Thanks to electric bikes, people now have the opportunity to get to work in comfort and without harming the environment. The eco-friendly solutions are ideal for short-distance rides. Thanks to their clever design, they can be loaded into vehicles. But because the weight of electric bikes is quite heavy, transporting them from point A to point B often scares their owners. In this article, you will learn all the nuances of transporting a heavy e-bike and being able to transport your e-bike over any distance.
What to consider when transporting electric bikes
Modern manufacturers offer a huge variety of models of electric bikes. Each bicycle requires a different approach to transportation. Let’s talk about the factors that directly affect the comfort of moving an e-bike.
Electric bike configuration and frame
Electric bikes come in a variety of shapes and frames. There are variants with a longer frame and others with a shorter frame. In addition, distinguish between e-bikes that have a more brutal look, while others are characterized by elegance.
The owner of an oversized electric bicycle will find it difficult to move it in a regular passenger car. If you are among them, you should think about another way to move your e-bike.
Particular attention should be paid to electric bike batteries. This is because they are seriously susceptible to the negative effects of environmental factors. Because of this, there is a risk of damage to the battery when transporting your e-bike on the rack.
Weight of an electric bike
The most important factor that directly affects the mobility of your electric bike is its weight. Compared to a regular bike, an electric bicycle is quite heavy.
Because this transport has different models with various designs, their weight is also different. The material from which the electric bike is made affects the overall weight of the transport. So, e-bikes with a steel frame will be the heaviest, while carbon fiber e-bikes will be much lighter.
To get your lightweight e-bike to the right place, you can use the trunk rack of your car. For larger models, you’ll need other, larger vehicles with sturdier bike racks.
How to transport an e-bike
The market for e-bikes has different transportation solutions that allow you to transport your e-bike without damage or injury to the cyclist. Let’s take a closer look at how you can transport your electric bicycle.
With a passenger car
There are several important factors to take into account when moving an electric bike with a passenger car. These include the bike’s weight, the car’s features, transporting vehicle’s type, and the electric bicycle tire width. With your car’s compatibility in mind, you can choose from three types of luggage bike racks:
1. Hitch racks
Often recommended as the safest way to transport bicycles, a hitch rack can be mounted to the receiver hitch of your passenger car. Hitch racks attach to receivers of varying widths, but the most sensible solution is to select two-inch fasteners, as they are much more secure in terms of safety.
In addition, the hitch rack compartment often comes with a ramp so that you can attach your e-bike without any problems. If you need to transport more than one bike, check the transport’s weight to ensure the trip’s safety.
2. Car roof racks
Another common way to move electric bikes is to use the luggage compartment on the car’s roof rack. However, this is a very questionable way and not recommended by me. To use the small car’s roof rack in practice, you need to lift the e-bike onto the car’s roof rack. The electric bike is much easier to mount on the trunk rack. You must be sure that the roof rack can withstand the transportation of a heavy e-bike. Unfortunately, the painful experience of many cyclists shows that the roof rack can not withstand the heavy weight of the transport. So do not risk the life and health of those around you.
3. Trunk racks
A trunk rack is another popular way to transport electric bikes. It is a hinged type carrier that is fixed to the trunk rack or rear window of the car. This method of transportation is quite popular and affordable, but not the most durable. It is not reliable, because it can not withstand the heavy weight of the electric bike, which can affect the safety of people.
The rear of the car
Most vehicles have enough room in the back to store e-bikes. You can remove the front wheel of your bicycle, then place it in the back of the car, protect it with a sturdy blanket, and place the removed wheel on top.
Transporting with a van
If you are the lucky owner of a van or have someone who can help with that, then I can congratulate you on not having to worry about how to transport your e-bike. Remove the seats in the back of the car or make room in the truck’s trunk. Just load your bicycle into the back of the car with the front wheel forward, wrapped in thick plaid. Use special cables to secure your e-bike in the van.
If you need to transport multiple e-bikes at once, you can purchase a truck bed for your pickup. This allows you to transport multiple ebikes from point A to point B.
Transporting a bicycle by train
If you need to transport your e-bike far away, you can use the train. To do so, buy another ticket in addition to yours and take advantage of this opportunity. Also note that there are weight restrictions, so it’s a good idea to find this out in advance.
Transportation by airplane
Traveling with an electric bike is not a very wise decision. This is because electric bikes use batteries that are not allowed to fly according to the rules of safe flight. The fact is that the battery capacity is much higher than what you can take with you.
However, if you need to transport your e-bike over a long distance and it can only be done this way, take some batteries with you and assemble the e-bike when you get there. Alternatively, you can rent a battery for your e-bike later or send it separately.
But keep in mind that these methods are expensive and require a lot of effort on your part. The easiest solution, if you are going on a trip, is to rent an electric bike whilst on the vacation.
If you often go on travels or use your bike for sports, then a folding bike is the best option. The folding ebike is easy to transport and does not require much space.
Find out more about how to choose an electric folding bike.
Another good way to get your e-bike to your desired location is to send your e-bike by courier. It is convenient for those who move far away to change their residence.
To date, many logistics companies can provide this service. It’s very simple, you pack your electric bike as a parcel and send it to the right address. In this case, you just pay for the courier services and completely save yourself the hassle.
Useful tips for transporting electric bikes
A mounting rack is a very convenient and modern way to transport your bicycle, but you need to consider a few things to make your ride even more comfortable. Here are some top tips and useful recommendations that will make transporting your e-bike easy and enjoyable.
Make sure it’s sturdy
You can’t just throw your bike in the trunk rack of your pickup and go. Lack of fixation by special cables will lead to the fact that on sharp turns your bike will hit the car’s body. This in turn can damage both the e-bike and the truck.
The trunk racks are a great solution for those who don’t transport their bikes very often but still need to.
Removing the battery
Many cyclists disagree on whether or not to transport the battery separately from the bike. I think it’s a great solution.
Your bike is exposed to a lot of impacts during transport. The battery may be designed for minimal impact, but agree that exposing the battery to this kind of aggressive impact is not wise at all.
The battery is easily removable, and storing it in your car will save you a lot of trouble. This tip hack will not only make your ebike lighter but also provide protection from adverse weather conditions.
While there are opinions against removing the battery, I advise you to research the issue thoroughly so you can make the right decision for yourself.
Removing the Front Wheel
One of the best methods is to reduce the weight of the electric bike. Disconnecting the front wheel is the best tip of the road that you can apply when transporting your bike. Let me make you happy – disconnecting the front wheel is a fairly easy thing to do. All you need for this is just two wrenches which you can use to unscrew the axle nut.
Protect your electric bike
Given the amount of money you have invested in your electric bike, you will want to protect it.
To do this, always cover your electric bike before transporting it. Use a special protective case or bag to protect your bike from external influences.
Buy a rack to transport your electric bike
If you do not have room in your car to transport your electric bike because it is occupied by a lot of stuff, you can buy a rack to transport your bike. In addition, you will also have to buy a rack rated for the weight of your electric bike.
Do not obstruct the rear window with your bicycle
Move your bicycle so that it does not block your rear window. Otherwise, it could be life-threatening.
Conclusions
It’s far from a secret that electric bikes are now hugely popular because their eco-friendly operation gives cyclists a safe and comfortable ride.
There are several ways in which you can transport electric bikes. It all depends on your capabilities, wishes, and the distance to which you need to deliver your bike.
Rack manufacturers have a lot to offer cyclists. From the variety of options, everyone can choose the best solution for themselves, which is suitable for transporting your electric bike in the city, country, and even abroad.
Use couriers, use a pickup truck or car for transportation, or fly your electric bike – choose the option that suits you best. Follow the recommendations given in this article for transporting your electric bike easily and without unnecessary problems.
FAQ
Can you lay an electric bike on its side?
To properly transport your bike, fold it on its left side and keep the left handlebar in the top position for better hold. When folding the handlebar, put something between it and the front fork to avoid friction.
How do you carry a heavy electric bike?
Owners of a pickup truck, van, or car can transport their electric bike in the back of their vehicle.
Transporting the e-bike inside the interior of the vehicle will keep the electric bike safe and clean.
Removing the front wheel and battery before placing the bicycle inside the cabin ensures a better fit and makes it easier to lift the car.
Protect your bike with a plaid or blanket to prevent damage.
Make sure the rack is rated for the weight of your electric bike and can accommodate the size of the tire.
When your bike is mounted, be sure to secure it well with the strap-on rack.
How much weight can eBikes carry?
The bike’s weight is a crucial factor in determining the electric bike’s transportability.
There are specific weight limits that must be adhered to. Typically, the weight limit ranges from 220-300 pounds. But there are models supplied for cargo transportation that is designed for even more weight – up to 550 feet.
Do you need a special bike rack for eBikes?
Most bike car racks are not strong enough. Most cars have roof racks or a special place at the back for transporting bicycles. If you decide, for example, to use a roof rack, you need to be sure that it can support the weight of your electric bike.
An excellent solution for a heavy bike would be a hitch mount rack.
Which bike rack is best for eBikes?
Recent advances in mounting racks have made transporting bikes safe and easy. Ideal for transporting electric bicycles are hitch racks, which are mounted on a special platform.
With such a rack, you can transport your bicycle effortlessly. In addition, such mounting racks are able to withstand the high weight of several electric bikes.