So you want to buy an electric bike but there are no local shops around. Well just pick one out from one of the many online options and have it delivered to your door. Sounds great right? Well, not so fast, the FedEx guy is not going to just ride it up to your door.
Buying an online electric bike is a great way to save some money, have your ebike delivered to you, and not have to deal with bike shop folk. But, online ebikes need assembly, are often cheaply made and can weigh a ton.
In this article, I will go over the Pros and the Cons of buying an electric bike online and hopefully help you choose whether it’s a good option for you.
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The pros of buying an electric bike online
- They are less expensive than ebikes sold at bike shops
- You can buy one from the comfort of your couch
- It will be delivered to your door
- Most have very good online communities
- You may already know someone with an online ebike
The Cons of buying an electric bike online
- They are cheaply made
- You will have to deal with the company online for issues
- Most local bike shops will not work on it
- Customer service can be a pain
- Cheap online ebikes are heavy
- They may not last you very long
- You won’t be able to test ride it first
These are some of the pros and cons of online ebikes. Keep reading as I will deeper into each pro and con to give you insights that you should consider.
First, The Pros
(It’s good to start off positive) 🙂
Online Electric Bikes are Less Expensive Than Ebikes at Bike Shops
You may already be familiar with some of the top online brands i.e. Rad Power Bikes, Lectric Electric Bikes, Aventon Electric Bikes, Magicycle, and so on.
All of these ebikes are between $999 and $1999. A pretty good price for an electric bike. Just know, you do get what you pay for, so don’t expect a lot and you will be fine.
Most electric bikes that are sold at bike shops will range from $2500 to $5000 so buying online will save you some money. The quality will vary drastically between online and in-person ebikes as well.
So sometimes saving some money up-front does not always save you money in the end. If a $4000 ebike lasts 5 times as long as a $2000 one, then which one is really the better deal?
You Can Buy an Online Ebike From the Comfort of Your Couch
Hard to argue with this one. I have worked in the bike industry for over 20 years and know that some bike shops are intimidating to go to. I work hard to change that impression but I can’t be everywhere.
Many bike shops still have an aura of eliteness to them but not all. Shop around and you will find the perfect bike shop full of people that just want you to have the best riding experience possible.
However, it is nice just to be able to pick out a bike on your device and click the buy now button. I always like to get hands-on with a bike before buying it. Making sure a new bike fits you is key!
An Online Ebike Will be Delivered to Your Door
Transporting an electric bike can be a task. If you do not have a truck or don’t have a car rack, it can be tough to get your new ebike from the shop to your house.
Buying an ebike online will cut out that middleman and just bring it right to you. Just keep in mind it will show up in a box and need some assembly. Even the ones that say “fully assembled”.
You will probably, at the least need to put some air in the tires and adjust the shifting and brakes.
I would recommend that you have someone that knows a little about bikes help you out with this.
These online bikes come from factories in China and are not exactly fine-tuned when they arrive.
Most Will Have Very Good Online Communities
Most electric bikes that you can buy online will have Facebook groups or other online communities you can join and feel like part of the family.
You can share your new purchase with them and ask any questions you may have. I have personally joined some of these and everyone seems eager to help out.
Some people really go out of their way to trick out their bikes and they can give you some cool ideas of things you can do with yours.
You May Already Know Someone With an Online Ebike
With the popularity of electric bikes booming in the US, you may already know someone that owns a Rad Power Bike or a Lectric Folding Bike.
Just find out if they like theirs and get some real-world opinions about the bike and the brand. Ask them about the companies customer service and any issues they may have had.
If you do know someone with a certain ebike and want to start riding with them, it can be cool to get the same ebike and share war stories.
Now, The cons
(There are a few downsides to consider) 🙁
They are Cheaply Made
Inexpensive electric bikes use inexpensive parts. The cheaper the bike is quicker things are going to wear out. It’s just how bikes work or in this case don’t work. 🙂
Expect to replace brake pads and chains more often than you would on a more quality ebike. The motors and batteries will not last as long. You may want to find out how much a replacement battery costs before buying an online ebike. (hint – a lot)
The ride quality will vary from bike to bike. When these ebikes are rushed off the assembly line, the folks in quality control are not always the best in their fields. Parts may rattle.
You Will Have to Deal With the Company Online for Issues
When you do have an issue with your online electric bike you will have to contact the company you bought it from and deal with them. There will not be someone you can visit in person. 🙁
Sometimes they will send out a replacement part that you will have to install or they may reimburse you up to a certain amount if you can find a shop to fix it.
I currently work full time as a bike mechanic and know that none of the electrical components that come on online ebikes are things that bike shops can get for you.
Rad Power Bikes does have local “Repair Ambassadors” that they use to help, but they charge $90 an hour to work on your ebike. FYI
You can’t just bring it in somewhere and have it fixed 🙁 This leads us to our next Con…
Most Local Bike Shops Will Not Work On It
Due to not being able to get the parts, most shops just won’t take your online ebike in for service. It’s nothing personal, there’s just no point trying to service a bike you can the parts for.
I would highly advise you to ask around and see if there is a local shop that is willing to help you out before you buy an electric bike online.
You will still need to contact whoever it is you bought the ebike from and have them ship you new parts, then take all of it into your local shop and hope for the best.
If you are mechanically inclined and like to work on your own stuff then completely ignore this 🙂
Customer Service Can be a Pain
Customer service in the bike industry is usually where you put somebody for time out. I would not wish to work in the warranty department if at all possible.
Most people in the customer service department will be very nice, but things get miss-shipped, orders get forgotten and sometimes they run out of parts and you have to wait forever to get your bike fixed.
It is very nice to be able to bring your ebike into where you bought it and have them fix it right away. Dealing with customer service online is never a fun adventure, but it is an adventure.
Cheap Online Ebikes are Heavy
Check the fine print on the website. The ebike you are buying may just weigh 75lbs! If you will have to be lifting your new ebike in and out of the back of a pick-up or trying to find a hitch rack that can support the weight, it’s good to know what you are getting into.
Most ebike batteries can be removed and they can weigh up to 9 lbs, so this can help a little. But online ebikes are heavy and there’s no getting around it.
If this new ebike brick needs to be hauled up and down a flight of stairs to your apartment, make sure it is something you will be able to handle.
They May Not Last You Very Long
Cheaper electric bikes, built with cheaper components, simply will not last as long as quality ones will.
If you are planning to start putting on some serious mile on your new ebike or even use it to replace a car, you may want one that will last you a while.
Paying a little more upfront for an ebike that will not need to be replaced in a couple of years will save you a lot of money in the long run.
Cheaper ebikes that are available online have batteries that are rated for about 500 full charges, whereas a Bosch-powered ebike that you would find at your local bike shop will last at least 1000 full charges!
If you are just going to be casually getting out and not racking up the miles then you should be fine for a while.
You Won’t be Able to Test Ride It First
There is just no way to climb into your computer and test ride the picture of the bike first. Taking a new bike out for a test ride is the best way to determine if you are going to like it or not.
When you buy an ebike online, you will just have to hope you like it. Some online retailers do have a return policy but may charge you a fee and shipping costs. You want to know this first.
If you know someone that already has the ebike you are wanting to buy, then maybe they will let you test ride theirs. This is a great way to ride the bike first and find out if you like it.
One good thing about the limited supply of bikes right now is that you can buy with confidence. What I mean by this is that if you don’t like the ebike that you get, you should be able to resell it pretty easily without losing too much money in the process.
At the End of the Day
Buying an electric bike online has become a very popular way to get a new ebike. As a bike mechanic myself I would always recommend you at least try out some of your local shops first and see if they have anything that suits you.
The peace of mind that comes with knowing you have someone you can trust that can help you out if things break is priceless.
You will also be supporting your local community and getting a better ebike.
If you have to buy an electric bike online, just make sure you know what you are getting into and what you should expect.
As always, stay safe out there and keep riding!