Thursday 21 January 2021

Can you put an electric bike on a bike rack ?

Can you put an electric bike on a bike rack


Can you put an electric bike on a bike rack ?

Firstly lets talk about electric bikes, electric bikes or otherwise known as ebikes can weigh quite a bit more than your average bikes, with the motor and large batteries these can weigh up to 40 lbs on their own.

So in answer to the question ' Can you put an electric bike on a bike rack ? ' then YES of course you can! however that being said the Bike Rack / Carrier will need to be a good quality and strong rack.

Our number one suggestion if you want to take your electric bike on a bike rack, take the battery off. Take the battery off, put the battery in the front seat or the back seat or even in the trunk and then put the bike onto the bike rack.

Do you need a special bike rack for electric bikes ?

An electric bike is great for getting around town and the city. They’re also great to take with you on the road, whether cross country, road trip, or to your local trailhead. 

Whether it’s a typical electric bike, fat tire ebike, cargo ebike or even an electric trike, you’ll need a sturdy bike rack for that. 

Due to the overall weight of electric bikes we recommend hitch-mounted racks, these are generally a lot more sturdy and stronger than your normal boot, trunck mounted carriers.


So whats the best bike rack for electric bikes ?

Before we can answer what is the best bike rack for electric bikes ? We must firstly talk about the different types of bike racks / carriers:-

1) Roof Mounted Racks - NO WAY

If you have ever tried to get a normal bike up on a roof mounted bike rack you will be aware of the struggle, so to try and get an electric bike up there would be near on impossible.

2) Trunk Mounted Racks - NOT RECOMMENDED

These types of racks mount to the trunk or rear hatch of cars and SUVs. These are generally limited to a weight limit of 35lbs per bike. They also have the added drawback of having the supports higher off the ground, requiring more lifting to get the bike into place.

These types of racks, although cheaper than hitch-mounted racks, generally won’t be suitable for a heavier electric bike.

3) Hitch Mounted Racks - YES

Hitch mounted bike racks do just what they say and mount to a hitch on your car, truck, or RV. If you don’t already have a hitch then this is another required piece of equipment for a hitch-mounted rack.

Hitch mounted racks are generally more suited to heavier bikes and have an higher maximum weight limit.

Summary


In summary we can recommend the Hitch Mounted Rack for transporting electric bikes, but in answer to the question ' Can you put an electric bike on a bike rack ? ' Then YES.

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