tyres bring lower energy consumption. When inflating your tyres, follow the manufacturer's inflation values on the tyre casing, this is the only way to enjoy the correct driving experience.
weather conditions	The ideal driving temperature is around 20°C and no wind. Driving in low temperatures or strong headwinds affects the driving distance. Bear in mind that the battery of an e-bike will discharge more quickly in cold weather and the range can be up to a third shorter than at other times of the year

What price do you expect for the bike?

Nowadays, you can get a reasonably equipped e-bike for as little as CZK 23,000. After that, it depends on your requirements and ideas. The price is influenced by the type of motor (central, rear hub), battery capacity, affecting the range of the e-bike and the components used. Of course, you can also find a cheaper e-bike priced under 20 000 CZK, but then you have to count on higher investments in service and maintenance to redeem such a low price. In the end, you will spend more money than if you bought a quality product.

Electric motor type

Engine in rear wheel hub

This is the most common type of engine location. It's great for urban or flatter terrain because it doesn't require you to pedal frequently. Just turn the pedals and the bike goes for you (with higher power consumption, of course).

Rear motor benefits:

Good price/performance ratio
motor acceleration
almost no resistance - i.e. you don't have to pedal as much, just turn the pedals lightly and the e-bike almost rides itself
easy servicing

Disadvantages of the rear motor:

Load on the rear of the bike
motor noise when climbing
higher load on wheel spacers
need to use a spanner when removing the rear wheel
inefficient energy management at higher engine loads (compared to centre drive, the rear hub engine has higher consumption)
less sensitive wheel power delivery (electric motor helps more than you pedal or less than you pedal = more complex synchronisation
not suitable for riding on big hills

Centre motor

The most optimal placement of the motor in terms of balance and rideability. The torsion (pressure) sensor does not only sense the pedal rotation, but also the force you pedal with. The e-bike gives you assistance accordingly. It reacts perfectly to changes in pedalling rhythm.

Advantages of the central motor:

Short reaction time for assistance
precise and sensitive motor dosage (torsion sensor assesses exactly how much assistance to give)
reliability
fuel efficiency and longer range thanks to optimum speed selection
easy removal in the event of a wheel change is maintained by a quick-release lever
Suitable for riding on hills and steeper gradients

Disadvantages of the mid-motor:

Higher purchase price
Reduced chain life by approx. 15% depending on shifting style
Requires more sensitive shifting with the derailleur (do not shift when the chain is tight)

From battery type to personal experience

Battery location and quality

Frame battery - the most ideal place to place the battery of an e-bike is in its frame, instead of the drinking bottle. By placing it in the frame, the bike's centre of gravity is not disturbed (unlike a carrier battery) and the bike is more manageable. Frame batteries can be fully or partially integrated into the bike frame, further improving stability and handling. Another advantage of a fully integrated battery is certainly the clean design of the bike, where the battery does not interfere with the aesthetics as it forms a single harmonious unit with the bike. All battery types can be conveniently removed from the bike for charging or as an anti-theft protection.
Carrier batteries - are most commonly used in urban bikes where we assume the use of a rear carrier in which the battery is placed. The rack has 2 tiers, which makes it possible to place a basket or pannier on the rack, as well as the battery, which again can be easily removed when needed for charging or anti-theft protection.

Quality and battery life

In Crussis e-bikes you will only find high-quality battery cells from Panasonic or Samsung. The most commonly used batteries are lithium-ion (Li-ion), which guarantee a long service life and are also relatively lightweight. To extend the life of your e-bike battery as much as possible, it is important to recharge it regularly. Even if you are not using your e-bike at the moment. In this case, you should store the battery charged to 50 - 80% of its capacity and recharge it about once a month.

Recommendations for e-bike batteries

Recharge the battery after each ride to about 50 - 80% of its capacity (do not worry, batteries do not have a memory effect, on the contrary, this will extend its life).
Do not run the battery until it is fully discharged. Try not to drop below 20% of capacity.
It is not necessary to format the battery!
Store the battery at room temperature.
Recharge the e-bike battery even when not in use about once a month and store it charged to 50 - 80% capacity.

Electric bike size

Choosing the right wheel size is not as easy as it may seem at first glance. You can find a general table of recommended sizes at the beginning of this article, but you can't rely on it 100%. Each of us has a different body shape, for example, the length of our legs, the length of our arms, our health or our habits (how big a bike we've ridden so far). That's why it's best to get advice from a dealer who has plenty of experience. At the same time, you can ride your chosen e-bike and test whether it really fits you and feels comfortable.

Prescriptions for road traffic

Does the bike comply with the regulations for road traffic? Yes. E-bikes are legally treated as conventional bicycles in EU countries, but they must comply with certain regulations. To be roadworthy, an e-bike must be marked with a label on the frame. This label includes the name and address of the manufacturer (importer), compliance with the European standard EN15194-1, the CE symbol and the symbols 250W, 25 km/h and EPAC or PEDELEC. At the same time, this information must be included in the user manual or declaration of conformity. All Crussis electric bicycles meet these requirements.

Test drive

There's nothing better than trying out your dream e-bike for yourself and deciding how you feel. That's the only way to answer questions that you can't find answers to anywhere (even in reviews and articles). How do I feel on an e-bike? Is this size right for me? Is the motor assistance what I imagined? Is this the bike I want? Then choose with peace of mind from the list of dealers and arrange a test ride.