Why do I need an ebike specific bike rack?

Electric bikes, often called ebikes, are becoming increasingly more common and for good reason. But why do you need to consider buying an ebike specific bike rack like the E-Rack 2 Pro?

Ebike specific bike racks are designed especially for electric bikes.

OVERVIEW

Ebikes unlock the ability to ride more for people blessed with good knees and those cursed with bad knees alike. People of all ages are discovering the benefits of pedal assistance from electric bikes. These added benefits come at a cost. Ebikes are more expensive and heavier than their analogue counterpart. This means you need a bike rack that emphasizes security and weight carrying capacity to protect those precious ebikes.

EBIKE SPECIFIC DESIGN

The most critical design consideration for an ebike specific bike rack is weight carrying capacity. Ebikes can varying considerably in weight; from the new generation of Super Lights (SL) emtbs sitting around 18 kg to the big touring ebikes sitting closer to 30 kg. With the added weight of a battery and motor, ebikes weigh more than their analogue cousin.

Security is also an important concern given the cost of electric bikes. Bike racks made for ebikes feature security options either with inbuilt locks that lock the ebikes to the bike rack, or features that allow you to lock the bikes to the bike rack using a cable lock. It is important to remember that all locks are theft deterrents and an enterprising thief can always find a way.

Bike racks made especially for ebikes will also place an emphasis on making loading and unloading the ebikes easier. The extra weight of the ebike can make loading and unloading more challenging. Most people will shy away from roof bike racks because lifting an ebike over their head is difficult. Platform bike racks where the ebikes sit horizontally in a tray are easier to load as the ebike does not need to be lifted above shoulder height. These bike racks sometimes feature a ramp so you do not need to lift the ebike at all, and can simply roll it onto the bike rack. 

THE E-RACK 2 PRO EBIKE RACK

The Ezigrip E-Rack 2 Pro is a bike rack designed specifically for ebikes. It features a robust weight carrying capacity of 30 kg per ebike which caters well for SLs right through to big touring ebikes. The rack can carry 2 ebikes with generous spacing between the ebikes to make sure there is no harmful rubbing or touching.

The E-Rack 2 Pro features padded frame clamps with integrated locks that lock the ebike to the bike rack. The jaws of the frame clamp cannot be loosened and opened when the lock is engaged. The E-Rack 2 Pro also features a lock on the towball clamp and hitch insert meaning the bike rack can be locked to the vehicle in addition to being locked to the ebike. 

The E-Rack 2 Pro is a platform bike rack so the ebikes are stored horizontally and kept low to the ground for easy loading and unloading. The bike rack features deep wheel trays and grooved guides to help guide the ebike into position while loading. To make loading even easier, there is an optional ramp accessory. The ramp features telescoping connections so it packs down to a small size for storage when not in use. The ramp simple attached to a wheel tray and the ebike can then be rolled directly onto the bike rack.

Additional features like being able to tilt the E-Rack 2 Pro while it is fully loaded for boot access, full function lights for added safety and visibility, and anti-sway strap for front tires to eliminate any erroneous ebike movement all makes for a bike rack that adds to the adventure of owning an ebike. Venturing out and exploring every day with your ebike is a simple matter of rack it, and ride it with the E-Rack 2 Pro.

CONCLUSION

Both the heavy weight and heavy cost of ebikes means using a bike rack that has been specifically designed to support that weight and protect your investment is a good idea. The Ezigrip E-Rack 2 Pro was designed for ebikes; it is easy to load heavy bikes, has added security features and is rated to carry two 30 kg ebikes. Although a more expensive option than other bike racks, the cost is justified for the robustness and reliability of New Zealand's favourite ebike rack.