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A Guide To Hybrid eBikes

If you already know what a hybrid bike is, you’ll surely understand why hybrid ebikes don’t have a too much different design than the former. In a nutshell, a hybrid ebikes is nothing but a regular hybrid bike with a battery and a motor. Nevertheless, hybrid ebikes are rather complex, and therefore not that easy to define.

The term “hybrid” encompasses a wide array of ebike categories. For instance, a hybrid bike could easily be considered as a leisure bike, even though it normally features eMTB-style handlebars and road bike tires (when it comes to ebikes, performance trumps comfort). Despite this, most people use a hybrid ebike like that for cross-city tours and urban riding.

Furthermore, all major manufacturers release their own versions of hybrid ebikes, thus contributing to the overwhelming variety of choices available today. Some brands create hybrid ebikes that share the main features and the profile of mountain bikes, while others stick to the urban-like design and functionality. As hybrid ebikes are already a mix of multiple ebike types, they provide a wealth of opportunities to end-users.

How could we best define a hybrid ebikes ? The main point of difference is that a hybrid ebike gathers together the best benefits from multiple ebike types. We can safely say that hybrid ebikes are the ultimate choice when it comes to true flexibility and versatility.

Main Hybrid EBike Types

empty concrete road covered surrounded by tall tress with sun rays

In order to understand how hybrid ebikes have come to include so many different features, we should take a closer look at the main types of hybrid ebikes we can find on the market.

Easy E-Biking – electric biking can be both practical and fun

Hybrid EBikes For Urban Riding 

This is probably the first type experienced ebike riders would think of when confronted with the “hybrid ebike” term. These hybrids offer features originating from commuter ebikes and city ebikes and they are fairly comfortable. This increased level of comfort comes from the use of thinner handlebars and smoother tires.

Many of these hybrid ebike models are fast enough to suit commuters, as well as city bike cruisers. If you’re seeking for a vehicle that’s not pure city or commuter and you like the look and feel of hybrid ebikes, this might be your ideal type of ebike.

Off-Road Hybrid eBikes

This category includes all hybrid ebikes that can tackle dirt roads, mountain paths and other similar terrain styles. Such vehicles could be hybrid ebikes that suit light trekking purposes or road/eMTB hybrids. Briefly, this type of hybrid ebike can handle any road that’s not an asphalt road or city lane. They can handle park lanes, towpaths and even dirt roads.

Keep in mind that many of these off-road hybrid ebikes are also suitable for urban use (just like eMBTs, they perform well on asphalt roads, as well). In addition, they are extremely durable. While that’s great news, it also comes with a relatively high price tag than urban types.

Recreational Hybrid EBikes

Recreational hybrid ebikes are those models that best suit shorter leisure trips such as riding around your city, town or village, or going to the shops or malls near you. Nevertheless, they can offer the same seamless versatility as some off-road hybrid ebikes, thanks to the rugged parts they incorporate.

Are you a fan of camping or outdoor trips to nearby lakes, natural parks or forests? If so, you may want to take a closer look at recreational hybrid ebikes, as they may be exactly what you need.

Advantages Of Hybrid eBikes

Hybrid EBikes Are Among The Most Versatile Vehicles Available

We agree that “versatility” is a rather broad concept. However, when we discuss the versatility of hybrid ebikes, we actually consider their ability to score performance we usually find in two or even more types of regular ebikes.

These hybrid ebikes allow you to enjoy comfy rides through rough terrain, dirt roads or hills, while also being able to provide you with a smooth ride on paved roads and city lanes. These vehicle are the perfect combination between a commuter ebike and city ebike with a hybrid vehicle.

One of the main features that make hybrid ebikes this versatile is the use of all-terrain tires. Thanks to these tires, you can enjoy the best of both worlds, off-road riding and city leisure rides.

Hybrid EBikes Can Accommodate All Riders

Hybrid e-ikes can perfectly accommodate any rider, regardless of age, gender or walk of life. Briefly put, they fit everyone who can ride a standard ebike.

If you can’t make up your mind in regard to the best e-bike type for you, consider going the safest route, which is to buy a hybrid ebike. You’ll be glad you’ve done it. Check out our guide on ebike safety for newbies here.

They Cater To Specific Needs Standard EBikes Can’t

Many people choose hybrid ebikes to make up for specific features they can’t find in regular ebikes. They aren’t entirely wrong, as we are going to see in a moment. The secret is in the design of hybrids.

Should you prefer more comfort, you can choose curved handlebars, for instance. This means you’re more prone to choosing a commuter ebike style. In addition, you can get even other benefits by picking other specific features such as thicker tires. You can customize your vehicle to suit your specific needs and preferences.

They Are Extremely Cost-Effective

This benefit applies to those who fit perfectly with a certain hybrid ebike design or setup. More often than not, you shop around for an ebike with a specific purpose in mind, be it commuting, leisure rides or off-road adventures. This is why, more often than not, riders and up purchasing two or even more e-ikes to cater to their various types of experiences or specific purposes.

If you don’t want to limit yourself to one single type of ebike, you’ll probably seek to buy more of them. However, this approach requires a higher budget, as ebikes don’t come cheap. Hybrid ebikes could be the best solution for you, as they can offer a wide array of setups and designs belonging to the main ebike categories available. 

How To Choose The Best Hybrid eBike

Now that you know how choosing a hybrid ebike can bring you one step closer to fulfilling your needs, let’s see what are some of the most important factors to consider when selecting your vehicle. In other words, are you 100% sure that a hybrid ebike is the right type of vehicle for you?

Numerous ebike experts and fans consider hybrid ebikes to be a kind of “factotum” because of their versatile design. Nevertheless, this desire to offer such amazing flexibility comes with the downside of not being able to compete against the top ebike models in the aforementioned categories.

You only need to think about the fact that hybrid ebikes can’t withstand the direct comparison to “pure” eMTBs. If off-road adventures are all that you want, you’d probably be better off with one of the top ebike models in this category. This applies to road ebikes, as well; more often than not they will be faster than most hybrid ebikes. If you want to be happy with your choice, you need to understand that you can’t have everything.

With this in mind, we can safely say that hybrids are the best pick for users who want to ride their bike on a wide variety of terrain types. If you use to ride across your town or city, but also to various places nearby, a hybrid is probably your best option. Similarly, commuters who also want to enjoy city riding will do best with a hybrid ebike.

After reading all these, do you still think hybrids are the ideal choice for you? If yes, keep reading to find out more about batteries, motors and other important features that have a direct influence on your buying decision.

Furthermore, start by focusing on the type of ride you want. Always check out the type of terrain each hybrid ebike model supports, as not all of them offer off-road riding. Also check the thickness of the tires, the type of suspension fork, and the safety features. If, for instance, your aim is to buy a city/commuter vehicle, you’ll want comfort above everything else. If your main focus is off-road riding, you’ll probably want to trade some of this comfort for safety and better abilities to tackle difficult trails.

Last but not least, check out the price of the different models. When it comes to hybrid ebikes, the price is in direct correlation with the quality of the battery, the motor, the materials used, as well as the warranties.

How To Know Which Battery Setup To Choose?

You can consider the battery as being the heart of your hybrid ebike. It has a direct influence on its range. Falling on the shorter side will surely make you unhappy, particularly if you count on the motor to drive you through your rides. Different hybrid ebikes cater to different riding needs and fulfill different purposes. This is why their riding ranges are different. Before making your purchase, you should carefully assess your required range.

Many models, particularly those featuring all-terrain capabilities, come with a second battery pack, allowing for a range extension. If a longer range is what you need, go for one of these models and never worry about your battery going flat when you least expect it.

In order to make a correct assessment, think about the distance you’re going to cover every time you’re going to ride your hybrid. Your riding style will also have an influence on this assessment. If you don’t mind pedaling, you may not need a lot of range. If, on the contrary, you’ll want to rely on the motor for the entire duration of your ride, ensure you choose a model that caters to your ideal range.

Commuter hybrids need less range, provided that you’re only traveling relatively short distances to and from work. When it comes about the charging time, it’s easy to understand that the shorter it is, the better. Nevertheless, a very powerful battery can render the charging time irrelevant.

Don’t Compromise On Speed

The motor and the tires are two of the factors that influence the speed of an ebike. While you may not have the chance to pick a custom engine, you can surely choose your tires to support your desired speed.

Thinner tires usually add to the speed of the ebike. This is why they work best for commuters who want to rely on a faster ride. Such tires also allow you to be less dependent of motor assists.

Of course, you’ll also need to pay attention to the weight. Heavier vehicles require more powerful motors. Fortunately, major manufacturers design their models with this in mind, so you can easily find hybrids that reach 20mph on average using nothing but their motor power.

When it comes to choosing the motor, mid-mounted ones are probably the best, as they provide the highest torque and the best vehicle performance. Both 500W and 750W ones are able to deliver top cruising speeds with barely any pedaling.

Take Advantage Of The Adaptability To A Wide Variety Of Terrains

Hybrids offer this amazing ability to adapt to various types of terrain. If you’re the kind of person who enjoys riding and who doesn’t mind spending countless hours taking rides, you’ll want to take full advantage of this dynamic compatibility with lots of terrain types. Keep in mind, though, that the type of surface you’ll be riding on for the most of your time should determine your choice.

If your intention is to ride on uneven terrain, you should start by narrowing down your options to those models that can handle off-road use well. The best thing about hybrid ebikes is that they do well on a wide variety of off-road terrains, from dirt roads to light gravel and even crushed stones.

Seek For Comfort All The Way

Hybrid ebikes are surely able to deliver this kind of comfort. Keep in mind, though, that commuter/city models are probably the most comfortable. You can easily see this in the positioning of the handlebars in such a way that the rider is always in an upright position (this is the most comfortable riding position).

Some manufacturers have gone as far as to provide comfort-focused features such as adjustable seat posts and custom saddle shapes. This is how they manage to come up with models that can successfully contend with top ebike cruisers on the market.

The way the vehicle reacts to the ground surface is another facet of comfort. If you know you’ll be riding off-road a lot, you’ll want to choose a hybrid with a front suspension fork that can absorb bumps that are inherent to gravel trails or rugged terrains.

If you want more traction control, so that you can steer and brake with ease, you’ll want to choose wider tires. As we are going to see in a moment, these features also contribute to your safety while riding.

Make Safety Your First And Foremost Priority

Safety should always come first, regardless of the type or trail or terrain nature. Always seek to narrow down your options to models that boost safety. Integrated lights and reflective paint accents are only two of the features that can add to your safety on the road. In some situations, they may even save your life.

Hybrid ebikes that prove to be flexible when it comes to safety are surely better than rigid ones. Even if you only intend to use your hybrid on battered roads, it’s always better to be prepared to put up with challenges that may occur while traversing high traffic areas or while riding at night.

Pay Attention To Your Budget

If you’ve gone this far with your reading, you probably know by now what kind of hybrid ebike you want. Also, you should know what to look for in such a vehicle. Your next challenge is to find this ideal hybrid model that delivers all of these features without digging a deep hole in your pocket.

On the other hand, seeking for the cheapest bike possible won’t do. Seeing that your hybrid is going to become your main bike, thanks to its versatility, it makes sense to spend a bit more money to get a better one. Carefully consider your options and make the most sensible choice.

Finally, how important the warranty is? It makes sense to pick a model that comes with a longer warranty, as that would give you the peace of mind that you won’t have to spend a lot of money way too soon to be worth the trouble. At the same time, a longer warranty is a sign that the brand has confidence in a specific model. Do yourself a favor and check out those warranties before making your final decision. Your effort will be well worth the pain.

Conclusion

Hybrid ebikes might not be able to compete with the top ebike models in different classes such as commuter/city ebikes, and eMTBs. They have their advantages, nobody can deny that. Nevertheless, it wouldn’t be fair to label hybrids as average and therefore overlook them completely.

Their seamless versatility is what makes hybrid ebikes stand out from the crowd. You’ll probably agree that once you find the ideal hybrid model for you, you’re going to find full satisfaction in your purchase. Riding a hybrid that caters to your specific needs and habits can make you realize that you’ve made the best choice, indeed.