Written by admin
on July 2nd, 2009
Just like non-powered bikes, ebikes come in a wide array of shapes, sizes and styles. You can find street bikes, mountain bikes and all kinds of frames all fitted out for extended range and power with an electric motor system, but when it comes to leisurely errands around town, nothing is as comfortable and effective as an electric cruiser bike.. Beach cruiser frames are much like European bikes that are a main source of transportation in many countries. These bikes are tough and rugged and even heavy weight folks can use them with ease. You can sit at a comfortable angle, just like when operating an automobile.
Electric motor assisted cruiser bikes, are available from a wide array of brands and like all ebikes, each model comes with some slightly different features. That said, most of these cruiser ebikes tend to have speeds of up to fifteen miles an hour when running on full electric power with no pedal assist; certainly more than fast enough to get you to and from the grocery store or the post office. Most current batteries will get you up to about twenty five miles per charge, and some ebikes have the ability to carry multiple batteries so you can swap them out mid-trip and extend your range before charging them up. It usually takes 4 to 6 hours to charge up an ebike battery. Some bikes use a special charger, while others simply plug directly into an outlet.
These electric cruiser bikes can be run in a couple different modes. You have a full power mode for times when you don’t want to pedal at all. This is easy on the legs but rather harder on the battery. You can get some exercise by pedaling, which extends the battery life, and then use the power assist when you get tired or go up a hill. Lots of ebikes come with the option to pedal or use the power assist.
Pre-made cruiser style ebikes come mostly or completely assembles already as opposed to their conversion kit cousins, meaning the buyer will not have to work hard to get on the road. They are simple to use and take care of and don’t require a different kind of license in most cities. They also provide a very smooth, comfortable ride. All in all, if you are considering an ebike as your in town errand running, grocery getting, leisurely commuter, a cruiser style frame is a good way to go.
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Written by admin
on July 1st, 2009
If you are looking at electric bikes as a way to increase your biking range and decrease your commute time, you are looking in the right place. As the main bicycle and stick with that for all people’s around town transportation needs,they all think to buy a pre-made ebike. But what if you already have a bike and do not see the need to shell out for a whole new set of wheels? Well, fortunately, with just a few hours of quality time with your screwdriver,there are some great ebike conversion kits on the market that will let you turn your existing ride into an electric battery operated powerhouse.
Ebike conversion kits range in complexity and price from the most basic models that just give you a little extra boost through more difficult terrain and when you start to get tired after a long ride to the high end models that can turn your traditional human powered cycle into the next level down from a do it yourself Harley. Okay, not quite, if you are willing to spend the money for a higher end model they can be quite powerful. Just like pre-fab ebikes or folding electric bikes, conversion kits come in a wide range of models, power levels and prices, and for the most part, barring the occasional great sale, you get what you pay for.
Conversion kits let your turn your bike into the same level of product as a traditional pre-made electric bicycle, with the same level of maintenance and quality… assuming the bike you put it on was a good one to start out with, of course. If you have a bike you dearly love and can’t stand to part with,the great thing about conversion kits is that you can upgrade it and get the extra power you want without having to give up your two wheeled baby.
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Written by admin
on June 30th, 2009
It doesn’t matter if you are on your ebike commuting to work or if you are just out fooling around. Don’t forget your ebike helmet. More so than non powered bikes, because ebikes have more oomph, you’ll need a very good helmet if you take a spill. Riding at high speeds on an ebike makes an ebike helmet even more important. Don’t ever forget to wear your helmet. It’s your life that depends on it. It is just asking for head trauma and a high speed trip to the emergency room.
Yet, there isn’t much more danger to riding an ebike over a regular bike. But we can’t stress enough how important wearing a quality helmet on any bike, electric or not. You can get away with driving your car at 65 miles per hour without a helmet on because when you are in your car you are encased in several tons of highly shock resistant metal and plastic, all specifically designed to protect your body in the event of a crash. You might think you look uncool with that helmet on, but better uncool than dead. Many states even have laws regarding the use of bike helmets on busy streets, and very often minors under the age of 16 are required to wear head protection at all times.Afterwards, the governmental powers assume you are smart enough to protect yourself and choose the best helmet.
It’s not hard to choose a good bike helmet, when armed with the right information. Helmet companies work constantly to develop new ways to make their helmets safer and more comfortable. Today’s bike helmets come in an almost bewildering array of styles, shapes, attachment methods and fancy terminology, but the bottom line is that any protection is better than none. So take your time, read through all the information on the boxes, look at reviews online and choose the helmet that is right for you, but do choose one. If you are overwhelmed by the options, very often typing in the name of a bike helmet and the word review into any search engine will get you all the information you need to make a sound decision on whether that is the right bike helmet for you.
You should replace your bike helmet any time you get into an accident where the helmet takes an impact or after every five years or so. Bicycle helmets are designed so the support material inside them takes an impact and cracks instead of your skull, but this only works once. The next time all that force, having nothing to break itself on before reaching our head, will go straight through. It is also a good idea to replace your helmet from time to time as the padding and shock absorption foam in them does degrade over time, making them less effective.
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Written by admin
on June 29th, 2009
If someone in your family has been nagging you about a motocross bike, consider an ebike mini dirt bike as your alternative to a traditional gas powered model. They are fun, fast, and much quieter than those obnoxious buzzing things that go zipping along the course. Dirt ebikes are safer than gas, as well as they do not have any explosive fuel tanks or hot parts to burn yourself on. These bikes just plug into a wall outlet, and the highly efficient batteries are designed to work smoothly with the ebike motor.
Mini dirt ebikes don’t cost a lot to operate, unlike their gas powered relatives. To get your “tank” full, just plug the bike into an outlet for a few hours and be ready to roll. You won’t have to lug big cans of flamable gas in your trunk. An extra battery is easier to pack up! Your only cost to run a mini dirt bike is the electricity, which will save you about 90% of the cost of gas.
Electric powered mini dirt bikes run very clean and are better for the environment than gas models and are much quieter, too. Unlike gas powered dirt bikes, electric mini dirt bikes don’t pollute. The only potential pollution is from disposing of the batteries improperly. Because power plants have strict standards nowadays, that will be much less of an impact than gasoline, so shrink your carbon footprint and ride electric! You can also cut down on noise pollution with these bikes too, as they are much, much more quiet than gas powered motors. Unlike that angry buzzing hornet sound with a normal dirt motorbike, these models have only a quiet hum of power, making them perfect for cruising along back country trails or racing through urban courses alike.
Unlike commuter ebikes, range is not so much of an issue with a mini dirt bike, as you are rarely going more than 20 miles at a time. This means you can use the powerful motor to its fullest capacity, going as fast as you want and still have plenty of juice left over for another go or pulling some stunts around the course. It doesn’t take a long time to recharge the batteries, so you can be back on the track again quickly.
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Written by admin
on June 28th, 2009
If you are considering getting an electric motor assisted bicycle, or ebike, you have a few options to choose from. No longer limited solely to road bikes and light weight long distance travelers, ebikes are showing up in a wide variety of models, including a large number of electric mountain bikes.
What’s that? Motor assist on a mountain bike, you say? But isn’t that like cheating? Maybe not, unless you are competing. If you are just out there to enjoy your ride or to get from place to place efficiently, an ebike is the perfect extra boost to
your ride that will let you go farther, longer and have more energy over the course of your ride, allowing you to enjoy the journey a little more.
If you are doing any trail riding, an electric mountain bike is great for getting up that extra steep hill or going longer distances. Because the electric motor works to support you as you pedal, you can still be in complete control of the bike, without feeling like you are just along for the ride. Or if you’ve worn yourself out but don’t want a rest stop yet, switch over to power assist for a time.
Ebikes are designed to have very long lasting batteries, and many of them have the option to carry extra batteries to swap out during your trip for an even longer time out on the road or on the trail. Remember, these batteries are not exactly featherweights, so pack accordingly if you are going to do this. Fortunately, the power assist when you are pedaling more than makes up for the added weight of those batteries and most of your stuff, so even when rising a heavy mountain bike it may still feel like you are riding a light weight street bike.
An ebike’s electric motor gives you better speed and allows you to bike longer. These bikes are great for cross country since these bikes combine the shock absorbing factor of a mountain bike and the light weight of a road bike. Electric mountain bikes give you an extra jolt of power.
Rough terrain doesn’t stop these ebikes, and give you more power just when you need it. With an ebike, you can enjoy the beauty of nature longer and easier without the polluting exhaust other motorized or motor assisted cycles leave behind.
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