Whether you must manage a daily commute, or you’re just having fun with your family, nothing really beats an eBike. Electric bikes for family run as unique as the family itself. The choices you make for yourself and your kids aren’t going to be electric hot rods. Electric bikes for families need to cover a range that progresses from little ones to teens and even grandparents.
Obviously, souped-up premium electric bikes aren’t necessarily the best choice for your third grader. And high-priced eBikes designed to carry heavy loads aren’t appropriate for your teenager, any more than your family minivan would be.
Instead,
you’re choosing a family eBike using your best judgment and gut feeling
about what your kids are ready for. When you’re confident in your kids’ ability
to ride without pulling out the first aid kit, it’s time to start shopping for
basic models. Here are some tips to help you do it right, so you can get the
whole family out in the fresh air.
You’ll probably know when your kids are ready for their first eBikes.
Preschool may be a little early, but children with good balance whose
feet can reach the ground are probably physically big enough to manage a
throttle-only electric bike. The SWAGTRON® Swagcycle Classic and Envy are both
pedal-less eBikes with headlights and horns — a good option for kids.
They’ve even got USB ports to charge up tablets and phones, so your kids
can keep in touch with friends, in case the family outings become too much.
The
Ravent 350W is another pedal-free eBike. One thing you have to
be careful about, however, is how much horsepower you’re putting under your
teenager. Ravent and Shaofu offer bikes with 350W electric motors and
36V 6AH lithium-ion batteries that are a bit much for kids. You might want
to look for something tamer for your junior high child.
SWAGCYCLE ENVY for that no-pedal eBike freedom.
Older
kids tend to travel farther from home, mostly to school and sometimes out with
friends. The SWAGTRON EB5 PRO is
pretty good for daily school commutes. They have about as much power as you’re
comfortable with a 15-year-old riding on, and they’re affordable. An added
bonus for families with kids who can’t remember to bring home their gym
clothes, let alone put their bike away.
For off-roading, your teen might be best off with something like the SWAGTRON EB6. The EB6 has a rugged aluminum frame and solid positive traction on its standard tires. The model has dual disc brakes for quick stops and a removable/replaceable battery for equally quick starts. The bike also has wide, durable pedals, so even running out of power on a long ride doesn’t mean walking back.
As an adult, you’re probably splitting your days between a home where you’re comfortable, a family you love, and the job you’re forced to do to pay for the first two things on this list. Family eBikes are for you too. After all, don’t you deserve it?
For
commuting, you’re probably best with an efficient, roadworthy model that’s big
enough for an adult to ride. The SWAGTRON EB7 comes
with a sturdy folding frame on 16-inch tires that’s perfect for college
students and office workers alike. It’s portable, lightweight, and best of all,
is a cinch to fit in city apartments.
The more traditional EB7 electric bike. Coolness, redefined.
If
you’re looking for a slightly bigger option, the EB12 boasts
full-size 700C wheels similar to Ecotric’s models with 26-inch
tires. Or, try the SWAGTRON EB11 with a
seven-speed Shimano® gear system. It’s a premium cruiser that’s great
for casual rolls in and out of town.
Looking for something good for trail-riding or tackling rougher roads? Adult riders are much better off with a solid frame and powerful motor. The all-terrain EB8 fits the bill nicely. This fat-tire eBike works well for older teens whose judgment you trust. (In other words, you trust them with car keys!) Off-roading trailer riders, after all, need something that’ll chew up steep inclines for breakfast and won’t run out of power before lunch. Tougher models of family eBikes are also practically an invitation to take the family off the proverbial beaten path, exploring more of the world around them.
Conquering off-road trail riding with the EB6 Fat-Tire eBike.
Older adults have different requirements in an eBike than 30- or
40-something parents do. For one, it’s nice to have large side panels for
stick-on flame decals and skull stickers. For another, older adults often have
mobility issues that get in the way of just hopping onto a high-centered bike
frame and taking off. That’s why many seniors are most comfortable with a low,
step-through frame. This gets around the horse-mount leg hike that generally
stops being fun around age 50, and it makes for easier dismounts.
The “Easy Mount” low step-through frame of the EB9 electric bike.
The SWAGTRON EB9 has an easy step-through frame that seniors can generally manage without help. The EB9 also has something very close to a conventional bicycle layout, which helps older adults who may lack experience with eBikes learn to ride. It has the same Shimano® 7-speed motor and powerful removable Li-ion battery as the EB11 you’re using as a street cruiser. However, its pedal and center bar layout are much more forgiving, requiring less dexterity than the high-centered street machines.
Chart of comparable family eBikes.
Okay, so you’re busy, and there’s work, and the kids are a mess, and you don’t visit your parents as much as you should, and the yard looks awful. Don’t despair. You can still get out with the family sometimes. Instead of putting it off any longer, have a look through SWAGTRON’s selection of family eBikes and pick out a set that everyone can enjoy together.
