Five Reasons To Buy An E-Bike: Late 2021 - Forbes

E-bikes are one of the hottest new tech categories, combining fitness with electric transportation.

I recently tested an e-bike for the first time — the MOSH/CTY from Serial 1, a spinoff from Harley-Davidson.

Here are five reasons I would recommend an e-bike:

(1) A workout or a ride:

The key selling point for an electric bike is that it allows you to switch instantly between an aerobic workout and a motor-powered ride. Or think of it as switching seamlessly between a bicycle and an electric motorcycle (albeit with pedals).

(2) A stand-in for your car:

While an electric bike is hardly a complete replacement for your car, it will provide you with plenty of reasons to drive it a lot less. Local trips to the grocery store — or any local store — with a backpack or a couple of pannier bags makes an e-bike viable as a car replacement. And a local job commute on an e-bike can be a refreshing break from a car. The beauty is, e-bikes can switch instantly to full-electric-assist* or high-electric-assist modes turning it into, in essence, an electric motorcycle.

(3) It’s electric:

E-bikes fall into the EV (electric vehicle) category so you’re part of a bigger trend toward EVs. That translates to no harmful greenhouse gasses (from the e-bike itself) and no trips to the gas station. Any electric vehicle also has quick acceleration (which I can attest to after testing the MOSH/CTY).

(4) Adventure:

When I tested the Serial 1 e-bike, I found myself going to places that I wouldn’t go by foot or car. For example, far above my home are foothills but the distance to access the foothills on foot is prohibitive and the hills are inaccessible by car. But it was easy (using high-electric-assist mode) to get into the foothills on the Serial 1. I found myself going into the upper foothills every day. This is something I would not have done without the e-bike.

(5) Price:

If you think of an e-bike as an EV, it’s not expensive. Think of it as cheaper, slower version of an electric motorcycle. Serial 1 prices range from $3,799 to $5,799. And I would argue for some people it could replace a second car.

——

Notes:

*There are roughly two types of e-bikes: One is pedal assist. That means you have to pedal to propel the bike forward but you get an assist from the electric motor. The other type comes with throttle mode, which is similar to a motorcycle or scooter, i.e., when you engage the throttle the bike propels itself without pedaling.

Adblock test (Why?)

Five Reasons To Buy An E-Bike: Late 2021 - Forbes
Read More