The weight of an ebike should be a major consideration before you buy it. This is because the weight can impact the overall quality of the ride. As a rule, a lightweight ebike is better than a heavier one. A smaller weight means that the battery and motor can achieve greater acceleration and speed.
This doesn’t mean that you can discount heavier ebikes entirely. Heaver ebikes tend to be more stable and robust. But they’re not ideal for performance-oriented uses where every microsecond counts.
So How Much do Electric Bikes Weigh?
The average ebike will weigh anywhere from 40 to 80 pounds – or more. But there’s more nuance to this question. We have to discuss the various factors that affect overall weight. Let’s take a look at some of these factors.
Rider’s Body Weight
Before you buy an ebike, you should evaluate your body weight. Your weight is an important consideration that can affect how you ride the bike.
If you have a lower overall weight, you can get a heavier ebike. This is because it would lessen the strain on the motor unit and battery.
Of course, you could use a lighter ebike to improve your performance. Moreover, it will also stabilize the ride.
However, larger-sized individuals should look for a lightweight ebike. This is because the excess weight will increase the wear and tear on the moving parts. Too much weight could shorten the lifecycle of the ebike. Moreover, it will reduce your top speed and acceleration.
Weight of the Wheels
Most ebike enthusiasts are fond of customizing the wheels. They may add various accessories to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the wheels.
However, this could add to the overall weight of the ebike. It is worth noting that heavier wheels also provide more stability. It’s a trade-off in most cases.
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The Material of the eBike
Manufacturers can choose from a large selection of materials for their ebikes. They could use heavy-duty materials for greater durability. But doing so would also increase the overall weight of the bike.
Other manufacturers aim to keep the weight as low as possible. This often means using high-end metallurgical manufacturing methods that could increase the ebike’s price.
Let’s take a look at the most common materials used in making ebikes.
Carbon steel
The tensile strength of carbon steel is very high. Moreover, carbon steel is easy to produce and is very durable. It is the most commonly used material in making ebike frames. It also boasts more longevity compared to other materials. However, carbon steel is heavy and will increase the ebike’s overall weight.
Carbon fiber
Carbon fiber has a very high tensile strength but is not as comparable to steel. But it is about five times lighter than steel – making it ideal for ebikes. The tradeoff is that carbon fiber doesn’t last as long as carbon steel. It should not be used in heavy-duty applications to increase its lifecycle.
Aluminum
Aluminum is the defacto choice for making ebike frames. It is easy to find and hammer into shape. Aluminum is also very lightweight and is studied in textbooks for its properties. There is very little to complain about aluminum besides its durability. It is easy to dent the material and break it.
Titanium
Titanium is the solution to heavy-duty, lightweight applications in ebikes. It is lighter than steel but much stronger than the material. However, titanium is expensive and will drive up the price of your ebike.
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The Weight of the eBike Components
Motor
The major reason ebikes are so heavy is the motor. In fact, the motor can add up to 30 pounds more to the overall weight. This is because the motor will need a battery.
It will also require onboard electronics to operate the ebike. And if you add safety features for the motor, the ebike will weigh a lot.
An efficiently designed motor will weigh less – but it will still be very noticeable. For example, a 500Wh Bosch battery will weigh about 7.7 lbs. Expect motor weights to go down with time as manufacturers learn more about metallurgy.
Battery
The ebike motor needs a power source. This will come from the battery. And this is where things become complicated. An ebike battery can add anywhere from 10 to 20 pounds. For reference, a standard 48V 15Ah Li-ion battery will add up to 10 lbs. This is enough to bog you down during your ride.
The weight is extremely important because it is proportional to capacity. A higher capacity battery tends to weigh more. Incidentally, the ebike will require more energy to move at higher weights. So the higher weight of the battery may cancel out the benefits of higher capacity.
You can, of course, find batteries with more favorable chemistry. For example, LiPo batteries tend to have more storage capacity than regular batteries. Always look for energy-dense batteries when shopping for an ebike.
Miscellaneous Accessories (The Display and Wiring)
Modern ebikes tend to have various on-board electronic systems. All these accessories add to the feature set of the ebike. A major trade-off is that they also contribute to the weight. Miscellaneous accessories, such as displays and wiring, will add 20 to 30 pounds.
Other accessories include brake switches, pedal sensors, handlebar, and gears.
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Type of eBikes and their Weight
The overall weight of the ebike depends on its type. Some ebikes are intentionally heavier than others because of their function. Heavier ebikes are often deployed in more challenging environments and rougher roads.
Let’s look at the most common types of ebikes and their overall weight.
Folding eBikes
Folding ebikes tend to weigh less than regular ebikes for greater portability. However, the overall weight depends on various factors, such as tire width and frame size.
A standard folding ebike with 12-inch wheels may weigh 28 lbs. A full-sized folding ebike with larger tires may weigh over 80 lbs.
Are you planning on taking your folding ebike to a bus or train? Then consider finding one that weighs under 40 lbs. Anything above 40 lbs will be too heavy to carry around.
Road eBikes
Road ebikes tend to weigh around 40 to 50 lbs. These ebikes are designed for speed and performance. They have lightweight frames and narrower tires to go faster. This is why road ebikes are used in competitions for races.
Even if you’re not planning for top speeds, road ebikes are generally superior. However, they are not designed for off-road traveling and will slow down.
Hybrid eBikes
Hybrid ebikes tend to be heavy because they are designed for off-road and paved roads. They tend to weigh more than 60 lbs, or even 100 lbs. The weight will depend on several factors, such as tires and wheels.
A hybrid will have wider tires compared to road ebikes. The frame tends to be thicker, the tires weigh more, and the battery heavier. All these features will contribute to more overall weight but translate into superior performance.
But heavier ebikes are difficult to carry around. This can be a problem if you run out of battery.
Mountain eBikes
Mountain ebikes are designed for rugged, off-road use. They are engineered for rugged terrains, so they should be more stable and robust. This means they can weigh a lot – far more than regular ebikes. The average weight of mountain ebikes is anywhere from 70 lbs to 100 lbs.
The weight will depend on the tires, frame, battery, motor, and onboard electronics. High-end mountain ebikes tend to have superior suspension systems that tend to weigh more. The suspension could be front or rear, depending on the rider’s preferences.
This is why it’s not recommended to go for a ‘lightweight’ mountain ebike. It may simply not have the necessary add-ons to help navigate rougher terrain.
Read How Heavy is an Electric Bike?
Fat Tire eBikes
It is no surprise that fat tire ebikes are heavier than regular ebikes. They tend to weigh more than ebikes with similar features. Wider tires tend to be very heavy. You would be hard-pressed to find fat ebikes under 70 pounds.
Below is a table that summarizes the weight of the various types of ebikes.
| Type of Ebike | Folding eBike | Road eBike | Hybrid eBike | Mountain eBike | Fat Tire eBike |
| Standard weight | 40 lbs | 50 lbs | 60 lbs | 70 lbs | 70 lbs |
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What is the Lightest Electric Bike?
Just like smartphones, ebikes are getting smaller and more efficient. The lightest ebikes in the market tend to weigh under 20 lbs. They take advantage of superior metallurgical technology. They also cost a lot – more than used cars at prices starting from $10,000.
The lightest electric bike is the HPS Domestique. It will set you back around $14,500 – depending on the manufacturer. But just because it’s lightweight doesn’t mean it’s weak. This ebike has all the bells and whistles you can expect from standard bikes.
Other examples include the Freicycle e-bike at 15.15 lbs and the Hummingbird folding ebike at 23 lbs. But such a low weight may not be ideal for off-road use.
Should You Care About eBike Weight?
The overall weight of the ebike depends on your overall goals. The weight matters if you plan on carrying the ebike with you for commuting. The last thing you want is carrying a 100lb ebike everywhere you go.
If you don’t have to carry your ebike at all, then you won’t notice it. Just don’t run out of battery! Pushing an ebike can be difficult if the battery is completely empty. However, some ebikes with a walk-assist function can make this task easier.
The weight also matters if you plan on traveling for longer durations. You don’t want the ebike battery or motor breaking down in the middle of nowhere! It is strongly suggested to use larger motors and batteries for longer distances. But doing so will add weight to your ebike.
The weight becomes more noticeable if you are traveling uphill. This is because going uphill takes a lot more energy. Use more powerful batteries if you plan on scaling steep hills.
Another major factor to consider is the weight placement of the motor and battery. For example, larger motors on the rear wheel will affect handling. Non-uniform distribution can affect your ride. Regardless of the weight, try to keep motors at the center of the frame.
Read How Fast is an 1000w Electric Bike?
How to Reduce the Weight of an Ebike
You can make major changes to the structural composition of your ebike to reduce weight. These changes require technical knowledge and access to the right tools.
However, there are a few tweaks you can make to reduce the overall weight. Let’s discuss them below:
- Use a smaller, lighter battery. Just make sure that the battery is compatible with your ebike.
- Remove accessories that you don’t need. These could include baskets, child seats, pet carriers, and others. These changes could reduce the weight by as much as 10 lbs or more.
- Swap out the tires with narrower ones.
- Clean your ebike to get rid of the accumulated dust and debris.
More difficult changes require swapping out the frame of the ebike. This is much more difficult, expensive, and probably not worth the effort. At this point, it may be better to buy a new, lighter ebike.
Wrapping Up
A heavy ebike in Michigan has more features, but it can affect your top speed and acceleration. A lighter-weight ebike will let you reach top speeds but will have fewer features. There is a trade-off when making a choice. Powerful motors deliver more torque but are heavier. Smaller motors let you travel for longer but they may not reach top speeds.
The weight of the ebike depends on your needs and preferences. You won’t be concerned about the weight if you’re hoping to buy a cargo ebike. But weight may be a factor if you plan on carrying your bike.
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My name is Matthew, staying in Seattle, Washington. Electric Vehicles (Electric Cars & Electric bikes) caught my attention for the last few years and my love for electric cars and bikes is everlasting. I spend many of my weekends traveling to various places all over various cities with my electric vehicle (e-bike and electric car). Here I am sharing my expertise, experience, and invaluable information about electric cars and electric bikes. Check out more.