Here are some of our most commonly asked questions relating to electric bikes. If you have questions about a specific bike, so you can view the individual e-bike and may find the answer in one of the tabs below the picture.
We try really hard to give as much information as possible about electric bikes, but it's hard to fit in every single question onto our website. Therefore if something is not answered below, please don't hesitate to send us an Inquiry or call us toll free at 1-855-557-7900
No not at all, again treat it the same as a regular bike. You will only ever need a license if you exceed the specified specification of your local law. All of Cit-E-Cycles electric bikes can be used in Canada without the need for a license, however in some provinces or cities they may be some different laws. We recommend to check your local laws about electric bicycles before you purchase a bike.
We offer a variety of electric bikes for different uses, our wide range ensures there is always a perfect model for each individual riders needs. You may already have some idea of what bike will suit you best. On each bike page, you can read a brief overview on its use. You can view the full range of e-bikes here...
Better still is to arrange an appointment where we can talk you through the range in person. You can contact us here...
Treat an electric bike just the same as a normal bike. You can ride an electric assisted bike anywhere you can ride your regular bike. Be it on the road commuting to work or on trails, Cit-E-Cycles electric bikes & regular bikes are governed the same.
All electric bikes are governed by law to an assisted speed of 32 km/h (20mph). You, can of course, pedal the bike faster, however you will be using your own pedal power as the assistance will drop off at 32 km/h.
A pedal assist bicycle is engaging the motor while you're pedalling, if you stop pedalling the system will stop too. Basically it multiplies your pedal power and it will give you a natural feel of cycling. Most of our e-bikes work that way.
The Throttle is a manual type of assist where you can get assistance from the motor by simply twisting or pushing the throttle located on the handlebars. This is great for cruising or for someone who just wants assist when they need it. Cit-E-Cycles stock several bikes that have both of these built into the bike, so that the rider has both types on the same bike.
Some of them regenerate whilst braking or going down hill. To be honest it's only up to 15% because you generally have to add resistance to generate extra energy, you also have to add weight to the bike for the regenerative components. If you ride where there are longer downhill sections then you get the most out of this feature. It's nice to have, but with todays battery ranges not absolutely needed.
Most of our electric bikes use lithium ion battery packs. These packs recharge very quickly compared to others on the market. In general a 400Wh pack will take about 3.5 hours to recharge 100% from flat. Interestingly the battery will actually charge approx. 80% in about 1.5 hours, but the last 20% is set on a slower charge rate.
Generally speaking as long as you don't leave your battery for long periods of time completely empty and you top the battery up after each ride, this is all you need to do. However there are more extensive information in the manufacturers' manuals we highly recommend to study before you start using your e-bike.
On some cheaper bikes with different style cells, this is necessary. However all of our electric bikes feature high tech batteries, so this is not required. It is in fact, best to always top up our batteries, even if you have only travelled a view km, just top it up.
At Cit-E-Cycles we only sell European and North American bikes. Most of our bikes are hand assembled within Europe or North America.
Its the same old saying - You pay for what you get. At Cit-E-Cycles we have chosen to not deal with cheaper, more 'rattly' models. In fact, we only deal with quality machines that are built to perform the task in hand. Buy cheap, buy twice is our policy. Although we offer bikes below $2,000 they come with a minimum of quality standard.
The running costs of owning an electric bike are very low compared to other modes of transport. Generally good quality electric bikes use better components that last longer compared to cheap bikes. Its the same old saying again - You pay for what you get.
Electric bikes are many things to many people, some use them as a vital tool for commuting, saving fuel, cutting transport costs and time. Whilst some people enjoy recreational rides, where you can go out traveling all day without the aggravation of steep hills. On the other extreme we have hardcore mountain bikers using an electric bike to beat up lifts. Of course whatever you ride up you get to hurtle back down. Generally you can get a lot more use in a day and cover more ground on an electric bike - and it's fun.
Generally speaking the electronic items on all of our electric bikes are sealed units, from the motor to battery to head unit. They are all weatherproof and have been designed for all purpose use i.e. mountain biking, where occasionally there are deep puddles. Your e-bike is expected to be able to handle this without any issues. If possible, try not to completely submerge your e-bike. If you fall into a lake for example, make sure the bike is recovered quickly, along with yourself. Allow the bike to dry off before turning back on and returning to the trail.
Clean your eBike like you would clean your regular bike. Use a hose, sponge and preferably a decent cleaner. If you can, then clean it after every ride to keep it in tip top condition. Also remember after cleaning to re apply lubrication to the chain with a decent dry lube. Please resist from using pressure washers on your bike. Not because of the electrics, but high pressure water can push factory grease from the internal bearings leaving them dry for the next ride.
Most of Cit-E-Cycles e-bikes fit onto cycle racks. We have a wide range on e-bikes and some are particularly light compared to others. You need to check the cycle racks maximum weight capacity. Most of our e-bikes are between 20 and 30 kg. Even clip on car racks normally hold around 45kg's enough for 2 electric bikes, we recommend a hitch rack.
You can also have roof bar racks, although you will need to lift the bike up onto the top of the car. You can view our full range of car racks here...
Yes of course, you can visit one of our store, we can talk you through your riding style and requirements and offer expert advice as to which model to select. We will be able to advise particular e-bikes and talk them through in more detail. We also give you the opportunity to test-ride a certain e-bike so you can get a feel for them prior to purchase.
Yes, not a problem, you can order the bike from the comfort of your own home. Just add everything to the basket and purchase in the normal way. Once the order has been placed, we will contact you to arrange an appointment that suits you to visit us and collect the bike. We always allow enough time so we can further answer any questions you may have and to talk through the operation of the bike.
No problem, we ship all of our products within Canada and at no shipping costs. Most of our deliveries are via Purolator and keep in mind, we do not deliver to a P.O. Box address.
Your bike will arrive 99% assembled (with any accessories you have added to the order, fitted to the e-bike) and will be delivered in special boxes. Someone needs to be available to sign for the parcel. The box is rather large, our courier will help you carry it in, but they may not enter the property and carry up stairs for example.
To fit the e-bikes into the special boxes we have to turn the handlebars 90 degrees and remove the pedals. This are simple to re-fit once you have unpacked your bike. If you require assistance please contact us and we will be happy to help.
At Cit-E-Cycles all of our electric bikes use standard components, so any bicycle shop in Canada is able to service the bike. We prefer for you to come to one of our shops and take advantage of our fast turnaround & quality servicing, however this is not always possible for our customers further afield. In this instance you can book it into your local bicycle shop for annual servicing.
The electrical components of the eBike are sealed and require no further servicing once the bike has been initially built by our team. If you're facing any issues please contact us immediately so we can assist you.
You should have your e-bike serviced just the same as your regular bike. Just because it is electric assisted doesn't mean it requires more frequent servicing. In most instances an annual service is enough, however customers using their bikes more frequently or in more extreme environments may require more frequent servicing. Generally you can feel when your bike needs a look over.
Remember all of the components are regular cycle components, so you can pick up spares e.g inner tubes, tyres brake pads etc from any good bicycle shop. The electrical components are a little more niche, in this case you can always contact us to get the required spares.
In the unlikely event of a problem, you can contact us where we will be happy to assist getting any niggles resolved. Most cycle shops can work on the regular components and carry spares if required. On all of our Bosch e-bikes we have an option of sending you a diagnostic kit. Providing you have access to a computer or laptop, we can diagnose, clear and reset errors from the comfort of your own living room. This is very rare to have to do this, but we have this method in place should it be required.
All of our electric bikes come with the manufacturers warranty. They may differ from one to an other manufacturer. For warranty questions please contact us and we can provide you with more detailed information about a specific brand.
All of our warranty work is carried out in house. This means we resolve this for you as opposed to passing you on to a third party. We offer the quickest turnaround in the country, our aim is to offer a complete happy e-biking experience, so it's in our interest to get any minor issues resolved quickly for you.
As long as you are the original owner, we will of course happily support you outside of any warranty period. We are just an email or call away. Warranty doesn't cover bulbs, brake pads / blocks, bearings, tyres, tubes, chains, sprockets, hangers, cables and other items generally regarded as consumables. Please also be aware that second hand bikes aren't covered by warranties which rest with the original purchaser.
Electric bikes come in many shapes and sizes. As do us humans, it is important we select the correct size bike. We offer most of our bikes in varied sizes to suit different builds. Please refrain from using online size guides as these often only relate to a particular style of bike, often these can lead to you acquiring the wrong size bike.
Almost all of our bikes feature a Geometry chart. You can find this in the detail view of each bike at the "Geometry" tab. If you are confused on cycle sizing, please give us a call where we will be able to ask the model of eBike you are looking for to gain the correct size.
You can find reviews about certain bikes in their detail view at the "Description" tab. You can also read more reviews by simply search the web for a certain bike review.
At Cit-E-Cycles we are committed to looking after our ever growing customer base. For this reason, we really learn about the products that we sell so we can offer the best back up, support and knowledge, not just at the point of sale, but also further down the line. Our aim is to look after you long term. We attend training sessions, write about, ride and work on our products each and every day, so we really know what we are talking about.
Unfortunately we cannot also offer this level of after sales support to customers that have purchased from other 'less knowledgeable' dealers or elsewhere. We understand that you may not realize this until a problem arises and the dealer leaves you in the dark but you have to consider when purchasing a bike, what sort of service and support you are going to get further down the line. On a daily basis we have other dealer's customers contact us because they have found out that the retailer they bought their bike from is not able or sometimes simply not interested in helping out.
Nevertheless We are happy to help-out in assisting you with issues, as long as this is a product we sell, but keep in mind we have to charge the incurred costs in full.
1-855-557-7900 (toll free)
[email protected]
Cit-E-Cycles Victoria
100-2612 Bridge Street, Victoria BC
250-382-8329
Cit-E-Cycles Vancouver
3466 W Broadway, Vancouver BC
604-734-2717
Cit-E-Cycles North Shore
103-1346 Marine Dr., N Vancouver BC
604-990-7761
Cit-E-Cycles Surrey
13760 104th Ave, Surrey BC
604-584-7995
Cit-E-Cycles Langley
19967 96 Ave, Langley BC
604-888-5327
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