Once you’ve acquired your new electric bike, it’s time to get yourself kitted out with some accessories. Every e-bike is different and the type of e-bike you own and how you intend to use it will influence the accessories you want to invest in. If you’re going to be riding at night, you’ll need lights, if you’re riding around town a good lock is essential, panniers and baskets offer endless storage possibilities and we would always recommend riding with a high quality helmet (especially on an e-bike!). We think that all of these are important for almost every rider. See below for our round-up of the most useful accessories for electric bikes out there.
Helmets
One of the most important accessories for electric bikes is a high quality helmet. Although a good helmet is obviously recommended when riding regular bikes as well, chances are you will be riding faster in many situations with an electric bike then you would with a regular one. The LUMOS Kickstart Bicycle Helmet offers protection for your head, while also ensuring other road users can see you at night. The helmet offers LED lighting at the front and back of the helmet, as well as orange indicator lights to signal when you’re turning. The helmet comes with a handlebar remote control that you can tap when you are turning. This also connects to your brakes and signals to people behind you when you are breaking. These features are especially useful when riding an e-bike and you are travelling at similar speeds to other road traffic.
The helmet is adjustable and sits comfortably on your head and is very visible. Although it is one of the more expensive helmets on the market, for keen cyclists who are often out at night, there is no replacement for this helmet. The helmet comes in charcoal black and bright green with the batteries lasting between 3 and 6 hours depending on the mode you are in (charging the lights is simple and uses a USB charger).
Check the latest price on Amazon.
If you’re looking for a helmet without lights, consider looking at Kask helmets. Their Protone Helmet is a more expensive option than the LUMOS helmet above, but for serious cyclists, Kask helmets are some of the lightest-weight and best looking helmets around. The protone helmet is designed to sit low on your head, weighs just 215g, and comes in nineteeen different color options. The helmets come with high-visibility stickers, air-vents and of course an aerodynamic design.
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Lights
The most important reason for lights whether you’re looking to see or be seen is safety. Riding around cities it’s important that cars and pedestrians know you’re coming and outside of cities, without streetlights, you want to be able to see where you’re going. There are a whole host of ways to add luminescence to your bike, including front and rear lights, wheel lights and body illumination. Bike lights vary widely in price, and usually, the more expensive lights have higher lumens and a better build quality.
For a good quality lights at a reasonable price we recommend the Balhbit Bike Light Set, which consists of both a rear and front light that can easily be attached and detached to almost any bike. The lights are charged using a USB cable and last for up to 6 hours. They are definitely there to be seen, the front light isn’t quite strong enough to lead you down an unlit street and have two settings that allow them to blink or remain steady.
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If you know that you’re going to be biking a lot at night, especially if you are going down unlit roads, or planning on doing a lot of mountain biking at night, you’ll need a light that allows you to see where you’re going. The Evolva Future front light emits 1800 lumens and lasts for up to 28 hours on the lowest setting, and 2.5 hours on the highest setting. This is definitely not a cheap light but a steal for a front light that shines this brightly and allows you to see where you’re going. The company provides a three-year warranty, a built in bike mount and rechargeable capabilities using a USB.
Check the latest price on Amazon.
Locks
One of the most essential accessories for electric bikes is a good lock. Many E-bikes come with integrated locking systems, but we would always advise extra precaution, especially in a big city. Choosing a lock always involves considering safety versus weight, as the heavier locks will be harder to break, but much more inconvient to travel long distances with. There are broadly two types of locks, U-locks and chain locks. Chain locks that offer the same security as U-locks are really heavy and are normally kept in just one place, where as U-locks are more portable.
If you are considering a U-lock, we would recommend the Kryptonite Evolution lock. While quite heavy, the lock is portable and also comes with an additional lead to secure your front wheels. In practice this lead is quite easy to cut and should not be relied on for security in a big city. The U-lock however is incredibly sturdy and difficult to break, especially if you get a lock that fits around your bike tightly, without a lot of space for movement. It is possible to attach the lock to the bike using an attachment, and many people prefer this if they arent carrying other things on their bike. Alternatively, it is light enough to carry by backpack over short distances. It is definitely worth the price to keep your bike from getting stolen, and this lock is widely considered to be the best portable lock you can buy.
Check the latest price on Amazon.
In case you are looking for a chain lock instead, consider the ABUS 5804 chain lock. The lock is made from a steel chain and has a fabric sleeve to prevent damage to your bike. The lock uses a combination lock which is helpful if you tend to lose or forget your keys. The ABUS 5804 comes in two different lengths, and we would recommend using the shortest possible chain for your bike, as a longer chain will add unnecessary extra weight and allows more space for thieves to try and dislodge the chain.
Check the latest price on Amazon.
Baskets
Baskets are a great solution for carrying a wide range of things on your bike. I personally prefer front baskets; despite the slight adjustment to your steering, I like being able to see what I’m carrying in case I want to access it at a stoplight. Front baskets can’t carry quite as much weight and will affect your steering more than rear baskets. We’ve included two options for front and rear carrying from American company Wald.
Wald was founded in 1905 and the company started by making a single bicycle repair tool. In 1924 they moved to Kentucky and started making their now world-famous baskets from their Kentucky warehouse. The 1372 Front Basket is my favourite model for e-bikes, though they have many options, because of its unmatched quality. This front basket will last you through many years and endless hours of cycling. The 1372 basket is a shallow basket, perfect for a backpack to lie flat. The bike has extended handlebar clamps meaning it fits almost all handlebars, with plenty of clearance room for both shift and brake cables. This Wald basket has a Zinc plated finish, with a total weight of just 1 kg. These baskets are strong, inexpensive and stand up to the test of time – it’s a purchase you’re unlikely to regret.
Check the latest price on Amazon.
If you are looking at rear baskets, consider the Wald 582 folding rear bicycle basket. They are a cheaper option than panniers, and although not waterproof, they allow you to carry a considerable amount of shopping or can be used to carry a backpack. Placing waterproof bags inside the cages is another good option. The baskets fold up when not in use, and are well attached to the rack so don’t need to be removed. They are good quality, with one customer reporting using theirs for over 20 years (!), and are reasonably priced.
Check the latest price on Amazon.
Water Bottle Holder
E-bikes allow you to travel over much further distances than normal bikes, but getting stuck in the middle of nowhere without water is never a good idea. A lot of e-bikes come with options to attach standard water bottle cages, but for models with slimer frames, here are some options that help you carry water on any bike.
The VGEBY water bottle holder is an insulated bag that holds your water bottle at the front of your bike by your handlebars. It’s useful if you need to carry water (or other things like snacks or a repair kit) but your bike comes without cage mounts. The VGEBY is big enough to hold large water bottles as well as things like towels, your wallet and your phone. The bag attaches to the bike using three straps so it is unlikely to move around, and there is secure fastening at the top of the bag to stop anything coming out.
Check the latest price on Amazon.
The Valdora bottle cage allows you to carry up to two bottles behind your saddle. Often used by triathles, the bottle cage is attached to your seat post and allows you to access bottles by reaching behind you, another good alternative if you frame doesn’t have bottle mounts. This Valdora cage is lightweight, easy to install, and has an LED light included. It also offers space for a CO2 catridge and leaves enough room for an underseat tool bag.
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