Can you put an electric bike on a bike rack is a totally different question than whether or not you should put an electric bike on a bike rack. The priorities and intentions in both these questions are different and so is the level of concern for the safety of your bike. In any case, you can put your electric bike on a bike rack and take it along wherever you are headed no matter how far away that pace is. But there are a few things you will have to be very careful about.
Hitching your electric bike along to new destinations definitely has its perks. You will be totally independent of expensive tour rides and moody drivers. You will be able to enjoy all views and explore hidden corners and places without having to worry about your fare bill. However, it is not always rainbows and cupcakes either. In fact, it has a few setbacks as well. In order to find out more, take a few minutes to read out the rest of this article.
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Can I Put an Electric Bike on a Bike Rack?
To answer this question in the simplest and easiest terms, I can tell you with absolute surety that you can definitely put an electric bike on a bike rack. However, the more important question is whether or not you should put an electric bike on a bike rack. Most people find it the most convenient to install roof or trunk bike racks in their cars. In this way, you can simply mount your bike on top of your car and take it with you wherever you go on an adventure.
This simple yet highly convenient step will allow you the possibility of taking your bike with you to picnic spots, mountainous areas, and basically every crazy place you want. In this way, you will not have to pay for expensive movers that handle the transportation of these things. A simple bike rack will allow you to easily take along your electric bike and enjoy riding it in all kinds of spontaneous, crazy, and fun areas.
However, as per some research, it is proven that mounting an electric bike over a bike rack can have devastating effects on it as well. The thing is when you mount your bike on a bike rack, you are exposing it to direct sunlight in broad daylight. As a result, it takes a toll on its fuel efficiency and may also fade its colors as well if exposed for longer.
Moreover, it will also affect the driving potential of the vehicle in which you mount the bike as it will become more difficult to manage with all that extra weight of an electric bike. You will have to be an expert to manage such a dangerous ride.
You may also be interested to read about best electric bikes under $700
Potential Risks Related To Using E-Bike Racks
1. Theft
Showcasing your electric bike on a bike rack makes it prone to theft and robbery. There is no one denying the fact that electric bikes are expensive vehicles and not everybody can afford them. But that does not stop everyone from wanting them anyway.
So, putting up your prim and luxuriant electric bike in plain sight will increase the chances of it getting robbed. After all, one can always resale these beauties for big money.
However, to avoid that from happening, you should not leave your car unattended. Plus, you can also put up a lock and chain for extra security OR buy a folding electric bike to carry it inside your vehicle.
2. Damage From External Objects
Mounting your electric bike on the bike rack is the same as riding it on the highway in person. It is prone to all kinds of collisions and damages that may result while you are driving at high speeds.
Any pebble or object may come hit your bike and break its lights, make a dent, puncture its tires or cause a scratch. It is just something you will have to deal with in any case if you ever decide to use a bike rack.
FAQs about E-Bike Transportation
How do you carry an electric bike?
There are a few ways in which you can carry your electric bikes along to your next trip. Some of the most convenient examples include tow bar-mounted racks, trunk-mounted bike racks, and roof racks. However, you can also put your electric bike in the back of your car if you have enough space. Putting your bike in the back of your car will also protect it from all external objects and also keep it safe from theft and robberies.
Can I use a normal bike rack for an electric bike?
You may use a normal bike rack for an electric bike however, I would not recommend that. This is because normal bike racks are flimsy and not very sturdy, which means that they can break away or come loose at any time and you don’t want to take that rock with your expensive electric bikes. So, it would be better and safer to get yourselves a proper electric bike rack that will firmly hold your bike in place.
Final Thoughts
So, this was all the insight I could give you into this topic. Now, it is all up to you whatever you decide. If you ask me, I would only take such a risk with a less expensive bike and definitely the one that is not my favorite. Because you know how electric bikes are and how expensive these tedious repairs can get. However, on short drives and clear roads, I do tend to take my electric bikes along so that I could enjoy the panoramic views on my own ride whenever I like.
Hi, I’m Robert A. Cannon, Electrical Engineer by profession and travel enthusiast! I has been passionate about building electric circuits and remodeling since my childhood. Following my passion, I graduated as an Electrical Engineer from University of Houston and turned my passion into a profession. I have worked in different electric vehicle manufacturing companies.
Following my professional expertise and experience in using different electric vehicles, I started EGearLab to assist the community in finding the right e-gear for transportation according to their needs. Feel free to contact me at anytime for queries related to electric outdoor vehicles!