We’ve pulled apart the most important components of an e-bike for you to browse through. All e-bikes in our range are purposely designed as e-bikes, giving you the most comfortable and safe riding experience and confidence that all components are fit for purpose.
Flick the switch to keep the correct gear. Using the right gear (70-100rpm pedal frequency) is easier on your muscles, but also on your e-bike. The motor works more efficiently and offers more power, you get further on a battery charge, and puts less strain on your chain and sprockets.
E-bikes equipped with the NuVinci gears let you seamlessly choose a gear that works to maintain your ideal pace in all circumstances.
On some e-bikes the shifting is electronic, and they even come with an automatic mode so you don’t even need to think about the right gear!
The power to control your speed. Use the brake levers to control the powerful brakes. The right-hand lever controls your front brake, the left-hand lever your rear brake. Always apply both brakes simultaneously and gently for the best braking performance and control over your e-bike.
Hauling big, hauling small. Just stopping for a quick shop on the way home? Easy enough with a pannier and the sturdy rear rack that comes standard with most of our e-bikes. Also a great way to transport your backpack and avoid a sweaty back, especially in summer.
A modern version of Popeye’s spinach. The e-bike battery uses technology similar to your mobile phone. A single charge takes about 3.5 hours and supplies enough energy to get you up to 150km on some models.
Some e-bikes with the Bosch system even give you the option to install a second battery for extra-long range.
Keep those legs turning at the right pace. External gears use a set of sprockets on the rear hub and a derailleur to guide the chain.
Low maintenance internal gears are located inside the rear hub. Hub gears on our e-bikes have between 7 and 14 discrete gears, or an infinite number with the revolutionary continuously variable NuVinci system.
The missing link between pedal and wheel. Even more efficient, more durable and lower maintenance than the good old chain is the Gates Carbon Belt drive.
Similar to the belt drives found in many cars, the belt drive doesn’t need any greasing and doesn’t get your pants dirty either. The belt can be combined with internal hub gears.
The e-bike’s powerful little secret. The 250W motor provides support while you’re pedalling, up to 25-27km/h. The main difference between various drive units is their efficiency and their torque. A higher efficiency gives you a longer range on a single charge, and a higher torque lets you get up the hills more quickly.
Bosch, the German automotive and household appliances company, have very successfully ventured into e-bikes. Their premium system features on many of our e-bikes.
You’re in charge. This little unit lets you change how much support you get from your e-bike. On most systems, you have the choice between 3 or 4 different support levels, giving you between 25% and 300% extra power on each pedal stroke.
An art work composed of carefully arranged tubes. Your e-bike is built around a lightweight frame made from aluminium or even carbon fibre on some top-end eMTBs. The frame geometry determines your position on the bike and the feel you get when riding the e-bike. Dutch-style upright bikes like the Gazelle feature large frames with a comfortable geometry.
On hybrid models you’ll be leaning forward more, which improves your aerodynamics, puts more weight onto your arms and gives you a higher speed sensation. In the past, diamond-shaped frames used to be much stronger than stepthrough frames (those without the top tube of diamond-shape frames), but fortunately that’s no longer the case.
The stepthrough is ubiquitous in Europe, with men and women alike appreciating its comfort and versatility in urban transport.
Illuminating the way. Most of our e-bikes are specifically designed for commuting. They come with powerful lights at the front and rear, often using LED technology like in your TV and car. Being an e-bike, you operate the lights directly from your display, and they feed off your big e-bike battery. Easy!
Even if you forget to charge your battery on time, your lights will keep working for some hours after the support cuts out.
No muddy affairs here. If you’ve ever ridden in the rain on a bike without mudguards you’ll be familiar with the wet-bum experience. It’s not a great look to arrive at the office like that, but fortunately most of our e-bikes come with mudguards pre-installed to protect you from that embarrassment. And they protect your fellow riders from being sprayed too as a nice bonus.
Your link with the world. The tyres on your e-bike combine several nifty tricks and materials to reduce the risk of a puncture while still giving you a comfortable, efficient and safe ride. Extra-wide tyres give additional comfort without adding to the rolling resistance.
Keep your tyres inflated to the correct pressure for the smoothest ride and best battery performance. The correct tyre pressure is indicated on the sidewall of your tyres.
Stopping and not going anywhere. The powerful brakes on your e-bike are designed to let you stop quickly and safely under all circumstances.
Compared to rim brakes, disc brakes have the best all-weather performance, do not wear out your rims which reduces the maintenance costs, and leave you and your bike cleaner when braking in the rain.
All squared away. Bigger wheel sizes have less rolling resistance, make it easier to go straight and lower the impact of bumps. Smaller wheels make for a more agile bike and can also be a better option when you’re looking for a small frame size.
Bump no more. Front suspension adds to your riding comfort by softening the impact of small bumps in the road. Some models suited for off-road use feature rear suspension as well to keep optimal contact with the ground when you’re on an off-road trail.
Quite a few models feature suspension seat posts, adding comfort without complexity.
Checking out the info. This neat display unit keeps track of how far you’ve come and how far you can still go on your current battery, and shows you your current speed. Also used to control the built-in lights.
A pedal assisted electric bicycle (e-bike) combines advanced technology, comfort and fun. You ride it just like a normal bicycle but with just that extra push that makes it so much easier.
The electrical engine is powered by a rechargeable battery. A single battery charge will get you up to 150 km on most models. Batteries can be charged easily via a standard power outlet, using the adapter that comes with the bike, just like charging your mobile phone or tablet.
A 250W electrical engine provides support when you pedal (up to 25 km/h). Headwinds and hills won’t bother you anymore, but you’re still exercising!
Australian road rules classify e-bikes as bicycles, so you can ride them in bike lanes and on shared paths.
Linda, 59, SydneyI loooooove my bike soooooo much. I can’t believe how easy it makes the hills around my area. Thank you for your suggestion of the Enviolo gear system which makes it so easy to select gears.
Nellie, MelbourneThe R&M Nevo is going really well – had to rug up with puffer and jacket today though! I’ve cut 25 minutes off my commute each way and have more energy at the end of the day which is awesome! I miss my pushie on the downhills and flat but the e-bike is a dream up hill.
Paul, 49, MelbourneBefore I got my e-bike, I used to ride a packed tram in the morning. I would often leave home earlier to avoid the worst squeeze. Now, when I see so everyone lining up for the tram, I just smile as I get on my e-bike. Even rain doesn’t bother me, with a bit of rain gear it’s still by far the best option.
David, 56, PerthTwo rides to work so far and loving it… the uphills are soooo easy. I have knocked 15 minutes off my travel time home.
Sander, 38, MelbourneFantastic way to start the day. No uncertainty on when you arrive, gets the blood flowing and clears your head, both on the way in to work and on the way home. E-bike commuting in Melbourne makes a lot of sense. With its hilly profile, having an e-bike will help you prevent working up a sweat on your way to a meeting, while at the same time giving you certainty around your arrival time.
