Ebikes 101: What Makes It Electric?

Ebikes are a touchy subject in the cycling world. I remember working at a bike shop with a sign on the door that said “No ebikes. No Burning Man Bikes”. The second we caught wind of a hub motor, that person was turned around faster than that bike could boot up. The notoriously heavy and poorly-wired contraptions that came through the shop were a far cry from the machines I ride and work on today, but the stigma against ebikes and "ebikers" still permeates the biking community.

A lot of my friends who aren’t involved in biking or are avid acoustic (common vernacular for non-electric or traditional bikes) cyclists often ask me why I ride a ebike so frequently. Past my usual answer of “because I work for a company that makes cool electric bikes” I think there’s a lot of merit to using an electric bike. Besides saving money on gas and reducing my carbon footprint, it’s good for my health, gets me outside, and can be faster and more convenient than trying to navigate the traffic in my Los Angeles neighborhood.

When they ask why I don’t ride the acoustic, I respond that I do. I'm still plenty involved in local XC mountain bike races and steel bike basket rides. But there are times where it’s either impractical or more convenient for me not to be drenched in sweat or wiped out by the time I get back home from whatever errand I needed to run. Whether it’s a grocery store run in the SoCal September (which is the hottest month of the year for some reason), keeping my legs fresh for a grueling pickleball session, or for the sake of lapping more trails on my local mountain, electric bikes have made a hugely positive impact on my life and how I get to be outside.

I’ll be the first to admit that it took me a while to get over my ebike bias. But I knew, even before I started working at Aventon, that ebikes would be important to the future of the bike industry and how people move, live, and ride in the future. Electric bikes are about more butts on bikes and creating an accessible avenue for people to get out and ride.

It's intimidating to take a leap into the world of ebikes, so here are a few things that I think are important to know while diving into the wonderful world of electric bikes!

While the answer may seem obvious, the definition of an “electric bike” spans pretty wide. From electric mini-bikes and Surrons to the Pace 4 and Abound SR, an electric bike is pretty much anything with an electric motor on a bicycle (or tricycle). There are, however, typically four categories (or classes) of electric bike, which are important to know when diving into the electric bike discussion:

These are usually the most acoustic-bike-like (acoustic meaning traditional, motorless bikes). A Class 1 ebike is without a throttle and will only have pedal assist to 20mph. These are typically electric mountain bikes as most trail systems will prohibit any higher class of electric bike.

Class 2 bikes are also limited to 20mph, but include a throttle. The throttle assist will always be limited to 20mph. These bikes will typically be able to be “unlocked” to Class 3, but some jurisdictions will only allow a max pedal assist speed of 20mph.

A Class 3 ebike has a throttle, limited to 20mph, and a max pedal assist speed of 28mph. Class 3 ebikes are usually higher-powered (typically a 750W motor). It’s important to note that any ebike with a top pedal assist speed of over 20mph is considered to be Class 3.

An electric motorcycle is a bike with a throttle that surpasses 20mph, pedal assist that goes faster than 28mph, or a motor with a nominal power higher than 750W. A lot of e-moto or e-dirtbike platforms are considered to be electric motorcycles, even though they may be called “ebike”.

Electric bikes are powered by two different types of motors: hub-drive and mid-drive. The hub-drive motor lives in the hub of the rear wheel, the part that all the spokes attach to, and powers the bike by directly exerting force on the rear axle. Hub motors are usually at a lower price point and can be trickier to work on. The benefits are that they’re usually lower maintenance overall, simpler, and more cost effective. Hub-drive motors don’t recognize gearing, since they exert force directly onto the wheel, and typically have a higher nominal power output (500W-750W is common).

Mid-drive motors, on the other hand, are typically a more premium motor option. Because they exert force on the chain, mid-drive motors recognize the gear you’re riding in and use that mechanical advantage to provide a more powerful and adaptable ride using less energy. Because of this, mid-drive motors typically boast a smaller nominal power (ie. 250W) but more torque, expressed in Newton-Meters (Nm).

If there’s a bike, there’s probably an electric version of it. That holds true for a majority of frame styles. From electric drop-bar road and gravel bikes to full suspension enduro and downhill mountain bikes, all the way to electric beach cruisers, the electric bike motor permeates the ecology of bicycles. Aventon’s range of ebike offerings include the following:

These bikes are meant to navigate the concrete jungle. Combining sleek lines with progressive geometry for urban agility, Level and Soltera are built for the grab-and-go when the bike lane is faster than the carpool lane.

Built to get outside, the Pace is our line of cruisers. The Pace is meant for sunsets on the bike path and getting around town in comfort and style.

Pace 4 Cruiser Bike

For all-terrain adventures, choose the Aventure or Sinch! Aventure features 4” fat tires to conquer the all-terrain, while the Sinch folding ebike is perfect for any RV outing. Explore further with our line of off-road adventure bikes!

Ditch the minivan for a cargo bike. From kids to cargo, Abound LR and SR come in multiple sizes to fit any need. The Abound Cargo Bike line is your solution for getting around town when a backpack doesn’t cut it.

Trail Tested and Road Ready, our mid-drive eMTB Ramblas is built to slice through singletrack and handle rough commutes. Where the commute ends, the fun starts.

2024 saw Aventon’s introduction of Smart Bike technology though the inclusion of the Aventon Control Unit or ACU. This piece of tech gives our bike both GPS and 4G capabilities, enabling a wide scope of security features and upgradability. Working in tandem with our app, the ACU keeps your ebike current with Over-The-Air Updates delivering new features even after your bike has left the shop.

We know that a bike is an investment. Our ACU tech keeps your bike safe and up to date, meaning that you can ride it longer and happier with peace of mind.

As you set off on your ebike journey, know that this is not a comprehensive guide to biking as a whole. Learning more about bikes and the biking world is a great adventure, and as ebike tech continues to evolve, I'll be sure to update this as well.

Feel free to leave your comments below and let me know if there's anything else you'd want me to write about.

Best wishes on your next adventure,

Zach from Aventon