The current range of e-bikes is increasingly diverse and, especially from a layman's point of view, it can be difficult to navigate the categories and drive concepts. In the following lines, we will therefore focus on the current collection of AUTHOR e-bikes and look not only at the popular mid-range or more affordable hub motors, but also at the user specifics of the individual categories. The enormous popularity of electric bicycles today is due to their advanced technology guaranteeing a long range and, above all, a very friendly tuning of the entire drive system. Currently, among e-bikes we can find not only purely touring bikes, primarily fulfilling the role of a full-fledged means of transport, but also purely sports models offering full-fledged off-road enjoyment. Our little trip to the world of electric cycling can begin.
Off-road or on asphalt?
Pure off-road e-bikers are increasing very quickly, because it is precisely the advanced central drive systems together with perfectly functional cycling technology that provide a level of cross-country ability that even sport riders and competitors have often never dreamed of. In short, a perfectly functioning electric motor will allow us to go uphill or conquer technical sections that have been forbidden until now. However, we are talking about purely off-road biking as a form of entertainment or even a sporting activity, but the main role of the e-bike is of course still that of travel or cycling. Our first considerations when choosing an e-bike should therefore be directed in this direction - i.e. where and how we will ride the e-bike most often. Accordingly, we will decide whether we will prefer a comfortable travel or city model with an upright seat and smoother tires, or whether we will prefer an e-bike structurally based on a sports mountain bike, therefore offering a higher overall durability of the structure, greater suspension travel and, of course, rougher and wider shoes. The central motor is logically a guarantee of optimal weight distribution, but if we plan to ride the bike exclusively around town or for shopping, a more affordable design with an engine located in the rear hub of the bike can serve us just as well. The preference for a particular drive system is also logically based on the amount we plan to spend on the e-bike.
Qualitative level
We are now at one of the most important points of the selection itself, which we already indicated in the previous chapter. The construction of electric bicycles is in many ways significantly more complicated than that of a classic bicycle, and the presence of a motor, battery and other accessories simply costs something. The qualitative balance of the overall equipment, including the drive system, is very important, and the bet on proven components will be an advantage here. Especially in the case of the motor-battery assembly, its long-term verification by the largest possible number of (satisfied) customers is important.
Prestigious manufacturers of electric drives rely on similar technology and overall control, which is made more pleasant for the user by, for example, a very elaborate system of special sensors ensuring a smooth addition of torque without any unwanted jerks. Equally convincing is the power itself, which we can use in several different modes - depending not only on the total planned mileage and terrain profile, but above all on our condition. In addition, the top electric drive systems are perfectly balanced in terms of the offered power and average range, in short, they were designed with the greatest possible economy of operation in mind.
The advanced e-bike also strives for maximum rider comfort. This does not only concern the saving of forces, but also the driving style itself - the smooth dosing of power here really replaces our performance in a very real way, when even when driving with high assistance we have a realistic feeling of riding a bike. In other words, the rider always has the authentic impression that he is pedaling and hitting the pedals, even though the power of the engine replaces its performance at that moment. It is therefore still a sporting activity. In addition, the control fully respects our maximum comfort, so the controls for switching driving modes (assistance modes) are always perfectly at hand and on the handlebars we have a large display directly in front of us informing us of everything we need to know. This means that we have a constant overview not only of the current range or speed, but above all of the activated mode and the approximate expected range, i.e. the current battery capacity - which is essential above all for the correct work with the choice of modes and the related economy of our driving. All these aspects primarily concern middle class or higher quality e-bikes in general.
Specific selection
And we are at a specific selection, i.e. directly in the current offer of AUTHOR e-bikes. Let's start with the e-MTB series, i.e. pure off-road electric bikes. The advanced Shimano Steps center drive with a 504Wh battery partially embedded in the down tube is characteristic of all Elevation, Elite and Eleve models.
The following electro-crosses Empire and Enigma also rely on the Shimano Steps mid-motor, as well as the Edict and Essence models (the 2020 models are on Bafang systems).
The last representative with a central drive is the fully equipped touring e-bike Electra.
The Bafang engine is a typical distinguishing feature of the Engine 29 or Engine 2020 models, as well as Electra, Element and Elan from the 2020 collection.