Write us a Review
Skip to main content

Electric Bikes Guide

Bob's Bikes Has The Best Electric Bikes In Alabama

Electric bikes are the fastest growing category in the bicycle industry. People all over the country are discovering how much more they can do with a little boost from a pedal-powered motor. 

Our Top Electric Bike Categories

Road cyclists are enjoying riding longer loops, climbing with less difficulty, and riding at consistently faster speeds. Urban commuters can ride to work faster, more often, and without all the sweat. And mountain bikers can spend less effort grinding up the hills and more time shredding through more trail than ever. 

So check out our great styles of e-bikes from top brands that are redefining what's possible on two wheels. Explore the individual styles below or shop all electric bikes.

Electric Commuter Bikes

If you currently have dreams of ditching the car and riding your bike to work, or even if you already do, you've probably thought about how much better your commute would be on a bike that works as hard as you do. Electric commuter bikes make life on two wheels more fun than ever, and have proven to be an incredibly functional tool for urban transport and recreational riding.

Explore the best electric commuter bikes

Electric Mountain Bikes

Electric mountain bikes are powerful, capable, and surprisingly agile. Built from the ground up as bikes that can hang tough on the trail, the geometry has been slightly tweaked to accommodate the pedal-assist motor and battery so it handles just like the mtb in your garage. It's just a lot more fun.

Explore the best electric mountain bikes

Electric Road Bikes

Electric road bikes are helping riders everywhere discover new limits and possibilities by bike. If you still want to get in a great workout but want a little help up the hills, e-bikes are a great solution. Designed to keep the same light and nimble characteristics of regular road bikes, these e-bikes give you all the benefits you're used to with an added bonus of extra power when you want it.

Explore the best electric road bikes

Our Best Electric Bike Brands

Shop Specialized Electric Bikes

Specialized Electric Bikes

With great models in every category, Specialized electric bikes are perfect for commuting, trail riding, or road cycling.

Shop Giant Electric Bikes

Giant Electric Bikes

Giant also makes great electric bikes for mountain trails, city streets, and everything in between. Momentum and Liv ebikes are also made by Giant.

Shop Aventon bikes for sale

Aventon Electric Bikes

Aventon makes great electric hybrid bikes that are perfect for urban commuters and people who like to get out and explore.

Best Electric Commuter Bikes

Specialized Turbo Como

Best unisex electric commuter bike

Comfortable body position

Fenders keep your feet dry

Specialized Turbo Vado 

Best all purpose electric commuter bike

Excellent handling and performance

Upright and comfortable

Aventon Pace

Best ebike on a budget

No bulky battery attachment

All terrain tires

Best Electric Mountain Bikes

Specialized Turbo Levo

Best electric mountain bike for trail

Ultimate capability wherever you ride

Giant Trance X Advanced E+

Another great eMTB for trail riding

Flip chip geometry changes

Specialized Turbo Tero

Best electric hardtail mountain bike

Tons of trail capability without the elite price tag

Best Electric Road Bikes

Specialized Turbo Creo

Best electric road bike for long rides

Lightweight and fast

Ultra responsive handling

FAQs

Can I ride an e-bike in the rain?

Yes. Our electric bikes come waterproofed right from the factory. As long as you don't submerge the whole bike in a lake, you won't have a problem.

How fast can I go on an electric bike?

Most electric bikes have a top assisted speed of 18 to 22 mph. Above that speed, the electric shuts off.

How far can I go on one charge?

Electric bike range varies from 15 to 60 miles by model. How far you go on a single charge will also depend on your weight, the weight of your cargo, the terrain, and wind. How much you pedal and which power setting you use (if any) also affect range.

How much does it cost to operate an electric bike?

Based on the price of electric, it typically costs 6 to 14 cents a mile to charge and maintain. Compare that with a car at over 50 cents a mile.

Will a conventional bike keep me in better shape?

Yes — but only if you use it as much as the electric bike. Many e-bike users find that the electric's benefit on hills and into wind eliminates their fear of riding and gets them out on the bike when they otherwise might not ride. Some are more fit because they ride more often.

Electric Bike Facts & Tips

Electric bikes sound space-age yet they're simple in concept. These modern marvels are akin to your favorite two-wheelers and are equipped with battery-powered electric motors that help propel you, all or part of the time. E-bikes as they're often called, are popular because they're quiet, non-polluting, and can make cycling a lot more fun for a lot more people. Read on to learn more about electric bikes and how to choose the right one for you.

Electric bikes make riding easier

For example, they're ideal if you'd appreciate a little boost when climbing hills, fighting headwinds and riding for transportation or distance. Commuters find that the motor provides enough extra oomph to eliminate sweating.

In fact they typically generate from 100 to 700 watts, which is a lot (750 watts is about one horsepower, 350 watts is the average a pro cyclist can sustain for an hour). So, you arrive at work calm, cool and collected. Plus, the motor makes it easier to carry the extra weight of your work clothes and lunch, laptop, cellphone, etc.

Ebikes are incredibly versatile

Electric bikes are wonderful for other uses, too. They'll let you keep up so you can enjoy riding with a significantly fitter person. They'll let you travel further with a lot less effort so you can consider biking places you used to drive to. And, they make it possible to do things you might not be able to without motorized assistance, for example, pulling a trailer with the kids or groceries in it. Once you go electric you're sure to find that it makes your everyday life easier and more convenient.

You don't need a license or registration to ride an electric bike

Because electric bikes are classified as bicycles, no license, registration and insurance are required, saving you a bundle (and there are no gas costs and only cheap, basic maintenance needs). What's more, these zippy (top assisted speed is about 18 mph) bikes let you sneak around traffic jams, are a breeze to park and the most common battery type used, Lithium Ion, can be recharged in a few hours so the bike's always ready to roll. These advantages have prompted many city dwellers to buy battery bikes as a viable and hip transportation alternative to the automobile.

Ebikes are great for fitness and fun, too

Don't think that you won't get any exercise buzzing around on your assisted steed, either. You're repaid for pedaling with longer battery life (ingeniously, some models also use the energy produced by braking to recharge the battery). Plus, it feels great to pedal when it's so easy to, so most e-riders actually pedal a lot. Some even ride their green machines as much for fun and staying in shape as they do for basic transportation. It's nice knowing that you can head out to parts unknown unconcerned that you might tire out and not be able to pedal home. No worries. Just let the motor assist lend a helping hand!

Are the different types of electric bikes?

There are two basic categories of electric two-wheelers:

Pedal assist (also called pedelec) is an electric bicycle on which you must pedal in order to use the motor. It's just like a conventional bicycle except that there's a motor that senses that you're pedaling and kicks in to aid the pedaling effort. It feels like you have the best tailwind of your life on a permanent basis.

 Power on command is an e-bike equipped with a motor controlled by a throttle. On these electrics, you don't have to pedal to benefit from the motor. When you want power, just crank the throttle and away you go. You'll be able to accelerate in the middle of a corner thus increasing traction. Of course, the less you pedal, the sooner you run out of juice in the battery. So, it's best to help the motor by pedaling.

Besides the motors, electric bikes usually come equipped with comfortable seats and handlebars, flat-resistant tires, wide-range gearing and quick-release seats for easy adjustment. You'll find other nifty features on some models such as fenders, removable batteries, anti-theft alarms, sturdy kickstands and built in locks and lighting systems. It's also possible to add other accessories you like to your e-bike should you want a bell, mirror or rack.

If you already have a bicycle you like for getting around that you'd like to upgrade to electric power, you'll be happy to hear that there are also electric-bike kits available. We're happy to help you choose the best kit and set it up.

Which e-bike type is best?

 Both types of e-bikes work great and the best way to choose is to check some out. Keep in mind that they're essentially still basic bicycles, so the things you would consider when shopping for a standard bike apply when looking for an e-bike, too. For example, what kind of drivetrain do you want? If you ride long distances with hills, you'll probably want a bike with more gears than someone who sticks to flat pavement and shorter routes.

Likewise, how much braking power do you want? If you ride in wet, sloppy conditions you'll appreciate all-weather, low-maintenance disc brakes. If you prefer not to bike in bad weather, you'll be fine with standard rim brakes.

Other considerations to think about include whether you want suspension to smooth rides and enhance your comfort, how much carrying capacity you need, whether you want maximum flat-tire resistance and on-road/off-road capacity out of your wheels and tires or lightness and agility for easier pedaling.

And, there are other intriguing options. We already mentioned electric-motor kits to motorize almost any bike. There are also folding e-bikes that make storage and parking easier and even let you collapse the bike for tossing it in the trunk of a car should you need to catch a ride home. Another interesting product is an electric trailer that actually pushes you along, a setup that lets you simply remove the trailer anytime you want to ride your bike without power.

Electric bike motor matters

As you shop for your electric bike you'll also find a wealth of technical information on motors. How much power do you need? Does it matter where the motor is located? Here's some information to help you weigh the pros and cons.

Location
Motor location varies widely and goes a long way toward determining how your electric bike rides. The motor and battery are relatively heavy components on a light bicycle, so their weight affects steering, cornering, acceleration and aerodynamics. The motor's position relative to the drivetrain also affects what drivetrains can be used as well as their function. We've shown the placement and the pros and cons of common motor locations in the chart below.

Motor location pros and cons


ProsCons
Front motorBalances bicycle weight distribution between drivetrain and motor.Motor weight puts a strain on fork and head tube.
Compact motor form (in front hub).
Front wheel-drive traction.
Mid-bike motorPuts weight just where you want it.Often requires a non-standard frame. This may look odd or require hard-to-find components if you need to repair anything.
Any drivetrain possible (allows internally geared hubs).May reduce available bottle mounts.
Doesn't affect wheels, easier acceleration.
Rear motorAllows regenerative braking.Bicycle weight placement favors a sitting position. Standing and high-speed cornering trickier.
Stable mount.Not compatible with internally geared hubs.


Watts under the seat?

How much power do you need? Will a 250-watt motor be underpowered? Do you need 700 watts? It's important to realize that comparing watts is not necessarily comparing apples to apples. One manufacturer may list peak (maximum) wattage while another may list continuous (power consumption in a normal condition) wattage. More isn't always 100% better.

What's more, wattage isn't torque. Without getting too scientific, we can explain torque as the amount of twisting force that your wheel applies to accelerate — it's the amount of force that turns into acceleration. Wattage measures the amount of energy expended when velocity is held constant. This means that a bike with a lower wattage could provide more torque and thus feel faster and zippier than a bike with a slightly higher wattage (because the 20mph speed limit on electric power will eventually handicap the higher wattage motor). And neither consideration fully takes bike weight into account.

The takeaway is that you shouldn't value a high-wattage engine over all other factors. Come in, test ride a few bikes and talk to us about which bike is right for you.