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Electric bicycles are becoming more and more popular, and for a good reason! They're a great alternative to cars, and they can help you get around town without breaking a sweat. But what do you do when you need to take your e-bike somewhere else or on a trip? That's where a bicycle rack comes in handy! And while bike racks have been around for a long time, nothing has existed for heavy electric bikes. In this blog post, we will discuss the key features of the best bicycle racks for e-bikes.
The first thing to consider when choosing a bicycle rack for your e-bike is the weight capacity. Most bicycle racks are only designed to hold traditional bikes that weigh around 20-30 pounds. But electric bikes can weigh upwards of 60 or even over 100 pounds! So you'll need to make sure that the bicycle rack you choose can support more than weight of your e-bike.
If you're not sure how much your e-bike weighs, you can usually find this information in the owner's manual or on the manufacturer's website. Or, you can simply weigh it yourself using a household scale. Just be sure to account for the weight of any additional accessories like a rack, bags, or baskets.
Another important factor to consider is compatibility. You'll need to make sure that the bicycle rack you choose is compatible with your e-bike. This includes both the tire size and the wheelbase.
Traditional bicycle racks are designed to attach to the frame of the bike. But since electric bikes can be much heavier than traditional bikes, they often have a beefier frame. This means that most bicycle racks of this style will not be compatible with your e-bike. This often is a similar issue with tire size. Improved support can be provided by cradling the e-bike from the tires on front to back, providing more engagement and hold throughout the bike. Just make sure that the size of your tires will fit.
When you're choosing a bicycle rack for your e-bike, ease of use should be one of your top priorities, as many electric bikes are extremely heavy - large batteries, big frames and beefy motors.
You don't want to choose a bicycle rack that is difficult to use or one that will require multiple people to load and unload your e-bike. One way to make loading and unloading easier is to choose a bicycle rack that that does not require you to pick up the bike. Look for options that are thoughtful regarding loading - as it is unnecessary to have to pick up 100 lbs on your own. Your back will thank you.
When you're transporting your e-bike, stability is key. You don't want your bicycle falling off the rack while you're driving!
There are a few things to look for that can help ensure stability. First, make sure that the bicycle rack you choose attaches securely to your vehicle. Many bicycle racks wobble from the hitch or from a part where the rack connects two parts. Make sure that the rack is stable and that the hitch connection is solid.
Secondly you want to ensure that the connection between your e-bike and the bicycle rack is solid. Any room or play in this connection will cause your heavy e-bike to wiggle out of the rack and potentially leave it to some parts on the road behind you.
As we mentioned earlier, not all bicycle racks are created equal. And that's especially true when it comes to electric bikes.
Because electric bikes come in all shapes and sizes, you'll want to make sure that the bicycle rack you choose is adaptable. Look for a rack that can be adjusted to fit different types of bikes. Additionally, some bicycle racks come with adapters that allow you to attach them to different types of vehicles.
This is a great feature to have if you plan on transporting your e-bike with multiple vehicles.
When you're looking for a bicycle rack for your e-bike, look no further- as we have tirelessly created the ultimate bike rack for heavy electric bikes. Designed from over 20 years of motorcycle hitch carrier innovations, the MotoTote Mini is the only bike rack specifically designed for safely hauling heavy electric bikes, with up to 200 lbs. capacity per bike, fit up for 5" tire sizes, easy to load, a zero wobble connection and modularity to fit a variety of bikes.
Learn more about the MotoTote Mini:
