How Much Do Electric Bikes Weigh?

If not everyone, then most people know how electric bikes allow people to travel quickly and more efficiently on different terrains than traditional bikes. Compared to traditional bikes, electric bikes allow people to travel faster and longer distances without exerting much effort because of the motors and batteries installed.

Aside from the price, one thing that distinguishes an ordinary bike from e bikes is its weight. The addition of batteries, small electric motor, and other electronic components contributes to the weight of an electric bike.

Electric bike’s typical weights can range between 40 and 70 pounds. However, this all depends on the material of the bike and its design, which means a heavier electric bike weighs up to 100 pounds or more.

In this article, we will tackle how much do electric bikes weigh, factors that affect an e bike’s weight, the different types of e bikes and their weights, and many more.

Let’s get right into it.

How much do electric bikes weigh?

Many factors, directly and indirectly, affect an electric bike’s weight. Regular bikes weigh just about 30 and up to 35 pounds, whereas the average weights of e bikes can go from 40 to 70 pounds.

Different e bike types on the ebike market and the different materials used for their components make this value vary a lot. Smaller e bikes with lighter frame materials can weigh 30-40 pounds, while bigger bikes weigh 70 pounds up to 100 pounds.

Factors affecting an electric bike’s weight

Unlike ordinary bikes, e bikes are installed with an electric motor, batteries, and other miscellaneous electronic components, which results in a heavier bike. Here are the factors that affect the overall weight of e bikes.

Most electric bikes are installed with a controller (see here how to connect an ebike controller), and this small component adds just 1 pound to the bike’s overall weight. To allow you to travel at a higher speed, e bikes are also installed with a small electric motor that can weigh from 10-15 pounds depending on the materials and the different electric motor sizes.

To power this, e bikes also have a battery which contributes much weight to the bike. E bike batteries can range between 10-20 pounds, depending on their specifications. Larger batteries with a higher voltage and capacity will allow you to travel long distances but will come at the cost of their heavier weight.

In addition, the wheels also contribute to how much ebikes weigh. Fat tire bikes will weigh considerably more than bikes with very thin wheels.

Also, a bike’s frame will contribute a lot to the actual weight of your e bike. Steel frames are the heaviest, while carbon fiber is the lightest but the most expensive; this is why most riders choose aluminum for their e bikes as they are lightweight but relatively affordable. If you are still unsure which frame material is for you, you can check our guide about ebike frame material.

Lastly, the additional miscellaneous electronic components of your e bikes, such as the displays, handlebars, wirings, and pedal sensors on pedal assist bikes, can add up to 5 pounds to the bike weight.

Adding all the components up results in the average weight of e bikes ranging from 40- 70 pounds.

Typical electric bikes weight of different types of e-bikes

The components inside your e bikes are not the only ones directly affecting their total weight. There are different e bike types and will vary heavily regarding their weights. Here are the different e bike types and their average weight.

Folding electric bikes

Folding electric bikes are e bikes that were manufactured with portability in mind. These folding e bikes can be stored easily and are more convenient to carry when you are constantly moving around as they can be stored at the back of your car.

Folding bikes can travel from 20-25 miles per hour, and their sleek designs make them the best choice for commuters who can’t fit a full-sized bike in their office, as they can even be stored under your desks.

Mini folding bikes weigh anywhere between 30-40 pounds. Folding electric mountain bikes weigh between 40- 70 pounds, and folding fat tire bikes weigh around 50 pounds.

Commuting electric bikes

Also known as hybrid electric bikes, commuting electric bikes are an excellent choice for people who commute long distances. Commuting electric bikes are known as hybrid electric bikes because of their blended design with the handlebars of mountain bikes and the wheels of a road bike.

This blended design allows you to travel comfortably on paved surfaces. However, their bigger frame design makes them weigh more than a folding e bike. Commuting electric bikes weigh anywhere between 50-70 pounds.

Racing electric bikes

Racing electric bikes have less weight when compared to the other two bike types listed above. Racing electric bikes are built with a lean frame, thin wheels, and forward curved handlebars that allow you to travel as fast as you can.

These bikes are also made with lighter frame materials such as carbon which means they are one of the more lightweight type bikes but are also one of the most expensive.

Racing electric bikes weigh around 40 pounds.

Cruiser electric bikes/ cruising e bike

Cruiser electric bikes are made with leisure in mind. Cruiser electric bikes are designed to allow the rider to be upright while riding; they have big soft seats and wide handlebars that will ensure a comfortable ride compared to other bike types.

Cruiser e bikes are heavier than other bike weights as they weigh around 70 pounds.

Electric mountain bikes

Electric mountain bikes are specifically made to be ridden on off road terrain. They are made with a sturdier and better suspension system that will allow them to quickly and safely cover off-road terrains.

Like mountain bikes, an electric mountain bike has bigger wheels and motors that add extra weight to the bike to allow you to climb uphill without exerting too much effort. An electric mountain bike weighs between 40- 70 pounds.

Depending on their suspension system, there are different types of electric mountain bikes.

Rigid e-mtb’s

Rigid e-mtb’s is a mountain electric bike with no suspension. Though they are not comfortable to use on off road terrain, they are lightweight and easy to carry around.

Hard tail e-mtb’s

Hard tail e-mtb’s are electric bikes that have their suspension only at the bike’s front end, hence the name hardtail. These bikes allow the rider to steer the bike better and significantly reduce upper limb fatigue.

Full suspension e-mtb’s

Full suspension e-mtbs are the best type of mountain bike if you plan on going to off-road terrain as they have suspension systems both at the front and back, ensuring a comfortable and pleasurable ride experience.

Fat tire electric bikes

Fat tire electric bikes are exactly what their name suggests. Fat tire e-bikes are meant to be ridden on terrains like snow and sand, wherein their biggest surface area won’t bog the bike down. Fat tire e-bikes have much wider tires and a robust bike frame design, which adds to the e bike’s weight.

These e bikes weigh anywhere between 50- 70 pounds and even more.

Comfort electric bikes

Comfort electric bicycles are similar to cruiser bikes as they are also made for comfort. However, comfort electric bikes have handlebars extending backward instead of forward curved handlebars, and most have a step through frame.

These e-bikes weigh around 50-70 pounds.

Is lighter or heavier better?

This all depends on what activity you will be doing on your electric bike. While electric bikes range heavily on their weights, they are classified on their purposes. A lighter bike weight will allow you to travel faster and weave through traffic more conveniently.

While a heavier bike that has larger batteries and bigger motors will allow you to travel longer distances without constantly stopping to charge them.

The bike weight should not be the one that determines what e bike you will purchase.

Advantages of a heavy electric bikes weight

A heavier bike weight means that you will have a bulkier bike frame, a bigger motor, and batteries; this means that you will be far safer when you get into an accident than ordinary bikes and small-design e bikes.

In addition, you will be able to travel longer distances without needing to recharge constantly.

Advantages of a lighter electric bike weight

A lighter bike weight means you can carry them around easily like a folding e bike. In addition to this, you will have better handling and movability because of their sleek design. Lastly, you are also able to travel at faster speeds.

Will the extra weight be a problem?

Heavy bikes will surely be a problem for some with existing medical conditions that prevent them from exerting much effort when biking. If you are planning to use your bike to commute long distances, then it’s a better choice to purchase an e bike that weighs less so that you don’t appear to your workplace sweating and exhausted.

In addition, if you haven’t ridden traditional bikes in the past, it’s better to first practice on bikes with less weight as they are easier to maneuver and carry around.

What is the best e-bike type?

There is no definitive answer as to which e-bike type is best. The different e-bikes are made for various purposes, so choosing the best e-bike type will depend heavily on what you are planning to do with your bike.

If you plan to use an e-bike to commute, then the commuting and folding bikes might be for you. But if you plan to use your e-bike to go to rough terrain, then the mountain and fat-tire bikes might be more your speed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are electric bikes heavier than regular bikes?

Yes, this is primarily due to the additional weight added by the motors, batteries, wheels, and many more electronic components inside the electric bikes.

How to reduce an electric bike’s weight?

To reduce the weight of your e-bike, you can try to remove some additional accessories installed on your bike. In addition, you can also clean your e-bike constantly as mud and water can significantly increase the weight of your bike.

Lastly, you can also replace your current wheels with thinner tires to make your bike weigh less.

Conclusion

Electric bikes are indeed a significant improvement over standard bikes. So if you are looking for electric bikes, pay attention to their weights as this can help you choose whether to opt for a bike with better control or one that allows you to go longer distances.

We hope this informative article has helped you become more knowledgeable on how much do electric bikes weigh.