An In-depth Comparison: Electric Bike Vs. Motorcycle, scooter, and regular bicycle
In today’s society which is busy and full of urban sprawl, bicycles still offer convenient transportation despite growing traffic levels. Technology has brought innovation to cycling, and electric bikes now see rising adoption as an alternative to traditional ones. However, we need to identify and know the differences between bicycles ranging from the uncomplicated bicycle to the advanced motorcycle.
Read on to discover more about these various forms of bicycles and how they compare.
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1. Electric Bike
Electric Bike
You definitely would have heard about an electric bike before, but how does it differ from the regular bicycle? An electric bike is a bicycle with an electric motor to help you. You ride it much like a traditional bicycle, but with less effort. An electric bike comes in many styles, from commuter bikes to complete suspension mountain bikes and everything in between; our focus is on urban and cargo bikes. An electric bike works by automatically switching on the (quiet) motor when you pedal.
There are two different types of motors:
●motors in the crank
●motors in your rear hub.
Both types have their pros and cons, but mid-drive systems have proven to be the better option in recent years generally.
Laws on Electric bike: https://youtu.be/Jlc6Af9dhWc
Motorcycle
A motorbike, a motorcycle is a two (or three-wheeled if equipped with a sidecar) motor vehicle propelled by an internal combustion engine and resembling a bicycle, but usually larger and heavier. Motorcycle designs are different as they suit their purposes: long-distance travel, commuting, cruising, sport (including racing), and off-road riding.
The overall structure and function are pretty simple; it includes a gasoline engine that converts the reciprocating motions of pistons into rotary motion, just like the engine in a car.
Laws on motorcycles: https://youtu.be/AYuCh23dDcw
How does it work? It has a transmission system that transmits this motion to the back wheel. In such a way, the back wheel turns as it propels the motorcycle forward. Steering is then accomplished by turning the front wheel via the handlebars and leaning the bike to one side. Two hand levers enable the rider to operate the clutch and the front brake, while the two-foot pedals will allow him to change gears and control the rear brake.
Scooter
An electric scooter, also called a mo-ped, is somewhere between a motorcycle and a bicycle. It has a gas engine like a motorcycle, and some have (or used to have) pedals just like a bicycle. Unlike a bike, an electric scooter has smaller wheels and looks a bit heavier; the engine capacity of an electric scooter is 50cc or less.
Video: https://youtu.be/TCISdLh0eZw
Bicycle
A bicycle, a brilliantly simple form of transportation, is a perfect example of how pure scientific ideas can be harnessed in a practical piece of technology. The most remarkable thing about a bicycle is that it lets you get where you are going a lot faster and uses a lot less energy compared to when walking or running. A bike comprises just a few parts that you can immediately see and identify.
Laws on bicycles: https://youtu.be/TAwv_BPBAnc
2. Differences between Electric Bicycles and Motorcycle
●Traffic Regulation
Electric bikes and motorcycles are treated very differently in the eyes of the law. Whether electric or petrol, motorcycles are liable for road tax and insurance and must be registered with the DVLA. Riders of a motorcycle must also have a driver’s license to be able to drive the vehicle legally.
With electric bikes, no such restrictions apply. You do not need a driver’s license. And the bike doesn’t need to be registered or insured, nor does any tax need to pay. According to the law, electric bikes are generally treated the same way as traditional pedal bikes.
The clothing riders must wear between motorcycles and electric bikes too. The law requires bike riders to wear crash helmets, and it’s advisable to wear more protective clothing. The higher the speeds that motorcycles can come with, the higher risk of injury; when riding electric bikes, you do not need to wear a crash helmet.
● Speed
Electric bikes cannot compete with motorcycles when it comes to speed. Motorcycles are fast, with many reaching speeds above 60 miles per hour. On the other hand, an electric bike typically maxes out at 20mph, thanks to the electric power on offer. It is not merely a function of motor power, as electric bicycles are often purposefully hobbled by the manufacturers to meet local and federal laws and regulations regarding personal transport vehicles.
● Commuting
Electric bikes make for a perfect commuter vehicle. They are light, fast, and reliable.
The speed capabilities are irrelevant during rush hour traffic and traffic lights. It’s the same for electric bikes as they both have an advantage over cars that can sidle down the side of traffic.
Also, electric bikes enjoy the advantage of being mobile pretty much anywhere. Motorcycles, however, can’t tread on-road or paved roads.
Note: Therefore, in reality, the faster vehicle isn’t necessarily the quickest method of commuting.
●Maintenance
Electric bikes require fewer repairs than traditional motorcycles because they have another system like the oil or cooling system to take care of as it’s only the electrical system and parts of the bike. Also, the cost of fueling an electric motorcycle is virtually non-existent. At the same time, the fuel powered bike will demand oil and petrol, which can get expensive depending on how the market is faring. Electric bikes don't even need to be parked to charge. You can keep pedaling your bike, thus powering it as you use it.
●Exercise
Electric bikes are better for exercise than motorcycles. Of course, electric bicycles offer a tremendous amount of assistance to the rider, making them so enjoyable and accessible, but there’s still an element of rider input beyond throttle. For people who find traditional cycling taxing, electric bikes offer an accessible form of exercise that motorcycles simply can’t!
●Cost
Motorcycles can be extremely expensive, with a new model costing $6000 or more, depending on its features. On the other hand, electric bikes are available for $1000 or under. The most expensive electric bikes come in around half of the average price of a motorcycle. Combine this increased up-front cost with the insurance obligations, licensing fees, repairs, and maintenance, and electric bikes are the clear choice for budget-conscious Commuters.
●Distance
Motorcycles are the obvious choice to pick if we want to judge based on the distance covered. An electric bike can go anywhere between 25 to 50 miles, while a motorcycle can travel about 250-300 miles on average in one day.
●Weight and Maneuverability
Electric bikes tend to have less weight when compared to a motorcycle which has a lot more components, while an average electric bike weighs around 45-50 pounds(18-22 kg) while an average bike weighs about 400 pounds(181kg).
●Environmental and Community Friendly
A motorcycle doesn’t fare well in this aspect as it contributes to environmental hazards; exhaust fumes from motorcycles are significant sources of atmospheric pollution. On the other hand, electric bikes are eco-friendly and cause little or no environmental hazards.
●Safety
Every advantage has a disadvantage, the risk that comes from the extreme speed a motorcycle offers is excellent, neglecting the safety wears. The damages incurred by a speeding motorcycle would be far greater than that of a speeding electric vehicle.
3. Differences between Electric Bicycles and Scooters
●Traffic Regulation
There are a few regulations to comply with scooters, such as driver’s permit, insurance, and license plate. Such rules may depend on the engine capacity and your state; while these laws don’t limit an electric bicycle, you don’t need any license to ride an electric bike.
●Speed
Electric bikes are typically slower than scooters, with speeds of 40mph. A scooter is faster than an electric bike, which maxes out at 20mph. So if you are thinking of pace, a scooter is preferable.
●Commuting
Electric bikes being light and reliable, are a far more commutable vehicle than scooters. While Electric bikes are allowed to use cycle lanes, Scooters aren't legally permitted to do so.
●Maintenance
A scooter costs more to maintain, as there’s no need to buy gas nor spend on insurance, the rate at which you pay to keep the vehicle in good shape is minimal in electric bikes compared to scooters.
●Exercise
The main form of exercise through a cycle is by pedaling; a scooter has no pedals and mainly deprives you of the ability to exercise while riding. On the other hand, an electric bike has this advantage as it involves pedaling.
●Cost
The price of an excellent electrical scooter starts from around $1000. The price can be higher or lower depending on the engine capacity and aesthetics. On the other hand, electric bikes range in cost from a low of $600 to over $8000, with most mainstream electric bikes costing between $1500 - $4000.
●Distance
An electric bike can go anywhere between 25 to 50 miles, while an electric scooter leaves us with an estimated range of 132 to 158 miles. I was making an electric scooter the most preferable when looking at distance.
●Weight and Maneuverability
The average scooter weighs about 250 to 300 pounds. It is the same for many scooters with engines in the 125cc to 250cc range. Larger scooters with larger engines and more bodywork can be as heavy as a standard street bike. On the other hand, an electric bike weighs around 45-50 pounds.
●Environmental and Community Friendly
Electric scooters have gas emissions which makes them unfriendly to the environment. An electric bike doesn’t need any gas to power it, making it much safer for the environment compared to a scooter.
●Safety
Securing an Electric scooter in a public place is more accessible to the lock present, and if stolen, an electric scooter is insured. At the same time, you have to use a chain to lock your electric bike in public places. The accidents caused by speeding are minor or limited in electric bikes compared to an electric scooter.
4. Differences between Electric Bicycles and a regular bicycle
●Traffic Regulation
An electric bike legally is a regular non-assisted bike;. However, you have to be 14 years old to be allowed to ride an electric bike, these age restrictions do not affect a regular bicycle, and you as well don’t need any license to ride a regular bicycle. You are also not legally required to wear a helmet while riding an electric bike or a regular bicycle.
●Speed
The speed of a regular bicycle depends on the rider and how fast they are at pedaling, while the rate of an electric bike still depends on its battery and motor with minimal pedaling of the rider. These mechanical advantages are not available to a regular bicycle.
●Commuting
Both the regular and electric bicycles are commutable as both don't have to stop at traffic lights and rush hour traffic. Still, the time expended depends on the rider of the regular bicycle. The faster he paddles, the quicker he can move from one place to the other.
●Maintenance
An electric bicycle is far more expensive to maintain than a regular bicycle. There are more electrical and mechanical parts in an electric bike that need to be retained compared to traditional bicycles, parts ranging from the battery to the electrical motor.
●Exercise
A regular bicycle gives us the whole exercise of cycling as you must pedal all the time compared to the electric bike, which requires minimal effort.
●Cost
Electric bikes range in cost from a low of $600 to over $8000, with most mainstream electric bikes costing between $1500 - $4000. A regular bicycle ranges from $200 to $10000 depending on whether you want a luxurious motorcycle or a road bike.
●Distance
The distance covered by a regular bicycle depends on the rider and how good they are at pedaling, while an electric bike can go anywhere between 25 to 50 miles on average.
●Weight and Maneuverability
An electric bicycle has more weight when compared to a regular bike mainly because of its extra electrical and mechanical parts.
●Environmental and Community Friendly
Both the electric and regular bicycles are eco-friendly as neither releases exhaust fumes that pollute the atmosphere.
●Safety
The rider solely controls the safety of a regular bicycle as he is in total control of the bike; the rates of accidents caused by traditional bikes are more than that caused by the electric motorcycle. We can assume that the electric bicycle is safer than a regular bicycle.
5. Conclusion
Each of the comparable vehicles ranging from the ordinary bicycle to the motorcycle has its pros and cons, and which is right for you.